“I don't trust them to abide by the law, because they haven't so far," Benner said.
Excuse me? WE HAVEN'T ABIDED BY THE LAW SO FAR? Uh, Mr. Benner, who had a corral built 257 feet away from a school, violating the Federal School Zone Gun law? Who has a corral ten feet too close to another school? Who tried to kill deer in Scott Township when the PA Game Commission permit stated within Mt. Lebanon? Why was your man, Gene Huntington doing field work, again another PGC permit violation? Why didn't you call PA One Call? Why were you continuing to build the corral over in McNeilly in the pouring rain on Tuesday, after being told to halt work until the utility companies marked their lines?
Oh, wait. Do you mean the Municipality? With one commissioner (Linfante) urging residents to take matters into their own hands and then, in writing, tell a person that the Mt. Lebanon Police will be on Connor Road to arrest any protestors? By not keeping their website up to date and giving false information about the locations of the deer killing? By not properly notifying residents who live near the killing fields? By locating another spot in Bird Park a little further away from Markham Elementary?
It is our constitutional right to protest, Mr. Benner. You may not like it, but frankly, we don't like what you are doing either. We don't like what Commissioners Bendel, Brumfield, Linfante, and Silverman are doing.
I have never encouraged anyone to tamper with the bait. I have suggested calling the deer processors, food banks, and Game Commission. Sorry, Mr. Benner, but receiving four calls a day is not excessive, considering I get hundreds of visitors on Lebo Citizens every day.
Benner said people have been bombarding the companies that would likely process the dead deer with questions or claims about the safety of the meat, to the point that he refused to name the processors or food banks that would accept the meat for distribution through Hunters Sharing the Harvest.
Yeah, you'll fix us and not disclose names of food banks or processors. Way to go. The closest deer processor is in Carnegie. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to go on Kip's Deer Processing's website and find out what this means:
I wonder why Kip's declined to comment. Could it be that YOU NEVER CONTACTED HIM?
And you don't trust us.
Update March 5, 2015 7:32 AM WTF
From: merlinbenner@gmail.com On Behalf Of Merlin Benner
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 6:52 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Bird Park
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 6:52 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Bird Park
Hello XXXXX
I'm sorry, but that's not my role to know at this point. I could find out. All sites are jointly picked between the Township and my field staff, so I suggest contacting the Township for site specific information.
Thanks.
office: 570-376-2255 cell: 570-439-6898
On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 6:39 AM, XXXXXXX wrote:
Mr. Benner:Is there currently a deer baiting station in Bird Park?Thank you.
From: merlinbenner@gmail.com [mailto:merlinbenner@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Merlin Benner
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 1:57 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Bird Park
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 1:57 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Bird Park
Hi XXXXXXXX,
I have been advised to request that you no longer communicate with me, so please do not contact me. I have appreciated your tone in our communications, and am sad that we are on opposing sides of this issue.
Sincerely,
Merlin Benner
On Thursday, March 5, 2015, XXXXXXXXX wrote:
On Thursday, March 5, 2015, XXXXXXXXX wrote:
Thank you for your response. I look forward to hearing from you about the Bird Park site and anything else you would like to say about the procedures followed at the site. I hope, for your sake, that the assurances you are relying on are coming from your own legal counsel.From: merlinbenner@gmail.com [mailto:merlinbenner@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Merlin Benner
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 7:52 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Bird ParkI can. I am tied up all morning, but will see one of them early afternoon and ask. I have been assured that all procedures have been followed on all sites.office: 570-376-2255 cell: 570-439-6898On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 6:57 AM, XXXXXX wrote:Could you please find out from your field staff, Merlin?Thanks.
Update March 5, 2015 2:35 PM Final correspondence from resident to Benner.
From: XXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 2:28 PM
To: 'Merlin Benner'
Subject: RE: Bird Park
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 2:28 PM
To: 'Merlin Benner'
Subject: RE: Bird Park
Merlin---
As you wish. I am sorry that you are now the subject of a public gag order.
Also, as I stressed in our conversations and email, my interest here is in public safety and abiding by the relevant laws and policy, the purposes of which are to promote the safety of our children and the public-at-large. That you see us on opposite sides of the crucial safety issue both saddens me and terrifies me.
Update March 6, 2015 8:02 AM No response from anyone so far.
From: egillen476
To: cmcdonough ; commission ; sfeller
Cc: msantoni
Subject: Bird Park
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 2015 6:16 pm
There is quite a bit of confusion over Bird Park. Lt. Lauth made reference to shooting in Bird Park in Matt Santoni's
article.
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/789113174/deercorralslebanon#ixzz3TYWq2joa
“If we get a call of shots fired from Bird Park and we know that's where they're working, we can put two and two
together,” Lauth said.
Is Bird Park back in
Elaine Gillen
Update March 6, 2015 12:51 PM No answers from the commission, Steve Feller, or Coleman McDonough about Bird Park.
Update March 6, 2015 12:58 PM
--
Update March 6, 2015 1:02 PM
On Mar 6, 2015, at 11:40 AM, Nicholas Meduho Jr wrote:
Update March 6, 2015 8:02 AM No response from anyone so far.
From: egillen476
Elaine Gillen
Update March 6, 2015 12:51 PM No answers from the commission, Steve Feller, or Coleman McDonough about Bird Park.
Update March 6, 2015 12:58 PM
From: merlinbenner@gmail.com On Behalf Of Merlin Benner
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2015 12:18 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Cc: Gene Huntington; Aaron Lauth; Coleman J. McDonough
Subject: Re: permit
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2015 12:18 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Cc: Gene Huntington; Aaron Lauth; Coleman J. McDonough
Subject: Re: permit
I asked you not to to contact me or my staff. This is harassment.
On Friday, March 6, 2015, Nicholas Meduho Jr wrote:
On Friday, March 6, 2015, Nicholas Meduho Jr wrote:
* * * SECOND REQUEST * * *
From: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 9:25 PM
To: 'Merlin Benner'
Subject: RE: permit
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 9:25 PM
To: 'Merlin Benner'
Subject: RE: permit
Thank you Mr. Benner, I will ask Mt. Lebanon but I thought that part of the $12,000 we paid you was for your work in submitting the permit, am I wrong?
Can you please tell me why you were advised that people not contact you? The residents of Mt. Lebanon hired your company and paid you $12,000 of their hard earned tax dollars. I have never heard of a company being paid for a project and then the company that was paid was not allowed to be contacted. Is this something new?
So who do we contact if we have questions or concerns?
Thank you Mr. Benner.
From: merlinbenner@gmail.com On Behalf Of Merlin Benner
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 8:08 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Subject: Re: permit
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 8:08 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Subject: Re: permit
Sorry, but Mt. Lebanon submitted that. You will need to get it from them.
I have been advised to request that people not contact me about this project, so please do not contact me or my company.
Thank you.
office: 570-376-2255 cell: 570-439-6898
On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 4:08 PM, Nicholas Meduho Jr wrote:
Mr. Benner,
Can you please email me a copy of the deer management permit that was submitted to the PA Game Commission for the deer management program currently taking place in Mt. Lebanon.
Thank you,
Nicholas Meduho
Mt. Lebanon, PA
--
office: 570-376-2255 cell: 570-439-6898
Update March 6, 2015 1:02 PM
From: Coleman McDonough [mailto:cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2015 12:20 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Cc: sfeller@mtlebanon.org; Commission
Subject: Re: conditions
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2015 12:20 PM
To: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Cc: sfeller@mtlebanon.org; Commission
Subject: Re: conditions
Mr. Meduho- Thanks for your concern, but I'm just fine. In regard to your inquiry, various entities bear responsibility for complying with the permit conditions. I think it would be fair to say that you and your vigilant associates will also continue to monitor the process.
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 6, 2015, at 11:40 AM, Nicholas Meduho Jr wrote:
Mr. Feller and Commissioners,I hope everything is ok with Chief McDonough.From: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 4:26 PM
To: cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org
Subject: FW: conditions* * * THIRD REQUEST * * *From: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 5:07 PM
To: cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org
Subject: conditions* * * SECOND REQUEST * * *From: Nicholas Meduho Jr
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2015 3:55 PM
To: cmcdonough@mtlebanon.org
Subject: conditionsChief McDonough,Out of curiosity, who is making sure that all the conditions that are listed on the deer management permit are being strictly adhered to?Thank you,Nicholas MeduhoMt. Lebanon, PA
106 comments:
I've been sending emails to the Commissioners and Chief McDonough asking who is responsible in making sure the conditions are being abided by and so far I can't seem to get a reply. Why does John Bendel tell us to email our questions if they don't have the decency to reply?
Nick M.
So is Benner going to have the slaughter videotaped?
That way he can demonstrate his "expertise" for the next client. And for Mt Lebanon commissioners and taxpayers next year when questions are raised.
It shouldn't be a problem unless Mr. Benner is being less than truthful to his customers regarding his capabilities, or what actually happens when the first deer is shot in a corral holding six or more. Not that he would know, having never done this before.
Not to be disagreeable Elaine, but I don't think setting up a corral in a gun-free school zone is a violation of Federal law. When he shot is when the violation would start. Nit-picky I know.
But, this guy is making me sick. Prove someone tampered with the damn corrals or shut the hell up, then prove it was a protester.
And now he's not going to divulge where he's sending the meat, what's next, he's not going to divulge how many deer he killed.
Pack up your corrals Benner, we don't appreciate the hired help dissing the people that pay you.
Benner calling protesters lawbreakers! That's certainly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I don't recall seeing MTL Ordinance 501 -Feeding of Deer repealled or formally waived.
Now this hired gun has turned the divise MTL deer control into a rediculous PR "pissing" war.
Is this community the laughing stock of the region or what?
We're so concerned about driver dafety--- where are the salt trucks. A neighbor just turned back from their drive to work and said nothing's being treated in their MTL route.
7:39, That's a good point. Each year, it seems Mt Lebanon's snow removal gets worse and worse. The Twp wants to sell us on "safety" with their deer plan. Maybe they should focus on their core responsibilities of roads if they want to focus on safety.
The killing starts on Monday, Folks.
Elaine
"I'm sorry, but that's not my role to know at this point." - Merlin Benner
I'll be willing to bet when it came to buying the corrals and when it comes invoicing time, Mr. Benner will know all the details pertinent to Mt. Lebanon corrals.
I wonder if Mr. Benner has ever heard the phrase "The buck stops here!" and understands it's not referring to a male deer.
Hopefully as many people as possible will position themselves in a legal spot to witness comings and goings at the sites and - if they can stand it - get video of the killing. That will not be hard at certain sites in particular. Several people have stepped up for that but to cover all sites it would be good to have more. You can sit in your car. We may not be able to stop all of the killing but we will have footage to put all over the internet and Twitter with tags so that any community considering this method in the future can see what it involves: #MtLebo #MtLebanon #WildlifeSpecialistsLLC #animalcruelty etc. etc.
Elaine,, i hate to say this but all the protesters are wasting their time.. this is a done deal thanks to the current crop of Commissioners..and of course the Chief .it's all about politics.. and the small powerful minority have pulled their strings...
http://www.wellsborobible.com/leadership-2/
Deacon Benner doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the Good Book when it comes to lining his pockets.
"Wasting their time"? The contract started Feb 1st, it is now March 5th. Benner knows he won't get his full quota of deer at this point. This is the shoddiest, most corrupt little plan, due diligence is not coming out of the authorities so far, the only people opposing it and exposing the many irregularities are the ordinary citizens, and they've done a very good job so far,.
@9:26. Not wasting their time at all.
Linfante et al WANT people to give up. That makes it easy for them and encourages them to keep running over people. Not gonna happen. They can be assured these actions will continue to be brought up.
Was anyone else bothered by this statement in the article? I'm kind of disappointed with our Police right now: "If we get a call of shots fired from Bird Park and we know that's where they're working, we can put two and two together,” Lauth said. So. If you get a call of shots fired anywhere in Lebo during this time - you won't bother to investigate? You can put "two and two together". That's some sound police work right there.
Over the years I've read many adjectives used to describe 'all things Mt. Lebanon.'
I can't remember "soulless" ever being one of them.
Thanks commissioners for dropping our community's reputation to a new low.
http://article.wn.com/view/2015/02/23/The_Mt_Lebanon_deer_cull_is_a_soulless_slaughter/
From MTL's Facebook page.
"Here's a good idea...all the bored but physically able kids home from school today...can you find a neighbor who needs a little help shoveling? There's a lot of snow out there. The sidewalks are getting very dangerous...and how much Minecraft can you really play, anyway?"
The kids could get out and go sledding in one of the parks or golf course, if you want to risk them being accused of interferring with Benner's corral & kill.
Enjoy the snow day, kids! Maybe you could also shovel streets so the trash trucks can get thru.
There are only two places in the immediate area that process deer for donation, Kips mentioned prior and Lenik's in Finleyville. If not those two Mr. Benner is using the municipal dumpster. Please do not give Mr. Benner cause to void or extend the contract he has with the Municipality. He will actually kill very few deer with this tactic. Ever have deer enter your garage for corn or birdseed? Doubt it, there are some very smart deer out there.
GoPro cameras have been allegedly installed around the perimeter of the "no trespassing" areas at each kill site to capture the maimings. It is still highly encouraged that citizens continue to monitor their neighborhood parks with their own video equipment to catch what the GoPros don't and to ensure that a steady media feed readily available.
Great idea to be posted at all sites to get video and post to Internet of what wildlife specialists are doing as well as all the violations being done becsuse of corrupt commissioners.
No doubt Benner, Denicola and other kill-for-hire gypsies will repeat this over and over.
The more information, pictures and videos we can get may help others as they fight the same battle.
Call it our personal thank you for being called lawbreakers by Mr. Benner.
It's not Benner's role to know where the corrals are? Huh? So he got hired to do this yet now he's claiming he doesn't know where he's doing it?
Man, if that doesn't make you start wondering what's going on, nothing will.
By the way--if someone reports shots fired and the MLPD does not respond because, you know, they put two and two together, I will personally ensure the Justice Department investigates them.
I don't think it's as done a deal as you think it might be.
The Commission had no idea what kind of negative press this would create.
Plus, and I posted this yesterday, Kelly Fraasch has up her blog the REAL problem with accidents in this town and it has nothing to do with deer.
I'd suggest the Commission rightfully rescind the money going towards killing deer and reallocate it to figuring out how to cut down on pedestrians getting run over by cars in this town.
For goodness sakes, there have been NO deaths by deer in Mt. Lebanon as far back as anyone can legitimately remember. But there have been absolutely terrible accidents, even death, including pedestrians in the news far too many times over the last five years.
Look at the heatmap and see if Kristen can produce ANYTHING like it regarding deer.
The deer are at most a nuisance problem and not a safety issue. We have no highways in Mt. Lebanon. Show up again at the next meeting. PLEASE!
If the deer are well fed they aren't going to go into the corrals. Let's peacefully line the perimeters of each corral with apples and bread?
Does anyone have a photo of twenty or thirty deer at one of these bait stations? If there is a chance in heck of hitting the 150 deer goal someone should be witnessing large groups of deer moving towards these sites right before dark. Epic fail in the making!
Days till permit expires and Mr. Benner packs his bags : 26
I wonder if the Wellsboro Gazette is aware that one of their local business is causing extreme anger, controversy and distress in residents of a Pittsburgh suburb? I think they should be added to the media list for all future press releases. http://www.tiogapublishing.com/eedition/the_wellsboro_gazette/
Is there a way to send out an alert whenever the kill teams show up at the corrals?
Even if driving by, have a passenger snap photos of their cars and license plates. See if he hired any locals or if they are all from Tioga County.
As far as cameras, it might help to have cameras watching cameras to catch anybody breaking or stealing them. Game cameras are frequently stolen or vandalized, and often putting a 2nd one somewhere nearby catches the bad guys in the act.
No doubt Benners crew are reading this, and are aware of cameras. Would not be surprising to see cameras "confiscated" right before the killing starts.
This happened before to Denicola in Akron. Authorities were involved and later busted. Denicola settled for $17,000
http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-white-buffalo-10-2014-20141027-story.html
http://www.sharkonline.org/index.php/akroncruelty-com
http://www.all-creatures.org/aip/nl-8mar2004-summit.html
So there is a chance cameras may be confiscated and memory cards erased. Make sure you have other pictures on the cards stored elsewhere and serial numbers of cameras recorded.
Going now will leave a footpath to the cameras, which will lead them to them. Warmer weather this weekend, so snow may melt. Make paths EVERYWHERE! Send them on wild goose chases. It's YOUR park, so walking anywhere is no crime. Observe all posted rules and do not damage anyone else's equipment. Cameras on private property that get confiscated will be lawsuit city.
If they do seize cameras, it will make the story bigger. Media LOVES coverups ;)
I think that the best way to approach this is to assume the worst can happen in terms of deer going in corrals from our point of view and plan accordingly. That means taking the approach described earlier - everyone out as much as they can, legally watching sites, videoing… Who even knows, new and lasting friendships may be made.
11:57, better not you'll get cited for violating Ordinance 501.1- Feeding Deer.
You rotten MTL lawbreaker, you.
I would love to help distract the deer but wont we get arrested for feeding them??
9:57, I too was motified at this comment: "If we get a call of shots fired from Bird Park and we know that's where they're working, we can put two and two together,” Lauth said."
What does that mean? If shots are reported in a MTL park they're not going to investigate it because Benner's people are there or suppose to be there.
What are Benner's people our main line of defense in our parks now?
Maybe somebody's shooting at Benner's people.
Maybe some nut job went off on a drunken tirade after a night of drinking at the Saloon.
Maybe some jealous husband is chasing his wife's lover through the park with a gun.
Maybe some despondent resident that lost their job, can't pay their property taxes just tried to commit suicide in the parkas a last gasp for help.
Maybe a we have another Baumhammer that doesn't like daylight.
Sure all of the above are pure conjecture, but on the other in this day and age aren't they the least bit plausible? Benner seems to think we have a lot of lawbreakers that can do crazy stuff.
Yep, 2 and 2 always equals 4.
First we had ordinances that forbid firing so much as a slingshot and now the approach is... shots fired in a park... eh, no big deal.
It's curious the Pennsylvania Game Commission would sign off on night shooting.
This is so far out of bounds for safety, not to mention in violation of their own rules, even for ranges which have known backstops.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=937862&mode=2
Are the contractors or Mt. Lebanon Police planning to sweep all areas downrange before authorizing live fire?
Have they even defined what areas or directions are downrange?
Knowing what lies behind your target is one of the cornerstones of firearms safety.
How do they plan to clear the range at night?
Say someone's kid sneaks out because he or she wants to watch this? Nevermind the "park closed" sign. What kid hasn't gone somewhere they weren't supposed to?
How do they plan to clear the area, at night, of any onlookers?
You don't get to sign a contract saying you're donating deer to local food banks, Mr Benner, stating in the signed contract: "A local processor has been contacted and agreed to participate." then refuse to name the processor. This is tax-payer money you're playing games with, and the media attention is making your organization look, well, less than competent. I should think this wpuld not bode well for your business' future.
Western PA anti-deer slaughter in our parks people should join forces statewide against guns in our parks.
There is a protest planned for March 15 in Bala Cynwyd,which is right outside Philadelphia. They are fortunate in that they do not have a deer slaughter -- they are simply protesting against the new ordinance their town created permitting guns in their parks.
Mt Lebanon has engaged in the same political move to avoid being sued by the NRA. They repealed restrictions on guns in our parks in Dec 2014.
Now within 3 months of Mt Lebanon permitting guns in our parks, the parks will be killing fields like no other.
Please consider signing Bala Cynwyd and CeaseFirePa's petition to promote the best interests of families and safe parks in PA.
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5610/c/1537/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19687
I'm sure the Bala Cynwyd protestors would be against deer slaughters in parks, too.
Arrested for feeding the deer - how ludicrous! Would that go on my permanent record? Would I be branded with a scarlet "F"? I don't know if I'd be able to live with myself.
Sheesh.
But isn't Mr. Benner feeding the deer?
If a local processor accepts one deer, no matter how small, the "participated" aspect will have been fulfilled, and the rest can be dumped in a landfill.
This is bad business for the processor, by the way. A lot of hunters are ticked off by this circus.
When they start, get pictures and license plates of the trucks used.
See if they show up at a processor or hightail it for a dump. Perhaps the corn police will be escorting them.
This thing about kids being in the woods really concerns me. Obviously if the deer happen to wander into corrals during the day that's a huge worry, but even at night... The weather's going to be warming up, the days are getting longer, what could be more exciting for a group of bored suburban teens than to hide out and watch the deer fiasco? Or young, idealistic animal rights kids determined to get "that" footage (this story has gone national now, they could come down from anywhere, NYC, Portland...) that will put their names in animal rights history, preferably not post mortem though. Being young and idealistic shouldn't be a potential death sentence, just to uphold this ridiculous, falling-to-pieces plan because some people just won't see when it's time to stop. This is a real concern and I don't understand why the officials seem to blithely think they have it all under control.
@1:42 The violence in parks, whether against people or corralled deer, is deeply disturbing. That being said, criminals will not respect laws. The provisions of permitting lawful firearms owners to defend themselves is a separate matter from this. Co-opting causes is often less effective than pursuing them separately.
This isn't about guns. This is about out of control commissioners, untrained consultants, reckless spending of tax dollars, incredibly unsafe use of firearms in a densely populated area and utter contempt for animals whose only crime has been lunching on someone's flowers.
Respectfully,
An ethical firearms owner
9:57, 12:45: After speaking to police, they say they still want people to call 911 if they hear shots and are concerned. They will still check every call, but knowing that the shots came from a park where culling is occurring means they will be able to prioritize that against other calls... probably means they won't go screaming down the road with sirens blaring, either.
The conversation continued between a Mt. Lebanon resident and Merlin Benner, concerning the location of the Bird Park killing location.
Spoiler alert. He won't say.
Elaine
Are they going to set up the elevated shooting platforms at night?
OSHA would have a field day with this.
Scattering lead in public parks?
http://toxics.supportportal.com/link/portal/23002/23019/Article/33312/How-do-I-contact-EPA-about-lead-concerns-in-my-area
Did Benner publicly defame a whole class of Mt. Leban residents by call them lawbreakers.
Last I heard anti-cull people haven't been found guilty of breaking any laws.
You know I suppose you could put out food for the deer near the corrals.
Who is to say that you are not trying to help lure deer to Benner's corrals?
If he can lure them with food, why can't any resident do the same?
It would certainly be an interesting case.
After reading Benner's response to taxpayer inquiries, perhaps the taxpayer should ask a commissioner to get the answers.
They should know whether Benner is defying Scott's order not to cull in Twin Hills and they should know where the deer meat is being processed.
Not only where but what % of the deer.
Don't give them the loophole of a couple deer to substantiate their claim that this is about food banks.
I just watched the KDKA report about the bait being "sabotaged." This was after reports of snow causing headaches during the morning commute, murders and flooding. They keep showing the same stock footage of deer walking around in corrals "similar to what is being used in Mt. Lebanon," but never anything from Benner's trail cameras. Why is that?
Saboteurs could be charged with trespassing and criminal mischief. The corn police are investigating.
Elaine
Elaine: A thought: the corrals are controlled remotely so the best way to perhaps "protest" this would be to purchase some inexpensive equipment to scramble the radio frequency so that there is interference preventing the corrals from closing. Just a thought to help the cause. This would not need to be very close to be effective and RF (radio frequencies) are not difficult to scramble.
The good people in Wellsboro checked the blog nine times today. I'm so glad that Merlin read what I wrote about his quote.
Now to identify the saboteurs. Check with Mr. and Mrs. Stroyd Morgans to see if they can get a positive match from their photos taken at the second to the last commission meeting. That's why you were taking the pictures, right?
Elaine
Wonder if one of the saboteurs was Carrie Doe/Steel complete with green skin and cone-brimmed hat. Case closed if she were accompanied by 2 round men in XXXL lacrosse jerseys.
@5:44 messing with communications is FCC territory and subject to fines or prison. Don't even go there.
The high road is the only road to take.
Anyone suggesting ANYTHING illegal, please stop. Also consider that anyone suggesting anything illegal may well be an agent provocateur.
Elaine, did the Corn Cops say whether the saboteur was carrying a viola case filled with urine? Can we arrange for Chatham Baroque to provide execution tunes at the slaughter sites? That'd be some good music to sync up with the GoPro footage of the massacres and corpse hauling.
6:24 PM, please, enough with the fat jokes. If you are referring to individuals who I think you are, they are pro-kill and would never do anything to stop this.
Elaine
Elaine, you are correct, you DO know who I am referring to. However, has it occurred to you or anyone else, that the "sabotage" could have been an inside job? An inside job so incredibly twisted and deceitful, that only a handful of Mt. Lebonites rise to the top of the suspect list? I think we can all agree that "Carrie Doe" is capable of just about anything...
Engaging in illegal acts is not to win this fight, but on the other hand it's not out of the realm of possibilities that this is an effort to disparage the the anti-cullers or scare them off before the shooting starts.
Consider this, in the KDKA TV report they never get close enough to show footprints or "yellow" snow. They can see well enough to determine a squirt gun like device is employed to spray a liquid, but they don't show the video or a still image of the incident.
In bank robbers they show a picture of the perp from the security cameras and besides by giving a copy to Lebocitizens someone might recognize the "trepassers."
Lebocitizens was very instrumental in finding an elderly MTL resident that was missing several years ago.
Please anti-cullers don't do anything illegal, but lets keep the possibilty that the municipality maybe "wagging the dog."
Just a thought.
Maybe the volunteer archers are spraying the alleged repellant in hopes that they'll sabotage the cull yield get the opportunity to hunt the royals forest.
How can Benner see footage of super soakers full of urine when the cameras are infrared instead of optical? #sketchy #notbuyingthisstory #excusesforfailure
Infrared probably refers to game cameras with infrared lighting. Infrared is typically not visible to people but can be seen with some cameras. An infrared camera could capture pictures of people without their knowing it. Images are generally black and white and limited in range.
here is a sample:
http://www.trailcampro.com/samplephotos/800_540IR_night.jpg
7:42 You'd be shocked at the detailed caught on these cameras. We have three security cameras on our office building roof. The last week of January a man robbed an employee as she was leaving work and attempted to steal her car. The moron couldn't drive a stick so he ran off. While running towards our building and towards the Parkway he was caught straight on by one camera. He was ID and arrested within the hour. I've heard that cameras on satellites can ID people in crowds. The day of privacy is long gone.
I had my local techie look into the infrared question and I guess the super soakers could be seen on camera depending on the soaker's temperature, along with its content.
I'm not suggesting a pre-chilled super-soaker wrapped in mylar or anything...
On another note, the saboteurs have done the funniest thing I've ever read about in Mt Lebanon and I want to thank them for their courage and commitment. The commissioners are the real criminals.
@8:27 then why don't they release the pictures?
Resolution on a cheap game camera isn't necessarily the equal of a wired CCTV camera, especially when IR illumination is required.
I'm genuinely curious. Show the pictures!
This story does NOT pass the "smell test!" It sounds like a made up story to scare off residents walking in the parks. I wonder who made this up????
Two interesting sentences in the Trib article on the urine videos.
"He [Benner] couldn't provide a description of the people in the images."
But the article opens with: "Mt. Lebanon police are investigating people caught on camera spraying deer culling corrals and bait with deer repellent and urine." hmmm????
You have a video of the people but you can't provide a description... that is curious, don't you think? Were they males, females, tall, short, fat, skinny?
But the video is clear enough to establish they were spraying deer repellent and urine.
The story gets further complicated when later on in the article when is exposed: "Benner said he hadn't tested what kind of urine was applied — whether human or predator, which would repel the deer, or other deer's urine, which would attract them."
Gee, could the non-descriptive people in the videos be Benner's own people spraying deer urine to attract deer? Maybe to up the catch to improve their odds of getting more of the $500/deer bounty?
@8:24. Thermal imagers "see" temperature and no, you can't hide from them.
Thermal imagers are also very expensive, thousands of dollars, and this outfit is not likely to tie them to trees.
What they are most likely using are IR game/trail cameras. These can "see in the dark" with artificial illumination, but won't tell you how hot something is.
Until they show the pictures, it's all speculation.
This smacks of a media blitz to sway public opinion.
Check out all the media. PG, Trib, KDKA, WTAE, WPXI. Most are running the same scripted story.
Present facts to counter their suppositions. Ask questions:
Where are the pictures? If they don't show them, it's all PR.
Why would anti-cull sabateurs spray deer urine, Mr. Benner?
Because maybe that's what test would uncover, an attractant and not a repellent.
The piss police are investigating, 9:41 PM.
Elaine
This whole affair would be comedy gold if it weren't for the fact that a bunch of deer are going to get slaughtered. Pee patrol, corn police. You couldn't dream this stuff up.
Maybe some indie writer will pick it up and do an in-depth story in time. Will make the whole area look pretty silly.
It's amazing to me the time and effort devoted by law enforcement to catch "saboteurs" when drug dealing still happens near the high school and people still fly down main roads with zero concern. Way to have your priorities straight.
Or it gives clarity to what the department's mission really is.
Deeds not words.
"murder in mt lebanon"
it is what it is
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150305/OPINION02/150309962
Anyone got a drone? Could add to the fun!
Think your all wasting your time. The deer numbers are bogus. WS will kill a very small amount of deer. Last May a survey determined 117 deer within the ML boundary. IF ±90 were doe producing two fawns the total is 270 deer. The Incident Report to June 2014 shows some ±225 incidents reported with a majority resulting in a death or injury to the animal. Do the math, there simply isn't another 150 deer to be culled. Good luck Mr. Benner.
11:58 PM, just to clarify, the survey was done last March and the number of deer counted was 196. You are correct about the deer incident report. Counting sightings of deer in one's yard are tabulated, as well as the bogus one on August 20, 2014 (which they will not remove) inflated those numbers.
Now, the police are questioning people who they suspect are trespassing in PUBLIC PARKS, as well as testing urine samples. They are doing the math if they hear shots in Bird Park when the police don't even realize there are NO CORRALS in Bird Park!
Mt. Lebanon has become a police state. We are living in hell.
Elaine
Personally, I think the sabotage is just an excuse for Benner not making anywhere the 150 kills and therefore will ask for an extension to the end of April.
Those nasty anti-cull lawbreakers will be the cause of the corral & kill failing.
Speaking of Police State, did you catch the LeboAlert?
This is an important notice from LeboALERT.
The Mt. Lebanon Police Department is hiring officers now. For details: http://mtlebanonpd.org/now-accepting-applications-mlpd-is-hiring-police-officers/
Please excuse this mild distraction that I hope can be address after the deer issue:
The deer slaughter is a reflection of Mt Lebanon's detachment from any responsibility for the natural environment.
The Commission destroys the grass field, kills the wildlife, and pollutes the water*....
*How many other municipalities in Allegheny County require an extension on the consent order to address sewage in our rivers?
Mt Lebanon has had at least 11 years to get this sewer project completed. Where has the extra money gone from our new sewer fees? Why hasn't the project been completed?
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2015/02/27/Mt-Lebanon-to-extend-consent-order-on-sewers/stories/201502270080
I hope readers come back to this issue after the deer cruelty is addressed.
The incident in which anti deer killing people (or person) sprayed deer repellant near the corrals has really gotten a lot of attention from the police.
Why? Because the repellant will sabotage the killing plan. So, if the repellant is so effective at possibly sabotaging this killing plan, then…couldn't the gardeners spray a repellant along the perimeter of their property to keep deer away? There are all natural repellants available.
Job description for the new officers:
"Experience with urine identification. Ability to harass older women. Disregard for Constitutional rights. Willingness to play a partisan role in local municipal matters."
Here we go, Lebo, here we go..
If the deer survey was conducted in March you can add even more deer to the deer incident report using May and April resulting in death or injury to the animal. The 196 deer in the March fly over is counting 79 deer in other communities which I feel is the goal here, to target these deer outside Mt Lebanon. I'll stand by my numbers and say there are not 150 deer in Mt Lebanon to cull based on these facts and the lack of tracks in the snow!
Leave their stupid corrals alone and let Benner have his six deer. Be certain the deer he reports killed actually are from Mt Lebanon and not road kill from his travels to and fro the hills! $500 a deer? .... its your money.
I've been to trial against one of the commissioners .... Mt Lebanon can do a lot better.
to me shooting deer in the spring is soo heartless. this has been the one of the roughest winters on record.. and for the the white tail deer they dont survive north of Maine or up in Canada.. i believe the head of our execution team is orig from the state of Maine..what a cruel fate for the lebo deer who managed to survive this winter only to be shot in spring.. Man/Women are def crueler than mother nature...godbless the ones who are trying to defend these godmade creatures..
What's stopping the public at large from spraying coyote urine not in the kill area, but around the perimeter of the "no trespassing" zone? No ordinances against squirt guns/spray jugs in a taxpayer-owned public park...
I got a camera mounted in a tree overlooking a corral last night. Good luck finding it Specialists
Not to make light of the situation here, but where exactly does someone get Coyote urine? Do they sell it in the organic section at Market District?
Elaine,
Let's file a RTK re: police involvement in the deer cull, from it's conception. Of particular interest: phone/text records of Linfante/Coleman. I'll fund the RTK. I'll send you a private email.
11:05 AM, from a coyote? Where does one get deer urine? I would guess that it comes from a deer.
Elaine
Ha! Mrs. Gillen - I realize coyote urine comes from coyotes. Someone suggested spraying coyote urine on the corrals. My point in asking was where do you obtain coyote urine. Not where does it come from. It was a joke. A bad one apparently!
Another big crash this morning in Mt Lebanon -- blocked several lanes of Banksville, but within Mt Lebanon borders. McNeilly was a sheet of ice, too. I am having to borrow a 4wd vehicle to get my kids to school. One parent was stuck in front of Jefferson Middle School on the wrong side of the road.
But let's focus on killing deer... and of course, making it as gruesome as possible, Commissioners.
12:32
How many deer were involved?
They will blame deer urine for the icy roads.
Please read the 12:58 PM and 1:02 PM updates.
Harassment?
The Chief also writes, "I think it would be fair to say that you and your vigilant associates will also continue to monitor the process."
Elaine
Post-Gazette is saying FIVE locations, and Benner notified police on Feb 23 of trespassers on the 21st. Then another batch last week.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2015/03/06/Mt-Leb-a-non-to-cite-those-near-deer-cor-rals/stories/201503060285
A trail for one of our Commissioners?? Don't we have the right to QUESTION what he/she has decided what our needs should be???
1:15 PM, thanks for the heads up. I can only count four: Connor Road, Robb Hollow, McNeilly Road, and the golf course.
I wish the police, the manager, or the commission would email me about Bird Park. I heard that there is a bait station in Bird Park behind the Christian Scientist Church at 1100 Washington Road, but no corral. The bait station had been there from the beginning, but never removed.
Elaine
Coyote Urine maybe you buy it at Rolliers or Home Depot??
Folks, Mr. Benner and his associates must be held accountable for their actions. Here is a company who did not know that discharging firearms within 1000 feet of a school was prohibited by federal law. So the question is, what other laws or conditions is Mr. Benner and his associates violating? As taxpayers we have a right to know, don't we? For me, this is not about whether we need to eliminate a few deer or not, it's about following the law and the rules and it appears that our police chief and our municipal manager don't see this as a big deal, until someone gets hurt. I call this type of thinking dangerous and irresponsible. Mr. Benner is under contract with every taxpayer of Mt. Lebanon and for him to say that he doesn't have to answer questions we may have is totally disrespectful.
Nick M.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Just-Scentsational-16-oz-Bottle-of-Coyote-Urine-Small-Animal-Deterrent-RS-16/204497439
http://www.rolliers.com/whats-trending-maximize-your-deer-repellents-effectiveness/
Forget about spending money on the Rolliers products.. i know these gardeners and they already spend thousands of dollars on plants. They feel or better yet DEMAND the township to protect their INVESTMENTS.. They have been pushing this for years and FINALLY they have the right Commissioners and Police Chief to LISTEN to their selfish demands..So the rest of us have to pay for their expensive hobbies..and of course animals have to die..
There is a semi-remote area in Bird Park where Benner could have placed the corral. The location, if traveling westbound on Beadling, would be off to the right, at or near its intersection with Inglewood. This area is approximately 700 ft. from the Markham School Zone. It has vehicular access from Beadling Road or the eastern side of the Bird Park parking area. This area can be accessed via trail within the park from Youngwood Ave, which wraps up near Bird Park's highest elevation near the church on 19, and then back down on a narrow, winding path, ending eventually at the field.
Lebo Citizens Readers may have seen this name in the comments of every deer article published in The Almanac, PG, Trib, and any newspaper picked up by Associated Press. This person also goes by Carrie Doe. I was sent an email from this person using a fake email from mtlebanon.org. Please read the response I received from Manager Steve Feller concerning Carrie Steel.
Elaine
FWIW, if someone requests no further contact, best to heed that request.
Benner is in this for money, like all the private contractors. The best we can do is document his actions within the limits of the law, raise awareness and hold elected officials accountable.
Depending on the outcome of this mess, other communities may rethink using this particular practice.
I did note that a cull in Cuyahoga Valley park required an environmental impact statement. The commissioners did get this done, didn't they?
http://www.wksu.org/news/story/42123
omg this is like a dark, dark comedy. carrie steel or carrie doe is pretending s/he is an employee of mt lebanon?
i cannot wait until i can begin a memoir about living in mt lebanon.
thinkin' it will be a bestseller
Loving conspiracy theories, there was a notable Carrie Steel(e) from Altanta.
If memory serves a large portion of the MTL parking fine were to a vehicle with Georgia plates.
So, using the police dept. deductivr reasoning and adding 2 + 2, is there anyone on the municipal payroll with a direct connection to Atlanta?
They pick an obscure pen name they're familiar with to submit letters from the municipal servers?
Not a big deal, just a thought. Carrie Steel(e) was also known as Carrie Steele Logan by the way.
Revise- @ 5:08.
Those "uncollected" MTL parking fines.
I wonder if Mt. Lebanon Police will investigate the pro-cull law breakers for sending the Carrie Steele email using the spoofed Mt. Lebanon address. Impersonating a public servant is a second degree misdemeanor in Pennsylvania.
On Feb. 19, 2015, I posted the Google Earth map showing that the deer feeder was 257 ft. away from Markham Elementary School. According to the 2/25/15 Police Blotter, http://mtlebanonpd.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Mt-Lebanon-Police-Weekly-Press-Report-02-25-15.pdf, a deer feeder sign and feeder were damaged on Feb.21, 2015 in Bird Park. I'm not condoning criminal mischief, but seriously, in this situation I can see why a parent would want to "take matters into their own hands."
Elaine
It was pointed out to me that Carrie Steel is a pseudonym for someone who likes to carry steel (as in a gun). DUH!
Elaine
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