September, 2000
OK folks, time to let them know...Toll free number: 888-449-3511 Senate Bill SB-2099 will require us to put on our 2000 1040 federal tax form all guns that you have or own. It may require fingerprints and a tax of $50 per gun.
This bill was introduced on Feb. 24. This bill will become public knowledge 30 days after it is voted into law. This is an amendment to the Internal Revenue Act of 1986. This means that the Finance Committee can pass this without the Senate voting on it at all. The full text of the proposed amendment is on the U.S. Senate homepage. http://www.senate.gov/
You can find the bill by doing a search by the bill number. (SB-2099) You know who to call; I strongly suggest you do. Please send a copy e-mail to every gun owner you know to help.
To
whom it may concern
My name is Jeff Blakeley, I
live in La Crosse, WI. I am a member of
the 2nd WI Association and direct decedent of a CW veteran buried in
St. Michael's Cemetery in Bayport, MN. It is not marked as a military
grave, but it does have a civilian stone placed. Bayport, MN (formerly
known as So. Stillwater) is a few miles north of Hudson,
WI along the St. Croix River.
My brother and I are both reenactors and have been searching for
about 2 years now on our ancestry and have finally
located our gggrandfather.
What we were thinking about, especially after talking with a
Mr. Brent Peterson of the Washington Co. (MN) Historical Society,
was some kind of event?/ceremony?/activity? in
Bayport to place and dedicate a military stone.
The gentleman in question is Pvt. Paul Selb, 8th WI, Co. C.
(Formerly the Eau Claire Rifles and owners of
Old Abe the War Eagle)
What we were also thinking about is maybe with some
community/reenacting support we could do a living
history?/ceremony?/dedication? event with mayors from
Stillwater/Bayport, etc. to mark the grave appropriately.
Reenacting units from WI and MN would/could be involved with this.
So far nothing has been planned or scheduled, but we are looking into
the feasibility of such an effort.
My brother and I would be happy to just place a stone,
but with his background, and our reenacting experience, it might
be
appropriate to do something more.
Is this something 2nd. WI or other units in the area
would be interested in pursuing?
Your humble servant,
Cpl. Jeff Blakeley
2nd WI, Co. B
10th TN, Co. D
104th IL, Co. H
Venture Crew 2, BSA (CW reenactors)
August 16, 2000
FOXES IN CHARGE OF THE CHICKEN HOUSE?
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), that friend of Civil War battlefields when it
suits
him (the Shenandoah Valley project suited him, the protection of the Stone
House Intersection didn't) has now come up with a "great" idea
to "ease
tension" with Manassas battlefield, according to the Manassas
Journal:
Congressman seeks to set up liaison process.
by David Stoloff
Journal Staff writer
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf is calling for creation of a committee to repair the
"contentious relationship" between the Manassas National
Battlefield Park
and members of the surrounding community.
In a September 11 letter, Wolf asked National Park Service Director Robert
G. Stanton to set up a "liaison process" between local residents
and
Battlefield Park Superintendent Robert Sutton. That could include an
advisory board or other organization "reflective of the local
community,"
which would have regular access to the superintendent and the opportunity
to comment on park initiatives, he wrote.
"Continuing negative reactions to park initiatives...are evidence
that
citizens feel ignored and discounted as the park's stakeholders," he
wrote.
A series of controversies have surrounded park decisions for the past few
years, Wolf said Tuesday.
Most recently, his office has received a "significant number" of
phone
calls about a park project on Chinn Ridge Road, said Wolf, a Republican
who
represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes the park and
its
surroundings.
"They wanted to know why there was a bulldozer out there," he
said. "Is
it going to rip up the road?"
More information on the project was not immediately available.
Other issues that have ignited conflict are the park's recent request to
expand its historic district and its fight with the Virginia Department of
Transportation over intersection improvements at Routes 29 and 234.
"I think Manassas Battlefield Park is a real gem," Wolf said.
"But they
really need a method of consulting with citizens around the park before
they move ahead."
Sutton and Stanton were in St. Louis for a conference Tuesday and could
not be reached for comment.
In his letter, Wolf wrote that Sutton could contact local leaders to sort
out logistics for establishing a committee, and to involve those
"constituents who have been most actively involved in the current
controversy" at Chinn Ridge Road, he said.
"I look forward to Mr. Sutton and the Park addressing this issue and
the
establishment of a less contentious relationship between the Park at the
citizens within its vicinity," he wrote.
Where shall we begin???
First, this is a typical example of a provincial Congressman pandering to
his constituents.
Frank, this isn't a LOCAL park...it is a NATIONAL battlefield.
The "members of the surrounding community" should have no more
say-so as
to how the battlefield is administered than any tax-paying citizen of the
United States, regardless of where they live.
This is OUR battlefield, NOT the exclusive domain of the residents (and
developers) of Prince William County.
Wolf has received a "significant number" of calls about a
bulldozer on
Chinn Ridge. Do you suppose he was concerned about the phone calls
he
received regarding Til Hazel's massive plan to "develop" (read
obliterate)
Stuart Hill a few years ago to put in a giant commercial/residential
development. If he did, it is doubtful that he worried much about
it,
seein' as how Mr. Hazel is a BIG contributor to Mr. Wolf...
He received a "significant number" of phone calls from folks
upset at
plans to "improve" (read "make four lanes out of two"
at) the Stone House
Intersection *inside the boundaries of the battlefield. But from
what
we've learned, those calls didn't get much in the way of a response, and
certainly nothing positive or even sympathetic.
We agree with Rep. Wolf--Manassas Battlefield Park IS a real gem.
But how
in the world does he get from that statement to "...they really need
a
method of consulting with citizens *around the park* before they move
ahead."
Supt. Sutton should not only be empowered but be encouraged to base any
and all of his significant policy decision on what's best for the
battlefield. We don't exactly recommend a neighbors-be-damned
approach,
but it's really no more their business than it is yours and mine what goes
on at that battlefield.
Rep. Wolf suggests that Supt. Sutton should "contact local leaders to
sort
out logistics for establishing a committee, and to involve 'those
constituents who have been most actively involved in the current
controversy'..."
Folks, the local constituents "most actively involved" in almost
any of the
controversies at Manassas battlefield in the last 25 years are the
DEVELOPERS...those with a definite AXE to grind.
YOU need to get "actively involved" in the goings-on at Manassas
Battlefield.
YOU are just as entitled to a say-so in the administration of that
battlefield as any local "constituent" of Rep. Wolf, as any
taxpaying
citizen of the U.S., regardless of geographic residence.
Please write your U.S. Senators (c/o U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510) and
your Congressman (c/o U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515)
and ask them to contact NPS Director Robert G. Stanton with instructions
not to have Supt. Sutton establish an advisory board "reflective of
the
local community" which would have regular access to the
superintendent and
the opportunity to comment on park initiatives UNLESS the superintendent
is
instructed to ALSO establish an advisory board *reflective of the national
community*
to do the same.
The residents of Prince William County are no more
"stakeholders" in
Manassas National Battlefield Park than you and I are, and are entitled to
no more acces or opportunities to "comment" than you and I are.
If Bob Sutton (or ANY superintendent) is going to have to subject himself
to the influence/authority of a "citizens committee" (and we do
NOT think
he should have to), then at least make it a *representative* citizens
committee from throughout the nation.
Or, just maybe, the superintendent should be allowed to run the
battlefield according to his notion of the best interests of the
battlefield, and Congressman Wolf and others with axes to grind should
butt out.
We vote for "butt out!"
Jerry L. Russell
Civil War Round Table Associates
HERITAGEPAC
We Who Study Must Also Strive To Save!
FYI - These
folks aren't reenactors, but their story does demonstrate what
can happen when things go wrong.
Gary Van Kauwenbergh
Sept. 11, 2000
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http://www.mtexpress.com/2000/09-06-00/9-6cannon.htm
Cannon firing injures Wagon Days participant
By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer
This year's Wagon Days parade was marred by a tragic accident.
A Richfield man who was part of a team operating a cannon fired to
initiate the Big Hitch Parade on Saturday lost all the fingers of his
right
hand when the cannon's black powder charge exploded prematurely.
Bill Johnston, 50, was tamping down the charge immediately following
a firing of the cannon to mark the end of the shootout act on Ketchum's
Main
Street. The cannon, a 15-year-old, spoke-wheeled replica of an antique
weapon, was parked in the middle of Main Street in front of the Pioneer
Saloon.
"There had to be something still burning in the barrel and that set
it off," said Larry Deeds, commander of American Legion Post No. 1,
which
supplied the cannon and firing team.
Deeds said the cannon is normally loaded with one-third of a pound
of powder, followed by white flour and a small amount of diesel fuel to
create a smoke cloud.
"When the powder was put in, it ignited," Deeds said.
According to onlookers, Johnston was thrown several feet backward by
the explosion, his face blackened and his hat blown high into the air. He
fell to the ground where he lay conscious and bleeding profusely.
The crowd remained quiet and restrained, but Johnston was
immediately tended to by a doctor and a nurse who stepped out from among
the
spectators.
The Ketchum dispatcher received a call about the accident at 12:42
p.m. Police Chief Cal Nevland said Johnston was picked up by a Ketchum
ambulance and transported to Wood River Medical Center in Sun Valley
within
10 minutes after the call. From there, he was life flighted to University
Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he was placed in the hospital's
intensive
care unit.
A hospital spokeswoman said yesterday that Johnston was out of the
intensive care unit and in serious but stable condition. She said he had
facial burns and blurred vision.
Wagon Days Committee coordinator Wendy Jaquet said in an interview
yesterday that the committee has begun a fund to help pay Johnston's
medical
bills. She said the committee will set up an account for that purpose at
First Security Bank, but in the meantime anyone who wishes to make a
donation can leave a check made out to "Wagon Days Committee-Bill
Johnston"
at the Ketchum City Hall.
Jaquet said doctors at University Hospital have told her they may be
able to use two of Johnston's toes to create two fingers on his right
hand.
"When you're talking about grafting, you're talking about a
significant amount of money," Jaquet said.
American Legion post Commander Deeds said Johnston's accident was
the first that had occurred in 25 years of the post's involvement in
ceremonial cannon firing.
"We'll have to re-examine our procedures," Deeds said.
He said future cannon firings might include a wet swabbing of the
barrel between shots.
The Big Hitch Parade was delayed about 15 minutes as a result of the
accident, but went forward as planned.
Mountain Express reporter Dana Dugan, who witnessed the accident,
said the mood among nearby spectators was hardly festive as the parade
began. However, she said, "as soon as we walked around the corner,
from Main
Street to Sun Valley Road, the mood was changed, because people there
didn't
even know what had happened."