Pairing tradition with technology, groundsmen combine their experience with the latest industry trends to maintain a picturesque turf. Education is a must to keep up with the latest research findings in the business. And, as groundsmen adapt to new turf and grass recommendations, equipment manufacturers try to stay par for par by incorporating new technology in their latest designs of turf maintenance machines.
Of all these turfcare trends, topdressing is one that has been evolving since the early days of golf. What began as a generous aTopdresser1pplication of sand, which was applied only a couple times each year, has developed into a process that is practised much more frequently with a very precise amount of material. Proper equipment is needed to adhere to these recommendations and, fortunately, manufacturers have adapted with the times to maximise the accuracy of their machines, whilst minimising the physical footprint and eliminating unnecessary maintenance. One could say they have the design of topdressers down to a science.
Whilst several types of topdressers are available - from large units capable of tackling par-five fairways to small walk-behind machines - we'll focus on the small towable units. These are large enough to vastly improve efficiency over walk-behind equipment, but are gentle enough to handle topdressing applications on the most precious areas: greens and tees.
On Target
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has been recommending lighter applications of topdressing material and, over there, some groundsmen are spreading sand at less than 1mm. To maintain such a light depth in a uniform application, a topdresser's feed system, gate, spinner and controller all must work together to achieve results that are on target with individual needs.
The traditional method of feeding material to the spinner is a conveyor system. Just as the name hints, a conveyor is used to move material from the hopper, through the gate and onto the spinner. This system works well in high-capacity units, where a wide belt is capable of moving large amounts of material from the hopper. But, where conveyors excel in quantity, they lack in consistency.
Recently, manufacturers have developed auger systems, which feed a more accurate amount of material onto a precise spot on the spinner. With the help of a digital readout, the operator is able to see exactly how many pounds of material he is spreading per minute according to his auger speed setting. This technology has increased in popularity, not only for its consistent, measurable material flow, but also for its ability to handle diverse materials, rather than just pure sand. Since the auger diameter used in these units is typically 150 to 180mm, they don't have the capacity to deliver as much material as large conveyors, though.
Material waste is another important consideration in many new designs. Again, auger feed designs excel in this category, as conveyors have a tendency to drag sand underneath the machine and spill it onto the ground. But, in order to reduce material waste upon startup and shutdown, some manufacturers have developed an automatic procedure for when the unit is turned on and off.
When all topdresser components are shut off at the same time, a build-up of material is typically left on the spinner. Then, when the unit is started, the operator experiences a sudden rush of material that leaves a clump of sand on the ground. To prevent this occurrence, and keep the system cleared at all times, some machines will automatically power up the spinners before the feed system starts, and then shut the spinners off a few seconds after tTopdresser2he material flow stops.
Next, a few spinner enhancements have been developed to help accommodate personal preferences. These include tiltable spinners, which help control how material is propelled into the turf canopy. Also, some designs incorporate spinners with adjustable paddles for further fine-tuning the spread pattern.
Even the gate plays an important part in the feeding process. It helps regulate material flow and, in some topdressers, it can be electronically actuated from the seat of the towing vehicle. The positive locking feature on these electronic units is especially handy for quickly closing and opening the gate when moving from one green to the next. This prevents material from bouncing out during transport.
Regardless of the feed system used, any topdresser can be inhibited by material that lumps together - especially wet sand. This occurrence prevents a consistent flow of material to the spinner, reducing the accuracy for which greenkeepers strive. However, many units now contain vibrators to eliminate the problem by breaking up such material.
Finally, to manage all of these components, controllers have started to become more sophisticated. Like the topdressers themselves, controllers come with varying abilities - from basic to more advanced. The simplest machines may require the operator to make adjustments on the machine itself, which becomes difficult for pinpointing the desired settings. But, by using the latest technology, the operator can mount electronic controls in the towing vehicle and manage each of the components independently from the cab. The industry is beginning to trend toward the technology of independent controls, which allows a topdresser to spread accurately and helps to prevent material waste.
2011年6月29日星期三
RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
RockShox Reverb Stealth
RockShox’s Reverb adjustable seatpost marked a breakthrough moment for dropper posts; simply because it’s one of the most impressive we’ve had the chance to use.
Never a company to rest on its laurels, RockShox has just released the Stealth, a variation of the Reverb that allows for the hydraulic hose to be routed inside the frame, creating a much cleaner look than a hose dangling along the top tube of the frame.
To do this RockShox modified the internals and the hydraulic hose now exits from the bottom of the post allow it to be passed down through the seat tube. This requires modification to the frame, and so far only Trek and Scott have modified frames to be compatible with the Stealth.
Reverb Stealth will be available exclusively on select Scott and Trek bikes for Model Year 2012. Scott will spec the Stealth on the Genius LT 10 and 20, while Trek will provide specific model details in July.
RockShox’s Reverb adjustable seatpost marked a breakthrough moment for dropper posts; simply because it’s one of the most impressive we’ve had the chance to use.
Never a company to rest on its laurels, RockShox has just released the Stealth, a variation of the Reverb that allows for the hydraulic hose to be routed inside the frame, creating a much cleaner look than a hose dangling along the top tube of the frame.
To do this RockShox modified the internals and the hydraulic hose now exits from the bottom of the post allow it to be passed down through the seat tube. This requires modification to the frame, and so far only Trek and Scott have modified frames to be compatible with the Stealth.
Reverb Stealth will be available exclusively on select Scott and Trek bikes for Model Year 2012. Scott will spec the Stealth on the Genius LT 10 and 20, while Trek will provide specific model details in July.
2011年6月26日星期日
Aircraft recovery in Greenland has Ovid connection
A California team's plan to recover a P-38 fighter aircraft entombed under hundreds of feet of glacial snow and ice in Greenland is under way.
If all goes well, the team hopes to have a P-38 wreck located by next weekend, Ken McBride, the team leader, said in an e-mail. Recovery of the plane, he added, might be possible by the second or third week in September.
McBride cautioned, "many factors can alter the plan." He cited weather as an example, mechanical issues with airplanes and shipping companies sometimes falling behind schedule.
Team members will search for a wreck site using a Wilga 80, an aircraft acquired in Texas and equipped with a radar detection probe. That plane was due at the Ovid Airport Saturday or Sunday, June 25 or 26.
The Wilga's windshield had to be replaced and other repairs made. "Came out very nice," McBride said, "but took six full days!" The search began then for skis for the plane, with team members following up on a lead in Poland and another on the East Coast.
"We have a tentative lease deal on so, hopefully, between the two we'll come up with a set. They are harder to find than expected," McBride said.
Another plane that figures prominently in the recovery plan is a Russian built Antonov AN-2, housed at the Ovid Airport. The single-engine bi-plane, noted for its good field performance and use on short, unimproved runways, could begin its Greenland flight around July 9 or 10. It would be used to ferry men and equipment to the crash site from a base station.
John King, owner of the Ovid Airport, said McBride was here in February to test the AN-2's performance on skis. All went well, he said. And despite the cold weather, "she started right up."
The recovery team launched its Greenland plans last year with most of the summer season spent at the Ovid Airport readying for the trip. But delays forced McBride to call off the trip with Greenland's winter weather closing in.
Six P-38s and two B-17 bombers left Presque Isle Air Base in Maine en route to Great Britain on July 15, 1942. The pilots were to fly southeast over the ice cap and the mountains of Greenland, cross the Denmark Strait and proceed to Reykjavik, Iceland.
At 12,000 feet, the aircraft encountered a heavy blanket of fog. As conditions worsened, the pilots, with fuel running low, opted to land on the east coast of Greenland and had to abandon their planes there. The crewmen were all safely rescued. One of the six P-38s was recovered in 1992 and is in use today as Glacier Girl.
The Glacier Girl recovery team used a thermal meltdown generator to melt the ice and a thermal pump and hose system were used to keep the area free of water. The recovered P-38 was lying 268 feet below the surface of snow and ice. Men armed with steam hoses were lowered into the hole to create a cave surrounding the airplane and work continued for about a month.
If all goes well, the team hopes to have a P-38 wreck located by next weekend, Ken McBride, the team leader, said in an e-mail. Recovery of the plane, he added, might be possible by the second or third week in September.
McBride cautioned, "many factors can alter the plan." He cited weather as an example, mechanical issues with airplanes and shipping companies sometimes falling behind schedule.
Team members will search for a wreck site using a Wilga 80, an aircraft acquired in Texas and equipped with a radar detection probe. That plane was due at the Ovid Airport Saturday or Sunday, June 25 or 26.
The Wilga's windshield had to be replaced and other repairs made. "Came out very nice," McBride said, "but took six full days!" The search began then for skis for the plane, with team members following up on a lead in Poland and another on the East Coast.
"We have a tentative lease deal on so, hopefully, between the two we'll come up with a set. They are harder to find than expected," McBride said.
Another plane that figures prominently in the recovery plan is a Russian built Antonov AN-2, housed at the Ovid Airport. The single-engine bi-plane, noted for its good field performance and use on short, unimproved runways, could begin its Greenland flight around July 9 or 10. It would be used to ferry men and equipment to the crash site from a base station.
John King, owner of the Ovid Airport, said McBride was here in February to test the AN-2's performance on skis. All went well, he said. And despite the cold weather, "she started right up."
The recovery team launched its Greenland plans last year with most of the summer season spent at the Ovid Airport readying for the trip. But delays forced McBride to call off the trip with Greenland's winter weather closing in.
Six P-38s and two B-17 bombers left Presque Isle Air Base in Maine en route to Great Britain on July 15, 1942. The pilots were to fly southeast over the ice cap and the mountains of Greenland, cross the Denmark Strait and proceed to Reykjavik, Iceland.
At 12,000 feet, the aircraft encountered a heavy blanket of fog. As conditions worsened, the pilots, with fuel running low, opted to land on the east coast of Greenland and had to abandon their planes there. The crewmen were all safely rescued. One of the six P-38s was recovered in 1992 and is in use today as Glacier Girl.
The Glacier Girl recovery team used a thermal meltdown generator to melt the ice and a thermal pump and hose system were used to keep the area free of water. The recovered P-38 was lying 268 feet below the surface of snow and ice. Men armed with steam hoses were lowered into the hole to create a cave surrounding the airplane and work continued for about a month.
ACROSS the BIG SKY
The Mine Safety Health Administration early Saturday lifted an evacuation and closure order for the Stillwater mine near Columbusa day after the mine was evacuated when smoke was reported at the underground platinum mine.
Amy Louviere with the Mine Safety Health Administration said the mine has reopened.
All of the miners made it to the surface on Friday, and no injuries were reported. Louviere said a mine rescue team reached the source of the smoke and found a broken hydraulic hose that sprayed fluid on a piece of machinery.
Hamilton man charged with stealing tiger pelt from Daly Mansion
HAMILTON — An 18-year-old Hamiltonman who police said broke into a historic mansion and stole a tiger pelt has been charged with felony burglary.
Authorities said police matched shoe footprints at the Daly Mansion with shoes being worn by Mitchell James Gouse. He was charged Friday.
Authorities said that they later recorded a phone call in which Gouse confessed the burglary to his father.
Gouse is scheduled to appear in district court in mid-July.
The Daly Mansion is the former home of 19th century industrialist Marcus Daly. It was purchased by the state of Montana in 1986 and is open for public tours.
Washout closes Yellowstone road
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A road in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley has been closed after some 30 feet were partly washed out by high water.
Park officials said rushing waters at the confluence between the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek damaged a section of the eastbound lane of the park's Northeast Entrance road just west of Soda Butte.
Visitors still can travel into the Northeast Entrance of the park from Red Lodgeor Cody, Wyo., over the Beartooth Highway or the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.
The National Park Service closed the road late Friday evening. A spokesman said it's unclear how long it may take to reopen the road.
Idaho city trims trees for megaloads
MOSCOW, Idaho — Officials in the northern Idaho city of Moscow have issued a permit to trim trees along the route of two oil refinery equipment shipments belonging to Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil.
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that the city's Parks and Recreation Department issued the permit Friday for the trimming of 18 trees which planned to start Sunday.
Parks and Recreation Director Dwight Curtis said the oil refinery loads will move down Washington Street.
The oil company earlier this month received permits from the Idaho Transportation Department to transport two modules through Moscow on U.S. Highway 95 and then to Interstate 90 starting Monday.
More than 200 of the oversized rigs are slated to travel through Idaho and Montana over the next year to the Kearl Oil Fields in Alberta, Canada.
Amy Louviere with the Mine Safety Health Administration said the mine has reopened.
All of the miners made it to the surface on Friday, and no injuries were reported. Louviere said a mine rescue team reached the source of the smoke and found a broken hydraulic hose that sprayed fluid on a piece of machinery.
Hamilton man charged with stealing tiger pelt from Daly Mansion
HAMILTON — An 18-year-old Hamiltonman who police said broke into a historic mansion and stole a tiger pelt has been charged with felony burglary.
Authorities said police matched shoe footprints at the Daly Mansion with shoes being worn by Mitchell James Gouse. He was charged Friday.
Authorities said that they later recorded a phone call in which Gouse confessed the burglary to his father.
Gouse is scheduled to appear in district court in mid-July.
The Daly Mansion is the former home of 19th century industrialist Marcus Daly. It was purchased by the state of Montana in 1986 and is open for public tours.
Washout closes Yellowstone road
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A road in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley has been closed after some 30 feet were partly washed out by high water.
Park officials said rushing waters at the confluence between the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek damaged a section of the eastbound lane of the park's Northeast Entrance road just west of Soda Butte.
Visitors still can travel into the Northeast Entrance of the park from Red Lodgeor Cody, Wyo., over the Beartooth Highway or the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.
The National Park Service closed the road late Friday evening. A spokesman said it's unclear how long it may take to reopen the road.
Idaho city trims trees for megaloads
MOSCOW, Idaho — Officials in the northern Idaho city of Moscow have issued a permit to trim trees along the route of two oil refinery equipment shipments belonging to Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil.
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that the city's Parks and Recreation Department issued the permit Friday for the trimming of 18 trees which planned to start Sunday.
Parks and Recreation Director Dwight Curtis said the oil refinery loads will move down Washington Street.
The oil company earlier this month received permits from the Idaho Transportation Department to transport two modules through Moscow on U.S. Highway 95 and then to Interstate 90 starting Monday.
More than 200 of the oversized rigs are slated to travel through Idaho and Montana over the next year to the Kearl Oil Fields in Alberta, Canada.
2011年6月22日星期三
Czech museum ends its move; elevation is next
Two weeks after the monumental move began, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 30 16th Ave. SW, was finally positioned Tuesday in front of its new home.
Gary Rozek, who leads the museum board’s building committee, said the museum rolled into place about 7:30 p.m., covering nearly 70 feet since the afternoon and 480 feet from its original spot along the Cedar River.
“Yes, we finished and everything’s perfect,” he said.
The next phase involves removing the 40 dollies – 10 of which were hydraulic and powered the move- and elevating the building with jacks and cribbing.
Rozek said the museum will be lifted about 12 feet so the building can slide onto its new foundation on top of a parking garage. That process could take another six to eight weeks.
Nearly daily downpours hampered progress by the movers, Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, which started the relocation on June 8.
Here is the update from Monday:
Truckloads of rock were dumped Monday at the site of a monumental move – now heading into its 14th day – after rain again inundated the area.
Movers prepare the grounds to move the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library on Monday, June 20, 2011. (David Scrivner/SourceMedia Group News)The gravel replaced muck to allow the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library to continue on its move toward a new foundation.
On Saturday, Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, pivoted the nearly 17,000-square-foot museum, so the side facing the Cedar River can become the front entrance.
Wheels were adjusted on Sunday to continue the move, but as has been the case since the relocation began on June 8, more rain pelted the site, leaving the road a mess, said museum spokeswoman Diana Baculis.
Baculis said the rocks were brought in to stabilize the road built for the move.
Workers hoped to move the building another 100 feet to position it in front of its new foundation on top of a parking garage, she said.
The crew connected a tow truck and a track hoe to steel beams supporting the building to provide extra traction, and the museum began moving about 4 p.m. Monday, five feet or so at a time.
Workers moved steel plates on the ground from the rear of the museum to the front to further stabilize the move.
The building progressed more than halfway to its new site before a hydraulic hose blew about 8 p.m., ending that day’s move. Weather permitting, the move will continue Tuesday.
Baculis said once the building is in place, it will be raised another 12 feet with 40 towers of cribbing – wood timbers – before it slides on top of the parking garage.
“That (cribbing) will take some time to put together,” she said. “It will be a slow process.”
Gary Rozek, who leads the museum board’s building committee, said the museum rolled into place about 7:30 p.m., covering nearly 70 feet since the afternoon and 480 feet from its original spot along the Cedar River.
“Yes, we finished and everything’s perfect,” he said.
The next phase involves removing the 40 dollies – 10 of which were hydraulic and powered the move- and elevating the building with jacks and cribbing.
Rozek said the museum will be lifted about 12 feet so the building can slide onto its new foundation on top of a parking garage. That process could take another six to eight weeks.
Nearly daily downpours hampered progress by the movers, Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, which started the relocation on June 8.
Here is the update from Monday:
Truckloads of rock were dumped Monday at the site of a monumental move – now heading into its 14th day – after rain again inundated the area.
Movers prepare the grounds to move the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library on Monday, June 20, 2011. (David Scrivner/SourceMedia Group News)The gravel replaced muck to allow the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library to continue on its move toward a new foundation.
On Saturday, Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, pivoted the nearly 17,000-square-foot museum, so the side facing the Cedar River can become the front entrance.
Wheels were adjusted on Sunday to continue the move, but as has been the case since the relocation began on June 8, more rain pelted the site, leaving the road a mess, said museum spokeswoman Diana Baculis.
Baculis said the rocks were brought in to stabilize the road built for the move.
Workers hoped to move the building another 100 feet to position it in front of its new foundation on top of a parking garage, she said.
The crew connected a tow truck and a track hoe to steel beams supporting the building to provide extra traction, and the museum began moving about 4 p.m. Monday, five feet or so at a time.
Workers moved steel plates on the ground from the rear of the museum to the front to further stabilize the move.
The building progressed more than halfway to its new site before a hydraulic hose blew about 8 p.m., ending that day’s move. Weather permitting, the move will continue Tuesday.
Baculis said once the building is in place, it will be raised another 12 feet with 40 towers of cribbing – wood timbers – before it slides on top of the parking garage.
“That (cribbing) will take some time to put together,” she said. “It will be a slow process.”
Tenneco's Kinetic Suspension, the Anti Anti-Roll Bar - Tech Dept
The lowly damper (a.k.a. shock absorber) is the unsung hero of any car’s suspension system. Ride and handling specialists sweat untold hours over them, and engineers have painstakingly improved shocks with friction-reducing seals, gas pressurization, electronic valving, and even magnetic fields. While it’s hard to argue with a 3-series BMW’s poise or the comfort strides Ferrari has achieved of late, the damper’s best days may lie ahead. Credit Australian Chris Heyring for inventing a superior means of controlling wheel and body motion and Tenneco for developing that technology into its Kinetic suspension system.
Conventional shocks use calibrated orifices restricting the oil flow through a moving piston to produce damping effects that manage some very complicated, often contradictory forces—wheel impacts (the so-called bump force) want a soft response; body heaves (roll) demand a stiffer one. The Kinetic setup keeps the piston stroking in sync with wheel motion inside an oil-filled cylinder at each corner just as in a conventional shock, but it adds some embellishments. To diminish the usual trade-offs between ride and handling, the creation and manipulation of damping forces are moved outside these hydraulic units in a manner far beyond the electronic valves and remote reservoirs employed before. A network of hoses connects all four units to two hydraulic accumulators (sealed devices containing pressurized nitrogen and oil separated by a membrane). In the most exotic version of the Kinetic system, there’s also a pump to adjust the pressure inside the accumulators.
Heyring’s brainstorm was a scheme for interconnecting the eight chambers inside the four suspension units. The top chambers on one side of the vehicle are hydraulically linked to the opposite side’s bottom chambers, and vice versa [see schematic above].
When a one-wheel bump is encountered, the resulting suspension motion pumps oil into one chamber and out the other side of the piston at that corner of the car. To minimize the disturbance at the other corners, both accumulators regulate this flow. Damping forces are produced as the oil passes through calibrated restrictions (orifices) built into the hydraulic hose attachments.
When the car negotiates a corner, the cross-plumbing arrangement yields a response dramatically different from the one-wheel reaction. Now the outbound flow of oil from all four hydraulic units rushes into just one accumulator. The contained nitrogen acts as a spring to resist that flow. As a result, there’s no need for anti-roll bars or stiff suspension coils to keep the body from listing excessively in a bend.
Because the bump and roll modes act independently, the Kinetic system can be tuned to provide a controlled response over potholes, supple ride motions over dips, and firm resistance to body lean in sweeping bends. Adding electronically adjustable orifices allows the damping to be keyed to car velocity and the driver’s moods. Pumping extra oil into the hydraulic veins raises the accumulator pressure—and roll stiffness—to provide a handy track-day setting.
Conventional shocks use calibrated orifices restricting the oil flow through a moving piston to produce damping effects that manage some very complicated, often contradictory forces—wheel impacts (the so-called bump force) want a soft response; body heaves (roll) demand a stiffer one. The Kinetic setup keeps the piston stroking in sync with wheel motion inside an oil-filled cylinder at each corner just as in a conventional shock, but it adds some embellishments. To diminish the usual trade-offs between ride and handling, the creation and manipulation of damping forces are moved outside these hydraulic units in a manner far beyond the electronic valves and remote reservoirs employed before. A network of hoses connects all four units to two hydraulic accumulators (sealed devices containing pressurized nitrogen and oil separated by a membrane). In the most exotic version of the Kinetic system, there’s also a pump to adjust the pressure inside the accumulators.
Heyring’s brainstorm was a scheme for interconnecting the eight chambers inside the four suspension units. The top chambers on one side of the vehicle are hydraulically linked to the opposite side’s bottom chambers, and vice versa [see schematic above].
When a one-wheel bump is encountered, the resulting suspension motion pumps oil into one chamber and out the other side of the piston at that corner of the car. To minimize the disturbance at the other corners, both accumulators regulate this flow. Damping forces are produced as the oil passes through calibrated restrictions (orifices) built into the hydraulic hose attachments.
When the car negotiates a corner, the cross-plumbing arrangement yields a response dramatically different from the one-wheel reaction. Now the outbound flow of oil from all four hydraulic units rushes into just one accumulator. The contained nitrogen acts as a spring to resist that flow. As a result, there’s no need for anti-roll bars or stiff suspension coils to keep the body from listing excessively in a bend.
Because the bump and roll modes act independently, the Kinetic system can be tuned to provide a controlled response over potholes, supple ride motions over dips, and firm resistance to body lean in sweeping bends. Adding electronically adjustable orifices allows the damping to be keyed to car velocity and the driver’s moods. Pumping extra oil into the hydraulic veins raises the accumulator pressure—and roll stiffness—to provide a handy track-day setting.
2011年6月19日星期日
Johnson finishes one day of seeding before rain comes – again
It's been a tough planting season for producers in northwestern and north central North Dakota with few acres being planted.
Spring has been unusually wet with little sun and lots of precipitation and flooding throughout the region.
Fields continue to be muddy and wet, with standing water in most fields, and many roads continue to be closed or are treacherous to drive on due to water running across the roads.
Roger Johnson, who operates a farm/ranch with his wife, Mary, near Donnybrook, said he was finally able to get into the fields on Monday, June 6 to seed. Earlier he had harrowed a few hundred acres in order to bring the soil up and dry the ground more quickly.
"I finally seeded some spring wheat," Roger said, adding he planted the wheat on the same ground he had earlier harrowed. However, the fields were still soft in areas. "I didn't get stuck, but there were some close calls."
As luck would have it, he blew a hydraulic hose later in the day, but was able to get 160 acres seeded.
Then it started to rain again.
That continued throughout the week, with most days overcast and rainy.
"Unless something drastic happens and there is a week of dry weather, we probably won't get any more acres seeded," he said. They have decided not to plant canola this year even if the weather dries out. It has just been too long after the planting date deadline, he said.
Roger said it is the worst spring weather he has seen in his entire life of farming. "I've never seen anything like this before," he added.
But Roger is not the only one with planting problems. In fact, toward Glenburn and Mohall to the west of him, he has heard conditions are even worse.
"The land there isn't as flat and doesn't drain as well," he said.
With all the wet weather, most of his acreage will probably be prevent plant acres this year. This is one reason it is important that crop insurance continue to be kept a strong program, he said.
"There wouldn't be farming today without it."
The one positive is they have a great hay crop coming with all the precipitation, and the grass is greener than it has ever been. The cow/calf pairs will be enjoying their summer pasture this year.
"The alfalfa fields are looking nice, too," Roger said. "We'll have some happy cows this year. That's a plus."
All the calves have been vaccinated and tagged and have been moved to summer pastures.
Meanwhile, Roger, who is on the township board, attended a FEMA meeting with Mary in Minot. There were representatives from many townships there, looking to see if FEMA would be providing any dollars to help them with fixing the poor roads they have due to flooding.
"There must have been 100 people there from the townships looking for money for roads," he said.
In his township, Roger said a few of the roads have at least become drivable recently. If they can't get FEMA dollars due to the number of requests for loans, the township will fix the roads themselves, he said.
Meanwhile, Roger and Mary are looking forward to his oldest daughter and her husband coming from Florida to visit them.
Spring has been unusually wet with little sun and lots of precipitation and flooding throughout the region.
Fields continue to be muddy and wet, with standing water in most fields, and many roads continue to be closed or are treacherous to drive on due to water running across the roads.
Roger Johnson, who operates a farm/ranch with his wife, Mary, near Donnybrook, said he was finally able to get into the fields on Monday, June 6 to seed. Earlier he had harrowed a few hundred acres in order to bring the soil up and dry the ground more quickly.
"I finally seeded some spring wheat," Roger said, adding he planted the wheat on the same ground he had earlier harrowed. However, the fields were still soft in areas. "I didn't get stuck, but there were some close calls."
As luck would have it, he blew a hydraulic hose later in the day, but was able to get 160 acres seeded.
Then it started to rain again.
That continued throughout the week, with most days overcast and rainy.
"Unless something drastic happens and there is a week of dry weather, we probably won't get any more acres seeded," he said. They have decided not to plant canola this year even if the weather dries out. It has just been too long after the planting date deadline, he said.
Roger said it is the worst spring weather he has seen in his entire life of farming. "I've never seen anything like this before," he added.
But Roger is not the only one with planting problems. In fact, toward Glenburn and Mohall to the west of him, he has heard conditions are even worse.
"The land there isn't as flat and doesn't drain as well," he said.
With all the wet weather, most of his acreage will probably be prevent plant acres this year. This is one reason it is important that crop insurance continue to be kept a strong program, he said.
"There wouldn't be farming today without it."
The one positive is they have a great hay crop coming with all the precipitation, and the grass is greener than it has ever been. The cow/calf pairs will be enjoying their summer pasture this year.
"The alfalfa fields are looking nice, too," Roger said. "We'll have some happy cows this year. That's a plus."
All the calves have been vaccinated and tagged and have been moved to summer pastures.
Meanwhile, Roger, who is on the township board, attended a FEMA meeting with Mary in Minot. There were representatives from many townships there, looking to see if FEMA would be providing any dollars to help them with fixing the poor roads they have due to flooding.
"There must have been 100 people there from the townships looking for money for roads," he said.
In his township, Roger said a few of the roads have at least become drivable recently. If they can't get FEMA dollars due to the number of requests for loans, the township will fix the roads themselves, he said.
Meanwhile, Roger and Mary are looking forward to his oldest daughter and her husband coming from Florida to visit them.
Parker-Hannifin is the global leader in motion
DB analysts state that after multiple years of cost restructuring, the company believes it has increased the floor and ceiling of its operating margin curve to 12 to 13 percent and 16 to 17 percent, respectively. The company maintained its guidance for a 15 percent level of margin throughout the cycle. The company’s management that product pipeline remains robust with $2.4 billion incremental sales potential. COO Tom Williams highlights 5 products including hybrid EHA systems for utility vehicles, sterile water filtration system, compact spiral hydraulic hose, high temperature hose and hydrostatic transmission, that are in late development stage and expected to tally $1 billion incremental revenues over the next five year. The company continues to see potential for Winovation breakthroughs to add 2 ppts to organic growth over the cycle. The company’s management expects that order competition gets tougher during the June quarter and they reiterated the firm’s incremental margin rates to moderate into the 20 to 30 percent range as capacity constraints emerge over the next couple of years.
On a year-to-date basis, PH’s share performance is -0.54 percent, and as compared to Standard & Poor’s 500, its YTD share performance is -1.59 percent.
Parker-Hannifin is the global leader in motion and control technologies, engineering innovative products and systems to increase their customers’ productivity. It has a market capitalization of $13.92 billion, and P/E ratio of 14.450. It has 162 million outstanding shares.
Shares of Parker-Hannifin lost 0.71 percent or 61 cents to trade at $85.54 in the last hour.
On a year-to-date basis, PH’s share performance is -0.54 percent, and as compared to Standard & Poor’s 500, its YTD share performance is -1.59 percent.
Parker-Hannifin is the global leader in motion and control technologies, engineering innovative products and systems to increase their customers’ productivity. It has a market capitalization of $13.92 billion, and P/E ratio of 14.450. It has 162 million outstanding shares.
Shares of Parker-Hannifin lost 0.71 percent or 61 cents to trade at $85.54 in the last hour.
2011年6月14日星期二
Two homes destroyed
A fire that started small in some brush Monday afternoon on Rim View Drive quickly engulfed houses, destroying two and damaging two others.
Adolf and Sue Stuhmer were home with their adult son Rob when the family heard the crackle of flames and saw fire come closer to the far side of a shed on their property.
Adolf and Rob described trying to put out the fast- expanding fire with a garden hose and two half-full fire extinguishers before "the whole field just went up and 'foom,'" said Rob, who fell, scorched his face and sustained leg injuries in the process.
The shed had been full of paint thinner and similar flammable supplies because the family was in the middle of a renovation, Rob said.
New furniture and plans for a hardwood floor for a home they lived in for six years have all disappeared, he said.
Within half an hour, the roof of the house caught fire and also exploded, Rob said, thinking it did so quickly because of the extra vents he had built to circulate air.
"I put all these vents in the attic to keep it cool, not thinking there would ever be a fire," he said.
Toquerville Emergency Services Manager Dave Pope saw the smoke from the main road and raced up the hill where the homes sat looking off a steep cliff. Pope said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appeared to be accidental, spreading through brush and grass because of heavy winds.
"We grabbed hoses and tried to keep the fire out of the homes, and I just tried to evacuate people, though some didn't want to leave," Pope said.
Crews from Washington City, Colorado City, the Hurricane Valley Fire District, the state and Bureau of Land Management all responded.
Adolf said he tried to stay and help move the fire department hoses once crews arrived, but officials moved the family into some shade, its vehicles trapped among a tangle of hose, and the three watched the fire until the American Red Cross arrived.
After containing the fire and spraying down the affected homes in case they flared up again, Pope said the Stuhmer home and a vacant residence that is for sale were a complete loss, as was a freestanding garage at a third home. A fourth home sustained smoke damage.
Adolf and Sue Stuhmer were home with their adult son Rob when the family heard the crackle of flames and saw fire come closer to the far side of a shed on their property.
Adolf and Rob described trying to put out the fast- expanding fire with a garden hose and two half-full fire extinguishers before "the whole field just went up and 'foom,'" said Rob, who fell, scorched his face and sustained leg injuries in the process.
The shed had been full of paint thinner and similar flammable supplies because the family was in the middle of a renovation, Rob said.
New furniture and plans for a hardwood floor for a home they lived in for six years have all disappeared, he said.
Within half an hour, the roof of the house caught fire and also exploded, Rob said, thinking it did so quickly because of the extra vents he had built to circulate air.
"I put all these vents in the attic to keep it cool, not thinking there would ever be a fire," he said.
Toquerville Emergency Services Manager Dave Pope saw the smoke from the main road and raced up the hill where the homes sat looking off a steep cliff. Pope said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appeared to be accidental, spreading through brush and grass because of heavy winds.
"We grabbed hoses and tried to keep the fire out of the homes, and I just tried to evacuate people, though some didn't want to leave," Pope said.
Crews from Washington City, Colorado City, the Hurricane Valley Fire District, the state and Bureau of Land Management all responded.
Adolf said he tried to stay and help move the fire department hoses once crews arrived, but officials moved the family into some shade, its vehicles trapped among a tangle of hose, and the three watched the fire until the American Red Cross arrived.
After containing the fire and spraying down the affected homes in case they flared up again, Pope said the Stuhmer home and a vacant residence that is for sale were a complete loss, as was a freestanding garage at a third home. A fourth home sustained smoke damage.
Flow Control Systems at the Paris Air Show
Marotta Controls, a leader in motion and flow controls, will present a wide range of mission-critical airborne systems, space flight components and capabilities at the 49th International Paris Air Show hosted June 20-26 in Le Bourget, France.
“The systems on display at the Paris Air Show have proven performance in extreme environments”
Marotta Controls will showcase its M-PACT family of reusable, cost-effective pneumatic solutions designed to boost the efficiency of critical military aircraft and weapon systems while reducing maintenance and logistics costs. Also on display will be the M-CONTROL suite of electronic control systems, which have been chosen by international customers for their superior performance ability in extreme military environments.
Marotta Controls’ airborne systems, components and electronic controls have been qualified for a variety of platforms including the F/A-18 Hornet, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, P-8A Poseidon, Small Diameter Bomb and chosen for the new Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM).
This year Marotta Controls is also highlighting its world-class space-flight qualified components for pressure regulation and flow control. These components have been supporting manned and unmanned spaceflight for more than 65 years, and support a wide range of programs including Falcon 1, Falcon 9, H2A, H2B, Delta II, Delta IV, ST-5, GOCE, Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
“The systems on display at the Paris Air Show have proven performance in extreme environments,” said Michael J. Leahan, vice president and chief sales officer of Marotta Controls. “Our high-pressure pneumatic systems are qualified for combat environments, and our space-flight qualified components have been supporting manned and unmanned space flight for more than 65 years. We invite you to visit our stand at the Paris Air Show, Hall 3, Stand AB158, and hope you can take some time to talk to us about your needs and requirements for proven, reliable, state-of-the-art motion and flow control technologies.”
“The systems on display at the Paris Air Show have proven performance in extreme environments”
Marotta Controls will showcase its M-PACT family of reusable, cost-effective pneumatic solutions designed to boost the efficiency of critical military aircraft and weapon systems while reducing maintenance and logistics costs. Also on display will be the M-CONTROL suite of electronic control systems, which have been chosen by international customers for their superior performance ability in extreme military environments.
Marotta Controls’ airborne systems, components and electronic controls have been qualified for a variety of platforms including the F/A-18 Hornet, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, P-8A Poseidon, Small Diameter Bomb and chosen for the new Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM).
This year Marotta Controls is also highlighting its world-class space-flight qualified components for pressure regulation and flow control. These components have been supporting manned and unmanned spaceflight for more than 65 years, and support a wide range of programs including Falcon 1, Falcon 9, H2A, H2B, Delta II, Delta IV, ST-5, GOCE, Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
“The systems on display at the Paris Air Show have proven performance in extreme environments,” said Michael J. Leahan, vice president and chief sales officer of Marotta Controls. “Our high-pressure pneumatic systems are qualified for combat environments, and our space-flight qualified components have been supporting manned and unmanned space flight for more than 65 years. We invite you to visit our stand at the Paris Air Show, Hall 3, Stand AB158, and hope you can take some time to talk to us about your needs and requirements for proven, reliable, state-of-the-art motion and flow control technologies.”
2011年6月12日星期日
Gold rush another blight to ailing Amazon jungle
A gold rush that accelerated with the onset of the 2008 global recession is compounding the woes of the Amazon basin, laying waste to Peruvian rain forest and spilling tons of toxic mercury into the air and water.
With gold's price soaring globally as the metal became a hedge against financial uncertainty, the army of small-scale miners in the state of Madre de Dios has swelled to some 40,000. The result: Diesel exhaust sullies the air, trees are toppled to get at the sandy, gold-flecked earth and the scars inflicted on the land are visible on satellite photos.
"Extracting an ounce of gold costs from $400 to $500 and the profit is $1,000 per ounce," notes Peru's environment minister, Antonio Brack. In just a decade, gold has more than tripled in value.
The situation in the southeastern state of Madre de Dios, which borders Brazil and Bolivia, is mirrored in dozens of the countries where gold is similarly mined, and where the desperately poor often end up working for the most unsavory of opportunists.
Government controls are mostly futile.
As the industry has grown, heavy machinery has moved in bearing Caterpillar, Volvo and other international trademarks into a state the size of Maine or Portugal, whose remotest reaches are believed inhabited by uncontacted Indian tribes.
In February the Peruvian navy dynamited 13 dredges which, working in violation of a government ban, were choking the Madre de Dios river with silt, killing plants and destroying habitats. Protesting laborers blockaded Madre de Dios' only highway, and at least three people were shot and killed by police sent from Lima.
"One of the big hydraulic dredges we destroyed could easily harvest a kilogram (worth about $45,000) of gold a day," said Brack.
Rather than try to evict the thousands of protesting informal miners, the government decided to work to "formalize" their operations, which have denuded well over 180 square kilometers (70 square miles ) of jungle in Madre de Dios.
With gold's price soaring globally as the metal became a hedge against financial uncertainty, the army of small-scale miners in the state of Madre de Dios has swelled to some 40,000. The result: Diesel exhaust sullies the air, trees are toppled to get at the sandy, gold-flecked earth and the scars inflicted on the land are visible on satellite photos.
"Extracting an ounce of gold costs from $400 to $500 and the profit is $1,000 per ounce," notes Peru's environment minister, Antonio Brack. In just a decade, gold has more than tripled in value.
The situation in the southeastern state of Madre de Dios, which borders Brazil and Bolivia, is mirrored in dozens of the countries where gold is similarly mined, and where the desperately poor often end up working for the most unsavory of opportunists.
Government controls are mostly futile.
As the industry has grown, heavy machinery has moved in bearing Caterpillar, Volvo and other international trademarks into a state the size of Maine or Portugal, whose remotest reaches are believed inhabited by uncontacted Indian tribes.
In February the Peruvian navy dynamited 13 dredges which, working in violation of a government ban, were choking the Madre de Dios river with silt, killing plants and destroying habitats. Protesting laborers blockaded Madre de Dios' only highway, and at least three people were shot and killed by police sent from Lima.
"One of the big hydraulic dredges we destroyed could easily harvest a kilogram (worth about $45,000) of gold a day," said Brack.
Rather than try to evict the thousands of protesting informal miners, the government decided to work to "formalize" their operations, which have denuded well over 180 square kilometers (70 square miles ) of jungle in Madre de Dios.
That's not all CountryMark is willing to do
The sweet spot
CountryMark has believed for years that the area near the proposed Midway Acres drilling unit contains substantial amounts of crude oil. The company proposes to drill to a depth of 2,300 feet into the cypress sandstone rock formation.
McDivitt's order of integration says Core Minerals "successfully drilled three horizontal wells just west of the proposed unit (which are now operated by CountryMark) and CountryMark believes this project will have similar results."
In an April 24, 2008, letter to the other dissenting property owner, who is adjacent to Williams, Core Minerals acknowledged it said in August 2007 that "the producing (rock) formation we are targeting has produced thousands of barrels of oil from your neighborhood in the past."
"Because of the particular geology involved with this formation and past production we have determined that only a small percentage of the recoverable oil was extracted."
The problem for CountryMark is that Williams' property, which he and his wife bought in 2006, lies over or near what the company believes is the largest oil supply in the 80-acre drilling unit.
"This isn't a situation where you could go anywhere in that neighborhood, anywhere in that township, and drill a well down to this depth and you're going to hit oil in the cypress," McDivitt said.
"That's not the way the oil exists. It's very much confined to discrete areas, and (CountryMark has) mapped it and identified his property as pretty close to or right over the sweet spot."
Frank Lindsey, manager of regulatory compliance/land for CountryMark, confirmed McDivitt's assessment.
"We would not be willing to spend the money to drill oil there if that were not true," Lindsey said.
That's not all CountryMark is willing to do.
In a move McDivitt said is news to him, Lindsey says the company decided late last year it was willing to alter the path of its horizontal well bit to go around, not under, Williams' property.
But not so far around that it cannot drain enough oil into the well to justify the potential $750,000 expense.
"We'd go very close to it. If we stay close to his property, we can recover close to the same amount of oil," Lindsey said. "We agreed to do that to try to accommodate Mr. Williams as best we could."
But if CountryMark thought Williams would regard the shift as an important concession to him, the company was wrong.
Williams said CountryMark representatives floated the idea a few months ago, but did not pursue it actively.
"If this was truly a concession, they have had plenty of time in order to state that they were going to go with this route," Williams said. "I think they're telling you about it to not look so bad in the eyes of the press."
Possible compromise
McDivitt said CountryMark's willingness to go closely around, but not underneath, Williams' property may be an effort "to avoid the liability."
Lindsey insisted it was a desire to satisfy Williams so the work could begin, and not a fear of litigation, that motivated CountryMark.
"We've done a number of things to be less intrusive on the people who live (at Midway Acres)," he said. "The other people that would love for us to drill this well so they could share in the revenue will not have that opportunity if we can't get an order of integration here."
The plan to go around Williams' property still requires a signed lease or written waiver from him. But a favorable ruling in the forced pooling case, which would not have to begin all over again, would trump Williams' refusal to give permission.
Williams says he likely won't give that permission because going closely around his property doesn't alleviate his concerns about his well water or the potential damage from hydraulic fracturing, a controversial drilling technique.
Admitting he lacks the knowledge of a geologist, Williams insists CountryMark officials casually mentioned the possibility of hydraulic fracturing before reversing themselves. Lindsey says the idea has never been considered.
The drilling technique, commonly referred to as "fracking," involves high-pressure pumping of water and chemical additives into rock formations, followed by propping agents to prevent the resulting fractures from closing.
The practice has spawned complaints of contaminated air and well water in Pennsylvania and other states. However, many state regulatory agencies believe hydraulic fracturing does not contaminate ground water with chemicals.
McDivitt says his department has no documented instance of hydraulic fracturing causing contamination of groundwater in Indiana.
CountryMark does not take hydraulic fracturing lightly, Lindsey said.
Pointing to the relatively porous cypress sandstone rock formation under Williams' property, he said fracking is simply not necessary there.
"We wouldn't do that unless we thought we just had to," he said.
CountryMark has believed for years that the area near the proposed Midway Acres drilling unit contains substantial amounts of crude oil. The company proposes to drill to a depth of 2,300 feet into the cypress sandstone rock formation.
McDivitt's order of integration says Core Minerals "successfully drilled three horizontal wells just west of the proposed unit (which are now operated by CountryMark) and CountryMark believes this project will have similar results."
In an April 24, 2008, letter to the other dissenting property owner, who is adjacent to Williams, Core Minerals acknowledged it said in August 2007 that "the producing (rock) formation we are targeting has produced thousands of barrels of oil from your neighborhood in the past."
"Because of the particular geology involved with this formation and past production we have determined that only a small percentage of the recoverable oil was extracted."
The problem for CountryMark is that Williams' property, which he and his wife bought in 2006, lies over or near what the company believes is the largest oil supply in the 80-acre drilling unit.
"This isn't a situation where you could go anywhere in that neighborhood, anywhere in that township, and drill a well down to this depth and you're going to hit oil in the cypress," McDivitt said.
"That's not the way the oil exists. It's very much confined to discrete areas, and (CountryMark has) mapped it and identified his property as pretty close to or right over the sweet spot."
Frank Lindsey, manager of regulatory compliance/land for CountryMark, confirmed McDivitt's assessment.
"We would not be willing to spend the money to drill oil there if that were not true," Lindsey said.
That's not all CountryMark is willing to do.
In a move McDivitt said is news to him, Lindsey says the company decided late last year it was willing to alter the path of its horizontal well bit to go around, not under, Williams' property.
But not so far around that it cannot drain enough oil into the well to justify the potential $750,000 expense.
"We'd go very close to it. If we stay close to his property, we can recover close to the same amount of oil," Lindsey said. "We agreed to do that to try to accommodate Mr. Williams as best we could."
But if CountryMark thought Williams would regard the shift as an important concession to him, the company was wrong.
Williams said CountryMark representatives floated the idea a few months ago, but did not pursue it actively.
"If this was truly a concession, they have had plenty of time in order to state that they were going to go with this route," Williams said. "I think they're telling you about it to not look so bad in the eyes of the press."
Possible compromise
McDivitt said CountryMark's willingness to go closely around, but not underneath, Williams' property may be an effort "to avoid the liability."
Lindsey insisted it was a desire to satisfy Williams so the work could begin, and not a fear of litigation, that motivated CountryMark.
"We've done a number of things to be less intrusive on the people who live (at Midway Acres)," he said. "The other people that would love for us to drill this well so they could share in the revenue will not have that opportunity if we can't get an order of integration here."
The plan to go around Williams' property still requires a signed lease or written waiver from him. But a favorable ruling in the forced pooling case, which would not have to begin all over again, would trump Williams' refusal to give permission.
Williams says he likely won't give that permission because going closely around his property doesn't alleviate his concerns about his well water or the potential damage from hydraulic fracturing, a controversial drilling technique.
Admitting he lacks the knowledge of a geologist, Williams insists CountryMark officials casually mentioned the possibility of hydraulic fracturing before reversing themselves. Lindsey says the idea has never been considered.
The drilling technique, commonly referred to as "fracking," involves high-pressure pumping of water and chemical additives into rock formations, followed by propping agents to prevent the resulting fractures from closing.
The practice has spawned complaints of contaminated air and well water in Pennsylvania and other states. However, many state regulatory agencies believe hydraulic fracturing does not contaminate ground water with chemicals.
McDivitt says his department has no documented instance of hydraulic fracturing causing contamination of groundwater in Indiana.
CountryMark does not take hydraulic fracturing lightly, Lindsey said.
Pointing to the relatively porous cypress sandstone rock formation under Williams' property, he said fracking is simply not necessary there.
"We wouldn't do that unless we thought we just had to," he said.
Forcing the issue
A legal but controversial tool of oil and gas drillers across the nation is getting as severe a test as Gary Williams can give it.
Williams has single-handedly stalled a proposed 80-acre crude oil drilling project by one of the state's largest operators. Williams refuses to sign papers to allow drilling underneath or near his potentially oil-rich property.
Evansville-based CountryMark Energy Resources LLC, which proposes to sell the oil to the company's refinery in Mount Vernon, Ind. has responded by invoking a 64-year-old statute embodying what critics call eminent domain for drillers.
The technique, called "forced pooling," would allow CountryMark to send a remote access horizontal drill underneath or close to Williams' 0.83-acre property.
Thirty of his neighbors, in a 32-parcel drilling area, have already leased their acreage to the company. The other holdout did not sign a lease but is not resisting forced pooling.
Mostly, Williams makes a property rights case.
"It's our land, whether they're on top of it or below it," he said inside the Cape Cod house he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, and their four children in a rural enclave just off Middle Mount Vernon Road. "I couldn't just come up around your property and start — let's say I wanted to dig a cave to the other neighbors, I wanted a cool tunnel. I like tunnels.
"What would you say if I just started digging a tunnel underneath your property?" he asked.
Williams is appealing an Oct. 28 order from Indiana's Department of Natural Resources that "force pools" his property into the group of property owners who have signed off on the drilling. A hearing was held Friday before an administrative law judge in Jasonville, Ind. The judge hasn't made a ruling.
Williams, a 36-year-old chemist for a paint company, hopes a successful appeal establishes useful case law for other property owners inclined to fight oil exploration and production companies over their land.
"I'm thinking of all the other people this could happen to," he said.
Advocates say forced pooling — some form of which is legal in most states — allows companies to harvest valuable resources when a majority of property owners have agreed to participate.
Herschel McDivitt, director of Indiana's state Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas, said forced pooling serves the greater good by preventing one property owner from blocking the efficient harvesting of oil and gas on contiguous leased parcels.
"There's oil and gas conservation waste if you're drilling too many vertical wells when one horizontal well alone would be sufficient to drain the productive section of a (rock) formation," said McDivitt, who issued the order allowing forced pooling of Williams' property.
Indiana's forced pooling statute, adopted in 1947, states unwilling property owners "shall" be integrated into a drilling unit — provided there is equitable financial compensation — "for the prevention of waste or to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells."
McDivitt said without forced pooling there would be "five times the surface disturbance," since the operation would require multiple horizontal wells.
But Williams has several other objections, including what he calls CountryMark's inadequate offer of royalties and signing bonus. He says CountryMark's guarantee falls short of protecting his well water from contamination. He also doubts the company's assertion that it would not use a controversial drilling technique in the cypress sandstone rock formation under his property.
Compensation size
Oil exploration and production has been big business in Southwestern Indiana for decades, with millions spent every year.
CountryMark estimates the Midway Acres subdivision project will cost the company $750,000.
"The majority of oil production is in the southwestern part of the state. That's just the way God made things," McDivitt said with a chuckle.
CountryMark President Charlie Smith has called the Illinois Basin, a 53,000-square-mile depression underneath Southwestern Indiana, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky, one of the best sources of domestic crude oil in the Midwest.
"Approximately 40,000 barrels of crude oil are produced daily from this region," Smith said in statement issued in 2008. "This is an extremely dependable, secure supply of energy for Indiana and surrounding states."
Indiana crude oil production has hovered at just under or over 2 million barrels annually since 2000. In 2010, the average price of oil per barrel was $73.46, higher than in all other years in the decade save 2008.
A Midway Acres resident who agrees to let CountryMark drill underneath his property can make some of the money for himself — a few thousand dollars — without bearing any of the financial risk.
Core Minerals Operating Co., the project operator before it sold part of its assets to CountryMark, told property owners in the subdivision that a well averaging 80 barrels of oil per day with oil priced at $65 per barrel could pay $5,931 in one year.
CountryMark has offered Williams the same $100 lease signing bonus that his neighbors got, plus the standard one-eighth of the total value of oil produced. That amount is proportionately divided among parcel owners according to the percentage of a drilling unit occupied by their properties.
The other seven-eighths goes to the operator, who in most cases assumes all of the costs and risks of the drilling. An unwilling property owner receives the same bonus plus royalties as his neighbors.
The state's forced pooling statute does not define the required "reasonable terms that give the owner of each tract an equitable share of oil and natural gas in the unit or pool."
The statute's seemingly definitive language appears to leave an unwilling property owner little room to negotiate in return for his cooperation.
"If the owners of separate tracts of land do not agree to integrate their interests, the commission shall, for the prevention of waste or to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells, require the owners to integrate their interests and to develop the land as a drilling unit," it states.
Leslie Avakian, a leading activist against pending legislation to allow forced pooling in Pennsylvania's gas-rich Marcellus Shale, says that robs property owners of their negotiating power.
"If they're saying, 'Look, we're going to take your asset in court,' where's your negotiating power?" said Avakian, founder of ProtectMyRightsPA.org.
McDivitt says the statutory requirement to compensate an unwilling landowner after a forced pooling makes the procedure fair, given that oil would still be drained from underneath his property if the well path only traversed close to it.
"One of the fundamental principles in fairness with forced pooling is to make sure that somebody doesn't drill a well and unduly drain oil from somebody else's property and they don't get to share in it," he said.
But McDivitt acknowledged that the unwilling landowner's oil would not be flowing into a well in the first place unless someone were taking it.
"It's kind of like pulling the plug in the bathtub. Until you pull that plug and create that, we'll call a pressure sink, the water stays in your tub," he said. "But once you pull it, every drop of water that's in that tub, if the drain is constructed properly, is going to eventually drain."
'Quasi-DNR employee'
Indiana property owners who wish to contest being force pooled are subject to a procedure before McDivitt's division. The Division of Oil and Gas's informal hearing schedule shows 15 forced pooling cases since August 2008, with Williams' case being the only one unresolved.
None of the other 14 cases were successful in preventing a forced pooling.
McDivitt acknowledged that while his agency regulates the drilling, operation and abandonment of oil and gas production wells in Indiana, it is also an advocate for development.
"We're not just strictly a regulatory, permitting, environmental protection agency," he said. "We still look at that resource.
"In fact, our mission statement is to encourage responsible development of oil and gas, but in a manner that's protective of landowners' rights, human health and safety, doesn't waste the resource and certainly does not adversely affect the environment."
Operators pay a 1 percent severance tax on the value of all oil and gas that is produced. The money — more than $1.3 million in 2010 — is used to support operating expenses of the Division of Oil and Gas.
"We have no financial benefit or incentive, or I don't see how you can make that connection," McDivitt said. "We're just doing our job."
Hearing officer Sandra Jensen, who heard Williams' appeal of McDivitt's Oct. 28 order, is "a quasi-DNR employee," McDivitt said. "Well, officially she is a representative of the Natural Resources Commission."
McDivitt acknowledged that Williams or CountryMark can litigate Jensen's ruling in state court.
Williams has single-handedly stalled a proposed 80-acre crude oil drilling project by one of the state's largest operators. Williams refuses to sign papers to allow drilling underneath or near his potentially oil-rich property.
Evansville-based CountryMark Energy Resources LLC, which proposes to sell the oil to the company's refinery in Mount Vernon, Ind. has responded by invoking a 64-year-old statute embodying what critics call eminent domain for drillers.
The technique, called "forced pooling," would allow CountryMark to send a remote access horizontal drill underneath or close to Williams' 0.83-acre property.
Thirty of his neighbors, in a 32-parcel drilling area, have already leased their acreage to the company. The other holdout did not sign a lease but is not resisting forced pooling.
Mostly, Williams makes a property rights case.
"It's our land, whether they're on top of it or below it," he said inside the Cape Cod house he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, and their four children in a rural enclave just off Middle Mount Vernon Road. "I couldn't just come up around your property and start — let's say I wanted to dig a cave to the other neighbors, I wanted a cool tunnel. I like tunnels.
"What would you say if I just started digging a tunnel underneath your property?" he asked.
Williams is appealing an Oct. 28 order from Indiana's Department of Natural Resources that "force pools" his property into the group of property owners who have signed off on the drilling. A hearing was held Friday before an administrative law judge in Jasonville, Ind. The judge hasn't made a ruling.
Williams, a 36-year-old chemist for a paint company, hopes a successful appeal establishes useful case law for other property owners inclined to fight oil exploration and production companies over their land.
"I'm thinking of all the other people this could happen to," he said.
Advocates say forced pooling — some form of which is legal in most states — allows companies to harvest valuable resources when a majority of property owners have agreed to participate.
Herschel McDivitt, director of Indiana's state Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas, said forced pooling serves the greater good by preventing one property owner from blocking the efficient harvesting of oil and gas on contiguous leased parcels.
"There's oil and gas conservation waste if you're drilling too many vertical wells when one horizontal well alone would be sufficient to drain the productive section of a (rock) formation," said McDivitt, who issued the order allowing forced pooling of Williams' property.
Indiana's forced pooling statute, adopted in 1947, states unwilling property owners "shall" be integrated into a drilling unit — provided there is equitable financial compensation — "for the prevention of waste or to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells."
McDivitt said without forced pooling there would be "five times the surface disturbance," since the operation would require multiple horizontal wells.
But Williams has several other objections, including what he calls CountryMark's inadequate offer of royalties and signing bonus. He says CountryMark's guarantee falls short of protecting his well water from contamination. He also doubts the company's assertion that it would not use a controversial drilling technique in the cypress sandstone rock formation under his property.
Compensation size
Oil exploration and production has been big business in Southwestern Indiana for decades, with millions spent every year.
CountryMark estimates the Midway Acres subdivision project will cost the company $750,000.
"The majority of oil production is in the southwestern part of the state. That's just the way God made things," McDivitt said with a chuckle.
CountryMark President Charlie Smith has called the Illinois Basin, a 53,000-square-mile depression underneath Southwestern Indiana, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky, one of the best sources of domestic crude oil in the Midwest.
"Approximately 40,000 barrels of crude oil are produced daily from this region," Smith said in statement issued in 2008. "This is an extremely dependable, secure supply of energy for Indiana and surrounding states."
Indiana crude oil production has hovered at just under or over 2 million barrels annually since 2000. In 2010, the average price of oil per barrel was $73.46, higher than in all other years in the decade save 2008.
A Midway Acres resident who agrees to let CountryMark drill underneath his property can make some of the money for himself — a few thousand dollars — without bearing any of the financial risk.
Core Minerals Operating Co., the project operator before it sold part of its assets to CountryMark, told property owners in the subdivision that a well averaging 80 barrels of oil per day with oil priced at $65 per barrel could pay $5,931 in one year.
CountryMark has offered Williams the same $100 lease signing bonus that his neighbors got, plus the standard one-eighth of the total value of oil produced. That amount is proportionately divided among parcel owners according to the percentage of a drilling unit occupied by their properties.
The other seven-eighths goes to the operator, who in most cases assumes all of the costs and risks of the drilling. An unwilling property owner receives the same bonus plus royalties as his neighbors.
The state's forced pooling statute does not define the required "reasonable terms that give the owner of each tract an equitable share of oil and natural gas in the unit or pool."
The statute's seemingly definitive language appears to leave an unwilling property owner little room to negotiate in return for his cooperation.
"If the owners of separate tracts of land do not agree to integrate their interests, the commission shall, for the prevention of waste or to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells, require the owners to integrate their interests and to develop the land as a drilling unit," it states.
Leslie Avakian, a leading activist against pending legislation to allow forced pooling in Pennsylvania's gas-rich Marcellus Shale, says that robs property owners of their negotiating power.
"If they're saying, 'Look, we're going to take your asset in court,' where's your negotiating power?" said Avakian, founder of ProtectMyRightsPA.org.
McDivitt says the statutory requirement to compensate an unwilling landowner after a forced pooling makes the procedure fair, given that oil would still be drained from underneath his property if the well path only traversed close to it.
"One of the fundamental principles in fairness with forced pooling is to make sure that somebody doesn't drill a well and unduly drain oil from somebody else's property and they don't get to share in it," he said.
But McDivitt acknowledged that the unwilling landowner's oil would not be flowing into a well in the first place unless someone were taking it.
"It's kind of like pulling the plug in the bathtub. Until you pull that plug and create that, we'll call a pressure sink, the water stays in your tub," he said. "But once you pull it, every drop of water that's in that tub, if the drain is constructed properly, is going to eventually drain."
'Quasi-DNR employee'
Indiana property owners who wish to contest being force pooled are subject to a procedure before McDivitt's division. The Division of Oil and Gas's informal hearing schedule shows 15 forced pooling cases since August 2008, with Williams' case being the only one unresolved.
None of the other 14 cases were successful in preventing a forced pooling.
McDivitt acknowledged that while his agency regulates the drilling, operation and abandonment of oil and gas production wells in Indiana, it is also an advocate for development.
"We're not just strictly a regulatory, permitting, environmental protection agency," he said. "We still look at that resource.
"In fact, our mission statement is to encourage responsible development of oil and gas, but in a manner that's protective of landowners' rights, human health and safety, doesn't waste the resource and certainly does not adversely affect the environment."
Operators pay a 1 percent severance tax on the value of all oil and gas that is produced. The money — more than $1.3 million in 2010 — is used to support operating expenses of the Division of Oil and Gas.
"We have no financial benefit or incentive, or I don't see how you can make that connection," McDivitt said. "We're just doing our job."
Hearing officer Sandra Jensen, who heard Williams' appeal of McDivitt's Oct. 28 order, is "a quasi-DNR employee," McDivitt said. "Well, officially she is a representative of the Natural Resources Commission."
McDivitt acknowledged that Williams or CountryMark can litigate Jensen's ruling in state court.
Alberta oil industry, gov't sued over contaminated water
An Alberta woman is vowing to continue her fight against government and the oil industry over a drilling process she says has ruined her water supply.
Jessica Ernst, who lives near Rosebud, Alberta, says the process, known as hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water, nitrogen and chemicals into the ground at high pressure in order to cause a series of cracks and free up natural gas.
She says drilling that was done in 2003 has caused her water supply to be contaminated with methane gas.
Ernst can fill a bottle with water from a hose, wait a couple of minutes and then light the water on fire.
She's suing Encana, Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board for (m) millions of dollars in damages.
The industry says the drilling process is safe and that the contamination occurred from naturally occurring methane nearby.
Ernst says she knows what she's up against, and her chances of winning her legal battle are slim.
But she vows to fight it out to the end and says she will not settle out of court because she wants the truth about hydraulic fracturing to be known.
Jessica Ernst, who lives near Rosebud, Alberta, says the process, known as hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water, nitrogen and chemicals into the ground at high pressure in order to cause a series of cracks and free up natural gas.
She says drilling that was done in 2003 has caused her water supply to be contaminated with methane gas.
Ernst can fill a bottle with water from a hose, wait a couple of minutes and then light the water on fire.
She's suing Encana, Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board for (m) millions of dollars in damages.
The industry says the drilling process is safe and that the contamination occurred from naturally occurring methane nearby.
Ernst says she knows what she's up against, and her chances of winning her legal battle are slim.
But she vows to fight it out to the end and says she will not settle out of court because she wants the truth about hydraulic fracturing to be known.
2011年6月8日星期三
Gates Corporation Announces Enhancement to MegaSpiral
The Fluid Power unit of Gates Corporation, a leading manufacturer of industrial and automotive products, has made improvements to its MegaSpiral® hoses, which are part of its MegaSys® product line for hydraulic systems. The constant pressure spiral-wire hoses can now bend up to one-half the SAE specifications, offering increased flexibility and reducing inventory requirements.
The new bend radius shortens overall hose assembly length and enables MegaSpiral® hoses to be routed in tight spaces for easy installation in hydraulic applications. The spiral-wire hoses also require fewer bent tube fittings and extend life in bending, flexing applications, reducing downtime and decreasing hose costs by as much as 47 percent.
In addition, MegaSpiral® hoses can handle up to 6,000 psi working pressures and MegaTuff® covers help resist abrasion.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Gates Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial and automotive products, systems and components with operations in 29 countries. Gates maintains sales and marketing operations in every major industrial and automotive market, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Gates is part of the Industrial & Automotive group of Tomkins plc, which is owned by a consortium comprising Onex Corporation and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Tomkins enjoys strong market positions and technical leadership across all of its business activities and owns some of the best-known brands in their respective markets.
The new bend radius shortens overall hose assembly length and enables MegaSpiral® hoses to be routed in tight spaces for easy installation in hydraulic applications. The spiral-wire hoses also require fewer bent tube fittings and extend life in bending, flexing applications, reducing downtime and decreasing hose costs by as much as 47 percent.
In addition, MegaSpiral® hoses can handle up to 6,000 psi working pressures and MegaTuff® covers help resist abrasion.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Gates Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial and automotive products, systems and components with operations in 29 countries. Gates maintains sales and marketing operations in every major industrial and automotive market, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Gates is part of the Industrial & Automotive group of Tomkins plc, which is owned by a consortium comprising Onex Corporation and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Tomkins enjoys strong market positions and technical leadership across all of its business activities and owns some of the best-known brands in their respective markets.
State probes deaths of workers in Durham manhole
State inspectors were investigating Wednesday how two workers for a Burlington company became trapped in a manhole in Durham Tuesday evening and died.
Jesus Martinez Benitez, 32, of Clayton, and Luis Castaneda Gomez, 34, of Durham, were working for Triangle Grading and Paving when they became trapped in a manhole at U.S. Highway 70, near Leesville Road, shortly before 6 p.m., authorities said.
Allen McNeely, deputy director of the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said that one of the men went down the manhole and suffocated when he was deprived of oxygen. The other man saw his co-worker was in trouble and went into the hole to rescue him and also suffocated, McNeely said.
"What you've got down in the bottom (of the hole) is any number of things – whatever is connected to that manhole, could be methane gas or could be any number of things – that would cause oxygen deprivation," McNeely said.
The Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department and the Durham County Hazmat Team tested the area before sending someone down into the manhole to extract the bodies and found that oxygen levels were too low to sustain life, said Capt. Don Ladd of the Durham County Sheriff's Office.
A passerby who called 911 to report the incident yelled down into the manhole at least twice but received no response from the men.
"I'm looking down in the hole, and these two guys are completely out," the caller told the 911 dispatcher.
The manhole led to an underground access point for utilities, according to Ladd, who described the space inside as a 4- by 6-foot concrete bunker about 10 to 12 feet below the surface.
Ladd said it was unclear what the men were doing in the manhole, although they might have been trying to remove a piece of equipment or open a valve.
Durham is adding water lines along U.S. 70 in the area, officials said.
Eight workplace health and safety complaints have been filed against Triangle Grading and Paving in the past 14 years, according to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration records. One worker was killed in 1997 when a hydraulic hose ruptured and caused the bulldozer he was operating to catch fire, records show.
The company was fined $40,000 last year for serious and willful safety violations for exposing employees to hazards while working in an 8-foot-deep trench at Fort Bragg, records show.
"An employer is responsible for making sure confined spaces are monitored, so you know what's going on down there," McNeely said. "That's some of the things we'll be checking on, that and training the individuals, making sure they knew what they were working on."
Triangle Grading and Paving officials issued a statement Wednesday expressing sorrow at the men's deaths and stating that the firm is dedicated to ensuring worker safety and is cooperating in the state investigation.
"We take great pride in our safety and education programs at Triangle. We do everything in our power to prevent injuries and deaths in a dangerous occupation," the statement said.
Jesus Martinez Benitez, 32, of Clayton, and Luis Castaneda Gomez, 34, of Durham, were working for Triangle Grading and Paving when they became trapped in a manhole at U.S. Highway 70, near Leesville Road, shortly before 6 p.m., authorities said.
Allen McNeely, deputy director of the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said that one of the men went down the manhole and suffocated when he was deprived of oxygen. The other man saw his co-worker was in trouble and went into the hole to rescue him and also suffocated, McNeely said.
"What you've got down in the bottom (of the hole) is any number of things – whatever is connected to that manhole, could be methane gas or could be any number of things – that would cause oxygen deprivation," McNeely said.
The Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department and the Durham County Hazmat Team tested the area before sending someone down into the manhole to extract the bodies and found that oxygen levels were too low to sustain life, said Capt. Don Ladd of the Durham County Sheriff's Office.
A passerby who called 911 to report the incident yelled down into the manhole at least twice but received no response from the men.
"I'm looking down in the hole, and these two guys are completely out," the caller told the 911 dispatcher.
The manhole led to an underground access point for utilities, according to Ladd, who described the space inside as a 4- by 6-foot concrete bunker about 10 to 12 feet below the surface.
Ladd said it was unclear what the men were doing in the manhole, although they might have been trying to remove a piece of equipment or open a valve.
Durham is adding water lines along U.S. 70 in the area, officials said.
Eight workplace health and safety complaints have been filed against Triangle Grading and Paving in the past 14 years, according to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration records. One worker was killed in 1997 when a hydraulic hose ruptured and caused the bulldozer he was operating to catch fire, records show.
The company was fined $40,000 last year for serious and willful safety violations for exposing employees to hazards while working in an 8-foot-deep trench at Fort Bragg, records show.
"An employer is responsible for making sure confined spaces are monitored, so you know what's going on down there," McNeely said. "That's some of the things we'll be checking on, that and training the individuals, making sure they knew what they were working on."
Triangle Grading and Paving officials issued a statement Wednesday expressing sorrow at the men's deaths and stating that the firm is dedicated to ensuring worker safety and is cooperating in the state investigation.
"We take great pride in our safety and education programs at Triangle. We do everything in our power to prevent injuries and deaths in a dangerous occupation," the statement said.
2011年6月6日星期一
Trapped horse freed by firefighters
A HORSE had to be rescued by firefighters after it became stuck in a cattle grid.
Fire crews from Kibworth were called to Gumley Road near Laughton at about 12.30pm yesterday (Sunday).
They used hydraulic equipment to free the horse, which had become stuck in the cattle grid.
A crew from the village station had already been called out earlier in the day to deal with a fire in a wheelie bin.
They used a backpack hose to put out the small fire, which happened at Kibworth Primary School in Hillcrest Avenue at about 10am.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had been caused deliberately.
In Lutterworth, a crew from the town’s station were called to deal with shrubbery which had also been deliberately set alight.
The used a backpack and forks to put out the fire in Rugby Road at about 4.30pm on Sunday.
Fire crews from Kibworth were called to Gumley Road near Laughton at about 12.30pm yesterday (Sunday).
They used hydraulic equipment to free the horse, which had become stuck in the cattle grid.
A crew from the village station had already been called out earlier in the day to deal with a fire in a wheelie bin.
They used a backpack hose to put out the small fire, which happened at Kibworth Primary School in Hillcrest Avenue at about 10am.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had been caused deliberately.
In Lutterworth, a crew from the town’s station were called to deal with shrubbery which had also been deliberately set alight.
The used a backpack and forks to put out the fire in Rugby Road at about 4.30pm on Sunday.
PIRTEK Commerce South Awarded Hose Overhaul
Take care of your customers and your customers will take care of you. Al Larson Boat Shop rebuilds, restores, and repairs all types of sea craft, but when it comes to hydraulic work they always call PIRTEK. A marine spill response barge needed a complete hose overhaul. The barge is a storage vessel with skimmers that can be launched to contain and remove contaminants from the water.
PIRTEK Commerce South went to San Pedro, California to replace 240 hoses, adaptors, quick disconnects, and gauges on the barge, which included two on-board cranes. All of the exposed hose ends were wrapped with Densyl Tape, and the hydraulic threads were sealed with Loctite. The hoses on deck were all fitted with PIRTEK protective hose sleeves. Plastic caps and plugs were used to ensure against any open ports. After assembly of all the hoses, they were cleaned for contaminants. Finally, 720 gallons of hydraulic fluid were removed and replaced, as well as all the filters.
The customer was very happy with the work provided by PIRTEK Commerce South. They completed the job in 205 hours with 5 team members including Justin Madrid, Mike Metzdorff, Heliodoro Huerta, Robert Andrade, and Gil Moyers.
Rockledge, Florida-based PIRTEK is the world's leading service provider of ETA 1 Hour On-Site Hose Replacement. PIRTEK offers a 24 hour, 7 day service that serves almost every facet of industry including construction, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and engineering among others. When an equipment breakdown occurs, it often results in costly delays in time and labor before the proper replacement hose is located and installed but PIRTEK vans carry the component parts necessary to manufacture hose assemblies on site. Hose and fittings can also be purchased over-the-counter at PIRTEK's national network of service centers that serve as home bases to its mobile fleet. There are nearly 40 PIRTEK service centers nationwide and over 170 PIRTEK mobile service vans serving major metropolitan markets throughout the country.
PIRTEK Commerce South went to San Pedro, California to replace 240 hoses, adaptors, quick disconnects, and gauges on the barge, which included two on-board cranes. All of the exposed hose ends were wrapped with Densyl Tape, and the hydraulic threads were sealed with Loctite. The hoses on deck were all fitted with PIRTEK protective hose sleeves. Plastic caps and plugs were used to ensure against any open ports. After assembly of all the hoses, they were cleaned for contaminants. Finally, 720 gallons of hydraulic fluid were removed and replaced, as well as all the filters.
The customer was very happy with the work provided by PIRTEK Commerce South. They completed the job in 205 hours with 5 team members including Justin Madrid, Mike Metzdorff, Heliodoro Huerta, Robert Andrade, and Gil Moyers.
Rockledge, Florida-based PIRTEK is the world's leading service provider of ETA 1 Hour On-Site Hose Replacement. PIRTEK offers a 24 hour, 7 day service that serves almost every facet of industry including construction, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and engineering among others. When an equipment breakdown occurs, it often results in costly delays in time and labor before the proper replacement hose is located and installed but PIRTEK vans carry the component parts necessary to manufacture hose assemblies on site. Hose and fittings can also be purchased over-the-counter at PIRTEK's national network of service centers that serve as home bases to its mobile fleet. There are nearly 40 PIRTEK service centers nationwide and over 170 PIRTEK mobile service vans serving major metropolitan markets throughout the country.
2011年6月1日星期三
Police log, June 1
The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement from Enforcement Office No. 9 cited three establishments in violation of liquor law, Liquor Control Board regulations, Local Option Small Games of Chance Act and the Department of Revenue regulations.
Keystone Fish and Hunt Club, 421 Nescopec St., Tamaqua, was cited for failing to maintain complete and truthful records covering the operation of the licensed business for two years leading up to Feb. 7.
McGuire's Pub, 130 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, was cited for failing to vacate patrons from the premise used for the service of alcoholic beverages, required no later than a half-hour after drinks stop being served, Feb. 4 and March 5.
Pine Street Tamaqua, 401-403 Pine St., Tamaqua, was cited for using or permitting the use of a loudspeaker where music or other entertainment could be heard outside Jan. 8.
All of these charges will be brought before an Administrative Law Judge, who has the authority to impose penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 for minor offenses and up to $5,000 for more serious offenses.
In addition, the judge can also impose a license suspension or revocation based on the severity of the charge, or mandate training for the licensee in an effort to educate on the requirements of being a licensee in Pennsylvania.
2 injured in Route 895 crash
SUMMIT STATION - A Jonestown man and a Shillington woman suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle crash at 4:04 p.m. Monday on Route 895 at Manor Road.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Walter R. Burns Jr., 65, of Jonestown, with passenger Gloria J. Urban, 67, of Shillington, was headed westbound on Route 895 nearing Manor Road when Burns was rounding a 90-degree right curve.
A piece of farm machinery that traveled through the area earlier and sprung a leak in a hydraulic hose had sprayed hydraulic oil on the roadway, troopers said.
The motorcycle hit the oil in mid-turn and slid off the roadway, troopers said.
Both passengers, wearing helmets, suffered scrapes and bruises on their left arms and legs and were treated at the scene, troopers said.
New Philly man faces charges
NEW PHILADELPHIA - Tori Wallace, 33, of New Philadelphia, was charged with harassment following an incident at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Water Street and Federal Street.
State police at Frackville said Wallace and Vanessa Fisher, 37, of New Philadelphia, were dropping their children off at the bus stop when, after their children boarded the bus, Wallace attempted to confront Fisher by poking her and yelling at her.
Fisher ignored Wallace and walked back to her residence as Wallace threatened to harm her, troopers said.
Charges of harassment will be filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Tamaqua man hit by vehicle
TAMAQUA - Norman Mc-Laughlin told police he thought he could make it to his parked car in the 300 block of Pine Street, Route 309, in Tamaqua early Tuesday morning.
McLaughlin crossed the street but did not make it to his car and was struck by a tractor-trailer, police said. He struck his head on the pavement but was conscious, sitting up and talking to paramedics as they treated his head injury, according to a witness.
The accident occurred before 5:30 a.m. and backed up traffic for almost an hour on Route 309. Tamaqua police are continuing their investigation.
Keystone Fish and Hunt Club, 421 Nescopec St., Tamaqua, was cited for failing to maintain complete and truthful records covering the operation of the licensed business for two years leading up to Feb. 7.
McGuire's Pub, 130 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, was cited for failing to vacate patrons from the premise used for the service of alcoholic beverages, required no later than a half-hour after drinks stop being served, Feb. 4 and March 5.
Pine Street Tamaqua, 401-403 Pine St., Tamaqua, was cited for using or permitting the use of a loudspeaker where music or other entertainment could be heard outside Jan. 8.
All of these charges will be brought before an Administrative Law Judge, who has the authority to impose penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 for minor offenses and up to $5,000 for more serious offenses.
In addition, the judge can also impose a license suspension or revocation based on the severity of the charge, or mandate training for the licensee in an effort to educate on the requirements of being a licensee in Pennsylvania.
2 injured in Route 895 crash
SUMMIT STATION - A Jonestown man and a Shillington woman suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle crash at 4:04 p.m. Monday on Route 895 at Manor Road.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Walter R. Burns Jr., 65, of Jonestown, with passenger Gloria J. Urban, 67, of Shillington, was headed westbound on Route 895 nearing Manor Road when Burns was rounding a 90-degree right curve.
A piece of farm machinery that traveled through the area earlier and sprung a leak in a hydraulic hose had sprayed hydraulic oil on the roadway, troopers said.
The motorcycle hit the oil in mid-turn and slid off the roadway, troopers said.
Both passengers, wearing helmets, suffered scrapes and bruises on their left arms and legs and were treated at the scene, troopers said.
New Philly man faces charges
NEW PHILADELPHIA - Tori Wallace, 33, of New Philadelphia, was charged with harassment following an incident at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Water Street and Federal Street.
State police at Frackville said Wallace and Vanessa Fisher, 37, of New Philadelphia, were dropping their children off at the bus stop when, after their children boarded the bus, Wallace attempted to confront Fisher by poking her and yelling at her.
Fisher ignored Wallace and walked back to her residence as Wallace threatened to harm her, troopers said.
Charges of harassment will be filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Tamaqua man hit by vehicle
TAMAQUA - Norman Mc-Laughlin told police he thought he could make it to his parked car in the 300 block of Pine Street, Route 309, in Tamaqua early Tuesday morning.
McLaughlin crossed the street but did not make it to his car and was struck by a tractor-trailer, police said. He struck his head on the pavement but was conscious, sitting up and talking to paramedics as they treated his head injury, according to a witness.
The accident occurred before 5:30 a.m. and backed up traffic for almost an hour on Route 309. Tamaqua police are continuing their investigation.
New police plea after fire station raid
A FRESH appeal has today been made by police investigating the theft of valuable rescue equipment from a South Devon fire station.
Police are asking eagle-eyed residents to look out for special markings on a dual hose reel, a hydraulic pump and a set of spreaders taken from a Moretonhampstead fire engine between May 19 and 21.
The life-saving equipment, now valued at around £11,500 was taken from storage compartments on the outside of the appliance parked outside the station in Station Road.
PC Sarah Evans said: "These items can be identified with the number 271 written on yellow bands.
"The three items are quite heavy although a single person could lift them.
"It is more likely that two people would have removed them."
She made a direct appeal to residents.
She said: "Could you please check the ground surrounding your properties in case these vital items have been dumped nearby."
The raid on Moretonhampstead Fire Station was one of two.
Chagford's station was also hit by the thieves on Saturday, May 21.
Unusually, the appliances were outside the buildings as both are being refurbished.
Side compartments of the two vehicles were opened.
A range of road crash cutting and spreading gear was taken.
A pump and two hydraulic hoses were also taken by the thieves.
Speaking after the incident Gary Brown, crew manager at Moretonhampstead, said he was appalled by the crime.
He said: "This equipment saves lives — and the consequences don't bear thinking about."
"Those responsible can't have a conscience."
Fortunately the thefts were noticed by fire crews before they were sent to any incidents on 999 calls.
The fire service has said the consequences of the thefts could have been more serious if the thefts had not been detected earlier.
One theory is the equipment may have been stolen for criminal use.
Information can be passed to police by ringing 08452 77744 or the confidential Crimestoppers service on 0800 555111.
Police are asking eagle-eyed residents to look out for special markings on a dual hose reel, a hydraulic pump and a set of spreaders taken from a Moretonhampstead fire engine between May 19 and 21.
The life-saving equipment, now valued at around £11,500 was taken from storage compartments on the outside of the appliance parked outside the station in Station Road.
PC Sarah Evans said: "These items can be identified with the number 271 written on yellow bands.
"The three items are quite heavy although a single person could lift them.
"It is more likely that two people would have removed them."
She made a direct appeal to residents.
She said: "Could you please check the ground surrounding your properties in case these vital items have been dumped nearby."
The raid on Moretonhampstead Fire Station was one of two.
Chagford's station was also hit by the thieves on Saturday, May 21.
Unusually, the appliances were outside the buildings as both are being refurbished.
Side compartments of the two vehicles were opened.
A range of road crash cutting and spreading gear was taken.
A pump and two hydraulic hoses were also taken by the thieves.
Speaking after the incident Gary Brown, crew manager at Moretonhampstead, said he was appalled by the crime.
He said: "This equipment saves lives — and the consequences don't bear thinking about."
"Those responsible can't have a conscience."
Fortunately the thefts were noticed by fire crews before they were sent to any incidents on 999 calls.
The fire service has said the consequences of the thefts could have been more serious if the thefts had not been detected earlier.
One theory is the equipment may have been stolen for criminal use.
Information can be passed to police by ringing 08452 77744 or the confidential Crimestoppers service on 0800 555111.
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