| Outdoors Calendar
Exists to encourage safe and responsible recreational bicycling in the WNC area. To find out more about the club and its ongoing advocacy efforts, or to see a complete club calendar, visit: www.blueridgebicycleclub.org. PISGAH AREA SORBA: Asheville chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, a mountain bike club promoting land access, trail preservation and trail development. Visit www.pisgahareasorba.org. Group rides, trail workdays, events. HIKING Wednesday NORDIC WALKING: Learn the basics of Nordic walking. Meets weekly at 5 p.m. at River Ridge Apartments, 1906 River Ridge Drive. Free. To RSVP or get information, call 298-4789, e-mail tbonerun@hotmail.com or visit www.tbonerun.com. Saturday FONTANA HIKING CLUB: Meet Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Vandal spreads tacks to scupper cyclists on Beach Rd
AN anti-cyclist vandal who scattered road tacks in the path of bike riders could have killed someone, police say. Officers today blasted the offender, saying only luck saved a rider from injury or death. A large number of tacks, similar to drawing pins, were deliberately placed along Beach Rd in Mentone on Saturday and caused punctures to several cyclists' tyres. Sen-Sgt Hans Harms, of the Kingston Traffic Management Unit, condemned the act of stupidity and accused the offender of derailing bids to ease tensions between drivers and cyclists. Sen-Sgt Harms said a cyclist could have lost control and swerved into vehicles or other riders. "This stupid act does not assist anyone. "I, along with other organisations such as the Amy Gillett Foundation, are trying to work together with bicycle riders to ensure all road users are safe including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
Bath man indicted for kidnapping, assault
A 28-year-old Bath man was indicted Wednesday on kidnapping and assault charges for allegedly attacking a 16-year-old girl last August. Darren P. McEathron is accused of dragging the victim into a wooded area off Birdseye Hollow Road in Wayne. The victim, who did not know her attacker, was riding her bicycle in the area. The man is accused of assaulting the girl Aug. 18, causing injuries to her face and extremities, according to state police at Bath. McEathron did not sexually assault the girl, authorities said. The victim was able to escape her attacker when he left her briefly unattended. McEathron, who was arrested in early January, was indicted without the results of a DNA sample he provided to investigators shortly after his arrest. Steuben County District Attorney John Tunney said his office has not yet received those results.
Giving back: THAW fund-raiser
THE CAUSE: THAW is a nonprofit agency that provides low-income people with emergency energy assistance and advocates for long-term solutions to energy issues. Charity Navigator, which evaluates the nation's largest charitable organizations, has given THAW its highest rating for three years in a row. THAW's Web site says 89% of its donations go directly to help needy people. THE TACTICS: Several fund-raising efforts took place this weekend, including: On Friday, Compuware Corp. employees took turns running and walking half-hour and hour-long shifts on four treadmills or riding a stationary bicycle in the company's wellness center. Also, employees from companies located in the Renaissance Center joined the first-ever RenCen YMCA Treadmill Challenge on Friday. And the fifth annual WWJ Newsradio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW was broadcast live from the Boll Family YMCA downtown from 5 a.m.
Cyclist recovering after crash
A woman injured while riding a bicycle in Cooper City Monday night is recovering in the hospital, the Broward Sheriff's Office said. Rui Qi Ge, 60, suffered head injuries after a Ford F-150 pickup truck hit her at the intersection of Stirling Road and Southwest 106th Avenue. The driver of the pickup, Patricia Heng, 44, was making a left turn when she hit the bicyclist at 8:34 p.m. Heng remained at the scene of the crash. She was not injured. Ge was airlifted to Memorial Regional Hospital, where she remains, BSO spokeswoman Alesia Russell said. She is expected to survive. No charges will be filed. .
Proposed plan would protect Iowa Counties from bicyclist lawsuits
A proposal that would provide some protections to counties when bicyclists use those county roads is making its way through the Iowa Legislature this session. The proposal is receiving a rather high profile after one family sued Crawford County over a bicycling accident. In that case, the bicyclist was competing in RAGBRAI, an annual, multi-day bicycle event that travels from border to border and attracts thousands of participants. If a bill offering counties some sort of protection is not passed, some have openly wondered about the future of the event, sponsored by the Des Moines Register. “The truth of the matter is I haven't even seen it [the bill] yet," said Rep. Lance Horbach, R-Tama. “I'm working on some other things that are taking a lot of my time." RAGBRAI will be making an overnight stop in Horbach's hometown this year.
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