Another Semi Crash

 

Yesterday, I was planning to go into Gallup to pick up some groceries for home and for Thanksgiving Day. During our group's morning coffee at Denny's, we noticed that eastbound I-40 traffic was slowing and eventually stopped. 

Before we departed Denny's, I checked my phone for the traffic report and it said that the highway would be closed for two hours due to an accident in the Coolidge area. Well, as it turned out, the highway eastbound was closed a lot longer than two hours and vehicles were backed up to the McGaffey exit. The snarl stretched into the late afternoon.

I still could have gone into Gallup, as the westbound lane were clear. Getting back home is another story. So I decided to wait until today before going into Gallup. 

Later, I saw some details on the traffic snarl. 

This is from the McKinley County Sheriff:

One lane is open. Traffic is slow in the area.

I40, eastbound near the 41.5 MM (just east of Flying J), will be closed for about 2 hours. Crews are working in the area to clean up debris from a semi crash that occurred earlier. Back up starts near the 39 MM, by Flying J. Please seek an alternate route.

It never fails. Most accidents on Interstate 40 always seem to involve semi trucks.  

Fatal Collision On I-40 Down The Hill

 

The above accident happened last night just down the hill from our community.

Apparently, a wrong-way drunk driver collided with a semi-truck on the eastbound Interstate 40 lanes. Another semi-truck was also involved. It was hit by the first semi. One lane in each direction were closed for several hours. 

I was able to see a long line of stopped vehicles in the eastbound lanes from my kitchen window.

For details, go here.

Train Derailment Closes Interstate 40

Above, the train derailment near Lupton, Arizona. Photo by the McKinley County Sheriff.

As today is Friday, I headed into Gallup for dinner at Jerry's Cafe.

On the way, I (and everyone else going westbound on Interstate 40) were diverted off the freeway at Exit 20 in Gallup. That was my intended exit anyway. The Interstate was closed by the New Mexico State Police.

Above, tonight's dinner at Jerry's Cafe. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once I got seated at Jerry's, I checked online and found that a train carrying gasoline and propane derailed near Lupton, Arizona. Both eastbound and westbound Interstate 40 lanes were closed. At least this closure didn't involve a semi truck.

Lupton is where the Tee Pee Trading Post is located. They have the largest cigar humidor in the region.

I had Number 3 at Jerry's Cafe, which is the chile relleno and cheese enchilada plate. It was good, as usual. 

Problem Shooters

People who use the shooting area in the Cibola National Forest next to our community are generally responsible people. The shooting area is cleaner than it used to be. Many left their junk in the area such as old television sets and the like.

There are some in our Whispering Cedars community who want the shooting area shut down. The reason is that stray bullets have entered the community. 

The photo above, Nandoh Munoz is shooting his Henry lever-action rifle. In the photo is a telephone pole at right. There is evidence of people using it as a target or mounting their targets on it.

The community is directly in the line-of-fire behind the pole and some stray bullets have hit some homes or narrowly missed people who were outside. Thankfully, this has been a rare occurrence. It boggles the mind how some people have a definite lack of common sense or are just plain stupid. There is a hill beyond the shooting area that allows for safe shooting. 

Above, the hill beyond the targets allows for safe shooting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It would behoove our community members to occasionally patrol the shooting area, whenever there are shooters there, to make sure they aren't shooting at the telephone pole or targets on them. If they are found to be doing so, either give them a warning or call the McKinley County Sheriff.

The problem is mainly caused by outsiders who don't live in the community.

At Six Mile Canyon Today

Above, at the corral. The road on the right goes into the canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today I went to Six Mile Canyon.

On the way, I stopped at the old corral at the canyon's entrance to take a few pictures. While there, a man drove up and told me his dog was with him in the canyon the day before and it spotted a rabbit and took off after it.

They couldn't get him back. So he spent most of the morning searching for his dog.

He described it as a small Labrador-type black dog named "Trigger" (just remember Roy Rogers's horse to remember the name). We exchanged phone numbers in case the dog is found. I suggested he notify the Mount Taylor Ranger and the McKinley County Sheriff as both patrol the canyon.

Above, from inside the entrance gate looking north. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I later posted a notice on our Jamestown Community Board on Facebook and one resident responded saying he saw a dog that matched the description on his property near the water tanks on Birch Road at 8:00 this morning. I passed this on to the owner.

I proceeded into the canyon and was on the lookout for the dog. But I didn't see him.

Hopefully the dog will be found soon. 

Morning Snow

Above, the front yard and The Beast this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since it is now daybreak in New Mexico, I was able to see how much snow we got (it is still snowing) overnight.

In some places, it looks like 2-3" of it, but on the walkway, it looks like about a quarter of an inch. So it is a little hard to tell exactly how much fell.

Above, the deck and deck furniture this morning. In the background, the county
sheriff was making his morning patrol of our subdivision. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am guessing that most of it will probably be gone by this afternoon. The Weather Channel app on my phone indicates that it will have stopped by 1:00 this afternoon. 

I took the photos that accompany this blog post a few minutes ago. It is currently 27° outside.

Chinese Counterfeit Coin Charges Credited

Above, the two counterfeit coins involved. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Good news arrived in my mailbox.

My bank completed their investigation on the counterfeit coins and they credited my credit card $55.96 for the purchase. They also credited any related fees and adjuster interest. The claim is now closed.

However, should law enforcement investigators need any assistance from me, they will receive it. 

I am also having Anti-Counterfeit Educational Foundation (ACEF) investigate the Chinese counterfeiters and their flunkies in the U.S. 

As I have mentioned previously, the counterfeit coins are in the custody of the McKinley County Sheriff's office. 

Counterfeit Coins From China

Above, the counterfeit coins I bought. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Recently, I bought a couple of coins through an ad in Facebook. 

Here's the ad:

One was a supposed American Silver Eagle and the other was a supposed Morgan Silver Dollar commemorative. Neither passed the "magnet test" (both stuck to my magnet, even through a coin capsule.) Real silver is not magnetic. Also, neither of them looked quite right. I immediately notified two friends who also bought coins through the ad. Theirs also stuck to a magnet.

Fortunately, my bank reversed the credit card charge and the McKinley County Sheriff and the Anti-Counterfeit Educational Foundation (ACEF) are investigating. My bank statement indicated that the payee was some business in China. 

My experience proved the old saying, "If something seems too good to be true, it usually is." The price of the coins ($24.99 each) was barely above the spot price of real coins. 

Frankly, Facebook should be held liable for not vetting these ads and allowing them to be posted.

Here are a couple of videos related to counterfeit collector coins originating from China:

Given the ages of these two videos, this problem has been going on for quite a while.

The Hobby Protection Act

Above, two counterfeit coins, now in the possession of the McKinley County Sheriff. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is a hobbyist, a collector of stuff, whether it involves comic books, coins, toys and other collectible things, the federal government passed the Hobby Protection Act in 1973. It was amended in 2014.

What is the Hobby Protection Act? 

According to Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF):

Hobby Protection Act

The Hobby Protection Act, signed into law Nov. 29, 1973, and amended in 2014, is designed to protect collectors against deceptive reproductions and the manufacture of imitation collectible items. The Federal Trade Commission promulgates rules and regulations under the Hobby Protection Act and is empowered to enforce the law.

Until recently, when I bought two counterfeit silver coins (which were not silver at all), I was unaware of this law. We can thank congress and President Richard Nixon for passing and signing this act into law.

So, for those who are collectors of things that can be counterfeited, here's the Hobby Protection Act. 

"Rabbit Test" On The Counterfeit Coins

Above, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post refrigerator magnet I used. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, I received an email from Doug Davis (Director, Anti-Counterfeiting Coordinator, Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force) of  Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, Inc. (ACEF) concerning my report on the two counterfeit coins I had bought. 

ACEF is currently investigating the counterfeit coins and one of their investigators will be contacting the McKinley County Sheriff. Since I found out it was illegal to possess counterfeit money, I had to file a report and turn over the coins to the sheriff. They're worthless junk to me.

When I did the "magnet test" on the coins, I used a refrigerator magnet novelty from Jack Rabbit Trading Post. It is a strong magnet. It is so strong, the coins stuck to the magnet even though they were inside Air-Tite coin holders. I guess we can call this the "rabbit test".

No real silver coin is magnetic. 

Here's some photos of the test:

The counterfeit Morgan dollar:

The counterfeit American Silver Eagle:

End of Dust Storm?

Although we had wind-blown dust clouds in Jamestown, they weren't as bad as in Gallup yesterday.

It had been reported that gusts were as high as 70 mph at times. Visibility on roads around town were limited to a few feet.

It had been reported yesterday that we would be getting more of the same today. But, so far, it is still out and the National Weather Service says that wind will be around blowing at 15 to 20 mph today. So far, so good.

The McKinley County Sheriff's Office posted this on Facebook:

Their description of the above photo:

EXTREME ROAD CONDITIONS

Highway 491 north of Gallup: use extreme caution, headlamps, and caution lights. High winds and sandstorms are causing low visibility. 

Proceed with caution and don't travel if possible. 

MCSO, State Police and Navajo Police are slowing traffic between the 12-18 mile markers, near Mexican Springs.

Missing Person From Coolidge, New Mexico

This hits a little too close to home.

A 20-year-old woman has been reported missing. She is from Coolidge, New Mexico, which is a village between Jamestown and Continental Divide. Coolidge is about 8 miles east of Jamestown off Interstate 40.

The McKinley County Sheriff posted on Facebook:

Deputies are currently looking for RAELENE CHARLEY (20years old) she was last seen this morning leaving her residence on County Road 27 in Coolidge. She was leaving to attend classes in Albuquerque NM. She was last seen driving a 2017 maroon Ford Fusion (like the one pictured below) with NM plates AYRD02 and tinted windows. RAELENE was last seen wearing light blue medical scrubs and a black Nike shirt. Her left forearm does have a butterfly and Bible scripture and her right forearm has a quote. 

Please contact Metro Dispatch (505)722-2002 if you see her or her vehicle.

If you know anyone in New Mexico, particularly the Gallup area, please pass this blog post to them.

UPDATE (7/6/21):

The McKinley County posted the following:

UPDATE!! RAELENE has been found and is back home with her family.