The worst of the recession may be past for recreational vehicle dealers and campgrounds. So far this year, sales of RVs have increased dramatically, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. After a massive slump in 2009, national RV wholesale shipments have risen for 10 straight months, with shipments in June up 72.6 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date RV sales through June
have already eclipsed totals for all of last year.
campgrounds are reporting record numbers.
Statewide and locally, RV sales and rental companies and RV
Barb Saulsbury said RV visits to the Bellefonte KOA campground she runs with her husband are at an all-time high. “We’ve owned this campground for 27 years, and this is the best season we’ve ever seen,” she said. “Last year was a record, and this year we’re up from that.” Continued Page 2
Continued from Page 1 People are also staying longer, with the average stay at the campground creeping up to 2.2 nights. “People are staying for longer than the weekend,” Saulsbury said. “They’re making a vacation out of it.” The eye-catching figures are puzzling, as RVs are a luxury one might think would be less affordable in a shaky economy. But Heather Leach, a
spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association, said people are getting tired of waiting for the economy to improve to take a vacation. Steady gas prices at under $3 a gallon have made taking a road trip a more attractive option.
affordable way to get away,” Leach said. “When looking closer with their wallets (in mind), they seem to be embracing it a lot more. You can spend $300,000 if you want, or you can spend $5,000, so there’s something out there that fits into everyone’s budget.”
“People are realizing that camping is the most
RV vacationers also enjoy the comfort of sleeping in
their own bed and the thrift of cooking their own meals, she said. Leach said the industry is in full recovery mode, with the amount of space rented to manufacturers and campgrounds 40 percent greater than last year at 42nd Annual Pennsylvania RV and Camping Show in Hershey, scheduled for Sept. 13-19. That’s a sign camping by RV is starting reclaim the popularity it boasted before the recession, when annual RV shipments increased from 256,000 units in 2001 to 390,500 units in 2006. Then the recession hit, and by 2009, shipments shrank to 167,000 units. Continued
Continued However, industry expert Richard Curtin, of the University of Michigan, is forecasting sales to bounce back to 230,300 this year, and 249,700 units in 2011. RV dealers who set up at the Grange Fair for the past week were reporting good results. By Tuesday, Bill Miller, owner of Miller Brothers RV and Camper Center, said he sold seven used RVs at the fair. Rival dealer, Susquehanna Valley RV— across the street— had sold 17. “I don’t think people will ever give up staying in RVs,” said Marsha Sten, a
Susquehanna Valley RV saleswoman. Harold and Ruth Ann Miller, of York, were looking at RVs at the fair, in search of a potential upgrade. “We love to travel and sleep in our own bed,” Ruth Ann Miller said. “We own a 35foot motor home.” Years ago, they bought a 27-foot vehicle from the Grange Fair, an upgrade to the one they drove onto the grounds. “It’s just such an enjoyment,” Miller said. Article: www.centredaily.com
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But at Rancho Los Coches RV Park in Lakeside, camping enthusiasts not only have a chance to enjoy majestic oak trees and rugged California hillsides, but they can get in touch with early California history. The 142 sites park, bordered by a river that still has rock morteros used by Native Americans to grind acorns and other grains, is celebrating its historical heritage Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10th and 11th with onsite tours and historical presentations by current and former owners and the San Diego Historical Society. Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr. is scheduled to tour the park Friday afternoon. LAKESIDE, Calif. – RVers typically stay at campgrounds and RV resorts in some of the most scenic locations in the country.
“It’ll be a great time to visit the park and learn about the fascinating history of this property, including its original ranch house, which was
and remnants of the 150year-old rock wall can still be seen today, although the adobe house is no longer there.
a stop for the Jackass Mail and the Butterfield Stage,” said Bill Milligan, general manager of Rancho Los Coches RV Park. The RV park is situated on the site of the smallest Mexican land grant in California, which Mexican Gov. Manuel Torena granted to Dona Apolinaria Florenzana in 1843, seven years before California became a state. In those days, the property was part of a ranch that provided food supplies for the San Diego Mission. But Florenzana did not hang on to the property and it changed hands several times until it was acquired in 1859 by Perfecta and Wilbur Ames. The Ames family built an adobe house on the property, which has been featured in several published accounts of early San Diego history. They also erected a rock wall and planted cactus plants around the property to keep their cattle in and to discourage garden thieves. The cactus plants
A writer named W.W. Wheatley acquired the property in the early 20th century and built a selfsufficient home, complete with a windmill to generate electrical power and a water storage tank. But when the property’s current owner, George Ramstead acquired the property in 1973, he refurbished the home and found newspapers inside the walls dating back to 1925, which discussed a controversy surrounding a woman who was about to be hanged in Arizona. “We couldn’t find other papers indicating what happened to her,” he said. Ramstead will join Billy Ortez from the San Diego Historical Society, descendents of the Ames family and Bill Milligan, general manager of the RV park, in leading tours and presentations of the historic RV park property on Sept. 10th and 11th. A barbecue is also being planned for park guests on the 11th. For more information about Rancho Los Coches RV Park, please contact Bill Milligan at (619) 443-2025 and visit www.rancholoscochesrv.com.
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A proposed recreational vehicle campground in the Socastee area of Horry County has concerned some homeowners who live nearby. On Tuesday night, Horry County Council is expected to give final approval to rezoning that would allow for the campground. "Everybody wants to know what's in their backyard," Steve Zienowicz, who
lives adjacent to the proposed campground property, commented. "It's a normal human thing."
property used for home and small commercial use - an extension of the current neighborhood.
The property is off River Road behind Socastee High School and Socastee Elementary.
"Maybe [a campground is] not the best, the greatest and best use of the property," he said.
It was once a mobile home park, but has since been vacant for years.
He is worried the campground will make traffic in the area worse because campers may have to turn left from Highway 707 onto River Road. He said the intersection is already difficult to navigate for
The idea to turn it into an RV campground is not welcomed by Zienowicz and his closest neighbors. They would rather see the
people in regular cars and trucks. "I think it's a nightmare anyway," Zienowicz said. "Let's not add 40-foot rigs to it, you know." He also said River Road is not wide enough to accommodate larger RV's that would turn in and out of the campground. Full Article: www.wmbfnews.com
The GetawayUSA magazine, aimed at getting more people to go camping has released the first issue statistics. The issue had 858000 actual readers from the 66 million emails sent, 8783 forwarded to a friend and 104676 read the magazine more than twice. Publishers, Industry E News LLC who are also the publishers of
Campground & RV Park E News were initially disappointed at the percentage of readers compared to what was sent but considering it was only issue 1 and the fact that a high percentage forwarded the magazine on has encouraged the publishers to move quickly on their strategy of promoting the magazine by way of camping blogs and other internet activity. Seven page spread on Tennessee “We have not wavered from the intent of the magazine, we want to be pro active in promoting the camping industry and highlight the benefits, especially for children” said publisher Dennis Macready. “Encouragement from state parks has been particularly strong with many state parks promoting GetawayUSA on their facebook pages”.
Seven page spread on Maine
The magazine features four states each issue, the first being California, Colorado, Maine and Tennessee in a colorful layout with some outstanding photography. Macready said “We endevor to wet the readers appetite to visit the state by showing great photos with informative editorial and then promote the various Continued
Seven page spread on California campground, RV park and state camping accommodation options”. Private Campgrounds and State Campground Associations are being encouraged to promote the monthly magazine via their own marketing activities. “Our marketing strategy includes promoting to existing campers and RV’rs which we will achieve with blog activity, liasons with Campgrounds, RV Resorts, State Parks, State and National Private Campground Associations, achieving a good mix between new and experienced campers” said Macready.
Advertising is available to Campgrounds by way of the “What’s your interest” links on page 6 which offers links like With Cabins, With Golf Course, KOA, Jellystone, Encore, Best Parks of America, State Park lodging etc. Advertisers can be in as many links that are relevant for one low price. The second issue of GetawayUSA is planned for distribution after September 10. First issue can be viewed herehttp://issuu.com/industryen ews/docs/issue1getaway Interested parties please contact 865 684 6632
From time to time we bring our readers exclusive special deals, the latest being from Jumping Pillows USA. This is an off season advantage that simply won’t be repeated and the ad below says it all. The owners of Jumping Pillows USA were asked about the many existing clients with (now) older pillows. “We now have pillows out there that are 6 years old and since those installations our material
technology has improved greatly” said Gary Wakerley. ‘The offer in our ad extends to existing clients who may be considering a replacement canvas but with three of the 10 specially priced Jumping Pillows available sold already the emphasis is on reacting fast” he said. “It’s not every day you get to save $5000 on a tried and proven product and we’re happy to make the offer to readers of Campground & RV Park E-News first”
Experience package from Michigan International Speedway. Includes tickets, camping and VIP access (valued at nearly $3,000). Novi, Mich., Sept. 7, 2010—The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is sponsoring the 21st Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show, October 6-10, 2010, at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi (exit I-96 at Beck Road, 1 mile east on Grand River). Over 200 new recreation vehicles will be on display including folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers, park
models and fifth wheel travel trailers. Special discounts include folding campers from $4,999; trailers from $8,999; and motorhomes from $49,999. Plus, manufacturer rebates on select RVs. Booths featuring parts and accessories, campground information, on-site RV financing and RV rentals make this the complete RV show experience. At the show, enter to win the Ultimate MIS Race
A special $1 off coupon is available at www.marvac.org, southeast Michigan CVS Pharmacies, Big Boy restaurants and in area newspapers. The 2010 RV & Campsite, a guide to camping in Michigan, will be available free to consumers. The 21st Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show will be held at the Rock Financial Showplace and is open weekdays 2-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The cost for adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $8; senior admission is $7; children ages 12 and under are admitted free! Your RV show ticket will also get into the Fall Remodeling & Design Expo in adjacent area, Thursday through Sunday. The show is sponsored by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC), a member organization representing all aspects of the camping and RV industries.
GREENWICH TWP., Pa. -RVs are on the move after spending the Labor Day holiday at parks and campgrounds. An industry group said summer travel for the big rigs was up 5 percent this year. And one Berks County couple was depending on it to pay the bills. "You know, you put a lot of money into these RVs," said Pam Hasse, Pine Hill RV Park. "You don't want them sitting in your backyard." But that's where some sat for the past two summers. Most take diesel fuel and, at $4 a gallon in the summer of '08, filling up the tank was costly. Just a few months before, Pam and Bob Hasse, originally from New Jersey, bought the Pine Hill RV Park just off Interstate 78 near Kutztown.
"I was kinda like leery because we did sell our house of 30 years," said Pam. But it wasn't such a risky move at the time. "Then the gas prices hit and that was the clincher for us," said Pam. "But we survived. Then last year, the economy dropped out and it got bad, so we survived that. So this year's been good." "Things have started to turn around," said Bob. "We're
starting to pick up and get a little busy." The Hasses said this summer was the first glimmer of hope.
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association said the nation's RV parks and campgrounds saw a 5 percent increase over last year, just enough to give the Hasses an optimistic outlook for the future. "I think it's only going to get better instead of worse," said Bob. Campground regulars provide the support and AAA the statistics to back up the optimism. Article: www.wfmz.com
New Berlin, PA – “After years of producing trade shows where I wasn’t an actual exhibitor, it’s a rather unusual experience to produce one where my company will be exhibiting and my competition will also have a presence”. So says Art Lieberman, the producer of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo which will take place on the Internet November 1st thru 3rd. Lieberman is the President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card provider which has been specializing in the campground industry for 7 years. “We’ve exhibited at dozens of industry shows in the past, and have faced competing businesses at almost all of them. It’s part of the game. If you’re smart, you concentrate on what
your own business brings to the prospective customer and try not to outdo your competition. That’s always been my philosophy, and it has served my business well.” He says. So when Lieberman decided to produce a virtual show, encouraged by others in the campground industry, he almost immediately recognized that the Expo could not exclusive favor his own business over other service providers in the credit card industry. He immediately started to contact his competitors. By early last week, no credit card provider had taken a booth at the Expo. Finally, Mike Noel of Sage Processing Solutions,
whom Lieberman had met at the Northeast Campground Association show several times, became the second credit card provider at the upcoming Expo. “I’m so glad,” said Lieberman, “Mike shares my philosophy that there’s plenty of business to go around”. The Expo is already filled with competing businesses in several industries. “We have the proverbial cream of the crop in the Wi-Fi industry, for instance. CheckBox Systems, CA World Wi-Fi, and TengoInternet all will be present at the Expo, with CheckBox a Gold Sponsor. There are also several businesses which provide campgrounds with online reservations: Leisure Interactive (a Gold Sponsor), RV Tripsetter (a
Silver Sponsor), Campground Manager, Campground Master, and Go USA Camping will be competing for attendee business at the Expo. In addition to simply exhibiting, these vendors will be pooling their combined knowledge and experience at two distinct Open Forums being conducted during the show. Other industries that will have competing businesses present at the Expo include: park models and cabins, publications, games and sporting suppliers, and insurance providers. Information about the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo can be found at their website at www.outdoorhospitalityexp o.com or by calling them at 877-901-EXPO (3976).
Sturgis, Mich. — It is not hard to find a corn field around here, but this fall, local folks will also have a chance to find their way out of a corn field. An elaborate eight-acre “Wild West” corn maze will open Friday at Green Valley Campground in Sturgis. Bartt and Jami Nettleman, owners of the campground, decided a family-friendly, autum activity such as a corn maze would be a lot of fun. Their friend, Chris Pueschel, owner of the corn field, planted the corn. Not in the typical
rows which are easy paths to travel, but also diagonally making it much denser, Pueschel said. Using GPS, a corn maze franchise company cut the maze earlier this summer and tilled the ground making it stubble free. Still, it’s not handicap friendly, Pueschel said. However, for those who get around easily, the trip through the maze could take about an hour and a half. That’s partly because getting lost is always a possibility and also because there are activities along the way.
Anona Sutton and her grandchildren, including Amy Sutton, were the first trial run participants to head into Green Valley’s corn maze. “There are 24 stations,” said Jami Nettleman. At 12 stations participants can do rubbings and at 12 others gather clues for a riddle. As the maze is open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday, there is also the options of going through in the dark. But Green Valley has more planned than just a the maze. They also have a pumpkin patch, cornfield sand box with a treasure hunt, a straw maze for the very young, a petting zoo and hay rides. There will be a community campfire available for groups and a children’s play area. For those who don’t want to face the risk of getting lost, Nettleman said every group will be give an orange flag which they can raise to signal for help.
The flags will be spotted by volunteers stationed around the maze with walkie talkies and those on a bridge which serves as a look-out. Green Valley’s motto has always been safety first, Nettleman said, “especially when it comes to kids.” The cost is $9 and $7 for ages 2-12. “For $9 you can be here all day,” Nettleman said. In keeping with the theme, volunteers will be dressed out in cowboy accessories. Participants are welcome to come as cowboys also, Nettleman said. “But remember it’s a corn field,” Pueschel said. “Don’t be wearing high heels or flip flops,” and there’s a very good chance participants will get dirty, Nettleman said. Article: www.sturgisjournal.com
RESTON, Va. -- The RV Industry Association hosted the head of one of China’s leading private companies at the association’s headquarters Aug. 16 to discuss the developing RV industry in China.
Service Industry Companies, Top 100 Private Companies, and Top 200 Real Estate Companies. The company is interested in working with RVIA to assist in further establishing the RV industry in China.
Those involved in the meeting were (pictured in photo left to right) RVIA’s Vice President of Standards and Education Bruce Hopkins; RVIA Vice President and General Counsel Craig Kirby; Sonnenschein’s Mark Weller; RVIA President Richard Coon; Shijun Gao, Lear Gao; and Sonnenschein’s John Finston.
“It was a pleasure to meet with Mr. Gao and his son. His company is very successful and we are encouraged with the interest they are showing in that country’s RV market,” said RVIA President Richard Coon. “We are looking forward to continuing our discussions with him and with our overall efforts to help build the RV industry in China.”
Shijun Gao heads the Jiangsu Gaoli Group, one China’s leading private companies that is involved in the automobile, home furnishing, real estate and education industries. The company is ranked in China’s Top 500 Companies, Top 500
RVIA has been working with business leaders, organizations and government contacts in China to discuss industry standards and other regulatory issues while also determining what potential this market may hold for the RV industry.
RESTON, Va. -- Go RVing’s increased use of costefficient online media has yielded a significant boost in web presence and puts Go RVing on the front lines of this increasingly popular marketing trend, the RV Industry Association announced today. “What was once considered ‘non-traditional’ advertising -the search engines, web ads and social media now integral to our campaign -is quickly moving to the forefront,” said Gary LaBella, RVIA vice president and chief marketing officer. In March of this year, Go RVing re-launched its allnew interactive website to have the look and feel of the animated Ambassadors of Affordability TV campaign. Since the launch, GoRVing.com has seen a 74 percent increase in total site visits (1.4 million) compared to the same time period in 2009. There have been over 5.6 million page visits to date this year, a 151 percent increase showing those who visit the website are drawn further into it from the home
Brad Herzog page. Go RVing’s visitors spend an average of 2:04 on the site, an impressive 50 percent greater amount of time than the 90-second Internet average. Three-quarters of all active Internet users regularly read blogs and the popularity of the Go RVing travel blog continues to grow as well. “You Are Here,” the yearround travel blog written by RVIA spokesperson and renowned travel writer Brad Herzog, now has more than 8,500 subscribers, adding more than 250 subscribers weekly during the Herzog family’s media touring months for RVIA. Each issue features an On the Road column written by Herzog.
Stanek says because most schools started before Labor Day, many families may be too busy to go camping. Jumping Pillows USA has designed a new and very affordable Shade Structure which they hope to release in 2011. “After 3 years we finally came up with a structure which is lightweight and strong and can span 40 – 50 ft in width without center poles or a cumbersome truss arrangement, most importantly it will price in at around half of the cost of a Jumping Pillow instead of double” said Gary Wakerley owner of the company.
Many people typically spend their Labor Day weekend camping. But with cooler temperatures and some rain, many people chose to stay home or go elsewhere. Labor Day weekend is normally a busy time for campgrounds in Northcentral Wisconsin. But for many, this year was a little different. Owners at Lake du Bay Shores near Mosinee didn't see too many weekend visitors for Labor Day.
Like most good ideas, the design is simple yet innovative. The structure has been checked by Structural Engineers and has passed with flying colors. “During the Fall we’ll be building a prototype to confirm that the practicality is compatible with the theoretical” Wakerley said. Campground and RV Park E-News will keep our readers abreast of the progress.
"Probably about half full from what we should have been," says owner Dennis Stanek. It was windy and chilly on Friday and Saturday, keeping people away from lakeside sites and out of the water. "It was calm this year, really kind of quiet. There wasn't as many people here I don't think, because of the weather," says Labor Day camper, Bob Hommerding from Mosinee.
"That makes a world of difference, some schools around here started 10 days to 2 weeks before the holiday," says Stanek. But year-round regulars say they wouldn't miss a holiday weekend by the lake, especially because
after this weekend, we'll start to say goodbye to summer. "Labor Day is almost, kind of marks the end of the year, unfortunately," says year-round camper, Harley Meyer from Spencer. Campers will soon be packing up and winterizing their lots, to prepare for ice fishing season.
A fun day of camping turned into a nightmare for one Boone County family when their 9-yearold impaled himself with a stick. Nathan Brixey had to be airlifted from the Corbin KOA Campground to UK Hospital in Lexington.
Both parents panicked, trying to stay calm as the campground owner called 911 and a helicopter came. "He was a trooper, doing great...staying calm," campground owner Jerry Cooney said. "If it was me, I would have been more crazy."
The stick went through his mouth and up his nasal passages. "It was horrible. He was not far from us. I just heard a scream like I've never heard from him," Michael Brixey tells LEX 18. Nathan was running with a stick when he tripped. "All the blood gushing out, when he opens his mouth you can only see a flap of skin...just horrifying."
As little Nathan endures multiple surgeries, his parents and doctors are calling him a miracle child. "They said where it hit was a one-in-a-million shot." That's because the stick went straight through, missing both nerves and his neck. Nathan was in surgery Monday evening.
September 14-15: NCA Great Escape, Danforth Bay Camping Resort, Freedom, New Hampshire. For more information contact Dianne Battles at 603-539-2069 or info@danforthbay.com The 42nd Annual Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show, Sept. 1519 at Hersheypark Entertainment & Resorts Complex in Hershey, Pa., will feature the nation’s largest display of recreational park trailers.
October 18-20: Virginia Campground Association, American Heritage RV Park, Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information contact David Gorin at 703448-6863 or tovca@aol.com October 19-20: Ohio Campground Owners Association (OCOA) Fall Fun Day & POOT, Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio. For more information contact Kristy Smith at 614-221-7748
November 4-7: 47th Annual CONY Conference and Trade Show, Syracuse, New York. For more information contact Donald G. Bennett at 585586-4360 or Don@nycampgrounds.com November 1-3 Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo www.outdoorhospitalityexpo.com
or by calling them at 877901-EXPO (3976). November 7-10 KOA convention in Savannah, GA Vendors interested in the Expo or Convention sponsorships can call 406254-7435.
December 1-3: InSites Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo, Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information visit www.arvc.org December 6-8: PCOA Conference, Wyndam, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For more information contact Beverly Gruber at 610-767-5026 or info@pacamping.com
officer arrived at their campsite and served them with a letter asking them to leave. A couple has filed a $1.2million lawsuit against the RCMP and officials in an Alberta village alleging they were falsely arrested and handcuffed in a dispute that started when they planted flowers at their summer campsite two years ago. "RCMP cruisers were literally surrounding our summer home," Sandra Martell-Stang said Thursday of the July 4, 2008, incident. "This was over planting flowers, don't forget. And so, here we have 10 or 12 RCMP officers, nine cruisers, my husband and I standing there thinking, 'What is going on?'" The Stony Plain RCMP, two RCMP officers, the village of Alberta Beach, the Alberta Beach Family RV Park and Campground and various Alberta Beach employees and politicians are named in the lawsuit, which was filed last year. The lawsuit is the result of a dispute between MartellStang, her husband Darrel Stang and the management of the campground where the Stangs had been permanent seasonal campers since 2007. In June 2008, the Stangs planted three beds of flowers on their site at the
campground to stop people from cutting across the edge of the site as well as improve the lot's appearance. "We had like cement rings around them and we planted flowers in the centre," Martell-Stang said. "We got lots of compliments about them saying how good they looked." There was precedent for this, the couple believed. Previous management had allowed them to build a deck on their fifth-wheel trailer, and seasonal campers had been told at a recent meeting they could plant whatever they wanted. Other campers had planted gardens and installed gazebos and patio stones on their lots. But a couple of days later, the manager of the campground called them and said her supervisor told her two of the three planters had to go. The request was repeated in a letter sent to the Stangs by the village on June 18. The planters were to be removed by July 2 According to the Stangs's statement of claim, on the night of June 28, the campground manager and an Alberta Beach peace
The couple refused to comply — Martell-Stang didn't consider it to be an eviction notice because the document hadn't been filed with court. The couple said the two planters were removed on June 30. But on July 4, the peace officer returned to the campsite with two RCMP officers to remove the couple from the site. According to the statement of claim, the Stangs told the officers they had done nothing wrong and suggested the campground manager go through "proper channels" if they wanted the couple to leave. The couple alleges the situation then escalated. Additional RCMP officers and cruisers showed up and the pair was handcuffed, arrested, placed in separate police cruisers and taken to the Stony Plain RCMP detachment where, MartellStang alleges, they were searched and placed in cells. They were released after being given trespassing tickets, which were later dismissed. The allegations contained in the Stangs's lawsuit have not been proven in court.
The defendants and their lawyers refused to comment on the lawsuit but they have denied all the allegations in their statements of defence. An RCMP review of the incident, written by the officer in charge of the Stony Plain detachment and sent to Martell-Stang on Aug. 20, dismisses the couple's complaints and says they were verbally abusive and confrontational that night, adding she taunted police to arrest her. The letter suggests MartellStang gathered up campers until there was a group of about 10 to 12 other people at the site. The RCMP perceived this as a way to prevent them from removing the couple and was a "potential breach of the peace." "Therefore, additional RCMP backup was called as a direct result of your actions," Insp. G.S. Graham wrote. Martell-Stang, who lived in Whitecourt, Alta., at the time of the incident, now lives in southern Ontario. She has laid a complaint with the RCMP Public Complaints Commission. Discovery hearings in the lawsuit is expected to take place this fall. Article: http://www.cbc.ca
WATERLOO, Iowa --- A massive zoning change and campground near the Lost Island Waterpark is up for a public hearing this week. Waterloo City Council members will consider a request from water park developer Gary Bertch to rezone 153 acres of agriculturally zoned land on the northwest corner of East Shaulis and Hess roads into a planned residential and commercial district. The northern part of the land would become the Bamboo Ridge Campground, which would have 150 camp sites initially with room for 50 more. A convenience store doubling as a campground check-in facility would be at the entrance off Hess Road. And the property would include a dam to create a 15-acre lake. Neighboring property owners speaking at last month's Waterloo
Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission generally supported the campground but expressed concerns about the future commercial and multiplefamily housing included in the request, including a street connection into the Guernsey Addition to the west. Bertch has been discussing the situation with neighbors in search of a mutually agreeable layout. But city officials have heard concerns from residents of Cedar Terrace, which is east of the water park near the Cedar River. Those issues are largely related to the proposed dam. "They're afraid it will be like Lake Delhi," said Councilwoman Carolyn Cole, referring to the dam that failed on the Maquoketa River this summer, flooding property downstream.