Newsworthy Items

From the Friends of Wolf Creek website:

Another Huge victory for the Friends of Wolf Creek!

On Thursday Oct 4th, US District Court Judge John Kane halted billionaire developer Red McCombs’ plans to begin road construction to his controversial year-round resort development. Following Magistrate Judge David West’s June 6th recommendations, Judge Kane’s order identifies numerous potential flaws and logical inconsistencies in the US Forest Service’s decision to authorize the building of roads through the national forest, and shed light on developer McCombs’ influence over the Forest Service’s approval process. After thoughtful deliberation, the Judge extended the Preliminary Injunction (PI) that has prevented, since last fall, any road construction or other Village related activity until the Court has had an opportunity to issue a final decision on our legal claims.

The lawsuit challenges the US Forest Service’s decision to authorize construction of two access roads across public lands for the purpose of building the proposed 10,000 person “Village” without analyzing the environmental impacts of the proposed development.

Judge Kane’s Order clears the way for the public’s concerns to be heard by the Court before any construction begins. Although it has been a long road to get here, the Court’s impartial review is a breath of fresh air after the Forest Service’s tainted analysis and decision.

Now the courts too have seen the shady dealings between the Forest Service and Texas billionaire Red McComb, and his obnoxious cohort, Bob Honts, who still don't seem to get it that local Colorado residents DON'T WANT them here! (Or at least their travesty of a Village at Wolf Creek Pass). They have lost their permit from Mineral County due to recent court action, and must now essentially start over. This time, however, they will have to actually due things legally and by the book.

Ahmadinejad's Mideast Solution: Destroy Israel
Thursday, August 03, 2006

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis was to destroy Israel, state-media reported.

In a speech during an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders in Malaysia Amadinejad also called for an immediate cease-fire to end the fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.

"Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented," Ahmadinejad said, according to state-run television in a report posted on its Web site Thursday.

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Like most Americans, I've been watching the news out of Northern Israel with some interest. For the most part, the American media reports focus on the "bad" Israeli soldiers who are supposedly devastating the Southern Lebanon people.

Even old movie stars are getting into the game in their condemnation of Israel's actions to defend itself from a terrorist organization.

''I insist, in my name and in the name of my foundation, and I beg of you to cease the attacks and the bombardments that injure and kill the Lebanese people immediately'', wrote Brigitte Bardot to Amir Peretz, Israeli Defense Minister, July 31st. (Guysen.Israël.News)

"Of course, your people have suffered, but does that give you the right to sow death haphazardly. When one has survived a genocide, can one take one's turn acting the tyrant? I do not believe so, or else history has served no purpose, and the horror will never end. I place my hopes in you and address my prayers for the Lebanese victims."

How absolutely foolish!

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Click on the subject line for a link to new photos of the pristine high mountain environment under discussion in the story below. These were taken the end of June 2006. No construction has been able to start yet, as there are many lawsuits still pending against Red McCombs and Bob Honts, as well as a congressional investigation into their alleged "unethical" practices and influence-peddling.

Stayed tuned to for more info as it comes available, or check the Friends of Wolf Creek website!

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This is the story of the very sordid details of a planned development in a pristine high-alpine environment at Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado. This beautiful area sits at 10,000 feet in altitude, and is composed of wetlands that form the headwaters of the South Fork of the Rio Grande, as well as white fir and Engelman spruce, dropping into a basin that holds Alberta Lake, a refuge for cutthroat trout. The entire area sits below the base of Wolf Creek Ski Area, and there are currently lawsuits pending between Kingsbury Pitcher and his son Davey, the owners and managers of the ski area for over 30 years, and Texas billionaire Red McCombs and his millionaire sidekick and gofer, Bob Honts.

View Photos of the "Proposed Village" Area as it is Now

Wolf Creek Ski Area is one of the few family owned and operated ski areas remaining in the west. It is a small area with less than 2000’ vertical drop, yet it sits in a basin directly below the continental divide whose orographics usually present it with snowfall amounts the likes of which the rest of Colorado rarely sees. There are steeps and cliffs of the Kniferidge area that are challenging to the best skiers, but the area is primarily known for its forgiving beginner and intermediate runs, and the terrific views available at the tops of the lifts, which are at the very top of the continental divide. There are no high-speed lifts, and no lodging in the area. The skiing is usually fantastic, and the lift prices are within reach of the common man.

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