Sunday, November 02, 2014
Bungalow for sale with organ
Bill Tufts loved big pipe organs - enough to nearly double the size of his bungalow to make room for a 3,200-pipe church organ.
Now, after his death, friends who installed the massive church organ in his home are hoping to find another music lover who will preserve the 32-rank Kimball church organ that defines the house in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Though he never learned to play, Tufts enjoyed bringing in musicians who did. He loved how the instrument, from its tiny bells and whistles to its throaty 18-foot bass pipes, could fill the house with sound.
“We really would like somebody to buy it who likes the organ and appreciates it for what it is,” said Don Haan, owner of Haan Pipe Organ. He and his partner, Guy Vander Wagen, have listed the house for $129,900 with Realtor Mark Douglas. Tufts, who had no surviving family members, bequeathed the house to Haan and Vander Wagen, when he died earlier this year at age 72. “He was alone in the world. That organ was his wife and family,”
Tufts bought the instrument in 2002 from Central Reformed Church in Muskegon, which could no longer afford to maintain it, Haan said. “The whole project took at least 5 ½ years,” he said. While the organ console holds a modest place of honour in the home’s dining room, its muscle comes from a giant turbine installed in the old coal bin of the 139-year-old house. The house-filling sound comes from a two-room addition that’s been dug down one level to house the 3,200 pipes that range from drill-bit sized whistles to giant wooden crate-like pipes that reach to the top of the cathedral ceiling.
YouTube link.
“It’s probably twice the size of what the average church around town has,” says Haan. Technically, the organ is four separate instruments joined at the big console, he said. The sound flows into the living room from the pipe chambers through foot-controlled “expression shades” that were once the home’s exterior windows. Aside from its size, the organ is an irreplaceable treasure that would cost close to $1 million to duplicate today, Haan said. A re-installation would cost more than $100,000. “The Kimball Organ Co. is long gone and the guys who voiced those pipes are long gone, too.” Haan said he and Vander Wagen would be saddened to see the organ leave the house after all the years they spent on the installation. “We want to find someone who loves it as much as he did,” he said of their late friend. “He really did love it.”
“We really would like somebody to buy it who likes the organ and appreciates it for what it is,” said Don Haan, owner of Haan Pipe Organ. He and his partner, Guy Vander Wagen, have listed the house for $129,900 with Realtor Mark Douglas. Tufts, who had no surviving family members, bequeathed the house to Haan and Vander Wagen, when he died earlier this year at age 72. “He was alone in the world. That organ was his wife and family,”
Tufts bought the instrument in 2002 from Central Reformed Church in Muskegon, which could no longer afford to maintain it, Haan said. “The whole project took at least 5 ½ years,” he said. While the organ console holds a modest place of honour in the home’s dining room, its muscle comes from a giant turbine installed in the old coal bin of the 139-year-old house. The house-filling sound comes from a two-room addition that’s been dug down one level to house the 3,200 pipes that range from drill-bit sized whistles to giant wooden crate-like pipes that reach to the top of the cathedral ceiling.
YouTube link.
“It’s probably twice the size of what the average church around town has,” says Haan. Technically, the organ is four separate instruments joined at the big console, he said. The sound flows into the living room from the pipe chambers through foot-controlled “expression shades” that were once the home’s exterior windows. Aside from its size, the organ is an irreplaceable treasure that would cost close to $1 million to duplicate today, Haan said. A re-installation would cost more than $100,000. “The Kimball Organ Co. is long gone and the guys who voiced those pipes are long gone, too.” Haan said he and Vander Wagen would be saddened to see the organ leave the house after all the years they spent on the installation. “We want to find someone who loves it as much as he did,” he said of their late friend. “He really did love it.”
Cyclist killed after fire hose came loose and ripped off his wheel
A man from Toledo, Ohio, has died after a fire truck lost a hose while headed to an emergency.
58-year-old Lonnie Holmes was riding his bicyle near Indiana, when a 150-foot hose from a Toledo fire truck came loose.
It struck three cars and yanked Holmes' bicycle wheel off it's frame, throwing the man to the ground. "This was very unexpected. His family loved Mr. Holmes very much, so they are understandably very distraught," says Dennis Sawan, the family's lawyer.
Toledo fire administrators have launched an internal investigation. Battalion Chief Bryce Blair said the fire crew had no clue the hose came loose. "It may have hit a bump down the road here and lost one of its attack lines came off the back," he said. A witness said the hose struck his work van.
"The hose was hanging probably 20-25 feet behind it, wagging back and forth," said Tim Stevenson. The fire engine was rolling lights and sirens to a house fire. Holmes suffered some scrapes and a broken leg, but later died. The father of four had a passion for fishing and loved his family.
It struck three cars and yanked Holmes' bicycle wheel off it's frame, throwing the man to the ground. "This was very unexpected. His family loved Mr. Holmes very much, so they are understandably very distraught," says Dennis Sawan, the family's lawyer.
Toledo fire administrators have launched an internal investigation. Battalion Chief Bryce Blair said the fire crew had no clue the hose came loose. "It may have hit a bump down the road here and lost one of its attack lines came off the back," he said. A witness said the hose struck his work van.
"The hose was hanging probably 20-25 feet behind it, wagging back and forth," said Tim Stevenson. The fire engine was rolling lights and sirens to a house fire. Holmes suffered some scrapes and a broken leg, but later died. The father of four had a passion for fishing and loved his family.
Villagers enjoyed impromptu party after beer truck overturned
Villagers living around the Bada bypass in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, had an unecpected celebration when a truck carrying the 'strong' variety of a popular beer overturned.
Soon, word spread and villagers dashed from their houses carrying jerrycans, tumblers, mugs, jars, even polythene bags to carry lager home.
An impromptu party ensued and within no time many turned tipsy and started brawling for more. Finally someone alerted the police and they rushed to control a by-now riotous crowd. The accident happened late on Thursday night on the bypass that connects Lucknow to Delhi. Locals rescued the truck driver and his brother, who received minor injuries, before turning to the cargo. Tipplers from the surrounding villages, too, swarmed to the site for the free-for-all and carried the damaged cans and bottles in kitchen utensils when they failed to procure anything better.
Witnesses claim some packed the cartons in their cars and sped off before police could catch them. Jitendra Kumar, who witnessed the crash, said, "The driver lost control over the vehicle after a bicycle rider suddenly came in front of the truck, which swerved and then flipped over. Due to the impact of the crash, several cartons of beer spilt all over the road. It didn't take long before locals and passersby started picking up the bottles and cans. Some started right there." Raju Singh, a local resident, added, "Not only locals from adjoining villages, even commuters started drinking the beer at the spot as no cop was there to guard the truck.
"The intoxicated people then turned unruly and the police had to be called in to control the situation." CB Ganj police finally arrived at the spot to control the situation. Confirming reports about the incident, inspector Sunil Kumar Sirohi of CB Ganj police station said: "We controlled the situation. A case has been registered and investigation is under process." District excise officer Anand Shankar said, "A case had been registered with the police and we are yet to ascertain the total number of cartons the truck was carrying."
An impromptu party ensued and within no time many turned tipsy and started brawling for more. Finally someone alerted the police and they rushed to control a by-now riotous crowd. The accident happened late on Thursday night on the bypass that connects Lucknow to Delhi. Locals rescued the truck driver and his brother, who received minor injuries, before turning to the cargo. Tipplers from the surrounding villages, too, swarmed to the site for the free-for-all and carried the damaged cans and bottles in kitchen utensils when they failed to procure anything better.
Witnesses claim some packed the cartons in their cars and sped off before police could catch them. Jitendra Kumar, who witnessed the crash, said, "The driver lost control over the vehicle after a bicycle rider suddenly came in front of the truck, which swerved and then flipped over. Due to the impact of the crash, several cartons of beer spilt all over the road. It didn't take long before locals and passersby started picking up the bottles and cans. Some started right there." Raju Singh, a local resident, added, "Not only locals from adjoining villages, even commuters started drinking the beer at the spot as no cop was there to guard the truck.
"The intoxicated people then turned unruly and the police had to be called in to control the situation." CB Ganj police finally arrived at the spot to control the situation. Confirming reports about the incident, inspector Sunil Kumar Sirohi of CB Ganj police station said: "We controlled the situation. A case has been registered and investigation is under process." District excise officer Anand Shankar said, "A case had been registered with the police and we are yet to ascertain the total number of cartons the truck was carrying."
Strange cyclops horse head to be displayed at Danish university
The head of a one-eyed horse has been acquired by the Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen and will be put on display.
It has been nicknamed 'the cyclops' after the one eyed-giants of Ancient Greek mythology. The foal was born last summer to a farmer in Zealand, Denmark, died immediately after birth, and was offered to the department.
The department severed the head and has plans to display it. In this animal, the eye has two pupils. "It is a fusion of two eyes - so it contain two of several things including the pupils," Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen explains.
The department does not know what caused the eye defect in this foal. The department’s specimen collection also contains another one-eyed foal and a pig. And a four-legged duck. But this is the first cyclops specimen to appear in 30 years.
It has been nicknamed 'the cyclops' after the one eyed-giants of Ancient Greek mythology. The foal was born last summer to a farmer in Zealand, Denmark, died immediately after birth, and was offered to the department.
The department severed the head and has plans to display it. In this animal, the eye has two pupils. "It is a fusion of two eyes - so it contain two of several things including the pupils," Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen explains.
The department does not know what caused the eye defect in this foal. The department’s specimen collection also contains another one-eyed foal and a pig. And a four-legged duck. But this is the first cyclops specimen to appear in 30 years.
Finger-sawing insurance salesman given suspended sentence for attempted fraud
An insurance salesman who sawed off his own finger and thumb to claim insurance was given a suspended sentence by a court in northern Germany on Friday.
The court in Norderstedt, near Hamburg, handed down the 22-month suspended sentence to Ralf-Werner D. after he was found guilty of trying to defraud his insurers.
The 50-year-old man had qualified as an insurance salesman shortly before the 'accident' in February 2010 and took out four separate insurance policies - with special clauses covering finger injuries - for himself. If valid, they would have paid out a total of €1.4 million. Ralf-Werner claimed his finger and thumb were lost when he tripped and fell over his two dogs onto a circular saw. But a medical expert said in testimony to the court that it was "particularly astonishing" that the rest of his hand remained relatively intact.
"If I take out three insurance policies eight weeks before such a serious accident for such an irrational sum, something isn't right," the prosecutor said. He added that the neat wounds to Ralf-Werner's hand were inconsistent with his story. "There's a lot of evidence against the accused. There was too little blood on the saw. An automatic car was ready to go. That number of coincidences can't be real."
The fact that the injury happened to Ralf-Werner's non-dominant hand was also a tell-tale sign of fraud, prosecutors said. “The man sitting here is no fraudster,” his lawyer responded at the time. But police said there was “very little blood” when they searched the basement for Ralf-Werner's missing digits. His wife 'found' them outside in the snow a week later.
The 50-year-old man had qualified as an insurance salesman shortly before the 'accident' in February 2010 and took out four separate insurance policies - with special clauses covering finger injuries - for himself. If valid, they would have paid out a total of €1.4 million. Ralf-Werner claimed his finger and thumb were lost when he tripped and fell over his two dogs onto a circular saw. But a medical expert said in testimony to the court that it was "particularly astonishing" that the rest of his hand remained relatively intact.
"If I take out three insurance policies eight weeks before such a serious accident for such an irrational sum, something isn't right," the prosecutor said. He added that the neat wounds to Ralf-Werner's hand were inconsistent with his story. "There's a lot of evidence against the accused. There was too little blood on the saw. An automatic car was ready to go. That number of coincidences can't be real."
The fact that the injury happened to Ralf-Werner's non-dominant hand was also a tell-tale sign of fraud, prosecutors said. “The man sitting here is no fraudster,” his lawyer responded at the time. But police said there was “very little blood” when they searched the basement for Ralf-Werner's missing digits. His wife 'found' them outside in the snow a week later.
Bullying woman who attacked boyfriend with hammer and broken bottle jailed for eight years
A woman has been jailed for eight years in what a police officer describes as ‘one of the most serious cases of domestic violence’ she has ever seen.
Victim Paul Kirkpatrick was left with a broken bone in his face and covered in blood after being ‘relentlessly’ abused over a two day period by his partner Gemma Hollings, a court heard.
The 30-year-old who was hit with a hammer and slashed across the neck with a broken bottle, was found in the street by police after he ran away from the home they shared in Darwen, Lancashire.
Detectives said the prolonged attacks left the victim traumatised and with ‘significant and serious’ injuires. Campaigners also praised Mr Kirkpatrick for coming forward and giving evidence against his former partner during her trial at Preston Crown Court. She had denied the attacks, but was found guilty by a jury of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm and another two allegations of assault following five days of evidence. The 37-year-old was sentenced to eight years behind bars for the abuse. Speaking after the hearing, DC Jenny Berry, said: “The victim suffered very traumatic injuries. They could have potentially been fatal.
“This was a nasty attack. It is certainly one of the most serious cases of domestic violence I have ever come across. It was a relentless assault. Justice has now been done for the victim and he just wants to forget about the whole thing and move on with his life.” Officers found Mr Fitzpatrick with serious injuries following the attack in May, the court heard. Prosecutors said he had been hit with a hammer and a pole and Hollings had used a broken bottle to cut his neck. The force of the blows also caused a fracture to a bone in his face. He has been left with a scar on his neck and another just above his eye, police said. DC Berry said one of their arguments had been caused when Hollings fell out with Mr Kirkpatrick over her hair straighteners.
She said: “The bottle had been used to cause the injury to his neck. When the victim was found, he did not really understand the significance of his injuries. Since the attack, he has been able to move on. He has moved away and is not living in Darwen anymore. He has made a fresh start now that Hollings is in prison and the further away from her he is, the better.” The officer said cases of domestic violence against men were not reported to police as often as those against women. She added: “We do not hear of cases so much in terms of domestic violence against men because they are very much under-reported. This is the first domestic violence case I have dealt with which has involved a man. Tackling the issue is one of our main priorities and I would urge anyone, male of female, who is experiencing it to come forward.”
Detectives said the prolonged attacks left the victim traumatised and with ‘significant and serious’ injuires. Campaigners also praised Mr Kirkpatrick for coming forward and giving evidence against his former partner during her trial at Preston Crown Court. She had denied the attacks, but was found guilty by a jury of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm and another two allegations of assault following five days of evidence. The 37-year-old was sentenced to eight years behind bars for the abuse. Speaking after the hearing, DC Jenny Berry, said: “The victim suffered very traumatic injuries. They could have potentially been fatal.
“This was a nasty attack. It is certainly one of the most serious cases of domestic violence I have ever come across. It was a relentless assault. Justice has now been done for the victim and he just wants to forget about the whole thing and move on with his life.” Officers found Mr Fitzpatrick with serious injuries following the attack in May, the court heard. Prosecutors said he had been hit with a hammer and a pole and Hollings had used a broken bottle to cut his neck. The force of the blows also caused a fracture to a bone in his face. He has been left with a scar on his neck and another just above his eye, police said. DC Berry said one of their arguments had been caused when Hollings fell out with Mr Kirkpatrick over her hair straighteners.
She said: “The bottle had been used to cause the injury to his neck. When the victim was found, he did not really understand the significance of his injuries. Since the attack, he has been able to move on. He has moved away and is not living in Darwen anymore. He has made a fresh start now that Hollings is in prison and the further away from her he is, the better.” The officer said cases of domestic violence against men were not reported to police as often as those against women. She added: “We do not hear of cases so much in terms of domestic violence against men because they are very much under-reported. This is the first domestic violence case I have dealt with which has involved a man. Tackling the issue is one of our main priorities and I would urge anyone, male of female, who is experiencing it to come forward.”
Man turned from stamp collecting to child porn
A stamp collector who was caught with more than 300,000 child porn images on his computer has been jailed for four and a half years.
Paul Hirst, 59, from Moray in north-east Scotland, was arrested after police officers discovered a total of 306,978 images and 3,471 videos showing children being sexually abused.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the pervert started collecting the images in June 2007 and continued his new hobby until June 2012.
Police swooped on Hirst after receiving a tip off about his activities. They arrested him after examining his computer. The story emerged following a hearing at the High Court yesterday in which Hirst appeared before judge Lord Brailsford. Hirst, of Hopeman, pleaded guilty earlier this year at Elgin Sheriff Court to possessing child pornography. A sheriff at the court felt the offence was too serious to be dealt with at sheriff court level and decided to send Hirst to the High Court.
The High Court heard how Hirst spent much of his life collecting stamps before he started downloading child porn from the internet in the last decade. Defence advocate Bill Adam said his client was full of remorse for what he had done and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Saying that his client accepted that he would be sent to prison, Mr Adam added: “He has accepted full responsibility for his actions. He is very remorseful for what he has done. He is also determined that he will never offend again.”
Passing sentence, Lord Brailsford also ordered Hirst to be supervised by the authorities for three and a half years following his release from jail. He told the first offender: “I take into account that you have previously been of good character and have no previous convictions. I also take into account that you have had a good work record. These are mitigatory factors. However, I must send you to prison. The period of custody will be four years and six months. The period of extension will be three years and six months.”
Police swooped on Hirst after receiving a tip off about his activities. They arrested him after examining his computer. The story emerged following a hearing at the High Court yesterday in which Hirst appeared before judge Lord Brailsford. Hirst, of Hopeman, pleaded guilty earlier this year at Elgin Sheriff Court to possessing child pornography. A sheriff at the court felt the offence was too serious to be dealt with at sheriff court level and decided to send Hirst to the High Court.
The High Court heard how Hirst spent much of his life collecting stamps before he started downloading child porn from the internet in the last decade. Defence advocate Bill Adam said his client was full of remorse for what he had done and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Saying that his client accepted that he would be sent to prison, Mr Adam added: “He has accepted full responsibility for his actions. He is very remorseful for what he has done. He is also determined that he will never offend again.”
Passing sentence, Lord Brailsford also ordered Hirst to be supervised by the authorities for three and a half years following his release from jail. He told the first offender: “I take into account that you have previously been of good character and have no previous convictions. I also take into account that you have had a good work record. These are mitigatory factors. However, I must send you to prison. The period of custody will be four years and six months. The period of extension will be three years and six months.”
Security tags added to shopping baskets to stop thieving customers avoiding 5p bag charge
Supermarket bosses have been forced to attach security tag to baskets at a Dundee store in an attempt to hamper tight-fisted shoppers.
A “large number” of baskets have been taken from the Asda store at Milton of Cragie by shoppers since the Scottish Government introduced a 5p carrier bag charge.
Shoppers are going to extraordinary lengths in a bid to avoid the charge, including stealing shopping baskets, as well as cramming the free tiny bags designed for fruit and vegetables with an array of other goods. Now baskets at the Asda store in Milton have had to be security tagged following an epidemic of thefts . It is thought that the store could be the only one in Scotland where bosses have had to go to such levels.
Other shops in Dundee have been forced to shell out significant sums of money to replace basket stocks and have also issued stern warnings to customers - with put security staff also on high alert. A spokesperson for Asda said: “Sadly, since the introduction of the carrier bag charge, we have lost a large number of baskets. We have reluctantly introduced security tags to ensure all our customers can carry out their shopping without disruption.”
Shoppers are being advised that if they take a basket from premises and fail to return it, they could be charged with theft. Zero Waste Scotland, which has played a key role in the scheme, slammed the actions of the basket thieves, saying there was “no excuse” for their actions. “Avoiding the bag charge is no excuse for criminal and irresponsible behaviour,” a spokesman said. “The best way to avoid the charge is by remembering to bring a reuseable bag to shops.”
Shoppers are going to extraordinary lengths in a bid to avoid the charge, including stealing shopping baskets, as well as cramming the free tiny bags designed for fruit and vegetables with an array of other goods. Now baskets at the Asda store in Milton have had to be security tagged following an epidemic of thefts . It is thought that the store could be the only one in Scotland where bosses have had to go to such levels.
Other shops in Dundee have been forced to shell out significant sums of money to replace basket stocks and have also issued stern warnings to customers - with put security staff also on high alert. A spokesperson for Asda said: “Sadly, since the introduction of the carrier bag charge, we have lost a large number of baskets. We have reluctantly introduced security tags to ensure all our customers can carry out their shopping without disruption.”
Shoppers are being advised that if they take a basket from premises and fail to return it, they could be charged with theft. Zero Waste Scotland, which has played a key role in the scheme, slammed the actions of the basket thieves, saying there was “no excuse” for their actions. “Avoiding the bag charge is no excuse for criminal and irresponsible behaviour,” a spokesman said. “The best way to avoid the charge is by remembering to bring a reuseable bag to shops.”
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