By Millie Bryant
Published 16th May 2018   

Damaged vehicles have always been a common thing around Red County, and have commonly been seen taken to garages for repairs. These repairs were as a result providing local mechanics with a job alongside a stable income. However, recent observations have shown that the number of these faulty vehicles has began to rise at a rather fast pace. Does this mean that mechanics are getting more money? Not at all.

While these observations have revealed the aforementioned, they have also exposed the fact that these run-down vehicles are being kept on the streets without anything being done to them. This may have an impact on other drivers, seeing as the some of the vehicles cause a potential danger to the public through their excessively bad state. These conditions are usually a direct result of heavy impact collisions, improper parking and evading the police force.

It is believed that the vehicles are not being fixed because their owners lack the funding, the time or the effort to take them down to a local garage. Seeing as currently there are not any laws preventing these issues from continuing, nothing can be done to stop these absurd vehicles from appearing on the road. Everyone is simply being forced to adjust to driving in possibility of being endangered.

San Andreas News Network advises the owners of any damaged vehicles, whether it be a cracked windshield or a hanging bumper, to have the breakage patched up as soon as possible. Through doing so, the community will remain a safe zone for all drivers and will reduce any further danger from soaring. Please take great precaution when following these types of vehicles, due to the increased chances of them eradicating.

By Lydia Ashworth
Published 29th April 2018   

In what some may think is long overdue, San Andreas News Network's main headquarters, located in Montgomery, has closed. Don't worry, though, it's only temporary!

In a multi-million dollar deal with local construction firm Avery Construction and a private architect, SAN Network's headquarters will remain closed for anywhere up to one month whilst refurbishment takes place. This is just one of many changes put in place by the new SANN Executive Team and one that aims to benefit employees and visitors alike. 

Plans are currently being kept tightly under wraps, however it is confirmed that the new and improved headquarters will offer more to the general public as well as a faster and easier advertisement service.

In the meantime, employees can be contacted as usual on 726 and visitors are asked to head to either Fort Carson News Office or Dillimore Recording Studio.

By Lydia Ashworth
Published 29th April 2018   

Shootings are a common occurrence in and around Red County with most days consisting of some form of gun related crime. Most of these crimes have a clear purpose, a motive, but this afternoon was different and I experienced the situation first hand. 

At around 3:05 p.m. whilst on a ride along with San Andreas County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ryan Harper, I personally witnessed just how out of control the county's gun problem is getting. As on a standard patrol, Deputy Harper drove through Montgomery, taking a short cut onto the Route 46 via Clover Court. It was there that an unnamed male emerged from between two houses, immediately shooting at the cruiser.

As soon as the bullets began making contact, Deputy Harper instructed me to hide behind the cruiser for safety and cover, which I did. Back up was called and arrived almost instantly and the suspect was soon neutralized by trained members of the SWAT division. Whilst injured, the suspect again aimed his weapon at deputies. The suspect was eventually killed and the weapon, identified as a TEC-9, taken to the evidence locker.

As gun crime continues to be a prominent part of life in Red County, it is important to remember the strategy to follow if you find yourself in the situation. This is shown below:
 
First, run. The Department of Homeland Security state that if you can hear shots being fired but you cannot see the suspect, run as far as you can from the situation. If you frequent any places, it's worth preparing an escape route in case of emergencies.

If you cannot run or the suspect is in view the next option is to hide and to give yourself protection from gun shots. Ideally you need to get yourself out of the suspect's line of vision whilst shielding yourself where possible. It's important, however, not to trap yourself. Although is it recommended that if you're in a room in a building to lock the door and barricade it.

When safe and able to do so, call 911 and alert the Sheriff's Office to your location. If you cannot speak, call 911 and simply allow the operator to listen.

The last resort is to fight. If you have no possible way of running or hiding it is within your best interest to distract or incapacitate the suspect. This can be done by using nearby objects as weapons or throwing things.

You can read more from the Department of Homeland Security here.