Good Old Days Barn

Black Bear - Dodge City area.

J&M Handyman Service out of Hanceville just pulled my camper 4 miles for $20. He owns two other businesses, German Axe Throwing & H&H Hotshot company. Please give him a call. He's very busy, yet offered the take the time to help me out in a pinch. He came over so fast I was barely back from getting his money from the ATM! Says he enjoys just doing stuff for people & tries not to turn down a job! Super square guy!! Please give him a chance to give you an estimate on whatever work you might need done. Thanks!

Well, SHOCK, FAINT & FALLOUT... My oldest came by with the twins after baseball camp in Cullman today! Last travel ballgame w/be in Panama City!

ALL LANE ON RECALL... 14 (+?) CHILD DEATHS...ANY STYLE "LANE"/"VIRGINIA MAID", 1987 OR BEFORE! PLEASE READ!!!
Large Vintage (73 years old!) Lane Cedar Lined Waterfall style trunk with lined double shelf (NO LONGER FOR SALE & LOCK & KEY WILL BE REMOVED DUE TO THE RECALL DETAILED BELOW!)

FYI: I FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT ALL "LANE" & "VIRGINIA MAID" CHESTS FROM 1987 AND BEFORE ARE ON RECALL DUE TO THE TRUNK LOCKING AUTOMATICALLY WHEN CLOSED & UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. AT LEAST FOURTEEN CHILDREN HAVE SUFFOCATED IN THEM & DIED. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE SOLD OR EVEN DONATED WITH THE OLD LOCKS ON THEM. THERE WERE 12 MILLION MADE & ONLY SIX MILLION HAVE VERIFIED CHANGING THE LOCKS. THEY WERE REPLACING THE LOCKS FOR FREE, BUT UNITED FURNITURE COMPANY IN TUPELO, MS, WHO BOUGHT LANE (PREVIOUSLY VIRGINIA MAID), HAS RECENTLY STOPPED SUPPLYING THE REPLACEMENT LOCKS. THE SERIAL NUMBER STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF EACH CHEST IS THE MANUFACTURING DATE BACKWARDS. 1988 OR NEWER HAS THE SAFE LOCKS THAT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. REGARDLESS, AFTER TESTING MY LOCK, I FEEL LIKE THIS LID IS SO VERY LARGE & HEAVY THAT I DON'T SEE A CHILD BEING ABLE TO PUSH IT UP ENOUGH FOR ADEQUATE AIR MUCHLESS TO GET OUT OF IT, EVEN IF THEY COULD RELEASE THE LOCK FROM THE INSIDE, WHICH I ALSO DOUBT, SO PLEASE, AS THEY REQUEST, KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM ANY TRUNKS/CHESTS, ESPECIALLY IN HOT ATTICS OR UNSUPERVISED ROOMS/BASEMENTS, ETC.

I turned down a buyer for it today who begged me to sell it to her as-is, and when I refused, begged me to at least give her the lock to put back on it, saying she has no children around. That would be illegal, not-to-mention unethical. Might be better to remove the heavy lids to old trunks and make two separate repurposed items, like a coffee table top & a stand-alone wall shelf?? Or at least drill some holes around the top or top of the sides (the bottom would be blocked by items inside, like blankets/photo albums/clothes/boxes). I'm passing along this information in the hopes that it continues to be passed along and that it saves a child's (or a pet's) life some day! Please pass it along, too. Many of these trunks are heirlooms passed down for generations, and most people (like me) had no idea about the safety recall. I've seen them in flea markets, antiques & collectables, & thrift stores for years. You could be the one responsible for saving a life! Tell every seller you meet & every person you know. Thanks! (ON SECOND-THOUGHT, I'VE DECIDED TO JUST KEEP THE TRUNK IN THE STORE, NO LONGER FOR SALE, & ADD AN ALERT TO RAISE AWARENESS).