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News and notes from City of North Vancouver council

Akron, OH (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

Less than a month after acquiring the assets of Monmouth Vans Access & Mobility in New Jersey, MobilityWorks announced that has acquired Handicapped Driver Services of Marietta, GA (aka HDS Vans & Mobility). HDS has five showrooms located in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee with approximately 40 employees. MobilityWorks is the largest provider of wheelchair vans in North America, now with 20 showroom locations in 12 states and a commercial van division. Historically, they have grown the sales volume on acquisitions by over 50%, largely in part due to an emphasis on marketing and in working with market influencers.

MobilityWorks represents minivan conversion manufacturers BraunAbility and Vantage Mobility International (VMI) and are their largest resellers in bringing mobility solutions to the disabled community. MobilityWorks has been instrumental in fostering dealership agreements with a clear commitment from the dealer and from the manufacturers. This has improved the industry by allowing partnerships to thrive and serve consumers with the best options available. In addition to new and pre-owned accessible minivans for sale, all of the MobilityWorks store locations offer handicap vans for rent, mechanical service, scooter lifts, wheelchair lifts, hand controls and financing.

HDS was started in 1976 by Jim Craig, a military veteran who wanted to help disabled vets with their modified vehicle needs. At the time, Mr. Craig was training drivers with disabilities to supplement his income. HDS is considered to be an early forerunner of today’s adaptive vehicle dealership, with many different conversion options, certified mobility consultants and local service. Starting with a small building in Atlanta, HDS quickly expanded to other cities and eventually moved its headquarters north to Marietta. Current owner Michael Dresdner took over the reins from Mr. Craig in 1991 and will continue to be a special advisor and consultant with MobilityWorks. He emphasized that determining what equipment will work the best for the client’s physical needs and lifestyle is the most important thing they do.

“Our companies are very similar in how they serve the client and in our core principles,” said Michael Dresdner. “We share the same goal, which is to get things right for the client every time.”

Also staying on through the transition is Scott Sorenson, HDS Chief Operating Officer. He will continue to oversee operations of the five HDS store locations, reporting to Eric Mansfield, VP of Store Operations at the MobilityWorks headquarters in Akron, Ohio.

“Michael Dresdner and Scott Sorenson have been real leaders in our industry and they will continue to be strong advocates for people with disabilities in working with us,” said Bill Koeblitz, President/CEO of MobilityWorks. “We’re excited to have them on board.”

The company’s new southeast locations will also help to facilitate the service of its commercial accessible wheelchair van customers who mostly operate Ford E-Series full-size vans. MobilityWorks and HDS service center technicians are certified through the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) to install and maintain the most sophisticated equipment and high-tech driving systems available. Combined, they have installed more electronic driving controls than any other adaptive equipment dealer in the world.

About MobilityWorks
The Akron-based Inc 500 company is the largest adaptive vehicle dealer in the United States and now employs more than 300 full-time employees throughout the country. Showroom and service centers are located in AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MI, NJ, NY, PA, OH, TN and WI. The MobilityWorks Commercial Division is Ford Motor Company’s largest mobility upfitter in the commercial van industry manufacturing non-emergency transportation vehicles. The MobilityWorks Commercial division provides the entire U.S. market with custom fleet vehicles such as ambulette vans, shuttle transports and accessible taxis. They are members of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and Accessible Vans of America (AVA), a national rental organization of mobility van dealers. For additional information about MobilityWorks, go to http://www.mobilityworks.com.

About Handicapped Driver Services
Formed in 1984, Handicapped Driver Services (HDS Vans & Mobility) was one of the first mobility dealers in the country to offer wheelchair vans for rent. HDS offers sales and service of all major lines of adaptive equipment and wheelchair accessible minivans. Their wheelchair van showrooms are located in Birmingham AL, Chattanooga, TN, Jacksonville FL, Marietta GA, and Nashville TN. Certified mobility consultants are on hand at each location to assist with vehicle and equipment selection. HDS is also a member of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA). For additional information about Handicapped Driver Services, go to http://www.hdsvans.com.
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MobilityWorks Expands to Twenty Locations in Twelve States with the Acquisition of Handicapped Driver Services (HDS …

William DeJesus' youngest son called him the “Monster.”

At a Polk County foster home, the boy shrieked from nightmares and insisted the Monster was hiding under his bed.

He had good reason to fear: DeJesus had been accused of beating, stabbing and raping the boy's mother, who, in turn, once told authorities the couple had repeatedly molested the boy and his older brother.

But the “Monster” didn't remain under the bed.

Two weeks ago, DeJesus, 41, drove his family to a Deerfield Beach trailer home, killed the occupant and held police at bay for seven hours while he stabbed each member of his own family before killing himself. DeJesus' oldest son, 9-year-old Jeshiah, was pronounced dead at the scene; born disabled, he never uttered a word in his short life. His brother, 7, was hospitalized with a knife blade stuck in his head. He remained impaled for a day before a surgeon could remove it.

The youngster and DeJesus' wife, 37-year-old Deanna Beauchamp, are now recovering.

In the weeks since Jeshiah's death, Broward Sheriff's Office detectives have tried to figure out why DeJesus chose to execute the man in the quiet Broward neighborhood and why he tried to wipe out his own family.

But there is also this question: How could state child-protection administrators' actions toward the family have ended so tragically?

The inquiry centers on a petition the Department of Children & Families filed — and later withdrew — seeking to permanently sever the rights of DeJesus and Beauchamp to their young sons.

A foster mother had warned darkly that she was “afraid for the children if they are returned.”

But returned they were.

Said Joe Follick, the Department of Children & Families spokesman: “Obviously this is a terrible tragedy. Our immediate focus is in ensuring that the surviving child receives everything he needs.”

Records of the case — 500 pages of which were given to The Miami Herald under the state's public records law — paint a picture of an agency acting swiftly to strip DeJesus and Beauchamp of all parental rights until an abrupt about-face in May 2009. Then, agency workers were equally determined to keep the family intact — even in the face of warnings that the boys were in danger.

The surviving child is not being named to protect his privacy.

DeJesus' involvement with child-protection workers actually began several years earlier, when New York state permanently severed his right to children from a prior marriage. Records show DeJesus had been accused of abusing his former wife and molesting their children. The wife obtained an order barring DeJesus from contacting her or the children for five years.

By 2007, DeJesus and Beauchamp were raising two boys in Florida. Jeshiah was 4 and suffered from autism. His brother was 2 and was also being tested for a developmental disability. DCF's child-abuse hotline received a report on Sept. 18, 2007. During a drinking binge, DeJesus had choked his wife and punched his children's bedroom door, leaving a hole.

A police report on the incident said DeJesus had a handgun on the couch when officers arrived. Beauchamp was crying. “Thank you, thank you,” she said. “You saved me.”

The abuse had gone on, Beauchamp said, for eight years, and she showed an investigator scars to prove it. Beauchamp said DeJesus had stabbed her, punched her in the stomach, causing a miscarriage, and pushed her in the bathtub, leading to a back injury.

DCF filed a dependency petition in court, asking a judge to order the family to accept the agency's help and supervision, but the children were not taken into protective custody. “No evidence of physical or sexual abuse to the children, nor is any suspected,” an investigator wrote.

But the evidence soon followed. In February 2008, after Beauchamp left DeJesus and went to a domestic violence shelter, she told authorities that both parents had been molesting the children.

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Report: RV park killer kept sons despite molestation allegations

ASHEVILLE — The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners turned down a request to rezone 4.4 acres in Reynolds on a 4-0 vote Tuesday.

The change would have allowed mobile homes on the property at 218 and 266 Bee Ridge Road and potentially some other uses.

Several neighbors objected to the request by Kashka DeBruhl-Cawthorn, saying the change would harm the character of the neighborhood.

?Our community is a mix,? said John Scroggs, but is made up of ?primarily single-family homes, many on large tracts of land.?

A five-unit mobile home park, allowed because it was in existence when zoning was enacted, already sits on part of the property. Some residents said it is unattractive.

?We?re proud of our valley,? said Jack Sorrells, who said his family settled there in the 1850s. ?We just don?t think that we need any further problems.?

?Citizens in our community worked very hard to get the zoning in place? and it should be respected, neighbor Charles Powell said.

Members of DeBruhl-Cawthorn?s family said they supported the request so that she could live among them.

Other types of homes would be significantly more expensive, mother Debbie DeBruhl said.

Sister Katrina DeBruhl-Covan said an electrical substation and three double-wide mobile homes already sit near the property.

Joe Belcher, a regional manager for mobile home maker Clayton Homes, told the board the disagreement illustrates a problem with the county zoning ordinance.

?We have a family that wants to provide for a child. There should be a way to provide for that,? he said.

Commissioners K. Ray Bailey and Holly Jones said afterward that more mobile homes would not be a good fit for the neighborhood.

Kashka-DeBruhl asked for a change from the county?s R-2 zoning district to R-3. The change would have allowed individual mobile homes without further zoning action by the county. It also would have opened the door to other uses, like mobile home parks, communications towers and a vacation rental complex, if certain conditions were met.

Commissioner Bill Stanley was absent because he was attending a meeting of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

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Buncombe commissioners turn down rezoning request in Asheville suburb

MAPLE FALLS – A mobile home, its attachments and a trailer were destroyed by a mid-morning blaze at the Glen at Maple Falls RV park Tuesday, Feb. 21

The fire started after 9 a.m. and soon engulfed the mobile home. The home was attached to a 15-by-20-foot wood shed and 20-by-20-foot deck, which also burned, said Fire District 14 Chief Jerry DeBruin.

An electrical problem appears to be the cause, he said.

The Canadian owners were at the park during the weekend, DeBruin said. Estimated damage is $50,000.

Although nearby homes were separated from the fire by only a fence, 17 firefighters, two engines and a tender were able to contain the blaze and put it out before it spread.

The fire was reported by residents almost a quarter-mile down the road, who said they heard popping and saw the home was already burning.

“Two propane tanks were venting and it made things a little more interesting,” DeBruin said.

The area is surrounded by trees, but the rainy conditions helped prevent the trees from igniting into a big fire.

“Fortunately, there wasn't any wind. If we had that in the middle of the summer it could have flamed up and put the trees on fire,” DeBruin said. “In the summer this could have been a different story.”

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Maple Falls RV park blaze destroys mobile home

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02-20-12 Kris Hair Pontotoc County, OK Package – Video

HAPPYLAND, OK — Weeks before severe season rears its head, the first major storm system of 2012 claimed a life. High winds toppled a mobile home leaving only shreds behind. Machelle Epperly was trapped underneath that home.

“She was pinned underneath. The trailer house had actually flipped upside down,” Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian explained.

Epperly was the director of public transit in Ada. Christian says her death leaves a hole in the community.

“Michelle was a sweet lady- a good person who did take pride in working in the community and helping others and she will be missed.”

Epperly's husband, 53 year old Rick Epperly was also hurt in the accident. He suffered several broken bones.

Christian said the mobile home was no match for Monday night's winds.

“The National Weather Service was here this morning and actually did a survey of the site. Their determination from what they saw was that is was a straight line wind micro burst that happened in the area with winds- to their calculation- of up to 110 miles per hour,” said Christian.

The sheriff says that in a town like Ada, the community comes together in crisis.

“You'll see an outpouring of compassion and sympathy towards the family and what they're going through at this time,” Christian said.

The Red Cross was on scene almost immediately. Much of the neighborhood seemed to be right behind with help.

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Community Mourns Pontotoc County Woman Killed in Storm

BEMIDJI (WCCO) — Six dogs rescued from two Bemidji mobile homes in late January are now ready for a new home, but there are still several others that need a lot of attention before they can get a new place to live.

These dogs are being helped at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, and others are being helped by foster families in the Twin Cities through Pet Haven, Inc.

Now, volunteers are trying to turn fearful dogs into playful pups.

It’s been a big adjustment for a little guy, named Moe, who volunteer Laura Geib is working with at the Animal Humane Society.

“This is all new. A very scary time for him, but he’s coming around fast,” said Geib.

Moe is shy. He’s fearful of people, just like the other 100 dogs that were taken from the Bemidji mobile homes. These dogs lived in a pack and didn’t get to interact with people.

Police called their living conditions “very bad” and the amount of dogs “unbelievable.”

The dogs’ female owners were evaluated for their medical conditions, and their homes were condemned.

“I’m just going to gradually pet up to the top of the head, up to the ears, down to the barrel of the body,” said Geib.

Geib wants Moe to get used to her touch, her smell, and the simple act of someone else around.

After three weeks, Moe and a handful of other dogs are responding well in the shelter, but three dozen other animals need additional work, more long-term care.

There are dogs like Diamond. She’s now living with Youa and her boyfriend, Nick, in their Twin Cities apartment. They’ve become Diamond’s foster parents.

“She doesn’t really know how to play yet. We’re teaching her how to be more comfortable,” said Youa.

Diamond needs constant contact, in a much calmer environment than the shelter, away from other dogs and numerous distractions.

“She’s very shy! Shey’s shy at first. There are moments with us.. she’ll go and hide and peak her head out and observe everything,” said Youa.

The couple is giving Diamond individual attention, but they know soon, she’ll be ready to venture into a new home, a permanent one.

“So yes, great experience over all,” said Youa.

It’ll be another week before Diamond goes to her new home and Moe gets adopted too.

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Hope For Neglected Dogs Taken From Bemidji Homes

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By Jake Frankel on 02/21/2012 07:46 PM

Pictured: A Reynolds resident showed the commissioners photos of the Bee Ridge Road neighborhood and urged the board not to allow more mobile homes in the area. Photo by Max Cooper.

Here's a list of highlights from the Feb. 21 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Xpress will have a full report in the Feb. 29 issue.

• The board voted 4-0 (Vice Chair Bill Stanley was absent) to deny a rezoning request that would've allowed mobile homes on a 4.45 acre parcel along Bee Ridge Road in Reynolds. The Buncombe County Planning Department recommended approving the request, noting that an adjacent area already contains mobile homes. However, the Planning Board voted 4–3 to recommend denying the request, arguing the change wouldn't be consistent with the county's land use plan or in the interest of adjacent neighbors. During a public hearing on the matter, the majority of speakers urged the commissioners to deny the request, saying allowing more mobile homes in the area would hurt property values and create other problems for the neighborhood.

• Commissioners voted unanimously to allocate $50,000 in county taxpayer money to help fund the Go Kitchen–Ready Training Program, which aims to prepare local residents for work in the food–service industry.

• During the meeting's public comment session, Dr. Milton Byrd announced that he's going to try to unseat incumbent Board Chair David Gantt by running against him in the May 8 Democratic primary. Byrd previously served on the Fletcher Town Council. Over the last year, he has frequently criticized Buncombe commissioners for the way they handled county funding of the WNC Media Center, which closed it's doors in May. After the meeting, the retired Barnardsville resident told Xpress that although he has “a lot of respect for Gantt,” he feels “the public trust has been fractured.” Byrd said a top priority of his as board chair would be better communication with residents to rebuild that trust. “People are scared of politics. … Gantt isn't in a position to bring balance like I can,” he said. “I'm a win–win leader. I don't play dirty politics.”

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Buncombe Commissioners vote ‘no’ on mobile homes; Byrd challenges Gantt for board chair

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Buncombe County fleet Mountain Mobility has saved thousands in fuel costs since converting 10 passenger vans to clean-burning propane autogas through the Alliance AutoGas complete program. Now they're saving even more with the versatile Prins VSI autogas systems: when Mountain Mobility recently retired two Ford E-350 autogas passenger vans, Alliance seamlessly transferred the autogas systems to newer models.

“When we first considered switching to clean fuel, we were particularly impressed by the transferability of the autogas conversion system used by Alliance,” said Lori Hembree, general manager of Mountain Mobility. “Our community passenger vans see a lot of wear-and-tear and rack up a lot of mileage, so investing in a technology that would quickly become obsolete was just not an option. Alliance made the re-conversion process quick and simple, and had our new autogas vehicles back on the road in no time.”

The Prins Vapor Sequential Injection (VSI) system from Alliance AutoGas co-founding partner American Alternative Fuel is EPA-certified for a range of vehicle platforms. The bi-fuel vapor system is especially cost effective for fleets because it can be transferred from one vehicle to another, unlike many propane-dedicated liquid systems on the market today. When a fleet vehicle is retired, the autogas conversion system is transferrable to any vehicle with the same number of engine cylinders. The retired vehicle can then be re-sold in its original configuration.

“The process of transferring two of our autogas vehicle systems was smooth, easy and efficient,” says Mountain Mobility Operations Manager Bob Somerville. “There was no problem removing the systems and installing them on new vehicles, and they were back up and running so fast, we didn't skip a beat in terms of service to the community. Our drivers really prefer the propane vehicles, in large part because of the convenient on-site fueling station provided by Alliance.”

Mountain Mobility turned to Alliance AutoGas for the autogas vehicle conversions, on-site fuel station installation, staff training, technical support, and fueling from Alliance co-founding partner Blossman Gas.

“Alliance AutoGas has tested virtually every autogas technology available globally, and the Prins VSI system is the most versatile, high quality system for light- and medium-duty fleets,” says Alliance AutoGas president Stuart Weidie. “Alliance is committed to bringing the best autogas technology to more American fleets. And more fleets adopting autogas means cleaner air for our communities.”

Propane autogas burns cleaner than gasoline, and reducing harmful pollutants was a priority for Mountain Mobility. Their drivers have been pleased with the power of the autogas vehicles, reporting greater acceleration when merging onto the interstate and climbing hills. And because 90 percent of the U.S. autogas supply is made in America, autogas fleets like Mountain Mobility are also doing their part to help enhance national energy security.

About Alliance AutoGas

Alliance AutoGas enables fleet managers nationwide to use clean, economical, American-made autogas through vehicle conversions, on-site fueling and ongoing safety training and technical support. Public and private fleets are saving thousands on fuel costs and helping to ensure clean air for future generations through the Alliance AutoGas complete program. The Alliance partner network of U.S. propane marketers and conversion centers is experiencing tremendous growth, currently spanning 34 states. Learn more at: www.allianceautogas.com . For general questions, contact David Finder, National Energy Programs Manager, dmfinder@allianceautogas.com or (828) 251-0027.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com

http://www.cisionwire.com/alliance-autogas/r/public-transportation-fleet-saves-big-with-versatile-clean-fuel-technology,c9223143

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Public Transportation Fleet Saves Big With Versatile Clean Fuel Technology