By Alan Gray

15 year old Jean Marie Berlinghoff has been missing for 20 days. The last time anyone saw Jean, she was with her uncle, on November 10th. Her uncle, 44 year old Charles Berlinghoff has a criminal record and law enforcement consider that Jean is endangered.

Jean and her uncle disappeared on Wednesday November 10th, 2010, shortly after she told one of her other uncles that she was “wanting to talk to my dad”.

She had been grounded by her father, Jacob Berlinghoff, at 7:38 AM for being up late with her abductor, Charles, and another uncle watching movies. Her cell phone was confiscated, as part of her punishment. When examined later, it contained messages from Charles calling her “baby,” but this was not sexually suggestive at that point.

Jean was last seen wearing torn blue jeans, and a black long sleeve shirt, van shoes.

Jean Marie Berlinghoff

Jean Marie Berlinghoff
DOB: May 1, 1995
Missing: Nov 10, 2010
Age Now: 15
Sex: Female
Race: White
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Height: 5’3″ (160 cm)
Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)

Charles Berlinghoff’s grey 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass was found about 50 miles north of Redding, California, on Friday 27th November, in a turnout on Mears Ridge Road, south of Castella.

After searching a wide area around the car’s location, Police say there was no evidence of a crime there.

It had been snowing for several days and when found, the car had approximately seven inches of snow on it.

Charles Berlinghoff

Charles David Berlinghoff was born on July 20th 1966, and is now aged 44.

Charles Berlinghoff did plead guilty to one count of felony child molestation in 1998, but this has apparently been expunged. He was not listed on Megan’s Law nor was he required to register as a sex offender.

charles berlinghoff

Charles never told anyone in his family that he had been convicted or even accused of child molestation.

Charles has two young children under the age of ten, who have previously accompanied him to visit his brother for the weekend, or weeks at a time, but he has had no contact with them since November 10th.

Charles was to respond to documents, relating to child custody of his children. A default judgment was issued against him, because he did not submit the documents back to Tehama County Courthouse prior to November 15th 2010.

Jean took none of her possessions, all of her clothes, make-up and personal belongings are still sitting where she left them.

The area where the car was found has a number of mines, but they were not searched on Sunday, due to the weather.

Secret Witness of Shasta County Inc. and an anonymous source have each offered $5,000 – $10,000 in total – for information leading to Charles Berlinghoff’s arrest and conviction.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Jean Marie Berlinghoff, please contact Secret Witness at (530) 243-2319 or the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 245-6540.

Website dedicated to finding Jean:
www.findjean.org

A facebook page “Help Us Find Jean Berlinghoff” has been set up by a family friend.

See Also this story about the weekend search, from the Redding Record Searchlight: No sign of uncle, missing Redding teen; ‘huge’ search combs county’s northern edge

Have you seen Charles David Berlinghoff or Jean Marie Berlinghoff.

Popularity: 27% [?]

A nine year old boy out enjoying the winter weather was killed Friday.

Jake Eary was sledding with some friends near Chukar and Stillwell streets when he slid down a hill across the street. An oncoming car didn’t see the boy and was unable to stop in time, striking Eary.

He was taken to Nevada Regional where he was declared dead. The driver wasn’t cited, as it was ruled an accident. As a result of this accident, police are urging residents to be extra cautious during the winter months.

Popularity: 54% [?]

Executives from NV Energy, Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Kern River Gas Transmission Company today dedicated southern Nevada’s first non-solar renewable energy project, the Goodsprings Energy Recovery Station.

Located 35 miles south of Las Vegas, the Goodsprings Energy Recovery Station is the first renewable energy project owned by NV Energy. The project is rated at 7.5 megawatts, enough to supply approximately 4,500 homes in southern Nevada.

Goodsprings Energy Recovery Station was built in partnership with Kern River Gas Transmission Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, and by Ormat Nevada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc.

“Our Goodsprings project provides a reliable and consistent renewable energy resource for our customers in southern Nevada,” said NV Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Yackira. “We are proud of the innovative nature of this project as well as our company’s growing presence in the renewable energy arena. Additionally, we appreciate our partnership with Kern River and the great work Ormat has done in developing this project.”

The waste-heat-recovery project is adjacent to the Kern River Goodsprings compressor station. The project will use a process to capture the heat from Kern River’s natural gas-fueled compressors, and then use that heat to turn a separate generator to produce electricity. To save water, the project will use a dry-cooling system.

“Kern River is an advocate of increasing energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kern River President Gary Hoogeveen. “We have been happy to collaborate with NV Energy and Ormat to recover the heat from our compressors and turn it into energy to be used by NV Energy’s customers.”

Ormat provided the project technology and served as the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor. During construction the project employed approximately 30 workers during peak construction activity.

“We are pleased to have partnered with NV Energy in the design, supply and construction of the first recovered energy generation facility in Nevada,” said Ormat Technologies, Inc. President and COO Yoram Bronicki. “This innovative, cost-effective project will contribute to the success of Nevada’s renewable energy economy.”

The Goodsprings Energy Recovery Station is one of NV Energy’s 44 separate geothermal, solar, biomass, small hydro, wind and waste-heat recovery projects under contract that are either in commercial operation or the project-development stage.  The company’s renewable energy portfolio is more than 1,200 megawatts.

Popularity: 84% [?]

An Elko man ended his own life Saturday morning as he knelt down in front of oncoming traffic.

The disgruntled man, 20 year old Anthony Clark,  told some friends hours before that he was going to kill himself. He then went to Lamoille Highway near Wells Propane and knelt down in the dark, waiting for traffic. A pickup truck would soon give him wish, killing him instantly.

The driver of the truck was not injured and was not penalized for the incident, as it was impossible for him to see the man.

Popularity: 41% [?]

Elko Police were called to a boisterous party at the Willows apartments early Saturday morning by an annoyed resident.

When police arrived, they found a group of people inside swilling alcohol. Eventually, officers found out they were getting wasted and doled out 15 minor in consumption citations and sent four young girls back to their parents. Two of them were served with minor in possession citations.

The two rowdy party hosts, 19 year olds Cameron Keele and Blaine Case, were arrested for furnishing alcohol to minors and have to post $1,137 bail.

Popularity: 51% [?]

Another drug bust in a long, long line of drug busts for Elko.

Two people from New York had their vacation ruined Saturday after a Nevada Highway Patrol officer found weed in their car after a traffic stop.

The arresting officer smelled the distinct aroma of pot emanating from the car of Sarah Walton and Kendrick Pangman, both 26 years old. Officer Wurster eventually found five pounds of the green stuff in the car.

A passenger sitting in the back seat wasn’t arrested as he saw his friends get charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Their bail is $5,637 each.

Popularity: 59% [?]

The following criminals have made the Elko Police Department richer with their stupidity and/or disregard for the law. The information states their name, age, city of origin and place of arrest, followed by their offense and bail amount.

Nov. 6

Brian Mariano Pelt, 28, Elko 12th Street and Riverview

Second offense DUI, driving left of center and DUI revoked license; $1,806

Bekki D. Miller, 24

Elko Horseshoe Club – Battery; $637

Kenton Dan Skoric, 45, Meridian, Idaho

Cactus Pete’s Casino – Trespass; $24

Ismael Callazo Esparza, 35, West Wendover

Aspen and Wall streets – DUI; $887

Braden Lee Licko, 47, Elko

Albertsons – Burglary and grand larceny; $10,000

Brandon Ross Marr, 30, Lincoln Park, Mich.

Interstate 80 at Mountain City Highway exit – Unlawful possess for sale of a controlled substance and possession of illegally obtained documents; $10,000

Mitchell Alan Bates, 32, Big Sky, Mont.

Interstate 80 at Mountain City Highway exit – Unlawful possess for sale of a controlled substance, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and possession of illegally obtained documents; $10,737

Sarah Elizabeth Walton, 26, Marcellus, N.Y.

Interstate 80 near Oasis – Unlawful possession not for sale of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; $5,637

Kendrick Allen Pangman, 26, Marcellus, N.Y.

Same as above.

Shiloh Stephen Alexander, 24, Spring Creek

718 Spring Creek Parkway – Obstruction, disturbing the peace; $989

Brian Scott McArthur, 50, Auburn, Calif.

U.S. Highway 93 near Winecup Gamble turn-off – Speeding, tail lamps violation and DUI-drugs; $1,401

Nov. 7

Cameron Cody Keele, 19, Elko

1665 Fifth S. No, 5 – Furnishing alcohol to a minor; $1,137

Nicholas Ryan Pennell, 24, Elko

Fifth and Idaho streets – Second offense DUI and speeding; $1,280

Antonio Gabriel Maycole, 45, Denver, Colo.

Sixth and Clover streets in Wells – Unlawful possession not for sale; $5,000

Blaine Allan Case, 19, Elko

1661 Fifth St., No. 5 – Furnishing alcohol to minors; $1,137

Jason Paul Wilson, 33, Middleton, Idaho

2050 Idaho St. – Urinating in public; $412

Marco Antonio Tijerina, 22, Elko

205 Bullion Road – Obstruction and resisting an officer; $1,274

Jaimi Cruz, 21, Midvale, Utah

U.S. Highway 93 – Contact Warrant and speeding; $1,224

Popularity: 70% [?]

Will power wheelchairs continue to be available to Nevada’s Medicare patients following a series of federal regulatory and policy changes?

There are grave concerns among consumer groups, Medicare beneficiaries and homecare equipment providers in Nevada that the changes in Medicare policies may severely hamper the ability of providers to supply quality products and services to beneficiaries.

One of the biggest threats is a new law establishing that the Medicare program will pay rental payments over a 13 month period to homecare equipment providers after they supply power wheelchairs to Medicare beneficiaries. The change will create significant cash flow problems for providers, who will be forced to purchase the equipment from manufacturers, and then receive reimbursement payments stretching over 13 months.  Previously, Medicare beneficiaries could request that the government purchase the equipment for them in the first month of use.

In addition, the Medicare program is expanding the flawed “competitive” bidding system. The program restricts the number of providers who can supply home medical equipment in selected geographical areas around the country, severely jeopardizing access to power wheelchairs for seniors and those living with physical disabilities.

“We fear that the Medicare mobility benefit won’t be available for the people who need it because there won’t be providers around to fill the power wheelchair prescriptions once doctors order them for their patients,” said Corrie Herrera, rural director for the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living in Elko, Nevada. “Our organization, as well as others across the state who represent people living with disabilities, feel that the Washington policymakers don’t understand how much a power wheelchair means to the people who need them. We must ensure that Medicare patients continue to have access to this equipment.”

Herrera said physicians prescribe power wheelchairs to patients needing assistance with critical daily activities, such as grooming, getting to the bathroom and preparing food. By continuing to perform these tasks in their homes with power wheelchairs, Herrera said it often delays the necessity of placing beneficiaries in expensive nursing homes.  Mobility assistance also reduces emergency room visits for Medicare patients, who are less likely to suffer injuries from falls.

Jason Turner, 43, of Las Vegas, said his power wheelchair has made a dramatic difference in his life. Turner, who has multiple sclerosis, said he has used a power chair for a dozen years.  ”It is like getting my legs back,” said Turner. “I can help my daughters with their homework; and I have the freedom and independence to go wherever I need to go.”

Moreover, Turner said that he is relieved not to be a “burden” on anyone because he can do so many things for himself.  ”I hope that power wheelchairs remain available for other Medicare beneficiaries,” he said.  ”Being mobile changes your life.”

Madonna Long, formerly of Reno and Battle Mountain, recalled that her mother, Ruth Crosthwaite, began using a power wheelchair before she passed away.  ”My mother had severe arthritis and could not push a manual wheelchair,” said Long, who has been in a wheelchair herself since suffering injuries in a school bus accident as a teenager. “My wheelchair, and my mother’s wheelchair, allowed us to live our lives, and continue to do the things that we love. It’s important that other Medicare beneficiaries can also enjoy freedom and independence.”

But in recent years, changes in Medicare policies have significantly impacted providers, hampering their ability to supply quality home medical equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries. Over the last five years, the Medicare program has cut reimbursements for power wheelchairs by more than 35 percent. At the same time, the providers are experiencing excessive government audits and extended delays in reimbursement payments.

The new rental reimbursement policy will slash providers’ cash-on-hand by 40 percent in the first year. Because of the struggling economy, providers are unable to obtain loans or credit lines that would allow them to purchase power wheelchairs from manufacturers and do the necessary servicing so that Medicare beneficiaries have properly-adjusted equipment.  Many Medicare patients would receive chairs stored in warehouses that haven’t been specially fitted to address the individual needs of the patients.

Consumer groups, providers, and Medicare patients are asking Congress to delay implementation of the new policy from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012.  The extra year would allow providers time to adjust their business models. The delay wouldn’t increase Medicare spending because providers would agree to a one-percent reduction in reimbursement rates for standard power wheelchairs.

Meanwhile, the bidding program for home medical equipment and services is scheduled to take effect in nine metropolitan areas in January 2011. An additional 91 areas will start preparing for the bidding program later in 2011, including locations in Nevada.

Yet, in September 166 bidding system experts and economists, including two Nobel laureates, sent a letter to Congress warning about major problems with the bidding system.  The experts concluded that the system will fail, citing the fact that the bids are non-binding, the rules encourage unsustainable low-ball bids, the design distorts bids and the program lacks transparency.  H.R. 3790, the bill in the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support, would replace the bidding program with other types of cost savings but preserve patient access to mobility equipment.  Organizations that favor elimination of this bidding program include the ALS Association, American Association of People with Disabilities, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Council on Independent Living, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, and United Spinal Association, among others.

Popularity: 16% [?]

An Elko man violated his restraining order in an… unusual way.

A woman with a restraining order against 24 year old Derek Goff called for police to come to her house after the man sent her text messages at around 11 pm. The officers made sure everything was in shape and left to locate Goff.

When officers drove past the woman’s house again at 4:45 am, they saw his car parked in front of her house. Fearing that Goff forced his way into the home, the police went inside and looked for him. After hearing a strange noise, they found him with his legs sticking out under a bed in a back bedroom and proceeded to yank him out. The two people sleeping on top of the bed said they didn’t know he was there.

The woman didn’t clarify as to whether or not she let the man in. Goff’s restraining order would have expired at midnight Sunday – instead he is back in jail on $6,274 bail.

Popularity: 36% [?]