Hey,
There’s a rush in the wind. I can smell it in the air. The winds of change are all around us and there’s one thing for certain. Change never stops.
So what could it be? I would like to dream about a new movie, a story that will return freedom to the mix. Maybe Sam “Chopper” Orwell will become the next motorcycle film entertainment but with serious significance.
Maybe all the motorcyclist in the country will ride on Washington DC to prove the significance of motorcycle in the grand transportation scheme of things and demand respect and infrastructure consideration.
Who the hell knows but I will report as change happens. Let’s hit the news.
The actual prototype Vincent Black Lightning ridden by Rollie Free in 1948 across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah is now on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. If you attend Vintage Rally 2018 on June 23, 2018 you can enjoy a bike show, swap meet, special guests and the Rollie Free Vincent.
The famous and historic “bathing suit bike” will be on loan only until June 30, 2018, so we hope you’ll visit soon. It’s great to look at up close.
Many consider the image of Rollie Free in his bathing suit riding John Edgar’s HRD Vincent one of the most famous motorcycle photographs ever.
The story of Rollie tearing off his leathers and deciding to improve his personal streamlining with a bathing suit, bathing cap and tennis shoes is stuff that not even Hollywood can dream up! Vincent enthusiasts will recognize that this is the bike that gave rise to the slogan “The World’s Fastest Standard Motorcycle” when it set a land speed record of 150.313 miles per hour.
The machine does not get shown often, mostly at west coast concours. The owner has graciously agreed to loan it for a display at the National Motorcycle Museum as part of the Museum’s current STREAMLINERS presented by J&P Cycles exhibition.
The National Motorcycle Museum is located in Anamosa, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is open daily year around. On display are over 480 motorcycles from all parts of the world, board track racers from the golden era of American board track racing and a 1920’s service station plus bicycles, pedal cars and thousands of pieces of memorabilia.
Plan your visit to see the John Edgar Vincent at the Museum here.
2016 Vintage Rally recap
National Motorcycle Museum
Allstate Motorcycle Insurance
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BIKERNET BOOK OF THE MONTH NEWS– The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change, by the evil planet killer Marc Morano!
In the climate debate, few men are more central, more loathed and feared than Marc Morano. In the flesh, few men are more warm, witty and polished — an absolute gentleman and a delight to be around. He’s so effective he’s been rated one of the top 17 “planet killers”, and according to the Daily Kos, “Evil Personified”. Thank goodness he’s on our side.
Not surprisingly, with so much going for him, he was the villain of the Merchants of Doubt documentary. Newsweek called him “King of the Skeptics” and Esquire Magazine devoted six thousand words to trying to unpack and investigate his key role in climate politics.
For a few years Morano worked for Senator Inhofe, who at the time was virtually the only Republican standing up to the media, academia and the UN on climate change. When Leonardo DiCaprio and National Geographic released their top ten list of climate deniers, Inhofe was number one, and Morano, number two.
Finally the man behind all this and Climate Depot — who is probably the closest to politics without being a politician — has written The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change.
Like a bullet it is now the #1 New Release in Environmental Science books. Let’s help keep it there. Right now, Leonardo’s worst fear is that you will buy this book and give it to people on the fence, impressionable teens, and any decent, deplorable teachers. Ask your local library to get a copy.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change
Click for the link to the Kindle Version
The Paperback Version $19.79: The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change, By Marc Morano
The Kindle Edition. $11.
From the great Richard Lindzen:
With his book “Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change”, Marc Morano vies to be the Thomas Paine of the movement to save the world from the tyranny of climate catastrophists. He exposes the seemingly infinite number of absurd claims, and the almost unbounded hypocrisy and venality of the proponents of this clearly inhuman and scientifically implausible attempt to control mankind by controlling and, more importantly, restricting access to energy. This book is an unrelenting polemic of the best kind.
— Emeritus MIT climate scientist Dr. Richard Lindzen
— Marc Morano, Godfather
“…a central cell of the Climate-denial Machine”
THRILLING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for March 1, 2018
The mural on the building is killer! Came out great. That’s the first image I’ve seen of it completed.
— Paul Aiken
aiken@aeromach.net
Charlotte, NC
THE BIKERNET BADDEST JOKE RATING WAS JUST ESTABLISHED–
A desperate looking woman stood poised on the edge of a high cliff about to jump off. A filthy tramp wandering by stopped and said, “Look, since you’ll be dead in a few minutes, and it won’t matter to you, how about a little sex before you go?”
She screamed, “NO! Bug off you filthy old bastard!”
He shrugged and turned away saying, “Okay, I’ll just go and wait at the bottom.” She didn’t jump.
–from Sidehack Jerry
HEADLINE OF THE WEEK–
RIDING FREE FROM DC–Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session.
NEWS FROM THE HILL – Self-Driving Car Legislation to Move? Plus Infrastructure Legislation May Slip off the Agenda…
A rumor surfaced in D.C. this week about attaching the self-driving cars legislation to other legislation that was already moving (no pun intended, but you have to love the irony there!)
On Wednesday, a report surfaced that the Senate bill on autonomous vehicles could end up attached to the must-pass spending package that will move in the next few weeks. According to the reporter, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said that work on the autonomous vehicles bill has slowed, and he and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) are considering the possibility of attaching it to other “bulletproof” vehicles.
Of course, this started a frenzy – I personally spoke with staff from Senator Thune’s office who insisted that they are still focused on moving the bill through “unanimous consent” – that’s a procedural term which basically means they make sure no one would object to it. This way they can skip the whole debate and amendment process which would complicate and bog down the bill’s chances of moving.
As a reminder, we like the Senate version of the bill because it includes language which would not only require technology and automakers to test for responsiveness and recognition of motorcycles but would also allow the public to request to see copies of those safety reports…a provision your MRF fought hard to get included. Even though the bill doesn’t sound like it will move in the next week or two, the rumor kickstarted activity on the measure. I may have a better update next week…
INFRASTRUCTURE
Despite all the racket and campaign references to a major infrastructure package from the Trump Administration, the reality of its future was put into question this week. Just a week after its official unveiling, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) doesn’t think there will be time for his chamber to consider infrastructure this year. Republican Senator John Thune had the same reaction: “It could be challenging to get an infrastructure bill done in light of everything else we have to do,” he told reporters.
With the clock ticking, the Senate has a full agenda including passing of the spending package we referred to above, plus the incident in Florida last week has mounted pressure on doing something with gun control legislation.
Not to mention there is that pesky problem with how to handle DACA (pssst: that’s stands for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and is an immigration policy that allows for some folks who entered the country illegally as minor to get a 2-year renewal before deportation).
Still though, some say that its not a matter of having time…it’s a matter of money. And both are hard to come by these days. That major infrastructure package that was unveiled only addressed funding for about half, leaving Congress to figure out how to fund the rest. We’ll keep watching as this plays out. I don’t think this is the last we will hear on this.
–Megan Ekstrom
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Infrastructure should be at the top of the list for motorcyclists and kids. What the hell?
–Bandit
[page break]
QUEST FOR WORLD’S FASTEST MOTORCYCLE– leads America’s “Queen of Speed” and award-winning P-51 Pictures and MN8 Films documentary crew to Australia
Seven-time record holder Valerie Thompson first female to attempt world’s fastest motorcycle record at Australia’s Lake Gairdner World Speed Trials
Valerie Thompson and Team “7” Racing, led by AMA Hall of Famer Denis Manning, journey halfway around the world for their attempt to capture the world’s fastest motorcycle title at the 28th Annual Speed Week and World Speed Trials competition at the Lake Gairdner salt flats in South Australia, March 12-19.
Open to cars, motorcycles and trucks, the 28th Annual Speed Week competition is hosted by the Dry Lakes Racers Australia (DLRA) from March 12-16. The World Speed Trials is a new event for motorcycles only, scheduled March 17-19 and regulated by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing as well the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). Thompson and Team “7” Racing will use Speed Week for testing and tuning, while planning their record attempt during the World Speed Trials.
“I have raced on the dry lake beds and salt flats throughout the US, but I’ve never had the opportunity to race at the Lake Gairdner salt flats. I hope our first visit to Australia leads to my first world speed record in a streamliner with Team “7” Racing, the most dedicated crew I’ve ever worked with,” said Thompson. “It seems appropriate we have to travel half-way around the globe to capture the world’s fastest motorcycle title, a dream I have chased for a long time,” added an optimistic Thompson.
The current record of 376.36 mph (605.69 km/h) was formerly held three times by the Manning-designed streamliner. Less than 10 mph separates the top speeds of the current record holder and the Team “7” Racing entry, setting the stage for the world’s fastest motorcycle title battle.
This powerful story is being captured and produced by P-51 Pictures and MN8 Films, creators of the award-winning motorcycle racing documentary, Out of Nothing, and Executive Produced by Dana Brown, creator of Dust to Glory and On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter. P-51 and MN8 will join Thompson, Manning and Team “7” in Australia to capture the big event for their feature-length documentary, Rockets and Titans (working title), planned for release in 2019.
Thompson stunned the racing world at the 2016 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials with a speed of 304.263 mph (489.663 km/h) piloting the Team “7” Streamliner. On only her fifth run in a streamlined motorcycle, Thompson became the first female driver in a two-wheeled vehicle over 300 mph, also earning the Fastest Time of the Meet award.
Thompson is a seven land speed record holder on a variety of bikes ranging from Harley-Davidsons to BMWs and is a member of six-land speed racing 200 MPH Clubs. She is the only female in history to compete for the world’s fastest motorcycle title and breaking the current record would be her first in a purpose-built motorcycle streamliner.
Valerie Thompson Background
Piloting the Team “7” Racing streamliner, Valerie added a new chapter to racing history at the 2016 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, earning the “The Fastest Time of the Meet” award with a speed of 304.263 mph (489.6 KMH). She is the first female rider over 300 mph, earning the title of “Worlds Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer.”
She is a seven-time land speed record holder with membership in six different 200 MPH Clubs and is a lifetime member of the famed Bonneville 200 MPH Club. In 2017, Thompson became the first female appointed to the Bonneville 200 MPH Club Board of Directors. Valerie’s current quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer is the subject of P-51 Pictures’ and MN8 Films’ upcoming feature documentary, Rockets and Titans.
Her many racing accomplishments have earned Valerie the moniker of “America’s Queen of Speed” by the worldwide press.
Denis Manning and Team “7” Racing Background
The famed Team “7” Streamliner, aka the BUB 7, is an American-purpose built land speed bike designed by American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame member and mutli-time world speed record holder, Denis Manning. The vehicle held the world motorcycle speed record from 2006 to 2008 (350.884 mph) and again from 2009 to 2010 (367.382 mph).
Team “7” Racing owners John Jans, machinist/builder and Joe Harralson, engineer/engine designer, continue utilizing Manning’s engineering prowess in the role of team leader, with the goal of reclaiming the world’s fastest motorcycle title for the third time. Less than 10 mph separates the “7” Streamliner’s top speed from the current record holder, creating a dramatic showdown between driver talent and engineering ingenuity.
Valerie Thompson Racing (Twitter)
Valerie Thompson Racing (Instagram)
Which of the following names are you familiar with?
1. Monica Lewinsky
2. Spiro Agnew
3. Benito Mussolini
4. Adolf Hitler
5. Jorge Bergoglio
6. Alfonse Capone
7. Vladimir Putin
8. Linda Lovelace
9. Saddam Hussein
You had trouble with #5, didn’t you?
You know all the liars, criminals, adulterers, murderers, thieves, sluts, and cheaters, but you don’t know the Pope??
–from Sidehack Jerry and father Rogue
BROTHER NEEDS A HAND– I need two sets of exhaust for the 152-inch Elmor motor that is shown in the picture by Viper V-twin.
–JOE KARAM, OWNER SKANK BIKES, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Phone Number: 561-633-3562
Email Address: jpkj57@yahoo.com
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INTERNATIONAL EDITOR SNEAKS INTO CAMBODIA-– I think I forgot to send this bit of trivia last week. Kinda puts a perspective on one’s life.
–Art Hall
Most Magnificent International Correspondent
Bikernet.com
GEORGE CHRISTIE IN THE NEWS AGAIN–
I believe I mentioned that George is currently in rehearsals for a one-man show (OUTLAW) which are going great. He now has the show memorized and he and Richard La Plante, who I believe you also know, are now in full rehearsals.
We have the show booked in four theaters between early April and June. Ventura, Santa Barbara, Sacramento and Las Vegas. We are self-producing all these shows which means we booked the theater ourselves and will be doing the publicity etc.
We want to keep booking further afield so we have launched an Indiegogo Campaign to try and raise $15k.
If we are successful, and we already have about $1,500 in four days, we will use the money to book more cities.
Here is the link to the campaign page.
Check it out.
–Charles Lago
clago@DTLAent.com
www.DTLAent.com
DTLA Entertainment Group, LLC
411 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
COMPLETE Handlebar Wiring Harness/Extension Kit–
Fits up to 20-inch tall handlebars on 2018 Road King Special, (FLHRXS) ONLY.
Well, with every new model introduced, we aftermarket folks need to stay on top of what changes the factory makes. The 2018 Road King Special, FLHRXS is no different. Unlike most of our new items, this one isn’t really new; its sort-of a combination of already top-selling wiring extensions and harnesses you’ve come to know from us.
Our new NHCX-RK18 kit is a simple and convenient way for customers to order ALL the wiring they need to install taller bars. This 100% plug-n-play, 3-piece kit includes our handlebar replacement harness (NHCX-CB14), our ’16-Up throttle-by-wire extension and our ’16-Up front turn signal extensions (NTSX-CB15). Allows for up to 18” tall handlebars and installs in minutes. We make it easy for you to do it right!
NAMZ provides the best selection and support for OEM & dealers all over the world. Send us an email at marketing@namzccp.com or give us a call at 1-877-277-NAMZ for more information.
–Kit
Easyriders
BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN ON SUNDAYS--Russ and Sam, two friends, met in the park every day to feed the pigeons, watch the squirrels and discuss world problems.
One day Russ didn’t show up. Sam didn’t think much about it and figured maybe he had a cold or something… But after Russ hadn’t shown up for a week or so, Sam really got worried. However, since the only time they ever got together was at the park, Sam didn’t know where Russ lived, so he was unable to find out what had happened to him.
A month had passed, and Sam figured he had seen the last of Russ, but one day, Sam approached the park and– lo and behold! — there sat Russ!
Sam was very excited and happy to see him and told him so. Then he said, ‘For crying out loud Russ, what in the world happened to you?’
Russ replied, ‘I have been in jail.’
‘Jail!’ cried Sam. What in the world for?’
‘Well,’ Russ said, ‘you know Sue, that cute little blonde waitress at the coffee shop where I sometimes go?’ ‘Yeah,’ said Sam, ‘I remember her. What about her?’
‘Well, the little gold-digging witch figured I was rich and she filed rape charges against me; and, at 89 years old, I was so proud that when I got into court, I pleaded ‘guilty’.
‘The judge gave me 30 days for perjury.’
–Joe Teresi
Grand Marshall
Paisano Publications
–El Waggs
BIG “C” HITS BIKERNET STAFF– I’m pretty good. Met with the urologist, oncologist, and yesterday with the surgeon. The scheduler is to contact us Monday. One of my brothers just had a pre-cancer removed from his neck a couple of weeks back.
Bikers and sun damage are a very real issue. I’ve been wearing a bandana to protect my face and neck on long rides but have heard some LEOs are stopping folks for wearing a “mask”.
There’s no problem with a full coverage helmet or a tinted shied on a ¾. Just another part of the scary mess we live in.
–Sam Burns
Starbrite Ultimate Corrosion Blocker–
A non-tacky, clear corrosion barrier for all metal surfaces
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The formula will not harm wiring, paint or wrapped surfaces. It delivers long-term protection for engine blocks, frames, wheels, spokes, tools, trailers and all other bare or polished metal surfaces.
The polymers bond to treated surfaces to help repel moisture, dirt, grime and more. Easy to use; spray on, wipe up excess and let dry.
–Kit
Easyriders
Star brite
(800) 327-8583
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BIKERNET INTERNATIONAL NEWS DESK–
Kim Jong-Un announced at a news conference that North Korea
would be sending a man to the sun within ten years!
A reporter said, “But the sun is too hot. How can your man land on the sun?”
There was a stunned silence. Nobody knew how to react.
Kim Jong-Un quietly answered’ “We will land at night.”
The gathering and everyone in North Korea watching on television broke into thunderous applause.
Back in Washington, Nancy Pelosi and her entourage were watching the news conference. When Pelosi heard what Kim said, she sneered, “What an idiot. Everyone knows there’s no sun at night.”
Her office broke into thunderous applause.
I’m pretty sure all of this is true…
–JW
[page break]
The Curious Case Of A Florida Man Who Called Politicians Corrupt, Got Thrown In Jail– It’s not that uncommon to hear someone complaining that politicians are corrupt. But you wouldn’t expect to be thrown in jail for it.
That’s exactly what happened to Fane Lozman at a City Council meeting in Florida.
On Tuesday, that arrest got to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it could have implications not just for Lozman but for the limits of First Amendment protections of freedom of speech.
Oddly, it’s not Lozman’s first trip to the nation’s highest court. Five years ago, the financial trader won his first case against the city of Riviera Beach when the city seized his floating home to make room for a harbor redevelopment. Today’s case could affect a lot more people.
Supreme Court justices on Tuesday seemed to express that they agreed Lozman’s arrest may have been unjustified and over the line, but they were having trouble clearly defining the line.
What was the line exactly? Justice Kennedy, for example, asked Lozman’s lawyer, but didn’t seem to get a satisfying answer.
Kennedy further wanted to know how, if the court got rid of the existing rule — a somewhat obscure Florida law (more on that below) — how they would box off cases like this and still allow police to deal with things like bar fights and demonstrations that turned into riots?
If you can’t find a way to distinguish this case from those cases, Kennedy told Lozman’s lawyer, you’ve lost me.
The court doesn’t want to be flooded with those cases, he said, so it was looking for a line to draw that could be easily translated.
“Carry him out”
Back in 2006, Lozman was not exactly a welcome sight for the Riviera Beach City Council. He had managed to scuttle its plans to convert the local public marina into a private one.
A transcript of a closed-door meeting in June of that year shows council members discussing tactics for dealing with Lozman, including the possibility of hiring a private investigator to turn the tables on the city’s critic.
“I think it would help to intimidate,” Council Chairperson Elizabeth Wade said, adding, “I think they should be questioned by some of our people … so they can feel the same kind of unwarranted heat.”
On Nov. 15, 2006, the dispute between Lozman and the City Council boiled over. During the public comment portion of an open meeting, Lozman decided to speak up.
“They were not in a very good mood,” he recalls. “They realized they had to abandon their entire redevelopment plan. … They were throwing in the towel that night, and that’s when I got up to make my public comment, and the chairperson was just livid looking at me.”
Lozman started out, “You’re probably aware that the U.S. attorney’s office has arrested the second corrupt local politician. This time it was former Palm Beach County Commissioner Tony Masilotti.”
Chairperson Wade immediately interrupted him: “Fane Lozman, you have the right to say what you want to say publicly, but you will not stand up and go through that.”
Lozman persisted, insisting that he had the right to speak. Wade summoned the police officer on duty to the lectern and told Lozman to leave or be arrested.
When Lozman refused to leave, Wade told the officer to “carry him out.”
The officer handcuffed Lozman and took him to a holding cell at the local police department, charging him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
The charges were subsequently dropped, but Lozman continued to fume. He sued the city, alleging a number of retaliatory acts, including his arrest at the council meeting.
A jury, though, sided with the city.
What constitutes “disorderly”?
A federal appeals court upheld the verdict, concluding there was probable cause to believe that Lozman was violating or was about to violate a Florida law that makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to disturb a lawful assembly.
Lozman hotly disputes that characterization of his conduct.
“I did maintain order,” he said. “Disorderly conduct relative to a public meeting is if you go beyond your three minutes, if you use profanity, if you’re screaming or yelling. I was doing none of those.”
He maintains instead that what the council chairperson objected to was the content of his speech.
“If she didn’t want to listen to that content, she shouldn’t run for public office,” he said, “because the First Amendment protects comments that are critical and maybe comments people don’t like to hear.”
Lozman added that this Supreme Court case is far more important than his last one.
“If I lose, then police and municipalities and the final policymakers who run the city, they’re immunized,” Lozman said. “They can just come up with any bogus misdemeanor arrest to remove you from making your public comments.”
Larger implications
As the briefs in the case indicate, Lozman’s experience is hardly unique.
Indeed, more than two dozen media organizations have filed a brief pointing to similar problems encountered by reporters and photographers engaged in everything from investigative journalism to covering demonstrations.
While arresting journalists for critical coverage may be the hallmark of repressive regimes, and rarely happens in the United States, the brief observes, “It does happen.”
The brief, points, for instance, to Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s arrest of the publishers of the Phoenix New Times for publishing articles that probed the sheriff’s commercial real estate holdings.
The city’s argument
The city of Riviera Beach declined NPR’s request to discuss its case, but in written briefs filed with the court, the City Council, backed by the Trump administration, contends that the police officer was justified in arresting Lozman, even if Lozman’s speech was perfectly legal.
The city argues that in the context of law enforcement, an open-ended right to sue for false arrest would be chaotic, expensive for municipalities and dangerous.
Consider this example, the city argues: A police officer sees someone illegally driving a van through the parking lot of a federal building with a sign that says, “Remember the Children of Waco.”
The police officer might reasonably decide to arrest the driver, rather than just issue a citation, thus buying time to determine whether the driver is a concerned citizen or another Oklahoma City bomber.
Lozman’s lawyers, in their briefs, counter that the defendant here isn’t the individual police officer; it’s the city. The arrest did not occur in the field, but occurred while Lozman was “calmly speaking during the public comment portion of a city council meeting” and that what he said “provided no basis for the arrest.”
A decision in the case is expected by summer.
–from Rogue
EX with Ghosts–
A professor at Wayne State University in Detroit was giving a lecture on Paranormal Studies
To get a feel for his audience, he asks, “How many people here believe in ghosts?”
About 90 students raise their hands.
“Well, that’s a good start. Out of those who believe in ghosts, do any of you think you have seen a ghost?”
About 40 students raised their hands.
“That’s really good. I’m really glad you take this seriously. Has anyone here ever talked to a ghost?”
About 15 students raise their hand.
“Has anyone here ever touched a ghost?”
Three students raise their hands.
“That’s fantastic. Now let me ask you one question further…Have any of you ever made love to a ghost?”
Way in the back, Hamad raises his hand.
The professor takes off his glasses and says, “Son, all the years I’ve been giving this lecture, no one has ever claimed to have made love to a ghost. You’ve got to come up here and tell us about your experience.”
The Middle Eastern student replied with a nod and a grin, and began to make his way up to the podium. When he reached the front of the room, the professor asks, “So, Hamad , tell us what it’s like to have sex with a ghost?”
Hamad replied, “Shit, from way back there I thought you said goats.”
–from Rik Savenko
MORE FROM WACO- -Reyna to dismiss more Twin Peaks shootout cases
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna on Wednesday again dismissed cases involving Twin Peaks defendants before a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Reyna announced at a press conference Wednesday morning that he intends to dismiss 13 Twin Peaks shootout cases and will refuse 24 others that had not been indicted. Judges Matt Johnson and Ralph Strother signed orders Wednesday afternoon dismissing the cases in their respective courts.
Reyna says that brings a total of 58 Twin Peaks cases that have been disposed out of 154 bikers who were indicted and 177 total who were arrested in the May 2015 shootout between rival biker gangs that left nine bikers dead and dozens injured.
The bikers’ cases dismissed are those for Raymond Hawes, Daniel Johnson, Edward Keller Jr., Jeremy King, Brian Logan, Robert Nichols, Anthony Shane Palmer, Victor Pizana, Clayton Reed, Sergio Reyes, Gregory Salazar, Seth A. Smith and Ricky Wycough.
Reyna said his office will refuse cases for Steven Walker, Jimmy Spencer, Bobby Samford, Julie Perkins, Morgan English, William English, Benjamin Matcek, Jimmy Smith, Bradley Terwilliger, Justin Waddington, Daryle Walker, Royce Vanvleck, Christopher Eaton, Brian Eickenhorst, Arley Harris, James Venable, Jeremy Ojeda, Kevin Rash, Richard Kreder, Owen Bartlett, Richard Dauley, Craig Rodahl, Walter Weaver and Michael Woods.
Reyna also announced that he will recuse his office in the case involving biker William Aikin.
Waco attorney Melanie Walker, who represents Seth S. Smith, said Smith is thrilled with Wednesday’s developments.
“I’m so happy for Mr. Smith that his case was finally dismissed,” Walker said. “He has lived under the shadow of these charges for almost three years, and he is hoping now to be able to try to put this behind him and move on.”
The dismissal list includes the names of 10 bikers that had hearings scheduled for Thursday in Judge Ralph Strother of Waco’s 19th State District Court. Those bikers had filed motions seeking to disqualify Reyna from handling their cases.
Those hearings will be canceled.
On Feb. 7, Reyna dismissed cases against 13 indicted bikers and officially refused the cases of eight others who were arrested but not indicted.
He dismissed or refused those cases on the same day as a hearing at which two bikers intended to seek his disqualification.
Reyna’s opponent in the Republican primary, Barry Johnson, and Twin Peaks attorneys charged that Reyna was dismissing cases before scheduled hearings merely to keep his former first assistant Greg Davis and others with potentially damaging testimony from testifying before the March 6 primary election.
Reyna denied Wednesday that the scheduled hearings had anything to do with his decision on the cases, which have been pending for 33 months.
Fort Worth attorney Brian Bouffard, who was set to participate in Thursday’s hearing, said he expected Reyna’s actions.
“The dismissals themselves aren’t surprising in the least, since anyone with two brain cells to rub together understands what Abel Reyna really wants here. He wants to avoid testifying under oath and having to face up to the people he calls ‘liars,’ but knows are truthful people who have far more personal integrity and sound professional judgment than he will ever hope to have,” Bouffard said.
“What’s surprising, I guess, is that he apparently thinks what he’s doing isn’t nakedly transparent. You would have to be a drooling partisan fool not to see this for exactly what it is. But Reyna certainly knows his core base, doesn’t he? But I hope and believe that the decent people in Waco will turn out and make better choices at the ballot box. Elections have consequences. The hard part, sadly, is to convince people they should actually care about other people. I don’t know how you teach that concept to people who missed it in kindergarten,” he said.
Johnson, Reyna’s Republican primary opponent, said Reyna is dismissing the cases to avoid answering for his “gross mishandling of these cases and dismissing other cases in exchange for political contributions.”
“His tenure as DA has been scandal after scandal and it is time for the citizens of McLennan County to vote Abel Reyna guilty,” Johnson said. “Enough is enough. How can he possibly look the voters of McLennan County in the eye and say this has nothing to do with politics when we are five days away from the Republican primary?
“All of these 58 cases were not all of a sudden bad. That means that these 58 cases were bad back in May of 2015 and he just did not investigate those cases before he filed them all, and a lot of people have gone through a difficult time because of his incompetence,” he said.
Editor’s note: Reyna announced the latest developments in the Twin Peaks cases in his office with local television stations. Rebecca Akins, Reyna’s administrative assistant, barred a Tribune-Herald reporter from entering the office and attending the press conference.
— By TOMMY WITHERSPOON
Waco Tribune-Herald
NEW FROM LAW TIGERS–
Have you seen the video by Tobacco Motorwear Company and their message to Watch Out for Motorcycles! This video is a must watch for all motorcycle riders! Please help spread the word that we are all Ryan Reynolds or Dump Truck.–Law Tigers
adjective
1. partly serious and partly comic: a seriocomic play.
Suddenly, here toward the year’s end, when the new films are plunging toward the wire and the prospects of an Oscar-worthy long shot coming through get progressively more dim, there sweeps ahead a film that is not only one of the best of the year, but also one of the best seriocomic social satires we’ve had from Hollywood since Preston Sturges was making them.
— Bosley Crowther, “The Graduate,” New York Times, December 22, 1967
ORIGIN
Seriocomic was first recorded in 1775-85. It links the words serious and comic with -o-, the typical ending of the first element of compounds of Greek origin, often used in English as a connective irrespective of etymology.
UAH Show Global Temperatures Continue To Fall–
UAH report another drop in global temperatures for February, following the sharp fall in January.
It is likely we are just starting to see the effects of La Nina, which began last September. There is generally a lag of between 3 and 6 months before atmospheric temperatures are impacted.
Nevertheless, so far La Nina has been a very weak affair, comparable to 2006, when temperature anomalies dipped to about 0.1C.
https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/enso/mei/
What is particularly noticeable this month is how far temperatures have dropped in the NH:
Most predictions suggest La Nina will peter out by the summer:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/
However, we can still expect to see La Nina affecting temperatures for most of this year.
There might be Dave Perewitz Paint Show or the Boogie East Chopper Show.
I received a report about our Salt Torpedo, streamlined trike project. We are making progress one the steering mechanism with the Paughco crew.
I just spoke to Travis, who was a member of the Jammer streamliner team back in the ‘70s. He has a ’66 Shovel basket case for sale for about $6,000. Let me know if you’re interested.
We are looking to feature my Grandson’s Dyna. He’s riding the hell out of it.
It’s never dull around here.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
