PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- U.S.
Representative Michael C. Burgess
(R-Texas) introduced House
Resolution 676 on the House floor
today congratulating the American
Motorcyclist Association (AMA) on
its 85th anniversary, and commending
the Association for promoting and
protecting the interests of
motorcyclists since 1924.
The resolution notes that AMA
members make up "the world's largest
and most dedicated group of
motorcycle enthusiasts," and that
riders are "one of the nation's most
passionate subcultures." It goes on
to state that "the House of
Representatives congratulates the
American Motorcyclist Association on
its 85th Anniversary and commends it
for having promoted and protected
the rights and interests of
motorcyclists and motorcycle
enthusiasts since 1924."
In acknowledging the honor, AMA
President and CEO Rob Dingman
credited the AMA's membership of
motorcycling enthusiasts.
"We are honored by the resolution
that Rep. Burgess introduced today,
and we humbly accept these accolades
on behalf of our members who are the
motivating force behind the
Association," said Dingman. "The
AMA's mission is to be this
country's leading advocate of the
motorcycling lifestyle, and we're
proud to have served in that
capacity for 85 years. We would like
to thank our dedicated members who,
through their unwavering support,
provide the AMA with the human,
financial and operational resources
we need to meet our goals."
The resolution highlights the AMA's
dedication to motorcycling's
heritage through its Pickerington,
Ohio-based AMA Motorcycle Hall of
Fame, which "honors those who have
contributed to the history of
motorcycling through political
activism, culture and sport, and
which preserves the heritage of
motorcycling for future
generations."
The resolution also notes how the
AMA collaborates with member clubs,
promoters and partners to sanction
thousand of motorsports events each
year.
The AMA is commemorating its
anniversary this weekend, July
24-26, at AMA Vintage Motorcycle
Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course in Lexington, Ohio. AMA
Vintage Motorcycle Days celebrates
the history of all of motorcycling
with vintage motorcycle racing,
classic bike shows, seminars and
speeches, and North America's
largest motorcycle swap meet. A
special feature at this year's event
will be the AMA 85th Anniversary
Parade, which will be led by AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Famer and Grand
Marshal Don Emde, and includes a
1924 Harley-Davidson as well as
other motorcycles representing each
of the nine decades in which the
Association has protected and
promoted the motorcycling lifestyle.
About the American Motorcyclist
Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected
the future of motorcycling and
promoted the motorcycle lifestyle.
AMA members come from all walks of
life, and they navigate many
different routes on their journey to
the same destination: freedom on two
wheels. As the world's largest
motorcycling organization, the AMA
advocates for motorcyclists'
interests in the halls of local,
state and federal government, the
committees of international
governing organizations, and the
court of public opinion. Through
member clubs, promoters and
partners, the AMA sanctions more
motorsports competition and
motorcycle recreational events than
any other organization in the world.
AMA members receive money-saving
discounts from dozens of well-known
suppliers of motorcycle services,
gear and apparel, bike rental,
transport, hotel stays and more.
Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Museum, the AMA preserves the
heritage of motorcycling for future
generations.
Hell's Angels President's funeral
to be held -
Examiner.com -
Winston-Salem police expecting 500
to 1000 Hells Angels members this
weekend for club president's
funeral.
Dwight Alan Sluder, 48, was found
dead in his home on Baux Mountain
Rd. In Winston-Salem on July 15. He
was found with a gunshot wound to
the back of his head. Police are
treating this as a homicide case.
The funeral opened its doors tonight
for the viewing to over a 100 bikers
lined up.
Sluder was the president of the
motorcycle gang, the Hell's Angels
and appeared on the active gang
member database in 2006 (Confirmed
by the Forsyth County Sheriff's
Department), according to the
Winston-Salem Journal.
Currently WSPD are having trouble
finding the killer. According to the
Winston-Salem Journal, the only
leads the police department has is
one that leads out of state.
That morning, after Sluder was
found, WSPD held a road block on
Baux Mountain Road asking all that
pass if they had any information
about the death or Sluder.
Dwight's neighbor said she could not
ask for a better neighbor, according
to the Winston-Salem Journal.
The Bandidos trial will resume on
Tuesday with M.H.'s eighth day on
the stand -
London Free
Press - The Bandidos trial
ran into an unexpected delay
yesterday when the star Crown
witness -- an informant -- couldn't
testify because of illness.
The jury was sent home after
Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney
said the former Winnipeg Bandido
biker, identified only as M.H., "has
taken ill."
M.H. has been testifying at the
trial of six men who've pleaded not
guilty to eight counts of
first-degree murder in the deaths of
eight Toronto Bandidos on April 8,
2006.
Their bodies were found stuffed into
vehicles along a rural Elgin County
road.
The trial began March 31.
M.H. completed his seventh day in
the witness box on Thursday.
M. H. has told the jury, through
Crown questioning, what he saw the
night the eight men were shot to
death at Wayne Kellestine's Dutton-Dunwich
farm. He was one of five members of
the Manitoba probationary chapter of
the Bandidos motorcycle club that
was in conflict with its sponsoring
Toronto chapter.
Toronto's "No Surrender Crew" also
served as the Canadian national
chapter -- but orders had come from
the United States to boot them out
of the worldwide club.
The Winnipeg bikers arrived
uninvited to Kellestine's farm to
find out why Kellestine hadn't
followed the orders to "pull the
patches" of the Toronto club.
They stayed at the farm for two
weeks before the Toronto members
were lured to the farm, the
informant testified.
M.H. has said he and the others
helped Kellestine clean the guns.
M.H. and Dwight Mushey -- both
wearing gloves -- waited near the
barn with loaded weapons while
Winnipeg Bandido president Michael
Sandham waited with two loaded guns
in the barn's loft.
Sandham shot Luis Manny "Chopper"
Raposo and claimed it was self
defence.
After that, M.H. has testified, each
Toronto biker was led out,
one-by-one, and shot to death.
The defence has begun its
cross-examination. Donald Crawford,
the lawyer for Michael Sandham, and
Greg Leslie, lawyer for Frank Mather
have completed their questioning.
On Thursday, Tony Bryant, lawyer for
Marcelo Aravena dramatically began
his cross by showing M.H. the grisly
photos of the eight dead men as they
were found stuffed in four vehicles
on road near Shedden.
Bryant is expected to pick up
Tuesday where he left off.
---
The accused
Wayne Kellestine, 60, Frank Mather,
35, of Dutton-Dunwich; Brett
Gardiner, 25, of no fixed address;
and Michael Sandham, 39, Marcelo
Aravena, 33, and Dwight Mushey, 41,
of Winnipeg.
The dead
George (Pony) Jessome, 52, George
(Crash) Kriarakis, 28, Bandido
Canada president John (Boxer)
Muscedere, 48, Luis (Chopper)
Raposo, 41, Toronto chapter
president Frank "Bam Bam"Salerno,
43, Paul (Big Paulie) Sinopoli, 30,
Jamie (Goldberg) Flanz, 37, and
Michael (Little Mikey) Trotta, 31.
F.A.I.T.H Riders Motorcycle
Ministry will sponsor a benefit ride
- Dothan
Eagle - F.A.I.T.H Riders
Motorcycle Ministry will sponsor a
benefit ride in five states on Sept.
12 with proceeds from each state
ride to go to the Baptist Children’s
Home. The Alabama ride begins and
ends at 368 County Line Road in
Dothan. Registration is $20 per bike
and $10 for each extra rider.
Register online at
www.rumbleforkids.org prior to
Aug. 10 to receive a free event
T-shirt. Registration is from 8:30-9
a.m. the day of the event.
Kickstands up at 9:15 a.m. Lunch and
presentations following ride.
Idaho state controller, 70, to
ride Harley for POWs -
IdahoStatesman.com - Idaho
State Controller Donna Jones is
getting back on a Harley-Davidson
for the first time in 53 years in
support of POWs and MIAs.
Jones will participate in the
POW*MIA National Association's 9th
Annual Awareness Rally & Motorcycle
Rodeo in Pocatello.
"Of course I've been on a Harley,"
said Jones, 70. "Now, I was 17."
Jones will ride as a passenger in
the final leg of the event, leaving
the Pocatello Veterans Home at 11
a.m. Saturday for the Bannock County
Fairgrounds, where she'll arrive
around noon to help kick off the
bike rodeo.
When Jones was last on a Harley, the
driver was her then-boyfriend, the
late-Jerry Simpson of Middleton.
Jones said she's not sure who'll
have the handlebars Saturday. "I
think they're gonna draw straws and
whoever gets the shortest will have
me."
Jones, a Republican, was elected
controller in 2006 and is running
for re-election next year. She
previously spent 12 years in the
Legislature representing Payette and
Washington counties.
Jones said she has deep respect for
servicemen and women who've been
through the trials of POWs and MIAs.
"It's so important to the POW and
MIAs that we remember them and don't
forget the sacrifices that they've
made," Jones said.
Jones was in Pocatello Friday for
the raising of the world's largest
POW-MIA flag. She will attend the
opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday
and the Power County Search and
Rescue breakfast at 6:30 a.m.
Saturday. The event continues on
Sunday.
1 dead in Asheville motorcycle
crash -
Asheville
Citizen-Times - ASHEVILLE — A
motorcyclist died Friday on Town
Mountain Road after he lost control
of the bike in a curve and it slid
under an oncoming pickup truck.
Nathan Jake Buckner, 26, of
Leicester, was driving the yellow
sport bike, according to the N.C.
Highway Patrol. His wife, Felicia
Buckner, was riding on the back. She
was in critical condition at Mission
Hospital.
The wreck happened just past
Mountain Vista Drive about 5 p.m.
Kasey Thompson, who lives off Town
Mountain Road, was one of the first
people on the scene. He was on his
way home when he came across the
wreck.
He said three people were trying to
resuscitate the motorcycle driver,
who was partially under the truck,
when he arrived.
Thompson said the passenger on the
motorcycle kicked her leg once but
she appeared to be unconscious when
rescue workers put her in an
ambulance.
Trooper Brandon Miller of the
Highway Patrol said the motorcycle
was speeding up the mountain when it
crossed the center line and ended up
on its side. It collided with the
truck, which was coming down the
mountain.
The driver of the truck was not
seriously injured.
Thompson said speeding motorcycles
are not uncommon on the curves of
Town Mountain Road, which starts at
College Street downtown and heads up
to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
He said motorcyclists have crossed
the double line to pass him.
“It's stupid, really,” he said.
“People just seeking a thrill.”
Gearing Up for the 9th Annual
POW-MIA Awareness Rally in Pocatello
-
LocalNews8.com - POCATELLO -
The POW-MIA organization is kicking
off its 9th Annual Awareness Rally
at the Bannock County Fairgrounds.
Local people began getting ready
Thursday with events including
showing off the Patriot Chopper.
Scott Hongell served five years as a
Marine and is from Maryland. He's
back in Pocatello for the annual
POW-MIA Awareness Rally.
"It's kind of close to me. Its kind
of dear to me," said Hongell.
This will be the 9th year the rally
has been in eastern Idaho. It
started in 2000 in American Falls
and then moved to the Gate City. The
event is all in an effort to keep
people aware of the sacrifices for
freedom.
"In our communities there are
Americans that never came home from
previous conflicts. And it's
important for us as Americans to
always remember them and never
forget their sacrifices," said Roy "Redleg"
Breshears, Assistant Director for
the POW-MIA.
Thursday the Patriot Guard Chopper
was on hand at Pocatello Cycle for
people to check out along with an
ice cream social later in the
evening at the Bannock County
Fairgrounds. But the weekend will
bring much more.
"Friday evening we've got MMA
fights. Saturday we've got the
demolition derby. Our premier event,
which is the motorcycle rodeo. If
you've never seen one of those, it's
a hoot," said Breshears.
There will be a fun motorcycle run
Saturday morning and events at the
fairgrounds through the weekend.
Scott is part of the group Monrovia
and they'll be playing in concert
Friday and Saturday. Being a veteran
and a musician, he's hoping he can
bring both of his loves together.
"Last year was so awesome, it was so
good. So we just want to rock it out
and meet as many people as we can,"
said Hongell.
To enjoy the 9th annual POW-MIA
Awareness Rally, you don't have to
be in the military or own a
motorcycle you just have to love
your country and show your support
for it.
A family pass for the weekend is $40
dollars. Admission is $15 for anyone
over 12 years old. Ages six to 12 is
$5 and five and under or with a
military ID is free.
Gates open Friday morning at 9 a.m.
and the largest POW-MIA flag in the
world will be raised at 12 p.m.
For more information, go to
www.powmiarodeo.org
Motorcyclist killed on Cane Run
Road, driver charged with murder,
DUI -
WHAS 11.com - A
Louisville man is dead and another
Louisville man is facing a murder
charge after a motorcycle crash.
Watch this story
It all happened early Friday along
Cane Run Road.
The victim's wife says her husband
died doing what he loved, riding
motorcycles.
William Keeth was killed around 3:00
Friday morning along Cane Run Road
in Louisville.
His wife says he was out riding his
motorcycle trying to relax after a
long week.
Police say that’s when he was struck
and killed by 21-year-old Dewayne
Smith.
Authorities believe alcohol played a
factor. Smith has been charged with
murder and DUI in the wreck.
“They found a motorcyclist that was
going northbound and according to
witnesses, was traveling at a very
high rate of speed...vehicle was
going southbound on cane run and
when vehicle attempted to turn left
collided with motorcyclist,” says
Alicia Smiley of LMPD.
The news of the wreck is equally
devastating for those who know
Smith, the man now charged with the
crime.
The crash happened at the
intersection of Cane Run Road and
Melandy Acres Lane.
Smith lived close to the
intersection of the wreck and his
neighbors say they are heartbroken.
Keeth was 37-years-old and had just
gotten married last year.
His wife tells WHAS11 News he had
been riding his motorcycle for about
a year.
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