NPS-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! The NPS is 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! As well the right to manage their roadways that allow access to their homes!

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!

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

Congressman Sam Graves-Missouri "mailto:sam.graves@mail.house.gov". Governor Murkowski Fax: (907) 465-3532

Rick Kenyon Wrangell St. Elias News (WSEN) McCarthy, Alaska Phone: 907-554-4454 (4 hours behind EST; 1 hour behind California time) Fax: 907-554-4494 Website: "http://mccarthy-kennicott.com" Email: "mailto:WSEN@starband.net"

Important facts for this article.

Pilgrim Family Fact Sheet

Good morning, all!

Here's what Rick Kenyon and others have contributed.

Please use in your sharing of this story and your efforts to help the Pilgrim
Family in McCarthy, Alaska, regain use of their road without interference or
fear of arrest by National Park Service armed rangers.

Thank you all for your help in this, and please, listen to today's Derry
Brownfield Show: http://www.DerryBrownfield.com. Derry's show reaches 26
states by radio, and worldwide by Internet.

Julie Kay Smithson, just another that believes in property rights, also
known as freedom

Pilgrim Family Fact Sheet - Dateline: McCarthy, Alaska

National Park Service officials at the Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska have targeted a family of 17 that owns 400 acres in the middle of the park. Such private landowners within federal boundaries are called 'inholders.' The family has been harassed for the past year by park rangers.

The family's legal name is Hale, and the property is registered in that name. However they prefer to be called the Pilgrims.

These folks are pacifists, very akin to the Mennonite faith. They are a law-abiding, God-fearing family of 17 that dresses and talks differently -- outspoken in their faith in God and opposition to evil -- but are loving, caring people who have been a real blessing to their neighbors.

In April 2003, the NPS posted notices that the family could not use the McCarthy-Green Butte trail, a well-documented RS2477 route that is listed with DNR as RS135. The McCarthy-Green Butte route RS135 follows the creek, crossing some 17 times. Until about 1970 the bridges were maintained, but have all washed out now. It is a rugged, somewhat dangerous route. The closure was clearly illegal. The NPS has no authority over this road, which is the only road for the Pilgrims to access their home and the town of McCarthy. NPS says that the Pilgrims created a new road through the park. This is false. NPS says that the Pilgrims upgraded an existing road without obtaining a permit. This is also false. All the family has done is to use an existing road and do minimal maintenance work on that road, which is clearly within the provisions of RS2477.

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

1. On or about June 14, 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 their property is. The family has agreed to this, but has asked that the impact to their children and livestock be minimized by using local air taxi aircraft rather than helicopters.)

2. The surveyors 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, which escalates NPS actions to the bizarre.

3. 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 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, 2 Botanists, an Archeologist and a Geologist. They will be accompanied by 3 more armed Rangers.

4. 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.

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" they find along this route, although others have maintained the road in recent years and have not been cited or even warned by 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, Alaska, and the Kiosk at the end of the McCarthy Road, have been closed due to "budget cuts." Apparently the park management is funneling all of its resources into this campaign to destroy a family and acquire control of their property. (400 acres in the middle of the park.)

For updates on this unfolding situation:

Maps:

A map of Alaska showing the general location of McCarthy:

Detailed topographical map of the local area:

Another website with several maps of the area:

Contact:

Rick Kenyon
Wrangell St. Elias News (WSEN)
McCarthy, Alaska
Phone: 907-554-4454 (4 hours behind EST; 1 hour behind California time)
Fax: 907-554-4494
Website: http://mccarthy-kennicott.com
Email: WSEN@starband.net

For More Information Contact:
American Land Rights Association
Tel: 360-687-3087
FAX: 360-687-2973

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