Local soldier killed by alleged drunk driver
A Guttenberg soldier was driving his motorcycle Saturday morning when it was struck by a vehicle. Private Class Felipe Ramirez, 27, died at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a result of the accident.
Police allege that an Army specialist who hit him with his car was under the influence of alcohol. The specialist is being charged with second degree murder.
Ramirez’s brother, Johnny Restrepo, said that his brother did not drink and was only focusing on working out, his career with the Army, and his upcoming January deployment. He was out with friends at a bar, but as usual did not drink. After around 2 a.m. Ramirez and his friend Chris, both sober, rode their motorcycles back, said Restrepo.
“Chris said that all of a sudden this truck just came out of nowhere and hit my brother head-on,” said Restrepo. “Chris was able to avoid it.”
Restrepo said that when the ambulance arrived they tried to resuscitate his brother, but it was too late.
Saturday afternoon, their father was notified. Their father called Restrepo and “just broke down.”
Chris told Restrepo that the man who hit Ramirez was allegedly “so drunk” that he tried to flee the scene, but was unable to. Police took him into custody soon after, he said.
Restrepo said that his brother had confided in him that driving while intoxicated was a problem on the Army base, and while officials tried to control it, many soldiers were allegedly getting behind the wheel drunk.
He said that their close-knit family will miss Ramirez, who enlisted a year and a half ago, fulfilling a life-long dream. They all had spent two weeks together near the Fourth of July, a family tradition.
“Every person who ever met my brother just fell in love with him,” said Restrepo. “He was that person who brought everyone together. He loved life.”
Visitation for Ramirez was scheduled for Sunday and Monday at the Vainieri Funeral Home in North Bergen and his mass and burial will be held on Monday.
Shock jock Hal Turner convicted
According to published reports, a jury convicted Harold “Hal” Turner of North Bergen last week for threatening the lives of three federal judges in Chicago.
On his website, Turner, a blogger and shock jock, had published the names and addresses of three judges who had opposed lifting a Chicago gun ban.
Turner has maintained that the FBI hired him in the hopes of gathering information about white extremists in the country and that his posts were meant to “ratchet up the rhetoric” to get more info from his readers.
Turner’s first two trials, held in December 2009 and March 2010, were both declared mistrials. The three judges are slated testify again at this trial. Turner gave his testimony last week, with the jury making its decision Friday. No sentencing date has been confirmed yet.
Sheriff announces “Click it or Ticket” results
Hudson County Sheriff Juan M. Perez announced recently that the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office brought in the most seat belt summonses in the state during its “Click it or Ticket” campaign.
Sheriffs wrote 2,133 tickets between May 24 and June 6.
Raising funds for the disabled
United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County, Inc. in North Bergen is raising funds that will support programs for the developmentally disabled.
The group is selling entertainment books for $30 for Monmouth, Bergen, Essex and Middlesex Counties that include hundreds of coupons and will deliver them as well.
For more information or to order a book, call Peter LaBarbera at (201) 662-8120.
St. Augustine’s invites Hudson County community to feast
On Aug. 29, St. Augustine’s Church in Union City will hold their annual feast honoring their patron saint, Saint Augustine with events from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The parish invites residents from Union City as well as the neighboring communities of West New York, Weehawken, Hoboken, and North Bergen.
There will be music, food, folkloric dances, games, and prizes. An anniversary mass will also take place at 5:30 p.m., celebrated by Bishop Thomas Donato DD, regional bishop of Hudson County.
A 50/50 will also be held with all proceeds going toward the renovation of the church.
The events will take place in the church’s parking lot. The church is located at 3900 New York Ave. in Union City.
For more information, contact the parish at (201) 863-0233.