Good shot earns golfer a new car.

By Joyce Russell - joyce.russell@nwi.com, (219) 762-1397, ext. 2222
Posted: Monday, May 17, 2010 3:45 pm
CHESTERTON When Keith Bruxvoort teed up at the 15th hole at the Brassie Golf Club Monday, he and the rest of the foursome joked about winning the car parked just behind them.
Then Bruxvoort, vice president of finance at Strack and Van Til and Highland resident, hit the ball through the day's cool rain showers.
It soared over a water hazard and landed on the green. It rolled and the group representing Town & Country in the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce annual "Spring Swing" golf outing lost sight of the ball.
That's because it went straight into the hole. Not only had Bruxvoort scored his first ever hole-in-one in his 35 years of golfing, but this particular hole-in-one earned him a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro provided by Arnell Auto Group.
"We all just looked at each other. I didn't believe it. I've been close before, but I've never had a hole-in-one before," said Bruxvoort, who describes himself as an "average golfer."
Bruxvoort used a 7 iron to make the shot.
John Johnson was the hole watcher.
"It was just like a magnet pulled it in," Johnson said of the shot.
This is the first time in the event's 27-year history that a participant won a car by hitting a hole-in-one at a predesignated hole. Seventy-seven golfers participated in the event.
Bruxvoort, who drives a Chevrolet Suburban, wasn't quite sure what he was going to do with the Camaro. He might drive it, he said, or maybe his wife will.

The Power of OnStar!

Woman Uses OnStar to Call Police While Held at Gunpoint
Published : Sunday, 16 May 2010, 8:46 PM CDT

Sun-Times Media Wire

Chicago - Police used the OnStar vehicle security system to capture a man who allegedly forced a couple into their new Cadillac at gunpoint during an early Friday robbery on the South Side, police.
Jerrell Arterberry approached a couple, both in their 50s, as they walked to their home in the 7400 block of South Harvard Avenue and demanded money at gunpoint about 4:30 p.m. Friday, police said.
When the armed robber was not satisfied with the amount of money the couple had on them, he forced them to let him inside their home, where he took the money in the residence, police said.
Arterberry then forced the couple into their black 2010 Cadillac four-door vehicle at gunpoint and began driving them to a Currency Exchange at South Vincennes Avenue and West 79th Street, police said.
While being held in the Cadillac at gunpoint, the woman secretly pressed the vehicle’s emergency button, and the OnStar vehicle security system called police after not getting a response to the emergency notification, police said.
When officers arrived at the Currency Exchange, the woman told police they were being robbed and pointed to Arterberry, according to police. Officers wrestled with Arterberry as the gun in his waistband fell out his pant leg and eventually subdued and arrested him, police said.
During the struggle, a female police officer was punched in the face, police said.
Arterberry, 24, of the 3200 block of West Walton Street, was charged at 1:32 a.m. Saturday with one count each of aggravated battery to a police officer and home invasion, according to police, who said Arterberry was on parole.
He was ordered held on $50,000 bail and was booked into the Cook County Jail at 2600 S. California Ave. on Saturday, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s office website.
OnStar is an in-vehicle security, communications and diagnostics system available on more than 50 General Motors models, according to the company’s website.
Calumet Area detectives are investigating.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/onstar-used-during-gunpoint-hold-up-20100516

Arnell Chevrolet and Liberty Youth Baseball!

Arnell Chevy Goes To Bat for Liberty Rec League Inc. as
Part of Chevy Youth Baseball Initiative Sweeping Nation

Arnell Chevy to provide Liberty Rec League Inc. with new equipment, monetary donation, instructional clinics; Additional funds via Chevy Vehicle Giveaway

Burns Harbor (April 22, 2010) – Arnell Chevy announced today it will be investing support in the Duneland community through a partnership with Liberty Rec League Inc.. Arnell Chevy will provide baseball equipment, instructional clinics, a monetary donation, and an opportunity to raise an additional $10,000 in funds through a Chevy vehicle giveaway-fundraiser. The effort by Arnell Chevy is part of the Chevy Youth Baseball initiative sweeping the nation from March through July 2010.

“Chevrolet has a long history with baseball at the national level. We wanted to bring that excitement and commitment to youth baseball, in the communities where our customers and their families live,” said Tom Seely, General Sales Mgr for Arnell Chevy. “Youth baseball has always played an important role in the Duneland area so we are thrilled to support our kids in a meaningful way.”

Arnell Chevy will present Liberty Rec League Inc. with equipment kits complete with equipment bags, baseball buckets, dry-erase coach’s clipboards and Chevy Youth Baseball t-shirts. The sponsorship includes clinics with experienced instructors from former MLB/MiLB players and coaches or the Ripken Baseball professional staff.

In addition, a one-time monetary donation check will be presented by Arnell Chevy to Liberty Rec League Inc.. The league also will have an opportunity to raise additional funds for their use as part of a Chevy Youth Baseball Fundraiser. Sponsored leagues across the country will each receive 2,000 fundraiser entry tickets to distribute for a suggested donation, and the league will keep 100% of proceeds raised. At the end of the fundraiser, there will be five winners of a Chevy Equinox or Chevy Malibu vehicle of choice (up to $30,000 in value), and in each participating market there will be a secondary prize of a home entertainment center valued at $1,000.

Chevrolet is recognized on the national level as the “Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball.” “At some point, we hope the kids or their parents will consider a Chevrolet as an official vehicle of their household,” said Seely. “Our vehicles are ideal for transporting families, teams and their gear.”

Chevrolet has expanded its support of MLB to the youth baseball players in communities across the country through the Chevy Youth Baseball program. The Chevy Youth Baseball program began in Atlanta in 2006. Now in its fifth season, the grass roots initiative has activation in more than 20 states and seeks to establish a positive connection between local dealers and the communities they serve. Since its beginning, more than $7 million dollars has been raised by Chevy for community youth baseball leagues.

For more information about Chevy Youth Baseball, please visit www.youthsportswired.com

About Chevrolet Chevrolet is one of America's best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that range from "gas-friendly to gas-free," Chevrolet has nine models that offer an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers three hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolet's that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. Chevrolet delivers expressive design, spirited performance and strives to provide the best value in every segment in which it competes. More information can be found at www.arnellchevrolet.com.

GM to repay government loan before June

DETROIT — General Motors Co. will fully repay the $6.7 billion loan portion of its U.S. government aid earlier than its previously promised payback date of June, a person briefed on the plans said Monday.

GM CEO Ed Whitacre will announce details of the repayment during a visit Wednesday to the company's Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan., said the person, who did not want to be identified because the announcement has not been made.
Whitacre will travel to Washington, D.C., after the announcement to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Michigan congressional delegation.
The company has received a total of $52 billion in U.S. government aid, with the $6.7 billion considered a loan. The rest would be repaid when the company sells stock to the public, perhaps later this year.

GM already has made two $1 billion payments, leaving a $4.7 billion balance on the U.S. loans.
Company spokesman Tom Wilkinson would not comment on the purpose of Whitacre's visit to the factory, which makes the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse midsize cars.
GM said during its fourth-quarter earnings announcement on April 7 that it planned to repay the money by June, five years ahead of schedule.

Repaying the loan has been a top priority for Whitacre. The government's autos task force set a repayment deadline of 2015 as a condition of giving GM the loans last year.
Once the loans are paid back, GM would still owe $45.3 billion to the government. That will be repaid with the stock offering, which GM Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell said would take place "when the markets and the company are ready."
Liddell said earlier this month that GM could report a profit as early as this year. GM said it lost $3.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009 on revenues of $32.3 billion.
The U.S. government owns about 61 percent of the Detroit automaker, which came in exchange for the aid.

It also will repay early the $1.4 billion borrowed from the Canadian and Ontario governments, the person said. The company already has repaid $384 million.

By TOM KRISHER (AP) – 1 day ago
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

For the facebookers.

Did you know over 400 million people have an active Facebook account.If you're reading this blog chances are you have an account. Seeing as that many people openly use their Facebook, many who are very Internet savvy, over 50% still come in contact with a worm/virus.

There are new viruses coming out daily. You just have to be smart and avoid opening a message or clicking on a link..
Examples are:

(These links will either be in through an inbox message or written directly on your wall.)

"Yo u tube"

"You look amazing in this new video!"

"You've been caught on hidden camera!"

Watch out for a virus that makes you upgrade your flash. Those make you download and save an .exe file. It'll infect your whole computer.

Facebook pages that say "Disney's hidden message!" stating you have to join to view the message/picture/video. Really, any group that says you have to join to view the message/video are 90% likely to be a scam and contain a virus.

Can't forget the money scams.
They need you to send them a letter head of your business saying this person needs to come to your office to discuss business matters or that you need to send them an account number to make a transaction.

Just be a visually active computer user. Don't open something that looks funny/out of the ordinary, inbox the person back and ask them if they sent it to you, chances are they didnt. If you come across these, just delete the email or wall post... It's that easy to avoid a scam.

...And the Award Goes To...!

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show hosted five different awards presentations, distinctions given for everything from eco-friendliness to pet safety. Here’s a look back at the winners this year.

Bark Buckle UP
Bark Buckle UP Founder and Pet Safety Expert Christina Selter presented an astounding ten pet safe vehicle distinctions this year. The vehicles recognized by Bark Buckle UP all incorporated rear climate control, side-curtain airbags, and d-rings to secure a pet crate of any size. In alphabetical order, the winners were: Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge, Ford Flex, Ford Transit, Honda Element, Kia Soul, Smart Car, Subaru Outback, and Volvo XC60.

Bark Buckle UP also recognized the top pet-friendly hotel brand, Sheraton; top pet-friendly airline, southwest; and top pet-friendly retailer, BassPro.
Best of Show
Show-goers proclaimed their favorites vehicles in each of five categories for the Chicago Auto Show's fifth annual “Best of Show” balloting. Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. In the fifth category, "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway," voters could choose from any of the nearly 1000 vehicles on the show floor.

Winners in the contest's five categories were:
• Best All-New Production Vehicle: Ford Focus (29 percent of vote)
• Best Concept Vehicle: Cadillac XTS Platinum (28 percent of vote)
• Best Green Vehicle: Chevrolet Volt (25 percent of vote)
• Best Exhibit: Ford (41 percent of vote)
• “Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway:” Ford Shelby GT500

Intellichoice.com BOVY Awards
IntelliChoice held its "Best Overall Value of the Year" Awards ceremony to recognize the best-in-class vehicles that deliver outstanding value and lower than expected costs over time.

For 2010, IntelliChoice.com identified nine overall category winners including:
• Best Car Value Under $24,000 - Toyota Prius
• Best Car Value Over $24,000 - Chevrolet Corvette
• Best Crossover/SUV Value Under $28,000 - Toyota FJ Cruiser
• Best Crossover/SUV Value Over $28,000 - Lexus RX
• Best Truck Value Under $28,000 - Toyota Tacoma
• Best Truck Value Over $28,000 - Chevy Silverado 2500 HD / GMC Sierra 2500 HD (tie)
• Best Van Value Under $26,000 - Toyota Sienna
• Best Van Value Over $26,000 - Honda Odyssey

Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award
The first ever Hermance award recognized the affordability, drivability, and fuel economy of the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Combining distinct styling with an average 39 mpg and a 45% smaller carbon footprint than the average vehicle, the Fusion is a model of practical efficiency.

Internet Car and Truck of the Year – Chevrolet Equinox and Camaro, and Mazda3
The very first Internet Car and Truck of the Year Awards let “Internet Pros and Average Joes” pick their favorite 2010 model. The “Internet Pro” panel consisted of 12 online automotive journalists, while “Average Joes” covered about 50,000 online voters.

The Pros favored the Mazda3, while Joes rooted for the Chevrolet Camaro. The Chevrolet Equinox swept the truck category, earning accolades from Pros and Joes alike.

Chevrolet to Recall 1.3 million for Steering Failure

General Motors Co. announced an upcoming recall of 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac vehicles over steering motor failure. The recall will be compact vehicles including:

2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts sold in the US.
2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s sold in the US.
2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada
2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.

The recalled power steering motors are not considered a safety concern but may cause steering challenges at speeds under 15 MPH. Still, there have been 1,100 complaints that the cars lost their power steering assist. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.
According to GM spokesman Alan Adler, the power steering motor supplier, JTEKT Corp., will need time to make the 1.3 replacements available.
Adler said the failures are rare and the cars can still be driven until motors can be replaced by dealers. Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails, but they could be surprised when the steering becomes more difficult.
“Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers’ peace of mind.” ~ Jamie Hresko, GM’s VP of Quality.
Adler said if the power steering assist fails, it usually comes back for a time after the car is shut off and restarted.


by Chevrolet in the News on March 2, 2010