RIP Billy Mays - Dead at 50, cause still unknown

Billy Mays, OxiClean pitchman, found dead in bed at home at age 50 after hard plane landing the night before

Infomercial pitchman Billy Mays died at his Tampa, Florida, home Sunday morning.

The 50-year-old known for his shouting OxiClean ads was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. The Hillborough County medical examiner will perform an autopsy, Tampa police Lt. Brian Dugan said.

Mays was on the US Airways flight from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tampa on Saturday that had a hard landing at Tampa International Airport when the plane's front tire blew out. There were no reported injuries on Flight 1241, US Airways told CNN.

According to a local Tampa TV station, Mays said: "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

Airline spokesman Jim Olson told CNN Sunday there were no reported passenger injuries from flight 1241. The airline vowed to "cooperate fully" with authorities in the investigation.

"We were very sad to learn of Billy Mays' passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Olson said. Tampa officials say the Medical Examiner's Office expects to complete an autopsy by Monday afternoon. In a statement, Deborah Mays said that although "Billy lived a public life," the family does not plan immediate public statements about his death.

Mays was a spokesman for Orange Glo and detergent OxiClean and appeared in commercials for other products.

He is featured on the reality TV show ''Pitchmen'' on the Discovery Channel, which follows pitch people in their jobs.

"It is with incredible sadness that we have to report that Billy Mays died in his sleep last night," said a statement from the Discovery Channel. "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this time of incredible loss."

'Infomercial King' Billy Mays Found Dead in Home at Age 50

DEVELOPING: Television pitchman Billy Mays — who built his fame by appearing on commercials and infomercials promoting household products and gadgets — died Sunday.

Mays, 50, was found unresponsive by his wife inside his Tampa, Fla., home at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry to Mays' residence and foul play is not suspected. Authorities said an autopsy should be complete by Monday afternoon.

"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times," Mays wife, Deborah, said in a statement on Sunday.

Mays was well known for his numerous television promotions of such products as Orange Glo and OxiClean. He was also featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "as seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

After meeting Orange Glo International founder Max Appel at a home show in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, Mays was recruited to demonstrate the environmentally friendly line of cleaning products on the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network.

Commercials and informercials followed, anchored by the high-energy Mays showing how it's done while tossing out kitschy phrases like, "Long live your laundry!"

Recently he's been seen on commercials for a wide variety of products and is featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which follows Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs. He's also been seen in ESPN ads.

His ubiquitousness and thumbs-up, in-your-face pitches won Mays plenty of fans. People line up at his personal appearances for autographed color glossies, and strangers stop him in airports to chat about the products.

"I enjoy what I do," Mays told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. "I think it shows."

Mays was on board a US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed at a Tampa airport on Saturday, MyFOXTampa.com reported.

US Airways spokesman Jim Olson said that none of the 138 passengers and five crew members were injured in the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises, according to the station.

Authorities have not said whether Mays' death was related to the incident.

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

Billy Mays has died at 50, he was found dead this morning by his wife

Billy Mays has died after a bumpy landing at Tampa airport; America's favorite pitchman was found dead by his wife Deborah.

According to Fox news reports, Billy May has died. The report says"Mays was found unresponsive by his wife inside his Tampa, Fla., home at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Billy Mays a passenger on U.S. Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia to Tampa landed. Billy Mays said after the landing “All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head,”, Myfoxtampabay.com reported. Watch the video of the Fox report below.

It is unknown at this time if Billy Mays death was a result of the plane's hard landing.

Billy Mays used Twitter to send a message after the plane's landing yesterday. The Tweet said "Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."

Billy May's son used Twitter to send a message about his dad's death this morning. The message said "My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to." He also Tweeted "On my way to the house. He's gone. I'm gonna be strong for him. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers everyone."

Discovery Channel issues a stement on the death of Billy Mays
Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.
"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

Billy Mays wife, Deborah issued a stement "Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days,". She also said "Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Billy Mays was just on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. You can watch the video below.

Our prayers go out the Billy's Mays family.

This story is still developing.

Future of Target Shooting at Stake in Table Mesa Recreation Plan - Public Meeting June 30th:

The Bureau of Land Management has drafted a recreation plan for a very popular target shooting area north of Phoenix called Table Mesa. NRA and many of its Arizona members have been involved in the planning process to ensure that target shooting at Table Mesa is protected and enhanced by this plan. BLM has scheduled a meeting June 30th to present the recreation plan to the public. The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm in the Deer Valley Community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane, Phoenix.

It is important that as many NRA members as possible attend this meeting, not only to learn how this draft plan intends to provide for the future of target shooting at Table Mesa, but also to demonstrate the importance of keeping public lands open to hunting and target shooting. Without a strong showing from the pro-shooting community, BLM land management officials could be led to believe that there is little support for continued recreational shooting.

Rest assured that those who want to ban shooting, despite its extraordinary safety record through the years, will be present to provide their emotion-driven input into the planning process. The draft plan has not been posted yet, but will be on line at:

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/info/nepa/environmental_library/
rec_mgmt_plans/table_mesa.html

Get ready for the heat in Arizona

According to the news, the weather is about to heat uo and stay that way for a good while!

Welcome to the triple digit temps everyone!

Anchorman Kent Dana opting to leave Channel 5

Despite not renewing his contract with Channel 5 (KPHO), veteran newsman Kent Dana doesn't expect to disappear from the public eye.

"I'm pretty adamant in saying I'm not going to retire," Dana said by phone while relaxing in Page in northern Arizona. "I know I would drive everybody around me crazy."

Dana is a beloved fixture on the Valley news scene, with an on-air career that dates to 1971. His career is highlighted by a 25-year run at Channel 12 (KPNX) that ended in 2004. The next year, he moved to Channel 5.

The Arizona native is part of a journalism dynasty: His father, Joe Dana, was a top media personality in Phoenix from the '30s to the '50s; son Joe Dana anchors at Channel 12.

Kent Dana said there are no hard feelings between him and management at Channel 5, where he has worked since 2005.

"They have been more than generous and good with me," he said. "I certainly love the people there. I'm going to miss working with them. It's a good place."

He said his choice was simply a business decision.

"They offered me a contract," he said. "I looked at the options and decided not to accept."

His last day will be Oct. 2. Pal Sean McLaughlin, chief meteorologist and 6:30 p.m. anchor at Channel 5, will take over Dana's slots.

The decision not to renew came down in the past couple of weeks, Dana said. In that time, he has already been discussing future plans, including some work that could be away from an anchor chair. He said there is no non-compete clause in his contract, so his time away from the cameras could be brief.

"I've been exploring options," he said. "Some of the things presented to me may include some of that. Some things kind of go in more creative directions. I really don't know . . . I'm just starting to evaluate what I want to do."

At 67, Dana knows he is seen as something of an elder statesman on TV.

"I suppose age could be an issue," he said, laughing. "If you're looking for a younger, better-looking guy without wrinkles, that would be someone besides me."

But don't count out the fact that generations of Arizonans have grown up with him, placing their trust in his hands.

"The thing that always surprises me when I go out in public is that young people still know me," he said, adding, "I still enjoy the business. I still get excited by the creative end of it."

Besides, he said, he has grown accustomed to the turbulent nature of TV.

"You just kind of roll with it," he said, laughing. "So much has happened while I've been in the business. You learn not to get too upset about anything."

DMX Escapes Jail

At one point in time, rapper DMX was one of hip hop’s biggest names. He had chart-topping albums, headlined sold out tours, and seemed destined for a lengthy career. A string of run-ins with the law, however, changed all that and suddenly, Dark Man X was known more for his criminal record than his music.
DMX won't see the inside of a jail cell.

Instead of talking about a comeback tour or the now debunked stint on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab,” DMX has once again made headlines—for all the wrong reasons. On Monday, an Arizona judge sentenced the Ruff Ryder to 18 months of supervised probation for assaulting a Phoenix detention officer.

Judge Robert Gottsfield, the Maricopa County Superior Court Judge who handed down the ruling, is also ordering DMX to attend counseling.

While Gottsfield seemed to take the compassionate route with the rapper, if Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio had his way, DMX would be facing more than an extended stint in prison.

When news of the officer assault broke, Arpaio said, “This inmate has a serious anger management issue and shouldn’t be allowed out of jail or prison until he has it under control.”

On February 22, DMX became irate after being told that a food tray he took was not his. He responded by hurling the tray at the instructing officer.

Prison time for some Desert Divas workers

A Gilbert man who was an accountant for an Internet-based prostitution operation has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Peter Shifman also got seven years of probation and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine when he was sentenced Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

The 57-year-old entered into a plea agreement in the case on April 15.

He pleaded guilty to money laundering, illegal control of an enterprise and the use of a wire or electronic communication in facilitating the crimes, for his involvement in the Desert Divas Escort Services probe investigated by the Phoenix police.

Authorities say more than 100 prostitutes were involved and the business generated $250,000 a month in revenue.

He is also listed as the "Executive Director "of the following website:
http://www.mantacorpusa.com/about_us.html

Authorities have arrested and booked Loretto Kyle Alegria in death of 7-year-old girl in Ajo

Pima County Sheriff's detectives have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the death of a 7-year-old girl found in a wash in Ajo on Thursday evening.

Deputy Dawn Barkman says leads and evidence at the wash helped detectives find additional evidence in a home where they believe the girl was murdered before being dumped.

Authorities have arrested and booked Loretto Kyle Alegria into the county jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Barkman says two young girls riding their bicycles spotted the body and called for help from a nearby home. Detectives investigated the death as a homicide because of apparent blunt force trauma. The child's name was not released.

Ajo is about 40 miles south of Gila Bend.

29-year-old Pamela Sonya Green jumps from over pass on I10

Traffic along Interstate 10 came to a halt in the middle of the night after a woman jumped from an underpass.

It happened at a freeway overpass near 12th Street and created a traffic back-log for about three miles.

It happened just after 10 p.m. on Thursday when officers from the Department of Public Safety say they responded to reports that a woman was standing on the edge of the overpass. Before officers arrived, callers reported that the woman, identified as 29-year-old Pamela Sonya Green, had jumped and was reportedly lying in the westbound portion of I-10.

Officers found Green's body. It was determined that a 2009 Kenworth tractor trailer had run over her and possibly another car, which officers say was a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV.

The roadway was re-opened about an hour after the incident.

Immigration enforcement in AZ could toughen

As America's busiest immigrant smuggling hub, Arizona has earned the distinction as a place that's tough on people who sneak across the border.

That reputation would harden if the Legislature and governor approve a proposal that would draw local authorities deeper into immigration enforcement and further reject the notion that immigration is the sole responsibility of the federal government.

The proposal, which has cleared the state Senate and is being considered by the House, would require police to try to determine people's immigration status when they have reasonable suspicions that a person doesn't have legal status.

And, if approved, Arizona would become the only state to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law.

While the practical effect of such a law is yet unclear, immigrant rights advocates predict it would lead to racial profiling that would target thousands of Latinos who are U.S. citizens.

And the proposal's constitutionality is also a source of contention.

A few years ago, police chiefs in two communities in New Hampshire charged illegal immigrants with trespassing for being in the state. A local judge in 2005 dismissed the charges as an unconstitutional attempt to apply state laws to a federal issue.

But supporters of the proposal say that on top of inadequate federal border efforts, many local police departments have turned a blind eye to illegal immigrants.

Some local politicians ``don't have the courage to stand up for their citizens,'' said state Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, the bill's sponsor.

The measure cleared the Senate on a 16-12 vote on June 15 and is being considered by the House. The proposed trespassing provision is similar to proposals vetoed in 2006 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano, who said she opposed turning all immigrants who sneaked into the state into criminals.

Under this year's proposed trespassing provision, a first offense would be a top-tier misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. Subsequent violations would be a felony that could carry a penalty of up to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Agencies arresting first-time offenders would have the option of prosecuting them or turning them over to federal authorities.

Supporters say the measure wouldn't encourage racial profiling, because officers would still need probable cause to believe that people violated the law before they could arrest them.

But opponents say such a law would detract from officers' traditional roles in combating crimes in their communities. They say officers who aren't schooled in the complexities of immigration law would likely approach people based solely on their appearance.

``It's almost impossible for it to be applied without relying on racial profiling and without committing egregious errors,'' said Jennifer Allen, director of the Border Action Network, an immigrant rights group based in southern Arizona.

And communities could be stuck with legal bills from any mistakes made by officers who aren't trained in immigration law, said Robert DeVries, who is chief of police in the western Arizona town of Kingman, and also president of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police.

``It exposes the community down the line if mistakes were to occur,'' said DeVries, whose group opposes the measure.

As for the constitutionality of the proposal, interpretations are mixed.

Linton Joaquin, general counsel for the National Immigration Law Center, an advocacy group for low-income immigrants, said a state can play a part in immigration enforcement - such as calling federal authorities when arresting an illegal immigrant on a state criminal violation - but a state can't have statutes that are, in effect, immigration laws.

But Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, whose office helped draft the bill, said even though the federal government has authority to regulate immigration, states have broad police powers that allow them to contribute to the fight against illegal immigration.

``The argument that the states can't do anything to combat illegal immigration is just wrong,'' Thomas said.

Sheriff Arpaio's office has filed a public-records request to Phoenix officials for information on Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband, former state law

A Maricopa County supervisor and frequent critic of Sheriff Joe Arpaio is under criminal investigation by the sheriff's office.

The Arizona Republic reports Arpaio's office has filed a public-records request to Phoenix officials for information on Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband, former state lawmaker Earl Wilcox.

Arpaio told the Republic last night the probe is a straightforward criminal investigation.

The sheriff's office also was involved in a criminal investigation into county Supervisor Don Stapley, who was indicted in December related to possible misstatements and omissions in his financial-disclosure forms.

The sheriff's office asked the Phoenix Aviation Department for documents related to the process that awarded a concession contract to the couple and their businesses, the El Portal restaurants and Chili's Too at Sky Harbor International Airport.

Wilcox says Arpaio is trying to intimidate her with a "vendetta" over her criticism of the way he enforces immigration.

Unemployment Rate in Arizona for May Hits 8.2 Percent

Arizona's unemployment rate jumped by a half-percentage point in May as nearly all the state's economic sectors recorded job losses and many people left temporary positions in business and government, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The state's seasonally adjusted nonfarm unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent, up from 7.7 percent in April and 5.2 percent in May 2008.

Arizona's half-point increase in May matched a same-sized increase in the national rate, which rose to 9.4 percent in May from 8.9 percent in April.

Overall, the state lost 21,300 nonfarm jobs in May, with about 90 percent of those in service-providing industries, according to the Commerce Department.

Arizona's unemployment rate was nearly unchanged in April, but the May rate increase and preliminary figures for June unemployment benefit applications show continued weakness in the state's economy, officials said.

``This does appear to continue a trend,'' said Lisa Danko, Commerce assistant deputy director for finance and investment.

One sector, business and professional services, lost 9,600 jobs, close to half of the May total. The department attributed much of those losses to the end of temporary jobs associated with the tax-filing season.

Governments lost 5,500 jobs in May, with temporary U.S. Census positions accounting for much of the 2,300-job drop in federal employment, the department said. State government lost 2,400 jobs and local governments lost 800.

The 1,500 jobs lost by construction in May represented the 21st consecutive month of losses for that high-profile sector, which has been hit hard by the housing industry's collapse. Since a year ago, construction has lost 54,500 jobs, or 28.2 percent.

Nine of the 11 sectors tracked by the department lost jobs, with information gaining 300 jobs, including 100 in telecommunications.

The natural resources and mining sector didn't gain or lose jobs in May but was still down 2,700 jobs from a year earlier.

Erik Lampert is suspected of killing his 61-year old mother and 14-year old nephew.

"It's a very tough case," according to Detective James Holmes.

It started with a woman finding her 61-year old mother dead inside her Phoenix home near 3rd Avenue and Hatcher. Just a few hours earlier, cops say 35-year old Erik Lampert and his 14-year old nephew Loggan Lampert had been visiting. When police arrived, both Erik and Loggan were gone.

"We really had hope that Loggan was okay," recalls Holmes. "Unfortunately, that hope was dashed on us."

After getting a search warrant for the home, detectives found Loggan's body in a trash can in the backyard.

"The family obviously is very upset and distraught," says Holmes. "They mentioned to us that Erik was on some type of medication that he had not taken."

Police say Erik Lampert has a history of mental illness and should not be approached. They do want to hear from you if you see him. He's described as 6 feet tall, 210 pounds, with brown hair and eyes and a full beard. He has a flower tattoo on his right shoulder and a dragon on his left arm.

Will the AZ Diamondbacks move spring training out of tucson

The Arizona Diamondbacks have told Tucson and Pima County officials that they will move their spring training base out of Tucson Electric Park after 2010. The move came after the Colorado Rockies notified the city and county that they would move from Hi Corbett Field, leaving the Diamondbacks as the only major league team in Tucson.

The Diamondbacks, who have wintered in Tucson since their inception in 1998, have been searching for a new spring training site in the Phoenix area. The Chicago White Sox moved their spring training base to the Phoenix area this year. The Rockies and Diamondbacks both have clauses in their leases enabling the teams to leave Tucson unless there are at least three major league teams located in the city for spring training.

"This decision comes with mixed emotions, as we obviously have a deep history with and genuine fondness for Tucson,'' Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said in a statement. "With the current environment of spring training in Southern Arizona having led to the Colorado Rockies' recent and formal decision to relocate, we find ourselves in the undesirable position as the only MLB team operating there beyond 2010.'' Hall said it would be unreasonable for the Diamondbacks to endure a two-hour drive to play opponents in any other spring training facility.

Cool video of a fire extinguisher beng shot by a Ruger Mini-14 rifle

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all great Father's reading this! Enjoy this Sunday :)

Please send her to America :: The Rambo Granny of Melbourne, Australia

The Rambo Granny of Melbourne, Australia
PART ONE - read part two here

Gun-toting granny Ava Estelle, 81, was so ticked-off when two thugs raped her 18-year-old granddaughter that she tracked the unsuspecting ex-cons down - and shot off their testicles. The old lady spent a week hunting those men down -and, when she found them, she took revenge on them in her own special way, said Melbourne police investigator Evan Delp.

Then she took a taxi to the nearest police station,laid the gun on the sergeant's desk and told him as calm as could be: 'Those bastards will never rape anybody again, by God.'

Cops say convicted rapist and robber Davis Furth , 33, lost both his penis and his testicles when outraged Ava opened fire with a 9-mm pistol in the hotel room where he and former prison cell mate Stanley Thomas, 29, were holed up. The wrinkled avenger also blew Thomas' testicles to kingdom come,but doctors managed to save his mangled penis, police said.'The one guy, Thomas, didn't lose his manhood, 'but the doctor I talked to said he won't be using it the way he used to".

The Rambo Granny of Melbourne, Australia :: Part two

The Rambo Granny of Melbourne, Australia
PART TWO - Click here for part one of the story

Detective Delp told reporters. 'Both men are still in pretty bad shape,
'but I think they're just happy to be alive after what they've been through.'
The Rambo Granny swung into action August 21 after her granddaughter
Debbie was carjacked and raped in broad daylight by two knife-wielding creeps in a section of town bordering on skid row.

'When I saw the look on my Debbie's face that night in the hospital,'I decided I was going to go out and get those bastards myself''cause I figured the Law would go easy on them,' recalled the retired library worker..'And I wasn't scared of them, either - because I've got me a gun and I've been shootin' all my life. 'And I wasn't dumb enough to turn it in when the law changed about owning one.'

So, using a police artist's sketch of the suspects and Debbie's description of the sickos, tough-as-nails Ava spent seven days prowling the wino-infested neighborhood where the crime took place till she spotted the ill-fated rapists entering their flophouse hotel.
'I knew it was them the minute I saw 'em, but I shot a picture of 'em anyway
'and took it back to Debbie and she said sure as hell, it was them,' the oldster recalled...

'So I went back to that hotel and found their room and knocked on the door,'and the minute the big one opened the door, I shot 'em right square between the legs,'right where it would really hurt 'em most, you know.
'Then I went in and shot the other one 'as he backed up pleading to me to spare him.'Then I went down to the police station and turned myself in.'
Now, baffled lawmen are trying to figure out exactly how to deal with the vigilante granny.'What she did was wrong, and she broke the law, but it is difficult to throw an 81-year-old woman in prison,' Det. Delp said, 'especially when 3 million people in the city want to nominate her for Mayor.'

Found snake in the yard!

Found this snake in the yard the other night and it nearly scared me half to death! From what I found out about it, it is called a "VARIABLE SANDSNAKE Chilomeniscus stramineus". Nothing to be to worried about really. Say's they have "Mildly Toxic Saliva". Still, scary at night when taking out the trash!