Demanding Accountability

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Cougar Population Explosion

Dear Editor:

I think I may have something for you. The NRA just sent out an update bulletin dated 1/20/06. Go to their website, nraila.org and go to the Oregon section. It appears that another western state now has problems with mountain lions. If you go to our website huntersalert.org, you will find out who crammed this mountain lion stuff down the western states' throats. None other than the good old feds! If you would like to reprint any of this information, feel free to use it. It is all documented.

Sincerely,

Cecil Fredi

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"Getting Screwed" by River City RV

Editor,

We spoke briefly last Friday on the phone regarding River City RV in Medford, OR, the terrible loss we experienced dealing with them, and what we learned about them after the fact.

If anyone is in the market for an RV and are going to River City, before they buy, be SURE they ask around among friends and acquaintances who have bought from River City RV.
We didn’t..... not until after it was too late. If we had asked around, we might have avoided a serious loss.

This information is presented for the benefit of prospective RV buyers to help others avoid painful experiences we and all we have talked to have had dealing with River City RV.

To break this down into bullet points:

• We are new to RVs and relied upon the dealer and the professional image presented. (ala Century 21??)
• We paid $27,500 for an rv that wholesales for $18-19K. An identical unit sold near us for $22K.

River City includes in their prices an $800 (at one point they said $600, which amount it is is not the point) "Predelivery Inspection" whereby they said they would go through it, clean it up, make sure everything was working, and make repairs.
Everything, including new units, requires you to sign an "As-Is" waiver.

When we got around to cleaning the carpet, which was still filthy after their cleanup, and pulled out the couch, there was apparently an 8 year accumulation of filth behind it and holes rotted through the floor at both corners of one slider. (We later found rot in another slider.)

Their professional "Predelivery Inspection" failed to reveal this serious defect, and they would not fix it unless we paid for it.
The above is the heart of the matter, a quick overview. Details follow below.

This is an example of a ruthless, predatory, company doing shoddy work, making statements the customer relies on, fails to deliver, then sliding just far enough inside the letter of the law to get away with it.

Based on just the handful of references we got after the fact, it is my hope and intention to get the word out about these people and hopefully get enough people to come forward as in the case of Century 21 to somehow make a difference and save others the kinds of losses we and others we talked to have experienced.

We ourselves work in an industry where a big company hides behind a cloak of respectability while bilking people right and left by their indifference and inept workmanship. We work hard to help others and are making a difference.

This time, we are the victims and want to help others in this particular arena.

The Blacksmith family, Don in particular, has quite a reputation for ruthless, questionable business practices, and we feel something must be done.

Please let me know if you would like to pursue this issue. I will help in any way I can to bring others forward so that perhaps collectively we can make a difference.

(I understand that at one point River City had people picketing their dealership when they were in Grants Pass, but have not been able to verify it.)

Thanks for considering this issue and keep up the good work at the Observer.

God Bless.

Mike Bellm

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Hunting the Corrupt

Dear Editor;

I am writing to thank whomever is responsible for publishing and to have you mail me your last copy of the US~Observer. A most intriguing and revealing publication representing the public's interest, and thanks to all of you.

I was especially taken in by reading your comment column, submitted by the "Verbal Assassin", Ron Lee.

Mr. Lee's views and your entire publication support and add credence to my own sentiments and experience of corruption and mismanagement of Nevada's disappearing wildlife, game birds / animals (which) I direct at the ineffective, out-of-control Department of Fish and Game that has already experienced 3 grand jury investigations, eventually leading to the loss of their autonomy (via legislation, not grand jury recommendations as expected). After all what does an average law abiding innocent person (picked off the street so to speak) know about wildlife science to dutifully evaluate, question, and stand up to a staff of well educated indoctrinated wildlife experts (game) that are well prepared with their indoctrinated answers to defend themselves?
This statement also applies to all unaware elected officials, legislators, and the politically appointed commission members, of all people! ... (Earlier) I made mention of your "Verbal Assassin's" column, and would give anything to meet and have a discussion with Mr. Lee about Nevada's wildlife mismanagement dilemma from another source and point of view, actually a "victim of the system." After my first announcement back in 1948 that I was planning to become a future lion hunter in the interest of Nevada's deer herds and the depredation losses that were being suffered by our ranching and livestock industries. Two past senior U.S. Senators approached Washington for federal aid and "predator control" assistance due to these serious depredations. And that is when my problems started of being unwelcomed (a long story).

I have since become another of Nevada's severe wildlife management critics, the likes of Bud Sonnentag and Nevada's watch-dog "Hunters Alert" out of Las Vegas, published by my good friend Cecil Fredi, who are not afraid to stand up against the Department of Fish and Game.

You ask for interesting (genuine) cases to investigate for public interest. I have three incidents that have taken place that I hope will qualify for your interest and services, (is there a charge?) ...
I can furnish you or Mr. Lee with many articles and information to substantiate these three issues I am seeking assistance with from you good people ...

Sincerely,

Nevada Jim Ornellas

Editor's Note: The US~Observer has been made well-aware of NDOW's wrongdoings and is taking a keen interest in bringing this information to light. We are currently seeking NDOW employees, past or present, who have a conscience and are willing to expose this corrupt organization for what it is ... a cash cow more interested in how it is going to fund its management than manage the declining wildlife. As for your question regarding charges, yes. We, however, are currently seeking donations to take on serious cases where the victim can not pay for their own investigation. For many victims, their victimization by the system and the attorney's who are supposed to represent them against it have left them pennyless. While we would like to rally behind all of the legitimate cases that cross our desks, we unfortunately can't take them all on.

If you or anyone you know would like to donate to this victim's assistance fund, please send your donations to 233 Rogue River Hwy PMB 387, Grants Pass, OR 97527. Make payable to US~Observer Victim's Assistance.

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Lariat Group Demand For
Retraction Denied

By US~Observer Editorial Staff

Southern Oregon - In our last edition we published an article titled, "The Lariat Group Another Debt Elimination Group" (see article on the web at usobserver.com). Shortly after having read our factual article, con-artist "Directors" of the Lariat Group, Robert Chamberlain, Gary Douglas Holmes and Butch McIntyre sent us the demand letter below. Our readership should realize that this bogus and disgusting group of individuals deceive people into believing they can legally get rid of debt through magical methods. We spoke with numerous victims, not the few that is stated in the letter below. We would welcome a lawsuit from the corrupt Lariat Group in order to get their victims into court and expose their deceit. Through our continuing investigation into the Lariat Group we find they are involved in much more than debt elimination scams. They are heavily involved in the "trust business" and other obviously dubious investment programs.

Anyone who has been scammed by the Lariat Group needs to contact Edward Snook at 541-474-7885. The IRS, FBI and Oregon's Attorney General have been contacted long ago about this dangerous group and their obviously illegal scams and they have chosen to remain silent allowing the number of victims to mount. We would suggest to law enforcement that they get off their duff and stop the victimization. That is what we pay them to do.

Mr. Snook

Regarding your writings about Lariat Group in US~Observer the issue labeled Volume #1, Number 8:

Lariat Group objects to the article. Specious allegations and self-serving statements, which you attempt to support with half-truths and innuendo do an effective spin job, but bear little resemblance to the actual facts. Some of this no doubt is the result of ignorance. Much of it smacks of a retaliatory action driven by an effort on the part of the party who was never a member of Lariat Group and therefore demonstrated they never took responsibility for their own finances. Really this was nothing more than a blatant attempt at unjust enrichment.

Your article for example, leads one to believe that there were several people like this i.e.; according to some parker(s)...etc..Really? Are not your implied multitude of "...highly credible sources..." in all reality a husband and wife, misguided souls that they are, who have a personal feud with one of the directors? And, who also happen to be the parents of Mrs. Shopping-spree-now-I-want-somebody-else-to-pay-for-all-my-new-stuff? Is it not obvious they have enlisted you as a cats'-paw in their efforts to obtain revenge in pursuit of their vindictive efforts to continue their family feud? We checked back with our members after our conversation with you. Your "interview" (so called) with one of our members whom you included in your original demand for money, lasted all of about 5 or 6 sentences and this then gets exaggerated in your article as "numerous clients". Misreporting facts? You had all the information in the world to understand that we do not have any "clients". Then you go on from this exaggeration/misstatement and characterize things for what...sensationalized effect? How can you consider this on par with professional even handed reporting? The characterization based on such flawed premises by you was "(actually victims)". And this somehow equates to your libelous conclusion that we are involved in "...defrauding little old ladies..."? Also, if your "investigation" had been done in good faith, perhaps you may have mentioned that many of those whose personal financial situations were perilous when they first began with one or more of the various service providers, were refunded their application fees by the Lariat Group members even when they were informed up front that the members did not guarantee any program.

In plain English this means simply that; there were no contractual obligations on the part of any one member to guarantee any other member's successful completion of any of the alternatives out there. But...our members refunded these people money anyway. Not out of contractual obligation, but from a spirit of Christian charity.

Besides misreporting and ignoring the facts you did have, your article was libelous. This is our formal request for you to take the responsible and appropriate steps to retract them.

The Directors
Lariat Group

Editors Note:
Sorry Lariat Group, your demand is denied.

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Wishing Police Chief Muchow,
“All the Luck in the World”

Hello Observer;

As a subscriber of newswithviews I received an email about Chief Muchow, a fine officer from what I can tell, they are hard to come by and should be fully supported by the city council, obviously that is not the case. My son in law is an officer in NYC and I know its not an easy job no matter where you live but in a place like Gold Hill it should be a lot easier since everyone probably knows this officer in town, its amazing to me that this Judge and this reporter, Sanne Specht, and the city council have the time to spend harassing an office in their own town who seems to have the support of most of the folks there. Just using the towns resources to go through this inquisition is something I don't understand. The money and time would be better spent on their Police dept. Have they no shame, sending them out in dilapidated squad cars like vagabonds? Why should this officer and his squad have to raise money to support their police dept. Doesn't this town receive tax money? This is a disgrace, Chief Muchow should put in a complaint against the city council and ask where the towns taxes are being spent, not on the safety of the town or the Police, that's for sure. I wish the Police dept. and Chief Muchow all the luck in the world, he deserves it just for paying out of his own pocket and raising donations to pay for things the city should be paying for, this is how they show their appreciation. What a shame.

M. Tector
Illinois

Editors Note: There is much more to this saga than before. Chief Muchow is now being illegitimately targeted in Union County, OR. Please read the page 1 story of this edition “Conspiracy Against a Good Cop.”

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