Fire on Bethel Island!

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Flutterby

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http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/raw-video-homes-burn-on-bethel-island/vHQdD/ No, not a Meth Lab.....several propane tanks exploded due to the fire. Arson is being investigated.
 
That's one way to clean up the crap...

Looked like it was a hoarders property. Plenty of "fuel" for the fire.

I hope no innocent neighbors were affected...
 
Bethel Island has two sources of combustion: propane and meth labs. Too bad this wasn't one of the latter.
 
I wouldn't be surpried if it ended up being a meth lab. From the looks of the property, it certainly fits the profile.

There was another fire on the island last week in which the house "mysteriously" burned to the ground. The sole occupant claimed that the fire started while he was sleeping.

Spontaneous combustion I suppose??? ;)

At this rate, B.I. will be able to start fresh in just a few short years!
 
The suspicion is that both of these fires were arson. Most of the meth labs have moved away from Bethel Island. Bruno, the "hoarder" as you like to call him, is a very nice man who has lived on BI for many, many years.

Gentlemen, PLEASE stop trashing everything Bethel Island since you do not know the reality. If this continues, I will be complaining to the moderator. Let's stick to facts, not assumptions, etc. Thank you.
 
Guys and Gals,

Let's all try and get along here and keep in mind that many of us have friends and relatives that may have businesses or homes on Bethel Island and are real decent people. Life is difficult and Bethel Island has suffered a tarnished reputation for a few years. That doesn't mean that a lot of nice folks don't live there or that the only accidents that happen are crime related.

BAB, if you had a fire and your house burned down, I'm sure that you wouldn't appreciate reading about all those rich white trash that live in Disco Bay who probably burned the house for the insurance money because they were upside down in it. The reality is that there are probably a lot of DB residents that might consider that as a solution.

We don't need to talk about the banks of the American River in Sacramento that are teeming with homeless folks. Some are mentally ill, some have drug problems and some may just need a leg up after taking a beating in this economy.

I know I sound like some namby pamby liberal do gooder (which I'm not), but lets try and get along so that I don't have to waste time policing this forum. Before you kick some who's down or cast aspersions on them, consider how you'd feel if if it was your friend or relative.
 
quote:
Originally posted by AbsoLoot

Guys and Gals,

Let's all try and get along here and keep in mind that many of us have friends and relatives that may have businesses or homes on Bethel Island and are real decent people. Life is difficult and Bethel Island has suffered a tarnished reputation for a few years. That doesn't mean that a lot of nice folks don't live there or that the only accidents that happen are crime related.

BAB, if you had a fire and your house burned down, I'm sure that you wouldn't appreciate reading about all those rich white trash that live in Disco Bay who probably burned the house for the insurance money because they were upside down in it. The reality is that there are probably a lot of DB residents that might consider that as a solution.

We don't need to talk about the banks of the American River in Sacramento that are teeming with homeless folks. Some are mentally ill, some have drug problems and some may just need a leg up after taking a beating in this economy.

I know I sound like some namby pamby liberal do gooder (which I'm not), but lets try and get along so that I don't have to waste time policing this forum. Before you kick some who's down or cast aspersions on them, consider how you'd feel if if it was your friend or relative.

Click to expand...


Hi AbsoLoot,

Thanks for your input. Sorry the "mommy button" got pressed. And sorry for the delayed response. We enjoyed the holiday w/e on the boat staying tied to the docks overnight at Tower Park and Willow Berm. People around here need to use their boats more often...

As you know, I'm the first to slam Disco Bay for being far from perfect (even if Taj and Nathan do live here). :D

I certainly don't care for some of the people that I have to call "neighbors" . The place works for me and my family. That is all that matters. I've been here since the late 70's. That's longer than most can say. I was around when the first meth-lab blew up in the garage of one of the townhomes across from the marina. Some were surprised, I wasn't. There have been quite a few others since then. You don't see me denying that or any of the other nonsense like watching the Mercedes', Jags, BMW's and other vehicles (not to mention boats and homes) getting towed by the repo-men. I chuckle each time I see it happen. It's just more proof that way too many people tried living beyond their means (and not just in the past few years, repo's and foreclosures have been going on here for decades). Keeping up with the Jones' can be a bitch!!! ;) And our local gov't is certainly a joke, starting at the top with that piepho gal...

I don't sugar-coat things. I leave that up to the PC crowd. I've lived my entire adult life that way. Maybe it's due to me facing reality in my almost 40 years of law enforcement work. I see and know the real truth, not just what the news is told to broadcast. Sadly, some people can't handle the (real) truth...

And you probably recall that my mom lived on B.I. and in Pittsburg for many years (she refused to call it "Bay Point" when they changed the name. Same crap, different name...). She knew what kind of places they really were. But she was happy there and that was all that mattered.

I know that some good, no GREAT people live on the island. Plenty of them! I still have friends and a family member on B.I. (BTW, they share the same sentiment, they know they aren't kidding anyone). I still do business there too. I keep our motorhome at Sugarbarge and even though LaVilla is not as good as it was before the divorce, we'll occassionally stop in for a meal. And it was tough to beat the Gangplank and Frank's, but most newbies don't have a clue about those places. Heck, even Wally's Wrecking Yard Laundromat and Deli was a treat! [:-bonc01]

But with all that being said (and plenty that I haven't said), the bottom line is that B.I. will not shed its (well deserved) rep any sooner than Bayliner will shed theirs...

And I have never said anything about B.I. that wouldn't say (or feel) about any other place (or person) that I come in contact with. If the shoe fits... [:-thumbu]

Now, go out and have fun on your boat! We're taking the small boat out for lunch in a few minutes. [:-bouncy]
 
I spent almost every weekend on BI starting in 1979 until I had to give up boating a couple of years ago. I have been to all those places you mention many times. I remember when the 50' houseboat blew up near Sugar Barge, and it turned out to be a meth lab. I'm quite familiar with "bad" things going on there; but there are lots of good people who live there too. Some are retired and trying to get by on a small fixed income. Some do not have fancy houses and yards and boats. But they are good people and do not deserve to be trashed on a public forum when disaster strikes them.

H#ll, I remember when they found the headless body floating in Dutch Slu and a few days later the head was caught by a couple fishing near Antioch. There is good, bad and ugly everywhere. But I sure wish I hadn't had to give up boating and spending wonderful times on the Delta!
 
Yeah, I remember the case of the "headless horseman" (drug related killing). And the houseboat too.

You generally don't hear much about the shenanigans in DB. The deputies are pretty much "trained" to "discourage" crime victims from filing a report when there is little to no suspect information (keeps the negative stats down). The "powers that be" don't want the place to get the same rep as B.I. (I'm not saying that it's right, I'm just saying...)

The DB yacht harbor has always had more than their share of theft and vandalism to the boats and the facility. Of course, with the late harbormaster, Jeff Dawson, also being a reserve deputy, whenever a berther had an issue, he would tell them that it was an isolated incident and that there wasn't anything that the Sheriff's Office could do about it anyway so they didn't bother filing a report. And if a victim would call the S.O. direct, before the deputy would make contact with the victim, he'd stop by and "chat" about the call with Jeff first.

Fact is, there was plenty of crime going on. In addition to all of the thefts regarding equipment and furnishings to the tenants' boats, I remember when some hooligans cut all of the fuel dock gas pump hoses late one friday night of a holiday w/e. That incident never made the news... (I guess they weren't happy with the price of their fuel) [?]

Sugar Barge had been experiencing thefts of items (including license plates) from the boats and RV's in their storage yard. The small thefts resulted in a big theft in which an entire boat was stolen out of the yard. Some say that it (and maybe all of the previous issues) were the result of an "inside job". We noticed that in addition to a few of the employee's no longer working there, SB made a quick settlement of the theft claim... I'm just glad that I keep our motorhome in the enclosed storage lockers. The newly installed card entry system also helps (against outside theft anyway).

Yeah, I'd gladly take some of the finer residents from B.I. as my neighbors any day of the week. But I would imagine that they wouldn't want to leave, and especially for DB! (And I wouldn't blame them) ;)
 
Wow....you are correct that all that stuff going on in DB was kept hush hush. Collusion of the Sheriff's Dept doesn't surprise me though. It happens everywhere, in every county.

One time, when I lived in Mtn View [Bay Area], a new neighbor of mine turned out to be a drug dealer. When I called the police to complain, they came and told me they couldn't do anything about it; that my issue was with the manager, not the police! Brb2@gr5t#S!!!! LOL It turned out the guy was the manager's drug dealer!!! Needless to say, I moved as quickly as I could.

That stuff is everywhere, but not everyone is guilty either.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

That stuff is everywhere, but not everyone is guilty either.

Click to expand...


That's true. Sadly, there are plenty of "real" victims out there.

Aside from having to perform my required duties, I could really care less when one drug dealer kills another. Two less cranksters to deal with. But when they interrupt the lives of innocent people, then I take the appropriate actions.

If there were two people that were shot laying on the ground with one of them being the suspect and the other a victim, you know who I would be giving CPR to. No doubt in my mind.

And I don't shed any tears when some moron on a motorcycle crashes while (purposely) doing 100 mph either.

If you're gonna play, you gotta pay... ;)
 
Oh yeah, do you remember Jasper Sipes? He owned the office bldg complex in "downtown" B.I. He also had an electronics business there. You either loved or hated the guy...

Back when B.I. really put on a show for opening day, I had a rummage sale booth that he put on in his parking lot. I mostly had boating gear and I recall that I sold over $500 bucks within a couple of hours. They had a car show as well as a vehicle parade, so I had a "captive" audience.

I also remember doing a side bet for $20 with a local as we watched the catfish races. He won...

Good times!
 
Yes, I knew Jasper. At first it was just by reputation of his business. Later I joined the same CG Aux Flotilla in which he and his wife were also active. Sadly, that Flotilla has been disbanded.......
 
Sorry I haven't posted for so long. I've been swamped at work and spent the previous week on a Cattle Drive with my son in Montana. You talk about a good time, we had a ton of fun! Bay Area Boater, I can tell from your comments that you know a great deal more about my habits and friends than I do about yours. I'd like to get together and tip a beer with you sometime; I suspect that we'd have more than a few things in common.

I'll be out near the west end of Three River Reach with our club next weekend. If you'd like to stop by, the drinks are on me; that's assuming you aren't fishing the Derby.
 
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