http://wvcashin.com/law-enforcement/86-3192012-800-aerial-telephone-cable

3/19/2012

Location: Bradshaw, WV 24817 US
Material: Copper

Details: 800 feet of aerial telephone cable. Cable is described as 400 pair/22 gauge copper. Cable will contain 800 individual wires.

BulldogPI comments:

800 feet of 400 pair cable??   That type of cable weighs approximately 1.6 lbs per foot prior to uhhh….’processing’ it for it’s copper content.  We’re talking over 1400 lbs of cable just walking off here, and over 1000 lbs of copper showing up at a WV scapyard ‘un-noticed.’   What’s the replacement cost of that plus labor….  over 20k?

Give me a break…. I don’t know how aggressively Frontier is ‘combating’ the theft, but whatever their tactics are sure don’t seem particularly effective.  

-BulldogPI

I’m convinced…. Norma Parson was right all along….and (almost surprisingly)… so was I.

A crucial missing puzzle piece is (or was) located on the UVA campus itself. 

As to why poor Morgan  Harrington’s remains were found on Anchorage Farm… that answer seems to lie not with the farm, but rather with it’s proximity to Blandemar Estates. 

Think Bulldog.  Think.   Solidify the connection between Blandemar Estates, UVA’s west lawn, ‘sketch’, and who Morgan left with…

Provide the answer, long overdue.

Great…another restless night…

Addendum:

Someone in Charlottesville knows something.  BulldogPI has learned to trust his instincts, and they are absolutely screaming that someone connected to UVA  holds the missing key.    Please don’t let this mystery drag on any longer. …  the Harringtons deserve closure. 

  That was their daughter, not just a statistic.  I agree with their message:

  Help save the next girl.

 Talk to me.

-BulldogPI

Dana Waldo says the thefts are hurting his company’s overall efforts to prepare the Mountain State for the future.

“We’re trying to wire up this state and we have to go back and put our resources, our time and money and effort into restringing wire that was already there, instead of stringing new wire into new areas of the state for additional service,” Waldo said on Tuesday’s MetroNews Talkline.

He estimates Frontier’s service is disrupted four times a week, at least, because of copper thefts.

The company has had to replace a total of 33,000 feet of telephone cable in recent months and thousands of Frontier customers have lost service for stretches of time, creating potential safety issues.

Here are some of Frontier’s reported losses for March thus far:

3/02/2012     Bradshaw, WV          300 feet of 600 Pair 24 Gauge ATC (Big Bucks)

3/02/2012     Iaeger, WV                 300 feet of 300 Pair 24 Gauge ATC

3/06/2012     Branchland, WV        250 feet of ATC

3/09/2012     Summersville, WV     320 feet of ATC, 100 pair/19 gauge copper

3/15/2012     LAWTON, WV            300 feet of ATC, 100 pair/24 guage copper

***ATC:  Acronym for Aerial Telephone Cable

 -BulldogPI

A few months ago I was informed by BB&T that they are starting a new system for their customers. Similiar to the “Patriot Act” they tried to perform some sort of a whitewash job, by attaching a feel good title to the scheme.  Now BB&T customers are subjected to a new onslaught of  fees and polices under what they’ve entitled: ’Bright Banking”

After all, who doesn’t want to be ‘bright’ with their banking decisions?  Kudos are in order to their marketing department for that one. Unfortunately when something really stinks, the odor seeps through the package regardless of how nicely you wrap it.

For the most part the BulldogPI has refrained from using vulgarity on his blog…. so in the interest of professionalism I will hold back from my impulse to release a long and  profanity laden rant about  BB&T and their new Bright Banking system.  That’s really not all that necessary anyway, a summary should get the point across.

Since the creation of “Bright Banking” BB&T has closed my local branch (a cost saving measure no doubt), increased the frequency and amount of banking fees (every time I sneeze I find a new fee on my statements), and made it extremely cumbersome to reach an actual person if you call their customer service line.  You know who’s fault all this ultimately is? 

OURS, as consumers…..

Now that we’re not in the heyday of the ’90′s, it seems like the corporations are turning to the American consumer and hitting them with this fee, or that fee at every turn.  Do you need technical support on the printer you bought three months ago?  Expect a Fee.  Do you have less then $1,500 dollars in your checking account?  Expect a Fee.   Do you want to use your debt card at the grocery store?  Expect a fee…

It’s time for people to  stand up and make use of the power they have as consumers, and stop sitting complacently by the slidelines….. when companies like BB&T pull this garbage, move your business elsewhere.  Start blogs, voice your frustations, let other people know how you feel and why.  Stop acting lke a bunch of sheep people!

As for BB&T, I hope you loose customers s by the thousands from your new “Bright Banking” approach.  My translation for BB&T’s new  slogan, is ‘we’re banking that you aren’t very bright and will put up with inconvienence and extra fees at every turn.” 

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-21/news/30424556_1_minimum-balance-global-atm-alliance-insufficient-funds-fee

BB&T: Bright Banking Terms

Checking: This account costs $50 to open, with a $10 monthly fee ($12 in Kentucky and Indiana) unless  a $100 monthly direct deposit is made or a $2,000 minimum balance ($7,500 in Kentucky and Indiana) is maintained or a mortgage with BB&T OR $6,000 combined deposit and loan balances. The insufficient funds fee is $35 for overdrafts over $5.

There is a $25 fee if the account is closed within three months of opening and a $7.50 monthly inactivity fee after a year.

Debit Card: This is included with all checking accounts (no additional fees). Out-of-network ATM withdrawal is $2.50 ($5 internationally).

Who could turn down such a great program?

 BulldogPI’s response:  Bright Banking?  I think not….. and neither do they:

http://sunkcostsareirrelevant.com/2011/07/bye-bye-bbt-bright-banking/

http://www.depositaccounts.com/blog/2011/04/bbt-is-ending-its-free-checking-account.html

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/1041865/

The copper bandits in West Virginia have been busy little beavers.   It must be awful smokey up there in Mingo County.

Let’s take a look at some recently reported thefts.  The most recent one being worthy of it’s spot at the top:
Date 2/27/2012
Matewan, WV 25678 US
370 feet of 600 pair/22 gauge copper.

[BulldogPI note: This is a very large, thick, and heavy cable.  Frontier Communications no longer appears to be reporting estimated values or copper weights.  Maybe they're not fond of my blog discussing them.]

 Bummer.

Now I need to do some calculations if I want to estimate losses.   Luckily the loss on 02/22/12  helps simplify that problem.  Based on the estimated value of the 2/22/12 theft,  the 02/27/12 heist sounds like  over 17,000 dollars worth of copper!

 BulldogPI, how ya figure?

(Well, let’s do some quick PI Math.  The 02/22/12 theft implies that 200 pair cable weighs approximately one pound per foot.  Remember the total estimated weight of the loss that day was  approximately 700 lbs.  I’m reasoning  600 pair wire of the same diameter (22gauge) would yield three times the copper per foot  [all other factors being equal]  If you then multiply 370 feet of copper times 3 lbs per foot, we’re talking around 1,100 lbs of copper. That’s about half again the yield of 02/22/12′s theft in Harts, WV.   Multiplying  the estimated value of  that theft by 1.5  should put me somewhere in the ballpark.   So, I’m figuring  between 18 and 20K worth of copper.  Pretty good wages for the day if you ask me.   That amount of cable and weight wasn’t just lugged away by bubba in a pickup truck.  He’s good, but not THAT good.  Bubba must of had a helping hand or two…)

Also, keep in mind the value of the copper is only a fraction of the total expense of replacement.  They must still dispatch trucks, crews, and time to replace the damaged lines.

Other reported losses:
 
Date 2/28/2012
Summersville, WV
300 Feet of 300 Pair 22 Gauge Aerial Telephone Cable

 
Date  2/27/2012 
Milton, WV
500 Feet of 300 Pair Aerial Telephone Cable

2/22/2012
HARTS, WV
700 feet of 200 pair/22 gauge copper.
Estimated 650-700 lbs of copper.
Estimated value: $12,000.00
[Already mentioned]

2/22/2012
PROCIOUS, WV
500 feet of  50 pair/19 gauge copper
Estimated Value: $4,300.00

 
 2/18/2012 
Branchland, WV
250 feet of aerial telephone cable 100 pair/22 guage copper.
Estimated Value: $2200.00

2/17/2012
 
200 feet of aerial telphone cable. 200 pair/22 guage copper. 
Estimated 150-200 lbs of copper.
Estimated Value: $3500.00