I'm sorry, but that is how I feel towards our municipal government.
Here is what is on the Municipal website.
PERMIT ISSUED FOR DEER MANAGEMENT
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has issued a permit to Mt. Lebanon to use the capture and euthanize method of reducing the deer population. Wildlife specialists will be conducting the program in six public park areas through March 31.
The capture and euthanize program is part of Mt. Lebanon’s comprehensive deer management plan. Wildlife Specialists, a natural resource consulting company based in Wellsboro, Pa., headed by certified wildlife biologist Merlin Benner will perform this service. All members of Benner’s team have extensive experience in wildlife management and are permitted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The six public park areas where the corral traps—six sided enclosures with 8-foot-high fences—will be placed are: McNeilly, Bird, Robb Hollow and Twin Hills parks, Mt. Lebanon Golf Course and the Connor Road conservation district. All six areas will remain open during the day.
The traps will be baited and monitored remotely by camera. When a group of deer enters the trap, the gate will close remotely, and a team of trained professionals will be dispatched immediately to euthanize the deer using suppressed, small-caliber rifles at close range, mostly at night. The method is considered to be very safe, and people should not hear any loud noises from these activities.
The contractor will post signs indicating the perimeter of the area where traps have been placed. Stay out of the posted work areas, and report any suspicious activity by calling 911. Please remember that all of these park areas close to the public at 9 p.m.
From: LeboALERT
By Matthew Santoni
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, 11:33 a.m.
From: Dr. Timothy Steinhauer <noreply@mtlsd.net>
To:
Sent: Tue, Feb 17, 2015 4:08 pm
Subject: Municipal Letter Concerning Deer Culling
Dear Mt. Lebanon Parents,
The Mt. Lebanon Municipality received permission today from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to proceed with the deer cull. They have asked us to share the attached letter with you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Timothy Steinhauer
Brian Benner said he expected baiting to start sometime Feb. 18 though he wouldn’t give “an exact timetable so people upset with (the company’s) plan wouldn’t come out and try to stop them.”
Deer bait will be placed at several locations on the municipal golf course, on conservation land off of Connor Road, and in various parks, including Bird, McNeilly, Robb Hollow, and Twin Hills, according to township manager Steve Feller.
Update February 18, 2015 Does anyone else find this letter from the Lincoln Elementary School Principal disturbing?
From: Ronald Kitsko < rkitsko@mtlsd.net>
Date: February 18, 2015 at 11:00:07 AM EST
To:
Subject: Deer Cull at Twin Hills Park
Reply-To: Ronald Kitsko < rkitsko@mtlsd.net>
PrincipalLincoln Families,As you may be aware, the Mt. Lebanon municipal deer cull was recently approved by the PA Game Commission. The deer cull will impact several community parks, to include Twin Hills Park, which lies within the Lincoln Elementary School residence area. I have attached a letter that was sent to Dr. Steinhauer about the deer cull for your review. I want to make sure that you are in the loop and able to share the information with your children as you see appropriate. The traps will be visible, so you may want to direct your children to stay away from Twin Hills Park until the deer cull ends.Please direct any and all questions about the deer cull to the Mt. Lebanon municipal building.Ron Kitsko
Blood in Twin Hills Park this morning
From Howe School principal:
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 08:17:37 -0800
From: MichelleMurray@mtlsd.net
To:
Subject: Municipal Deer Culling
Dear Parents of Howe Students:
Our superintendent, Dr. Steinhauer, sent out a letter to all parents of Mt. Lebanon students explaining the municipal deer culling project. I have attached the same letter here for your convenience.
The purpose for my email is to remind you that the culling will occur in two of our neighboring parks, McNeilly Park and Mt. Lebanon Golf Course. The culling will occur through March 31, 2015. Although the capture and euthanization part of the process will occur mostly at night, please prevent your children from visiting these parks throughout the project as there will be visible traps in these areas.
Please contact the municipality if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michelle Murray
Principal
Mt. Lebanon Deer Culling Plan In Effect KDKA reported from Twin Hills Park today.
When there are a maximum of six deer in the collection pens, the contractor will shoot the deer.When there are a maximum of six deer in the corrals, they will be shot? It just gets worse and worse.
While visiting KDKA, cast your vote. When I last checked, 80% were against the deer culling plan.
Bird Park Dr. park entrance late at night on February 18, 2015
73 comments:
"All members of Benner’s team have extensive experience in wildlife management and are permitted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission."
This sentence is totally misleading. Mr. Benner and his team have absolutely no experience in the method he has proposed and will be utilizing in Mt. Lebanon. The portion of the RFP that requested this specific information was left blank (no experience or previous clients listed) and the Commission itself has even acknowledged that Mr. Benner has no experience. The RFP also stated that requests would be rejected if no relevant experience was given.
Nick M.
Bendel's political future may be the first casualty of this gross waste of taxpayer $$$.
Still no mention of how we will confirm Benner's kills.
Plus, Elaine... "Bastards"?! Our rocket scientists just spent good money making the Home Rule Charter gender neutral.
I'm pretty sure the Bitches had more to do with this than the Bastards.
Don't tell me to stay out of the posted work areas. These are public spaces.
Nick M, what do we do about it?
Were are the sites need to no and then we can do something please post locations of all
No worries, Feller says that shooting rifles in our small parks "mostly at night" surrounded by homes with kids cutting thru day and night, is VERY SAFE.
Can't we start a petition to remove Feller from office?
I guess the lovely ladies with, "I love venison" in their yards are salivating with this news.
How Happy Comm.Linfante, and the Commissionettes, Barbara Logan,Carolyn Byham, and Bonnie VanKirk, must be.
6:23 PM, did you ask where the sites will be? According to the Almanac:
"Deer bait will be placed at several locations on the municipal golf course, on conservation land off of Connor Road, and in various parks, including Bird, McNeilly, Robb Hollow, and Twin Hills, according to township manager Steve Feller."
Elaine
6:23 My guess is that they will never tell us the site locations. If you want to find one, look at a satellite view of the park. Look for a tree clearing, maybe a stream nearby. Some parks are harder to figure out but I am sure they will be...
But I think the deer are too smart for this asinine plan. They aren't going to take the bait. If I were a deer, I'd be able to smell that the guys have been in the area and I'd get out. Penn State has recently demonstrated that their tracked deer engage in this exact process. They head for the hills at the beginning of hunting seasons and steer clear for quite some time.
On another note, this is perhaps the most disgusting planned undertaking I have ever witnessed. We cannot use our public parks because people with private property are upset that wildlife is a nuisance so the deer aren't going to be killed on their property but instead OURS. And WE might just want to STAY AWAY.
According to this the RFP must be adhered to in all respects.
Unfortunately, it does not offer suggestions if the RFP wasn't adhered too.
I would think Kelly Fraasch as a sitting commissioner has standing to start an ethics violation campaign.
"However, once the public entity embarks on a course of bidding, even via a more informal RFP process which does allow for negotiation, it is bound to “adhere to that procedure throughout the procurement process.” In Lasday v. Allegheny County, 499 Pa. 434, 453 A.2d 949 (1982), another seminal case in this area, Allegheny County solicited proposals under an RFP for operation of a newstand and gift shop concession. The RFP stated that separate proposals to operate only the newstand would not be accepted. Nonetheless, Allegheny County then allowed one proposer to make such a proposal and to grant the concession to that proposer on the basis of its proposal, without also allowing the existing operator an opportunity to submit such a proposal. The Supreme Court held that this was improper and held that, once an RFP process is undertaken, it must be adhered to in all respects in accordance with its instructions and guidelines."
http://www.papubliccontracts.com/2012/11/20/public-bidding-101-the-rfp/
I'm really disappointed with Santoni's article. He sounds like he's being spoon fed by the PIO.
He seems to support the ongoing ruse by Linfante, "while supporters said it is needed to reduce vehicle crashes." Wasn't he at the last Commission meeting. Vehicle crashes wasn't even raised by supporters; it was all deer poop, and having deer in their yards.
And then he includes their humanitarian ruse, i.e. donating deer meat to food banks and soup kitchens. At risk are low-income beneficiaries of venison donation. While the rich can choose between their USDA inspected meats, the poor are being fed uninspected meats with the high probability of disease and bacterial contamination, and dangerous levels of lead and pesticides poisoning. However, no mention of the risks of eating donated venison.
I don't see how we can be kept out of certain parts of our public parks "by order of the police".
Our environmental right's charter for PA doesn't say anything about "but you can't go near certain parts of your park during wildlife slaughters that involve a private party benefitting from killings that are primarily being undertaken to benefit private property owners fed up with deer".
**
What if he can't nab the deer in 6 weeks, will this lure and kill last 16 weeks next year? So are kids discouraged from visiting parks for 4 months?
***
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment.
Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people
including generations yet to come.
As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them
for the benefit of all the people."
-- Pennsylvania Constitution
7:16 PM, check the time that Santoni wrote this. He found out before the PIO did. The meat being donated is a requirement of the Game Commission.
If you are going to be disappointed, be disappointed with the four commissioners approved this.
Linfante is now looking at sharpshooting for the fall.
Elaine
If Nick M is correct and the Commissioners didn't adhere to ALL aspects off their RFP we have them according to the Supreme Court.
Benner admits to not having any experience with this type of deer cull.
Now then, who has the wherewithal to undertake a lawsuit?
The Game Commission really wants to care for the poor don't they? They are insisting that the deer meat from the baited and culled deer is donated to families in need. But hold on...
Corn toxicity
Deer stomach full of corn
Deer found dead in Wisconsin suspected of dying from corn toxicity.
Corn toxicity is in reference to two diseases which can affect ruminants, including white-tailed deer and elk. Both diseases can cause mortality in any ruminant even those in good body condition and include acidosis (grain overload) and enterotoxemia (overeating disease). While these diseases can occur at any time of the year they are usually seen in LATE WINTER (!!!!) when there is a rapid change from a natural diet of high fiber woody browse to a low fiber/high carbohydrate diet found in grain such as corn.
In acidosis the ingestion of large amounts of grain, usually corn, results in a change in the microbial organisms within the rumen which leads to the production of large amounts of lactic acid. The lactic acid lowers the pH of the rumen which then further reduces the normal flora of the rumen leading to reduced rumen motility and interference with digestion.
In enterotoxemia the ingestion of large amounts of grain, usually corn, results in an overgrowth of the bacteria Clostridrium perfringens. This overgrowth leads to the production of lethal amounts of toxins which are absorbed into the animal's body.
Signs of deer or elk with either acidosis or enterotoxemia are similar and indistinguishable in the field. The signs can include dehydration, diarrhea, incoordination, convulsions, and depression. Death may occur within 24-72 hours of excessive grain ingestion
I have lived in Mt. Lebanon for most of my life. Where is the conservation district on Connor Road? Which side of the road is it? Is it near Terrace?
Elaine
6:10, write your Commissioners or go to the next meeting and ask why they are allowing a company with no experience to perform this type of work in our public parks especially when high powered rifles are being used...I am, again. No experience means no references. Without references how do we know that Benner and his staff follows all the rules. Is it really in the best interest of the taxpayers to use our densely populated neighborhoods as a test bed?
8:36, the RFP specifically states:
"The Manager will assign three senior staff members to review and rank all proposals
received. Proposals that are incomplete or are from contractors who do not have relevant experience or trained and qualified staff will be rejected."
By all rights, because Mr. Benner could not supply one single client for which he used the same trap and sharp shoot methods, how could his application be accepted if the RFP states otherwise?
Personally I believe this decision is both dangerous and irresponsible.
Nick M.
Nick, what good will it do to ask the Commissioners anything?
They and Benner authored the RFP, they approved Benner as the low bidder without fulfilling the RFP and now you expect they'll get religion and admit to not adhereing to the requirements of the RFP?
Really?
Does Benner get paid for killing 2 deer if he bags a pregnant doe?
I don't suggest writing to the commissioners. Some commissioners don't read emails. One commissioner tends to inflate numbers of supporting emails.
The only thing that makes a difference is when commissioners see their friends and neighbors speak up during meetings. Was it Brumfield who was shaken up when a constituent of his spoke against the killing?
Elaine
I am appalled and disgusted, but most of all I am ashamed to live in such a town that would even consider such a heinous act. How awful!
10:44, sorry to disagree, but the commissioner's friends and neighbors have written, the Humane Society has written, the PG has written, the Almanac has written, and so has Lebocitizens.
What makes you think they're going to change now?
They have ignored their own RFP, something the State Supreme court has said can't be done and your suggestion is to write more letters and emails.
Good luck with that.
If a leader or resident steps up and starts legal proceedings I'm in, but if the only idea is to spit into the wind once again, I'm done.
Nick M. and 7:02 PM, I absolutely agree with you.
Lebo Citizens readers, here is the original Request for Proposals (RFP),
Here are Benner's invoices to prepare the RFP.
Here is Benner's proposal and signed contract.
Please read Competitive Bidding of Municipal Contracts in Pennsylvania and the Litigation It Generates: Who Is the Lowest Responsible Bidder?
We had no responsible bidder. Benner has no experience with this method of killing deer. No one has.
We have a conflict of interest. We have had no responsible bidders. Come on, attorneys! Where are you?
Elaine
I apologize for leaving you out, 4:46 AM. I think our only recourse is to start legal proceedings. And that is waaaay out of my league.
Parents, you do realize that you have to keep your children out of six public spaces until the beginning of April. Don't kid yourself that it will be silent. You will hear deer crying in agony. You will hear gun shots. We were told in 2006-2008 that we would not hear gun shots. But we will. I know first hand. Our windows were sealed shut with the radio was blasting and we still heard the gunshots.
How can the superintendent send out an email warning parents about this and not have any concerns as to the close proximity to the schools? I have added him to the list. Where is the PTA? Come on, people. Wake up! This is going to be traumatic! I was traumatized by this. Why do you want to subject the children to this?
Elaine
I wonder how the SAB would feel if the slaughter took place on the turf.
Would the librarians like this in their parking lot?
Would the gardeners like this in their yards?
Would the musicians like this in their music hall?
Mt Lebanon disrespects both nature and the people who go along with it.
Elaine forget all the trauma for a moment.
The commissioners have violated the competitive bidding and RFP requirements.
7:02 points out how this is in violation of the law and Supreme Court will back us.
It is amazing that ALL FIVE Comissioners took an oath to uphold PA Law and not one is going to blow the whistle to stop this travesty.
I am with you Elaine, proceeding with legal options is out of my league as well.
I just learned that KDKA Newsradio will be airing a discussion on the Mt. Lebanon Deer Cull at noon today on the Mike Pintek show.
Elaine
I'd contribute to the lawsuit financially but I can't spearhead it. The attorney that dealt with the pool bid fraud is local. If an anonymous angel could spearhead this, perhaps the pool bid attorney is a good contact and Elaine could be a contact person for crowd funding.
Mt Lebo knows it does wrong it just waits to be caught.
KDKA's Marty Griffin is all over the cull, but is fence sitting. He says his wife would like to see all the deer killed.
Whatever, people are laughing at the community. Those that condone eliminating the deer think it is absurd that $500/deer is being spent.
Those against the deer extermination think $500/deer is rediculous.
Sort of tells you where we should be focusing right now!
Update includes a letter from the Lincoln principal with this message:
"I want to make sure that you are in the loop and able to share the information with your children as you see appropriate. The traps will be visible, so you may want to direct your children to stay away from Twin Hills Park until the deer cull ends."
Any letters from other principals today?
Elaine
Hmmm, a grandma gets her backyard cleaned of deer, but to do it, everybody else's kids will have to steer clear of public parks and the golf course.
That's Mt. Lebanon for ya!
The crows will tell us about the locations of the bait sites.
-Bubbling Brook, Crow Tribe
just scouted bird park from the bottom and didnt see any cages.. but i did talk to 2 markham moms who were abhorred and worried about their kids seeing this on their way home from school
Blood spilled in Twin Hills already. I thought only baiting was to start today. Cha-ching!
Elaine
My kid goes to St Bernards. No protective letter from them... maybe the devils are afraid to tell them of their cruelty. #bendelwontconfessthiswillhe
12:31 What can we believe, Elaine? This entire municipal government is fueled on lies. Anybody know if Merlin or his son are staying at the hotel?
Twin Hills isnt anywhere near Virginia Manor.. good grief i heard Marty Griffin this morning on the radio telling his audience that his wife, Kristen Sorenson wants all the deer dead because they ate her flowers!!! what a cruel woman she is..
"The borough and company that have been hired to carry out this kill are so concerned about the protestors disrupting their activity that they declined to allow us to go out with them today as they began to put out the bait for the deer." --Paul Martino KDKA
Elaine
All along we've been lied to that trap and transfer wasn't a viable option, but check out Benner's answer to the RFP.
His employee Gene Huntington conducted trap and transfer successfully for a community. It's on page 7!
Elaine.. I'm so furious about this slaughter in our backyard.. I would like to be part of the protest and do a little disrupting.. I moved to MtLebanon from California three years ago and had no idea of that i was moving to ProKill community..Who the heck is in charge of this backward thinking town?? Is there going to be any more community meetings concerning this?
My kids usually sled ride in the parks...we don't "OWN" our own hill (our back yard is FENCED too).
Thought the parks were something we could rely on... tomorrow school is cancelled. Maybe they will be arrested for trespassing? I would actually welcome the arrests at this point because I am EMBARRASSED TO LIVE HERE and I don't want to be lumped in with everyone else.
Martin Griffin is typically pro-kill everything. I remember when he was promoting the slaughter of all the canada geese on the north shore, or I think it was him. It was a while ago. Sounds like his wife has a heart of gold.
My lord, how could any one that appreciates the beauty of a flower, want to blow the brains out of a doe and her fawn? Beyond comprehension.
News flash - plant beautiful deer resistant flowers.
I wish these radio announcers would have Laura Simon, HSUS' wildlife biologist, as a guest so that they could have an informed discussion, rather than a bunch of yahoos spouting off their opinions with no understanding of deer reproductive science and behavior.
Pretty soon Mt. Lebanon admin. and Merlin Benner will be telling the media that they are getting death threats from Mt. Lebanon terrorists, so they can appear like victims being attacked by a fringe radical animal rights terrorist organization.
Meanwhile Mt. Lebo residents, many life long residents, have been opposed to the used of lethal weapons in their parks and neighborhoods, because of the threat to their families, children, and pet. Right - real terrorists! Better call in homeland security.
6:19 PM, you can thank Commissioner Kristen Linfante for turning Mt. Lebanon into the Lebo Killing Fields. Kristen moved from California where she helped bankrupt the San Jose Symphony Orchestra. She is trouble everywhere she goes.
I am glad to hear that you would like to get involved. There will be another commission meeting on Monday evening. The regular meeting starts at 8:00 PM in the municipal building on Washington Road across from the Sesame Inn restaurant. The commissioners will be entering the municipal building around 5:30 PM. John Bendel will not be attending and we haven't heard if Kristen will be attending. VP Kelly Fraasch will be conducting the meeting.
There will be a commission discussion session that usually starts around 6:30 PM. We can only listen, but citizen comments begin at 8:00 PM during the regular meeting. Residents who wish to speak, should sign the "residents sign up sheet." Nonresidents, who wish to speak, should sign up on the nonresidents sign up sheet and will be permitted to speak at the end of the meeting.
Comments are limited to five minutes. You don't have say much. Just stating your name and address and that you are opposed to the killing of deer is enough. However, if you want to "do a little disrupting," you have up to five minutes to comment. It was a packed house at the last meeting. Now that the permit has been issued and parents have been notified, I am willing to bet that there will be more "furious" people attending on Monday evening.
Elaine
The slaughtering of helpless animals is beyond sickening and appalling. I am very angry at myself because I didn't voice my objections. I didn't attend any meetings. I didn't protest. I am a citizen to blame and I am so sorry I let the community down. If there is anything that can be done to reverse this inhumane decision, count me in.
Today, I sent the following email to Mt. Lebanon's public information officer.
"Susan,
Attached is the letter that went to Dr. Steinhauer concerning the deer "management" program.
"Thank you for your help in educating Mt. Lebanon residents about the municipal deer management program. More information is available at www.mtlebanon.org."
Was a letter sent to the Keystone Oaks superintendent? Their high school is in Mt. Lebanon, and is up the road from McNeilly Park. Additionally, Myrtle Avenue Elementary School is adjacent to the golf course.
What about Seton LaSalle? They are located in Mt. Lebanon and very close to McNeilly Park. Has a letter been sent to them advising them of the deer "management" program?
Perhaps St. Bernard's, another school located in Mt. Lebanon should be notified. Not all Mt. Lebanon children attend school in the Mt. Lebanon School District.
I do hope you respond to my email. I would hate for you to ignore this very critical issue.
Elaine Gillen"
Within a matter of minutes, I actually heard back from Susan.
"Thank you, Ms. Gillen. We have discussed this issue with Commissioner Fraasch and will notify the Keystone Oaks School District, Seton LaSalle and St. Bernard's tomorrow morning. Myrtle Avenue School is part of the Keystone Oaks School District, so their central office can handle that, as did Mt. Lebanon's.
Susan Fleming Morgans
Public Information Officer
Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Editor, mtl magazine
412-343-3407"
Dear Parents,
We are doing something gruesome in the parks. You better keep your kids at home or they'll need therapy indefinitely. We don't care about the impact on you though.
Sincerely,
Mt Lebanon
It could take days to read through the over 1000 comments on this CBS deer posting:
https://www.facebook.com/CBSPittsburgh/posts/10152795693133822
Way to go, Lebo. I've heard us called Mt. Hitler, Mt. Cruelty and I'd like to be first to coin "Twin Kills Park".
Mt Lebanon has Elaine Gillen to thank again, for bringing this deer culling matter to the forefront. Without you, Elaine, most of us would never have had any idea this was going on. You effectively brought this to the attention to the media and collaborate with other people throughout Pittsburgh.
Thank you for continuing in your efforts to raise the bar in Mt Lebanon. Where would this town be without you? You also put up with a lot of harassment and negativity. Thanks for your bravery in a community that is frequently heartless. I remain hopeful.
Elaine, 10:33 pm
How incompetent is this PIO and Mgr. (Feller), for not notifying the Keystone Oaks superintendent, Myrtle Ave. Elementary School and Seton LaSalle, most of which are located in Mt. Lebanon, and who are all in the line of fire. The incompetance is scary.
In addition, at the last Commission meeting, Brumfield and Bendel were asked about details of the killing program, and neither of them had a clue of what they just voted to approve. Don't you think that when the use of lethal weapons in our community are involved, that they would invest time to know what is going on, and what they are voting to approve. Unbelievable!
Why is Susan Fleming Morgans or Feller, whoever wrote these deer killing program notifications, intentionally trying to mislead the public with the safety of this program by specifying the unidentified firearms as "small-caliber rifles"; as compared to what, a bazooka? The "small-caliber rifles" being used are capable of killing deer with one shot, and so are capable of easily killing a child or an adult with one shot too.
The rifle typically used in these deer killing programs is the .223 caliber bolt-action rifle with 55-grain bullets. The maximum range of this ammunition is 2.20 miles. I've heard that some vendors are using the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a civilian version of the M16 military rifle, considered an assault weapon. These are magazine fed with 30 to 100 bullets. The AR-15 would likely also use the 55-grain bullets, and have the same 2.20 mile maximum range.
Yes, the .223 caliber rifle is smaller than the typical .3006 deer rifle, but they are just as deadly. If a firearm can easily kill you, it doesn't matter to you if it was a .223 or a .3006, you're just as dead.
So for anyone attending the next Commission meeting, please ask the Commissioners to identify the "small-caliber rifles" and ammunition that Benner is using, and what the maximum range of the bullets shot from these "small-caliber rifles" is. And why if these rifles and ammo are capable of killing a deer, and have a maximum range of 2.20 miles, why residents should feel safe if there are any missed, misfired, or ricochet shots? Why are they trying to intentionally mislead the public with this "small-caliber rifles" statement?
Also, how can they get away with saying that this, "deer management strategy is very safe". How can anyone say that shooting rifles in small parks surrounded by homes, with no safety zones, is safe?
They are putting up signs at the entrance to these parks, but there are a thousand entrances to these parks, with homes surrounding these parks, and kids cutting through these parks from backyards, and all kinds of shortcuts. They don't go through the main entrance of the park.
Sound Safe? This deer culling "sharpshooter" was shooting down at a deer from a raised platform, just like described in Mt. Lebo's program, and likely using the same caliber rifle and ammo.
OFFICER'S ERRANT SHOT AT DEER UPSETS RESIDENTS
The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
Byline: Thomas J. Dolan - NEWS NORTHTOWNS BUREAU
Three days after an errant shot fired from a nearby woods struck their home, a young Amherst couple are still shaken by the thought of what could have happened.
Amherst police say that one of their officers -- a marksman who is taking part in the town's bait and shoot program to control deer -- fired the round and that the shot ricocheted before hitting the house.
But that's not good enough for residents of San Fernando Lane, where the bullet landed in the second-floor guest room of a young family's home.
"In my opinion they should not have been anywhere this close to a house," said a woman who lives in the house struck by the bullet. She agreed to an interview Monday on the condition that her name and address not be published.
"When it happens, your instinctive reaction is to be outraged. We felt that at the time and still do," she said.
At about 10:30 a.m. Friday, her husband was working in a first-floor room of the house and the couple's son was staying home from grade school because of illness, she said.
The bullet blew a baseball size hole in their upstairs guest room window and lodged in a picture on the wall.
Amherst police came to the house, and they were "extremely cooperative and extremely sensitive and sympathetic" about the incident, she said, but she added that nobody should be shooting a weapon that close to a house.
Police told her the officer involved was several hundred yards away in the woods, aiming down at a deer from a platform when the round struck something and was diverted toward the houses on San Fernando Lane.
Over the weekend, her husband took a walk into the woods and said it was "not that far." "If there's a chance of a fluke, they shouldn't be there," the woman said.
According to the town's online map system, the woods are located between Casey and North French roads, covering an area about 1,000 yards long and about 600 yards wide at the midpoint. The map also shows there are houses on three sides of the woods, the nearest of which are located about 300 yards or less from the center of the woods.
According to the woman, her neighbors are aware of the incident and they are "very interested in what's happening." As for her son, she said, it has been "difficult to explain" to him what happened.
Assistant Police Chief Ronald H. Hagleberger told Town Board members Monday that the bait and shoot program will remain suspended until the department concludes its noncriminal investigation of the incident in about three weeks.
Police were withholding the names of the officer who fired the round and the owners of the home that was struck.
"I don't want to have this unfortunate incident stop the program," Amherst Council Member William L. Kindel said, calling the incident "one in a million."
But Council Member Daniel J. Ward disagreed, saying the bait and shoot program is "an accident waiting to happen," because Amherst is not a rural community.
Program officials said they would continue nonlethal attempts to control deer herds during the suspension period.
Also remember the newborn baby that was shot by a stray hunter's bullet.
Sound Safe? Remember the new born baby that was just shot in the eye from a stray hunters bullet?
WPXI video report: "Family says newborn hit by stray hunter's bullet will be blind"
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/aunt-baby-hit-hunters-stray-bullet-he-will-be-blin/nhYr8/
Pittsburgh - On Tuesday night, Channel 11 spoke with the great-aunt of a newborn baby hit by a hunter’s stray bullet in Indiana County.
Shayne Iverson was just 5 days old when he was hit by the bullet in his Saltsburg home as he was being cradled by his father.
“That was the worst phone call I ever got in my life,” said the baby’s great-aunt, Beth Sinclair.
Doctors said the bullet went through his head and came out his eye socket.
“He will be blind. His eye actually saved his life because the bullet hit that instead of his brain,” said Sinclair.
Shayne is in critical condition. He’s stable but will have a very long road ahead.
sound safe?
ABC NEWS
Expectant Mom Recovering From Stray Hunting Bullet
Dec. 8, 2004
Loved ones of a pregnant woman injured in a shooting, apparently by a hunter's stray bullet, believe she is lucky to be alive, but they want new hunting regulations that will give greater protection to suburban homes and businesses.
Casey Burns, 18, remains hospitalized as she recovers from a gunshot wound to the head. She was shot while sitting in her car outside her North Whitehall Township, Pa., home on Nov. 30. Burns, who is seven months pregnant, was preparing to follow her fiancé to his mother's house at the time.
"When I looked through and saw the hole in the window, I opened the door and saw her bleeding," Robbie Katner, Burns' fiancé, told ABC News' "Good Morning America." "I took off my sweater and put it on her head to try and stop it [the bleeding] until the ambulance and everybody got there."
According to the International Hunter Education Association, hunters accidentally shoot more than 1,000 people in the United States and Canada every year. Authorities in Pennsylvania worry that more bystanders will be injured by hunters' stray bullets as more homes are built near wooded areas where hunting is common.
"We have had several incidents of people reporting that their houses have gotten struck by stray bullets," said Sgt. Andre Stevens of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Need for a New Common-Sense Hunting Law
Pennsylvania game laws require hunters to remain 150 yards away from occupied homes and businesses when they use firearms. However, Burns' relatives say lawmakers should consider requiring greater distances because bullets can travel farther than 150 yards.
"They [authorities] are telling us that it [the bullet that wounded Burns] came from the orchard nearby and these guns are actually capable of going anywhere from 800 yards to 1,000 yards," Allie Dickinson, Burns' mother, said on "Good Morning America." "To me, that seems like a common-sense thing, that if a gun [gunshot] can travel a mile, then you need at least a mile safety distance between the hunter and a person that's just an innocent bystander like my daughter."
Dickinson objects to suggestions that residents have to take extra precautions when they live near hunting areas.
"One of our state senators made the comment that we need to take extra precautions during hunting times," Dickinson said. "I'm sorry, but it is not my responsibility or my daughter's responsibility to take precautions when they [hunters] are hunting. This is our home. And what could she have done other than wear an entire bulletproof vest, bulletproof helmet and drive an armored car to prevent this from happening in her own home?"
Mother and Unborn Child Doing Well
Burns is recovering well, her family says, and her unborn baby is still healthy.
"The baby is doing very well," Katner said. "We couldn't ask for any more. As long as the baby is safe, and it is going to come out healthy like we originally planned, we will all be real [sic] happy."
Police have interviewed several hunters who were in the orchards near Burns' home at the time of the shooting but they still have not found the gunman. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is also investigating the shooting.
As I am petting by dog who is eager to go for a walk this morning in the park, as she does every day, I say to my 11 year old son, “I’m kind of afraid to go to the park today”.
He says, “You should go now before the killers come”. I say, “What did you say?”.
He says, “Go now before the killers come”. I say, “Oh, I thought you said cullers”.
He says, “Mom, what does cull mean?”.
I say, “Well, it’s like a cover-up for killing”. He says, “Why do they say it?”.
I say, “I don’t know. It’s like they are ‘thinning the herd’”.
I leave the room to write this down because I can’t believe it. Even my dog will be sad. She has found a dead shot deer before and I never saw her become so instantly sad and scared. I hope she doesn’t find another one.
I am praying for the deer and my children. I hope the world becomes less cruel.
5:56
Im not picking on you but you wrote about the AR-15 "These are magazine fed with 30 to 100 bullets". Nope. I don't know what a 100-round magazine looks like. And while the typical magazine for that rifle is capable of holding 30 rounds, anyone with experience will onload to 28 in order to prevent jams while the rounds are being spring-fed.
Further, " assault weapon" is a misnomer. Any firearm can be an "assault weapon". So can a hammer. Or a stapler. Or a tree branch. If you want to assault someone, there are countless ways to do so that dont involve firearms.
I know this post is about the deer kill. But there is enough misinformation floating around out there. Those of us opposed to this horrific and stupid action should focus on keeping out facts straight. Also, this issue should not be a pro or anti gun discussion. It should stay focused on corruption and lae breaking at the local government level.
Elaine,, have you received any reports from the "field"?? there are so many out there how are just so disturbed about this type of "cull" in our community..can we sue the Township for pain and suffering??!!Thankyou for keeping us abreast of the happenings in this township..What a big mistake Mt Lebanon citizens( her voters were mostly the young progessive families 45 and younger) did by electing Ms Linfante... she has really left a bloody legacy..
I went on a long field expedition in Twin Kills Park today. In my head I was like, "Where are the killers?" and in a state of disbelief that I live in this so-called community. I looked everywhere.... almost... I can try another angle if I have time within the week. No bait. No corrals. Deer tracks but no deer in sight. No people. No dogs. Only crows and a few other birds.
Of note, I did hear ATV type noise but I think it was from a residential area. I wondered though... how would they transport corral building materials into the parks? I doubt they will hand deliver them.
And here is my sentiment:
#jagoffs #killers #brumfield #votetrading #fraud #crueltytopeopleandanimals #lawyersnowheretobefound
About the toxic deer bait argument: This isn't a good argument. The alcohol they use to ferment the corn makes it softer and more palatable / appealing to the deer but it's not going to be toxic to humans in terms of the meat. The reason food banks usually reject "cull meat" with deer is the risk of lead fragments in the meat. And also the fact that it's downright patronizing and "let them eat cake"ish to throw deer meat at the poor and homeless because you need to justify your horrible slaughter plan. I would also think that deer eating out of the RoundUp Gardens might have a bit of nasty heavy metal stuff in their meat too… Here's an article that addresses the issue from the point of view of Canada Goose round-ups. http://www.goosewatchnyc.com/#!goose-meat-ploy/cngz One way or another saying the bait is toxic is not a good idea unless there's something else going on, in which case, someone please tell us what.
I love the Lebo hypocracy. I grew up in Lebo and went to high school there in the 90's. I recall playing a legit game of capture the flag after school in Bird Park and having the police called on us (we were all good kids...just doing something outside for fun). We were asked to leave the park because neighbors
complained. But rifles/shooting in these parks is perfectly ok. This is exactly why I chose to raise my family elsewhere.
PLEASE get off this stupid deer cull! It's a scheme to divert attention from all of you. Democrat leaders had another so-called super secret meeting. They seem to believe that everyone will forget the deer cull come Nov 2016 so it's ok. No worries there! Now while all the attention is there they are ready to push their agenda "Forward". Right Dave "Forward"? We learned that was a communist phrase when public schools taught real world history. These low life democrat leaders are laughing at how dumb residents of Mt Lebanon really are. Ask Dave about how he believes that you all will just press the "D" (Again) come the next election. "I don't have to worry... I'm not up for re-election in 2016 anyway."
12:45 Yes, please sue for pain and suffering. Then remember to complain about wasted tax-payer funds in the next breathe.
I'm opposed to the cull/kill, but some of this breathless angst (my dog will be depressed!!) is amazing. Sticking to facts (i.e., I don't want guns, automatic/assault or otherwise fired near my home) is so much better and more effective than the Jackie Childs offensive. But what do I know?
Why NOT say it... This was brought on by the DEMOCRAT PARTY period! Miller, Smith, Brumfield, Linfante and down! Look at the liars on the School Board! Democrats!
2:08 I am fully aware of their sociopathic schemes. I just don't like slaughters occurring in our parks.
These people -- especially BENDEL AND BRUMFIELD -- are extremely toxic to Mt Lebanon and I feel confident stating that if they are not voted out, Mt Lebanon will fall into crisis state and downward.
Thankfully, though, the entire region knows about the cruelty and hopefully this bizarre situation has captured the attention of our district attorneys and local FBI some of whom have been contacted about them previously.
2:10 Dogs and deer are sentient beings. That's why this is animal cruelty. If they weren't sentient, it would be OK to leave them in corrals indefinitely and then shoot them casually. That's why it matters that a dog can process another animal's death negatively.
The corn, by itself is not toxic. It is toxic when provided to deer late in the winter season and they have not eaten it previously. These deer, theoretically, have not been eating deer as Mt L has banned feeding them.
Thus a toxic reaction will occur in their systems depending on the amount they consume. The corn, itself, could kill the deer. Nevertheless, the meat is unlikely to be consumed by humans without observing or testing for whether the corn consumption caused disease. The corn, in isolation, is not poisonous. This of this as a sophisticated kill that only a truly demented person would undertake.
Ask a veterinarian scientist....
Again, as someone said... lets stick to the facts.
Rs... Fast Eddie, 'Look at my Drawing' Danny Boy, "I was an R now I'm a D" Mary are school board master illusionist as well.
I agree with 12:02. All this talk about being tramatized, sad dogs, etc., is all well and good but it doesn't save one deer.
You can go before the commissioners and cry, stomp your feet, plead, get down on one knee and beg for mercy, but the contract has been let and they're not turning back now unless...
we prove collusion or broke the law by ignoring their own RFP.
If after all the negative publicity in the press and on TV, all the emails and petition signatures, they haven't budge-- you people aren't getting the message.
The comissioners have shown you the middle finger, not once but twice (turf & cull) and they'll do it again because... they can.
This is how kids feel about this...Elaine, you might want to send this to the so-called concerned fathers that serve as commissioners.
http://ophiblu.blogspot.com/2015/02/please-please-read.html?showComment=1424380788149#c5418142202627396567
While the majority of the offenders in this case are democrats, this is really more a 'culture of Mt. Lebo and Lebo leadership' issue than a partisan one ...
There are an equal number of vapid entitled people across the aisle living here. What will be important is the electing of citizens of principle, regardless of party affiliation.
- Jason M.
There are very few Reps left in Lebo..The older ones have move out and alot have gone to Prov Point in Scott. and any younger people are in USC or Cranberry/ North Allegheny Area.. The Dems that are here are divided into the Haves (rich older markham/Virginia Manor gardeners) and the families with kids..who with college tuitions cant really afford lush gardens with deer loving plants..
While I agree this is all typical of Dems (do as I say not as I do, government knows better, I'm compassionate until it interferes with MY stuff, freely spending other peoples' money), the real issue is the lack of interest by the community. Want to change things? Have to get out the vote.
OK, let's get back on track, please. The get out and vote speech carries no weight at the moment. The new terms begin in January. This is not the time for lectures. Deer will start to be killed shortly.
I have received photos of some of the baiting stations and will start to post them shortly.
Elaine
This isn't all about voting -- it's about the power of the commissioners due to the shortcomings of the home rule charter, zoning, community bill of rights (mia - but see State College's), etc. I know everything was going well for quite some time in Mt Lebanon but the snakes are in power now and they are exploiting every possible crevice in the system. Rather than grieve the past, thinking about getting new leaders and sincerely getting some new charters in place.
Agree. As a lifetime resident who was oce proud to call MT. Lebanon my hime, I am also ashamed.
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