On the Road Album cover (Tony Justice)

Very pleased to announce that Flying J/Pilot Travel Centers will be releasing the “On the Road” album by Tony Justice on December 6, 2011. Tony is truck driver doing what he loves and singing about it. The album is dedicated to Tony’s Dad, Bob Justice AKA “Big Daddy” a man that dedicated 30 years of service on the road and to those that still drive the roads that keep America moving.

http://www.reverbnation.com/truckerjustice

“It’s about truckin’ time!! I am excited to announce the soon-to-be released album “On The Road” by Tony Justice, an over-the-road truck driver, singer/songwriter. The first Nashville produced trucking album since the Rubber Duck and Convoy days; that’s over 30 years! The largest truck stop chain in America, Pilot/Flying J, will be nationally distributing this album in November. Guaranteed to be high-steppin’, double-clutchin’, gear-jammin’, chicken-truckin’ tunes that promises to entertain both truckers and music lovers alike.

There are several songs on the album worth pointing out. The first track is Peterbilt 379, a song depicting the life of a driver who is proud of the truck that gets him from A to B to fulfill his job, written by Tony during his travels while driving his Big Pete. The title track, “On The Road”, was written by Kenny Chesney, and in the words of Overdrive magazine’s editor, it “..explores the difficulty of sustaining an on-highway marriage, primarily from the wife’s point of view: “While he’s out in the fast lane, her life’s moving slow… She wonders if he’s cheated / She hopes that he’s been true / She knows he’s thought about it / ‘Cause she’s thought about it too…”- Todd Dills, Overdriveonline.com (Oct 13, 2011). And, of course, one must mention the remake of the original classic, “Six Days On The Road”, by Dave Dudley.

Tony kicked off the debut of his album by performing at the 1^st Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention in Tunica, MS last month, where “The evening concluded with some of the best entertainment around as Tony Justice and his Nashville band cranked out hit after hit.” – Allen Smith, AskTheTrucker.com (Oct 17, 2011). It was Tony’s pleasure to attend and perform at this event, so he could show his support for the current events happening in the trucking industry.

Thanks to the topics presented, Tony’s social media network has increased his statistics astoundingly!  His songs have touched many truckers nationally, and, even globally, with his true life experiences resonating through the lyrics. He has even had Facebook friends from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, and many others, wanting to know how they can get one of his CD’s!!”

For all of those that are reading this, I have followed this murder for 2 years since it happened. Watched it closely and googled this man’s name every month sometimes longer to see if things had changed or what I heard was true. And well read for yourself! YIPPPPEEEE Justice can be served!!!!

For the families that have lost trucker loved ones over the road this is just a little bit more faith that justice can be served!!!! Please stay strong, I know it has to be hard staying patient but things always work out. Now we need to pray for closure and justice for the families of Truman L. Smith and Rex Stephen!

On Thursday, October 6, 2011, information from a citizen was obtained in the ongoing investigation in the death of Albert Thomas, from November 2009.

Investigators from the Central Homicide Unit were able to corroborate the information with evidence obtained during the initial phases of the homicide investigation.

Central Homicide Unit investigators arrested Albert Thomas’ wife, Lorraine Hunter, a 58-year-old African-American female and his step-daughter, Briuana Hunter, an 18-year-old African-American female.

Lorraine Hunter and Briuana Hunter both resided in the city of Moreno Valley, with Albert Thomas at the time of murder. Lorraine Hunter and Briuana Hunter were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for murder.

Details (Original Press Release):

Update: Name Released 11-05-09

Update: Coroner’s Report 11-05-09

Date/Time Written: November 4, 2009 / 1600 hrs.

Type of Incident: Homicide

Date/Time of Incident: November 4, 2009 / 10:00 a.m.

Location(s) of Incident: Edgemont Street and Eucalyptus Ave. , Moreno Valley

Reporting Officer: Sergeant Jaime Briones – Sergeant Michael Lujan

File Number: MV093080095

Update:

Name of deceased: Albert Thomas.

via :: Sheriff-Coroner :: Riverside County, California.

Agency: Moreno Valley Police & Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit

Station Area: Moreno Valley

Written Date: October 11, 2011 Time:

Incident Date: November 4, 2009 Time: 10:00 a.m.

Incident Location: Edgemont Street and Eucalyptus Ave., Moreno Valley

Reporting Officer: Sergeant Jaime Briones – Sergeant Michael Lujan

File Number(s): MV093080095

A Moreno Valley woman accused of fatally shooting her trucker husband nearly two years ago was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and other allegations.

Lorraine Alison Hunter, 56, could face the death penalty if convicted of killing 58-year-old Albert Thomas on Nov. 9, 2009.

Along with the murder count, Hunter is charged with conspiracy and special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and killing for financial gain, which make her eligible for capital punishment.

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach will ultimately have to make the decision on whether to pursue a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole for Hunter if she’s convicted.

Hunter was being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, and was scheduled to make an initial court appearance this afternoon.

The defendant’s 18-year-old daughter, Briuana Lashane Hunter, was arrested along with her mother on suspicion of murder on Monday. Information on her case, which may be prosecuted in juvenile court because of her age at the time of the alleged crime, was not immediately available.

She is also being held at the Robert Presley jail, in lieu of $1 million. The investigation into Thomas’s death had gone cold until last week, when sheriff’s homicide detectives received a tip that led to fresh evidence in the case, according to Sgt. Michael Lujan.

He said the clues — the nature of which he wouldn’t disclose — prompted detectives to seek and obtain arrest warrants for the mother and daughter. Lorraine Hunter was arrested at her Day Street residence, while the victim’s stepdaughter was taken into custody at a separate location.

Thomas was discovered fatally shot in the cab of his semi truck, which had been parked in a dirt field near Edgemont Street and Eucalyptus Avenue in Moreno Valley.

http://www.facebook.com/XataNation

Jason’s Law/Hope Rivenburg will receive $2.00 per new fan on their page. This is an excellent way to raise money for something we all believe in. PLEASE encourage others to do this as well. Each time that Hope goes to Washington, DC to lobby for Jason’s Law the trip cost and air plane tickets come out of her pocket. So please share and encourage others to LIKE that page. If everyone would LIKE and share this page daily this could turn out to be very helpful!!!!

Thanks!

Also please follow them on Twitter to earn $1.00 per follower for Jason’s Law:

@XataNation

Nevada Cops: Bizarre Disappearance of WWII Vet, Dog

In early April 2011, Patrick Carnes traveled from his home in Reno, Nev., to visit family in Ohio. There, he looked at retirement homes where he could spend his golden years.

Patrick, a World War II vet who served in the Solomon Islands, was a proud, active man, with no signs of slowing down.

On April 12, he packed up his dark green Subaru wagon and drove back to Reno with his best friend, a slightly overweight, 100-pound Akita/mixed-breed dog named “Lucky.”

The following night, just after Patrick and Lucky entered the state of Nevada, a trooper pulled Patrick over for not changing lanes appropriately near the town of Wells. After speaking briefly with the officer, Patrick got off with a warning and continued his late-night trek across the state via westbound I-80.

Though they were only about a six hour drive from Reno, Patrick and Lucky never made it there.

The next morning, Patrick’s car was found abandoned in sage brush, a good distance from the highway in rural Winnemucca.

Cops Fear For Missing Duo Despite No Obvious Signs Of Foul Play

When investigators came upon Patrick’s vehicle, they found no signs of foul play. The car was a good distance from the road, and its front end was facing the interstate. There was no evidence leading investigators to believe Patrick and Lucky were abducted, but they can’t rule anything out.

After doing extensive air and ground searches of the vast, wide open, Nevada desert, cops in Humboldt County have come up completely empty-handed. There hasn’t been a single sighting of the missing duo.

When Patrick was pulled over in Wells, he told the trooper he was going to get a room in nearby Elko that night, but there’s no record of him ever doing so.

What happened overnight remains a mystery to investigators, and they need your help to piece the clues together.

Think about this. Maybe you are trying too hard. Maybe you are actually sabotaging yourself because you are trying so hard to “beat” the problem. The more you focus on that problem, the more you will experience it.

I urge my clients to “roll” with the problem they may be experiencing. Maybe say, “I have this problem and I’m going to live with it—its not the end of the world. Its not life threatening. What’s the worst that can happen.” No, you are not giving in. You are allowing the problem to have less weight. Now, it is more likely it will fade to the background because you are focused on better things in your life.

Here are a few things you can say to yourself to address anxiety. They are taken from REBT:

• My anxiety is bad, but I’m not bad.

• I don’t always have to feel comfortable, and it isn’t awful when I don’t.

• I can bear—and bear with—anxiety: it won’t kill me.

• It is not necessary to be in perfect control of my anxious moments. To demand that I be in control only multiplies my symptoms.

• Others are not required to treat me with kid gloves when I feel uncomfortable.

Research ACT (acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for more ideas

About Buck Black

I am a licensed therapist (LCSW) in private practice who focuses on anger, stress, and relationships. I do this both in my Lafayette Indiana office and online. I also specialize in working with truckers and their families over the phone and on Skype at www.TruckerTherapy.com.

Unfortunately, there has been a lot of death in the trucking industry. It is very difficult to hear about these tragedies and often even more difficult to know how to respond to a fellow trucker and their family who has lost a loved one. Often, one does not know what to say when someone loses a loved one. Sometimes, we find ourselves rambling or regretting what we utter when we are just trying to find a way to comfort someone who is grieving.

Grief is difficult to describe. Many think of it as a reaction to death, which it often is. However, it is the reaction to loss of anything important in one’s life. It could be the loss of a person, relationship, material item, or even the loss of an ability that one once had (losing the ability to walk, for example).

Common symptoms of grief include:
Loss of appetite, nightmares, being forgetful, anger, social withdrawal, confusion, difficulty making decisions, mood swings, and difficulty sleeping.

Grief is a natural experience that each person experiences differently.

It is OK to:
Think of your loved one frequently
Feel sad
Frequently cry
Have a reminder of your loved one and then feel really sad/upset (known as a griefburst)
Not think about the loved one for an extended period of time. Its ok!

When to get help:
You can no longer go to work or have great difficulty getting out of bed
You have suicidal thoughts
You feel talking with someone could help ease the hurt
You feel members of your family are having problems functioning or your family does not function as a whole. Family therapy can help!

What to do when someone is grieving:
Don’t try to fix it
Let them talk…listen to them
If they don’t want to talk, respect the request
Be supportive and don’t criticize

About Buck Black

I am a licensed therapist (LCSW) in private practice who focuses on anger, stress, and relationships. I do this both in my Lafayette Indiana office and online. I also specialize in working with truckers and their families over the phone and on Skype at www.TruckerTherapy.com.

Posted Monday April 4, 2011 1 week, 5 days ago

Michael Haydon is accused of killing Kolbe and Kolbe truck driver Pat Zemke as he slept in the cab of his truck on an Interstate 39 off-ramp in November 2003. Prosecutors believe Haydon shot Zemke because he wrongly believed that Zemke was having an affair with his ex-girlfriend. Haydon is serving a 25-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting the woman hours before the alleged murder.

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAU) – A two-week jury trial will finally get underway today for a Plover man charged in a trucker’s death in November 2003.

Michael Haydon’s case has been delayed at least three times – most recently in January when a Portage County judge agreed to give a defense DNA expert more time to prepare.

The 44-year-old Haydon is accused of fatally shooting Kolbe and Kolbe trucker Pat Zemke as he slept in the cab of his truck on a highway off-ramp on November 18, 2003. Prosecutors say Haydon killed Zemke out of mistaken identity, wrongly believing that Zemke was having an affair with his ex-girlfriend. Haydon is also accused of stealing Zemke’s wallet after the murder.

A jail inmate testified in a preliminary hearing in March 2009 that Haydon confessed to the murder while the two shared a cell in the Marathon County jail in 2008.

Haydon is serving a 25-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend hours before the alleged murder.

Judge Thomas Flugaur has ruled that prosecutors can use DNA evidence from dog hairs found on Zemke’s shirt. Prosecutors say the hairs came from the same breed of dog that Haydon owned.

But testing also found that hairs from three police dogs at the scene have similar characteristics known as halotypes to Haydon’s dog or his ex-girlfriend’s dog. That allows the defense to raise the possibility that the hairs in question came from the police dogs rather than a dog that Haydon had contact with.

Haydon cannot use a third-party defense at the trial. Flugaur ruled that the person Haydon named may have had a similar motive but did not have the opportunity to kill Zemke. Flugaur also found no direct evidence linking that person to the crime.

Can you carry a gun in your cab?

Nothing stirs a heated debate like truckers carrying firearms for protection. One of the most pervasive myths about this topic is that there’s a federal law against drivers carrying a firearm in a commercial motor vehicle. No such law exists and, in fact, there is law that says you can.

In the federal regulatory code, Title 18 Section 926(a) The Peaceable Journey

Firearms in a truck are always controversial.

”Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation, the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:

“Provided, that in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.”

However, the federal law is not the issue. According to Allen Smith, author of Truth About Trucking (www.truthabouttrucking.com), truckers have two major hurdles to overcome on this issue: Being legal and not violating any city, county or state law of any place they will be passing through and abiding by company policy.

You have to follow the laws of the jurisdiction you travel through, including city, county and state laws. Most major trucking companies don’t allow firearms in vehicles, and many shippers and receivers absolutely forbid firearms. You can’t transport a firearm across the Canadian border and you can’t take them onto military bases.

Smith frequently addresses this topic on his Internet radio show and website and says many drivers will argue the Peaceable Journey Act protects them from violating city, county or state laws they are passing through. Smith contends local law enforcement doesn’t see it this way. They are “not interested in federal law,” Smith says. “They are only interested in upholding the laws within their jurisdiction. Furthermore, not all states recognize a concealed permit. California and New Jersey do not recognize a concealed permit to carry from Florida, and if I’m caught in California or New Jersey with a legal firearm in my truck, I’m in violation of their laws. Between restrictive company policies and a wide range of varying state and local laws, there’s a lot for a trucker to consider.”

The restrictions don’t deter some truckers. In a recent etrucker.com online poll, 31 percent of respondents said they carry a firearm for protection. Armed truckers interviewed for this story say they are proficient with their weapons, carefully research the laws of the states/cities where they drive and respect law enforcement.

Chuck Winborn, an owner-operator from Birmingham, Ala., has a Concealed Carry Weapon license and says he’s a responsible gun owner. The 51-year-old has been driving for 26 years and says he carries either a Glock or a Taurus 9mm or 40. He runs a dedicated route from his home state through Mississippi, Tennessee. and Arkansas, all states that have reciprocity with Alabama. He says he follows the law and keeps the gun unloaded and out of reach while driving.

“If you understand that you can only use deadly force if you are in fear of your life due to a break-in or attack, generally you will be justified in protecting yourself.” He reiterates what many truckers say, “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.”

While Winborn feels safer with his weapon, he’s also an advocate of the common sense approach to security. “I park in well-lighted areas that have truck parking and never on highway ramps or secluded areas in truckstops. I always use a small ratchet strap and hook it on both door handles to prevent someone from busting my glass and opening the door. I also cover my windshields with chrome bubble insulation so no one can look inside.”

to read more please visit:

http://www.truckersnews.com/risky-business-2/?pg=6

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances. 2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does. When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:

• Know your target and what is beyond.
  Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
• Know how to use the gun safely.
  Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
  Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun’s ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
  Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
  Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
  Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
  Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person’s particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
• Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
• Cleaning
  Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.

  Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun’s action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.