When an accident like Exxon-Mobil’s oil spill in Mayflower, Arkansas happens, you expect for some environmentalists to come to get their own eyes on how the situation is being handled by the responsible party. I was surprised at who I saw there near the spill site, while I was looking for photos. He is an environmentalist for sure, but he’s also a megafamous rock star. Here’s the story.
I attempted to go straight to the spill site for the story and pictures, but the foreman said I needed to get authorization from the “logistics office.” That may have been their way of getting rid of the lady with the camera (me), but it turns out that’s fine.
In the process of searching for that office, I was waiting behind a couple of cars and aiming make a right onto Highway 89. I was next in line for the stop sign when I saw a gigantic old white convertible to my left, topping the hill over the railroad tracks on 89. It made a right onto N. Main Street, driving right by my driver window in the direction from whence I had just come.
I immediately knew two things: first off, no one from around here owned a car like that, and secondly, the guy driving that enormous car looked exactly like a very famous rock star.
While the math danced in my head, I whipped a U-ey in the street and was abruptly met with a telephone pole on the “go” end of my vehicle. Neither I nor the car were incapacitated by this interaction, so we both proceeded in the path of the perceived rock star.
I followed the huge car – a 1959 Lincoln – down the road back to the Northwoods subdivision, where the pipeline had burst about a month prior, spilling oil into the River and driving residents from their homes. I thought perhaps the obvious out-of-towner driver of the Lincoln would turn into the neighborhood to get their look at the work there. I wanted to know if they’d be able to bypass the mythical logistics office.
They didn’t even turn in there. They kept driving past. I followed. They kept going. The road turned to gravel. They kept going. I flicked my headlights on and off. They kept going. l honked my horn as friendly as possible, so they wouldn’t feel threatened and think I’m a wacko chasing them (maybe I was, but nevermind that).
I held my camera up and snapped off a few shots. I wanted to know what kind of car it was, and at this point, I wasn’t sure if I’d see it again.
If you know anything about this car, you know who the big rock star is (but also the title of this article gives it away). It’s not very prominent in the above photo, but if you look at the bottom right of the car, you’ll see a camera sticking out like a curb-feeler. The gravel road jostled that baby right off the car. They had driven another city block’s worth when they somehow noticed it missing and started back for it.
At that point, I had already played the good neighbor and picked it up out of the road. They were grateful enough. I asked the gentlemen if they were looking for the neighborhood with the oil spill. I gave them my card and said I had wanted to take pictures there but was redirected to the logistics office. The man driving the car was wearing big sunglasses and some kind of Indiana Jones hat. Maybe he thought he was in disguise, but it was obvious to me, it was Neil Young.
Neil and his passenger/assistant, who said his name was Ben, were indeed looking for the Northwoods subdivision to get some video of the spill site. I wasn’t sure what else they wanted to do there, but in our short conversation, I agreed to lead them back to the opening of the neighborhood. I also decided that I was there with a camera and came from a short way to get photos for MySaline whereas, they had come across America with two large cameras and had a little more weight to throw around both before and after any video was taken. It was probably best for me to respect that Neil Young wasn’t here to be a spectacle, but was interested in seeing for himself what exactly was happening with the spill.
However, I wasn’t leaving without asking for a picture with Neil. I mean, Hey Hey, My My. Right?
I have to say though, that if they weren’t looking to attract attention, that giant car wasn’t doing them any favors. It brings up a point. If Neil Young is about being green, what’s he doing driving a land yacht like that? It’s gotta eat fuel like a crazyhorse. I did a little research and found the reasonint. This car, measuring 19.5 feet long and weighing 2.5 tons, is a hybrid and gets about 100 mpg, according to online documentation.
Have a look at the video below, where Neil explains in 2008 that he is in the midst of building this car, and that there are cameras all over it to keep sending data to scientists and engineers — not as a “camera for old men backing up the car” as I might have suggested to him.
The name of the company for this project is LincVolt. You can go to www.LincVolt.com and see explanations and photos and videos of the car and its purpose.
This page of the site explained why all those cameras are on the car and gives you an idea of the paradox that is efficiency in a large vehicle.
“The Lincvolt team is proving a propulsion system right now that performs with a higher efficiency than any cars we have seen or heard about, and our car is twice the size of those cars with much more power.
“There will always be big people that need big cars to travel long distances smartly and efficiently and we are answering that demand with a propulsion system capable of delivering smart powered SUVs and trucks.
“Lincvolt has a propulsion system that out-performs the not yet released Chevy Volt and Chrysler series hybrids in power, MPG and overall efficiency. We have more than twice the power with superior MPG on our “long ranger” systems, capable of running on a variety of petro and bio-fuels and natural gas. Smart efficient cars and trucks can be big and safe, carrying huge payloads and performing tasks not anticipated in current designs.
“Lincvolt’s departure is imminent. The trip will prove our technology in a 2.5 ton 19.5 foot automobile, making automotive history with an extended range and mpg that has never been attained in a full size vehicle.
“Lincvolt’s journey will be carried live on the web at Lincvolt.com, with live real-time statistics on the site. You will be able to view our location, MPG, altitude, speed, battery power, and generator activities as they happen. The public and the automotive community will be able to view our statistics and use the information for the common good. Stay tuned to Lincvolt.com for details of our historic trip across the USA. We will be available to local media on our route.
“Thank you for believing in us!
– – The Lincvolt Team”
The Reason This Saline Writer Was in Mayflower Monday
A friend of mine noticed there have been trucks coming from the Mayflower oil spill site, turning onto Reynolds Road in Bryant and heading to our county landfill. This had me very curious to know why it was coming all the way from there to here. It’s kind of a distance. I know, because I drove it on Monday (and ended up meeting Neil Young).
I figured the best way to find out what’s going on is to just ask. So I emailed Michael Grappe, the Executive Director at the Saline County Regional Solid Waste Management District. (Now called Recycle Saline.
SHELLI:
The contaminated dirt from the oil spill in Mayflower appears to be going to our landfill in Saline. Is it? Where else might it go? What precautions are being taken to contain the crude so that it doesn’t spread?
GRAPPE:
Our landfill is not a hazardous waste landfill. The material we are receiving from Exxon is not classified as hazardous waste.
Exxon, through an audit process, has deemed that we are the only landfill in the state approved to take their waste. This is purely a corporate direction approved and monitored by ADEQ at the Mayflower site around the clock during the Remediation process.
We are only taking oil bearing soil which is placed in subtitle D lined cell that prevents seepage outside the barrier, hence no ground water contamination.
At the site in Mayflower Exxon, is reclaiming the oil and restocking it.
Here are the key aspects that I noticed in the reply and you can tell your opinion.
SHELLI’S SUMMARY:
- The material Exxon is bringing is not classified as hazardous waste.
- Saline has the only landfill in the state approved to take the [non-hazardous] waste.
- It’s purely a corporate direction to bring it to Saline’s landfill.
- The oily soil is placed in a container that is constructed to prevent seepage.
- Exxon is reclaiming the oil and restocking it.
P.S. It looks like the Log Cabin Democrat out of Faulkner County is working on a big story… http://thecabin.net/latest-news/2013-04-23/send-us-your-questions-about-mayflower-oil-spill-and-its-impact#.UXgmorVwrSg
The Neil Young Story Has Legs (and MPG)
The Point 94.1FM and The Buzz 103.7FM both interviewed me about the Neil experience.
Scroll down to see other news sources that picked up this story.
Thank you Magic Eraser. No More Telephone Pole.
Yes, this is the bumper that bore the brunt of the very vertical obstacle (telephone pole) between me and the legendary rockstar + environmental dude, Neil Young, after “whoever was driving my car” whipped a zippy u-turn, having recognized said rockstar attempting to fly under the radar, albeit while he himself driving a spectacle in its own right, a 1959 Lincoln, 19.5ft long & 2.5 tons, yet garnering 100+ mpg. I like run-on sentences for drama.
See www.lincvolt.com for info on the amazing engine that propels that car, and is part of the reason for Mr. Young’s visit to the Mayflower, Arkansas oil spill. P.S., As the title would suggest here, a Magic Eraser combined with a dab of H2O and a bushel of elbow grease took the telephone pole’s blood right offa that there bumper (passenger side).
RELATED STORIES IN THE MEDIA:
Rocker Neil Young tours Mayflower oil spill … – Arkansas Times – www.arktimes.com
Rock Legend Neil Young Visits Mayflower Oil Spill Site – FOX16.com … – www.fox16.com
Spilled tar sands oil could be creeping toward the Arkansas River – Grist-Apr 24, 2013
I met Neil Young today in Mayflower Ark (site of the spill … – sync.democraticunderground.com
I met Neil Young on a Gravel Road in Mayflower Today. Yes Really. – neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/
Neil visits Mayflower oil spill site | www.bad-news-beat.org – www.bad-news-beat.org/2013
Newest Check-In: Neil Young in Mayflower, AR, USA – Smarp – smarp.com
Rock Legend Neil Young Visits Mayflower Oil Spill Site – legalpronews.findlaw.com/
MySaline scoop: Rocker Neil Young tours Mayflower oil … – I4U News – www.i4u.com
Rock Legend Neil Young Visits Mayflower Oil Spill Site – US News -www.newsfury.com
MySaline scoop: Rocker Neil Young tours Mayflower oil spill … – Topsy
Rock Legend Neil Young Visits Mayflower Oil Spill Site – FOX16.com … –www.fox16.com/
Mayflower Oil Spill 911 Calls – Silobreaker – news.silobreaker.com/
Neil Young News – neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/
Mayflower Oil Spill (MayflowerSpill) on Twitter – https://twitter.com/MayflowerSpill
Restoration Activities Beginning after Mayflower Oil Spill – FOX16 … – www.fox16.com
Mayflower Oil Spill – FOX16.com Little Rock, AR – www.fox16.com/content/news/mayflower.aspx
Under The Rusted Moon – All About Neil Young – www.rusted-moon.com/
MySaline scoop: Rocker Neil Young tours Mayflower oil spill … – Topsy – topsy.com/
Neil Young was passing through the state today – Geekfest – www.geekfest.com
Nobody else seem to know who Neil Young is… | benb | pleonast – pleonast.com/
MySaline scoop: Rocker Neil Young tours … – Arkansas Times – www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ImageArchives?oid=2824953
Mayflower, AR, USA – Celebrity Sightings, Celebrity Check In … – smarp.com/
Cool dude, cool… | Facebook – www.facebook.com/ICannotGotoBed/posts/603339903011118
I’ve been reading posts on mysaline for sometime now after the circuit clerk’s race without posting but I can’t help but add my comments on this. It is astounding to me that Ricky Tripp would post on this site during that election and talk down to posters that didn’t support is candidate the way he did and then commit perjury in court about knowing his own wife. It tells me that he is not the “upstanding citizen” that he tried to make everyone believe. All of his posts were nothing but long winded hogwash.
It is very suspect that he, Rick Meyer, and Dennis Milligan had meetings in Milligan’s office and says to me that not only Ricky knows more than he’s telling but more importantly, Dennis Milligan knows more than he wants known.
Hmmm……boy, after reading all this, I’m just wondering who in fact sent out that bogus “letter” with Ms. Sample’s signature on it OR who made up the bogus “Myka Sample” website during the campaign????
Who exactly did saline county voters put back in the circuit clerk’s office??? Hmmm
Just sayin!!
The following is a copy of my post on facebook Saline County News Site. I have also posted on this site under Luckymom.
I believe sometimes there is a very thin line between freedom of speech and anonymous cyberbullying. Is it freedom to tell half truths or total untruths about a person and get away with it? (My opinion is it is not.) Sometimes we post anonymously to protect our jobs but if push comes to shove we should own up to what we posted. (My opinion again.)
Correction…. sorry, Circuit Clerk, not County Clerk…… ooops.
What sounds really gamey to me is the “meetings” in the County Clerk’s office between Republican leader Meyer, Tripp, and County Clerk Milligan…. That, and the fact that the “information could have only come from Shelli (who denied giving it under oath and whom I personally would believe 100%) OR the clerk’s office”!! That is a bigger picture of the problem in my opinion!!!!
I’ve been gone to the lake for a week and am just now reading all this, but that stood out like a sore thumb in the story in the Courier!!! That is not to say that politics is not a “big boy sport” as has been said. It is, but come on, you can’t have elected officials meeting in their office after hours supplying what should be private information, either!!!! IF that is what occurred!
Also the persons who should have footed the FULL bill for Shelli are the “anonymous” posters that should have bellied up to the bar and accounted for their own postings!
As far as the perjury issue, it does sound like Tripp wanted to evade the question (and obviously the link to his wife’s email address) at best or lie by omission/deceit at worst! That is just what it sounds like to the average reader! It also sounds like to the average reader (me) that they successfully “proved” that the “Shadow” has an uncanny resemblance to Tripp, although he denied it!! Unless there is another mySaline user who shares the exact same political opinions, also has a wife with the same name and email address, and also works at the exact same place at the exact same time as he does…. THAT IS UNCANNY to the average reader!!!
He lied (or seriously mislead) under oath. Impeach him.
Which office produces the court transcript? Thx
A great win and a great victory. To me it is not all that matters. Shelli, you need to distant yourself from Ricky Tripp, he committed perjury. Has the nerve to get on here and play his games not addressing what he did. He is a big game player that really got a lot of this stuff started. I remember his heated arguments and how he would keep saying personal bad things to these people to keep it going. Yes, I’am happy for you Shelli. You deserve your moment. Ricky Tripp is an obvious sneaky person and a trouble maker. Has the nerve not to address his lying. He is a sick puppy. Sneaky trouble maker who has a history of causing trouble. If people only knew him.
If we had not just moved I would move to Bryant just so I could help vote the childish idiots out of office that brought about such a stupid lawsuit.
Lemme try it this way…..
Hahahahahahahaha! LMAO! The lawsuit and it’s supporters were laughed right out of court, AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
You have to prove intent as well as perjury. You also aren’t going to get any criminal warrants in a civil court. You guys lost and now you’re looking for a new avenue. And it’s only bringing more laughter.
As an immature poster, even I have room to say this…. GROW UP!
I think so Bo but I don’t pretend to be an attorney. Maybe you should ask Ricky Tripp.
Chris, it’s funny that when Tripp is exposed through documentation from the Courier, that his committing perjury has no significance to you. Especially when he is the one constantly accusing the aldermen of lies. Look up the definition for libel and slander and you will see that libelous statements include those that are false and are made with knowledge they are false and with reckless abandon. Just saying, it’s funny to see proof that Tripp has committed perjury while under oath. What does that say about his comments on mysaline?
So, isn’t perjury a prosecutable offense?
Gee Paige I think you need to read the front page of the Courier. I think it is the same as posted by Shelli above. Before you say you are proud of Ricky you need to read the article which shows that Ricky committed perjury on the stand. It was during questioning by the plaintiffs attorney when asked about knowing who Barbara Derden is. He was also asked about using her e-mail.. He denied even knowing her… Then he was reminded that he was under oath. The Courier turned up information about Barbara Derden who is his wife and they pointed out the different documents and articles about them including one from a Courier Valentine special edition in 2011 where Ricky Tripp wrote an article about he and his wife. Read the article.
SO PROUD OF YOU SHELLI AND RICKY!!! AND JUDGE ARNOLD AS WELL!! TODAY NEEDED TO BE IN SALINE COUNTY HISTORY BOOKS….IF THEY EXIST! ACTUALLY THIS SHOULD BE WORLD WIDE PUBLICITY!! SERIOUSLY!!!
8 yr old children?
been in meetings… will you please post the recorded interview from today on here?
Wow. Since when were 8yr old children allowed to be aldermen in Bryant?
Hopefully y’all will remedy that soon.
Woops, missed your question, Jennifer… Dave Elswick is on KARN 102.9 FM or 920 AM or you can listen online at http://www.karnnewsradio.com/article.asp?id=507195 or through the KARN app for your phone. 🙂
The Courier has TWO STORIES on the matter. One for the judge’s verdict and another focuses on Ricky Tripp. See where I added these links at the bottom of the main posting.
NOW THAT ITS OVER — as the only witness subpoenaed to this hearing who was interrogated, solely for the purpose of exploring whether or not I was The Shadow (the only real member they were ever interested in) or somehow participated in the alleged “leak” of sealed documents (wrong on both counts), I have plenty to share with readers about my own experience with this case.
But for now — and I’m now exercising that right of free speech that Shelli won for us all yesterday — while I am glowing with relief for Shelli and the First Amendment like everyone else on this page, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind my friends in Saline County of who attacked the First Amendment, and that like so much else they have done, it was an attack.
A d r i a n H e n l e y . . . . GUILTY.
B r e n d a M i l l e r . . . . GUILTY.
D a n n y S t e e l e . . . . GUILTY.
Mr. Steele viciously and aggressively pursued Mayor Jill Dabbs for more than a year, lobbing one false charge at her after another, unsuccessfully attempting to get the county prosecutor to charge her criminally, finally getting the AEC to strain skyscrapers through cheesecloth to even tag her with “letters of caution” just so he could say the word GUILTY loud and strong. Like our bloggers, she did no wrong except to be elected, and that is simply something he would not stand for.
Recall was in the plan from before she was sworn into office. And Adrian Henley has been leading the way, which is the closest thing to leadership he’s displayed since being re-elected by the eyelash of a gnat. At first, he maintained his infamous hate website, deceptively titled “ImprovingBryant.com” as an anonymous administrator, later admitting to having a half dozen other partners in the effort, but refusing to name them. No wonder. The site is peppered with lies, distortions, half-truths and misinformation.
Brenda Miller is the lightweight of the group, but still a rabble-rouser, chirping to the media that Dabbs’ exercise of her right to determine her own staff was somehow sacrificing the greatest minds of local government — as if the dismissed staffers were the only ones who could do the job. Whenever she could get in a soundbite, she falsely reported the anguish of a frightened city staff wondering who would be next on the chopping block, like the shackled office workers in a fantasy scene from the movie “9 to 5.”
Her big moment in the spotlight was her role in “Beergate,” an aborted attempt to use promoter James Ballew as a weapon against the mayor, suggesting graft, corruption and misuse of funds between them, and violation of liquor prohibition in a city park by Dabbs.
Ballew not only didn’t stay put for Miller’s manipulations, he collected his toys and took Bryant’s premiere Fourth of July event “Family Fest” with him. Rather than endure her abuses and wrongful suggestions of misconduct, he simply ended a 13-year Bryant tradition, costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenues.
The timing of this was made all the worse by an offer from Benton Mayor Mattingly to move the event there. Benton rolled out the red carpet for the first Benton Freedomfest, and outside of the crippling temperatures, it was a resounding success for Ballew and the city.
So attack seems to be what these three are best at. Serving their wards never occurred to them. No ordinances written. No service to committees. No town halls. No addressing city and ward problems and issues. No open door to the public. Just attacks, for an entire year and at the public’s expense to try to get rid of a mayor they had just elected.
Why should trampling the First Amendment to serve their interests be any surprise to us?
Everyone in Bryant, but particularly in Wards 1, 3 and 4 need to remember that the same ones who attacked Mayor Dabbs over falsely contrived issues and drove Bryant’s Family Fest out of town are the same people who attacked (but never sued) Shelli Russell, demanding the private IP addresses of your friends and family members while violating our Constitutional privileges of free speech — all to carry out political revenge on anonymous detractors.
Remember, in this case, you only get libel when you add LIE + BULL. Remember that come election time, won’t you, Bryant?
Let’s all thank Judge Arnold, give Shelli a hug (and a check) and celebrate the victory — but remember who brought this to court and endangered our freedoms in the first place.
what handle is Dave Elswick on??
Oh yeah, and the story made 6B of the DemoZette – https://www.facebook.com/MySaline/posts/349504308451424
Y’all listen for me on
the Dave Elswick show
at 3pm today
for a more indepth discussion
of what exactly happened
and that one tidbit left.
I was so thrilled… I know you are too…
I’m glad it came out so well. Our freedoms may be crumbling other places but at least for now in Saline county freedom of speech still rules.
GREAT JOB!!! Hat’s off to Judge Arnold. He’s a professional and he’s also a very nice man.
Welcome to the First Amendment!!!