FEAR KEEPS GOOD NEIGHBOURS QUIET

Elderly couple die in house blaze after thugs set fire to mobility scooter


By Daily Mail Reporter


An elderly couple died in their blazing home after thugs set fire to a mobility scooter parked on their porch, it emerged today.

Albert and Kath Adams, both 77, were asleep in their home in Rugby, Warwickshire, when the fire broke out at 2.50am on Saturday.
It is believed they became trapped in the burning house after the yobs, who the couple had previously challenged over loutish behaviour, returned for revenge.
Fatal blaze: Police believe a group of yobs set Mr Adams' mobility scooter alight as revenge for his noise complaints
The couple were rescued by firefighters and taken to Coventry's University Hospital suffering from severe smoke inhalation but Mr Adams died hours later.
His wife, who was in a critical condition, died 24 hours later yesterday afternoon.
The street where Mr and Mrs Adams live is home to 34 pensioners living in sheltered housing which is staffed by wardens.
However, neighbours say the area has been targeted by yobs in recent weeks.
Some residents claim the couple had previously stood up to a gang of teenagers for playing loud music and threatening elderly residents.
Early this morning, as police continued their investigation into the attack, a second mobility scooter parked outside nearby flats was set alight.
One neighbour, a woman in her 80s, said: 'It's disgusting. We've never had a problem like this before.
'Over the last few weeks it's got really bad. I've been kept up awake at night with the noise. Gangs of them would shout abuse at people and play loud music at all hours.
Second fire: This mobility scooter was torched early this morning, just hours after Mrs Adams lost her fight for life
'It used to be such a peaceful area. I know that a few of the neighbours had problems with this as well.'

She paid tribute to Mr and Mrs Adams, saying they tried to address the problem: 'Kath and Albert were not the type of people to stand for it. They tried to tackle the yobs but they just got verbally abused by them.'

Kevin White, 65, who also lives in the street, added: 'They were a lovely couple. We always chatted on a Sunday morning. It's just so sad, I can't believe it. It's a massive shock.

'If it was kids being bloody stupid they obviously did not foresee how terrible things would become. They certainly did not deserve to exit life in this way.'
Police believe the fatal fire started after someone torched Mr Adams's mobility scooter, which was parked on the couple's porch.
Two flats were evacuated after this morning's blaze and police say they are linking the two attacks.
A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: 'We are now treating both incidents as arson and believe that they may be connected.

This article could well be written in a local newspaper but comes from Daily Mail in UK.  How sad.

OPEN LETTER TO APPEAL DEMOCRAT

Dear Mr. LaBarth & Mr. Vodden,

My dears, am well aware that there be many who find the endless stream of email from odious to receive, hence the snap of folks with gas masks on with MOI in front of.

Self serving, pedantic old geezer crosses the loaf of some.  Truth be told am fully aware of effect this old geezer has on some.

Being an avid reader of the daily rag that be The Appeal Democrat, have had the good fortune to have stories told of, and have seen the positive effect that the Appeal Democrat can have on the community when it sets out to tell a story that touches one and all.  Who can forget "Christmas Miracle"?

John Dougherty DeFrees, newspaper owner and writer of renown, is part of gene pool that this old geezer comes from.  Having a bit of ink in me veins, can tell you that am of the opinion that a newspaper can serve the community well, if it educates, informs and illuminates.  Educates the reader on a daily basis.  Informs all as to what passes as noteworthy.  Illuminates the dark corners oft missed and shines light on the members of the community who perform brilliantly.  Have no doubt that old J.D. DeFrees would agree on this.

Crime may well sell newspapers better than the feel good story.  More's the pity that.

So much negative rubbish passes self off as NEWS.  The constant telling of what is failing is right depressing.  Just this day is a story of hard times faced by local non-profit.  As if they be only ones lacking in ability to help community.

Forget about the colourful character who writes this to you, focus in on so many of the local heroes who make Yuba County brilliant and have crossed paths with MOI.  The lovely lady who gives so much of self to library and teaching a love of books to others.  Local pastor who tries to provide a hot meal to needy folks 4 times weekly.  The coppers who do extra work to brighten lives of folks in the community.  The local businesses that have not shuttered doors but continue to serve the needs of Linda and community round. The local Fire Chief who makes time in busy schedule to stop by and personally deal with concerns.  The list is endless.

Being ever so clever and busy, you may well not appreciate me efforts to keep you informed of things that happen in me world.  Truth be told, there be some who pretend to not even receive emails sent, they have placed emails from MOI direct into the rubbish bin.  Clever.  Mind, that would not be the case here, right??

"Life is a banquet, most poor SOB's are starving to death", so goes the quote from MAME, the broadway hit from years gone by.  I am feasting at the banquet of life, never a day goes by that more 'food for thought' does not land on table in front of.  I live fully and am cheeky enough to feel that the whole world wants to know of life lived.

You be 'au fait' with MOI, me sharing this with me fans will come as no surprise.  Like you at the Appeal Democrat, there is a constant demand to fill the wishes of avid readers.  Pray forgive and along with a giggle at me expense, give some thought to doing loads more FEEL GOOD local stories that just might chase away the need to tell so many depressing ones.

Have a brilliant day

Rob DeFrees

MOVE-IN PACKET AT LINDA VILLA

My dears, going on about the value of Neighbourhood Watch is not so much pablum served up by this old geezer.  It is a deeply held belief in a programme that has been proved to work.  The collabrative efforts of neighbours and coppers make for a safe community, safe road and safe complex.  Will tell you true, have seen the rewards got from a very active concern on part of neighbours to chase crime away.

With today being move in day for lovely folks at complex, what better time to rally them to the cause of Neighbourhood Watch and being responsible and becoming part of the winds of change blowing through Linda.

Each will receive information packet and if signed up for Neighbourhood Watch will also receive a lovely decal to go on window of flat.  How grand is that?

Part of the materials were paid for by Kay Properties but thanks to the every lovely Laura Miller more were got for FREE.  Always love to get something for FREE, more so when it is of such great value.

Murray Kay will be much put out today, yet it will not keep him from attending a Neighbourhood Watch Meeting at the caravan park on Garden this very night.  So passionate has he become that he has enlisted the help of his daughter.  Teresa will attend tonight to pass out information to folks about animal safety.  That too is part of being a responsible member of the community.  How horrid to dump unwanted animals on the road.  Doing such, makes evil folks take notice to a community that cares not and they move in, to 'poo' on the community.

The local coppers can not fight the battle alone.  They need the help of the folks they are sworn to 'serve and protect'.  That be you and me.  Bugger the fact that there be a few coppers who bring attitude to job, ignore them and lock in on the many fine coppers who truly do care.

This old geezer continue to meet some coppers who feel that folks who do good are to be discounted.  You be 'au fait' with the type.  They posture and roll eyes when you try to tell what is going pearshaped in community, as if they are the only readers of the bible.  Never let such asway you from effort to improve your road and community.

Have a brilliant day and join you local Neighbourhood Watch Programme today.

MARCH MADNESS

Not only it it Monday, it is the first day of March.  That can only mean  it will be a rather long day, filled with much comings and goings.  Of late, new folks to the community have been moving in on the first of the each month, and March will be no exception.  Said all of the afore to make a boring introduction to the fact that MOI will be Mad as a Hatter today.

It will be close to the wire all day.  One unit still has finishing touches to apply and am wondering if the paint will still be wet.

Murray has not let down in adding to the drama of the move in day.  Carpet was to have been installed and it still needs to be finished.  Doors have to be re-hung and other bits and bobs done.

Poor Murray, he has been so put upon of late that he looks like he is about to drop.  Running round and trying to do the odd job has taken toll.  He slept over at me house.  I have a sofa that converts into a full bed.  You know the sort, it promises a good night's sleep but has that iron bar in the middle of.  How on earth do you get a good sleep with that?  Right well if you sleep sideways...

Moving right along...

The major problem I have with Murray is that he does not plan his day well.  Meeting with trades folks he makes deals, promises loads, then moves on to another task, leaving this old geezer to cobble together how it will sort self out.  Over weekend, chap showed up to do work in two units.  Had been promised that appliances would be moved and floor covering would be clean.  NOT.  Had to work magic with to keep poor chap from walking away from the job.

When I make a promise, I like to keep it.  It gets very tiring to have to keep bailing water in Murray's wake.

I start each day with a plan.  Write out .marching orders' for the troops, Murray included.  It is the only way to keep track of all that has to be attended to.  Even then, what will go wrong can and does.

One unit required a new paint job.  Simple enough.  Unless at the Linda Villa.  The unit was done with a paint gun.  The chap who did came out looking like a ghost and he left much paint in his wake.  Seems that it is an art form to use a paint gun, one that if not done proper, get almost as much paint on the floor as the walls.  The floor was white as a field of snow.  Problem being that new carpet will not glue down to this field of new paint.  Now the lovely chap will have to remove paint and that will be a chore.

Never a dull moment at the Linda Villa.  Would I have it any other way?