News from around the campfire.

~ Virginia – A tornado at Cherrystone RV Resort in Virginia killed 2 and injured dozens Thursday morning. A family from Berks County, Pa were among the injured. A married couple from New Jersey were killed when a tree fell on their tent.

~ Florida – Shopping for an RV at Lazydays is the focus of a reality show premiering Sunday on the Travel Channel, Columbus CEO explained.  Big Time RV takes viewers behind the scenes of the one of the country’s RV dealerships as customers tour and test different makes and models, from $18,000 travel trailers to $1 million tour buses, according to Columbus CEO.  The half-hour premiere, which airs at 8 p.m., follows a single father looking for a camper to wow his daughter in time for her birthday and two friends on the hunt for a million dollar party pad on wheels. A second episode will air at 8:30, Columbus CEO noted.

~ SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Across California, Airstream parks or traditional RV parks with permanent Airstreams available for nightly rental have popped up with regularity, The Sacramento Bee reported.  Santa Barbara’s Auto Camp, which has five non-ambulatory, custom-designed Airstreams parked in front of a trailer park with permanent residents, has been featured in magazines like Sunset Magazine, Travel + Leisure and National Geographic Traveler. The Sacramento Bee explained the Auto Camp is so popular, its owners are planning to open similar sites soon in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Ventura.

~ KANE, PA. – Charges have been filed against two Kane men who allegedly broke into a building at the Kiasutha Campground in Hamilton Township while camping.
The Bradford Era reported on the morning of July 3, police responded to a report that someone had broken into the Kiasutha Campground gate house. Among the offenses discovered at the site where a window had been broken so someone could enter and $130 in cash was missing.

~ ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK, ON — A man and woman have been charged under the Ontario SPCA Act, after their dog was left alone in a hot car at their campsite in Algonquin National Park, ON, according to Market Wired.   On July 5, 2014, a park warden observed a Golden Retriever-type dog locked inside a car on a campsite. Market Wired reported the park warden noted that the car was located in direct sunlight, the four windows were down about two inches, and the animal did not have water and was panting heavily. After 15 minutes passed without the return of the dog’s owners, the Ontario SPCA was contacted.  Following an investigation, the Ontario SPCA has charged the animal’s owners with causing distress to an animal and failing to provide the care necessary for an animal’s general welfare, Market Wired noted.

~ National – Pilot Flying J is off the hook for prosecution after the company admitted its employees ripped off truckers and trucking companies by not paying them promised rebates on fuel purchases. The truck stop outfit will cough up a $92 million fine. Evidently RVers were not caught up in the rebate cheat.

~ California – A rare bit of RV and aviation history will be up for sale on August 15 at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction in Carmel, California. The 1939 travel trailer owned by Charles and Anne Lindbergh is expected to fetch at least $150,000. The trailer sits on twin axles with a lightweight aluminum skin. The inside is furnished with well-preserved oak paneling.
~ News From The Weird ~

~ Calgary Police are trying to figure out the series of events leading up to a camper being abandoned in the middle of an intersection in the northeast.
A pickup-camper had become disconnected from the back of a truck at some point in the night and was spotted laying in the intersection of 36 Street and Memorial Drive N.E.  A short time later, police say a truck was spotted driving erratically, striking several parked cars.  Police are investigating after a driver abandoned a trailer in an intersection in northeast Calgary.  The driver then got out and tried to run, but was later caught and arrested.  Police say charges are pending and suspect alcohol may have been involved.

~ Skipping out on a $25 campground site fee may cost a Georgia man much more. John M. Turner of Rome, Ga., didn’t pay his site fee at the Rocky Mountain Campground in early July. Floyd County officials caught up with him and booked him. Charged with criminal trespass and theft of services, Turner couldn’t get out of jail for free — he posted bond.

Special thanks to CampingPA.com for supplying these great tidbits of RVing news…

Safe Travels and Happy RVing!