Local Man's Invention Uses Polyester To Cleanup BP Oil Spill

Sammamish Man's Invention Helps Cleanup BP Oil Spill In Gulf
SAMMAMISH - Since the environmental disaster happened in the Gulf of Mexico it seems like BP has tried just about any and everything to clean up the massive oil spill. A lot of those fixes have failed. Now, the oil giant hopes a Sammamish man's invention will save the day.

It started with a problem Jerry Brownstein noticed while running his vintage clothing shop 40 years ago in Los Angeles, what to do with old polyester that was filling up landfills.

"I said it's a resource this isn't waste, this is a resource and everybody looked at me and said it's garbage," said Brownstein.

But, Jerry was convinced he was onto something. He worked on his idea for years how to combine polyester scraps into sheets of materials that could help the environment instead of hurt it. Then, finally 10 years ago he and his partner hit pay dirt.

"That's when I heard him yelling from the back I thought he hurt himself or something and he comes running in and he says this absorbs 38 times its weight in oil nothing does that," said Brownstein.

They had figured out a way to interlock and strengthen the fibers X-tex was born and patented.

Jerry showed us how the fabric collects the oil and what's left is clean water. Now, BP is grabbing up all it can get of Jerry's goods to try to stop the oil on the shoreline.

"They put X-tex on the fences and the tide and the water can go back and forth through the X-tex it will take the oil out which ever direction it's coming in," said Brownstein.

According to Jerry crews are also using X-tex to clean the water too.

"Then, stuff this with X-tex, the loose form now. For the first time you have a boom that absorbs oil because these booms that are out there now are not designed to absorb oil, they're just designed to coral it," said Brownstein.

Jerry says it's also being used on the beaches too.

"That will trap the tar balls and they can just take the SOS up rather than trying to remove it one tar ball at a time with a kitty litter spoon," said Brownstein.

Now, all these years later BP is banking on Jerry's idea to solve the biggest environmental problem of our time. He's proud of his invention but the taste of success will be bittersweet.

"But, I don't like the disaster part of it I just don't. I wish there was some other way I'm just glad we're there to help though," said Brownstein.

Jerry says his factories here in U.S., Canada, and Mexico are working 24/7 to produce enough products for BP to ship to the gulf. He's even in talks with Officials in Italy right now to start making X-tex there to meet the oil company's demand to clean up the oil spill disaster.

"Field Of Greens" Local Food Bank Grows Its Own Fresh Organic Produce

VASHON ISLAND - No family wants to go hungry, and now an unlikely place struggling to feed the community is thinking outside the box to solve the problem. It's a pretty novel idea, a "grow your own" food bank. Now, every week on Vashon and Maury Islands 200 families are getting fresh organic crops harvested year round for their dinner table from the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank.

Its harvest time at the Vashon Food Bank Farm and volunteers like Elizabeth Parrish and her daughter Aiden-Rees are busy picking crops for families that need a little extra help.

"A lot of people go up to the food bank just get kind of staple foods and it's really nice to have fresh fruits and vegetables," said Parrish.

This field of greens was made possible by thousands of dollars in grant money from the United Way and land donated by Chris and Amy Robison.

"Oh, yeah we felt great, really a win-win cause the land gets used and it's too a good cause and we're helping fellow island people and it gives people a place to donate their time," said Robison.

On Tuesday volunteers' harvested kale, chard, and radishes that will help feed 200 families this week at the Food Bank.

Food bank farmer Jen Coe says this program is giving families a healthy alternative to canned and processed produce.

"I think it's so important for people to have access to healthy food and food that's grown here fresh organic is as good as it gets and it's something traditionally food banks have not had access to," said Coe.

At the farm and the small garden behind the food bank Executive Director Yvonne Pitrof says folks will be growing 20 different crops year round for hundreds of families.

"When we can grow on a large scale at the farm we can often times grow enough of a crop that we can share our harvest with other food banks as well," said Pitrof.

Growing its own crops has made the food bank more self-sufficient. But, it'll take volunteers like the Parishes' to keep these crops flourishing.

"We're just trying to get more into service and just realizing how fortunate we are and help to give back to the community," said Parish

The Vashon Maury Community Food Bank still needs plenty of volunteers to help tend to the crops this summer. To sign up to volunteer call 206-463-6332.

Woman That Dragged Horse To Death Says It Was An Accident

ARLINGTON - The driver who dragged a horse to its death is speaking out exclusively to Q13 Fox News. She says the trail of blood two miles along a rural Arlington road was a terrible accident.

We first told you about the incident a week ago, and since then neighbors have reacted with outrage over the animal's death. So, much anger the driver has asked us not to show her face or use her name.

"I think of him so many times during the day, I look for him out in the pasture and it just makes me sick."

The accident is still difficult to talk about. The woman was driving when she says the horse fell out of its trailer and was dragged to death on Grandview Road.

"It was just a horrible accident, the worst thing that can happen, the kind of thing you're always concerned about that a horse will go down in a trailer or come out of a trailer when you pull them."

The woman recently sold the horse to a friend and had borrowed it for a ride last Saturday. She says the horse named "Flash" and two other horses were properly tied up in the trailer.

"Got the horses loaded up, got everything ready to go, double checked everything and started up the road."

But, during the trip home the driver says the horse's back end fell out.

"As I drive I always check my mirrors frequently, I didn't see the door open, didn't see any sign of the horse, I didn't see anything amiss and I didn't feel anything."

The driver and her two passengers continued down the road not knowing the animal was dragging from the trailer.

"And, we pulled him quite a ways because we didn't feel any difference."

It was about 2 miles later that other drivers finally got her attention.

"They were honking at me and I didn't hear the honking even though we didn't have a radio on. But, as I turned a sharp corner I spotted a guy waving out of his window and I could hear him yelling, I could see him in my mirror."

It was much too late Flash was dead. The driver believes the horse broke its neck when it fell from the trailer and died instantly.

"It's just a horrible thing, just it stunned me and it devastated me."

Some people around Arlington have accused her of trying to harm or kill Flash on purpose. She calls those accusations outrageous.

"So, I would tell these people that I don't understand where anyone got that idea, it was just a horrific accident."

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office says no charges will be filed in this case. Deputies believe it was an accident.

Tacoma Man Searches Woods For Green River Murder Victims

ENUMCLAW - He terrorized the community for two decades and murdered dozens of women. Green River killer Gary Ridgway is locked up for his crimes. Earlier this week, we told you about a Tacoma man who believes some of the serial killer's victims have yet to be found, and that's why on Saturday he launched his own search.

In the thick wooded area about 5 miles east of Enumclaw, Rob Fitzgerald and his cadaver dog "Wendy" are retracing the steps of Green River killer Gary Ridgway.

"So, it was an area that would have fit that profile, it would have been OK for him to put a body here and get back to it for access, because, he did revisit them," said Fitzgerald.

For the last year Rob has studied this terrain and Ridgway's method of murder. He believes Ridgway dumped as many as 10 bodies somewhere in these woods in East King County in the 80's and 90's.

Rob has invested $10,000 of his own money and put together a search team with a Law Enforcement background to scour a 40 mile long area along State Route 410 to Greenwater. He wants to bring the victim's families some closure.

"It gave him plenty of room to stop. No one would notice what he was doing here, you can see there's cars, makes no big deal," said Fitzgerald.

Gary Ridgway escaped the death penalty 7 years ago when he confessed to killing 48 women. But, Cops always believed he murdered more victims he didn't fess up to.

Rob thinks with "Wendy's" trained nose and new high tech equipment that Cops didn't have two decades ago, he'll find human remains that went undiscovered.

"This is a soil density meter and what it does it can tell if the soil has ever been dug. You scan a huge area we set up a grid with ropes, and if there's ever been a grave dug on it it'll show up as a hot spot on there," said Fitzgerald.

Rob's team is working alone the King County Sheriff's Office is not involved in this search. That's why Rob wants to make sure what he turns over to the Cops is legitimate.

"This is called a comparative skeleton we use it for bone comparisons. So, we have every bone in the human body, so, if we find a bone there's lots of animal bones in the woods this gives us a way to compare it to an actual human bone," said Fitzgerald.

Rob and his team didn't make any major discoveries on Saturday, but, they have plenty of time to do so. They'll be searching the wooded area east of Enumclaw for the rest of the summer.

Start Your Engines! Let's Go Lawnmower Drag Racing

"Mower Madness" In Maple Valley Drag Racing Lawn Machines Hit The Track
MAPLE VALLEY - They're the loudest, fastest hot rods that you've ever seen that used to cut grass. This weekend at Maple Valley Days huge crowds will be turning out for the lawnmower drag races. Q13 Fox News got a behind the scenes look at some of these special machines and the men that have the need for speed.

Some of them are monster trucks, others are motorcycles, but, at one time all of them used to cut grass!

For the last 10 years Clint Willaford and the rest of his Maple Valley Redneck Racers have been tearing it up on their supped up converted riding lawn mowers.

"It's just meeting good people, and a lot of help from friends, it's just a lot of good old fun," said Willaford.

Clint says getting these rigs to run real fast takes a lot of hard work and some special parts.

"We've got the hearty sprockets, golf cart front ends, Harley chains we all took a different design building our framework," said Willaford.

According to Clint the lawn mower races have become the must see event at Maple Valley Days.

"Cause in our competition you got side by side drag racing, then we do a sled pull, and then you gotta mud bog. So, you gotta compete in all 3 events then you got a winner," said Willaford.

And, Clint says it keeps the crowd on the edge of their seats.

"They really enjoy that drag racing, simply cause there is that fear factor of someone wrecking and getting hurt, that's just reality TV," said Willaford.

Winning is fun for sure, but it isn't everything. For racer Jeff Granlund fixing up the lawn mowers is also about friendship.

"Actually I enjoy the build more than the race day, just getting together with my friends and having a good time. It's a poor man's drag racer," said Granlund.

And, if your ride isn't fast enough, Dave Hasenwinkle says it's more about appearances then.

"Yeah, I'll look the best," said Hasenwinkle.

You can check out the lawn mower races for yourself on Saturday at Maple Valley Days at 1 PM at Lake Wilderness Park. The races are free for everyone.

New Park Honors Murdered Student

TACOMA - It was a crime that shocked and horrified the community 3 years ago, 12 year old Zina Linnik snatched from outside her Tacoma home and later found murdered. Tomorrow, the community will break ground on a new playground to honor her near her family's home.

It started with a vision from the young minds at McCarver Elementary School like 4th grader Tristan Brouwer and 5th grader John'nay Nelson.

"There gonna have a big circle where you can sit and read, there's gonna be a poem to Zina," said Nelson.

"And, we're gonna have an aerial aquarium which is going to be fish on sticks," said Brouwer.

And, after three years of spent raising millions of dollars for it, it's finally time to build the tribute to their former classmate Zina Linnik.

5th grader Amber Tudela says it's the perfect memorial for Zina.

"It's just like a place to have people play safely and to remember Zina and know that she would always be remembered and not forgotten," said Tudela.

The Zina Linnik project started just 24-hours after the community learned the little girl had been murdered. Parents, students, and teachers decided right then and there to transform McCarver Park into something special, something she would have appreciated.

5th grader Cassie McDonnell says the community will be surprised by what they've done for Zina.

"I think they'll think it's pretty amazing, that all the kids did it and it's an amazing triumph," said McDonnell.

Of course, the park will have slides and other stuff kids like. But, more importantly its design is influenced by Zina' Ukrainian Heritage.

According to Tristan Brouwer that includes something the kids will tend to.

"We're gonna have a community garden, and school garden," said Brouwer.

All that work was done with some help from UW and UPS college students. Reading teacher Katie Thaut was amazed.

"To see all of a sudden these kids, they have math, they have science, but, now they have a park and it's become like a subject almost for them," said Thaut.

The kids are still selling t-shirts to help raise the final $600,000 they need. For Tristan Brouwer he says it's the best investment possible in making sure her spirit will live on.

"For Zina this park is going to bring her back to life. That's for sure," said Brouwer.

To protect the kids the park will have a new security gate and entryway. The groundbreaking ceremony is Wednesday afternoon at 2 at McCarver Park in Tacoma.

A new sprayground and playground will also be built in honor of Zina at nearby Wright Park another place Zina like to play. Both parks are expected to be done this fall.

Tacoma Man Launches His Own Search For 10 Or More Missing Green River Murder Victims

TACOMA - In 2003 Green River Killer Gary Ridgway confessed to killing 48 women. But, many believe the cold blooded psychopath murdered even more victims that have yet to be found. Now, a man down in Tacoma is launching a massive new effort to find potential victims along State Route 410 near Enumclaw that the FBI and King County Sheriff's Office might have missed.

For the last year security consultant Rob Fitzgerald has been spending his free time training his cadaver dog Wendy, in the exact spots where Ridgway dumped his victims.

"And, that's where a body was recovered. So, she was able to take me directly to the spot where the body putrefied into the ground, she can go to it immediately," said Fitzgerald.

Rob grew up around here, as a young man he was captivated by the case and the fear it created in his community. To this day, he believes there are more victims yet to be found, so he and Wendy are starting a new search.

"I would say that there's probably in the neighborhood of 10 more out there in that area, could be higher than that we don't know," said Fitzgerald.

Rob has put together a team of ex law enforcement officers. He says unlike the original investigation when there was pressure to solve the case, this team will have unlimited time and better equipment to find the bodies.

"Magnetometers that can read if the soil was ever disturbed, resistance meters that archeologists use to tell if they've even dug a grave," said Fitzgerald.

To avoid the death penalty, Gary Ridgway confessed to killing dozens of women in the 80's and 90's, and agreed to lead Police to their bodies. But, there were 8 women he's suspected of murdering whose remains were never found.

Rob believes he can find closure for their families along Highway 410 between Enumclaw and Greenwater.

"He dumped them right off of it and that's how we put the profile together. We realized you had to be able to stop a car and leave it without anyone questioning it. So, that eliminates miles and miles of road where you just can't pull over," said Fitzgerald.

This is a solo operation Rob is not working with the King County Sheriff's Office. He says this is simply his way of helping.

"You drive down that highway and you think there's someone's daughter, girlfriend, wife, is buried or thrown right here, they're just there. It's not right they should be recovered if possible," said Fitzgerald.

And, so the 4 month search starts Saturday morning.

Rob named his dog Wendy after one of Ridgway's first victims Wendy Lee Coffield.

We checked with the King County Sheriff's Office and we're told it wasn't aware of this new search. But, spokesperson Sergeant John Urquhart told us, Rob should notify a case detective if his team is out somewhere specifically looking for a specific body.

Wild Rescue Caught On Video After Car Flips Into River

SEATTLE - A car flips into a raging river, its driver trapped inside and rescuers are in a race against time to save him. Last night we showed you the amazing video from the Nisqually River at Mount Rainier National Park.

Tonight, the man who was saved by park rangers and bystanders spoke exclusively with Q13 Fox News about his harrowing ordeal.

Gerry Goit says he was trapped in a watery tomb.

"I just thought about different things about my kids. I didn't want them to have to bury their dad," said Goit.

Gerry Goit's drive home after a day of climbing at Mount Rainier became a fight for his life after he dozed off behind the wheel.

"I thought the trees would stop me, but, they didn't. So, I went through the trees and went down the bank and ended up in the river upside down," said Goit.

Second's later frigid water from the Nisqually River began pouring into his Nissan Pathfinder. Gerry's seatbelt wouldn't budge.

"When I first landed there I just thought I'm very likely going to die," said Goit.

Stuck upside down Gerry struggled to keep his head above water. He turned to his fait for help.

"And, so I started praying and I just asked God to help me, bring someone to help me," said Goit.

His prayers were answered when other drivers and eventually park rangers came to Gerry's rescue. They tied a rope to a tree and the SUV to stabilize it.

"The ranger told me I was a survivor, cause he said he could see me in the water just barely keeping it out of my mouth, he said you were fighting to survive," said Goit.

But, what happened next took Gerry by surprise.

"To get to the seat belt, he pushed me underwater and I actually passed out. I was under their fighting to get back up he was just holding me down to get to the belt," said Goit.

A rope was tied to Gerry and rescuers dragged him to shore. He was cold, wet, and appeared to be suffering from hypothermia.

"I had a dry pair of pants in a bag they put me in a sleeping bag. I knew I was cold, I was pretty confident at that point I was going to survive," said Goit.

A helicopter landed in the rocky-river bed and Gerry was flown to an awaiting ambulance that took him to a Puyallup Hospital.

"Yeah, my faith definitely gave me the strength to go on," said Goit.

It goes without saying that Gerry considers himself very lucky.

"And, thing is had I passed out, had I been unconscious when I hit I would have drowned," said Goit.

He's very thankful for the people who risked their lives jumping into the river to save him.

"Oh, most definitely they are heroes," said Goit.

Besides a few bumps and bruises Gerry says he feels absolutely fine. As far as his SUV it was towed from the river and will need some work. Gerry was up at the Park training for a summit of Mount Rainier later this summer. He still hopes to do that.

Climber Missing After Massive Avalanche On Mt. Rainier

MT. RAINIER - There is still no sign of a missing climber on Mount Rainier. Helicopters searched the mountainside all day long, but the search was called off because of darkness late Saturday.

Park Officials say 11 climbers got caught in the avalanche about 4:45 AM Saturday.

The climbers were on the Ingraham Glacier direct route at 12,500 feet when a huge slab avalanche took them out. The massive snow slide was between 3 and 4,000 feet wide and rumbled some 1,200 feet down the mountain side.

All of the climbers were buried in the avalanche. Out of the 11 people that got trapped in the snow and ice ten of them made it out.

One person hiked down to Camp Muir for help. Two injured climbers along with 6 search and rescuers were removed by helicopter. The climbers were taken to a local hospital for cuts and bruises but are reported to be in stable condition.

Helicopters searched the slide area all day long. Mountaineer District Ranger Stefan Lofgren says the snow is unstable and the avalanche danger is extremely high, which made it too dangerous to have rescuers do a ground search.

"Our search efforts were about 1,500 to 1,000 feet above ground level. We were still able to get a good eyeball we did not see any evidence of anybody, the one person we'd like to find," said Lofgren.

Park Officials believe the missing climber is a foreign national that was climbing by themselves and didn't register before their climb.

Recently lots of snow fell on Mount Rainier and with the warm weather it might have softened the snow and ice and triggered the avalanche.

The search to find the missing climber could resume Sunday morning. Park Officials say their efforts could be delayed by bad weather moving into the area.

Bounty Hunters Say They Will Track Down Elusive "Barefoot Bandit"

CAMANO ISLAND - Neighbors on Camano Island say he's a menace to their community. Law Enforcement believes he's responsible for dozens of burglaries and thefts. That's why people gathered at a meeting at Elger Bay Elementary School on the Island tonight with local "bounty hunters" to find ways to capture Colton Harris Moore.

Months of frustration came flooding out tonight at the meeting. Neighbors like Paul Easter are now turning to recovery specialists, "bounty hunters" to capture the barefoot bandit once and for all.

"I think it's a good idea what they heck might as well try it they probably have more time to commit looking for him or researching than police," said Easter.

Time is exactly what bounty hunter Ray Wilson says they have to start tracking down Harris-Moore.

"We're focusing on this case, so, that's what we plan on doing and I'll tell you one thing we won't quit until it's done," said Wilson.

Mike Rocha with Everett's All City Bail Bonds says he decided to search for Colton Harris-Moore after a local blogger reached out to him for help.

"So, we're going to ask them for any history that they have his friends, acquaintances, anybody that can help put this puzzle together," said Rocha.

Harris-Moore is accused of dozens of burglaries at Island homes and businesses, perhaps even the thefts of airplanes and a car. The Island County Sheriff's Department also thinks he ripped off two boats last month.

Paul Easter says he doesn't buy Harris-Moore's image as some kind of hero outlaw.

"I think it's kind of pathetic I think that what he's doing shouldn't be glorified," said Easter.

Rocha believes Harris-Moore is desperate and could be getting help from friends or family.

"If he continues on this rampage and hurts somebody in the process anybody that's helping him is going to be complicated in a bigger crime," said Rocha.

Rocha says whatever information his crew finds on Harris-Moore will go straight to the Sheriff's Department. And, Ray Wilson says he's confident the bounty hunters are just the guys to find the fugitive.

"There is an old saying you can run but you can't hide and one thing we don't do is give up. So, we're going to put closure to this one way or another," said Wilson.

Right now a $6,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of Colton Harris-Moore. Plans are in the works to have another community meeting with the bounty hunters later this month on Orcas Island.