Bring Zane & Matteo Home!

09/12/2012

19 Comments

 
A dedicated father tried everything to search for his children privately. Finally, on Matteo James' 12th birthday, a father went to social media to spread the word of his plight. Stephen James posted the following:

I want to say Happy Birthday to my son Matteo. He turns 12 today. I havent seen him and his little brother Zane in 80 days since they were kidnapped to Mexico by their biological mother and maternal grandmother. I miss them tremendously and
I know my sons miss me as well as being scared and confused. Please share this with as many people as possible in the hope that eventually Matteo or someone close to him will see this. Thank you.

The mother of the children was on a supervised visit when she took the children. It is alleged they ran to Mexico with the children. This case, however, takes legal twists and turns from there. The court granting sole custody to the father, Stephen James, is Bell County. CPS and law enforcement involvement from before the children became missing involves Williamson, Tarrant, and Bell Counties. The father lives in Williamson County, the mother lived in Tarrant County. All these municipalities, including the cities within have a hand in. Then, there are the higher ups, due to the nature of Mexico involvement. The issue within all of these municipalities is no one wants to issue the warrant. Every side is waiting for the side to do so. So, as Stephen waits, his children could be anywhere.
The pictures above are the last ones taken by their dad. The children have been missing for almost three months. Imagine if this were your child. Would you want people to scream it from the rooftops for you? If so, help Stephen by doing it for him! Help bring his boys back home. Zane will be celebrating a birthday in November. He needs to be celebrating it with his legal guardian, his Dad!

The only picture found of the mother, Alma Alicia Gomez James (aliases include Alicia Gomez, Alicia James), is not as recent. She's dropped weight, but facial recognition shouldn't be that difficult.
Un padre dedicado intentado todo para buscar a sus hijos en privado. Por último, en el cumpleaños 12 de Matteo James, un padre se fue a los medios de comunicación social para difundir la palabra de su difícil situación. Stephen James publicó lo siguiente:

Quiero decir feliz cumpleaños a mi hijo Matteo. Él cumple 12 años hoy. No he visto a él ya su hermano menor de Zane en 80 días desde que fueron secuestrados en México por su madre biológica y su abuela materna. Los extraño muchísimo y
Sé que mis hijos me echas de menos, además de ser asustado y confundido. Por favor, comparta esto con personas como posibles en la esperanza de que con el tiempo Matteo o alguien cercano a él, verán esto. Gracias.

La madre de los niños estaba en una visita supervisada cuando se llevó a los niños. Se alega que corrió a México con los niños. Este caso, sin embargo, toma giros legales y pasa de ahí. El tribunal otorga la custodia exclusiva al padre, Stephen James, es Bell County. CPS y la participación policial delante de los hijos se convirtió en falta implica Williamson, Tarrant, y los condados de Bell. El padre vive en el Condado de Travis, la madre vive en el Condado de Tarrant. Todos estos municipios, incluyendo las ciudades de tener una mano pulg Luego, están los altos mandos, debido a la naturaleza de la participación de México. La cuestión en todos estos municipios hay nadie quiere emitir la orden. Cada lado está esperando a que el lado para hacerlo. Así que, como Stephen espera, sus hijos podrían estar en cualquier parte.

Las fotos de arriba son las últimas tomadas por su padre. Los niños han desaparecido desde hace casi tres meses. Imagínese si se tratara de su hijo. ¿Te gustaría que la gente lo grita a los cuatro vientos para usted? Si es así, ayudar a Stephen al hacerlo por él! Ayude a llevar a sus hijos de vuelta a casa. Zane estará celebrando su cumpleaños en noviembre. Tiene que ser lo celebra con su tutor legal, su papá!

La imagen sólo se encuentran de la madre, Alma Alicia Gomez James (alias incluyen Alicia Gómez, Alicia James), no es tan reciente. Ella bajó de peso, pero el reconocimiento facial no debe ser tan difícil.
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Truckers, the New Third Class Citizen, Part 5: Ourselves

08/13/2011

3 Comments

 
Obtaining Unity. This is one area that plagues many advocates in the industry. We are all sheltered from what many are like due to the fact that our loyal following are manneristic, courteous, respectful, and professional. So, the answer belies.

Unfortunately, for this advocate, and for many of her followers, we've seen the darker side. We have seen why the stereotypes are there. We have seen why truckers have become third class citizens.

As many know, not just truckers in my little group. Brokers, recruiters, corporate leaders, house wives, military personnel, up-and-comers, friends back home, and many more watch what goes on with trucking, due to the fact that I fight so hard for this industry.

I've invested blood, sweat, and many tears for this industry and my lifestyle. I go through plenty of headache and Lou and I both have the days where we talk about how a "normal" life would be. But, in the end, this is our passion, and this is what we strive to keep going every day.

As many of you do, we ensure our truck and trailer payments are made, we ensure that our insurance and taxes (the many that there are) are paid, and that we take home money to pay our bills and living expenses. We negotiate for the best rate possible, get overstressed when a load cancels, and just try to do the best with what's out here.

So, if we're all striving for survival and to keep the life we love so much, why is there no unity?? Why is there no respect for us? And why do I tell some of you I am not your voice?

Let's take a look at the last week. Today would be the perfect starting point. I wake up and am starting to turn on my phone as I climb into the cab. I hear Lou ask, "Am I really seeing that?" Sure enough, a company from a large fleet is right there, in the middle of the parking lot, urinating between the truck and the trailer. I blew the air horn, and he promptly stopped. Now, if I was the car at the other end of the parking lot, what would I think about truckers when I saw that (he was that visible)? The driver who was doing that was not but 500 feet from the exit, and from his physique, could've used the exercise.

What can he do different? If you're too lazy to walk to the truck stop, at least use a bottle and dispose of it properly.

Proper disposal: Pour the urine in the grass and re-use the bottle or throw empty bottle in a dumpster or trash can. If there's no grass, throw the bottle in a garbage can and throw away. You can even pour the urine down the toilet (that's where it would go anyways) and throw the bottle in the trash can in the restroom.

Improper disposal: Dumping the urine or the bottle of urine in the parking lot. Dumping the urine or bottle of urine in the fuel island (I've seen one actually pour it on the fuel handle, and was shocked when I came out of the truck). Dumping your urine or urine bottle ANYWHERE but where it should be (i.e. examples in blue) is improper.

There is a group I was added to on Facebook. It was supposedly a support group for truckers. This group hoodwinked many. It is a slanderfest that has went after me, Richie Acosta, Highway Hank, and any others they can. They're vile, and have since started a page "All Truckers Are Rapists." Many in this group belong to a mega-company, Swift. I truly believe it is a good thing I don't judge the whole based on a small or large amount, as this case should be. There are other companies on there, including Decker. If this is any indicator of what is supposed to come in this industry, there is no hope! These are vile, jealous people who should've never left the elementary playground. It is worse than anything I've heard on a cb. My best suggestion to clean up this aspect of the industry is if you've in charge of supervision at ANY trucking company, large or small, is to start a ghost profile. Watch these drivers of yours, who represent your company, and help us take out the trash.

Let's now progress to fecal bags (also referred to as shit bombs) and trash from inside the truck. How many times have you ran over a fecal bag? You know the one, it was thrown out two days ago, has been sitting in 100+ the entire time, and when you run it over, not knowing was inside, the smell of death and decay hits you like a linebacker at a football game. This is disturbing from a professional standpoint, and needs to stop! There are plenty of garbage receptacles in the parking lot. Quit being lazy, and use the restroom in a restroom. If it can not be helped, throw the trash away properly!!

This goes for your normal trash also. I shouldn't be able to get a trash meter reading from your passenger door or your dash. It disgraces you and your company. (Companies are starting to take action on this sort of thing. I found out after one of my drivers called me, and we offered to help clean up his hoarding.) Clean up your truck. It is your home. It is your office. It represents you. It represents your company, and can affect your contracts. If you have a bag of trash, put it in a receptacle. No one needs to be your mother out here and clean up after you.

The major problems in this industry are large, and many. If I went into every issue at play in full detail, you'd be reading this for six hours instead of 15-30 minutes. I will make a list though. Maybe, some day, we can make the list dwindle to one or two.

1. Slander and jealousy

2. Improper knowledge of events, issues, and laws

3. Cleanliness

4. Professional courtesy

5. Vileness

6. "Paid to see the world" mentality

7. Close mindedness to others due to race, gender, religious/spiritual
preference, sexuality, age, etc.

8. Discrimination based on company. (Everyone has to start somewhere)

9. Unwillingness to help your fellow brother/sister when they are broke down, need help with a load, etc

10. And many, many more

Plain and simple, we must police ourselves to get rid of the trash, figurative and literal, in this industry. Unity will not be achieved until the industry is cleaned up. This used to be a family out here on the road. Even I know those days. Now, there is only cliques. We must clean up, and rebuild. Rebuilding with only good guys, old school people, left is our only hope. Until then, we are on the edge of hopelessness.

Till next time, keep the sunny side up.
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