ALERTS
[new information at bottom]

IMPORTANT EPA INFORMATION
from American Iron Magazine
http://www.aimag.com/epa/index.htm

A local, print ready, html version of the Questionnaire has been provided [click here to view].

Completed questionnaires should be sent to:

Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Dept. EPA/AIM, 236 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980

or fax it to 202/546-0986.

The Guardian

Since their breakup two years ago they have forged lives apart. Barbie took up with a surfer from Australia. Ken, meanwhile, took time off for self-reflection on a trip through Europe and the far east.

But a new, rougher Ken, with ripped jeans, a motorcycle jacket and untidy hair, was unveiled yesterday at a press conference in Manhattan, as executives from the toy company Mattel hinted that he and Barbie might be about to get back together again. "It's really about playing through different fantasies for little girls," said Chuck Scothon, a senior vice president of Mattel. Continue reading at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1706711,00.html

[(sigh)]

Apr 11, 2006
Press Release issued by Buell Motorcycle Company:

Buell XBRR Production Delayed to Enable Product Enhancements

EAST TROY, Wis. (April 11, 2006) – Citing ongoing investigation into the causes of the mechanical failures that forced the early retirement of four first production-run Buell XBRRs from their competition debut at the Daytona 200 in March and the development of upgraded components, Buell Motorcycles announced it will delay full production of its Firebolt XB12R-based race bike until late-April or early May.

"We believe we've identified the root causes of the failures at Daytona, but we need to do more development and testing before we're ready to go forward with the production run," said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer. "We want to make sure these bikes are turn-key reliable for privateer race teams."

The delay means the delivery of XBRRs to privateer race teams will not happen in time for the upcoming AMA Formula Xtreme rounds at Barber Motorsports Park and California Speedway in April. Buell said they may use the American Sportbike Racing Association/Championship Cup Series races at Road America held April 21-23 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for additional testing.

"Daytona was a real test for the XBRR and the dealer-sponsored teams that entered the race," Buell said. "We learned a lot and we're refitting those bikes and developing solutions to the problems we encountered. We won't begin final production of the XBRR until we're confident we've got these issues sorted out."

The Buell XBRR is a limited-edition production racing motorcycle based on the Firebolt XB12R and designed exclusively for closed-course competition. It offers private racers a professional-level, race-ready, production-based platform. Buell will be producing a total of 50 XBRR motorcycles this year.

Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. Pull into http://www.buell.com for the Buell dealer nearest you.

Pill 'reverses' vegetative state

A sleeping pill can temporarily revive people in a permanent vegetative state to the point where they can have conversations, a study finds.

Zolpidem is usually used to treat insomnia.

South African researchers, writing in the NeuroRehabilitation, looked at the effects on three patients of using the drug for up to six years.

But one expert in neurological rehabilitation said it was possible the patients had a different condition.

A person in a vegetative state will appear to be awake and may have their eyes open, but will show no awareness of their surroundings.

They will not be able to interact with other people, and will show no responses to sounds or things that happen around them.

But they will show signs of movement, and cycles of sleep and may be able to breathe on their own.

Response

Each of the three patients studied was given the drug every morning.

An improvement was seen within 20 minutes of taking the drug and wore off after four hours, when the patients restored to their permanent vegetative state.

Patient L had been in a vegetative state for three years, showing no response to touch and no reaction to his family.

After he was given Zolpidem, he was able to talk to them, answering simple questions.

Patient G was also able to answer simple questions and catch a basketball.

Patient N had been "constantly screaming", but stopped after being given the drug when he started watching TV and responding to his family.

Dr Ralf Clauss, now in the nuclear medicine department at the Royal Surrey Hospital was one of the researchers who carried out the study.

He told the BBC: "For every damaged area of the brain, there is a dormant area, which seems to be a sort of protective mechanism.

"The damaged tissue is dead, there's nothing you can do.

"But it's the dormant areas which 'wake up'."

Activity trigger

He said drugs like Zolpidem activate receptors for a chemical called GABA in nerve cells in the brain.

When brain damage occurs, these receptors appear to change shape, so they cannot behave as normal.

He said the drug appeared to cause the receptors in these dormant areas to change back to their normal shape, triggering nerve cell activity.

Dr Clauss added: "We are carrying out further research. The next step is to get rid of the sleepiness effect of the drug."

Mike Barnes, professor of neurological rehabilitation at the Hunters Moor centre in Newcastle, said it was possible that the patients had not had "true" PVS.

"A diagnosis of PVS means the patient should not wake up and respond."

He said a study carried out by specialists 10 years ago had shown that up to 45% of patients diagnosed with PVS actually had a range of different conditions, from which they could wake up.

Professor Barnes added: "This drug could be unmasking a condition from which people are able to wake up temporarily.

"But if they did have PVS, it would be a remarkable finding, and certainly worth further research."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5008744.stm

If the thunder don't get you, then the lightning will
Lyric from "The Wheel" by the Grateful Dead

Motorcyclist dies after hit by lightning
By Manny Gonzales
Denver Post Staff Writer

A motorcyclist was struck by lightning and killed Wednesday afternoon while traveling on U.S. 36 in Westminster, police said.

The man, whose name was not released, was westbound about 5:15 p.m. on the Boulder Turnpike just west of Sheridan Boulevard when lightning struck, Westminster police spokesman Tim Read said. Witnesses said they saw a bright flash that sent the yellow sport-bike veering into a concrete median.

Authorities were uncertain whether the bolt or the resulting crash killed the man, but witnesses said it appeared he took a direct hit.

"According to witnesses, the motorcyclist was struck by lightning while traveling at highway speeds," Read said. "It struck directly, but we're not sure yet if the lightning hit him or the bike."

The lightning left a crater in the asphalt about 12 inches by 8 inches wide and 6 inches deep, Read said.

It was the second fatal lightning strike this month in the north metro area and came in the middle of the National Weather Service's Lightning Awareness Week, which runs until Saturday.

On June 11, Javier Cortez- Perez, 39, was electrocuted by lightning as he walked through the parking lot of the Mile Hi Flea Market in Henderson.

Authorities said a thunderstorm blew through Westminster about the time of Wednesday's strike.

After getting struck, the motorcyclist crashed into a median and slid about 150 yards before coming to a stop, Read said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"According to one witness, who was traveling right behind him, she said there was a flash of light in front of her and she saw him lose control at the same time that debris started hitting her windshield," Read said.

Lightning striking a moving vehicle is rare but not unheard of, an expert said. There have been several cases in recent years of motorcyclists and motorists being struck.

Typically, a person traveling in an automobile is more likely to survive a strike, said Gregory Stewart, a consultant with the Lightning Data Center, a research forum at St. Anthony's Central Hospital.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3965395

** Our sincere condolences to the family of the rider.

IS CONGRESS A "GANG" UNDER S. 155?
Friday, June 23, 2006

Addendum: All information related to S.155 is located here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.00155:

Sigmund Freud famously asked, "What does woman want?" He also famously asserted that "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

Downsize DC not-so-famously asks, "Is Congress a gang, and does it need to be abated?"

And we not-so-assertively assert that "Sometimes Congress could be a gang, depending on the future use and misuse made of Senate bill 155 -- the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act." And so could your motorcycle club, your chess club, your rose growing league, and potentially any association under the sun, including Downsize DC.

It all depends on what the meaning of is, is. Sigmund Freud's use of the word "sometimes" would seem to suggest that sometimes he thought a cigar was not just a cigar (Bill Clinton probably agrees), and Congress's historical relationship to the Constitutional words "Congress shall make no law," would seem to suggest that sometimes a club, or association, could also be a gang.

The definition of "gang" could depend on the answer to the question, "What does Congress want?" Congress clearly wants to have a "living Constitution" that can have any meaning at any time, with no actual words ever being changed. And they may also want a "living S. 155" so that any group could be labeled a gang, if the Feds felt a need to abate or prevent that group.

S. 155 is the brainchild of Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein of California. This bill has many different versions, under many different names. It seems to mutate faster than the HIV virus. It also, like most Congressional bills, shows a tendency toward promiscuity. It could be joined with another bill, with a different subject, at any time. And a major disease could result.

[;-) ATTENTION HOG MEMBERS (-;] S. 155 would make it a crime to belong to a group, or to recruit members to that group, as long as that group is called a gang. S. 155 would also do all sorts of other things, many of which are unknown to us because the bill is long, and we haven't had time to read it yet. WE ONLY JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS BILL FROM SECRET INFORMERS LAST NIGHT! But remember, Congress won't read S. 155 either, before they attach it to "The Sweetness and Light and Everything Good Act" in the dead of night, and rush it to a vote.

Indeed, the gang known as the Senate Judiciary Committee is having a secret conspiratorial meeting (otherwise known as an executive session) right now, to consider S. 155. And rumor has it that they may join S. 155 to some kind of "we hate sex offenders" bill that no one will dare to vote against. There are so many things wrong with all of this ...

• Neither gang abatement nor sex offenses are the business of the federal government.
• Criminal law is a state function, under our Constitution, not a federal function.
• The Judiciary Committee should not meet in secret.
• Bills should not be attached to other bills.
• Bills should be available to the public for at least a week before a vote is held.
• Laws should not engage in prior restraint, or criminalize free association.
• Laws should not be vague, leaving the concrete details to bureaucratic discretion.

But there's more. S. 155 has all the makings of another RICO Act. RICO is the law that, among other things, allows the government to charge your property with a crime, and seize it under a civil procedure with lax standards of evidence. Do we really need another RICO Act?

In the movie "Little Caesar," the gang leader Rico, played by Edward G. Robinson, is shot down. As he lays dying he asks the great existential question, "Is this the end of Rico?" The answer is yes. Rico dies. The RICO Act, and all its clones, like S. 155, should suffer the same fate. Congress should not deal with lawless gangs by becoming a lawless gang. But that's exactly what they're doing. And the time is short to thwart this criminal conspiracy ...

We don't have time to mount one of our standard Electronic Advocacy campaigns. Phone calls are needed. Make the Senate Judiciary Gang nervous. If you see one of your Senators on the Gang Roster below, call them and tell them to oppose S. 155 and all its variants. If your Senator is not on this list then call the Senate Judiciary Gang Leader, Arlen Specter, and tell him to stop S. 155.

• Make a note of what you want to say before you call.
• Be polite yet firm.
• When you're done, please email feedback at DownsizeDC.org and let us know how your call went.

Please do so now. It will be fun, and it will only take a minute. Here's the list of gang members ...

Arlen Specter - CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA - 202-224-4254
Orrin G. Hatch - UTAH - 202-224-5251
Patrick J. Leahy - VERMONT - 202-224-4242
Charles E. Grassley - IOWA - 202-224-3744
Edward M. Kennedy - MASSACHUSETTS - 202-224-4543
Jon Kyl - ARIZONA - 202-224-4521
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. - DELAWARE - 202-224-5042
Mike DeWine - OHIO - 202-224-2315
Herbert Kohl - WISCONSIN - 202-224-5653
Jeff Sessions - ALABAMA - 202-224-4124
Dianne Feinstein - CALIFORNIA - 202-224-3841
Lindsey Graham - SOUTH CAROLINA - 202-224-5972
Russell D. Feingold - WISCONSIN - 202-224-5323
John Cornyn - TEXAS - 202-224-2934
Charles E. Schumer - NEW YORK - 202-224-6542
Sam Brownback - KANSAS - 202-224-6521
Richard J. Durbin - ILLINOIS - 202-224-2152
Tom Coburn - OKLAHOMA - 202-224-5754

Source: http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/64/5430/2006-06-23.asp?wid=64&nid=5430

Bikers and Bear Butte
By Kari Lydersen
Infoshop News (news.infoshop.org)
June 27, 2006

In 1857, 30,000 Sioux and Cheyenne gathered at Bear Butte in South Dakota to plan how to deal with white settlers moving in on their sacred land. Native American warriors launched attacks on wagon trains from the mountain, incidents which are now commemorated in historical plaques along the highway. In 1874, Indian fighter George Custer visited Bear Butte, two years before making his infamous "last stand" at Little Bighorn. Chief Crazy Horse also spoke there, calling on his people never to sell the land.

The windswept mountain is sacred to about 30 regional Native American tribes, a spiritual respite for vision quests, healing, learning and praying. And they are still fighting to defend it from white men. Now instead of pioneers in covered wagons, their nemesis is a biker turned developer who is proposing one of the world's largest biker bars at the foot of Bear Butte.

For about two weeks every summer, the stark hills and mesas of Bear Butte rise above an incongruous backdrop: hundreds of thousands of bikers from around the US and Europe attending the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Bikers camp at the Buffalo Chip campground about four miles from the mountain, drink beer and cheer rock groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Native Americans in the area are offended by the drinking and debauchery at the foot of their sacred mountain, but they have grudgingly tolerated the motorcycle rally for the about 60 years it has been going on. Now they are furious that an Arizona biker and developer wants to turn the biker party scene into a year-round presence, with a sprawling biker bar and campground within two miles of Bear Butte on it's currently undeveloped north side.

"We're trying to defend this mountain that's sacred to our people for many generations, but we're fighting against millionaire developers," said Victorio Camp, 31, a Pine Ridge reservation resident who grew up doing vision quests at Bear Butte. "This mountain is a place where spirituality comes from. It's a place where we gather medicines and do ceremonies. It's hard to go up there and pray when you have 100,000 motorcycles driving by."

Developer Jay Allen started out as a participant and leather vendor at the Sturgis rally. He was a regular at the Broken Spoke Saloon in a former Sturgis lumberyard. He ended up buying the bar in 1993, and then opened a chain of Broken Spokes in Florida, New Hampshire and South Carolina. For his new 600-acre development, he made clumsy efforts to reach out to Native Americans. He announced plans to call the complex "Sacred Ground," and feature an 80-foot statue of an Indian, a tipi village and an "educational center" about Native Americans � many bikers do feel an affinity with Native Americans and want to learn more about their culture. (Some bikers also oppose Allen's development, and testified against his application for a liquor license at a public hearing.)

Local tribes did not appreciate Allen's gesture, however, seeing it as a case of adding insult to injury, especially considering the history of the area.

Bear Butte is part of the Black Hills which the Lakota feel were stolen from them by the US government after the Treaty of Ft. Laramie in 1868. In 1923 they filed a lawsuit charging the land was seized without just compensation, and the suit slowly made its way through the courts all the way up to a US Supreme Court decision in 1980 in which the Justices upheld a lower court decision awarding the Lakota more than $100 million for the land. Tribes have refused to accept the money, instead continuing to demand that the land be returned.

Last fall the foundation was laid for Allen's 22,500 foot bar, a huge asphalt parking lot and a 30,000-person-plus music venue he has said will serve "the biggest music acts known to mankind." (Allen could not be reached for comment, and Sturgis rally organizers declined to comment).

Meanwhile another developer has applied for permits for another bar and campground nearby. And venues for the summer rally have encroached closer and closer to the mountain, which is mostly a state park with areas reserved for Native ceremonies. Defenders of Bear Butte are calling for at least a five mile buffer zone between the mountain and new development.

Organizers of the Sturgis biker rally, which is no doubt a crucial part of the working class town's economy, declined to comment on the biker bar plans. A county commissioner said that since Allen owns the land and his plans meet local codes, there is no reason for the government to interfere.

Camp is particularly concerned that the development is on the north of Bear Butte, whereas the rally festivities are mainly on the opposite side around downtown Sturgis.

"All this traffic from Sturgis will be coming by now," he said. "We're worried about the animals, the wildlife."

Native Americans also don't like the fact that drinking alcohol will be allowed and probably rampant at the music venue and campground.

"They'll all be drunk, looking at our mountain, and they won't see it as such a beautiful, pure place; they don't know the majesticness and power the place has," said Camp. "They walk around naked and drink and ride bikes; to us that's very disrespectful."

"You wouldn't have this in front of a church, synagogue or hospital," added Lakota activist Debra White Plume. "That's what Bear Butte is like to us."

Different tribes have formed the Bear Butte International Alliance to oppose the development, and petitioned the county to put Allen's liquor license up for a county-wide vote. (Their request was denied). In late spring, 27 Cheyenne teenagers ran a two-day, 190-mile relay from their reservation in Montana to Bear Butte in protest. Tribal members plan to keep fighting Allen's plan and other development proposals in various ways. Within the past few years their lobbying has helped defeat other development proposals, including a shooting range.

"We just want to hold on to what little we have left at this mountain," said Camp. "As Lakota it is our duty to protect the earth. We're just trying to have people understand why it's such a sacred place. But it feels like our rights are being stepped on again, the same thing that's been happening since Columbus came."

Native Americans from around the country will come to Bear Butte in August for a summit on protecting sacred sites. White Plume said they are planning protest actions in Sturgis, and they plan to contact musicians who have played or might consider playing at the rally or new arena.

"We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life," she said. "This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life."

Kari Lydersen is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, In These Times, LiP Magazine, Clamor, and The New Standard.

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2006bear_butte

New Engine, Four New Models From Harley-Davidson

New Engine, Four New Models From Harley-Davidson
Friday July 14, 1:00 pm ET
More Powerful Twin Cam 96 and 6-Speed Transmission for 2007 Big Twin Models

MILWAUKEE, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HDI - News) will launch the Twin Cam 96, an all-new Big Twin engine, as it introduces its 2007 line of motorcycles. The Twin Cam 96 will power all models in the Harley-Davidson Dyna, Softail and Touring product families, each of which will also feature the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission. New motorcycles for 2007 include two VRSC models, the all-new FXSTC Softail Custom, and a limited-edition model celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sportster introduction.

"The V-Twin engine has always been the centerpiece of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle," said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Director of Motorcycle Product Development. "It's integral not only to the performance of the motorcycle, but also to its styling, to its sound, and to the way it feels to the rider. The new Twin Cam 96 and 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission offer enhanced performance, while maintaining the traditional aesthetics of the Harley-Davidson Big Twin."

It is the timeless blend of form and function that shapes the character of every Harley-Davidson model. It's a philosophy that dictates that the machine should stir the soul not just through its physical performance, but also through its presence, an expression of the passion that has guided Harley-Davidson for more than a century.

Highlights of the 2007 Harley-Davidson line include:

The new Twin Cam 96 engine, paired with the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission, delivers up to 17 percent more torque (varies by model family) than the Twin Cam 88 it replaces and incorporates a number of design changes to enhance performance and reliability. It will only be offered with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI). The 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission features quieter helical-cut gears in ratios optimized to match the torque curve of the Twin Cam 96. A sixth gear reduces engine rpm by 11 percent at highway speeds. New mufflers have been tuned to enhance the lower sound frequencies for a more commanding exhaust tone.

The VRSC family of liquid-cooled power-cruisers features two new models. The VRSCDX Night Rod Special offers menacing, blacked-out styling. The limited-edition VRSCX features the pavement-scorching power of a big-bore Revolution V-Twin engine with drag-bike styling and graphics that pay tribute to the NHRA champion Screamin' Eagle / Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle racing team.

The new FXSTC Softail Custom reprises the styling cues of the classic chopper, with a 200mm rear tire, king-and-queen seat, and Bobtail rear fender.

The limited-edition 50th Anniversary Sportster features special badging, a traditional peanut fuel tank, and other classic components to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Sportster introduction.

The FLSTF Fat Boy is refreshed and reloaded for 2007, with new wheels and styling details, a new 200mm rear tire, and the performance of the Twin Cam 96/B engine and 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission.

The FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom is redesigned to enhance its aesthetic appeal with additional chrome and custom features, including a new two-up, ribbed seat, Fat Bob fuel tank and a mini-pullback handlebar.

Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) will offer four exciting models for 2007: the Screamin' Eagle Road King, the Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide, the Screamin' Eagle Softail Springer, and the Screamin' Eagle Dyna. Each is powered by a new high-performance Twin Cam 110 powertrain and features new accessories and fabulous new paint schemes.

The new Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, featuring new hands-free fob and auto arming/disarming, is an available factory-installed option for all Harley-Davidson models.

Harley-Davidson will offer 17 new color combinations for 2007.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.

http://www.harley-davidson.com

OK'd beer license fuels Bear Butte protester's resolve
by James Falcon
July 14, 2006

[This article appeared in the July 10, 2006 issue of the Rapid City Journal.]

STURGIS - About 20 to 30 men, women and children sit in a small wooded camp at the base of Bear Butte. For the next month, they will be residents of a tightly-knit community on Coyote Lane, seven miles northeast of Sturgis.

"It definitely isn't a demonstration," Margie Loud Hawk, a temporary Bear Butte resident from Kyle, said. "(It's) a gathering."

They say that, through this gathering, they are showing their active opposition of business encroachment near Bear Butte, especially campgrounds with beer licenses.

Bear Butte, a state park, is also seen as a church, a place of worship, to many. The cultural significance crosses the line between intertribal differences. Both the Lakota and the Cheyenne look at the mountain as being the centerpiece for religion, an altar to the Creator. It is a place to pray, fast and learn about the spiritual history of the indigenous peoples.

However, this serenity will disappear next month.

The Free Spirit Campground, a modest-sized campground covering 43 acres, is near the northwest base of Bear Butte. For $80 a week (or $210 per week, plus $80 per person, for RV campers), campers can set up base here. Before and during the Aug. 7-13 Sturgis motorcycle rally, motorcyclists will be among those camping at the usually peaceful butte base.

Meade County commissioners on Friday approved a beer license for the campground, as well as for the Ride & Rest Campground, a new campground scheduled to open more than 2 miles south of Bear Butte. But local and some nationwide traditionalists believe that beer, bikers and sacred sites simply don't mix.

Ulysses Riley of Gillette, Wyo., the owner and senior partner of the Free Spirit Campground, doesn't see a problem.

"It's the Sturgis rally, and I don't think it's going to go away," Riley said of his motorcycle-riding clientele.

"It's been a campground for many years," Riley said.

He was told by the previous owner that it was a relatively quiet campground. Riley bought the campground through the Internet auction site eBay.

"I don't mean anybody any harm." he said, adding that the situation could be worse. "The Hells Angels, Bandidos, the Aryan Nation or the Nazis could have bought it. It would be a lot worse than it is. I just want to do our campground."

He also said that he went to the education center at Bear Butte State Park to learn about the history of Bear Butte.

"I understand where they're coming from ... as much as I can from my perspective," Riley said.

The approval of the two beer licenses came at an early time in the demonstration, which began July 4.

"Why do we have to beg?" demonstrator Bob Black Tail said in regard to protecting Bear Butte. "They (county commissioners) enjoy their role as oppressors immensely. They could care less about our spirituality."

"We knew we didn't have a chance," Free Man, a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma, said in regards to fighting the licenses. Free Man said he believes that economics seem to overrule the culture of the Lakota or the culture of American Indians in general. "Look at all of those bars down there (in town)," Free Man added. "We only have one mountain."

There are several bars in Sturgis, plus grocery stores and convenience markets that sell beer.

On a hill not far from the Bear Butte turnoff is the Iron House. "Welcome bikers," a banner reads on the outside of the store. The Iron Horse is one of four establishments with beer or liquor licenses within a 5-mile radius of Bear Butte.

Among them are two Indian groups that also opposed at Meade County Commission hearings: the new Broken Spoke Saloon and Sturgis County Line Campground 2 miles north of Bear Butte, and the Glencoe CampResort, 3 miles south of Bear Butte, which has added a concert venue called Rock'n The Rally. Both were granted full liquor licenses this year.

"There's plenty of room on the other side of Sturgis," Ahmbaska Camp of Pine Ridge said. "There's no need to develop here."

Camp said that a 5-mile wide buffer zone should be put in place for the sacred site.

"It's not too much to ask for," he said.

Camp's father, Carter Camp, serves as the spokesman for the group at the camp. Camp said that the group plans to march and demonstrate in Sturgis.

"We intend to execute our constitutional rights," Camp said.

Camp said that there was a sizeable turnout for the initial start of the demonstration on July 4. "We had a really good meeting," Camp said.

"This is a peaceful demonstration," his son, Ahmbaska, said. "They're trying to make us out as militant, but there's women and children here."

The land on which the demonstrators are camped is on the southern base of the butte. This land was bought by the Rosebud Sioux Indian Tribe. It is also a neighbor of the Free Spirit Campground.

"Meade County commissioners made their mistake again," Camp said of the meeting Friday morning in Sturgis.

Camp estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 bikers will be present in the area.

"You can just picture 2,000 bikers at the bottom of the butte while we're praying up there," Chat Bobtail Bear said. Bobtail Bear is a member of the security team that takes care of the camp and its members.

Members of the group say that with each day that passes, there is less time for them to help preserve the heritage and history of Bear Butte.

"It's good that we're doing it here, now, and not five, 10 years down the road when there's development," Margie Loud Hawk of Kyle said, suggesting that nipping the development in the bud is a better tactic. She sat in a fold-out chair, swatting at an occasional fly. She was surrounded by the women and children of the group, all of whom endured the heat and flies together.

"Some people want to make it Indians against bikers," Loud Hawk's sister, Pam Afraid of Hawk, said.

Afraid of Hawk also believes that children should get involved with the struggle.

"Our children need to know these things," she said. Meanwhile, her children and grandchildren either sat with the women or were playing nearby.

The demonstration will come to a head during the week of July 30. From Aug. 1-4, a Summit of Nations will be held. According to Camp, members from Canada, Guatemala and Venezuela - which are countries with indigenous peoples - were invited and plan to attend. During the summit, treaties will be made, Camp said. He said that he wants these treaties to be recognized by the United Nations.

This year's Sturgis motorcycle rally will mark the end of the traditional encampment.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=11495

Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride

Trail of Tears
2006 Ride September 16th.

Trail History

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 called for the voluntary or forcible removal of all Indians from the eastern United States to the state of Oklahoma. May of 1838 marked the deadline for voluntary native removal. The military was prepared to use force and did so under the command of General Winfield Scott. General Scott ordered the round-up and removal of over 17,000 Cherokees who refused to leave. So began the Cherokee "Trail of Tears," one of the darkest episodes in relations between the United States and Native Americans.

The process was swift and brutal. Detachments of soldiers arrived at every Cherokee house and drove men, women, and children out of their homes with only the clothes on their backs. They were placed in concentration camps where conditions were horrendous. Food and supplies were limited and disease was rampant. Many perished.

By late June of 1838, the upper Tennessee River had become too low for navigation due to a drought. The U.S. government hired wagonmaster J.C.S. Hood to transport 1,070 Native Americans by foot and wagon from Ross's Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee to what is now Waterloo, Alabama - about 230 miles. Much of the journey followed what is now U.S. Highway 72.

Upon reaching Waterloo, the survivors were in despicable condition. Migration had to be suspended until the river was high enough for navigation. Many died in Waterloo and others escaped into the hills. Many area residents can trace their native American ancestry to those who fled.

As many as 4,000 deaths occurred because of this forced removal of civilized Native Americans from their rightful homes.

In the end, members of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations suffered the same fate as the Cherokees.

Join us as we honor those from the past who traveled this Trail of Tears. Let us learn from this mistake, accept each other as we are, and walk together in peace.

http://www.al-tn-trailoftears.org/index.htm

[Ed.Note: Addendum regarding the article listed above titled, "IS CONGRESS A "GANG" UNDER S. 155?" dated Friday, June 23, 2006 from the Culpeper Star Exponet (Virginia).]

Watching the streets
Liz Mitchell
Staff Writer
Monday, September 25, 2006

It often starts simple and can begin as early as 9 years old: children looking for a sense of belonging and gangs looking for new members.

To develop new membership, gangs sometimes start with school-age children by approaching them after school lets out and befriending them. A small friendship could become a daily routine where the child is introduced to beer, marijuana, gang colors, signs and perhaps an initiation or invitation to participate in criminal activity.

Sgt. J.C. Welch of the Culpeper Police Department gave a presentation to about 50 people at Culpeper County Library last week, educating the public on what kinds of gangs exist in Culpeper, how their children might become involved in gangs and what police are doing to combat the issue.

"We’re not saying that we are being overrun by gang members," Welch said. "We are not saying we are being terrorized by gang members, but we are aware there are gang members here."

Police have identified four local gangs in the Culpeper area, as well as gangs with national affiliations, such as MS-13, Sureno 13, Bloods, Crips and Warlocks - an outlaw motorcycle gang.

Of the local gangs, Welch said Culpeper is home to two Hispanic gangs called the Durangos and the Malinalcos, as well as the 8 Mob and 637 Mafia - affiliated with the Bloods and Crips respectively.

Whether it’s for emotional reasons, identity, status or protection, Welch said gangs try to fill in the gaps where children feel they are lacking and convince them that the gang is their family.

Members usually do not admit they belong to a gang but their actions speak for themselves, Welch said.

"I’m sorry when you go out and you commit assaults, you commit robberies, you are drug dealers, you all wear the same clothes, you have 8 Mob tattooed on your body and you all have the same sign, you are a gang member," Welch said. "There is no other way around it. You are a gang member, I’m sorry."

Members of local gangs have been arrested on charges of assault, malicious wounding, robbery, burglary and drug trafficking, Welch said. However, to date, the crimes have primarily been committed against members of other gangs and not against the community at large.

Welch reminded the audience that while gangs exist here, members are few and far between when taken into account with the entire population. But with Culpeper’s proximity to Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Washington D.C., and being one of the fastest growing towns in Virginia, it is becoming an ideal place for gangs to establish cliques. Also since law enforcement in northern Virginia has been cracking down on gang activity in recent years, Welch said they are forced to move to new territory.

In 2004, Welch said the Culpeper Police Department received information from a northern Virginia gang task force that the violent and highly organized MS-13 gang, which originated in El Salvador and has a strong prevalence in northern Virginia, was headed to Culpeper for a meeting to establish a presence here.

Enough people learned of the possible meeting that it never materialized. But when other gangs found out about the potential meeting, Welch said they starting tagging the town with graffiti to mark their territory and remind MS-13 that Culpeper is not their turf.

Welch said Sureno 13 sprayed graffiti on stores in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center that consisted of statements such as, "Mexican power," or "victory in Virginia," to let other gangs know where they come from and where they are now established.

To keep abreast of gang activity, Welch said Culpeper PD works with the northern Virginia gang task force and attends regional meetings in Albemarle County and Fredericksburg to share information with other law enforcement agencies. Police also continually receive gang training and monitor the area.

"We are conducting interviews with suspected gang members for intelligence purposes and taking pictures of their tattoos and gang members hate this, they really do," Welch said. "Our job is to make their lives miserable. That is what they’ve done in northern Virginia. … If we see these guys spitting on the sidewalk, we are stopping them. If we see them speeding two miles over the limit, we are stopping them. We are getting in their faces, taking their pictures. We want them to know they are not welcome here."

Welch said if gang members commit crimes, police are also able to charge the suspect with specific state statues that require stiffer penalties for gang-related crimes.

Officer Tim Sisk, who assisted Welch in the presentation, said the best way they can tackle gangs in the area is with the community’s help. Whether it’s noticing a group of people all wearing the same colors loitering on a street corner or seeing criminal activity in action, police want to know and are willing to investigate.

But prevention is also in order and Welch urged parents to pay attention to everything from what their children wear to where they spend their time.

"It’s your business to be in your kid’s life," Welch said. "You have to be nosy. You have to know what they are doing. You have to know what’s in their room and you have to know their friends and what they are watching on TV. All of us were children before. I disliked my parents for doing that but as you get older you realize that you have to be involved to make sure your child doesn’t get involved with a bad crowd. Stay important in your child’s life."

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or emitchell@starexponent.com

Warning signs of gang involvement

Admits to hanging out with kids in gangs

Obsessed with one or two colors of clothing, carries neatly pressed bandanna of same color

Obsessed with gangster-influenced music, videos, movies or Web sites

Uses unusual hand signals to communicate with friends

Has gang symbols on schoolbooks, clothes or walls

Displays tattoos of three dots, signifying "my crazy life," happy and sad theater masks, Virgin Mary, rosaries, tear drops or 8-ball signifying unity with another gang

Comes home with unexplained physical injuries

Carries a weapon

Has been in trouble with police

Withdraws from family and school

Stays out late for no reason

Exhibits signs of possible drug or alcohol use

Attitude change

What parents can do to prevent gang involvement

Spend quality time with your child

Get involved in school activities

Be a positive role model

Know your child's friends and their families

Encourage good study habits

Teach your child how to cope with peer pressure

Help your child develop good conflict resolution skills

Encourage your child to participate in extra curricular activities

Talk with your child about the dangers and consequences of gang involvement

Establish and enforce rules about gangs, drugs and attire

For help or to report suspicious activity contact

Culpeper Police Department at 727-3430

Culpeper County Sheriff's Office at 727-3400

Culpeper Crime Solvers at 727-0300

Missed the gang talk?

Tune in to Channel 21 at 5 p.m. today for complete coverage

Or attend the next gang talk at Culpeper Best Western for a breakfast presentation Oct. 10 at 7 a.m., sponsored by Faith and Family seminars and open to the public. Contact: 727-7910 for more information.

READERS REACTION:

Posted on 09/27 at 04:19 PM

In "Watching the Streets" you report that "police have identified four local gangs in the Culpeper area...such as MS-13, Sureno 13, Bloods, Crips and Warlocks - an outlaw motorcycle gang." Just what pray tell is an "outlaw motorcycle gang" and just what distinguishes the Warlock "motorcycle club" from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Boy Scouts, Daughters of the Confederacy or any other club and/or association in our community? Is it that they ride motorcycles? Oh horror!

Anonymous

Posted on 09/26 at 01:19 PM

As the president of the Virginia Chapter of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club I would just like to inform the Star Exponent that I am available prety much any time for the "other side" of the story. I have been a member of this community for over 30 years and I have always been a cooperative, tax paying, productive citizen. Please don't report half the news...It is the resposability of the news media to report the WHOLE STORY. If you can't do that then get out of the news bussines.

Anonymous

Posted on 09/26 at 10:01 AM

I think Liz should visit Shankstown Rd and interview the community about the gang activity before writing an article like that. I think we probably can arrange for you to interview the 637 gang members. Sgt. J.C Welch should have held his presentation in the communities of the gangs to inform the residents. The star exponent is a joke and over priced. I can pay $.35 and get the same news in the Washington post. Terry Hoffman 637 Shankstown Rd

Anonymous

Posted on 09/25 at 08:56 PM

Gang Talk: I guess it is better than no warning at all. Is Gang Talk somebody's idea of law enforcement? If so, then a good analogy of Gang Talk at the Federal level would be for the Department of Homeland Security to publish the following in the Star Exponent: "Terrorists are going to blow-up Flight 5X5, 5 minutes after it leaves Dulles Airport, tomorrow. If you don't want to be blown up, don't get on the plane."

Bob

A closer look at the 401 Club
Rob Humphreys
Managing Editor
Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Restaurant should not be associated with gang activity

In Monday’s Star-Exponent we ran a front-page story about efforts by the Culpeper Police Department to educate community members on area gangs.

We based our information on last week’s presentation by Police Sgt. J.C. Welch at the Culpeper County Library.

A large map on the front page detailed five areas mentioned in Welch’s presentation for having elements of gang activity. Each area was home to a different gang.

Under the Warlocks heading, we reported that the "rarely violent outlaw motorcycle gang often has parties or meetings at 401 Club on S. Main Street."

After the article appeared, Bo Chase, owner of the historic hotel building at 401 S. Main St., took issue with the article, "Watching the streets."

Chase, 45, who spoke with me Monday afternoon, rightfully noted that the reporter should have called him to get "both sides" of the story.

For that, we apologize.
"Your newspaper has hurt me, my family and the businesses at that location," said Chase, who has owned the building for 10 years.

He explained that the Warlocks have held two fundraising functions at 401 Club for a child’s college scholarship. He called the Warlocks "motorcycle enthusiasts," many of whom are well-to-do businessmen. In no way, he emphasized, do they use the restaurant as a hangout or club.

And, Chase said, when the Warlocks came to 401 Club - which has since been renamed Lord Culpeper Bar & Grill - the Police Department knew "months in advance."

When I called Sgt. Welch, he said there have been no incidents of Warlock-related violence at 401 Club. Chief of Police Dan Boring also downplayed the link between 401 Club and the Warlocks.

So, what does all this mean, and how does it relate to our reporting?

After speaking with Chase and Welch, I do not believe 401 Club should have been mentioned in our coverage. Even though the police included it in their presentation, the restaurant wrongfully appears to be guilty by association.

401 Club differs from the other locations listed in our map because it is a business and not a place of residence. For example, Sleepy Hollow Trailer Park and the Belle Court area are reported by police to house gang members and be locations for illegal, organized gang activity.

The same cannot be said of 401 Club.
As a newspaper, it is our responsibility to report the details of the police presentation. However, we should have dug deeper into 401 Club’s role and a) provided readers with more information or b) decided to leave the business out of the story.

401 Club did nothing wrong by hosting the Warlocks. The motorcycle gang, while it has garnered its share of bad publicity, does not pose the same kind of threat as other gangs mentioned in Monday’s article.

While it’s true that 401 Club and the surrounding area have a reputation for seedy behavior, it’s also true that Chase and area businesses are trying hard to reverse that trend. And, in this case, 401 Club certainly appears to be in the clear of harboring any illegal gang activity.

If you have any questions or concerns over our reporting, please contact me.

Managing Editor Rob Humphreys can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 128 or rhumphreys@starexponent.com

READERS REACTION:

Posted on 09/26 at 01:23 PM

Well at least you reported SOME of the other side. I still challange you to report the WHOLE story. John Kyff Northern Region Representative & President Virginia Chapter Warlocks MC

Anonymous

Gang problem?
Liz Mitchell
Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Not here, say residents of Shanktown Road

At Culpeper County Library last week, Sgt. J.C. Welch of the Culpeper Police Department spoke to a crowd of about 50 people. His presentation focused on what gangs exist in Culpeper, how they can be identified and where they live or tend to congregate.

When coverage of Welch’s presentation appeared on the front page of Monday’s Star-Exponent, residents of Shanktown Road took exception to their area being labeled as a spot for local gangs.

They had strong words for the newspaper, and the police.

Community reaction
"This is a family community, and I am a lifetime resident," said Donna Robinson, who lives on Shanktown Road, one of five areas mentioned in Welch’s gang presentation. "I have never seen any gang activity."

According to police, Shanktown Road, located west of the town limits on U.S. 522, is where the 637 Mafia originated. Police say the local gang is affiliated with the national Crips gang.

Preston Blackwell, a Reva resident who retired from the Fairfax County Police Department, said some people who used to live on Shanktown Road might have been affiliated with a gang - but they don’t live there anymore, and he’s never seen graffiti.

"I think it was irresponsible reporting and irresponsible police work," Blackwell said. "That is unprofessional to give out that information. … If there was a problem, I would expect the police to come out here and advise the citizens. That is responsible."

Martha Hoffman said she’s lived on Shanktown Road for nearly 50 years and has never seen or heard of anything gang related.
"I walk the road all the time … it’s only a mile long," Hoffman said. "I can’t figure out where the gang is. A lot of the children that was here have grown up and left.

"I’d like to know who the gang is and where the graffiti is, there ain’t nothing up here. I know the children have gotten in fights over the years, but there ain’t no gang."

Hoffman’s 53-year-old son Charles said no one congregates on Shanktown Road, except to play horseshoes and enjoy each other’s company.

"This to me is a loving community," he said. "There is no gang up here. I don’t think people would permit it if there was."

Police sergeant explains
On Tuesday, Welch said he stands by his gang presentation.
He says police have seen evidence of gang activity in town, from graffiti to fights and drug trafficking. Officers have identified suspected gang members through interviews and surveillance, making arrests on charges from larceny and malicious wounding to stabbing and carnal knowledge.

"We’re not saying a whole particular area (has a problem with gangs)," Sgt. J.C. Welch said of his presentation. "It is where it originates from."

Welch explained that two years ago Culpeper police responded to a stabbing on Kelly Street after a parade in town. He said 637 Mafia and the 8 Mob - affiliated with the national Bloods gang - were involved. The same day as the stabbing, police found graffiti from the 637 Mafia.

"We knew about them because of the graffiti they had done at Belle Court," Welch said. "But we didn’t know who they were until after the stabbing on Kelly Street."

According to Welch, police learned from interviews in the immediate aftermath of these incidents that members of 637 Mafia lived on Shanktown Road.

Police say they have not had any problems with the local gang since then, and Welch said he does not know if gang-related activity actually occurs on Shanktown Road because the town does not respond to the county street in Griffinsburg.

The sheriff’s view
When asked Tuesday if Shanktown Road has a gang problem, Culpeper County Sheriff H. Lee Hart said, "We have not seen the gang activity that we hear about."

He downplayed the presence of gangs in the county but added, "We are taking proactive measures to educate our personnel."

Public records show that in the past two years, the Sheriff’s Office has responded to about 115 calls on Shanktown Road for accidents, emergency services, information, fights, assaults and animal control. However, only one of the calls was gang-related, and that was in response to Monday’s newspaper article, according to Sgt. Jim Fox.

"There are wannabes out there," Hart said, "and we as law enforcement need to differentiate."

Hart added that the real gang problems are in northern Virginia, not here.

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or emitchell@starexponent.com.

Owner of Sleepy Hollow: Police haven’t notified me

Ramesh Patel said problems exist at his trailer park just like any other rental establishment - but as far as gangs are concerned, he’s unaware of their presence.

As owner of the property containing Sleepy Hollow Motel and its adjacent trailer park, Patel said he feels "victimized" when his business receives bad press.

And he’s unhappy that police haven’t notified him about suspected gang members in Sleepy Hollow.

In a public presentation last week, the trailer park was one of five areas identified by the Culpeper Police Department as a home or hangout for local gangs, particularly the Hispanic Durango gang.

"To my knowledge, I don’t think there are any gang members living in my mobile home," Patel said. "Maybe I’m wrong."

Sgt. J.C. Welch of the Culpeper Police Department said Tuesday he’s received a few calls from people upset about his gang presentation.

While some might not want to believe police intelligence, Welch said, he stands by his presentation and offered it as a public service to educate citizens on gang awareness and prevention.

"We’re not saying everybody out there is a gang member," Welch said. "But this is the area they are from."

Patel said he has never been contacted regarding gang activity - and if there is such activity, he would like to be notified to help keep Sleepy Hollow free of crime.

"I don’t think people living in the mobile home are troublemakers," Patel said. "It’s the outsider who comes in and causes the problem."

And if there are gang-related problems, he added, the police should be working with him to combat illegal activity.

"If I don’t know," he said, "there is nothing I can do. If I knew I was harboring gang members, believe me, they wouldn’t be there."

READERS REACTION:

Posted on 09/27 at 04:56 PM

Much ado about nothing. Do Star Exponent reporters have nothing better to do? If not, perhaps they should consider another line of work. Gangs in Culpeper? Throw out our aunts and uncles from our homes? Let's get real! It seems to me that since Steve Jenkins was elected to the Town Council, Culpeper has been on one witch hunt after another. Welcome to the politics of ignorance and fear. Welcome to the new Culpeper.

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 03:20 PM

Let's face it, everyone knows at least 1 area where there is drug activity and that is for those of us who don't abuse drugs. However how many times do we pass through these areas on a daily basis and see the police patroling these well know drug activity spots? NONE. It makes me wonder where my tax money going to...instead of patroling these well known areas I see police cars sitting and talking to young teenagers (girls)in front of Walmart and sometimes the SouthGate shopping Center.

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 02:19 PM

It really gets old listening to everyone blaming the police for the drugs in their neighborhood and blaming the police for the illegal immigrants. When is everyone going to realize that illegal immigrants can not be policed locally!!!They do not have the authority!!! Drugs in your neighborhood? Call the police and tell on somebody instead of complaining!!!

anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 01:36 PM

I agree that Culpeper needs federal funding for gang prevention. But it is irresponsible to label or target a community because someone that they suspect being in a gang was born or raised in that community. Bin Laden is from Saudia Arabia but we did not attack Saudia Arabia we attacked Afghanistan because that is where he was. To do things to lower the real estate value based on the fact that you suspect that some one born or raised there is both irresponsible and unacceptable.

n/a

Posted on 09/27 at 01:30 PM

I think that all of you all are fools - where there are drugs,there are are all kinds of shady people. Most of the time, illegal activity is not obvious...I do know if you read that article you must read the paper enough to realize that if gangs aren't an issue to be concerned about, the amount of drugs in EVERY part of your town should be. Face the facts and do not let your pride get in your way - Ask your children about it - You will really be suprised what you find out!

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 01:00 PM

I'm sorry, this article is highly mistaken. I know the people that were in the fight on Kelly St. 2 years ago, and if you consider family a gang, then by God there's a lot of them in Culpeper. One of the main purposes of a family is to protect eachother, and that's all that was going on!! Maybe there should be more "gangs" like that in Culpeper! What our great Police Department really needs to be worried about is stopping the crime that is going on by the illegals. Period. That solves it

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 12:29 PM

I would hope that Sheriff Hart doesn't believe that gangs are a Northern Virginia probem. If he does, the citizens in this community are in trouble. What happened to the $50,000 funding for gang related issues? If the county doesn't have a gang problem why did the sheriff apply for the grant? Mr. Patel should not have to be told he has a problem, you can ride through sleepy hollow anytime of day or night and see his problems, quit blaming the police for your issues.

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 12:01 PM

I have lived in the county of Culpeper for 33 years and it just kills me how the people in this town are turning out to be. I missed this so called presenetation Mr Welch gave and I am curious to who are these so called gangs and where are the 5 areas they are in?

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 11:47 AM

Why are we bashing the Culpeper Police Department for attempting to educate the public on gang issues. The presentation presented by the police did not have photo's of businesses like on the front page of the paper. If you haven't seen the presentation how can you have an opinion?

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 10:48 AM

I'm a redisent of Shanktown (35 years)and the story in Monday's paper was unprofessial. If the police office that give the information was on the sheriff department which deals with county maybe he would know that Shanktown is a resepcted community. The redisents of Shanktown would like to have a meeting with the Town of Police, because we want to know where the drugs are and who are the memebers of 637 Maifa. By all means we are not perfect, but the older redisent would not put up with that.

Anonymous

Posted on 09/27 at 10:07 AM

Ethical Standards Journalists are expected to follow a code of journalistic conduct that requires them to, among other things: Do not accept gifts or favors from any subject of a report, and avoid the appearance of being influenced; Do not report on a subject in which the journalist has a personal interest or bias that cannot be set aside

Terry Hoffman

Posted on 09/27 at 10:05 AM

Ethical Standards Journalists are expected to follow a code of journalistic conduct that requires them to, among other things: Use careful judgment when organizing and reporting information. Be careful about granting confidentiality to sources (news organizations usually have specific rules that journalists must following concerning grants of confidentiality);

Terry Hoffman

Posted on 09/27 at 10:04 AM

Ethical Standards Journalists are expected to follow a code of journalistic conduct that requires them to, among other things: Check every fact reported; Find and report every side of a story possible; Report without bias, meaning don't give any side of the story any more emphasis or credance than any others; Approach researching and reporting a story with a balance between openmindedness and skepticism. Use careful judgment when organizing and reporting information.

Terry Hoffman

Posted on 09/27 at 09:34 AM

I have a BA in Communication and I learned this in journalism 101. Ethical Standards Journalists are expected to follow a code of journalistic conduct that requires them to, among other things: Use original sources of information, including interviews with people directly involved in a story, original documents and other direct sources of information, whenever possible; Use multiple original sources of information, especially if the subject of the report is controversial; Check every f

Terry

Posted on 09/27 at 09:30 AM

If the problem happened two years ago, why didn't Sgt. Welch give a presentation then? He states,"they have not had any problems with the local gang since then." What was the purpose of presentation,if the police have not had any problems since? They must want money to start a gang task force in Culpeper..It's also bad journalism on the part of the star exponent.First you reported on 401,then Shanktown and Sleepy hollow. Who's next?

Terry

Posted on 09/27 at 08:44 AM

Welch explained that two years ago Culpeper police responded to a stabbing on Kelly Street after a parade in town. He said 637 Mafia and the 8 Mob - affiliated with the national Bloods gang - were involved. The same day as the stabbing, police found graffiti from the 637 Mafia. Police say they have not had any problems with the local gang since then, and Welch said he does not know if gang-related activity actually occurs on Shanktown Road because the town does not respond to the county street

Terry

Posted on 09/27 at 08:02 AM

I can't speak for Shanktown, but has anyone took a look at 4th St. on the Westside? For those native Culpepians you know exactly what I am saying. 4th street isn't the 4th street of years ago, it seems to be more crime stricken now, not as bad as some places but worth the attention nonetheless. Mr. Police Chief how about stepping up patrol over there or go door to door asking neighbors for yourself. This stuff is right under your noise and you still don't see it.

Anonymous

Gangs in Culpeper
Sep 27, 2006
Rob Humphreys

Last week’s gang presentation by the town police — and subsequent coverage by the Star-Exponent — has created quite a buzz among some members in the community. Residents of Shanktown Road, the owner of Lord Culpeper Hotel and the owner of Sleepy Hollow trailer park are among those who have voiced displeasure with how things were handled.

We have run stories Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in an attempt to bring readers as much information as possible regarding law enforcement’s knowledge of gang activity in Culpeper — all the while being transparent about our news gathering and presentation process. I’m open for your thoughts on the matter.

http://editorsnotes.mgblogs.com/index.php/editorsnotes/gangs_in_culpeper/

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