Posted 7 hours ago in City, Events

Drivers battle it out in the arena during the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

The Central Wyoming Fairgrounds grandstands were packed with fans hungry for to watch the arena floor get soaked with radiator fluid, oil and various car parts during the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Demolition Derby on Saturday, July 8, in Casper.

The popular event drew dozens of contestants with their stripped and modified hulks in a smashing spectacle of bent metal and exhaust fumes. Its the ultimate rush, said Cling Harris as he prepared his sons car for the event.

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Fair and rodeo events continue through the week, including the downtown parade on Tuesday morning and the start of the PRCA Rodeo on Tuesday evening.

Josh Wilson puts on his gloves before taking his 1975 Monte Carlo into the arena for the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Demolition Derby on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Cars are lined up before the first heat on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

A car prepared for battle before the annual demolition derby at the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo on July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Clint Harris makes a few adjustments on his sons demo derby car before competition on Saturday, July 8, at the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo in Casper. The 1984 Caprice station wagon has been in four derbys. It keeps on ticking, I dont know why, said Harris. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Fans watch the action from the packed grandstands at the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Steam and smoke belch from a demolition derby car as it dies in battle on July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Merri Toellner gives her friend Mike Cook a thumbs up before the second heat of the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

A contestant leaves his wrecked demolition derby car at the end of a heat on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Demolition derby fans cheer the carnage on Saturday, July 8, at the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Derby cars smash through a heat during the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Demolition Derby on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Cars battle to the end during a heat in the annual demolition derby on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Josh Wilson takes in cheers from the crowd after an impressive performance in his 1975 Monte Carlo during the annual Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Demolition Derby on Saturday, July 8, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)

Tagged: Cars, Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo, demolition derby, wrecks

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Demolition Derby (GALLERY) - Oil City

The elder brother of the Manchester United star was on target as the Castle Lords dismantled the amateur side in an exhibition match

Mathias Pogba netted twice as Sparta Rotterdam made light work of PPSC 22-1 in a friendly encounter on Saturday.

Lukaku: Who could reject Man Utd?

Alex Pastoors men went into the break leading 12-0 after Thomas Verhaar, Loris Brogno and Ragnar Ache all registered hat-tricks.

Slovenian Dalibor Volas wason target twice while Paco van Moorsel also found the net.

At the beginning of the restart, the Eredivisie outfit rang the changes but did not soft-pedal on the non-league side.

Ache got his fourth goal before making way for Pogba in the 62nd minute. Stijn Spierings and Rick Drongelen registered twice each,with Craig Goodwin, Ryan Sanusi andIlias Alhaft allon target.

Guinea internationalPogba got his name on the scoresheet just after two minutes of coming on, and the former Patrick Thistle striker got the 22nd goal for his side in the 84th minute.

There was still time, however, for their amateur counterparts to get a consolatory goal via Eretreffer to end the tie 22-1.

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Pogba's brother scores twice in 22-1 demolition of PPSC - Goal.com

DIXON Little remote controlled cars spun, rammed and flipped over on a dirt track Saturday, all for a good cause.

The inaugural RC Demolition Derby is one of the biggest fundraisers the Rotary Club of Dixon has hosted in a while. It brought out hundreds of people who not only volunteered but enjoyed watching the event.

The goal really is to have fun, said Kevin Johnson, president of the Rotary club. We also hoped to raise some money.

He estimated that they raised between $5,000 to $10,000 with the food vendors and dunk booth. The money will go toward scholarships for Dixon High School students and other local organizations.

The idea came from watching demolition derbies, but Johnson realized that could lead to some injuries, which was not the idea at all. He saw RC demolition derbies on the internet and thought that might be something that would work.

Mike Hamilton, Dane Besneatte and Steve Beeman dug a track at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot, which has some dry dirt areas.

The goal is to do as many moves as possible and not have your car flip over, Johnson said.

Children from the community came out with their cars. Some practiced for days to learn how to control them. The total number of participants was 53 people.

Natalie Nielsen, 7, of Folsom came to spend a few days with her grandmother and joined the event.

I wore out my battery last night, so when we came down today it was dead, she said.

But that was quickly fixed with a new battery and her gold and purple polka dot RC car was ready to go.

Her grandmother, Debra Dingham, who also was at the event as a representative for Remax Gold Johnson Group, couldnt keep a smile off her face.

I am having so much fun, she said. I think watching the kids is my favorite part. They are having such fun.

She pointed out the center of the track with the pit of death, which no car should be able to get out of but they were leaving.

This is a first on so many levels, Dingham said.

The U.S. Army brought a climbing rock for the first-time derby, which will not be the last, she thinks.

Its going to come back next year, bigger, she said.

The grand prize for person with the most points was $1,000 and they had nine $100 prizes, she said.

Volunteers came out to serve food. Women from the Kiwanis offered to paint faces and any tips went toward the clubs fundraiser.

This is going to double each year and just get better and better, Dingham said.

Reach Susan Hiland at 427-6981 or [emailprotected]

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RC Demolition Derby brings community together - Fairfield Daily Republic

Carr Properties contends nighttime activity will minimize disruption to office workers, drivers

By Bethany Rodgers

Published: 2017.07.06 02:56

The Apex building in downtown Bethesda is slated for demolition and redevelopment.

Bethany Rodgers

Montgomery County is weighing a developers request to conduct round-the-clock demolition of the Apex building in downtown Bethesda starting as soon as August.

Working during nights and on weekends would speed up the demolition process, enabling crews to level the 150,000-square-foot building in roughlytwo months instead of four, according to developer Carr Properties. The company described its plans in an application for a temporary noise waiver for the hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends.

Two adjacent southbound lanes of Wisconsin Avenue will shut down at night and one will close during the day to protect passing motorists while the building is being razed, the application states. The companys plan also calls for traffic signage and flaggers to help pedestrians navigate the closures.

Carr wants to replace the existing structure at 7272 Wisconsin Ave. with office and apartment towers that could soar 300 feet into the sky. The company has also agreed to construct a shell for a future Purple Line station beneath the complex, and despite the legal entanglements that have delayed the light-rail project, the Maryland Transit Administration is holding Carr to a late 2018 deadline, according to the June 19 waiver application.

Sticking to this schedule requires an expedited demolition process, Carr argues in its request for a noise waiver effective from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31.

Stan Edwards, Montgomery Countys chief of environmental policy and compliance, said the countys noise waivers are good for 30 days and can be reissued for two 30-day periods. After that, the developer has to submit an entirely new application, he said.

The county publishes a notice of a noise waiver request and gathers public comment for at least 10 days before deciding whether to grant it. In this case, the county will allow extra time so that more people can offer feedback, Edwards said.

Carrs application describes proposed tools and methods for the razing process and states the noise levels from a 50-foot distance should stay below 85 decibels, or about as loud as a blender or food processor, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

In the interests of minimizing noise, crews will not set off explosives or swing wrecking balls to flatten the Apex and instead use hydraulic pulverizers and shears mounted on excavators. Theyll also save jack-hammering for daytime hours.

Carr also has forged an agreement with neighboring retailers not to do weekend demolition on the side of the property that faces their establishments. And nearby office workers, drivers and pedestrians will suffer less disruption if the razing takes place at night, Carr argues in the application.

The only residences within a 500-foot radius of the site are the Darcy condominiums on Woodmont Avenue and the Seasons apartments on Bethesda Avenue, Carr has determined.

Edwards noted there are hotels near the Apex site. But hes hopeful that the location of the demolition will help dampen the commotion.

Its surrounded by lots of big buildings, and that will serve as a good noise buffer, Edwards said, although he added there definitely will be a lot of people who will hear it.

News that Carr had applied for a noise waiver was first reported by local blogger Robert Dyer.

Waiver Application Form-Apex Demo byBethany on Scribd

Noise Suppression Details byBethany on Scribd

Plus: Thousands of students chow down on free lunch; slight uptick in preventable bus crashes

Stolen credit cards were used to buy merchandise at nearby stores

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Apex Developer Proposes 24/7 Demolition in Downtown Bethesda - BethesdaMagazine.com

Mayors of Detroit have had a unique way of measuring success: By the number of homes they've torn down.

One of former Mayor Dave Bing's signature programs was his pledge to demolish 10,000 homes. When his successor, Mike Duggan, hit that goal last year, he hosted a celebration complete with a sign reading "10,000" on the west side home that was razed.

Duggan has demolished about 11,500 homes and wants to raze another 2,000 to 4,000 per year, making it the nation's largest blight-removal program. The city has received more than $250 million for the effort from the federal government's Hardest Hit Fund of the Troubled Asset Relief Program and through Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Demolitions are popular among neighbors in a city that's lost more than 1 million residents in 60 years, and where blighted and burned homes can remain nuisances for decades.

But demolitions are also controversial. The Hardest Hit Fund was created to provide mortgage relief to help homeowners who owed more than their homes were worth after the 2008 housing collapse. Steering money toward demolitions denied to it underwater homeowners.

And Duggan's program is the focus of multiple investigations. The federal government has filed subpoenas into bidding practices and demolition costs. A separate grand jury has reportedly subpoenaed as many as 30 contractors and city agencies (Duggan says he's not a target). State officials are advocating fines because contractors mishandled asbestos from razed homes.

What's more, a recent blight survey by Loveland Technologies, a private company that maps the city, questions whether demolition is even keeping pace with blight in Detroit. Vacancies in neighborhoods targeted for demolition have actually increased 64 percent in four years, the survey found.

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Can Detroit find salvation through demolition? | Crain's Detroit ... - Crain's Detroit Business

SERTAR, CHINA The hills around the revered Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist academy were once a seamless carpet of vibrant red, dominated by the homes of thousands of monks, nuns and devotees who crowded the remote valley in southwest China to explore their faith.

Today, the landscape is riven with scars, with many houses destroyed and some neighborhoods torn apart after demolition crews were sent in by authorities, who have ordered a mass clear out of the area.

More than 10,000 people including many Han Chinese devotees were living around Larung Gar, the worlds largest and most important institution for Tibetan Buddhist learning, but the government believes the area had become dangerously overcrowded.

Human rights groups, however, see the demolitions as a ploy by the atheist ruling Communist Party to tighten its grip on religious practice in Tibetan regions.

Bulldozers began crushing homes last year but the process has escalated over the past few months. The properties are being razed to make way for tourism infrastructure, parking, and better roads leading down the steep hills to the central monastic buildings.

They tore down so many houses. The government said there were too many people, said Tibetan Buddhist student Gyatso, 26, as he handed freshly sawn planks to a red-robed friend hammering them onto an extension to a house they now share meters from his old one.

Inside, a small tape player quietly chanted mantras repeatedly. Tibetan language books lined the walls next to framed photographs of Jigme Phuntsok, the charismatic lama who founded the academy in the 1980s.

Its freezing here in the winter, but Im used to it and wouldnt live anywhere else, said Gyatso, who came to Larung Gar as a boy with his family of poor nomadic herders.

He received 5,000 yuan ($735) in compensation for his old home.

Edeng, who like Gyatso withheld his full name for security reasons, was not so lucky. He was ordered out of Larung Gar, his home of two decades, last fall, and now rents a room near a monastery two hours away.

Of course I didnt want to move, but when the Khenpos decide something you have to listen. There was nothing I could do, he said, referring to revered Buddhist teachers who manage the encampment and have mediated the government request to reduce numbers.

Departing residents have to sign pledges promising never to return to live at Larung Gar, and some have been subject to intensive political re-education once home, according to Human Rights Watch.

HRW has condemned the evictions as a fundamentally abusive campaign that has prompted suicides, public humiliation and serious disruption to the community.

The European Parliament called on China in December to stop the demolitions and respect freedom of religion.

Six United Nations human rights experts expressed grave concern in a November letter to the government, recalling a previous demolition campaign in 2001, when some 8,000 residents were driven out as homes were destroyed, sometimes with people still inside.

Larung Gar has grown in unprecedented size and influence for a Buddhist academy on the Tibetan plateau.

Authorities said last year its population, estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000, would be cut to 5,000 by this September to improve fire safety and sanitation.

A blaze destroyed around 100 houses in 2014, without causing casualties, according to the International Campaign for Tibet.

Of course fire safety isnt the issue. All they want is to control things very easily, said Lobsang, a monk now living in a neighboring county who studied at Larung Gar for seven years.

The government doesnt like so many people over 10,000 people opening their minds because the school is so good. They think these people are very dangerous, he added.

Some 4,500 nuns and monks had been expelled as of March, according to a senior abbot cited by campaign groups, and over 3,000 homes are thought to have been destroyed as of this spring.

Authorities have made the area nearly inaccessible to foreigners with checkpoints and a heavy security presence, while temporarily limiting flows of Chinese tourists.

In a neighboring valley, nuns have been placed in square rows of blue-roofed temporary housing.

But locals say demolitions cannot take away the strong pride in Tibetan identity, language and religion the academy has instilled.

Villagers in hamlets hours away carry cards and wear pendants distributed by Larung Gar, representing a vow to live by a moral program of 10 virtues espoused by its Khenpos.

For Lhamo, a Tibetan county government employee charged with convincing elderly devotees to leave Larung Gar for retirement homes, imposing the current order has been emotionally taxing.

People would yell and curse at her, she said, but she understood their frustrations.

That little house is their everything. Even though some are very, very crude, they dont have anything else in the world, she said.

When I tell them that there are better living conditions elsewhere, they say they only care about studying Buddhism, not material things. What can you possibly say in return?

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With evictions, demolition of residences, China squeezes revered Buddhist academy - The Japan Times

Kansas City Star

Demolition continues at Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland ... Kansas City Star Metcalf South Shopping Center is being leveled to make way for a Lowe's Home Improvement Center in Overland Park. July 7, 2017. and more »

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Demolition continues at Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland ... - Kansas City Star

The decision to remodel a kitchen or bath is not a spur of the moment epiphany. Most of our clients spend considerable time researching, investigating options and imagining the tremendous joy that will come with a completely remodeled space. Inspiration comes from varied sources ranging from home improvement television shows to a neighbor's made over home.

Step 1: Dream The best place to start your kitchen remodel is to identify the features, benefits, looks and feelings that you want to achieve with your remodel. Visit online resources such as Houzz.com, Pinterest, Dcor and Architectural Digest magazine among others to collect ideas.

When presented with color schemes, textures and looks that you want to achieve, a professional designer can develop a plan that fits almost any budget. Determine what your goals are, the functionality you are looking for and how you want your new kitchen to look and feel. If you had an unlimited budget, what would your new kitchen or bath look like and how would it perform?

Step 2: Establish priorities The first step in establishing priorities is to develop a realistic budget. This is an area where a professional showroom consultant can be a trusted advisor. We help our clients determine renovation budgets that are not only realistic, but also in keeping with goals, aspirations and dreams. How much should you budget? That depends on the nature and scope of your renovation.

On average, homeowners report that a kitchen remodel costs close to $20,000. A smaller project, one that includes cabinet re-facing, sink replacement, installation of a tile backsplash and a fresh coat of paint can range from $10,000 to $25,000.

A $30,000 or larger renovation may include semi-custom cabinets, hardwood floors, granite counters and higher-end appliances. You may spend more than $100,000 on a complete overhaul with structural changes, custom cabinets, stone countertops, top-of-the-line appliances, etc. Pricing guides you find online are based on averages and sometimes can be misleading. That's why establishing priorities is essential to develop a realistic budget.

Step 3: What you should expect from a professional showroom When selecting a showroom to partner with, make sure that the showroom is experienced with the type of renovation that you want. Ensure that the installation crews and subcontractors involved on the project are licensed and insured and that the showroom has a performance record of staying within time frames and budgets.

Ask for references you can call to determine firsthand the quality and level of service that a showroom provides. Also when you do move forward with a professional, be sure that terms, conditions and payment obligations are detailed in a written and signed contract. All of the above mentioned Country Cabinets takes pride in.

If you are interested in learning how to better plan a kitchen or bath renovation, give Country Cabinets Etc. a call at (603) 356-5766 or visit their showroom at 95 East Conway Road, Center Conway. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://www.countrycabinetsetc.com.

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Home Front: A step-by-step guide to planning your kitchen remodel - Conway Daily Sun

1973 SCENIC HILLS, WASHINGTON TWP.

3-bedroom home has finished lower level

With no hallways or square rooms, this brick ranch has a floor plan that allows for open space and useful nooks.

Listed for $539,000 by Irongate Inc. Realtors, the home at 1973 Scenic Hills has about 4,930 square feet of living space, including a finished lower level and hidden loft room. The house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac with mature trees, creek and nearby common areas within a gated community in Washington Twp.

A double-door entry opens into a circular foyer with tongue-and-groove dome ceiling. Arched walkways spoke from the foyer into various parts of the main-level floor plan. Two separate guest rooms have double-door entry from opposite sides of the foyer. One guest room has a private full bath.

Going clockwise from the front doors, there is a short entrance way that leads to a full bathroom and laundry room, which has access to the three-car, heated garage.

Double doors open to the main bedroom, which has patio doors that open to a rear balcony deck, a gas fireplace, built-in bookcase and a wall of closets. A walk-in closet has a wall of storage drawers, a shoe rack, make-up desk and a staircase that leads to a loft office. The office has a cathedral ceiling with two skylights, exposed beams, windows, closets and a raised sitting or sofa area.

Double doors from the walk-in closet lead to the private bath room with a soaking tub, walk-in shower and tall double-sink vanity.

Double archways from the foyer open to a great room with dome ceiling, gas fireplace, patio doors that open to the rear deck and arched artwork nooks. Tucked off into one corner is a four-seat peninsula bar with wine cooler and cabinetry along the wall. This nook opens into the kitchen with an island with copper countertop. A sink is below a window and cabinetry includes an appliance garage. A peninsula counter divides the kitchen from the family room which has a corner gas fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a built-in entertainment center.

More double doors off the foyer open to the stairwell that leads to the finished lower level. A recreation room has a buffet counter and patio doors that open to an enclosed patio with terra-cotta flooring. The enclosed patio is currently used as an exercise room and opens out to a deck with gas grill.

Back inside, the centerpiece is an eight-seat island bar with sink, wine cooler and cabinetry filling the wall space behind. The family room has a built-in entertainment center and patio door access to the exercise room. There is a step-saver kitchen, which is fully equipped and has counter space and contemporary cabinetry. A half bath has room for expansion and access to walk-in storage.

Open house: July 9, 1-3 p.m.

Directions: Mad River to east on Hunters Creek to Scenic Hills

Home highlights: About 4,930 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 3 gas fireplaces, 2 wet bars, 2 kitchens, walk-out lower level, multi-level decks, bonus loft room, dome ceilings, 3-car garage, homeowners association

(937) 436-2700 or 438-7772

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Volume ceilings, circular plan highlight ranch - Dayton Daily News

In each incident, suspects entered through unlocked doors or windows; in two cases, homeowners scared them off

Lake Oswego residents are being urged not to leave their windows and doors unlocked after burglars struck four homes in the city on July 4 and July 5.

LOPD Lt. Darryl Wrisley said Thursday that police aren't sure if all of the burglaries are related, but the suspects in each of the cases entered the homes two on Wembley Park Road, one on Egan Way and one on Dover Way through unlocked doors or windows.

Two of the residences were occupied at the time of the burglaries, Wrisley said, and the suspect or suspects were scared off. Items taken from the four homes ranged from a laptop and passport to plumbing supplies, Wrisley said.

One suspect is described as a white woman between the ages of 20 and 30. She is 5-feet-5-inches tall, weighs around 130 pounds and has long brown hair and severe acne. She left the scene in a white, newer-model Acura sedan with Washington plates that was being driven by an unknown man, Wrisley said.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic man, about 5-feet-7-inches tall and 140 pounds, with a pencil-thin mustache. He may be associated with a newer gray Chevy pickup truck that was seen speeding away from the area after a homeowner confronted one of the suspects.

"This time of year can increase the number of opportunist burglaries, where criminals take advantage of homeowners who have left windows, patio doors and doors ajar," Wrisley said. "It may be tempting to leave windows or doors open to keep cool, but it is also important that people remember to secure their property."

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the Lake Oswego Police Department at 503-635-0238.

The Review

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Burglars strike four Lake Oswego homes in two days - Portland Tribune