turtle watch volunteer arrested

[Geo]

UGH...

So SJ seemed to net this out for us very nicely in an earlier post. Let me follow his lead-

Is there any reason why I/we cannot (after sunset) move items left on the beach next to the nearest beach access trash receptacle?

 

[Geo]

Ya know something Bobby J...I think we're entering a new phase that will eventually lead to the ruin of this area's beaches. Over the last few years I've watched our area quickly becoming a place where nature and people are finding it more and more difficult to co-exist. See what happens to these beaches when folks who care simply give up (or leave) and let the junque and trash accumulate.

I've been thinking of visiting Costa Rico--heard lots about it--if I end up there, maybe I'll let you buy me a beer.

Somebody meet me right now for a beer in Costa Rica.

 

[Minnie]

Minnie, you PM'd me about how many on this thread may be turtle walkers. I'm a walker and absolutely proud to be counted among them. It gives something back to an area I consider myself very blessed to be a part of. I'm not aware of any others posting being walkers. Anyone else care to stand up and

Ash, I am proud you are a man of action and just not words. Many times it's easy to support a cause in theory and not action. Next time I am in town I would love to join you on a walk. I will contact you.

A very easy way to support the turtles is to purchase a license plate in their support.

And as you said, it seems the tents and holes are the really serious problems, I would totally support the banning of tents on the beach. A beach umbrella is plenty of shade.

There is no need for the beach to look like a football tailgate experience.

 

[Interested Girl]

Your actions on public property would probably not bring Barney or Goober or Gomer to your home. The issue is what is public and what is private.

The issue with the current ordinance is it gives the owner no opportunity to retrieve their possessions when removed.

 

[ASH]

UGH...

So SJ seemed to net this out for us very nicely in an earlier post. Let me follow his lead-

Is there any reason why I/we cannot (after sunset) move items left on the beach next to the nearest beach access trash receptacle?

If we were all your size, this might not be an issue. I have personally seen a renter in the face of a TDC guy because the TDC guy was tossing beach chairs in the back of his truck. I got closer because I wanted to see how this played out. The renter was telling the TDC that he had just put out all this stuff. The TDC guy calmly went back to his truck and produced a color photo taken the night before and he was showing the renter how the tent was exactly where it was last night and that umbrella hasn't moved either.

It was starting to get tense and I didn't want to be in the middle of that and so I walked off to finish my walk. It wasn't too many days after that the lawyer thing happened that hamstringed the TDC from what doing their part in a mixed up world.

 

[Interested Girl]

I just don't understand why all the pro-law and order folks are so upset about the failure of the proper authorities to enforce the law so that this woman who gets up at dawn to walk the beach in an attempt to protect these rapidly disappearing creatures isn't driven to take the law into her own hands. Yes, destroying abandoned and potentially dangerous items is the responsibility of the county. This is a classic example of a decent person getting caught in the gap between what our community agrees should be rules, and the failure to enforce those rules.

Now that we all know the name of the woman who allegedly snapped, I'd love to know the names of the people who left the crap on the beach that prevented the turtle from nesting. I'd like to know who is behind the effort to prevent the TDC and county authorities from removing the gypsy encampments from the beach at night during turtle nesting season.

Would someone please go set up a fund for this woman to hire a fantastic attorney? I'll volunteer to be a fundraiser! I feel a handpainted sign inspiration coming on...

Probably eligible for Obama Bucks - don't worry the government is here to help !

 

[wrobert]

Minnie, you PM'd me about how many on this thread may be turtle walkers. I'm a walker and absolutely proud to be counted among them. It gives something back to an area I consider myself very blessed to be a part of. I'm not aware of any others posting being walkers. Anyone else care to stand up and

Finally someone who might know. You guys get $80K a year in tax money to run that program. Do turtle walkers get paid? What do you do with the money?

 

[wrobert]

I just don't understand why all the pro-law and order folks are so upset about the failure of the proper authorities to enforce the law so that this woman who gets up at dawn to walk the beach in an attempt to protect these rapidly disappearing creatures isn't driven to take the law into her own hands. Yes, destroying abandoned and potentially dangerous items is the responsibility of the county. This is a classic example of a decent person getting caught in the gap between what our community agrees should be rules, and the failure to enforce those rules.

Now that we all know the name of the woman who allegedly snapped, I'd love to know the names of the people who left the crap on the beach that prevented the turtle from nesting. I'd like to know who is behind the effort to prevent the TDC and county authorities from removing the gypsy encampments from the beach at night during turtle nesting season.

Would someone please go set up a fund for this woman to hire a fantastic attorney? I'll volunteer to be a fundraiser! I feel a handpainted sign inspiration coming on...

Harry Harper is a fantastic criminal attorney in Bay County with experience in Walton County. I worked with him years ago and the man knows his stuff. I am sure when you guys get up a defense fund he would be glad to assist. Everyone deserves just as much justice as they can afford. What a country.

 

[Geo]

If we were all your size, this might not be an issue. I have personally seen a renter in the face of a TDC guy because the TDC guy was tossing beach chairs in the back of his truck. I got closer because I wanted to see how this played out. The renter was telling the TDC that he had just put out all this stuff. The TDC guy calmly went back to his truck and produced a color photo taken the night before and he was showing the renter how the tent was exactly where it was last night and that umbrella hasn't moved either.

It was starting to get tense and I didn't want to be in the middle of that and so I walked off to finish my walk. It wasn't too many days after that the lawyer thing happened that hamstringed the TDC from what doing their part in a mixed up world.

So wait. Size does mattter? I knew I was being lied to!

 

[wrobert]

Your actions on public property would probably not bring Barney or Goober or Gomer to your home. The issue is what is public and what is private.

The issue with the current ordinance is it gives the owner no opportunity to retrieve their possessions when removed.

Good luck getting them discuss that. Why? Because in their minds it is not an issue. They have already decided that the beach is pretty and touches the gulf so it belongs to everyone, those that pay taxes on it and those that do not. What amazes me is when people who profess this sort of thing have no trouble selling off their supposed public beach for millions and laugh about it.