National Park Service, Friend or Foe

Sheila Davis ^ | June 2, 2003 | Sheila Davis

[countrydummy]

National Park Service ...Friend or Foe?

What an interesting question! We have all been reared to believe that the NPS was so good for the preservation and conservation of lands for the protection of future generations. Well, many have screamed out against the NPS since around the early 70’s, but their voices fell on deaf ears or those ears that did not have the time or inclination to listen. And of course the lack of media coverage to bring the pro’s and con’s to the awareness level of the public commons....those of us that live on the land and really care about it! The media has done a very poor job in bringing up all the issues of having a national park vs. not having one!

There are many unhappy “once upon a time” landowners, but to make matters even worse, their are many unhappy “public land users“, that are fast realizing that the NPS is not their friends either! These folks thought that the original landowners were being paid “fair-market value”, some even think they were paid millions and got rich off of their lands to the NPS.....WRONG! Those that advocated land acquisition of the private land owners for increased public access that the NPS swore they would provide, are fast finding out that the NPS is now in the business of doing all they can to decrease any sign of human disturbance within the boundaries of the lands “””they own””! Dang, and here I kept thinking that “public lands” are owned by me, you and them!!!! WRONG!!!!!!!! The “DO NOT ENTER” signs are everywhere, or NO motorized vehicles, NO motorized boats, etc. and so on! Heck, even No horses!!!!!!!

Now take the Pilgrim family into the case scenario! They live in a small community in Alaska, just outside the boundaries of a small community that was established over a hundred years ago.....this is a family that chooses to live on “their own” as it were, without aide and assistance but just hard working and down to earth living! They rely on each other and the small community of which they are a part of. Yet now they are in the fine hairs of the wondrous NPS! Even though they are living in an area that President Carter declared a National Monument, Alaska took the most important intuitive of securing State’s Rights over Big Government by passing “The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) which provides the following:

“ guaranteed Alaskans the right to hunt, fish, recreate and even operate mines in the park. Although the ability to create new roads or trails in the park was eliminated or severely curtailed, the right to use valid existing routes was pledged. RS2477 routes were specifically singled out for protection.”

Now the NPS is threatening this family and for that matter the local community for doing under law what they are allowed to do! But they (NPS) are at this time attacking a very religious, caring and loving family with the threats of armed Rangers, helicopters and the such, trying to intimidate this family and scare them into selling their property! So much for the so called “Willing-Seller Concept”!!!!!!

We along the New River, just outside of the city limits of Hinton, WV have and continue to be treated the same way.....armed guards at the so called public meetings, and diverse to out and out lies from the NPS and their supportive agencies!

Yet, I do not fear for my life , but these folks have been threatened! For example from an email I received from a local of the area!

“They will be accompanied by a NPS 'Special Events Team' of 6-8 armed Rangers, plus local Rangers. This is ridiculous. NPS has painted the family as being dangerous and is escalating this thing into something bizarre.”

What is this family (and community guilty of???????) Protecting themselves, their land, their heritages, their way of life and what they choose to leave their children and their children’s children!

I think it is time, especially considering that the National Park Service alone,( and this is just the NPS...not counting the other federal land agencies) has put all American taxpayers into debt for over $6 Billion for maintenance fees! In other words the NPS can’t and won’t effectively take care of what “”THEY”” own! They are using illegal tactics such as, as in direct violation of, USCS 42, 1982 and 1983 where the threat of “Color of Law, Intimidation of Law, etc, violates the very civil rights of landowner ship!

So, is the NPS a friend or a foe? You decide!

Sheila Davis Sisters of the River PO Box 202 Jumping Branch, WV 25969 (304) 466-3676 country357@stargate.net http://www.newriverfriends.org

[countrydummy]

enough of tyranny is enough!!!!!!!!!

[countrydummy]

ping

[countrydummy]

ping

[NonValueAdded]

CALL TO ACTION PING! The Pilgrim family needs our speical kind of FR magic. Please spread the word far and wide.

Kathy In Alaska, any insight you can add?

Please send your emails and letters to:
GWB: president@whitehouse.gov
Gale Norton, SecInt: Gale_Norton@ios.doi.gov
National Park Service: contact page
Sen Murkowski, Lisa: here
Sen Stevens, Ted: here
Rep Young, Don: here

And, of course, your own congresscritters and the radio hosts.

[isom35]

after the way they handled the vince foster murder, I'll say foe. what do i win?

[NonValueAdded]

Read more about the Pilgrim family and the National Park Service absurdity in the Wrangell St. Elias News http://mccarthy-kennicott.com/MJ2003/index.html

[countrydummy]

smart butt! hahahahahah loser! lol lol

[countrydummy]

what a wonderful person you are! These folks need the support of all the Freepers! This is the right to all of our inaleinable rights! God Bless you!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I don't see the NPS as a friend. Their liberal slant and tactics suck. And last year, I noticed a disturbing number of park rangers that were starting fires so that they could pull overtime pay to fight the fires.

Since the govt. was having a ball putting out press releases threatening how forest arsonists would be punished by huge fines and prison time, how were government employees treated when it was discovered that NPS employees were starting fires? Their arrests were front-page news (especially Terry Barton), but I never heard anything about their trials or whether they were found guilty or anything else.

[countrydummy]

how well said!

[countrydummy]

Oh My Gosh! I hope you never thought I find the NPS as a friend! This agency is trying to take my home! Maybe I had get better at sarcasm!

[farmfriend]

Bump for ya.

[countrydummy]

bump....I am shameless! lol

[countrydummy]

gosh, I am so ashamed! I really don't know who Vince was! Please tell me!

[NonValueAdded]

Here is an email as posted in a previous thread here:

To: sauropod
This is the email I got: (it included this link to info on the Pilgrim Family: http://mccarthy-kennicott.com/MJ2003/index.html )

I cannot emphasize too strongly how important this information is. This could well be a life-or-death/injury issue for a wonderful family whose only 'crime' is being an inholder in an Alaskan National Park. The National Park Service lusts after the four hundred acres that were purchased by and rightfully belong to the Pilgrim family, and NPS is hunting this family like a wolfpack stalks a pregnant elk. This is criminal and must not be allowed to happen! Please, read this through and share it with many, MANY others -- send it to the far reaches of this country and the world, and help us get a HUGE public outcry and
media attention and the light of Truth focused on this! We only have two weeks, so please, set aside the time it takes to send this on to everyone you know that cares about families and freedom in America! This family -- and through
them, our own freedom -- needs our help!

Julie, prayerfully

Very Important!

Things getting worse in WRST (Wrangell / St. Elias National Park)

Date: 5/31/03

From: RickK@xxxxxxx (Rick Kenyon)

Thanks, Julie. Things are getting worse. These people have done nothing wrong. They don't deserve to be treated like criminals. Below is an email I sent this morning.

---

Original Message

---

RE: Things getting worse in WRST

Date: Sat, May 31, 2003

From: "Chuck Cushman"

To: "WSEN" WSEN@starband.net

"Ray Kreig" ray@kreig.com,

"Jack Phelps" Jack_Phelps@gov.state.ak.us

dshultz@attalaska.net

Rick:

You need to be in touch with all both Senator Stevens' staff as well as Murkowski and Rep. Don Young. They need to know this is escalating.

The Park Service needs to stand down to prevent things from getting out of hand. Neither they or you want to get involved in any violence. I know you know
this. By shining a light on the Park Service actions, they will become more cautious.

Send letters to all three in Washington, DC by fax (not snail mail) and send
a copy to the Park Service.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----

From: WSEN [mailto:WSEN@starband.net]

Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003

To: Chuck Cushman; Ray Kreig; Jack Phelps; dshultz@attalaska.net

Subject: Things getting worse in WRST

The NPS is pulling out all of the stops in their effort to destroy the Pilgrim family. I talked with Assistant Superintendent Hunter Sharp yesterday and he told me the following:

On or about June 14, 2003, a 3-person BLM survey crew will arrive at the Marvelous Millsite property and the Spokane Placer for the purpose of establishing
the boundaries. (That's fine, we want the NPS to know where its property is.)


They will be accompanied by a NPS 'Special Events Team' of 6-8 armed Rangers, plus local Rangers. This is ridiculous. NPS has painted the family as being dangerous and is escalating this thing into something bizarre.

At the same time, a team of "experts" will start up the McCarthy Creek Trail (McCarthy-Green Butte RS135) for the purpose of documenting any "damage" that may have been done to the park lands. (NPS does not recognize that this
as a legal state right-of-way, despite mountains of evidence that it is.)

This team will consist of a Biologist, a Fisheries person, two Botanists, an Archeologist and a Geologist. They will be accompanied by 3 more armed Rangers. Helicopters will be used to transport this army of NPS shooters and
surveyors up the creek, although the Pilgrims have specifically offered use of their airstrip by light plane to avoid the noise and confusion of helicopter landings and overflights near the livestock. NPS specifically announced that "We will take all reasonable precautions to minimize any disruption" during the survey. Another lie.

Bear in mind that these folks are pacifists, very akin to the Mennonite faith. They are a law-abiding, God-fearing family of 17 that dresses differently
and talks differently (they are outspoken in their faith in God and their opposition to evil) but are loving, caring people who have been a real blessing to
their neighbors. The trail in question has been listed in state statute as a legal, valid state right-of-way.

NPS apparently plans to charge the family with any "damage" it may find along this route, although others have maintained the road in recent years and have not been cited or even warned by the NPS.

This is clearly a case where a family has been targeted for punitive action. It apparently is also designed to frighten the other residents into submission. The slander/smear campaign by the park people has been disgusting.

At the same time, the NPS informational office in Chitina as well as the Kiosk at the end of the McCarthy Road has been closed due to "budget cuts." Apparently, the park management is funneling all of its resources into this campaign
to destroy this family and get their property (400 acres in the middle of the park).

The town of McCarthy is very upset about this. We plan to evacuate the children from the property and send observers up to the property, but beyond that, we need help.

What should we do? We feel like the Wrangell / St. Elias National Park has become "occupied territory" and is being ruled by a dictator.

----- ----- ------ ------

Contact information for this very important issue is:

Rick and Bonnie Kenyon Wrangell St. Elias News mailto:RickK@starband.net 907-554-4454.

Rick and his wife, Bonnie, publish the Wrangell St. Elias News at McCarthy, Alaska, semi-monthly.

http://mccarthy-kennicott.com/MJ2003/index.html

To send Letters to the Editor: WSEN@starband.net

The local lodge, the largest business in McCarthy (McCarthy Lodge) owned by Neil Darish, 907-554-4402 Email: help@mccarthylodge.com

Keith and Lauri Rowland, local contractors: 907-554-4498 (no email)

The Pilgrim Family (please use discretion when giving this one out)907-554-xxxx. Papa will not be there as he cannot get up the trail without being cited by the NPS. Country Rose is the name of the mother, give her a call if you
like. They are precious people. Some of the children will be there also, at least for a while. Remember Alaska is 4 hours behind East Coast time.

Thanks for your help,

Rick

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

You're OK. I just couldn't resist taking a couple of shots at the NPS. I'm harboring serious doubts that you regard the NPS as your buddy right now.

[countrydummy]

U are smoking the best dope available! hehehhehe, sorry, but you should know( or maybe not) how bad I deplore the NPS and what they now think they stand for.....they are vinimous liars and traitors to the people and the lands! They are scumbags!

[NonValueAdded]

McCarthy, Alaska courtesy of Yahoo Maps

[countrydummy]

My Goodness! What a support team form the area that now needs it most!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yep, the NPS is pretty sad these days. The Army Corps of Engineers used to be a fine organization, too, but the govt. is now using them as a tool to run people off their land. The whole thing sucks. Sounds like Alaska needs their own version of a sagebrush rebellion. The NPS here is some bureaucrat's muscle to take land away from people. Disgusting.

[countrydummy]

One of my most favorite sayings comes for the movie "Steel Magnoias(sp), but it is "hit her...' as in such, and all do respect, it is time to bring the NPS and all others down!

[isom35]

I'll guess you are kidding, but the cliff notes story
on vince foster: clinton lawyer, found dead in ft marcy park july 1993. clinton kool-aid drinkers believe it was a simple suicide, others believe he was killed there, killed
somewhere else and dumped, committed suicide somewhere else
and dumped.

do a google search on vince foster (my quake1 ctf namesake for years) and check out the info.

[isom35]

the ft marcy park police handled the investigation, thats why i tied that into to your original post (as a small joke....see?)

[countrydummy]

no! see I missed allot during those years, cause I was rasing children and working 12-14 and even up to 36 hous at a time......I did not have time to read, listen or otherwise to the news! All I could afford to pay attention to was the local headlines! That is why I call myself dummy impart!

[countrydummy]

Oh now I know what you meant! I am getting old, but I can't remember everthing! hhahahhhahahahhhaha

[countrydummy]

Yelp, I for one think that to be the best way to organize! Let the NPS know what is coming and why it is coming........let Gail Norton know why she is getting ready to hear for the land that bleeds!


I am part American Indian, and I guess I have always known what it means to have lands taken, yet this time, enough is enough and I refuse to let it happen! Alaska is my neighbor.....as they are mine!

[quietolong]

Sounds like a setup record and keep track everyone who comes up there


Will Camera-Phones Be Used To Humiliate Ordinary People? (Or RAT Politicians? Hee hee hee!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/921513/posts

If the NPS people are violating state law. They should be Arrested

[farmfriend]

I know a lot of you have been pinged already. Forgive the double notice. I'm trying to reach those on my list that are not on the others.

Rights/farm/environment ping.

If you wish to be added or removed from my list, just let me know.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!

[sauropod]

TY for the ping.

[NonValueAdded]

Any update? Any news?

[sauropod]

Just found out contact info for the director of the NPS.

Need to do a little homework here, but will see what can be done...

[justshe]

Don't confuse the NPS with the USFS (US Forest Service). MOST fires within a National Park are NOT fought (recall Yellowstone?). And, IIRC, it was USFS temporary fire-fighting employees who were caught setting those fires.

[NonValueAdded]

Huh? Please read post 15. It is the NPS in this situation. Fires have nothing to do with the Pilgrim family. Your pennance is to write letters of protest to all of the contacts listed in the thread :)

[justshe]

Huh? Please read my replies in context. I was replying to post number #9 which stated:

---

Since the govt. was having a ball putting out press releases threatening how forest arsonists would be punished by huge fines and prison time, how were government employees treated when it was discovered that NPS employees were starting fires? Their arrests were front-page news (especially Terry Barton), but I never heard anything about their trials or whether they were found guilty or anything else.

9 posted on 06/01/2003 10:08 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

---

Here is my reply:
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity; countrydummy

Don't confuse the NPS with the USFS (US Forest Service). MOST fires within a National Park are NOT fought (recall Yellowstone?). And, IIRC, it was USFS temporary fire-fighting employees who were caught setting those fires.

33 posted on 06/09/2003 10:05 AM PDT by justshe

---

And your pennace is to apologize for your failure to follow the train of thought with my reply. You can always look 'backwards' to the post that caused the reply. :-)

[NonValueAdded]

Mea maxima culpa. I had just sent out a ping for an update since the thread was dormant, saw your response, and assumed (Oscar/Felix skit incorporated by reference - it is a classic) the wrong thing. I'm sorry :(

Now ... what can we do to help out the Pilgrim family?