Morgan Bond Reporter

5:18 p.m. EDT, April 17, 2012

A man suffering from several medical conditions is in an unknown condition Tuesday after his lawnmower went over a retaining wall, and into a lake.

The incident happened just after noon on the corner of Willis and Rennells on Spring Lake in Fruitport Township. The man was unresponsive and had no pulse when first responds got to the scene.

Authorities have not released the man's name yet, but said he was an older gentlemen. When fire crews arrived they found him laying on a small stretch of beach at the bottom of a retaining wall.

The wall is about 7 feet tall and located on edge of his property. According to rescuers, the man drove the lawn mower over the wall and flipped it upside down. He was not pinned under the lawnmower, but was very close to it. Officials said the man suffered from some cardiac issues and was using a pacemaker. Police are still trying to find out if that played a factor in this accident.

He was in grave condition when he was transported. Efforts continued on the way to the hospital, we had fire personnel with the ambulance. At this point we are not certain of the status, Ken Doctor, Public Safety Officer, Fruitport Township said.

Besides his heart condition, the victim also suffered from diabetes. He was transported to Mercy Hospital in Muskegon. There is no word yet on his current condition.

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Man In Unknown Condition After Driving Lawn Mower Over Retaining Wall

STUART Waterfront homeowners would be allowed to install structures like wood decks and tiki huts in their backyards within 25 feet of a hardened shoreline under a proposal that received initial approval Tuesday from the Martin County Commission.

The proposed amendment to the Shoreline Protection Zone rules in the county growth plan still faces review by the state Department of Economic Opportunity and a second vote by the county commissioners.

One of the requirements of the proposed amendment would be for a property owner who places a pervious structure near the shoreline to show it doesn't send more polluted runoff into the waterway, said Clyde Dulin, a county planner.

Commissioners Ed Fielding and Sarah Heard, who dissented on the 3-2 vote, argued the initiative would reduce shoreline protections, harm water quality and set a bad precedent.

Fielding said the growth plan amendment seems to be a favor to Shaun Plymale, a Republican Party activist, who received a notice of code violation last year for allegedly building a wooden retaining wall too close to the shoreline in the backyard of his Lighthouse Point home.

"It's not that our rules are inappropriate, it's that our rules have been broken," Fielding said. "What we're trying to do now is try to justify the violation."

But Plymale argued the retaining wall reduced the flow of polluted runoff into a canal that leads to the St. Lucie River and hundreds of owners of older waterfront homes could do likewise.

"This is a problem in those neighborhoods ... because when those neighborhoods were designed, they were small lots and they were designed to drain into the river as fast as humanly possible and that's not good," Plymale said. "We need regulations like this that allow homeowners like me to take matters into our own hands and improve stormwater runoff. "

Commissioners Doug Smith and Patrick Hayes argued the initiative would allow waterfront homeowners to simultaneously improve their properties and reduce the amount of polluted runoff flowing into the county's waterways.

Many of the county's waterfront homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s before the adoption of the county's growth plan and its strict environmental regulations, Smith and Hayes said. The runoff from some waterfront properties drains straight into the waterways.

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Martin County Commission set to allow structures in Shoreline Protection Zones

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt warns people to beware of home-repair schemes that accompany every spring storm season.

"We know from past experience that this type of damage attracts criminals looking for ways to take advantage of Oklahomans," he said. "We're getting the message out now so people can be aware of such quick-fix schemes and spread the word to neighbors and family members before they become victims.

"Within days of storms, home and business owners will want to repair storm damage quickly, but we caution them to be patient and make sure they are using a reputable home-repair contractor," Pruitt said. "Investigators with our Public Protection Unit have prosecuted unscrupulous repair workers, commonly called 'travelers,' who follow storms across the country to profit from the misfortune of others."

Pruitt suggests the following before choosing contractors or repair services:

"Ask people you trust for referrals. Whenever possible, deal with local firms and check out repair services with the Attorney General's Public Protection Unit, accessible at tulsaworld.com/OKPubProtUnit, or by visiting visit the Attorney General's Facebook Page or calling the Public Protection Unit at 405-521-2029 or writing Public Protection Unit, Oklahoma Attorney General, 313 NE 21st St., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

Also check the company's track record with the Tulsa Better Business Bureau at tulsaworld.com/tulsaBBB or by keying its 10-digit phone number into the bureau's automated voice information system at 918-492-1266.

Pruitt recommends you ask for customer references; get written estimates from several companies; don't do business without a written contract; get guarantees, warranties and promises in writing; agree on start and completion dates; and agree to work only as outlined in written contracts.

He cautioned Oklahomans about repair services and contractors who solicit door-to-door, offer discounts for finding other customers, just happen to have materials left over from previous jobs, accept only cash payments, pressure you for an immediate decision or ask you to pay for the entire job up front.

Pruitt said storm victims also must be aware of identity theft from lost documents and charity fraud. Charity fraud can happen with local door-to-door solicitations or emails and phone calls from overseas con artists.

"Donating to an organization that is well-known and respected in the community is the best way to combat this type of fraud," Pruitt said.

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Opportunists can follow storms

16-04-2012 20:35 New Multi Purpose Facility Built By Allen Construction

Excerpt from:
Zachary United Methodist Church New Mult Purpose Facility - Video

17-04-2012 05:12 The day after Easter, 2012, Swarthmore Presbyterian Church started to dismantle its Chancel and aging Pipe Organ and then rebuild the worship space and install a new organ. So what happens to the church services during this time? Discover a vibrant church family worshiping three times on Sunday - Early Worship at 8 AM in the chapel - a bible study and discussion service with lots of participation among members and guests. - A NEW Church-Family Worship at 9 AM in the chapel - young, old, with children or not: this new service has a different pace and excitement. Notice how well received this was - the chapel was JAMMED even on this first Sunday with this service! - The more "Traditional" Service at 11 AM in Fellowship Hall. The congregation used to have services in Fellowship Hall during the summer until the sanctuary added air-conditioning. Notice the excitement on the parts of the members and guests as they leave this service even as they look forward to the return to the sanctuary once the construction is completed. This video is a small part of a year-long documentary project by Charlie Seymour Jr showing the reconstruction and expansion of the SPC Chancel and the dismantling and installation of a new pipe organ. To find out more about the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, go to Learn more about Charlie at http

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Swarthmore Presbyterian Church Under Construction - Services Look Like This - Video

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. builders started work on fewer homes in March after they sharply cut back on apartment construction. But builders requested the most permits for future projects in 3 years, suggesting many anticipate the housing market could improve over the next year.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that builders broke ground at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 654,000 homes last month. Thats down 5.8 percent from February. Apartment construction, which can fluctuate sharply from month to month, fell nearly 20 percent. Single-family homebuilding was mostly unchanged.

Building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 4.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 747,000. Thats the highest level since September 2008.

Jonathan Basile, director of economics at Credit Suisse, said the increase in permits is a good sign for broader economic activity and should lead to increase in construction in the coming months.

Yet the rate of construction and the level of permits requested remain only about half the pace considered healthy. Economists say that construction activity still is depressed and the housing market has a long way to go before it is back to full health.

Since the fall, builders slowly had grown more confident in the market after seeing more people express interest in buying a home, but that interest has yet to materialize into many sales. As a result, builder confidence fell this month for the first time since September.

Part of the reason for the previous optimism was a mild winter allowed builders to keep working in most parts of the country, and an improving job market has many slightly more optimistic about home sales this year.

January and February were the best for sales of previously occupied homes in five years. And an average of 212,000 jobs was created each month from January through March. Unemployment has sunk from 9.1 percent in August to 8.2 percent last month.

Though new homes represent just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

There are some hurdles to a smooth recovery: Builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales when lenders allow homes to be sold for less than whats owed on the mortgage.

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U.S. home building slows, but permits hit 3½-year high

U.S. builders started work on fewer homes in March after they sharply cut back on apartment construction. But builders requested the most permits for future projects in 3 1 / 2 years, suggesting many anticipate the housing market could improve over the next year.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that builders broke ground at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 654,000 homes last month. That's down 5.8 percent from February. Apartment construction, which can fluctuate sharply from month to month, fell nearly 20 percent. Single-family homebuilding was mostly unchanged.

Building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 4.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 747,000. That's the highest level since September 2008.

Jonathan Basile, director of economics at Credit Suisse, said the increase in permits is a "good sign for broader economic activity" and should lead to increase in construction in the coming months.

Yet the rate of construction and the level of permits requested remain only about half the pace considered healthy. Economists say that construction activity is still depressed and the housing market has a long way to go before it is back to full health.

Since the fall, builders had slowly grown more confident in the market after seeing more people express interest in buying a home. But that interest has yet to materialize into many sales. As a result, builder confidence fell this month for the first time since September.

Part of the reason for the previous optimism was a mild winter allowed builders to keep working in most parts of the country. And an improving job market has many slightly more optimistic about home sales this year.

January and February were the best for sales of previously occupied homes in five years. And an average of 212,000 jobs was created each month from January through March. Unemployment has sunk from 9.1 percent in August to 8.2 percent last month.

Though new homes represent just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

There are some hurdles to a smooth recovery: Builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales when lenders allow homes to be sold for less than what's owed on the mortgage.

Originally posted here:
Home building slows, permits hit 3-year high

On the campaign trail, Ward I City Council candidate John Richards Jr. keeps his message clear and concise:

Im running because the city needs jobs and businesses, he tells a potential voter one afternoon. And City Council has been doing a really lousy job with that.

Richards, whos challenging incumbent Ward I Councilman Michael Gillette, likes to keep the focus squarely on dollars and cents when introducing himself to voters.

How do you feel about this tax increase theyre talking about? he asks while door-to-door canvassing in the ward.

City taxes, man, they just keep on going up, saidone Fleetwood Driveresident, outside washing his car.

Theyll keep going up, too, Richards said, until the city learns to stretch its dollars farther.

There are ways to do it, he said. They say a tax increase is needed. Im not sure it is.

With just two weeks left until Election Day, its crunch time for candidates working to get their messages out.

Gillette, a two-term incumbent, stressed the need for balanced leadership in his campaign, calling for thoughtful negotiation even in matters of economic development.

Some people say that being business friendly means saying yes to the first offer any company brings to the table, he wrote on his campaigns Facebook page. I believe that being good for business means working with businesses to negotiate mutually advantageous outcomes that benefit not only the business, but also the citizens ofLynchburg.

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Crunch time for Ward I council candidates

The singer and actor is the latest celebrity to promote BeachMint.

Justin Timberlake in an image provided by BeachMint.

Justin Timberlake, the actor, singer and former boy band star, is using his fame to help promote the latest e-commerce venture from BeachMint Inc.the latest example of how online retailers are seeking out celebrity star power.

HomeMint.com, scheduled for a launch later this spring, will sell home decor products selected by Timberlake and his interior designer, Estee Stanley. Home goods and accessories will be sold under the HomeMint brand. The site will also sell art and photography.

HomeMint.com will operate a differently than other BeachMint sites, which offer subscribers products matched to their stated style preferences on a monthly basis and where all products carry the same price. BeachMint says consumers who subscribe to HomeMint.com will pay a monthly fee to access the sites member-only pricing. BeachMint did not immediately say what the monthly fee is or what prices the products will typically have.

"HomeMint is a natural addition to our family of brands, says BeachMint president Diego Berdakin. BeachMint's social commerce experience is about personalization and curation and there is nothing more personal than a customer's home."

BeachMints celebrity-infused e-retail sites include JewelMint.com, with actress Kate Bosworth; BeautyMint.com, with singer Jessica Simpson; and ShoeMint.com, with actress Rachel Bilson. Internet Retailer editors selected JewelMint.com, which sells jewelry, to be included in its Hot 100 list, an annual compilation of the most innovative e-retailers. Order your copy of this special issue here.

The Timberlake announcement comes amid a similar one today from LuxeYard.com, a flash sale site for luxury home furnishings and dcor, which said it has added Giuliana Rancic to its roster of celebrities that recommend products for the site. Rancic is an entertainment journalist and reality TV personality who is married to the first winner of The Apprentice TV show hosted by Donald Trump; the couple has its own reality TV show as well. LuxeYard.com launched in January.

Also this week, UsTrendy.com, an online fashion marketplace that lets designers sell their products directly to consumers, said it was working with singer and actress Jennifer Lopez to promote a style contest. Lopez is promoting the contest via her Facebook and Twitter accounts, and on her personal web site. Lopez last year began selling a Jennifer Lopez Collection apparel line at Kohls stores and online. Kohls Corp. is No. 31 in Internet Retailers Top 500 Guide. And last month, The Honest Company, an e-commerce site that sells organic baby projects on a subscription basis, announced it had raised $27 million in funding. Actress Jessica Alba is the sites co-founder and president.

Celebrities can be a double-edged sword for companies that work with them, says Nikki Baird, managing partner at research and advisory firm Retail Systems Research LLC. It's great visibility [for a retailer], especially when the synergy is therewhen the celebrity behaves and has a brand that has a lot in common with what the company is trying to establish, she says. But dependence on celebrities also carries risk, she says, noting how companies rushed to cut their association with golfer Tiger Woods in 2009 after his extramarital affairs became public.

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Justin Timberlake, e-retail home decorator?

Click photo to enlarge

(Park Record file photo) Now that the winter season is overwith, the wishy-washy spring weather has brought the opening of many local golf courses along the Wasatch Back.

After what was considered a disappointing winter season for resort-goers, the local golf courses were beneficiaries of the lack of snow as public courses such as the Park City Golf Course were able to open up for business on Friday, April 13.

"This course came out really well this year," said Craig Sanchez, manager of the only public golf course within the city limits. "We're happy with the conditions and we're happy how it's playing out."

Sanchez said the course, which like most around Summit and Wasatch counties, is at the mercy of Mother Nature for the next few weeks, didn't have any large off-season renovations, however, he did say some new golf carts and new greens lawnmowers will represent the new additions.

"Pretty much business as usual," he said.

He said the early-season men's and ladies' golf league signups have been "robust" with play scheduled to start in late April and early May.

According to Craig MacKay, head professional at Wasatch Mountain State Golf Course, the lackluster winter season allowed the Midway public course to open earlier than usual as the links have been open to golfers for close to two weeks now.

"It's been cold, but the golf course has been in excellent condition," he said. "It's nice to get going early this year. The last couple spring seasons, we've lost an awful lot of money because it rained for two months. It's nice to get revenue.

"Everything is in really good shape right now."

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Wishy-washy spring season brings life to local golf courses