This is sort of a big deal. (Nick Wass/AP)

Retaining Randy Wittman wasnt exactly a daring move for the Wizards as they continue their efforts to eventually become a playoff team once again. It does, however, carry considerable risk.

The immediate goals for the franchise arent nearly as high as they were when President Ernie Grunfeld signed Flip Saunders to a four-year, $18 million deal in 2009. But even with the team possessing a lower profile than three years ago when the team was trying to squeeze out one more postseason run from the Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler era this still was an incredibly important decision.

By giving Wittman a reported two years, the Wizards have also linked him to the most critical seasons of John Walls career: Wall will be eligible for a contract extension after next season and otherwise would hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2014. The Wizards have to sincerely believe that the third time will indeed be the charm for a coach with a career record of 118-238 and that Wittman can help Wall, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick, maximize his vast promise in Washington.

With a Hall of Famer in Jerry Sloan, Stan Van Gundy, Nate McMillan and Mike DAntoni among the successful retreads on the market, and assistants such as Brian Shaw and Mike Malone also available, the Wizards certainly had other avenues to pursue.

But Wittman was still under contract for next season and owner Ted Leonsis wanted to get a better sense of the coach who had the support of the players after winning eight of the final 10 games. Wittman and Leonsis spent a day together last month, and apparently hit it off. When Leonsis said he was very, very comfortable with Wittman at the NBA draft lottery, the next step was simple.

Wittmans hiring, though, also says a lot about a current trend in the NBA. Allotting big money to big-name coaches is starting to become more rare as the position becomes devalued and more expendable.

After Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers and George Karl, the fourth-longest tenured coach in the NBA is Erik Spoelstra, who is in his fourth season. Phil Jackson, the legendary coach with more championship rings (11) than fingers, was available and intrigued about a possible return to the New York Knicks where he also won two championships as a player. But the Knicks never even contacted Jackson, who earned $10 million in his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York stuck with Mike Woodson, who guided the team to its only playoff game victory in the past 11 years after replacing DAntoni and came at a considerably lower price tag than Jackson likely wouldve commanded.

The price of NBA coaches was starting to come down well before the lockout, but the trend will continue with teams seeking ways to cut down costs under a new financial structure. Now, the Wizards didnt decide to keep Wittman only because of he was going to come cheaper than the alternatives the support of his players in exit interviews and his ability to connect with them was perhaps more significant but it certainly was a factor.

Go here to read the rest:
What retaining Randy Wittman means for the Wizards

HEAVY rain also brought mayhem to some residents in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, as three cars were crushed by a minor landslide.

In the 9am incident, a retaining wall in a residents garden collapsed after an overnight downpour, leaving the cars under tonnes of debris.

Businesswoman Cheng Wui Yiun, 30, said she had been parking her car at the same spot behind the house for the past 10 years.

Im shocked to see my only car in this condition. Nothing like this had happened before, said Cheng, who is renting a room in the house.

The houseowner, who declined to be named, said she was in her sitting room when the incident occurred.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise behind my house and upon checking, I was shocked to find my backyard wall had collapsed, she said.

She added that she had been living in the house for the past 30 years and no such incident had happened before.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu arrived at the scene shortly after the incident yesterday.

He said both the car owners and house owners should make individual reports to the Penang Municipal Council.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the incident was disturbing and requested the council to conduct a thorough investigation.

Originally posted here:
Downpour causes retaining wall to collapse in Tanjung Bungah

by Jeff Thompson, KGW.com Staff

kgw.com

Posted on May 26, 2012 at 11:55 AM

Updated today at 1:34 PM

PORTLAND -- A Bethany-area woman was arrested after crashing into three cars and going over a retaining wall before driving through the front window of a restaurant Friday evening, police said.

Police were called just after 7 p.m. to the report that an SUV had crashed into the Sweet Lemon Vegetarian Bistro, at 4888 NW Bethany Boulevard, according to Sgt. David Thompson of the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Responding deputies found that 51-year-old Teresa J. Florio had crashed into the restaurant after hitting several other objects.

"She started in the parking lot across the street," Thompson said. "She backed into one car and then proceeded forward and crashed into two other cars. She then drove over a retaining wall, over the sidewalk, across NW Central Drive, over another sidewalk, and through the front window of the restaurant."

There were no reports of injuries. The restaurant had closed for the weekend and nobody was inside.

Florio was taken to the Washington County Jail and booked on DUII charges.

Read more here:
DUII suspect crashes into 3 cars, building

Date: Thursday, May 24, 2012

Contact: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington) Chris Damitio, WSDOT project engineer, 360-788-7403 (Bellingham)

BELLINGHAM The Samish Way on-ramp to northbound Interstate 5 in Bellingham has been closed since April and will remain closed one more month while crews finish building a retaining wall to support and lengthen the ramp.

The Washington State Department of Transportations contractor, Vetch Construction, is building a 900-foot-long retaining wall so that the Samish Way ramp can be lengthened to help make it easier for drivers to get up to speed and merge with traffic.

We had hoped to open the longer ramp by the end of this month, but the retaining wall is taking longer to complete than anticipated, said WSDOT Project Engineer Chris Damitio.

There were 15 anchors (out of 112) in the retaining wall that did not pass a strength test and have to be repaired. The repairs have added a few additional weeks of work to the closure. Anchors are long pieces of rebar that are drilled and cemented into the hillside to hold the wall in place.

Crews are repairing the anchors now, said Damitio. We cant lengthen the ramp without a strong retaining wall, and the anchors are what hold the wall in place.

The Samish Way on-ramp is now expected to open by the end of June. When completed, the ramp will be an additional 950 feet longer than it is today.

< Go Back

Here is the original post:
I-5 Samish Way ramp to remain closed another month in Bellingham

Readmore: Local, Automotive, Motorcycle Crash in Colorado Springs, Motorcycle Crash on Cascade, Motorcycle Crash on Cheyenne, Motorcycle Death, Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash, Biker Crash Death in Colorado Springs, Man Killed while Riding Motorcycle, Rider Killed in Motorcycle Crash, Rider Dies after Hitting Retaining Wall, Rider Smacks into Retaining Wall, Motorcycle Death in Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Police

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A motorcycle rider died Sunday afternoon after losing control of his bike, crashing and being thrown into a retaining wall.

According toColorado Springs Policeofficers, the crash happened at the five points intersection in the citynear Cascade Street, Tejon Street, Ramona Avenue and Cheyenne Boulevard.

The rider lost control around12:46 p.m., and the rider was thrown from the bike, hitting the wall on the southwest curb-line.

The rider was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene.

Officers said the rider, whose name hasn't been released yet, was likely under the influence of alcohol.

No other cars or bikes were involved. Officers detoured traffic around the area until about 3 a.m. Monday.

Read more here:
Motorcycle rider dies after smacking into wall

The Radnor Board of Commissioners agreed Monday to a license agreement with SEPTA to access part of its municipal parking lot at Glenbrook Road while the transit authority rebuilds a retaining wall.

The wall holds back the bank at the Route 100 line.

The wall is badly deteriorated; its taking our parking lot with it, pointed out Stephen F. Norcini, public-works director.

The wall has even collapsed in one area.

Because of limited right-of-away onto the lot, which is at 822 Glenbrook Road in Bryn Mawr, the transit authority sought access to eight parking spaces that will be cordoned off from public use and reserved for construction purposes.

The anticipated project length is five months.

Not only will the transit authority repave the area impacted by their construction activities but SEPTA has agreed that after it completes the project it will resurface and stripe the entire parking lot. The value of such paving and stripping of the parking area outside of the work area is valued at $12,000.

The township recommended to the board that the temporary loss of parking spaces is outweighed by the cost savings of not having to repave the lot. According to the township, the lot is not heavily used and on a normal weekday there are more unoccupied parking spaces than occupied ones.

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter Continued...

View post:
Radnor board OKs SEPTA's access to lot

The Ghent Planning Board moved closer to approval of a site plan for the Price Chopper Wednesday with discussion and partial resolution of differing opinions on a retaining wall, lighting and buffering trees.

Chatham Associates of Albany has applied for site plan and subdivision approval to build a 43,000-square-foot Price Chopper Market on 7.08 acres at 2595 Route 66. The parcel is just south of the current Price Chopper, located at Chatham Plaza.

Price Chopper engineer Mike Tucker described a revised lighting plan he had submitted, with recessed bulbs, and a 33 percent reduction in after-hours lighting; and an updated landscape plan, with a mix of wildflowers in front, and a relocation of maple trees so as not to interfere with power lines. The trees would be in a variety of heights, he said, with 30 percent over eight feet.

Much discussion was devoted to the retaining wall. At previous meetings, board members who had favored a traditionally constructed stone wall were convinced that it would be cost-prohibitive, and that a precast, faux-stone wall would be affordable and strong enough for the purpose.

Board member Larry Machiz expressed concern about the one-over-two-and-two-over-one design of the fake stones.

I can live into the concrete wall with stain, but I have trouble to me, its going to look fraudulent, he said. He asked them to look at another designer.

As the discussion continued, Board Attorney Ted Guterman urged members to move toward a decision on the application.

You cant be talking about a wall for two months, he said.

Its the most visible thing, said board member Martin Silver.

From our point of view, we stepped back from a laid stone wall, Machiz said. This is a stronger and cheaper product. But we need to get the right look out of this. Were moving forward.

Read the original post:
Price Chopper plan creeps forward

DOB Brings Back Wall Check Pgm.

No Penalties If Problems Found

Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri announced that the Department of Buildings (DOB) eighth annual No-Penalty Retaining Wall Inspection Program is underway.

Under the program, New Yorkers can request a free inspection of their retaining wall without the threat of receiving a violation if the wall is found to be in poor condition.

During inspections, DOB inspectors will examine a walls structural conditions to check if there is any bulging, displaced material or if the wall is leaning. If repairs are needed, the DOB will defer issuing violations to allow property owners time to take corrective action. However, if dangerous conditions are found, the agency will take immediate action to make sure the unsafe conditions are corrected as soon as possible.

Inspections can be requested between now and June 30 by calling 311.

Property owners have a responsibility to make sure every corner of their property is safe, and this program reminds them to pay special attention to their retaining wall, said LiMandri in a statement. Retaining walls can deteriorate over time, and starting today, property owners can ask for a free, no-penalty inspection so they can have the opportunity to fix any structural conditions before its too late. Homeowners can save themselves time, money and heartache by taking the proper precautions and calling for an inspection today.

Launched in 2005, the No-Penalty Retaining Wall Inspection Program was created following the collapse of a retaining wall above the Henry Hudson Parkway. The program seeks to ensure that retaining walls in New York City are properly maintained in order to prevent future accidents. Over the past five years, the Department has performed over 400 retaining wall inspections as part of the program.

Retaining walls are designed to hold back soil that would otherwise move to a more natural slope or incline if the wall were not in place. Over time, these walls can deteriorate as the seasons change and temperatures rise and fall, posing a safety risk to nearby buildings. By law, property owners are required to maintain these walls and perform periodic inspections of them every five years and submit reports on their condition to the DOB. New Yorkers are encouraged to call 311 to report any noncompliant conditions.

For more information, please visit the DOB website at http://www.nyc.gov/buildings.

Read more:
DOB Brings Back Wall Check Pgm.

The World News (WN) Network, has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to user privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for wn.com, as well as e-mail newsletters.

We do not collect personally identifiable information about you, except when you provide it to us. For example, if you submit an inquiry to us or sign up for our newsletter, you may be asked to provide certain information such as your contact details (name, e-mail address, mailing address, etc.).

When you submit your personally identifiable information through wn.com, you are giving your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. If you would prefer that we not collect any personally identifiable information from you, please do not provide us with any such information. We will not sell or rent your personally identifiable information to third parties without your consent, except as otherwise disclosed in this Privacy Policy.

Except as otherwise disclosed in this Privacy Policy, we will use the information you provide us only for the purpose of responding to your inquiry or in connection with the service for which you provided such information. We may forward your contact information and inquiry to our affiliates and other divisions of our company that we feel can best address your inquiry or provide you with the requested service. We may also use the information you provide in aggregate form for internal business purposes, such as generating statistics and developing marketing plans. We may share or transfer such non-personally identifiable information with or to our affiliates, licensees, agents and partners.

We may retain other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Such third parties may be provided with access to personally identifiable information needed to perform their functions, but may not use such information for any other purpose.

In addition, we may disclose any information, including personally identifiable information, we deem necessary, in our sole discretion, to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal proceeding or governmental request.

We do not want you to receive unwanted e-mail from us. We try to make it easy to opt-out of any service you have asked to receive. If you sign-up to our e-mail newsletters we do not sell, exchange or give your e-mail address to a third party.

E-mail addresses are collected via the wn.com web site. Users have to physically opt-in to receive the wn.com newsletter and a verification e-mail is sent. wn.com is clearly and conspicuously named at the point of

If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications, you may opt-out of receiving them by following the instructions included in each newsletter or communication or by e-mailing us at michaelw(at)wn.com

The security of your personal information is important to us. We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during registration and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100 percent secure, however. Therefore, though we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Follow this link:
Mas lig-on nga retaining wall sa Horizon

Friday, May 18, 2012

THE Taft Property Venture Development Corp., developer of the Horizons 101 condominium project on Gen. Maxilom Ave., is fast-tracking the restoration of the retaining wall that collapsed last month.

In a news conference yesterday, Horizons 101 project manager Engr. Oscar Umali said they are expected to finish the repair by the first week of June.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Umali said they are four days ahead of schedule, mainly because the repair is being done 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

7-step solution

He said theyre into their 35th day of repair, after promising the Cebu City Government to finish it in 60 days.

Following the collapse of their previous retaining wall, the Gaisano-owned firm adopted a seven-step solution to prevent a repeat of the incident.

This included, among others, rebuilding a stronger wall, repairing the damaged houses and installing a soldier pile, a 26-piece, 12-meter steel pile to support a portion of the collapsed wall.

With the new retaining wall, Umali assured that last months incident will not be repeated.

View original post here:
Wall repair to finish ‘ahead of schedule’