MEDIA EVENTS: 'Move Over' Law Expanded

MEDIA EVENTS: 'Move Over' Law Expanded:

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Hit and Run Kills Tow Operator | NBC Los Angeles

Sad, sad news. Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 40-year-old Chris Tatro, who died Saturday (12/17) evening after being hit on the side of the road while trying to load a disabled vehicle. The driver fled the scene. Tatro worked for Advanced Auto Tow.

Hit and Run Kills Tow Operator | NBC Los Angeles:

Police are seeking the driver of a tan sedan who killed a tow truck a driver in Riverside last night and then fled the scene.

The hit-and-run driver swerved into the tow operator as he tried to load a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed tow truck on the right shoulder of the road on the eastbound side.

The operator has been identified as Christopher Tatro, 40, of Corona, who worked for Advanced Auto Tow. Tatro taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died on Saturday.

The collision occured at about 2:05 a.m. just west of Monroe Street in Riverside. Witnesses told the California Highway Patrol that the tan sedan continued on afterward, exiting the freeway at Adams Street.

Part of the vehicle was left behind at the scene and officials said they have footage of the tan sedan after the incident occurred.

The CHP is seeking the public's help in tracking down the hit-and-run driver, asking witnesses or others with information to contact the California Highway Patrol, Riverside Area office, at (951) 637-8000.

Dangerous Duty In MI

Here's the story from AnnArbor.com:

A tow truck driver was shot in the foot early Tuesday by a man who was upset that his vehicle had been towed from an apartment complex because he didn't have a parking permit, police said.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Derrick Jackson said deputies responded to a call of shots fired at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 9000 block of MacArthur Boulevard.
Police found that a 31-year-old Ypsilanti Township resident and employee of Discount Towing had been struck once in the foot and the suspect had fled, Jackson said.
Deputies had responded to the area earlier in the night while the employees were towing the suspect's car, Jackson said. The suspect did not have a parking pass for the complex and was upset that his car was being towed, Jackson said.
"Tow truck drivers get this all the time," Jackson said. "It's common practice for them to quickly call us before things escalate."
It wasn't until the employees came back to the complex to check if there were any other cars that needed to be taken from the area that trouble started, Jackson said.
According to Jackson, when police went to the scene earlier, the situation had calmed down and the suspect went back inside while the drivers towed his car and deputies left the area. The employees returned, and while they were leaving, three shots were fired at the vehicle, Jackson said.
The suspect was arrested hours later, Jackson said. The 25-year-old Superior Township man was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail, where he is waiting to be arraigned on charges, Jackson said.
There was no one immediately available at Discount Towing on Tuesday evening to comment on the shooting.
A Nixle alert to the community regarding the shooting was issued by the sheriff’s office Tuesday evening.

Season 2 Premiere Of ‘Lizard Lick Towing’ Draws 2.2 Million Viewers - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

Season 2 Premiere Of ‘Lizard Lick Towing’ Draws 2.2 Million Viewers - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers: "truTV's hit series Lizard Lick Towing returned to launch its second season last night and came away with a truckload of outstanding numbers. The half-hour season premiere at 10 p.m. delivered 2.2 million viewers, up a remarkable 30% over the show's February launch. The episode also scored 621,000 adults 18-34 (+34%); 1.2 million adults 18-49 (+24%); 404,000 men 18-34 (+73%); and 740,000 men 18-49 (+43%).

For the 10 p.m. timeslot, Lizard Lick Towing ranked among basic cable's Top 5 programs with men 18-34 and men 18-49. It also ranked among the Top 5 entertainment programs with total viewers and adults 18-49."

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Tow truck run brings toys to kids - San Jose Mercury News

Tow truck run brings toys to kids - San Jose Mercury News: "More than 30 tow trucks from 12 companies drove from San Jose to Fremont on Saturday to deliver hundreds of toys for less fortunate children to Bridges Community Church.
Dino Tomassi, owner of Finish Line Tow and a member of the church's "Band of Brothers" Men's Club, started the drive three years ago to reach out to the community.
The drive, called the Bay Area Tow Truck Toy Run, comprises members of the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the California Tow Truck Association.
Volunteers were treated to a pancake breakfast at the Mission San Jose church, and Santa Claus portrayed by Mission Pass Tow and Transport owner Walt White, made an appearance at 505 Driscoll Road."

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Round of Applause! B/A Products

B/A Products' founder Mel Berman and sons-in-law Fritz Dahlman and Chip Kauffman present a check to Bill Gratzianna and Troy Barnett of the ITRHFM.

Kudos to B/A Products for raising $15,000 for the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum during the company's auction on Nov. 18 during their Fifth Annual Open House. The money will be split equally between the museum and the Survivor Fund. The event was attended by more than 500 members of the towing and recovery community who were in Baltimore for the American Towman Expo. 

Cross Country Network News: Cross Country Announcement: Branding Changes Coming Soon

Cross Country Network News: Cross Country Announcement: Branding Changes Coming Soon:

Cross Country Automotive Services has been going through a rebranding effort over the past few months to better unite ourselves and ATX Group (a telematics organization which we acquired a couple of years ago) under one brand. We are very excited to announce that our new brand, Agero® was launched for our automotive and insurance clients on Monday, December 5.
The new Agero brand will officially launch for our Service Providers on March 1, 2012.
New Look – Same Great Benefits for Our ProvidersWhile you may start to see a new look on some of our applications and web portals next spring, in no way will this re-brand affect billing or invoice processes, rates/territories, performance management, or any other best practices currently in place at Cross Country. Argosi.net will continue to be your go to, online billing and performance portal. As we near the roll out of the Agero brand for our Service Provider community in March, further communications will be sent detailing the new look and feel that may be applied to some existing applications. However, again, the impact of the new brand on your day to day operations and communications with us will be minimal.
We continue to strive to be the best motor club to work with and we are confident as we enter this next chapter of our organizational story, our services, innovation and leadership will only continue to flourish and get stronger. We are proud to offer our Service Providers the most volume in the industry, the largest variety of dispatch options, a one of a kind discount Perks program to access business essentials, and the most comprehensive resources and training outlets available.
For further information on our new branding update, please take a moment to review the resources below:

• Branding: Frequently Asked Questions

• Press Release – TowTimes.com

• Agero.com

We appreciate your continued service and all of the hard work of our Service Provider partners. The best is yet to come.

Tow truck operators could face additional background scrutiny « IdahoReporter.com

Tow truck operators could face additional background scrutiny « IdahoReporter.com:

Idaho State Police (ISP) is planning to bring legislation forward in the next legislative session asking for a more thorough background check for tow truck driver operators who tow for the agency.
Currently in Idaho, there is a law allowing ISP to run background checks on operators who tow for them based on their records within the state. The legislation would expand the parameters to all 50 states. Meaning, if a tow truck operator wants to be part of ISP’s tow rotation, not only would any criminal record in Idaho be subject to review, but any record in the other 49 states would be as well.
Sgt. Sam Ketchum, with Region 3 of ISP, explained, “We currently do a background check on all of our tow truck operators that are on our tow truck rotations as it concerns the state police. Obviously, we try not to let criminals or felons, or people like that tow for us because they are securing property that we’ve taken people away from.”
The proposed legislation came as a surprise to Randy Colson, president of Idaho Towing and Recovery Professionals. He said he was under the impression that background checks like this are already done. “To the best of my knowledge they already do that. So, I don’t know enough about it (legislation), I guess, to give you a very intelligent comment truth be known.”
Ketchum said, “The thing that the legislation is doing is expanding it so we can check all 50 states for their (tow truck operator) background as opposed to just Idaho’s. So right now, as it stands, say tow operator A wants to apply to state police to be on our rotation. We will do a background check, but only in Idaho. So whatever they have done in other states, we don’t know about. … If they want to get on the rotation then they know they have to submit a packet and submit to these things (background checks). All we’re doing is expanding the opportunity for us to look outside just the state of Idaho. We’re going to look at all 50 states.”
Ketchum said that there are around 50 tow truck operators on the voluntary tow rotation for ISP in Region 3, based out of Meridian. Region 3 covers 10 southwest counties: Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington. There are six regions in the state, with other centers in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Jerome, Pocatello and Idaho Falls.
Think about the scene of an accident. If your vehicle is disabled requiring a tow, it and whatever is in it are out of sight and control of the owner. Ketchum said that because someone’s property is being essentially taken away and put in the hands of the tow truck operator, ISP doesn’t just look for felonies or heinous crimes, but also crimes against people or possessions.
“We look for felonies is the big thing,” said Ketchum. “We look for any kind of crimes against people such as petty theft, burglary, things like that. When we need a tow truck, basically we have removed the driver from their property either through arrest or crash or a motorist assist or something. Because we are removing them from that property we want to make sure that person who is coming to get that vehicle is somewhat responsible. Obviously we don’t want them to have this background of theft, or violence, or things like that. We’re turning property over to them.”
In Idaho in 2010, there were 7,729 single vehicle accidents and 14,826 multi-vehicle accidents. ISP was the lead investigator in 3,683 of the accidents, or an average of 10 crashes per day. In all, ISP is responsible for patrolling 60,000 miles of roadway in the state.

McDonnell seeks to scrap two state agencies | Richmond Times-Dispatch

McDonnell seeks to scrap two state agencies | Richmond Times-Dispatch:

In his latest attempt at slimming the bureaucracy, Gov. Bob McDonnell will ask state lawmakers to dissolve two state agencies, scrap 19 boards and commissions, and deregulate hair braiders.

He also is seeking to merge about a half-dozen state agencies into others and to winnow 23 boards and commissions into 11, according to a proposed reorganization his office released Tuesday.

An early estimate by the Department of Planning and Budget pegs savings from the reforms at about $2 million a year.

McDonnell proposes axing two agencies — the Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority and the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators.

The proposal does not specify what would happen to employees of any of the agencies, but McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell said Tuesday that "there will be efficiencies and staff reductions as a result of agency mergers, resulting in a savings for the taxpayers."

"There may be some opportunities for staff transfers to the new, merged agency, but those details have not been finalized," he said.

Some of the ideas McDonnell suggests spring from the ongoing work of his government reform and restructuring commission. Now in its second year, the panel made nearly 40 recommendations to the governor last week.

Del. Robert H. Brink, D-Arlington, who serves on the reform commission, said that in some cases, such as consolidating several social services agencies, the proposed action "cleans up the organization chart, but it's not going to save any money because the back-office operations already are consolidated."

"I think that's typical of a lot of these recommendations," he said of the commission's list. "They really aren't going to accomplish that much and even though the charge of the commission was to think big, I really don't think there's a lot of big thinking going on here."

Part of that stems from having a state government that has been called the best-managed in the nation, he said. "You're operating a pretty lean operation as it is."

McDonnell also issued two executive directives to make changes administratively, ranging from looking at expanding a pilot program of a four-day, 10-hour work-week schedule to streamlining policy and paperwork requirements for state employee time, attendance and leave.

"This coming General Assembly session we intend to advance even bolder reforms to reduce waste and ensure that we are providing the best services to our citizens in the most fiscally responsible manner," McDonnell said in a release.

The governor, who is in Orlando, Fla., through Thursday leading his first Republican Governors Association meeting, said the reforms he wants to advance "include eliminating two state agencies whose functions duplicate work already being done elsewhere."

The agency mergers are intended to streamline the delivery of services, he said. He chose to collapse boards and commissions that duplicate efforts or if he found them to be "no longer an efficient use of state resources."

Also, three professions would no longer be regulated by the state: hair braiders, mold inspectors and remediators, and interior designers.

omeola@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6812

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Miller Industries and Chattanooga State develop leadership training program | timesfreepress.com

Miller Industries and Chattanooga State develop leadership training program | timesfreepress.com:

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Sad News From the International Towing Museum

International Towing: "It is with great sadness that we post the passing of Jerry Lee Bullock on Friday, October 7th 2011. Jerry had been ill for many months and is now finally at peace. Jerry was the backbone of the museum for many years. His passing leaves a void that will never be filled. Jerry was a member of the 1990 Hall of Fame and was a very proud man of his heritage. Please remember his family in your prayers."

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Here is his obituary: 

Jerry Lee Bullock was born in Walla Walla, Washington on January 14, 1942.  He passed away at his home in West Linn, Oregon on Friday, October 7, 2011.  Jerry was 69 years of age when he passed from congestive heart failure and COPD.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 43 years, Georgia “Jo” Bullock; his children Jim (Debbie), Dawn (Rick), Dana, Dean (Debbie), and Lori; his nephews Lance Bullock and L.G. Bullock (their children Ryan, Hannah, and Gracie); his grandchildren Shelley, Cassandra, Matt, Robin, Nicolas, Shaylah, and Samuel; his great-grandchildren Alyssa, Brooklyn, Maggie, Camryn, and Elijah; he is further survived by his beloved companion dog, Bandit.  Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Theda L. Kerr Bullock, his father Wallace F. Bullock, and his brother Daniel Wallace Bullock.

Jerry grew up in Milton-Freewater, Oregon and graduated from McLoughlin Union High School in June 1960.  On September 3, 1968, Jerry married Georgia “Jo” Lee Wilding; who brought along her five children, Jim age 16; the twins Dawn and Dana, age 12; Dean, age 11; and Lori, age 7.

Jerry worked for Key Brothers Ranches, hauling peas and wheat.  He moved on to work for Pendleton Frozen Foods hauling throughout the United States.  He then worked for Dee Thomason Ford in Lake Oswego, Oregon and drove a tow truck part-time for Bill Nelson.  Eventually, Jerry bought Nelson Towing and changed the name to Bullock Towing.  He sold his company in 1985 and moved on to building tow trucks at Jerry Bullock Enterprises, Inc. in Sherwood, Oregon.

Jerry was instrumental in forming the Independent Towing Operators of Oregon, which eventually merged with the Northwest Towing Association and later became the Oregon Tow Truck Association.  He was one of 26 founding members of the Towing & Recovery Association of America, which was formed in August of 1979, in Kansas City, MO.  Jerry was also a founding member of the Friends of Towing, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the towing industry.  With Jerry’s undying dedication and perseverance, the Friends of Towing eventually became known as the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum.  His passion was to improve the image of the towing industry throughout the world and to educate towers as well as the public about the towing industry.  Jerry continuously dedicated time, money, and expertise to this passion.  For years, he dedicated countless hours to helping create a solid place for a Tow Truck Museum that would also serve as an educational facility for current trainings and a place to honor both fallen and active towers.  It all started with a large trailer that was hauled all over the United States to various Tow Shows.  Jerry made sure that the trailer made it to each and every show.  Eventually, they outgrew the trailer and found a building at 4th and Broad Street in Chattanooga, TN. (the birthplace of the towing industry).  However, they quickly outgrew that building and Jerry was determined to help find a larger building in the same area; with much dedication and perseverance of Jerry and other men and women like him, they were able to find a much larger building further south on Broad Street.  Jerry’s dream was realized with this new home, referred, to as the ITRHFM.  This building is now a home for everyone to see and learn about the towing industry.  Jerry’s never-ending dedication to this organization earned him the name, “Mr. Museum” across the country.  He held great pride in seeing his dream come to life in something that is now inspirational to so many across the world.

We wish to thank KP Hospice for all their strength and support, which they have given to our dad and us (his family) during our time of need, especially Robert Yuille and Meredith Seiser.

A graveside service will be held in Milton-Freewater, Oregon on Friday, October 21, 2011 at 11:00AM.  Jerry’s “Celebration of Life” service will be held at Rolling Hills Community Church at 3550 SW Borland Road in Tualatin, Oregon on Friday, November 18, 2011, at 11:00AM.  Special room rates at Crown Plaza Hotel, Lake Oswego, Oregon. Call direct 503-624-8400 and ask for the “Bullock Block”. At Jerry’s request, in lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, 3315 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN. 37408-3052.  423.267.3132.



Poem: by Shelley Ryan

While most have just two grandpas, count me lucky I had three
The subject of my poem last name Bullock, first & middle Jerry Lee

He grew up in a small town, Milton- Freewater is the place

From boy to man as time progressed with his trademark beard upon his face

In his twenties he met the woman he would marry

Georgia brought along more luggage than most do carry

Two sons & three daughters & a few years on her mate

Jerry didn't seem to mind, for him this was his fate

Bullock Towing consumed the family, trucks always on the go

Jerry provided for the kids and his wife known as "Jo"

In his thirties, he was father of the bride to my mother & walked her down the aisle Grandkids followed, getting used to that would take a while

Papa Jerry he became at such a young age that I don't know if he was ready

He came around through the years, but to me it seemed slow & steady

Trips back to Milton-Freewater I remember as a child

Jerry's parents, Theda & Wally and apples growing wild

We all loved visiting Grandma & Poppie and Jerry's brother, our Uncle Dan

Our cousins Lance & LG, their Uncle Jerry is their biggest fan

Jerry sold the towing company & decided trucks he will build

With my mother "in charge" and Dean out in the shop, the team was quite skilled

Jerry's collecting hobby soon filled the place

Match Box cars & toy tow trucks taking up a lot of space

Eventually it was time to build the last truck

He taught his kids well & wished them "Good Luck"

They all ended up in towing, one way or another

With knowledge passed on from the man who married their mother

Papa Jerry has slowed down a bit and now has great grandkids to spoil

His hands are less often covered in grease & in oil

He changed the life of my grandma & the five children that with her she had brought

I hope he knows we love him a lot a lot a lot!                                 By Shelley Ryan





October 7, 2011



Dear Papa Jerry –



            We still wonder if you were crazy in love or crazy insane when you married Grandma Jo with 5 kids.  Little did you know you would soon start to have grandkids?  Early on, I remember being surrounded by tow trucks and grease.  My ability to take trucks and cars out of gear really made you happy when I did it to your truck and it crashed into some bricks.  I especially remember the summer when I was ten, answering phones for Mom.  I got to see you everyday. When you got the shop in Sherwood I loved going out there to help Mom.  I was always so worried what you thought.

             In 2001 when you had bypass surgery a week before Alyssa was born, I finally got a lecture from Snood telling me to get over myself and just go see you in the hospital.  Then I made you a GREAT grandpa!  Those next 3 ½ years I became closer to you, then I had in along time.  I loved bring Alyssa over.  Grandma Joe loved seeing Alyssa and I could see you did too.  Then in 2005 a week before Maggie was born you had your stroke.  I remember telling you to quit stealing my thunder.  Ever since then you smiled more and even laughed more, at least more then I remember.

             When you started collecting Tow Mater stuff I thought it was so funny.  Being around tow trucks all your life and now you want toy tow trucks.  I told you I would one day get a tattoo of it and you laughed.  I remember the day I showed you what I had done.  You just smiled and shook your head.  Now I will always have you with me.

             Thank you for marrying my Grandma, thank you for giving me some of the BEST Great-Grandparents.  Thank you for being a Dad to my Mom and raising her to be the strong woman she is today.  Thank you for always loving your little turd bird.

                                                                         LOVE,

                                                                        Robin

 The last time you said something to me, I told you I was leaving and I loved you.  You said I love you too and thanks for coming.

Sad News From NJ

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Mark Angelo, a driver for Nick's Towing of Rutherford, NJ. Angelo was killed on Friday, Oct. 14, when he was struck by a tractor trailer on the side of the road. Here is the information that was sent to us from Nick's Towing:

In Memoriam Mark A. Angelo  August 14, 1960-October 14, 2011

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you of the loss of our driver Mark Angelo. He was tragically killed in the early morning hours on Friday, October 14, 2011. Mark was struck by a tractor trailer after loading a disabled vehicle on a ramp in Rutherford, NJ. Mark was a loyal employee of nearly 10 years. He loved helping others and was one of the kindest people you could meet.   It has been a very difficult few days for everyone. The burden has been made easier by all of you who have been there for us. Be it a phone call, your presence, your prayers, donations and your offers of help; it all has meant so very much.   I can't think of anything worse as an owner than losing one of your men and in this case it is a man who holds a special place in my heart. There will never be another Mark.   God bless,   Nick Testa President

Mark is survived by his sons Mark and Matthew, his mother Lucille, stepfather Charles and, father and stepmother Mr. & Mrs. George Angelo.   Donations can be sent to the Mark Angelo Memorial Fund and mailed c/o Nick's Towing Service, Inc. 158 East Passaic Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070

Special Thanks There are many people who spent many hours making the arrangements for the tow truck procession. We thank all of the towing companies that came and proved just how close knit the towing community is. We can't help but think how much Mark would have loved and appreciated everyone's efforts. Chief James O'Connor, Lyndhurst PD Chief Louis Ghione, North Arlington PD Captain Hal Ciser, Rutherford PD Chief Larry Minda, East Rutherford PD Chief Joseph Rutigliano, Wood-Ridge PD Mary Leigh Barbusin, Executive Director, Garden State Towman's Association   We would also like to thank John Raineri, owner of Raineri's Towing and Don Francis, owner of A&D Towing for covering our towing calls during the funeral services so that our men could attend. Tow Truck Procession for Mark Angelo   For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. William Penn

Sad News From SC

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Beaufort, SC tow company owner, Denise Peeples Smith. Smith, 55, owner of East Coast Recovery, who died Saturday night after being struck on the side of the road. Her friend, who was standing with her, died, too. Here's the story from www.islandpacket.com:

The owner of a Beaufort tow truck company who was struck by a pickup as it ran off Interstate 95 in Jasper County died at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah on Saturday night, according to Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls.
Denise Peeples Smith, 55, owner of East Coast Recovery, was operating a roll-back wrecker parked in the north-bound emergency lane on I-95 near the Coosawhatchie exit when the pickup veered off the interstate and crashed into the vehicle being loaded onto the wrecker, according to S.C. Highway Patrol Cpl. Bob Beres.
Both vehicles then struck Smith and her friend, Phyllis Amsler Cook, 52, of Beaufort, as the women stood next to the wrecker.
Cook was killed instantly. Smith was taken to Memorial University Medical Center, where she later died, Sauls said.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the wrecker, James Thomas, 61, of Florida, was taken to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro with non-life threatening injuries, Sauls said. His condition was unknown Sunday.
The driver of the truck that was being towed was uninjured, Sauls said, adding that the man witnessed the entire incident unfold.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, according to a Highway Patrol news release.
According to officials at the scene, the vehicle Thomas was driving contained multiple bottles of alcohol, though officials said it was too early in the investigation to know whether alcohol played a role in the crash.
Smith's daughter, Sonya Eppenger, 33, said her mother and Cook, both longtime Beaufort residents, had been friends since high school. Cook had been riding along in the tow truck Saturday to keep her mother company, she said.
Smith inherited the wrecker service from her husband, Ron Smith, who died last year, Eppenger said. She said her mother held her own in a male-dominated business.
"I would help her sometimes in the truck and we would pull up to change a tire and there'd be a grown man there with this look on his face," Eppenger said. "She worked hard and did the best she could."
Funeral arrangements for the women, which are being handled by Anderson Funeral Home, are pending, Eppenger said.

Read more: http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/10/02/1814401/second-victim-dies-in-i-95-tow.html#ixzz1Zjqwvj36

Coe 4 OR Senate!

Go, Gary! Here's a letter we received:

 As a business owner for close to 45 years now, I have witnessed a dramatic increase in the burden placed on businesses by the actions of our State legislature. Ever-increasing taxes, excessive fees and piles of new regulations are threatening our current small business owners and discouraging new entrepreneurs from investing here.

A large part of the problem that we have in our State today is that we have a relatively small number of legislators who have ever worked in the real world and/or signed the front of a paycheck. Despite gains this last election (2010), there are still too few individuals representing us in Salem who truly understand what it takes to bring real economic growth and prosperity to our State.

It is because of my deep commitment to improving our economic climate that I have decided
to run for the Oregon State Senate in 2012. My home in Sylvan is in Senate District 14, now held by Democrat Senator Mark Haas. Senator Hass and I hold a very different view on the role of government in our lives, and I know I am better suited to challenge the status quo, engage our regulatory agencies, and offer tangible solutions that will lead to long-term economic improvements.

         Small businesses create the vast majority of new jobs. The solution to promoting small business does not require any bailouts, special treatment, or harsh changes... It's very simple: To get Oregon's economy back on track and put additional people to work, we absolutely must reduce regulations and lower taxes (and in most cases, "fees") on businesses and business owners.

         As the owner or managing partner of several Oregon businesses, I know first hand the challenges and road-blocks caused by local and state government. I have testified many times before the Portland City Council, Multnomah County Commissioners, and numerous other municipalities in the greater Metro area. In addition, I have testified at committee hearings during every legislative session since 1981 about business issues. I know my way around the Capitol and possess an intimate knowledge of the process of crafting and passing legislation. Most importantly, I know how to walk in the door and immediately get to work.

Those who know me know that I have been a tireless worker in every arena. My work ethic is strong. Speed's Towing has been the dominant player in greater Portland for over 30 years. Pacific Cascade Towncar is most prominent at our airport's upscale transportation island. I have served as President of the Oregon Tow Truck Association and the Towing & Recovery Association of America, and two terms as President of the Central Eastside Industrial Council.

To win this race I must not only raise money but also outwork my competitor. This is going to
be one of the top Senate races in Oregon this year, and the Senate Republican Caucus has made this a top-tier race, with the control of the State Senate hinging on my victory. Because of this, it will probably cost as much as $500k to adequately get my message out to the voters and ultimately win.

The reality of the modern political campaign is that incumbents have a major fundraising advantage. As a business owner with a long track record of honesty and success, I am asking you to invest some of your hard-earned money with me. I promise to follow through on my pledge to represent you and all the rest of the hard-working Oregonians who make our State great, and restore some common sense economic principles to our State government. I cannot do this without your help, and I thank you in advance for your support.
                                                           Sincerely,    
Gary Coe

GARY COE FOR STATE SENATE // P.O. BOX 25283 // PORTLAND, OR 97298 // 503-789-2071

Wallace was devoted to work, family and friends | Herald Times Reporter | htrnews.com

Wallace was devoted to work, family and friends | Herald Times Reporter | htrnews.com:

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Bill Wallace, 64, longtime owner of Custer Street Towing and Repair in Manitowoc, WI. He passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, from complications of lung cancer.

Wes Wilburn Consulting News

Here's the press release:

Wes Wilburn, founder of Wes Wilburn Consulting and www.towco-op.com is one of the most active instructors involved in towing and recovery industry. It is at this time he is proud to announce the addition of a new instructor, Patrick Zozaya. This will enable Wes Wilburn Consulting to provide additional opportunities for training & certification to the towing industry.

Although Patrick a new addition to the company he is not new to the industry.

Patrick is a second generation tower and has been in the industry for nine-teen years.

Patrick began as a student in a Wes Wilburn Consulting training class and continued on to help Wes instruct his training classes.


Patrick Zozaya actively works with Ewing Brothers Towing in Las Vegas Nevada and currently holds a senior management position.

Patrick also has conducted many classes with other organizations such as Los Angeles City, CA and the Las Vegas Fire Depts. which he instructed on his own. Patrick also is involved in many different types of volunteer work including interacting with the local school districts and many regional fire and rescue teams.

Patrick Zozaya is an Accredited Riggers Trainer through a OSHA / N.C.C.C.O recognized school.

Wes Wilburn Consulting now offers Level 1 Riggers training & testing included as part of the Rotator & Heavy Rigging course and attendees can become recognized as a  Certified Level 1 Rigger by OSHA Standards once they have completed the class and have passed a written test. The first one of these specialty classes was held in Pennsylvania during July of this year, the class was completely full with attendees. There was nothing but positive feedback those that participated.


Wes Wilburn Consulting will only offer two more of these Rotator & Heavy Rigging classes this year:

·         October 1st and 2nd in N. Franklin CT
·         October 29th & 30th in Las Vegas, NV

April Davis (Testing Administrator for Wes Wilburn Consulting) states “We are very excited about the talent and enthusiasm Patrick brings to our organization and the insight he adds to all of the courses we offer”

“We now have so much demand for our training classes we are proud to welcome Patrick to the team and we are continuing our search for towing instructors. We are so excited to share this new opportunity with everyone. For more information about our program or becoming an instructor please contact us at 910 486 8928 or www.towco-op.com” said Wes Wilburn.

Appeals court in Norfolk backs sailors in towing case | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Appeals court in Norfolk backs sailors in towing case | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com:

A federal appeals court has ruled that the government has the right to sue on behalf of service members whose vehicles were towed and sold while they were deployed.

The U.S. Justice Department, on behalf of a Navy sailor, sued Aristocrat Towing of Norfolk alleging that the company illegally towed the sailor's car and sold it within a month to pay a storage lien. The government now believes Aristocrat did the same thing to at least 20 service members, according to the lawsuit.

When Navy Lt. Yahya Jaboori returned from the Iraq war in late 2007, he discovered his car was missing from his condominium complex in Virginia Beach. He later learned it had been towed by Aristocrat and auctioned in less than 60 days, without a court order.

U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar said in an earlier ruling that service members shouldn't have to worry about their personal property when serving their country.

"In war, a person facing an enemy must be able to focus on accomplishing the task at hand," Doumar wrote. "This is difficult if the individual is more concerned about what happened to his or her automobile."

In a ruling Monday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, rejecting Aristocrat's attempt to have the case thrown out. It sent the matter back to Norfolk for trial, now scheduled for December.

At the time the suit was filed nearly three years ago, it was believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. A similar suit is pending in the Newport News federal court, but in that case the sailor hired his own attorney.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com

Fleet Sales West Announces New Organizational Structure

Here's the press release:

FLEET SALES WEST ANNOUNCES NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
FOR ITS THREE DEALERSHIPS
ROBERT CAREY NAMED OPERATIONS VP; MARY BRUNICK VP, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
“In this business environment, more competitive and demanding than ever, we have now come to a point where we must streamline our operations, and pinpoint proactive steps to ensure success and profitability,” states Donna Coe, Sr. VP, of the three companies she and Jim Walsh, President own. General Managers and Administrative Coordinators for Fleet Sales West, Woodburn Oregon, Chevron West, Sacramento, and Golden West Towing Equipment, Anaheim, met today by video conference to learn of the roll out of this new structure.
Robert Carey, Vice President of Operations, will focus on field operations, establishing clear performance metrics and standardization of processes, providing support and direction at each dealership level..
“Standardization of operations will also be a key focus to enable us more fluid production and to help us keep pace with market demands -  these are all areas we feel have massive upside potential,” says Carey.
 
Carey brings to the companies 27 years experience in strategic business management.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University, and has been through several prestigious strategic planning and business management training programs. Having worked with the dealerships for several years in a consulting role, Carey is familiar with the market, product lines and processes.
Having been with the company since the outset, Mary Brunick served as dealership controller and lead for the administrative assistants in the 3 stores.
With a Business Information systems degree, she has 10 years experience in the accounting field and had built a clientele list as an Oregon Licensed Tax Preparer.  However, the ever increasing demands of her responsibilities with the dealerships necessitated her setting that enterprise aside some time ago.
“I am pleased to be working with Robert Carey on our mutual projects and am excited to be able to refocus on the budgeting and financial management more closely,” says Brunick.
Brunick will now narrow her focus to more financial planning and budgeting, continuing to provide support and direction to the administrative coordinators in their accounting and supporting roles to the dealership general managers.
She will be working with Carey on budgeting, setting revenue goals to meet budgets, and other related functions. 

Goodyear Offers New Online Resource For On-Highway Truck Service

Here's the press release:

Fleets and owner-operators looking for consistent, reliable and friendly on-highway truck and commercial tire service have a new online resource from The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
The UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE network Web site, www.unimaxxtruckcare.com, provides transportation industry professionals with information about Goodyear’s recently launched on-highway truck service network, which encompasses more than 70 locations.
“The UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE network is dedicated to providing consistent products and services to all of our customers,” said Clint Schrock, director of on-highway operations for Goodyear. “Our new UNI-MAXX Web site will help direct truckers to network locations and will inform them about the diverse portfolio of products and services that we provide to help keep their trucks on the road.”
The Web site contains the following features:
• A searchable map of participating UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE locations;
• Details of UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE network offerings, such as preventive maintenance, tire service and 24/7 roadside assistance, as well as a list of the other services offered at UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE locations, including DOT and CSA inspections, brakes, belts, electrical and suspension work, gear box changes, U-joint replacements, and more;
• FAQs, news releases, and other general information about the UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE on-highway network.
The UNI-MAXX TRUCK CARE network currently has two members: Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems LLC, a Goodyear subsidiary, and Boss Truck Shops Inc., a subsidiary of Bosselman Inc., both of which participate through their on-highway Wingfoot Truck Care Centers and Boss Shops locations, respectively.
Many of the network’s shops are located at Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J Travel Plazas. “This gives fleets and owner-operators convenient access to our broad spectrum of products and services,” said Schrock.
“Drivers want to be treated fairly and professionally in a consistent, cordial manner that puts their interests first,” he added. “The new UNI-MAXX Web site represents Goodyear’s ongoing commitment to helping drivers secure the products and services they need, when and where they need them, according to the highest professional standards.”
Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems offers a broad portfolio of products and services to the commercial fleet industry, including a full range of original equipment and replacement tires. This includes the 24/7 fleetHQ Solution Center, national programs, tire management tools, online information, and business problem-solving tools for tomorrow’s commercial fleets. For more information on the fleetHQ program, go to http://www.fleetHQ.com. 

Sad, Sad News From IA: Details of fatal crash known; 'why' isn't | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Jesse J. Inman, 29, and Daniel Walsh, 60, both with Hanifen Towing, who died on Sept. 13 after a semi crashed into the vehicle they were attempting to tow from the side of the road. The semi's driver and the driver of the disabled vehicle also died. Here's the story:

Details of fatal crash known; 'why' isn't | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com:

Officials said they know how the accident happened that left four men dead last week near Grinnell.

But it is still a mystery why the semitrailer truck that caused the accident ran off Interstate Highway 80 at around 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

Authorities have checked out several factors.

Other truck drivers in the area at the same time said they weren’t having major issues with glare from the setting sun.

The last text message or phone call on the phone of Herbert Arthur Terrell, 54, the driver of the semi-truck that caused the wreck, was at noon that day — seven hours before the crash.

And Terrell was within his maximum allowed number of driving hours, authorities said.

Hiner trucking uses electronic records, said Iowa State Patrol Trooper Chris Starrett, which means time cards can’t be altered to misrepresent the number of hours a person drove.

Toxicology reports won’t be available for several weeks, Starrett said.

Whatever the reason, the semi driven by Terrell left the roadway.

A flatbed trailer driven by James F. Langolf, 50, had broken down and pulled onto the shoulder. Jesse J. Inman, 29, and Daniel Walsh, 60, both with Hanifen Towing, arrived to assist the truck.

They parked one vehicle in front of the flatbed to hook onto it. Another parked 50 to 100 feet behind the scene with its lights flashing to warn oncoming motorists. That vehicle was eventually to tow away the trailer portion of the broken-down truck.

The truck driver and one of the tow truck operators were standing behind the truck. The other tow truck driver was between the truck and the tow vehicle.

The semi driven by Terrell struck the vehicle parked behind the other two. That caused the truck to jack-knife and strike the broken-down truck, pushing it into the fourth vehicle.

All four men died at the scene.

It’s unclear how fast the semi was going at the time; authorities said they didn’t find mechanical problems with the vehicle.

Investigators found marks at the scene associated with tires skidding sideways during the initial impact, but none indicating attempts to brake afterward. They don’t know if that’s because Terrell simply didn’t have time to take evasive action or if he was incapacitated in any way.

Still, Starrett is hoping he can eventually figure out what caused the collision.

“I would hope that we would figure it out. Four people are dead,” he said. “But circumstances like this, sometimes we get lucky and do find a reason. Sometimes we don’t.”

Matheny Motors Expands Into WV

Here's the story:

PARKERSBURG - Matheny Motors in Parkersburg is expanding into Nitro, W.Va.
Matheny Motors finalized plans last week on the 3-acre, 25,000-square-foot facility in Nitro to locate a new commercial truck division and a second factory outlet store, company president Tim Matheny said.
The new dealership, which features a 17,000-square-foot service and repair center, will carry Frieghtliner, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, Hino, Thomas Built Bus, Miller Industries' towing and recovery equipment and Landoll Trailers.
"As we are approaching our 90th year in the truck equipment industry, I am excited to be able to offer a complete and full-line of trucks and equipment to our partners in the trucking, coal, oil, gas, construction, towing and transportation fields," Matheny said.
Matheny said the Nitro facility will open the company to new markets in the southern coalfields.
Matheny has taken over the former Turnpike Chevrolet used car facility in Nitro. Matheny Motors factory outlet will open next month with the truck division expected to be open around mid-November.
A grand opening will be held next spring.
The new site will employ 20-25 people, Matheny said.
The company employs 135 full-time and 25 part-time personnel in three states.
Matheny Motors was established in 1922 and has five locations: Parkersburg, Mineral Wells, Nitro, Marietta, Woodbridge, Va.
Matheny Motors is an authorized dealer for Freightliner, Volvo, Hino, Isuzu, Thomas Built Bus, Miller Industries, Landoll Trailers, Buick, GMC and Suzuki.

New Product: Bailey's Scotch & Snatch

Here's the press release:

The Bailey’s Scotch & Snatch is designed for light duty applications with front and/or rear mounted winches.  It was developed for the towing industry and is easily adapted for personal and recreational recoveries.  Newer trucks made with composite or aluminum bodies with no anchor points, here's your solution.  It uses no chains or anchor points while improving stability during recovery on any surface type.  It is a compact design for easy storage; folds to 14.5" x 12.75" x 4.5" with 1 pin making it very easy to use.  The Scotch & Snatch has corrosion resistant zinc plating and doubles as a wheel chock.  It’s made in the USA, start to finish.  It allows you to use your truck to its fullest potential, doing more with less.  There is an optional tire strap kit available for soft ground and/or larger tires. Manufactured by Bailey’s Towing Accessories, Inc.  Patent Pending

http://www.baileystowinginc.com/

Great Tow Biz Story From NC

She taught dad to read and write, he taught her the tow truck business | taught, dad, business - Gaston Gazette:

Tammy Maltba was 9 years old when her dad put her in a wrecker, propped a pillow behind her so she could reach the clutch and started teaching his little girl to drive.

Her father, Tommy’s Wrecker founder Tommy Morgan, would point out a junk car and have her pull that old Ford close.

“See if you can hook it,” Maltba remembers her dad coaxing.

So she did, and then spent the whole afternoon practicing the art of backing a wrecker, car in tow, up and down the driveway.

Tommy’s Wrecker is celebrating its 40th year in business this year. The shop on East Franklin Boulevard is only miles from the gravel lot in Ranlo where Maltba picked up her first tow. The company itself is a world away from the fledgling startup Morgan established at 17, building his first tow truck from a used pickup and an old-timey boom he mounted in the bed.

‘Mom, dad, best friend’

Morgan was 55 when he died in 2009, the victim of liver disease. In his lifetime, he nurtured the small company into a business with seven trucks and seven full-time employees, including Maltba.

He began, his daughter says, by working three jobs. Her dad worked mornings at Pharr Yarns, picked Maltba up from school, and then went in for his shift at a body shop.

Morgan also raised his daughter, alone.

And he raised her in the wrecker business. Around the same time she learned to drive the tow truck, Maltba started acting as dispatcher after school.

She’d take a call about a tow and get him on the radio, which in the early 1980s was a foot-and-a-half-tall piece of equipment they called a moose beater.

Once Tommy’s Wrecker got successful enough that the business needed a checking account, father and daughter went to the bank together to set it up.

A teenage Maltba took care of the billing and balancing, writing the checks and signing Morgan’s name.

Her father, she says, didn’t read or write well in those days so it was up to her to help.

She also helped Morgan correct that. He taught himself over the years, studying with his daughter when she would bring home spelling words and English assignments.

They did it all together, from expanding the business — Maltba was picking up tows before she had a driver’s license and training other drivers at 16 — to furthering their education.

“He was my mom, my dad, my best friend and my business partner,” Maltba says, a rare instance when she doesn’t refer to her late father in the present tense.

A photo of Morgan hangs across from her desk at the shop, where she can see and talk to him when she’s stumped. It helps, she says.

‘The kind of man he was’

Morgan made an impression on lots of others, too. He was known for setting up payment plans for elderly customers who needed a tow but couldn’t afford it, Maltba says.

Morgan spent more than a week in McAdenville after Hurricane Hugo blew through, using his wrecker to pull trees off houses and out of roads.

On snow days, he kept two crock pots full of vegetable stew simmering for his staff.

Jeff Clark, a Gastonia Police sergeant as well as friend and customer of Tommy’s, says Morgan made a name for himself being professional and generous.

“There’s probably no telling how many times he went and towed somebody who couldn’t pay him,” he said. “We’d tell him he couldn’t run a business like that … but that was the kind of man he was.”

Clark always called Morgan when he needed a tow. Now, he says, he always calls Maltba.

A woman in a man’s truck

She’s the only female wrecker driver Clark has ever come across, but he never worries about the job she’ll do.

Clark has heard the other drivers call her for instructions on tricky assignments and heard Maltba walk them through the steps like the veteran she is.

Not that everyone has that much confidence in a female in her position.

Maltba took over administrative duties when she finished high school but she’s always responded to calls when things get busy.

People still look twice when she’s on the road in one of the wreckers.

Once, in the early days, she had a man turn down her help, saying he was going to need her dad instead.

Maltba shrugged it off and called her father so they could switch jobs. While her father was alive, she says she was too certain in her abilities to let someone else’s doubt get to her.

Her confidence, she says, grew out of his confidence.

“My dad never worried. He’d say, ‘I’d put her up against any of these guys. … That’s how I stay tough. He believed in me. He believed I could do anything.”

‘Daddy did this’

Tommy’s Wrecker is still a family business.

Maltba’s husband, Lake Maltba, works there, as does their son, 17-year-old Cody, who can drive a truck but is too young to respond to wrecks under today’s rules.

Daughter Morgan, at 7, likes to answer phones, take directions and pass on jobs to drivers.

Those calls are relentless. Maltba forwards them to her cellphone and answers 24 hours a day, at home, in the grocery store, on the lake.

When people ask, however, she still tells them it’s her dad’s business.

Customers get confused and refer to Tammy’s Wrecker sometimes. Or they ask if she’s going to rename the shop.

“I tell them my daddy did this,” she says. “This is his dream. We’re just living it out.”

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Everyday Tow Hero & Police Hero In FL

WSVN-TV - Officer, tow truck driver help rescue baby: Kudos to these unnamed Good Samaritans!

KENDALL, Fla. (WSVN) -- A pair of Good Samaritans are being hailed heroes after rescuing a baby from a locked car.

The incident occurred Monday afternoon in the parking lot of a CVS along Kendall Drive and Southwest 97th Avenue. Police said a woman accidentally locked her baby inside her car.

A police officer and a tow truck driver, who were in the area, used a "slim-jim" to unlock the vehicle in a matter of minutes.

7Sky Force captured the scene as the Good Samaritans provided a quick save and reunited the mom and baby.

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Dangerous Duty In WI

Aaron Menzer, Green Bay, seriously hurt in head-on collision with tow truck in Howard | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com:

A Green Bay man was injured seriously Wednesday morning [July 28] when his car collided head-on with a tow truck in Howard. Deputies ticketed him on a charge of operating under the influence.

Aaron Menzer, 24, was southbound on Riverview Drive just south of Velp Avenue in a Ford Focus when he crossed the center line and hit the tow truck about 8:55 a.m., the Brown County Sheriff's Department said.

Menzer suffered serious injuries, but they did not appear life-threatening, said Sheriff's Lt. Keith Barth.

Howard firefighters freed Menzer from the car.

The car sustained major front-end damage. The tow truck had minor front-end damage. The truck is owned by Kozloski Towing of Howard. Driver David Kozloski, 59, of Howard was examined at a hospital and released.

Kozloski was en route to another accident to tow a vehicle when the crash occurred, Barth said.

— Charles Davis/Press-Gazette

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Had One Too Many? Hero Towing to the Rescue - Plainfield, IL Patch

Had One Too Many? Hero Towing to the Rescue - Plainfield, IL Patch:

Owner Larry Chason started a service in which he gives rides to impaired drivers and tows their cars home for $35.

By Robyn Monaghan Email the author July 28, 2011 Print&nbps;2 Comments

Tweet Email

Larry Chason has heard that time heals all wounds.

“But I’ve found one time can’t heal,” said the owner of Plainfield’s Hero Towing and Rescue in Plainfield.

Chason lost his wife and 7-year-old son Johnathan nearly 20

years ago in a collision with a drunk driver. The wounds might not have healed, but Chason has found a tow truck therapy that soothes his grief.

When he opened his own company last year, Chason came up with the "Last Call Special." For $35, he’ll tow you and your car home from a party or bar.

The offer is good for revelers in Plainfield, Joliet, Crest Hill, Shorewood and Romeoville, and he’ll drive two people up to 10 miles from the scene of the party. For people in other towns who need a safe ride home, he charges about half the price of a regular tow, plus $5.

“It’s my way of helping to see that no other parent goes through what I had to go through,” he said.

He has several customers who call him “when they crack their

first beer,” Chason said. They let him know when to have the truck waiting for them at the curb.

The name “Hero Towing” stems from another of Chason’s

children. When his daughter Fantasia was about 4 years old, she starting asking questions.

"Where is daddy?" she wanted to know, and "why is he always gone?"

Her mother, Jonquil, told her daddy was a tow truck driver. He was rescuing people whose cars stopped working.

"So daddy is a superhero like Spiderman?" the girl asked.

"Yes,” Jonquil told her. “Daddy is a tow guy and all tow guys are superheroes."

To get a safe ride home, call 815-254-0143.

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Dangerous Duty In NC

Recovery expected by tow operator who sustained electric shock | expected, vanceboro, operator - Sun Journal:

VANCEBORO — A tow truck operator thrown to the ground from the bed of a loaded pickup by electric shock by a drooping power line on U.S. 17 near Antioch Road is recovering in Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Joey Ipock, 26, of Ipock’s Parts and Service on N.C. 43 west of Vanceboro, was working with his father Frankie Ipock to remove a wrecked pickup truck from the roadside about 8 p.m. Saturday [July 30] when the accident occurred.

“He expects to make a full recovery,” Trooper C.W. Lawrance said Sunday shortly after talking with Ipock. “He had an entrance wound in his hand and an exit wound in his chest and was airlifted to Pitt.”

“He’s got some burns but he’s going to be alright,” said Jerry Ipock, who also works at the family business and is Joey’s uncle.

The incident itself, however, was jolting to those present, which included Lawrance, a Progress Energy employee, and the Ipocks, including Joey Ipock’s wife, who was in the tow truck cab.

“There was a loud bang, like a lightning strike, a few sparks, and I saw Mr. Ipock fall from the vehicle into the ditch,” said Lawrance, who was there to investigate a 6:10 p.m. accident where a pickup hit the pole.

“Progress Energy was already on the scene and told them the wire was live when they arrived,” he said.

“The father and son were there and pulled the truck onto the shoulder of the road,” he said. “They got there with a rollback wrecker and loaded the vehicle, power lines were hanging down a little bit, about the height of a tractor trailer, maybe four or five feet lower than the normal. The line wasn’t on the ground sparking or anything.”

Lawrance said the wrecker operators had picked up some strewn vehicle debris. He said Joey Ipock was in the back of the loaded pickup handling the debris, putting some aluminum piece in. Lawrance said Ipock tossed one piece of aluminum which touched the power line.

“An electric shock went through him and knocked him onto the ground,” Lawrance said.

Rescue workers from Little Swift Creek returned to the scene they had left about an hour before to assist Ipock.

In the earlier accident, Ricky Baker, 56, of Bridge Road in Vanceboro, had crossed the left center line in his pickup, hit a pole, and continued on, coming to a stop after striking some nearby trees, Lawrance said.

Baker was sent to CarolinaEast for treatment of injuries sustained in the wreck. He was also charged with driving while impaired.

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5665 or sbook@freedomenc.com.

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Sad News From CO

LODD, Colorado, Arvada, tow, truck, driver, killed, hit, and, run: "Colorado Tow Truck Driver Killed in Hit-and-Run
Monday, August 01, 2011

A tow truck driver was killed in Arvada early Sunday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. According to Arvada Police, Alan Dilley, a 41-year-old Connolly's Tow Truck driver, was helping emergency workers outside of a vehicle that needed to be towed. Just after 1:30 a.m., near the intersection of 58th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, police say Dilley was hit by a Nissan Rogue. "

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UPDATED: Tow Truck Driver's Name Released in Hit-and-Run Accident - Glen Burnie, MD Patch

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 38-year-old James Schreiber, Jr., who was struck and killed on the side of the road in MD yesterday. Schreiber of Pasadena was working for the Baltimore-based Ted's Towing Service when a hit-and-run driver took his life.

UPDATED: Tow Truck Driver's Name Released in Hit-and-Run Accident - Glen Burnie, MD Patch:

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Sad News From KY

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of longtime tower Paul Andrews Burrows of Burrows Garage and Wrecker Service. Here is the note we received from Scott Burrows:

It is with sadness that the Burrows Family announces the passing of Paul Andrew Burrows. Paul represented the third generation to lead Burrows Garage and Wrecker Service of Sligo, KY. His life has been filled with an abundance of successes that are evident in the legacy that remains today. His passion for helping others thrives within those that follow in his footsteps. Paul was born February 24, 1924 to Lottie and Jesse “Snooks” Burrows of Sligo, KY. He served in World War II and received a Purple Heart. His accomplishments throughout a lifetime of service to the trucking and towing industry are evident in the countless relationships Paul created while serving his fellow man with great skill and hard work. TRAK awarded Paul the “Million Mile Tower” award. He was the oldest living TRAA Level 3 Certified Operator. He was a lifelong member of the Sligo Baptist Church. The sadness that we feel fades in the brilliance of the memories we share of a man of great honor, strength and faith. In memory of a great man

The arrangements for visitation and his funeral are as follows:
Visitation will be at Ransdell Funeral Home in Bedford, KY 40006 on Wednesday 8/17 from 5pm - 8pm, Thursday 8/18 from 2pm - 8pm, Friday 8/19 from 11am - 1pm. The funeral service will be at Sligo Baptist Church on Friday at 2pm. He will be laid to rest at the Sligo Cemetery following the funeral service. A procession including delegations from the Towing community is being arranged to escort Paul from the funeral home in Bedford to the church in Sligo. 

Suspect In CO Tower's Dragging Death Bonds Out of Jail

Here's the story:

11 News has learned that Detra Farries, suspect in the death of tow truck driver Allen Rose, has bonded out of jail.
Farries had been held in the Criminal Justice Center on a $25,000 bond. She had been expected in court Friday, but her court appearance has been canceled. Farries bonded out Wednesday.

Rose's co-worker at J&J Towing told 11 News that the news Farries is out is disappointing.
In February, Rose was killed when police say Farries drove off in her SUV as it was in the process of being towed, dragging Rose for more than a mile through the streets of Colorado Springs. Rose eventually came loose from the SUV and landed in the street, dying a short time later.
11 News interviewed exclusively the couple who called 911. The couple followed the SUV, and eventually led police to a spot where Farries pulled over.
Earlier this month, Farries pleaded not guilty to Rose's death, shocking the tow truck community.
"She terrorized a whole community...she terrorized a whole community with her actions," Ron Archuleta with Absolute Towing said.
Farries' bond was reduced from $50,000 to $25,000, a decision that stunned family and friends of Rose. Farries' family members told 11 News that they were going to try to get donations from the public to bond her out of jail.
Farries' bondsman spoke with 11 News, saying he believes in the justice system, and he doubts she'll try and run. Farries has bonded out before, and ended up back in jail after violating the terms of her bond.
The trial has been set for November 7. The defense plans to file a motion for change in venue; that hearing will be held in September.

Video of Stolen Tow Truck Recovery

This was recovered in May, but video was posted recently.

Everyday Tow Hero In OK!

Here's the story:

By Wendy Burton
Phoenix Staff Writer
A woman who volunteered to take in two horses found with jutting ribs said people must have no idea what it costs to keep a horse.
“They think, ‘Oh, I’d like to have a horse. How cool,’” said Glenda Dagenhart, officer manager at Morgan Towing and Recovery. “But have no thought on what it costs to feed and care for a horse.”
Two sick horses, and a dead horse were found in a pen at about 7th and Kalamazoo streets Friday evening.
The small enclosure did have shade and a tank for water — but the tank was bone dry.
The ground was mostly dirt and scrub and there was no hay in sight.
Animal Control Officer Nita Pearce said the dead horse most likely died from lack of water.
“When it’s 106 degrees out and there’s no water, no grass at all, it’s no wonder it died,” Pearce said.
Morgan Towing and Recovery was called to pick up the sick animals. A towing company is typically called to pick up rescued livestock, Dagenhart said.
Dagenhart has been taking in rescued horses for a few years. But caring for malnourished horses is something she does only as a service to the city and county.
Dagenhart can’t take in horses people simply don’t want anymore because of the expense involved, she said.
And the chances of the horse owner showing up to claim the two picked up Friday is slim, she said.
The landowner told police he does not own the horses and does not know who is responsible for them, Pearce said.
Without an owner to pony up the fees for towing the horses, shelter and feed, Dagenhart loses money.
“A horse eats 18 hours a day, and you have to feed horses every day,” Dagenhart said. “These had no grass whatsoever, no food, no water — no nothing.”
A horse has to have hay, some kind of roughage and water, she said, unlike cattle that only get fed in the winter and fend for themselves during the summer.
The extreme heat the area is experiencing makes horse-ownership even more demanding.
“My water tank usually lasts a week and I’m filling it up every other day,” Dagenhart said. “And hay is pretty expensive right now.”
The two mares that Dagenhart took in Friday are doing much better already.
The sorrel mare had sores and cuts all over her body and her ribs were sharply defined. The bay mare was in a little better shape, Dagenhart said.
Both horses need to be wormed and have their hooves trimmed, in addition to extra feed to help them gain weight.
She estimated the mares to be about 3 years old, and said they could each stand to gain a couple hundred pounds.
Dagenhart has taken in several horses over the last few years, she said, though usually during the bitter cold of winter.
She boards the horses taken by animal control, and if they are not claimed, she has to find a new home for them or sell them.
“Right now, though, you could take these mares to the sale barn and only get $25 a piece for them,” Dagenhart said. “But I think they’ll both make nice horses for someone someday.”
Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.

'Move Over' For TX Towers Goes Into Effect In September

Here's the story:

Starting in September, drivers will have to be on the lookout for tow trucks on state roadways.
A new law taking effect in September requires you to change lanes and put a lane between your car and a tow truck on the shoulder.
Five tow truck operators have been killed on the job in Texas this year, prompting lawmakers to add tow trucks to the "move-over" law.
If you can't put a lane between you and a tow truck driver, the law requires you to slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
This is welcome news for tow truck drivers like David Smallwood,  whose had his share of close calls.
"I've been clipped by a couple cars with their mirrors, they don't even slow down they just go as fast as they want to go," says Smallwood.
Ronnie Herrera owns a Vidor towing company and says his drivers are often in vulnerable situations on the highway.
"You may be doing wrenching, you may be standing on the side of the road , if it's an 18-wheeler, you have to be underneath it," says Herrera.
The dangers tow truck drivers face each time they pull over were more real than ever for Smallwood, who once felt compelled to call his family to say his goodbyes before freeing a car from a tanker truck.
"I actually called my wife and kids and told them that I loved them," says Smallwood.
Stories like this are what prompted lawmakers to add the level of protection for these workers, who come to the rescue when drivers break down or have a wreck.

ITRHFM To Host Chevy Fireball Run In September

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The Chevrolet Fireball Run Adventurally will roll through Chattanooga's International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum in September.
The public is welcome to meet teams as they arrive Sept. 28 between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Fireball Run rally teams are competing in the world's largest board game, and the United States is the game board. Teams from all over the country must solve clues and accomplish missions to navigate the country and score.

Everyday Tow Hero In SC

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Spartanburg, SC -- A tow truck driver and a radio station can be thanked for helping officers find a 13-year-old girl from Alamance County who was reported missing two days earlier.
Alexandria Brooke Cagle was found traveling Wednesday with Tyler Ross Cole, 18, along I-85 South in Spartanburg County, SC. Authorities were looking for them after Cagle was reported missing when she left home with Cole Monday morning. Investigators said they met online a few weeks earlier and Cole drove down from West Virginia where he lives.
Tow truck driver Beano Francis said he was listening to a radio station Tuesday when he heard the description of Cole's car. The next day, Francis was driving on I-85 when he saw a car matching the same description.
"Snap, soon as that car passed me, I mean he was right beside me, soon as he got beside me, I looked and I was like, that's the description. But when he passed me, and I saw West Virginia license plates, I thought this could be what I heard yesterday," Francis explained.
He continued to follow the car while he called deputies.
"I felt sure that was it. I would have followed him to Kalamazoo til they got there," said Francis, who wasn't suppose to be taking the trip on I-85 Wednesday, but he was filling in for someone else.
Cole is facing charges of felony kidnapping, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and felonious larceny. 

Sad News From CO

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GOLDEN, Colo. -- A Lakewood man faces a first-degree murder charge for allegedly crashing an SUV into a tow truck driver at an accident scene early Sunday morning.
Zacharia Dobler, 28, was in court Wednesday where he was formally charged with murder, vehicular homicide, motor vehicle theft, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence.
Authorities say Dobler was driving intoxicated in a Nissan Rogue when he struck 41-year-old Alan Dilley, who was in the process of hooking up a vehicle for towing near the intersection of 58th and Wadsworth Blvd.
Dilley was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Dobler was pulled over minutes later in the area of 64th and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Court records show Dobler has three previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, among other criminal counts.
Prosecutors say he was ordered to use an ignition interlock device, or a car breathalyzer, on his personal vehicle, but was instead driving another car on the morning of the crash.
He is being held without bond.

The August Digital Edition Is Now Available!

Your August 2011 digital edition of Towing and Recovery Footnotes is now available. Simply click here to instantly begin reading the issue, or click on the features below to read specific articles. A Life On The Road. Chuck Murphy sent us a story about his life as a towman. He covers many issues of interest to others who have shared a similar life, unsung and often unappreciated, but always out there in bad weather and good, working hard to help motorists and clear the highways for police and other responders. Page 1 Go Getters. Stuck with unclaimed cars on your lot? Debtors not paying you? Here's how to help yourself get what you are due, and failing that, how to work with collection agencies who will chase the money down for you. Page 10 Arrow Hits The Mark. Diane Richardson's husband tragically developed an illness that took him away from his beloved towing business. But this didn't stop Diane from taking over Arrow Wrecker Service to not only keep the doors open but put the company on the road to even higher success. Page 17 Bad Guys At Work. Tow trucks are being used to steal cars outright in some communities, further damaging the reputations of reputable towers. This article highlights the issue and serves as an industry alert to help stop these disreputable rogues.Page 22 The Advisor. The towPartners Advisor appears monthly in Footnotes. Advisor features advice in all areas of towing, from technical details to business operations. towPartners also offers towers the opportunity for great discounts from many equipment and service vendors. Page 13 Also in this issue: The schedule of upcoming tow shows; all the towing news that is fit to print in Short Hauls; our lost towers, and much more. Also, we offer great combo print/online advertising dealsthat will increase product visibility at a savings over the usual ad rates. If you cannot click on any of the links above, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser: August 2011 Issue: http://www.flashedition.com/publication?i=75509 We hope you enjoy the August issue of Towing & Recovery Footnotes. Sincerely,Bill Candler  Editor