how vince lovato sees the world
AGE-DISCRIMINATION
Lewis files complaint against Ronan
Wed Jun 25, 2014.
By Vince Lovato, Editor
RONAN – A former candidate for police chief filed a grievance with the state Human Rights Bureau claiming the city of Ronan officials discriminated against him because of his age.
Ronan Mayor Kim Aipperspach twice invited to Dennis Lewis, 72, to apply for the job of police chief, according to the complaint filed June 12.
Lewis, who has 45 years of professional law enforcement experience, wanted to help the city stabilize its police department, which is now the focus of a federal civil right suit.
“I think they want to hire young people who they can tell what to do,” Lewis said. “They need to so they can keep things covered up.”
The complaint states that City Councilman Chris Adler told Lewis that his age, “came up several times,” during the council’s meeting on the subject of hiring a police chief.
The Human Rights Bureau will investigate the complaint and the state Office of Administrative Hearings can determine damages, said Bureau Attorney Tim Little. The damages could be for lost wages, emotional distress and for affirmative relief, meaning the city waould have to remedy the reasons for the discrimination, Little said.
“I have not reviewed this case,” Little said. “But the city should take this very seriously.”
Lewis does not have a state credential to serve as a sworn officer in Montana but he said he can get one within a year, which would be required by law.
He also said the city could hire him as a “Safety Officer” who can serve as an administrator for the beleaguered department without being a sworn officer.
The Montana Public Safety Officer Standards requirements all peace officers must meet. At least two of Ronan’s full-time officers did not meet those standards, according to state records.
Lewis’ complaint comes in the wake of a civil lawsuit filed against Aipperspach, the Police Department and its former chief Dan Wadsworth on behalf of a Tribal member and Ronan resident Anthony Chaney who was arrested by one of the un-certified officers about a year ago.
The bureau has 180 days to complete and investigation, according to its website. From there, the process continues through a series of hearings and potential appeals until a judgment is made.
The grievance continues the city’s struggle with maintaining a stable police force.
Wadsworth served as chief for 13 years until he was suspended for falsifying facts to get his son, Trevor, hired as a Ronan Police Officer, according to state records.
At the Jan. 21 city council meeting , officer John Mitchell was selected to replace Chief Valent Maxwell, who was removed from his post at the Jan. 7 council meeting after serving 11 weeks.
In June, a group of attorneys, including the CSKT Public Defenders Office, filed a civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula on behalf of Tribal member Anthony Chaney, because Trevor Wadsworth illegally arrested him in 2013.
City council considered hiring Lewis or Mitchell for the chief’s position but decided in June to advertise the position for someone who either has state credentials or can obtain them within a year, according to a city official.
[nOTE: tHIS STORY IS ONE I AM VERY PROUD OF. iT WAS CHALLENGING JOURNALISM AND HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON SO MANY LIVES AND LED TO STATE LAW CREATED TO PROTECT CORPSES FROM DESECRATION.]
Sexual assault on
4-year-old's corpse
leads to arrest of two
2/15/03
By VINCE LOVATO and C.J. SCHEXNAYDER
L.A. Daily News
ADELANTO -- Two employees of a company hired to transport corpses for the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office were arrested Friday afternoon, accused of sexually assaulting the body of a 4-year-old Adelanto girl.
Donald Luis Cooper Jr., 32, and Chaunee Marie Helm, 30, both of Hesperia and employees of All-County Transportation, were arrested on suspicion of mutilation of human remains, a felony.
Robyn Gillette, 4, suffered a seizure Wednesday night and died at Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville.
On Friday night the girl's mother, Kathleen Jones, 36, of Adelanto, said the day she learned what happened to her daughter, "was the longest day from hell."
"She was a loving child, always hugging and kissing, always smiling," the mother said. "She had the greatest little personality. She was happy all the time, always singing and dancing."
Jones said San Bernardino County sheriff's investigators told her the man was caught on videotape sexually assaulting her child's body in the morgue. The woman, she was told, acted as a lookout.
Sheriff's department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said mutilation was the charge because the assault occurred after the child died, and not because there had been any other injury to the body.
San Bernardino County Coroner Brian McCormick described the incident as "horrendous and tragic."
"What has been described constitutes the grossest violation of trust and decency imaginable," he said in a written statement. "Our hearts go out to the family and we share their anger."
The county immediately suspended its use of the company pending a review of the case. All transportation of bodies will be conducted by coroner's officials. Officials with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said they also used the company to transport bodies and they were looking into any possible improprieties as well.
According to the family, the girl suffered a seizure Wednesday night and had stopped breathing. She was taken by paramedics to Victor Valley Community Hospital and died at 9:22 p.m. Her body was transported to the Coroner's morgue for a postmortem examination.
After the examination, the girl's body was taken to the Inland Eye and Tissue Bank so her corneas could be harvested. At 7:50 p.m. a technician performing the operation noticed the child had suffered a sexual assault and notified the on-duty coroner and a pathologist.
After confirming that the child had been assaulted, coroner's officials contacted the Sheriff's Department.
Investigators with the department's homicide and crimes against children details interviewed the girl's family and were able to determine the assault did not occur at her home. Jones said her five other children were put in the custody of Child Protective Services for more than 12 hours Wednesday during the investigation.
Jones said paramedics had to take Robyn's pajamas off to treat her when they arrived and there was no evidence of sexual assault at that time.
Investigators then interviewed Coroner's Office personnel and county employees and determined none were suspects in the assault. They then focused on the employees of All-County Transportation, Beavers said.
The two were arrested at 4:30 p.m Friday at the Budget Inn Motel in Victorville.
AGE-DISCRIMINATION
Lewis files complaint against Ronan
Wed Jun 25, 2014.
By Vince Lovato, Editor
RONAN – A former candidate for police chief filed a grievance with the state Human Rights Bureau claiming the city of Ronan officials discriminated against him because of his age.
Ronan Mayor Kim Aipperspach twice invited to Dennis Lewis, 72, to apply for the job of police chief, according to the complaint filed June 12.
Lewis, who has 45 years of professional law enforcement experience, wanted to help the city stabilize its police department, which is now the focus of a federal civil right suit.
“I think they want to hire young people who they can tell what to do,” Lewis said. “They need to so they can keep things covered up.”
The complaint states that City Councilman Chris Adler told Lewis that his age, “came up several times,” during the council’s meeting on the subject of hiring a police chief.
The Human Rights Bureau will investigate the complaint and the state Office of Administrative Hearings can determine damages, said Bureau Attorney Tim Little. The damages could be for lost wages, emotional distress and for affirmative relief, meaning the city waould have to remedy the reasons for the discrimination, Little said.
“I have not reviewed this case,” Little said. “But the city should take this very seriously.”
Lewis does not have a state credential to serve as a sworn officer in Montana but he said he can get one within a year, which would be required by law.
He also said the city could hire him as a “Safety Officer” who can serve as an administrator for the beleaguered department without being a sworn officer.
The Montana Public Safety Officer Standards requirements all peace officers must meet. At least two of Ronan’s full-time officers did not meet those standards, according to state records.
Lewis’ complaint comes in the wake of a civil lawsuit filed against Aipperspach, the Police Department and its former chief Dan Wadsworth on behalf of a Tribal member and Ronan resident Anthony Chaney who was arrested by one of the un-certified officers about a year ago.
The bureau has 180 days to complete and investigation, according to its website. From there, the process continues through a series of hearings and potential appeals until a judgment is made.
The grievance continues the city’s struggle with maintaining a stable police force.
Wadsworth served as chief for 13 years until he was suspended for falsifying facts to get his son, Trevor, hired as a Ronan Police Officer, according to state records.
At the Jan. 21 city council meeting , officer John Mitchell was selected to replace Chief Valent Maxwell, who was removed from his post at the Jan. 7 council meeting after serving 11 weeks.
In June, a group of attorneys, including the CSKT Public Defenders Office, filed a civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula on behalf of Tribal member Anthony Chaney, because Trevor Wadsworth illegally arrested him in 2013.
City council considered hiring Lewis or Mitchell for the chief’s position but decided in June to advertise the position for someone who either has state credentials or can obtain them within a year, according to a city official.
JPL announces 300 job layoffs
October 13, 2005|By: Vince Lovato
LA CANADA -- A robust local economy coupled with hopes of retaining jobs for new
projects at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory could soften the blow of
layoffs announced this week at the sprawling campus.
Reacting to an expected 2% to 5% reduction in NASA funding, JPL
director Charles Elachi announced the planned layoff of 200 employees
and 100 contractors during a staff meeting Monday.
Elachi warned about potential layoffs as early as Sept. 7 when he first learned NASA's 2005-06 fiscal year budget might be trimmed, JPL
spokeswoman Veronica McGregor said. NASA's 2004-05 budget was $1.6
billion. Though the fiscal year started Oct. 1, Congress has yet to
approve the national budget, McGregor said.
About 380 of JPL's 5,400 employees live in La Canada Flintridge, a
city of about 21,000 with 7,000 single-family residences.
"I'm understanding that they still have to identify the positions
they will be laying off," La Canada Flintridge City Manager Mark
Alexander said. "And it appears as though they will be looking to
outside contracts," as a way to offset the layoffs.
Either way, the city economy should remain strong.
"As far as general impact, I don't think this will be as serious,"
Alexander said. "It's unfortunate, but I don't see a major impact on
local economy as a result."
Local Realtor Sid Karsh said the city's population has become more
diverse making it less susceptible to minor employment shifts.
"What's happened in last 20 years is a lot of entertainment
industry people have come over here and we didn't have that much
before," Karsh said. "The attraction here is the schools. We're a
horse community with large lots and few sidewalks and streetlights."
Karsh, who has 40 years of real estate experience, said there
might be a social impact if JPL employees left in large numbers.
"They've always been a great neighbor," Karsh said. "The people
are very involved in all parts of life, the schools and churches.
They are wonderful to have here."
JPL officials have some strategies that should help reduce the
blow suffered by the layoffs.
Officials started a hiring freeze in September and will not refill
vacancies created when employees leave or retire, McGregor said.
"Another mitigating factor is that Dr. Elachi is trying to acquire
new programs that we already have the expertise to perform," McGregor
said.
If JPL could secure Department of Defense programs, it would mean
more revenues from a different source, McGregor said.
JPL, known for its robotic exploration of the solar system, is
part of the private California Institute of Technology.
The lab, which started as a Caltech research lab in the 1930s, was
also used by the U.S. Army, McGregor said.
JPL is the only one of 10 NASA centers that is managed for NASA by
an education facility. The employees are not civil servants but
employees of Cal Tech, McGregor said.
In an effort to control spending, JPL axed missions, including
sending a spacecraft to explore Jupiter's icy moons and an orbiter to
gather data about Mars' atmosphere.
Local software firm fights off cyber-bugs
January 03, 2006|By Vince Lovato
Panda Software earns accolades for identifying computer maladies before they infect
GLENDALE -- Panda Software is the scourge of computer viruses and digital Trojan horses, the electronic versions of pestilence -- malevolent, invisible yet highly destructive and even lethal.
Panda Software, whose U.S. headquarters are in Glendale, earned accolades from customers and industry experts because its software can identify such computer maladies -- known as malware -- before they infect computers. That sets the company apart, Panda's Chief Technology Officer Patrick Hinojosa said. Most security software, he said, can only react to a virus or Trojan horse -- information that appears to users as something they want but once accepted morphs into malicious software.
Since it was established 15 years ago, Panda has become something of an early warning watchdog for the industry and computer users.
Advertisement
Panda technicians reported a new Trojan horse Tuesday called Nabload.U, which was designed to steal online banking passwords of Spanish-speaking users around the world through Microsoft's popular Instant Messenger chat program, Hinojosa said.
Last week, Panda reported that a computer virus disguised as an animated Santa Claus holiday greeting was invading computers to gather users' personal information.
Reviewers from Government Computer News, who research the software industry and publish results in the magazine, said in November that Panda's Platinum 2006 Internet Security software outperformed newly released versions of leading security suites from giants such as McAfee Inc., Symantec Corp. and Trend Micro Inc. PC World Magazine also named Platinum one of its best buys for 2005.
"Hacking used to be the domain of some Asian kids who were trying to outdo each other," said Hinojosa. "But the malicious-software scene has become more of a criminal activity for profit, so we had to switch from being reactive to proactive, and that culminated in our 2006 product release [Platinum] that came out this fall."
Panda was founded in Spain and has offices in 50 countries, including the U.S. headquarters established 15 years ago in Glendale, which has about 125 employees.
The company developed a revolutionary artificial intelligence that can detect malware before it does any harm. That's what separates it from other companies, Hinojosa said.
It's Cell Phone Girl
La Crescenta woman set to fight the forces of evil, along with bad-hair days and poor reception
August 02, 2006|By Vince Lovato
Who wants to be a superhero? Cell Phone Girl does. Whether she's scanning an area with her built-in camera or downloading information from the Internet directly to her brain, Cell Phone Girl — also known as Chelsea Weld — wants to show her superpowers to the world.
"I fight crime any time of day," said Weld, a 24-year-old interior designer who grew up in La Cañada Flintridge and recently moved to La Crescenta. "But it's not just crime. I fight bad-hair days and emotional situations. Any time someone needs help, I'm there for them."
And if she beats 10 other contestants in a Sci Fi Channel TV show titled "Who Wants To Be A Superhero?" her alter ego will be the subject of a comic book created by the legendary Stan Lee.
"It sounded like a lot of fun, and who doesn't want to be a superhero?" Weld said. "The producers wanted to show people who should be admired for their good qualities, which is good to celebrate in this day and age when a lot of [reality] shows are there to tear people down."
She was sitting in class at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles when she was inspired to come up with her alter ego.
"My friend asked me if I knew how to use a certain feature," Weld said. "And I thought that would be awesome if I learned how to use cellphones because nobody reads the manuals. Then I thought, I do use my phone for calls, text messaging and keeping in touch. So it was a natural fit. I really am Cell Phone Girl."
She lived in a lair in Los Angeles with the other contestants — including Fat Mama, Monkey Woman and Feedback — for six weeks while shooting the series, she said.
"We all had to come up with an initial costume … but part way through the show we get a super-makeover," she said. "The costume designers came up with new advanced looks so there is a super version of us but it's based on our original design."
Since the show debuted on Thursday, she has been featured on the cover of USA Today, an article in the Los Angeles Times and she appeared live on the "Today" show with two other contestants.
The exposure hasn't gone to her head, she said.
"My friends are so excited," Weld said. "But fame is not something that is important for me. It would be awesome to have a comic book for a comic book's sake. But it really would be a lot of fun if the character I created was famous. I think she has a lot of great strengths and weaknesses and she has a lot of substance to her."
Scott Satin, who helped create the show and is one of its executive producers, said Weld was selected as a finalist from thousands who auditioned.
"I just think she encapsulates the normal person for her age group," Satin said. "She wasn't going crazy or had steroid muscles. She was totally herself and that was perfect and not cliché. She didn't think that would get her on the show and the fact that she was beautiful and has a wonderful personality didn't hurt."
Seyler released on
technical issue
Case dismissed against inmate who allegedly attacked Tribal jail guard
Leader photo by Vince Lovato
Manley and Cole-Hodgkinson.
Judge Manley, in the background, listens to Cole-Hodgkinson testify.
Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2014
By Vince Lovato, Editor
POLSON – Instead of defending her client, defense attorney Ashley Morigeau put the prosecutor’s office on trial Thursday – and won.
Lake County District Court Judge James Manley dismissed charges against Eugene Seyler, who allegedly beat a guard in the CSKT Detention Center in Pablo on May 22.
The center’s security cameras recorded the event but a jury will probably never see the video.
Seyler, 42, of Pablo, appeared in Lake County Justice Court before Justice of the Peace Joey Jayne on May 23. But prosecutor and Deputy County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson didn’t file charges against Seyler until June 10.
Those were an important 18 days.
Montana court guidelines require prosecutors to file charges within 10 days of arraignment if the suspect is incarcerated, Manley said. And he is right because he is the judge, despite the arguments from Cole-Hodgkinson and her boss, County Attorney Mitch Young.
During the hearing to dismiss, Morigeau called Cole-Hodgkinson to the stand and grilled her for more than 40 minutes.
During her questioning, Cole-Hodgkinson said she was waiting for medical records and information from an investigator to help her determine what she should charge Seyler with.
“I wasn’t sure I could convince a jury that (Seyler) was trying to kill the guard,” she testified.
A judge dismissed an attempted murder charge against Seyler in January. He was charged with stabbing a neighbor repeatedly but detectives could not find many of the witnesses, according to court records.
“So this was the second unprovoked attack by the defendant in six months,” Cole-Hodgkinson said. “I wanted to keep the public safe.”
But Manley had none of it and said during his June 19 ruling that Cole-Hodgkinson was late filing the charges, “for reasons that are not justified, and frankly, hard to believe.”
He also got Cole-Hodgkinson to admit that every case in the 20th Judicial District for more than 20 years had been dismissed for violating the “10-day rule.”
Whereupon, he ordered Seyler released immediately.
Mitch Young, who was voted out of his office June 3, plans to file an appeal.
On May 22, Seyler, who was arrested on a public nuisance charge, allegedly attacked CSKT detention officer Monty Nelson, who was saved when he crawled to an adjoining cell, handed his keys to the inmate, who unlocked his door, pushed Seyler off of Nelson, and locked Seyler back into his cell.
“These are obviously very serious charges, and you’re always reluctant to dismiss them,” Manley said.
Despite the violence of the alleged assault, Cole-Hodgkinson said the hospital report indicated that Nelson did not suffer severe injuries
3/7/2013 12:25:00 PM
Nurture or neglect?
Antoine Creek residents accuse neighbors of horse neglect
Kevin Blanchfield drops off Cassie Hart and their dog, Bear after feeding their horses.
Story and photos by Vince Lovato
ANTOINE CREEK -- Their neighbors believe the Blanchfield family horses are neglected and inbred. But the Blanchfields believe they are being harassed by their neighbors as part of an ongoing neighborhood squabble.Both sides claim their first concern is for the health of the horses.
Over the last two years, Blanchfield neighbor Ave Dover filed eight formal complaints against Kevin Blanchfield and his common-law wife, Cassie Hart. Dover's complaints repeatedly accuse the Blanchfields of failing to feed their 40 horses regularly, not supplying any shelter against the harsh winters, and allowing stallions to mix with the mares and breed at will.
But the Blanchfields, who signed a 10-year lease in 2009 for 650 acres of Colville Tribe land across the highway from Dover, said they feed the horses every day and they have access to Antoine Creek for water and plenty of cover against the wind.
"It's frustrating because we feel like we're in this alone," said Dover about the responses she receives from the humane society. "I guess I'm just shocked at what (Cassie is) able to get away with."
The latest flare up came Feb. 27 when Dover, a registered nurse, sent an email to the media and the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society that read, in part, "A new colt arrived this week and both mother and baby struggle for nourishment. I suggest a vet needs to check the status of these two not a animal control officer. The last mom and baby checked by animal control are now dead."
The Blanchfields did have a 26-year-old mare that gave birth a few months ago and was euthanized by a veterinarian. The Blanchfields said the foal was born with severe defects and was also put down.
Horses, horses, everywhere
On a recent gorgeous spring morning, Kevin, Cassie and their black lab, Bear, drove up to the acreage they call "the allotment" in their old pickup truck with "Quiet Valley Ranch" painted on the door. (They live a couple of miles up the road but keep the horses on the allotment.)Kevin Blanchfield jumped out and gave a yelp and horses start slowly meandering toward the gate. They are Paints and appear a bit weathered by the winter.
"We had two fires last year and we lost all of our pasture," Cassie said. "We've been feeding them hay every day since August."
Hart said Dover has a personal grudge against her.
Cassie worked for Dover and they shared pasture land and helped each other out regularly for about 8 years, as horse owners often do.
But Cassie said she had to erect a fence on her own property that cut off about 3 feet of land that belonged to the Blanchfields but Dover used and cared for.
"She told me that I might be right legally but I was wrong morally," Cassie said. "That's when all this started. She has really clearly harassed me. Anytime animal control has been contacted, there isn't one time when is hasn't been totally cleared. We are really being wronged."
Feud or fodder?
Sometime after the fence dispute, Dover fired Cassie and now accuses her and Kevin of many nefarious things unrelated to the horses. She once filed a Sheriff's report claiming Kevin Blanchfield attacked her husband.Kevin Blanchfield was not arrested and no charges were filed.
It's about the horses
And that brings Dover and her supporters to the nexus of the problem: They say they have tried to help take care of the horses regardless of any personality clashes. But the Blanchfields resist the help and don't deserve it.
"I've tried to feed them and Kevin came at me with a vengeance," Dover said. "Last winter...he came out of nowhere and he kicked that hay back at me. People are intimidated by him."
Marianne Aylmer, one of Dover's supporters, said humane society officials told them not to feed the horses for the next three weeks while they conduct their investigation. But there are other problems.
"A lot of people want to feed them because they haven't had food all winter and it's hard to watch," Aylmer said. "Neighbors will help each other when they know people (will) help themselves. But this is not a temporary situation, it's ongoing. And we don't think they are trustworthy."
Investigations
Humane society Executive Director Dawn Davies directed her staff conduct investigations on every one of Dover's complaints.
"We are in an ongoing investigation from some neighbors who believe some horses are not being cared for the way they would take care of them," Davies said. "We take every report seriously but in these cases (with the Blanchfields), there is never anything we can see that violates the state RCWs."
The humane society's standard procedure is to take a report, send out investigators, and call in a veterinarian, if needed, Davies said.
If the humane society finds illegal activity, they can ask for prosecution but must pay for all the court costs and attorney fees, she said. "We don't want to get between neighbors over personal disputes and if there is no sign of neglect, we can't act," she said.
In this case their was a report of a malnourished mare and her colt that wasn't nursing."But we found that the mare was 26 years old and her colt was born with defects.
Both sadly were put down," Davies said. "It was very sad but it was just the mare's time of life."
Remedies
Five of the Blanchfield neighbors conducted a meeting at Dover's home March 3 to discuss the issue and how best to help the horses.
They hope the Humane Society can compel the Blanchfields to remove some of the horses to owners who can better care for them; separate the stallions; and make sure they are getting fed.
Aylmer said she was frustrated by whole situation.
"I got tired of the he-said, she-said. We have to come up with solutions and volunteers to seed the pasture, separate stallions and find out who can help," she said.
https://americansandassociation.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=10814
Found another scoop in the back of the internet. Michelle drove us out there and we were the only two reporters in the country who actually went to the location and took pictures.
Mojave Cross Under Wraps
National Park Service covers controversial edifice during legal battle
By VINCE LOVATO
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 13, 2003 - CIMA - Wrapped in a tan canvass, the controversial Mojave Cross looked like an oversize kite perched atop a 30-foot-high rock outcropping that towers over the surrounding Joshua tree forest.
Long stringy clouds obscured a half-moon that hung almost straight overhead late Thursday afternoon and a stiff breeze hissed loudly as it bent itself around the craggy rocks.
The cross is a few feet east of Cima Road 85 miles northeast of Barstow and 10 miles south of Interstate 15.
The National Park Service has covered up the 8-foot-tall cross situated on federal land in response to a judge's ruling that the structure violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
The U.S. Department of Justice recommended the action while it appeals the federal court ruling ordering the cross be removed from its site in the Mojave National Preserve, said Park Service spokeswoman Holly Bundock.
Although the cross violates the July 2002 court order, Congress passed legislation in 2000 barring the Park Service from spending money to remove it.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, has introduced legislation to save the cross through a land swap.
"We have legislation that tells us one thing, and a court case that tells us another thing,' Bundock said.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Timlin ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought suit to have the cross removed, but he did not set a date for the cross' removal.
Joe Bell, 58, of Santa Barbara was taking pictures of the cross Thursday.
A professional photographer, Bell has been visiting the site for years during his long excursions through the east Mojave.
"I think the ACLU is a spokesman for the socialists,' Bell said. "It's a waste of taxpayers' money.'
Dale Sharp of Helendale, a retired San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy and now a pastor, reflected the view of many who believe the ACLU is misinterpreting the meaning and value of the cross.
"It's a shame we in America bend to at the request of a few groups who do not support the Constitution of the United States,' Sharp said. "We should continue to hold on to the rights of the American people to display religious symbols.
"This is not a violation of church and state,' he said, "it's a violation of common sense.'
Sharp said he would support a suggestion to allow other non-Christian religious symbols on the site.
"Religious freedom means freedom for everybody,' he said. "The ACLU does not have the right to interpret the laws the way they do and some judge thinks they're right just because they are the ACLU. This is a travesty.'
Peter Eliasberg, the ACLU attorney handling the case, said the tarp is an "appropriate way' to deal with the cross until the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals makes its final ruling.
Eliasberg said expects that could happen in four to six weeks.
"The government took the appropriate legal step to cover the cross,' Eliasberg said. "But we will win this case, and if the appeal is denied that cross should come down.'
He said the cross itself has been replaced several times and has no value as a symbol because of its longevity or material value.
The cross dates to 1934 when members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars built it as a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the First World War, which U.S. forces fought in during 1917 and 1918. It has been replaced several times since then. The site has often been used for Easter services, memorial services and social gatherings.
The ACLU filed a suit against the Park Service in March 2001, saying the cross violates the First Amendment.
Copyright @ 2003 San Bernardino County Sun
Los Angeles Newspaper Group