Casey Anthony's car crushed for scrap metal

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The white Pontiac Sunfire that Florida prosecutors used as evidence in the case against Casey Anthony has been destroyed.

WOFL-TV in Orlando reports that George Anthony took his daughter's car to a junk yard and turned the title over Thursday. The vehicle was crushed for scrap metal.

Prosecutors claimed there was evidence of human decomposition found in the trunk of the car. Attorneys for Casey Anthony disputed that claim.

Casey Anthony was acquitted last month of murder in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in a case that drew nationwide outrage. She was released from jail soon after.

NEWS SOURCE

CCP to remove junk vehicles lying in city

PANAJI: The Corporation of the city of Panaji (CCP) has decided to remove 63 junk vehicles which are occupying public spaces after owners and government departments failed to act on notices served to them by the CCP.

''We will remove all junk ambulances, trucks, government cars, pickups, auto rickshaws and private four wheelers,' said Agnelo Fernandes, deputy commissioner, CCP.

CCP had directed owners and government departments to remove the vehicles from the streets within a fortnight through public notices. "We had informed the public by pasting notices on these vehicles and by issuing advertisements in the media.

NEWS SOURCE

Code Enforcers: Junk Cars

CORPUS CHRISTI - In our Code Enforcers segment last week we explored the issue of illegal dumping at a spot on Evans Road near the city limits.

Most of the materials there were pretty typical (old tires, mattresses, furniture), but there was also a car, which is subject to a different ordinance that deals with abandoned vehicles.

It's a 1988 Chevrolet Camaro in rough shape, but still intact.

Code Enforcement Officer Ed Salazar says he checked an aerial photo from back in January, and it was in that photo.

"So it's been here at least since January of this year," he says.

"What's going to happen here is we're going to run that plate, identify the owner, or the last known owner of record, and any lienholders that might be interested in the vehicle, and notify them that they have 10 days to come and collect this vehicle."

The city's ordinance on junk cars came from the Texas Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.

A vehicle is labeled a "junk car" if it has at least one expired tag and is inoperable for a period of 30 days or more.

If a notice is placed on a vehicle and the owner doesn't come forward to claim it within 10 days, the city can ask a judge for an order to tow it to a scrap yard.

"And we will destroy the vehicle, you will not get it back," explains Salazar.

"Once it's been confiscated under this law, it's gone."

In this case, Salazar says the orange sticker he put on the camaro was removed, but it's unclear who did that.

The city also contacted anyone who might have a financial interest in the car, but for several weeks, no one responded.

However, the owner finally came forward, and said he has every intention of removing the car.

He was told that if he moves the car before a judge can sign the order the tow and destroy it, it's his.

But if the city gets to it first, it's gone.

NEWS SOURCE

THEN and NOW: The Old Primeau Farm

The pig farm on 124th Avenue was a longtime Rose Hill curiosity, finally bulldozed over after years of battle with the county

By Greg Johnston

Sometimes when I drive by Fire Station 26 on Rose Hill these days I recall what was there before for many years, and it's always with a certain sense of sadness. Fire Station 26 represents the new Rose Hill in my mind; the "Primeau pig farm," as everyone used to call it, represents old Rose Hill.

The Primeau family moved to north Rose Hill in 1948, from where I don't know, and lived on 13.5 acres at the intersection of 124th Avenue NE and NE 100th.

They had 14 children, and as the story was told back in the day, they were not poor at all. But it is safe to say that, in the long run anyway, they lived a hardscrabble existence, apparently at first operating a commercial pig farm along with a scrap collection business -- today it would be called a recycling business.

At some point Mr. Primeau died and over the years the kids all grew up and moved on. Irene Primeau remained on the property, keeping a menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, goats, ducks, ponies, cows and other animals, all the while as the cabin deteriorated.

Neighbors complained about conditions, setting off a long-running battle between Irene and the county, which claimed it found instances of animal cruelty, as well as serious health and fire hazards. At least once during confrontations, a shot was fired into the air by a member of the Primeau family.

The black and white photo came from the files of the long-gone Kirkland weekly newspaper The Eastside Journal and is now in the archives of the Kirkland Heritage Society.

The date of the picture is unknown, but it doesn't really matter because this is exactly as the place looked for years. I'm going to say it was taken between 1966 and 1986, likely on the earlier side. Note there is a youngster waving, just to the right of the cabin's front door, perhaps one of the Primeau boys or a grandson.

Today, all that remains is the powerline tower in the background.

To me the photo is powerfully reminiscent, a reminder of days gone by. As a kid, the Primeau place was a curiosity, and we always looked while passing by, occasionally spotting Mrs. Primeau out tending her animals and marveling at the collection of junked cars, stacked boards and sheet metal, ramshackle wooden corrals and various barns and outbuildings in various states of repair.

Irene suffered a debilitating stroke in 1986, and her children sold the farm in 1988. The cabin and outbuildings were bulldozed and, according to reports, 50 truckloads of debris and junk were hauled away. Irene died in 1993.

Now the site hosts Kirkland's Fire Station 26 and a wonderful park, Rose Hill Woodlands. But somehow I miss seeing the Primeau place when I drive by today -- just like I miss all the other sights of the Rose Hill I knew while growing up.

As sure as the whiskers on my chin are gray, most of it is history now.

NEWS SOURCE

Mt. Holly keeps junk car ordinance as is

Borough Council has put the brakes on a request to amend an ordinance designed to clear away junk cars from properties throughout Mt. Holly Springs.

Council last winter adopted an ordinance requiring all vehicles parked on lots within sight of the right-of-way to have updated insurance, registration and state inspection sticker.

The ordinance was in response to complaints council received from residents upset over seeing abandoned and rusted-out "eyesores" in their neighborhoods, council President James J. Collins II said this week.

This spring, the borough mailed out about 30 warning letters to local residents, he said, one letter for every vehicle reported to borough officials.

Each letter advised the resident to either bring the vehicle into compliance or park it in an enclosed structure out of view of the right-of-way.

In talking with borough police, Collins said, he learned that 20 to 25 of the vehicles have since been moved and are no longer a problem.

Leonard Guise received multiple letters for cars parked at his Chestnut Street property. In July, Guise asked council to consider amending the ordinance in regard to hobbyists working to restore old cars and residents who can't build garages in the flood plain.

The state does not require cars being restored to have registration, insurance and inspection, Guise said. He questioned why the borough is insisting on requiring that kind of documentation.

"We want some changes to make it easier for the hobbyists," Guise said.

While Guise is not the root cause of the ordinance, council cannot make an exception to a rule, Collins said.

"When you do an ordinance, it has to apply to everybody equally," he said.

As yet, no one has been cited under the nuisance vehicle ordinance, Collins said.

NEWS SOURCE

Commission adopts controversial regulations

“It’s been a long, hard process,” said Natrona County Commission Chairman Ed Opella last week, following a vote to adopt controversial new “junk car" regulations in the county.

While opposition to the new regulations remains strong from some antique car buffs and other quarters, the revised rules attempt to ease a prohibition against rural residents having any inoperable, unlicensed vehicles in public view on their property. Under the new rules, one “unlicensed” vehicle is allowed in most zoning districts, and more can be added, under what’s being called a “collector car” variance.

“To have people come up here and say that they got absolutely nothin’ out of this whole thing really bothers me,” Commissioner Rob Hendry said about the number of vehicles allowed under the new rules. “Because where we started from is you could have none, zero. That’s where we started from ... and as long as you screen them so everybody doesn’t have to live with them, you can have whatever you want, whatever will fit on that piece of property ... that’s a tremendous victory.”

Some 40 people turned out for the hearing and, as in previous sessions on the matter, most remained opposed, often on the grounds the regulations were excessive or incomplete.

“We just want a legitimate answer why we’re discriminated against on the bigger trucks,” said collector Dana Jones, noting the commissioners supported equipment exemptions for farm and ranches. “They’re very collectable, they’re very desirable, they fit in exactly with collector items and antique cars.”

“They’ve made this text amendment a policing action,” said Evansville resident John Stevenson, noting to be eligible for a car variance, a person’s property first has to be in compliance with all zoning codes.

“There’s a lot folks that are in the county that aren’t very rich people, and so along the lines they built a chicken coop, and it doesn’t meet code compliance. They’ve built a shed, not code compliant. They did their own electrical work, not code compliant ... We all know there’s no way, there’s absolutely no way they’re going to be able to get a conditional use permit. You know it, and I know it.”

“It seems there are so many hoops to apply for a permit that it makes it, dare I say, impossible to achieve a permit for a lot of these properties that have very large assortments of cars,” said Bar Nunn resident Ryan Owen. “Some see ‘em as junk, but in actuality, they’re not junk.”

“Where in the Wyoming constitution does it give the legislature the authority, to give you the authority, that I have to ask your permission to rebuild a car on my property?” asked another resident.

As part of the process, the commissioners had put together a car ordinance review committee, made up of three “collector” car supporters, three concerned landowners and members of the County Planning and Zoning Board.

At last week’s meeting, the “collector” car committee members complained that many of their recommendations were ignored.

“I was on the original committee,” said Jones. “There were three people opposing, there were three people for, and those of us in opposition were heard very little, and I would appreciate somewhere along the way that we could be heard. We weren’t listened to, the opposing team was listened to greatly, and we were just totally ignored.”

“We’re close, but no cigar yet, there’s some things we need to work on,” said Stan Goodwin, a car committee member. “We have a lot of law abiding citizens out there that they’re going to say, ‘Well, I’m going to step outside the law, I don’t think I want to do this.’ So, are we making law abiding citizens conform to not being law abiding citizens?”

“I feel like I’ve been slighted,” said John Stevenson, who was also on the committee, noting no one on the Planning and Zoning Board had spoken with him, and only two commissioners. “The only discussion we’ve had is when I’ve been speaking into a microphone at one of these meetings.”

Even a newly appointed member of the County Planning and Zoning Board, George Tillman, was concerned that the commissioners didn’t support the board’s official recommendation on the variance fee.

“We recommended to you that the conditional use permit fee be reduced from the normal $300 to $100 for collector car storage conditional use permits, and that those fees be waived for the first year,” Tillman said. “I believe, from the adoption of the text amendment, that was an effort to get people to voluntarily comply with coming in and obtaining the necessary permits.”

While fewer in number at the meeting, public supporters of the bill said they were generally satisfied that something was beginning to be done to clean up the county and stop a lowering of property values.

“This reminds me an awful lot of what’s going on in Washington D.C.,” commented former state legislator and car committee member Dick Sadler, in a lighter vein. “I think we’ve got a pretty good compromise here. Like I say I didn’t get everything, Mr. Goodwin didn’t get everything, but I think it’s a good start, and I would hope that you would approve it.”

“I’m in favor of what you’re doing,” said another committee member, Don Wolcott. “It’s a hell of a project you’re taking on, and I respect the good work and the good nature that you guys have worked toward. I support your program.”

While the proceedings were generally civil, three sheriff’s deputies were in attendance, and at one point Chairman Opella asked them to remove one audience member. The exchange happened during the public comment period when Opella was being questioned about the vehicle size limit being set at 1 1/2 tons.

“What about the ones over 1 1/2 tons?” asked Jones during his turn at the lectern.

“That’s the limit,” said Opella.

“Why?” asked Jones.

“I’m sorry we can’t make everybody happy, so thank you,” Opella stated. “Next.”

That’s when Dick Gilbert, of Bison Wrecker Service, commented from the audience. “Sounds like Adolph Hitler to me ... just like Adolph Hitler in the ‘20s and ‘30s, you guys.”

“I’ll let you get away with that once, twice, that’s enough,” Opella said to Gilbert. “After that you can just leave.”

“I can leave, too,” Gilbert replied.

“Officer, would you escort him out,” Opella immediately told one of the sheriff’s deputies. “We’ll have a civil meeting here. I want to listen to everybody’s thoughts.”

Gilbert left peacefully, but not before smiling and giving a “V” sign with his hand as he got onto the elevator.

Later in the meeting, the vehicle size limit was eliminated in an amendment supported by Commissioners Terry Wingerter, Matt Keating and Rob Hendry.

Commissioners Opella and Bill McDowell opposed the change, with McDowell concerned that “we’re talking about the potential for garbage trucks, collectable dump trucks, collectable concrete trucks, a lot of vehicles ... above and beyond what the original intent of this amendment was.”

The revised regulations are a culmination of an 18-month effort by the commissioners to clean up the county, and start enforcing nuisance ordinances that had been little-used for nearly 40 years.

The controversy played out county-wide, as at one point letters were sent to all rural residents asking for compliance (even though most weren’t in violation). The matter also became an issue in last November’s election, further fueled after incumbent Commissioner Barb Peryam made a comment about wanting to “sic” code enforcement on one vocal resident. Peryam lost her re-election bid, but not before switching her position to become an ardent opponent of the proposed new regulations, as well as the commission.

Peryam was unable to attend last week’s meeting, but had her comments read into the record, saying the commissioners had exceeded their authority, and ending with:

“You have made this personal, and all the while claiming the contrary. Publicly you state you considered the politically correct answer, privately you rant and rave about getting back at those citizens ... when passed, this amendment will tie people up 24-7, 365 days a year, to defend their property rights. I’m ashamed of you as commissioners for allowing what could have been a worthwhile amendment to descend to this level. There’s an old saying, ‘boys will be boys’, but I prefer men to be men.”

Following the vote, Opella said there was still opportunity for fine points to be worked out, now that the basic ordinance was passed.

“There’s always room for improvement, so as things come forward we’ll probably look at them,” Opella said.

One of the caveats still to be considered is the grace period, where the application fee for the variance would be waived until residents get familiar with the new rules.

“At the next work session, we’re going to talk about a time period to forgive people the $300 if it’s [the variance application] made in a timely manner. We still need to discuss it, we didn’t want to do that tonight because we didn’t know if it [the new ordinance] would pass or not,” Opella said.

Even though the ordinance is now approved, Jones, who’s a key opponent of the measure, said he had retained legal counsel but hadn’t yet decided whether to challenge it in court.

NEWS SOURCE

BBB warns: Avoid buying flood damaged cars

By Kay Johnson, Reporter

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Friday's flooding left folks drying out over the weekend.

In a four hour period, Charlotte fire responded to 80 calls for service. Most of those calls were for people stranded in their homes or cars.

It's unclear how cars were damaged by the flooding but at Hunter Wrecker service, Mike Chitwood says once the rain started so did the calls for help.

He points to several waterlogged cars on the lot. Chitwood says many of the cars they pick up will be considered a total loss by insurance companies.

When a junk car is declared a total loss it should be sent to a junk yard and sold as scrap metal. But the Better Business Bureau warns many cars are sold as 'salvage' vehicles.

"Realize whenever [flooding] happens really anywhere in the southeast since Charlotte is such a big market, these cars have a tendency to end up in our market for sale," President of the BBB Tom Bartholomy said.

Bartholomy says a title should show a car is flood damaged. But that doesn't always happen, especially if the car is sold by an individual and not a reputable dealer.

And it doesn't take much to make a muddy car look practically brand new from the outside.

"Especially this soon after flooding - they'll be on Craiglist, classified ads..so you won't have any knowledge before hand what it has been through...there are things to look out for," Bartholomy said.

Those things include checking under the hood, in the trunk and beneath the seats for mud, rust or water damage.

Check hoses and flex wires under the dash to see if they bend or crack.

Bartholomy also suggests for the things that can't be checked out on your own, take the car to a mechanic you trust. He says it may cost a hundred bucks but it could save you more money in the long run.

Grief hard knowing car on its last legs

It doesn't matter how many cars you buy and sell in your lifetime, parking one for the last time is not easy. You've undoubtedly seen many miles together, spent years together ... it's like an old friend.

Maybe letting go is easier when you're using your car as a trade-in, or selling it to another driver. At least then you know it will be given another chance. It will live to drive another day.

But when you have to sell your car for scrap because it's too old and broken down to be of any use to anyone, it's not a pretty sight. It's like watching that good old friend fade before your eyes: You know what's coming, but you still go through the five stages of grief.

First stage: Denial.

You hear a strange sound, but you're convinced it's coming from another car.

Tick, tick, tick. You turn down the radio to hear it better.

"Poor guy," you think to yourself, looking at the fellow in the beater next to you. "His car is going to pack it in any day now."

A few days later, you hear the sound again, but, you think it can't possibly be your car making that loud, rattling noise: RAP, RAP, RAP ... You turn up radio to fool yourself into believing that it's still another car.

"Man, I would hate to be THAT guy!" you laugh to yourself. You turn the radio up louder to drown out the annoying noise.

Second stage: Anger or resentment.

At this point, there's no denying that that ticking noise -- better known as a death rattle -- is coming from your car. And now, it's accompanied by a burning smell, kind of like the first time you tried pancakes on the barbecue. You swear and curse the day you ever laid eyes on "that" car.

"Piece of junk car! You're always breaking down! I never should have bought you in the first place. If one more thing goes wrong, I'll have you crushed ..."

You don't want to invest another dime because it has already cost you more than its share in headaches. You continue to ignore the signs.

Third stage: Bargaining.

The sound is louder; so much so that you can hear it over the stereo. The pine-tree shaped air freshener dangling from your rearview mirror is useless against that burnt-barbecued-pancakes smell. And strange puddles of autobodily fluids form under your car.

You know you should have taken better care of the ol' girl; you should have brought it into the shop with the first faint tick from under the hood since vehicles don't have the ability to heal themselves like people do. And you promise you will call your mechanic as soon as you get home ... as long as you can make it home.

"Please, pleeease, just get me home," you say as you gently rub the dash. "I promise I will be good to you. Just pleeeeease get me home!"

Fourth stage: Depression.

You have lived up to your end of the bargain. You made it to the garage and your mechanic gives you the bad news: She's a goner.

Only now does it hit you that you're going to have to say goodbye ... after saying goodbye to plenty of money keeping it going this last while.

It turns out that all those threats about taking the car to the scrap yard were self-fulfilling prophecies you wish you could take back. But it's too late.

And the fifth stage: Acceptance.

There's nothing that can be done to save your car. Dropping one more penny on the clunker is futile as the math will just never add up.

You realize that it's time to move on ... literally. You need a new set of wheels. You promise you will take better care of it, so it will last you a little longer ... and you can buy more time before you have to go through it all over again.

http://www.oldjunkcar.com

NEWS SOURCE

Participants crash cars in demolition derby

Ryan Schumacher has a unique itinerary for his vacation. He likes to crash cars.

But that's the idea behind participating in the Washington County Fair's demolition derby.

Originally from Omaha, Schumacher now lives in Tallahassee, Fla., and is spending vacation time visiting family - and smashing a 2003 Dodge Neon into other compact cars.

"Last year was the first year," he said. "I have the same car (this year). Usually, I come just to hang out and work."

But that changed last year when he stripped the interior of the Neon, welded the doors shut, bolted down the hood and painted it a military green. Decals on the car thank veterans for their service.

"It was actually my Uncle Mark's idea (to salute the veterans)," Schumacher said.

This year he added several American flags. Other than that, though, the car is the same as last year when he finished second in the division.

"You wouldn't think there would be any fun in it," he said. "(But) it's awesome. It's a lot of fun, not a whole lot of aggression. ... Hopefully the car still runs after we do."

Last year, Schumacher finished behind Dan Crawley, who works for J&S Auto in Fremont. Both were back to compete.

Crawley brought the Ford Escort wagon he won with last year. The only difference is the paint job - it's black with pink accents this year.

He had participated in these events before, but took a 14-year break prior to coming back last year.

"I stopped because I got married and had kids," Crawley said. "I just wanted to do it for fun.

"We had that sitting there and (the boss) was going to get rid of the junk car. So I said, ‘Let me run it.'"

Before they could enter the arena on Wednesday, Crawley and Schumacher had to watch three heats of the bigger cars run.

It was a standing-room-only crowd as the demolition derby wrapped up this year's Washington County Fair. A little flying mud didn't bother those in the crowd. In fact, it was kind of expected.

After the derby, High Heel performed in the new Two Rivers Bank Arena.

Still, there is an upcoming event for those who like speed, mud and the possibility of crashes. Figure 8 races are scheduled for Aug. 20 at the fairgrounds.

NEWS SOURCE

Commission approves collector car amendment

Yes, Natrona County has a new revised regulation for collector cars.

Not everyone likes it.

And some say maybe it can be made better.

Regardless, the county commission ended a nearly year-long dispute Tuesday when it created a land use category for collector cars, which will require property owners in certain zoning districts to obtain conditional use permits.

The meeting invoked some of the acrimony expressed last fall, when hundreds of people protested the "Better Homes and Gardens Gestapo," according to one critic, speaking of officials enforcing property codes, especially about collector cars.

Tuesday, one participant was ejected for dropping the H-bomb, and a letter from a former county commissioner bitterly criticized her former colleagues.

The text amendment before the commission defined collector cars as inoperable or unlicensed cars stored and maintained for preservation and allowed light-duty trucks. Besides obtaining conditional use permits, the amendment tied the permit to the permit holder and not the land, limited county code enforcement visits to twice a year, and required residents to maintain their lots.

Commission Chairman Ed Opella said that without changing the current zoning resolution, all unlicensed and inoperable vehicles would be regarded as junk cars, and subject to removal.

But Commissioner Matt Keating found a way to satisfy some of the strongest criticisms of the amendment.

The amendment, formally recommended by the county's Planning and Zoning Commission on July 13, stated conditional use permits could be obtained for collections of cars and light trucks with a payload capacity of up to 1.5 tons.

But it still prohibited two-ton pickups, fire trucks, semitrailers, buses and other large vehicles that are in some county residents' collections.

Several collectors asked why the amendment included that restriction.

Opella responded that the car collector category could not be open-ended. "At some point we have to make a cutoff, a ton-and-a-half," he said.

He later said, "Sorry, we can't make everybody happy."

That could be changed, collector Jerry Knight said. "My suggestion is to change it to any inoperable or unlicensed truck or any specialty vehicle, which would be over the ton-and-a-half limit."

Specialty vehicles could be fire trucks or wreckers, Knight said. "It's not necessarily a vehicle that's a car or truck."

But Opella countered that would open the collector concept to semitrailers and other large vehicles.

Amendment critic and collector Dana Jones also asked about the payload restriction.

Jone served on the original committee of three car collectors and three residents wanting stricter enforcement, he said.

He unsuccessfully pushed for an increase in payload capacity, he said. "Those of us in opposition were heard very little."

After the public hearing, Keating offered an amendment similar to Knight's suggestion to remove the 1.5-ton payload restriction.

After some wordsmithing, the amendment expanded the collector category to any inoperable, unlicensed vehicle - including parts vehicles -- which was licensed previously for highway use.

Knight liked it, he told the commissioners. "I think this would solve the problem."

Commissioner Bill McDowell didn't like it, saying it could open the door for garbage, dump and concrete trucks.

The other commissioners outvoted McDowell.

When it was done, they all voted for the change to the zoning resolution.

The meeting wasn't without some drama.

Cecil Gilbert of Bison Wrecking Service piped up at one point saying, "sounds like Adolf Hitler to me."

After a couple more similar comments, Opella asked a sheriff's deputy to eject Gilbert.

And former county Commissioner Barb Peryam wrote a letter castigating the current commission, which was read by amendment opponent Judy Jones.

The amendment gives the commissioners power to eventually destroy car collections that have been in the county for decades, Jones read from Peryam's letter.

"'Publicly, you consider the publicly correct answer, privately you rant and rave about getting back at some citizens,'" according to the letter.

"'I'm ashamed of you as commissioners for allowing what could have been a worthwhile amendment to descend to this level,'" Peryam wrote. "'There's an old saying that "boys will be boys," but I prefer men to be men.'"

NEWS SOURCE

Living Green: Neighbors turn Broad Ripple alley lot into garden

Jeff Ayers, Indianapolis, is a waiter, musician and writer.

I moved into my little Broad Ripple bungalow about 20 years ago. Behind my backyard is a gravel alley that connects the two side streets that border my block. And right off this alley is a strip of land between two rental properties that had, over the years, become a real blemish. There was a junk car nestled among tall, scrubby mulberry trees in the area, which was overgrown with weeds and littered with trash blown in by the wind.

Eventually, the car was removed. I cleaned up the area a little bit and planted a few vegetables and flowers in a small patch. Then, in 2004, a new neighbor bought the house next to mine. He had a college pal, Dave Frohbieter, who also moved in.

Dave and I had both been avid gardeners for many years. But moving to this wonderful neighborhood inspired us to "up our game" because we're on the same block as the house and walk-through garden that belonged to Karl "The Flower Man" Theilig (who died at age 96 in 2003). This beautiful, historic property was designed like an English garden, only with plants and flowers that do well in our Hoosier climate. Karl began his landscaping business here in 1935, which grew to include selling perennials, annuals and cut flowers. Today, the business is run by his daughter, Helen.

Shortly after Dave moved here, he and I decided to combine forces, and we began to work in earnest to turn the area adjacent to our alley into a full-fledged flower and vegetable garden. Because we did not seek permission from either actual landowner, we called our project "The Squatters' Garden." (Since that time, we've met both of these folks, and they're quite pleased with the transformation.)

Our mutual friend, Sean Gelarden, brought in many large rocks to use in the border we created. Dave's brother, who works for the National Parks Service, helped us cut down the mulberry trees and expertly set our mini- boulders into the ground. A neighbor pulled out a pernicious mulberry stump and roots with his truck. We used cut logs and rocks for the border, and built tiers on one side with smaller stones, bricks and pieces of concrete statuary. These tiered sections are for annuals and shorter perennials. A series of little paths runs through the garden.

Early on, Dave and I decided we would divvy up the responsibilities: Dave primarily works on the flowers, and I am responsible for the vegetables. We jokingly refer to each other as "the Flowerstinians" and "the Vegraelis," though our level of cooperation and good friendship is far greater than our Mideast counterparts.

Dave and I have made improvements to the Squatters' Garden each year. This past year we cleared out an extra 15-foot-by-15-foot shaded section primarily for hostas. We also constructed two wire-fence compost bins. The garden itself is a strip of land approximately 18 feet wide and 60 feet long. We've packed it full with a variety of flowers, vegetables and fruits.

NEWS SOURCE

City: Junkyard must discontinue

GARY HUFFENBERGER
Staff Writer

The city of Wilmington’s code enforcement official has informed the owner of Cartoons Auto Salvage on the far east end of Columbus Street that he must stop using the site as a junkyard.

But Gordon Bingham, the property owner, said Tuesday he was running a salvage business on the site prior to September 2008 when Wilmington City Council banned junkyards within city limits, and moreover, he said he has a salvage license from the state.

Bingham feels that because his salvage operations predate the city ordinance prohibiting junkyards in town, his salvage business is grandfathered in and thus legal.

However, Wilmington Code Enforcement Official Ernie Blankenship wrote a letter this month to Bingham in which he alleges the use of the land as a junkyard violates the city planning and zoning code. Blankenship wrote that he researched the city’s files “and no certificate of occupancy for your business was found.”

Such a certificate, wrote Blankenship, “if obtained prior to the ordinance passing [in September 2008], may have allowed you to have a non-conforming use” of the in-town parcel of land as a junkyard.

The 805 E. Columbus St. parcel, which is about 3.9 acres in size, is in a district zoned industrial, according to city officials. The September 2008 ordinance prohibited a junkyard use in all zoning districts inside the city, according to a copy of the ordinance.

This segment of Columbus Street is north of Rombach Avenue.

On Tuesday, Bingham said, “We’re not here to make an eye-sore for the city. We’re willing to work within the guidelines.”

He added he does need to put up more privacy slats to obscure the scene of the junk vehicles from nearby streets. The fencing will probably get installed in a few weeks, he said.

A quick check by Bingham’s office manager turned up a state salvage license going back to 2005.

Wilmington City Hall has received complaints about the junkyard, including at a city council meeting last Thursday during public comment.

Bingham operates B&M Transmission at the same East Columbus Street location as Cartoons Auto Salvage. The two businesses employ seven people.

NEWS SOURCE

CK, NK properties face abatement order for old cars and junk

PORT ORCHARD — Colin Young, known for his collection of old cars and related junk, has been ordered to clean up his residential property in the Spirit Ridge neighborhood of Central Kitsap and to remove junk cars from his mother's property on Big Valley Road in North Kitsap.

The two orders from Kitsap County's "violations hearing examiner" confirm that a nuisance exists on both properties. If Young does not complete the cleanup himself, Kitsap County will proceed with abatement proceedings, according to Steve Mount, Kitsap County's code-enforcement officer. The next step would be a court order allowing the county to hire a contractor to clean up the property at Young's expense, he said.

During a June 23 hearing, Mount told Hearing Examiner Kimberly Allen that most of the cars on the Spirit Ridge property had been removed, but remaining on the property were parts, tools, fluids, tubs, floor items and inoperable motorcycles. At the time, the site was still considered a nuisance.

Young told Allen that the motorcycles are more appropriately called "dirt bikes," and he argued that they are not vehicles, because they are not legal for street use, according to Allen's written findings. Allen considered Young's argument before concluding that the motorcycles are vehicles and junk under state and county laws.

Young took responsibility for the vehicles on his mother's Big Valley Road property, which he deeded to her in February this year. He admitted that some of the cars have been there for two years and asked for 60 days to remove all the vehicles from the property.

Allen's order gives Young 60 days to remove the remaining vehicles. Young might also appeal the examiner's findings to Kitsap County Superior Court.

In 2007, following a private lawsuit filed by neighbors, Young removed an estimated 200 vehicles from the same 13 acres of undeveloped property near Manor Farm Inn. Since then, however, many have been returned to the site.

By Christopher Dunagan

When forced to take action or undergo financial penalties in 2007, Young moved an estimated 100 vehicles to a site zoned for industry at Gunderson and Bond roads north of Poulsbo. Property owner Bill Arness said the vehicle storage was to be a short-term arrangement. After four years, Mount said Arness will need to make sure the vehicles are removed soon or he might face abatement action as well.

Meanwhile, neighbors living on Frontier Road north of Silverdale reported that Young has begun moving some cars to vacant land in that location. Mount said he has advised the property owner to meet with county planners to determine what permits and conditions might allow for vehicle storage on the property.

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