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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Portland's Former Mayor, Billie Golden, Facing Harsh Penalty Over Junk Yard

This is a story about what Bob Cartwright insists is the Cancun of Northamptom County - Portland. Before you start trashing it, remember, you live downstream. It's a fascinating little borough. There may only be 579 people, but there are at least that many stories about its colorful residents. One of them was Fred Angle, Ron Angle's dad. He was in his prime a Yankees minor league baseball player who grew so strong from working on the railroad that he could walk the tracks with one tie on each shoulder. Another was cRaZy George. He was given that name because of his penchant for jumping off a footbridge crossing the Delaware River. He charged $1 a jump, and took a header even if the river was mostly dry. This story is about Billie Golden, a former Portland Mayor and Council member.

Back when Ron had his own radio show, Billie was one of his regular callers. He was always pleasant - a trusting and live and let live kind of guy. He has authored a book, but the person who was going to publish it for him seems to have disappeared after taking his money. Nobody is after that guy. Instead, it's Billie who's in hot water. He's facing a million years in the electric chair over a junk yard at his property.

I've never seen it. Then again, neither has Billie. He's blind as a bat. But his neighbors have. Sometimes, they sometimes get upset and complain. Other times, they help clean things up.

This junk yard, if you want to call it that, exists because that is where his two sons store things until they have enough to go to a scrap metal yard. A little slow, this is how they make a living. They walk along the sides of roads, collecting cans or scrap metal that no one wants.

One of these brothers loves to go to church. Doesn't matter what kind. Families sometimes pick him up and take him along. They say he lights up God's house with his smile.

Sometimes, these fellows make mistakes. They will take metal they think is being tossed. They once took radiators that were outside of Duckloe's Furniture Store. The radiators were sitting right where the garbage is placed, and the brothers mistakenly assumed this was garbage. Billie tells me that it was an honest mistake.

For those of you looking for a second career, Billie assures me that the state of Pennsylvania allows you to take anything that is left for the garbage man.

Once this garbage reaches a certain point, Billie gets cited. He's facing charges right now for operating a dump. He tells me that he's been found guilty, and is awaiting sentence.

A rumor began circulating earlier this week that authorities are so worked up that Golden is facing a major fine and possible jail time. but that makes no sense. A verdict and sentence must be announced immediately after a summary trial. If Billie was previously found guilty, and the court delayed the sentence for whatever reason, it is unable to impose any sentence now.

I asked Ron Angle, who is friends with Billie, to find out what is going on. He told me he's been muzzled by court order, just like Kathleen Kane. But he still has a great defense for blind Billie. "Just tell the judge you threw your garbage and it missed the can," he advised.

DA John Morganelli would like to see an Elder Abuse Task Force established. What is happening to Billie demonstrates clearly why this is needed.  Ageism is the one acceptable form of discrimination. Billie lost already lost money to some con artist. Hios property might be a mess, but this is a problem that could be addressed by the County's Department of Aging.

I hope he gets a break,and will be following this story.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Bernie, I just read you suffer from dissociative identity disorder. The new Jim Gregory missive is wild. Allegedly Ron Angle claims anyone who believes what you write is crazy. Did you know that?

So do you admit you have the disorder? Do you fear the wrath of God that pastor Jim Gregory claims is awaiting?

All this is more interesting than Portland.

Anonymous said...

it would be a waste of resources to incarcerate this guy

Anonymous said...

@2:38

"wild"

A better description of the Gregory Diary would be, INSANE.

Anonymous said...

So, I really ain't a gambling man, like good old Jimmy G, but I am willing to join the pool on his rearrest and incarceration date. I'm picking May 13 2015.

Anonymous said...

Is there anybody left in the department on aging to even make the call?

Anonymous said...

If he had not raised hell at the District Justices office on the day of his hearing..this could have been settled amicably. He acted a fool and got hammered for it. Live and learn..

Anonymous said...

You mess with the bull..Grigg..you get the horns!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Allegedly Ron Angle claims anyone who believes what you write is crazy. Did you know that?"

Ron does not use a computer (his wife does) and does not even like smartphones. He rarely reads anything I write unless his buddies at the Mount Bethel Diner show it to him on their cell phones. He actually did make a remark to Gregory about blogs, but it's not exactly how Gregory has twisted it. I know this bc Angle told me himself. he told Gregory that a lot of the comments a=on blogs are simply insane. Like you. Around the same time every day, you most a hate message or two or three. If I delete it, you come back several times during the day and re-post it. You are Henry Schaadt, and you are a troll. According to you, you were part of a meeting at Mezzacappa's house that included the Blog mentor and the Fake Rev. You folks apparently comes on here from time to time throughout the day to post hate. If I post about my grandson, you will make a racist comment or disparage his background in some other way, as well as his mother. You are a very sick person.

Before Gregory was incarcerated, he hijacked this blog several times and laded it with vicious screeds.

When these folks are called on what they do, they claim it is me. They accuse me of doing what they do, perhaps because that way they feel a little less guilty about their own dishonesty.

You try to push poor Billie Golden out of the way, claiming gregory is more interesting. Frankly, there should be more stories about the Billie Goldens of this world and less about the attention-seekers.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"If he had not raised hell at the District Justices office on the day of his hearing..this could have been settled amicably. He acted a fool and got hammered for it. Live and learn.."

This comment comes from someone who must have been at he hearing. Surely it is someone who knows Billie. He is a mild-mannered man. if he acted up one day in his life, I find that far less troubling than a magisterial district justice who spends his mornings at the Mount Bethel Diner, bragging about how he is going to hammer the guy. That kind of ex parte behavior is totally inappropriate, even in the Slate Belt.

Anonymous said...

On a lighter note, "Sozodont" was outlawed because it was found to discolor tooth enamel.

Anonymous said...

It is unfortunate that the current elected magistrate has health problems and has had to step aside. Mr. Grigg is his replacement. Nuff said..

Anonymous said...

Portland Borough is another example of the need for municipal consolidation. It should be merged back into UMBT.

Anonymous said...

Bernie-

Have the BALLS to Post today picture of Bill Golden's house for all to see instead the old bridge that washed down stream in '55? First off maybe his legal name is "Billy" but the locals all refer to him as Bill- aka the blind man. "Billy" is the challenged son that is almost 60 years old. You need your facts first. did you know that this has gone on over 20+ years? Perhaps you and Angle should move next door and enjoy the flies on your window screens that amass to look like a horror movie or not be able to enjoy your property so to the flies from the hundreds of open soda cans strewn about or enjoy the look of seeing numerous household appliances from dishwashers, washers, dryers and metal furniture that was placed to the curb for Waste Management top pick up. They cannot open their windows.
To not be able to have peace in your own yard and embarrassment of having a visitor to your own home as there are open bags to household garbage bringing skunks, rats and the aweful smells associated along with a garbage dump. You wouldn't like to hear the cats fighting outside at night nor deal with the smell of the skunks that are foraging for food. From the metals, appliances and food onto the open bags of HUNDREDS of open soda cans that draw the flies its a MESS. Judge Grigg dealt with this for many years always giving Bill the benefit of the doubt. enough is enough! The town taxpayer has spent a small fortune paying the police, zoning guy and officials alone. I hope the neighbors are ordered the compensation. The guy across the street cannot been sell his house cause of this mess. This has gone the gammit!
I don't even think you and Angle would like to sit there and smoke his Angle's stinky cigars will keep the flies from biting you both! How about the noise of trying to sleep at 3 AM and "billie" is at his recycle business dragging a refrigerator without a hand truck pushing it down the street? You have NO clue what its like on a daily basis. Its NOT "POOR BILLIE" its POOR NIGHBORHOOD! Finally after years and years Judge Grigg has had enough? About time! He has always been and is fair and firm. "if" as you alleged" the "poor billie" has heard Grigg is rumored to slap with a $33K in fines and he does what? He swears at him in his own courtroom? O think its a ruse as Grigg is trying to get Bill Golden to clean it up AGAIN and stop the MADNESS that effects the neighbors who cannot use their property or sit outside in the summer, Again he is sending a message
I am glad your buddy Morganelli has an aging task force so perhaps you can direct the DA to "Poor Billie's" home to see how he lives in that environment. if the outside is any indication of what the inside is like? Its a travesty as the man cannot be right in his mind and needs to be placed in a clean environment for his own health and safe keeping along with his son. So have the balls to come to Portland and snap a picture and put that up instead of this garbage about "poor Billie Golden". Or better yet since you and Angle seem to think this is all OK and want to help? Have "Poor Bille " drop his wares on Angles front lawn which I don't even think has a much as a weed in front of the mansion he lives in? And as a gift? You can get your buddy Ron some fly strips to hang around in the trees and have a weekly skunk shoot. If its so great then you can enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Thank you 2:35 for getting the truth out there.

Anonymous said...

Gee..maybe Grigg did the right thing in this case. Broken clock analogy in action?

Bernie O'Hare said...

2:35, I have the balls to sign my name, unlike you. I also stated pretty clearly that the property is a mess. But hammering a poor old blind man and his two mentally challenged sons is an over-reaction. It is also improper for a member of the minor judiciary to discuss a pending case at the local diner. Instead of telling us how offensive this is, why not get a group together and help Billie out?

Anonymous said...

Whenever you mention Fred Angle, I wish you would post a copy of his tombstone. I get a kick out of that every time I see it.

JOHN M

Anonymous said...

Do two wrongs make it right? Grigg is a SB icon with a long personal history and most of it is well earned..both good and bad. Ethics not his strong suit..never has been. He should probably have stayed retired but options were slim and none. Better than nothing? Slate Belt needs a strong magistrate and a fair one. This situation is not good for anyone. What is the solution?

Anonymous said...

Bernie? Are you OK? No where did 2:35 "hammering" on Billie and from what I read it doesn't sound like he is a very good neighbor at all. I asked someone who know the situation somewhat and the and she told me that numerous people have cleaned this up only to have it back the way it was within months before to the tune of more times then fingers and toes. So many people have cleaned his place up and taken all the stuff to the recycle center for billie to get money for his metals. People are just fed up. She told me that its been so long and ongoing that now they have no one to do it anymore. People feel that they have been made fool's out of.

I am glad I don't live in Cancun!

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am not only fine, but sign what I write. It appears to me that you are a hateful, unsympathetic person.

Steve Mongrel said...

Boonie, this council meeting is getting TESTY! Can you please sit where viewers can see your glorious blubbery visage? Dont be shy big boy

Anonymous said...

I believe only 1 son billy was born With disabilities and drugs caused the other sons mental challenges which is why people should not do drugs. But let's some of these big mouths on here put up some money up and help Billy clean up Im in for $500 for the dumpster . Can you set up a page to help the cause Bernie ? Thanks Robert A

Bernie O'Hare said...

I would want to run this thru a non-profit. Let me talk to Some people.

Anonymous said...

How about the church Ron attends? LB church in Mt. Bethel?

Anonymous said...

Jail advisory board vp Dan Christansen's church

Anonymous said...

yet another slate belt hick

Anonymous said...

HEY..I resemble that remark! Yuk Yuk..

Anonymous said...

Bernie ,your right there are a bunch of spineless and gutless idiots on here . Let's help the guy out which helps his neighbors out and the community out . To the fools ,I want you take a look in the mirror and look at yourself and think how lucky you and your family have it not to have the challenges that Goldens have . And pray that you never need help because I bet half of you couldn't muster up $500 bucks to help . So put your big boy pants on any pony up and start a go fund site . Thanks Robert A I don't live in Portland but I am willing to help

Bill Coker said...

Bernie,

Although I normally agree with you most of the time, this is one time you seem off base. First it was not abundantly clear to me the property was a mess. Merely that scrap metal was stored temporarily, not how it was stored. A bin or dumpster probably would have been acceptable. Secondly, this problem seems to be long on going. Blind or old, a reasonable person would have come up with a viable solution so that the "slow" (as the brother of a differently special person finds degrading) boys would still be able to make a go of it. Most areas have programs for people in this situation. Sometimes the Mayberry diner gossip is off base.

Anonymous said...

People have cleaned up after this "family" for years. Just because he is an Angle buddy doesn't exempt him. His place is literally a dump. People gave help and it is still a dump. There is no reason to believe helping them again would not end up as a dump again., It's like giving money to a crack addict promising to buy food.

Angle is very familiar with slum landlording. Why not have him buy the place for pennies on the dollar like he has to folks in the past, then he can take care of everything and leave the guy live their for free.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I think it's clear that your disdain for Golden is driven by your disdain for Angle. You are also a liar. Angle is very particular about his properties. All are well-maintained. Hating Angle does not give you the right to lie. And how sad that you would go after an old blind man simply bc you are jealous of Ron.

Anonymous said...

"Angle is very particular about his properties."

Best laugh of the day so far. Most of us in the slate belt know Angle's track record on his rentals and how he got them.