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Students Receive First-Hand Introduction to Industry from LKQ & Centerline CARSTAR in Ohio by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Collision repair students from Medina County Career Center in Ohio learned about the industry first-hand from LKQ and Centerline CARSTAR during an all-day field trip in March. The day started out with a visit to LKQ in Akron. In addition to viewing an automotive recycling center, the students learned that LKQ is a paint and body equipment distributor as well as an aftermarket parts supplier. Their next stop was Centerline CARSTAR in Strongsville. The students met with Paul Struhar Sr. and his son Paul Jr. and were given a tour
Students toured Centerline CARSTAR in Ohio as part of an all-day field trip
of the 17,750-square-foot facility. Centerline recently went through a reorganization and expansion in order to increase production. The students were shown sunlight corrected lighting, epoxied floors, a central vacuum sandSee Students Receive, Page 16
IN Shop Tech Helps Police ID Jeep in Alleged Drunk Driving Hit-and-run Accident
consistent with the debris found at the scene. Sheriff deputies found Joan Geesaman, 49, inside the residence where the vehicle was found. She was arrested for leaving the scene of the accident and operating while intoxicated. Deputies said a breath test showed her blood alcohol-level was .051 about six hours after the accident occurred. Police said Geesaman was attempting to turn left onto C.R. 1 from C.R. 10 when she drove off the road and hit a stop sign, 40 feet of chain link fence and a Verizon utility box. The homeowner told police he heard the crash around 10 p.m.
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P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
An alleged drunk driver crashed into a fence, sign and utility box late on evening of April 11 and fled the scene, according to the Elkhart County, IN, Sherrif's office. The suspect’s identity may have remained a mystery, except the owner of the damaged fence at the corner of C.R. 10 and C.R. 1 works as an auto body repairman. He was able to study debris that broke off the suspect’s vehicle to identify it as a dark gray Jeep Cherokee, according to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. Police used that information to locate a Jeep parked in a driveway about a mile from the accident with damage
VOL. 5 ISSUE 8 MAY 2016
MO Shop Owner Killed During Craigslist Transaction by Cass Heckel, Research Associate
Jake Brantner, owner of Jake’s Performance Fabrication in Lees Summit, MO, died April 3 after being shot during an apparent gun sale transaction. The 39-year-old shop owner was killed in a shopping center parking lot in Kansas City around 8:30 p.m. His 10-year-old daughter, Makenzie Brantner, was present at the time of the incident. Police are seeking public help in locating the suspect. The night of April 3, Jake was meeting an unknown individual to sell his handgun, according to police. A friend of Brantner’s said the transaction was arranged through Craigslist. The online sales site prohibits the sale of weapons; however, users have found loopholes to this restriction. Fox News 4 reported that an off-
duty officer was the first to arrive at the scene. The officer had heard shouting and gunshots prior to investigating the disturbance. It was at that time that he found Jake fatally wounded and called 911. According to Raw Story News, Jake’s daughter Makenzie was in a parked truck nearby when witnesses found her uninjured. Missouri is well known for having some of the most lenient laws when it comes to gun control, according to Laws.com. Under Missouri law a buyer’s permit is not required for the purchase of a firearm. In other U.S. states, a buyer’s permit is only issued after a background check is completed by the buyer. In other cases, sales can only be made through a licensed dealer such as in California. Missouri also does not require a handgun to be See Craigslist killer, Page 20
Grants Available to MN Shops Interested In Reducing VOC Emissions, Application Deadline is May 11 by The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) come from industrial and commercial processes all around us. You may recognize them as the solvent-like fumes coming from materials like coatings,
tive health impacts on employees and the general population. The reductions can help:
● Save money by reducing regulatory fees ● Create healthier air for employees and the community ● Make shops smells better ● Produce less PPE
inks, solvents, adhesives, gasoline, and other chemicals used in everyday commerce. VOCs can be reduced by making changes to manufacturing processes and heating equipment, and through facility-wide opportunities such as purchasing safer products. Reducing VOCs can have posi-
Where’s the money? Grants will soon become available to help Minnesota small-businesses interested in reducing emissions of VOCs throughout their facilities. Find out more about the MPCA’s grant at https://www.pca .state.mn.us/quick-links/grants-helpsmall-businesses-reduce-vocs. Applications are due by May 11 2016. See Grant Available, Page 20
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