plus 3, Gaston County selling surplus vehicles to highest bidder - Gaston Gazette

Gaston County selling surplus vehicles to highest bidder - Gaston Gazette
TUCKER: No joke: Get out to vote - Tonawanda News
DLA Contracts For M-ATV Spare Parts - OfficialWire
Lawton: Health, pressures weren't factors in bowing out - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Gaston County selling surplus vehicles to highest bidder - Gaston Gazette

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 09:41 AM PDT

The dog-eared collection of county-owned vehicles that will be auctioned off Nov. 21 may not inspire any drivers to paint or write a poem.

But many may still be good for what matters — getting someone from point A to point B.

"It's basically the same stuff we've had in past years," said Sam Kaylor, Gaston County's fleet maintenance administrator.

Wear and tear leads the county to purge a portion of its auto fleet every year and purchase new models. While old by county standards, the aged cars and trucks still prove popular with many residents.

The county will auction off some 34 vehicles, trailers and other equipment at the fleet maintenance building on Osceola Street. The auction begins at 10 a.m., and buyers can begin previewing the stock an hour earlier.

This year's lot includes eight Ford Crown Victoria police cars, several pickup trucks and a 27-year-old armored police truck. There are a handful of ambulances, small buses, trailers, two ATVs and some lawn-mowing equipment.

Most of the vehicles range in age from six to 21 years, and all have high mileage that makes them too costly to maintain any longer, said public works director Ray Maxwell. The annual sale typically brings in well over $20,000 for the county, with each vehicle going for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Repairmen and locksmiths have been known to convert old ambulances into work vehicles. Taxi cab companies often resurrect the retired police cars — sans sirens and emergency lights.

The county cut back on new vehicle purchases last year, and has been milking everything it can out of its old models, Kaylor said. So this year's auction stock may have more engine and transmission problems, or have been wrecked.

"A lot of times in the past, you used to be able to get a pretty good vehicle out here," he said. "But as they've run these cars longer, the mileage has gotten higher."

Old emergency vehicles tend to have the most wear and tear, as they are driven long and hard in the field of duty.

"We know they drive 'em like they stole 'em," Kaylor said. "Transportation vans and buses aren't like that, because they don't have to drive them as fast."

The ACCESS vans and buses served in the county's public transportation fleet, but may be useful to churches or other community groups.

Junkyard owners tend to flock to the auction. Kaylor said he's seen people buy two vehicles and use the parts from both to make one good car.

Others have been known to let their will to win a lemon override common sense.

"I've seen people get in bidding wars, and it's like they lose their mind and forget what they're doing," said Kaylor. "Then they're sick when they've got to pay for it."

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826.

Gaston County's surplus vehicle auction will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at the fleet maintenance building, 945-B Osceola St., Gastonia. Prospective buyers can examine the vehicles and equipment that will be up for bid beginning at 9 a.m. that day, but not before. For more information, call 704-868-2150.

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TUCKER: No joke: Get out to vote - Tonawanda News

Posted: 30 Oct 2009 10:14 PM PDT

Published: October 30, 2009 10:57 pm

TUCKER: No joke: Get out to vote

The Tonawanda News

If you're not ready for Election Day by today, you probably will never be.

We hope you've read the endorsements in the News, taken advantage of the candidate debates hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the News, attended council meetings, met the candidates and, in all, are ready to pull the lever. Go for it!

•••

Megan Vergo e-mailed to say she agreed with the suggestions for state government in last week's column.

"You're on the mark," she wrote.

Too bad those who are part of Albany's mess can't read.

Here's two more insane ideas that will cost us all money:

• Albany is revving up to pass a bill requiring every motorist to replace vehicle license plates starting next spring. The mandate covers cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles — even ATVs — at an outrageous cost of $25. If you are enraged over this, fire up your computer and go online to www.nonewplates.com, sign the online form and then forward the message to everyone you know. St. Lawrence County clerk Patricia Ritchie said it's an outrage to ask families and businesses to pay more for new license plates they don't need, so she started the Web site. What a poor excuse for raising taxes. By the way, have any state legislators curtailed their staff, taken a cut in wages, given up even one perk? And do they pay for their own license plates?

• State Sen. Antoine Thompson somehow, over many objections, was able to get the "bottle bill" on the books. But just to show how much heart state officials have, they are allowing retailers to wait until Nov. 8 before starting to collect the nickel deposits on water bottles. The governor said the bigger, better bottle bill will provide much needed revenue for the state because it gets to keep 80 percent of the unclaimed deposits, money given up when people don't bring the empty containers back. Environmentalists are also happy, saying it will result in higher recycling rates.

Another win-win for the state, a loss-loss for taxpayers.

•••

Don Reid e-mailed that his dream is to reinstate Erie County Medicaid processing that detected Medicaid abuse in the mid-'70s. The case he noted was that of a physician barred from Medicaid for three years for abuse.

"This processing (if reinstated) would find the billions mentioned in a segment of '60 minutes' about Medicare," he said. "I am 85 and was not going to bother trying (to reinstate the program) again until that segment."

•••

Let's turn to other news (and there is some.)

Chuck Pastor brought over two clippings from the News in 1949.

The first was a large ad for Midget Auto Races at the "new Sheridan Speedway at Old Bemo Park, 1/2 mile east of the Grand Island Bridge on Sheridan Drive Extension." Admission was $1.20, including tax, with children's admission at half-price.

The second was an article that the Sheridan Speedway, "a 1.5 mile dirt track for midget automobile racers" was opening with an all-Ford show Aug. 31. The speedway was affiliated with International Racing Association and had bleacher seats accommodating 3,500.

Now, Chuck's question: He is an avid auto race junkie and has never heard of this speedway. If anyone has any information or remembrances of it, let me know and I'll forward the information to him.

•••

For a number of years as night editor of the Saturday morning News (when the daily paper was an evening paper), one of my favorite people to work with was Pat Murray, former sports editor and writer at the News, who was one of the best headline writers I'd ever known and an encyclopedia of sports trivia.

Thanks to Doug Smith for calling to say Pat has a new job on the sports information staff at Lamar University, a Division 1 school in Texas. Pat and family have moved to Beaumont, Texas, where his talents will certainly be put to good use. Congratulations, Pat.

•••

A note of farewell to the Rev. Bob Lawson, long-time pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Brethren Church in North Tonawanda, who has resigned his post after a six-year stay.

In his letter of resignation, he said he had done his best and feels it's time for a change, "for someone with different gifts and abilities to take the church to the next step."

Best wishes to Pastor Bob and his family as he moves to his next call.

Contact community editor Barbara Tucker at 693-1000, ext. 110, or e-mail barbara.tucker@tonawanda-news.com.

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DLA Contracts For M-ATV Spare Parts - OfficialWire

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 11:39 AM PDT

The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency has contracted Oshkosh for spare parts supporting mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles deployed in Afghanistan.

U.S. company Oshkosh was awarded a $16 million contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to deliver spare parts for the MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles used in Afghanistan.

Oshkosh was also contracted by the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command to provide M-ATV aftermarket support services as part of a $12 million award.

"Oshkosh Corporation's broad range of offerings, including our parts supply network and fully trained field service team, will provide our armed forces with an unparalleled level of support," Robert Bohn, Oshkosh chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"Our in theater M-ATV service and support will help ensure these highly mobile vehicles operate at full capability in very challenging conditions."

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Lawton: Health, pressures weren't factors in bowing out - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Posted: 27 Oct 2009 08:23 PM PDT

Oct. 30, 2009 | Eight Wisconsin organizations will receive a total of $420 million in federal tax credits intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in low-income areas.

The New Markets Tax Credit awards will go to Waveland Community Development LLC, Milwaukee, $100 million; Wisconsin Community Development Legacy Fund Inc., Madison, $85 million; First Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise Inc., West Allis, $70 million; Johnson Community Development Co., Racine, $50 million; M&I New Markets Fund LLC, Milwaukee, $40 million; Wisconsin Business Growth Fund Inc., Madison, $35 million; Milwaukee Economic Development Corp., Milwaukee, $25 million; and Urban Revitalization & Brownfield Redevelopment Fund, Madison, $15 million.

The credits have been used in the Milwaukee area to attract investors to projects such as the Lena's Food Stores chain and the Iron Horse Hotel near the Harley-Davison Museum.

Wisconsin Community Development Legacy Fund approved deals this year to retain more than 500 permanent jobs in the state's manufacturing industry, according to Gov. Jim Doyle.

To date, that fund has allocated $175 million in credits to 21 companies across Wisconsin. »Read Full Article

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