by KREM.com

KREM.com

Posted on February 26, 2014 at 3:32 PM

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. Authorities seized 273 marijuana plants late Tuesday evening at a home near Valleyway Avenue and North Conklin Road. Deputies with the Spokane County Sheriffs Office said the rental home had been converted into a marijuana grow operation.

The wiring and ventilation in the home had been altered to accommodate commercial grow equipment according to authorities. Deputies stated that there were signs of mold growth and other issues in the home associated with long-term indoor grow operations.

Cole Brown, 21, was arrested and booked for manufacturing a controlled substance. Deputies said they plan to make more arrests in the case.

Authorities began watching the house after receiving complaints from neighbors.

Neighbors told investigators that there was suspicious activity at the home. They claimed the renters actually lived down the street in a different house. All of the windows were blacked out and vehicles only parked behind the house according to their complaint.

Investigators witnessed vehicles frequenting the house. The majority of the vehicles had Idaho plates according to deputies.

On Tuesday, deputies stopped Brown and a woman leaving the house. Deputies described both suspects smelling of marijuana. However, the suspects claimed no knowledge of a marijuana grow at the house. They did admit to be staying off and on at the Conklin address and also living in Coeur d Alene. Neither claimed to use or grow marijuana for medicinal reasons according to authorities.

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273 marijuana plants seized from Spokane Valley rental

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Having a house fire is one of my greatest fears, especially when I'm away from home and my paranoia is allowed to imagine up all sorts of horrendous scenarios. I'm the kind of person who checks the stove and heater before leaving the house, fusses over the electrical wiring, and takes special care when snuffing candles -- and not just I remember a friend losing his home to arson when I was a kid.

I always think that one of the best way to deal with your fears is confronting them head on, so I researched the progression of a house fire to understand how and why they happen. Having that information is key to the other part of the battle: reducing the chance that one will happen to me, using sensible, evidence-tested means.

It can take as little as 30 seconds for a small spark to turn into a conflagration from which people have only a few minutes to escape, thanks to the increasing number of highly flammable materials being used in home construction and kept around the home. Synthetic materials are a part of our lives now, but unfortunately, they don't offer the fire resistance available from cotton, wool, linen, and similar fabrics and other natural materials.

Almost half of house fires start in the kitchen, typically on the stovetop, where something boils over and onto a hot burner. That's actually an easy point to catch and stop a fire, if you don't lose your cool: you should have a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires in the kitchen, along with baking soda if necessary. Both substances will cut off the supply of oxygen to the fire, knocking out a critical leg of the fire triangle (fuel, air, and heat).

If your kitchen is dirty (including your range top or hood), the fire can spread very fast. Grease may spatter across counters covered in debris, jump to the table, and snake its way across kitchen messes, with flames leaping behind, causing the fire to leap around the kitchen. Within seconds, the kitchen will be a haze of flames and smoke, which will make it hard to see or escape. Heat rises, carrying heat and vapors into the upper levels of the house.

The more the fire spreads, the hotter the air inside the house becomes. At this point, it would be difficult to breathe without incurring serious lung damage, and parts of the house would be reaching the point of spontaneous combustion because of the heat. That's when you get a phenomenon called flashover, where abrupt and very rapid combustion effectively causes a room to explode with flames. Once one room catches fire, flames will quickly spread, and a home can be fully involved within minutes of the initial flames.

The second most common cause of house fires is heating equipment, which is why it's important to make sure yours is in good working order, so have an LA HVAC technician take a look at your system if it hasn't been checked in a while. Careless smoking, electrical equipment, and candles come next, followed by playful kids, out-of-date wiring, flammable liquids, Christmas trees, and barbecues. Tragically, many of these causes can be addressed before they cause a major house fire, and programs are even available in some cases to help people mitigate their fire risks (for example, Christmas light trade-ins let people get rid of older strands of lights in exchange for new LEDs).

A few simple measures can radically reduce the risk of fires in the home. Anything that produces heat or an open flame shouldn't be left unattended, and should be regularly serviced (if applicable -- obviously, your chimney needs to be swept, but candles don't require regular servicing!). Keeping your house clean and as free of dust and flammable chemicals as possible will limit fuel that a fire could use to spread, while installing fire extinguishers and fire detectors so you can act fast when the worst happens is strongly advised (and legally required, in some areas).

You should also have a fire plan in place. With only minutes to escape in an emergency, you need to know exactly how you're going to get out and where you're going to meet up with family members. Once you're free of the danger zone, you can communicate with first responders about who might still be inside and what to do next. It helps them to know where the fire started (if you know), and if you have information about the electrical wiring, plumbing, and floor plan, make it available so they can plan their strategy more effectively.

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The progression of a house fire

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- You know the saying, everything is bigger in Texas?

That's definitely true in The Woodlands, where we found one of the largest, most expensive homes in the Houston market.

The more than 33,000 square foot mansion is tucked deep in the heart of The Woodlands. The French Renaissance-inspired home also has an additional 7,000 square feet of patio space. The three stories soar above the four acres of surrounding property, but it's the interior that truly stands out.

Listing agent Arlene English says you will find 12 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, and nine kitchens (five full and four mini-kitchens).

Out of the eight unique bedroom suites, the master is the largest, taking up 3,000 square feet, the size of most homes. The master bedroom has his and her showers, his and her walk-in closets, a full sitting area with a fireplace, and a private salon.

The other seven suites are like staying in a luxury hotel.

A palatial office is filled with rich wood, crackling fireplaces, and plenty of bars.

The house is lit with 42 chandeliers along with 2,200 other lights, more than 100 doors, and three elevators.

The entire third floor is an entertainment complex, including a luxury theater, gentlemen's lounge, soda fountain, and a game room.

Outside you can find a spectacular pool with two spas and waterfall.

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Inside Houston's most expensive home for sale

SPOKANE VALLEY - A 21-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana operation at a Spokane Valley home in which 273 plants were recovered.

Cole Brown was booked into the Spokane County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance. More arrests are pending.

Brown told police he had been staying off and on at the home on north Conklin Road and also living in Coeur d'Alene.

"Detectives hope to stem any trend from developing where Idaho marijuana growers set up illegal operations across the border in Washington to try and take advantage of more lenient state laws regarding the drug," a Spokane Valley Police press release states.

Detectives served a search warrant at the Spokane Valley home and discovered the rental house had been converted into an alleged illegal marijuana growing operation.

A male and female were staying part time in one of the bedrooms, and tending to the plants that were in various stages of maturity, the press release states. The home's wiring and ventilation had been altered to accommodate commercial grow equipment and there were signs of mold growth and other issues in the home associated with long-term indoor grow operations.

Neighbors in the area had become suspicious when they never saw the new renters, the press release states. All the windows were blacked out and vehicles parked mostly behind the house, hidden from view.

Detectives conducted surveillance and noticed that all the vehicles frequenting the residence had Idaho plates. Further investigation established probable cause for the search warrant.

Brown and an adult female, who was not arrested and also claimed to be living in Coeur d'Alene, both smelled of marijuana, but claimed no knowledge of a marijuana growing operation at the house, according to police. Neither claimed to use or grow marijuana for medicinal reasons.

Excerpt from:
Cd'A man arrested during pot bust

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Shelton and Stewart l 287 Rada Ct. Coral Gables, Florida - Video

Lisa Garner said demolishing the dangerous mobile home near her own home will help her neighborhood transform.

Neighbors began calling in complaints about the mobile home on West Applegate Drive three years ago. Austin Police logged more than 200 calls to the single-wide home since 2006.

"When you have a bunch of drug addicts, that is not safe at all," Garner said. "You have them walking the streets. They were on bicycles; they are climbing fences. They were everywhere."

Manuel Villegas with the Austin Code Compliance Department said the home had exposed wiring, had unsafe floors and was rife with rats and cockroaches.

"The neighborhood was looking at this and saying, 'Hey Code Compliance, we call you. What are you doing about it?'" he said.

Villegas said as many as 18 people lived in the home at one time. Inspectors found tenants circumvented having their utilities cut off by running jumper cables off nearby power lines and a car radiator hose around the water meter.

"That allegedly had some lead, so that contaminates the water system," Villegas said.

He said the health of families within a 10-block radius was put at risk. That included Charles Fruzia, who lived about a block east.

"Whoever is responsible for seeing to it that it is taken down, all I can say is thank you," Fruzia said.

Austin Code Compliance said it is just getting started. Five other properties in the area are expected to be demolished in the next month for similar reasons.

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Crews demolish unsafe home

Victor, NY (PRWEB) February 17, 2014

At the Generac Power Systems dealer conference held in January in Orlando, Fla., Home Power Systems LLC received prestigious Premier Dealer status for the fifth year in a row. A leading Generac Power Systems standby generator dealer for over 10 years, Home Power Systems sells and services Generac home standby generators throughout central and western New York state.

Earning Premier Dealer status five years in a row is quite an honor, said Jim Swetman, president of Home Power Systems. We pride ourselves on providing superior service to our customers, and this recognition goes a long way toward reinforcing that philosophy with our clients and prospects.

To qualify for Generac Premier Dealer status, a dealership must have at least four technicians who are factory-certified to service Generacs home standby generators up to 20 kilowatts, maintain an extensive parts inventory, and have a bricks-and-mortar storefront. Home Power Systems exceeds those requirements by having seven service technicians, including two factory-certified to work on Generacs larger commercial generators.

Practically speaking, our dealers are the Generac brand in the eyes of customers, said Ryan Jeske, vice president of sales, residential products, Generac. Thats why the Premier Dealer program rewards dealers like Home Power Systems for living the Generac brand promise of giving our customers peace of mind. They consistently provide outstanding customer service. Maintain an inventory of product and parts. Provide 24/7 product support. We congratulate Home Power Systems for their significant commitment to their customers and for being among the best of the best.

With over 3800 customers throughout New York state, Home Power Systems has consistently been a leading standby generator dealer nationally for Generac Power Systems. Founded in 2003, Home Power Systems has grown its business by providing superior customer service. Hiring and training the very best service and support staff has allowed Home Power Systems to achieve their customer service goals and continue to be one of the top Generac Dealers in the United States.

Generac customers interested in learning more about Home Power Systems sales and service of Generac Power Systems product line can visit http://www.homepowersystems.net, or call 1-877-421-0203.

About Home Power Systems

Home Power Systems is headquartered in Victor, NY with an office in Syracuse NY, and sells and installs Generac home standby generator systems. Renowned for their generator expertise, they are sought out across the U.S. for sales as well as training technicians in the proper installation of Generac equipment. Home Power Systems takes care of every phase of the installation including town permitting, electrical wiring and inspections and gas piping. All generators are commissioned and started per Guardian's recommendations including load testing at your home.

About Generac (NYSE: GNRC)

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Home Power Systems Named Generac Premier Dealer Five Years Running

The story behind the Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas garage-home-office controversy is one familiar to millions---a beef over home remodeling.

For those who have not been following the Los Angeles Times investigation into the garage caper, heres a summary: Last month, reporters Jack Leonard and Paul Pringle reported that the county installed a home security system for the garage, which was being turned into an office. The reporters portrayed the project as a boondoggle, with a wall torn down for the installation of the wiring, which also required a trench dug adjacent to the garage. This work, they implied, might not have been needed. They also maintain the county has only grudgingly and slowly given them information and Ridley-Thomas has refused to talk to them.

Friday, Nancy Sullivan, Times vice president for communications called to say that four garage walls, not one, were involved in the job.

Overcoming these obstacles, the reporters found out that a contractor charged the county $6,239 for the project. Then Ridley-Thomas reimbursed the county $3,759 for an air conditioner, refrigerator and a flat screen television installed at the same time.

Beyond that, the story of the wall, or walls I should say, becomes muddy, like neighbors telling of remodeling their kitchen.

Ridley-Thomas told me that when he notified county officials he intended to move his home office, including his county computer, into the garage, they said they would have to revamp his county-supplied home security system. In addition, they said they, themselves, would have to move his county computer, with its high-speed Internet connection, into the new office. They had to do this, they said, to protect the county computer system from hackers.

Besides linking up with the Internet, the high-speed connection reaches the sheriffs office and other security agencies, Ridley-Thomas said. Each task requires wiring. In addition, the alarm system needs a wire to draw power from the home supply. So there must be wiring for a few purposeshigh-speed Internet connection, law enforcement notification for emergencies and power for the computer and the security alarm system, Ridley-Thomas explained.

County employees and the contractors looked at the garage and said they wouldnt be able to install so much wiring behind the walls without ripping them out. Since the garage was 30 years old, they said they couldnt find replacements for the old wooden walls. Lets hang dry wall over the wiring and paint it, they said. They preferred that solution to hanging the wires on outside of the old wall and covering them with molding. Fine, replied Ridley-Thomas.

Reporters Leonard and Pringle quoted a number of home security experts who said there was no need to rip out the wall to install wiring for the security system. Ripping the walls out? Thats absolutely ridiculous, said Nigel Smithers, Southern California general for Absolute Security Alarms. Ridley-Thomas is angry about the coverage and called me at home, hoping I would look into it. He said it was always clear that he would pay for the air conditioner, television and refrigerator. This was above board, there was no attempt to hide anything, it was completely appropriate and legitimate, he said.

The real dispute is over the amount of wiring needed and whether the wall should have been replaced. Was so much wiring required that the contractors had to rip down the wall? Would a cord from Home Depot sufficed? Was taxpayer money wasted? In that situation, if a contractor told me this about my home office, I might call in a contractor for a second opinion. But Ridley-Thomas, required to use the county for the job, didnt have that option.

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The story behind the Ridley-Thomas garage caper

Published: Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 6:12 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 6:12 p.m.

OCALA -- A construction team renovating an Ocala residence discovered extensive vandalism to the home when workers arrived to work on Thursday, according to an Ocala Police Department report.

The owner of A-Team Restorations told an officer the team had been working on the home, located in the 2800 block of Northeast 19th Avenue, since Dec. 1 and that the residence is owned by a bank.

He said the workers left the home around 4 p.m. Wednesday and discovered the damage upon returning the next day.

Police said some of the damage included vulgarities written on the walls, wood paint/stain spilled on the floor, white paint thrown and spilled in a bathroom, a broken toilet, electrical wiring ripped from walls and tiles ripped from the floor.

The cost to repair the wreckage is estimated at around $20,000, the business owner said.

Anyone with any information about this incident can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit http://www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Tips can also be sent via MyPD App for the agency or by texting 274637 using keyword 368STOP.

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Empty home suffers extensive vandalism