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THURSDAY. MARCH 1.2012 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A Protester sit-ins disrupt Bent Tree deer cull By Jeff Warren Staff writer jwarren@pickensprogress.com The much reported Bent Tree deer cull, a focus of controversy within that gated community for days, has been completed for 2012. "It started Tuesday evening [Feb. 21] and ended early, early Friday [Feb 24]," reported Bent Tree General Manager Mike King later on the day the cull fin ished. Conducted by U.S. Depart ment of Agriculture Wildlife Management Services personnel, based from Athens, the cull began with sharpshooters man ning positions to fire on deer. Shooting started roughly 24 hours after a special called meet ing Monday, Feb. 20, of the Bent Tree board of directors, where the board re-confirmed its earlier decision to approve the cull. The board consists of Bent Tree property owners elected by Bent Tree property owners. For at least a year, the deer cull ques tion has come up during the elec tion of Bent Tree board members, King said. He reads the consistent election of a pro- cull majority to the board as in dication of majority property owner support for the cull and a mandate to Bent Tree administra tion to thin the deer herd. King said. Despite the board's stance, a vocal and zealous minority of property owners continues to op pose the cull. Once sharpshooters deployed to begin the deer kill, some anti-cull protesters occu pied corn-baited plots near shooters, the purpose being to in terfere with the deer shoot by oc cupying the kill zone. "They basically occupied the bait sites, so it would have not been prudent to do any shooting, obviously," reported King. "So we had to resort to night hunt ing." "I believe there were four shooters," said Bent Tree resident Rick Santia, speaking for anti cull protesters. About 20 protest ers took part in com plot sit-ins, he said. Shooters set up several firing positions within the develop ment, Santia said, with com plots nearby to draw deer into their field of fire. He said there was a firing position near the base of the dam at Lake Tamarack, an other near the Bent Tree stables close to the back gate entrance into the development. "One at Tamarack and Mulli gan by our little inlet lake there," Santia said. Another shooter took position near a pair of commu nity water tanks. "The shooter laid down on top of the right tank with a bait station out 30 yards," Santia said. Yet another shooting place was off of Oglethorpe Shaun Cullen / Photo Anti-cull protesters sit-in at a corn-baitedfeed plot to keep deer away from a shooting zone during the 2012 Bent Tree deer cull, now finished. Protester activity reduced the number of deer harvested. Mountain Road near the back of the Bent Tree development, he said. Some sharpshooters worked from tree stands. Santia said U.S.D.A. dropped off shooters by tmck, returning later to collect the men and what deer they killed. Unlike the 2011 cull, this kill saw harvested deer processed outside Bent Tree. "All the deer were processed at Big Canoe," Santia said. Dining last year’s cull, protesters pho tographed the processing of deer at Bent Tree, photos since pub lished to further their cause. This 2012 cull was slated to harvest as many as 120 deer. King said the unofficial count at the close of the three-day cull showed just 42 deer harvested. That number remains unofficial until U.S.D.A. releases an offi cial report later, listing the num ber, sex and weight of deer killed, King explained. Did corn plot sit-ins by pro testers reduce the number of deer taken? "I'm quite sure it did," Santia said. "Absolutely," King con firmed. Santia reported that at one shooting position a sharpshooter came down off his perch to ask a young woman sitting on a feed plot if she intended to stay there. She answered in the affirmative. "Then I'm out of here," the rifle man was reported to have said. "These guys were pretty po lite," Santia said. "They were just doing their job, and we were just doing what we believe in." Protesters sensed their pres ence on com plots would keep deer away. When protesters sat in, shooters also usually left the area. "Nobody was going to con front anybody. That wasn’t the deal," Santia said. "We just made our presence known to keep the deer away, and the shooter left his space." Asked if protester interfer ence would up the cost of the cull. King said it would not. The contract cost with U.S.D.A. is based on time spent, the three days sharpshooters worked in side Bent Tree, King explained. Though overall cost for the cull stays the same, the reduced number of deer taken does up the cost per animal. Processed meat was donated to a live-in drug/al cohol rehabilitation center within the county. King said no attempt was made by Bent Tree administra tion to interfere with protesters at feed plots. The fining of Bent Tree residents who participated remains a possibility, he said. Santia described protesters as "very dedicated people." An anti-culler, Santia (age 65) is also a hunter. "I've hunted all my life," he said. "It doesn't freak me out to see a deer killed. I've done that since I was 13." Fol lowing a hip replacement, he has not hunted for two years but still holds a lifetime Georgia hunting license and belongs to a south Georgia hunting club, Santia said. Elk and quail hunting still appeal to him, he said. His objection to the Bent Tree deer cull is seeing it conducted inside a community that presents itself as a wildlife preserve, San tia explained. "At our gate are signs: wildlife reserve," he said. "To see the deer running around, to see the bear, the turkey, the peace and tranquility is just over whelming." He believes a signif icant number of Bent Tree residents have moved in from metro Atlanta with exactly such a pastorale vision in mind. "I've met people that have just moved up here under the impres sion they are living in a wildlife community," Santia said. "And they are absolutely appalled that they would do this kind of thing [the cull]." "We moved into a wildlife area," he said. "They [the wildlife] have been here a lot longer than we've been around." Santia said he wished the Bent Tree board, in its called meeting, had done something more to make known to anti cullers that their concerns had been heard and considered. The community remains divided over the issue, he said. "It's extremely divided, and that's sad," Santia said. "But where we have a board that can't see what's happening, that's the most disturbing thing," he said. Though the majority rules, also satisfying the minority now ap pears crucial to maintaining the peace. Open the door to business Advertise in the Progress 706-253-2457 Permits needed for election signs within city limits Any candidate running for office and putting election signs out in the city limits of Jasper needs to apply for a permit. There is a $200 bond or check that will be kept on file at the building and license department. If signs are picked up within 10 days of election, the checks will be returned. Apply for an election permit at Building & License Dept., be hind City Hall. Mike Castagna NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given of a hearing to be held on the 12 th day of March, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pickens County Commissioner’s Meeting Room before the Planning Commission of Pickens County, Georgia. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss a request by Charlie Wright, to have parcel 001-006 of 28 acres rezoned from Agricultural (AG) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC). The property is located at the northeast comer of Highway 515 North and Old Whitestone Road East. The recommendation of the Planning Commission will be brought before the Commissioner on March 22. 2012, at 4:00 p.m. Winter’s not over uet! If you have an old inefficient system that needs replacing Denson Heating & Air has the solution February Cash Back Sale Call for details. Limited offer, Program ends March 16th, 2012 Denson Heating & Air 700 South Main Street • Jasper 706-253-3554 The Pickens Report By Commissioner Robert Jones February The winter months in Pickens County have been mild so far in comparison to previous winters, but I will remind you that some of our harshest winter weather has occurred in March and even into April during our history. We can hope that this mild weather continues but we need to be pre pared in the event it does not. If inclement weather should occur, please listen to your local radio stations or watch the television for news about closings, road conditions and other pertinent in formation you might need. Keep in mind that home is often the safest place to be during bad weather and don’t get out unless you feel it is necessary. Sloan Elrod, Pickens County Emergency Medical Services di rector, gave a report at my monthly meeting that I would like to share with you. The total calls responded to in 2011 were 5,444 and that compares to 5,368 responses in 2010. Since 2008, Pickens County EMS has seen an increase of over 30 percent in calls made to 911 which results in an EMS unit being dispatched. Because of this large increase in volume and mileage, I am happy to report to you that Pickens County has purchased two new fully equipped 2011 ambulance units which should be placed in service in the next few weeks as soon as the State of Georgia cer tifies them as meeting the state requirements. In addition, our EMS personnel are undergoing additional training to be able to serve the citizens of Pickens County with the highest degree of emergency medical services possible. It is my hope that you do not have to make use of the service through our EMS, but if you do, I want it to be timely, professional and life saving. I want to thank Sloan and all of the EMS personnel for the job they do 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I continue to hear really good positive comments about our new Pickens County Community Center located at Roper Park. The use of the facility continues to grow and I encourage those citizens who have not had a chance to visit to please stop in when you have a chance. Basket ball season is winding down for the Recreation Department and they are in the process of regis tering for the upcoming baseball and softball seasons. Please call 706-253-8862 if you should have any questions concerning the new facility. As I stated in an earlier report, there is going to be some incon venience associated with the temporary closing of the Pickens County Courthouse during the renovation and expansion. The judicial offices and a small court room were moved to the West Annex. Because of space limita tions and limited parking, I have now signed an additional resolu tion which would allow the use of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce building located at 500 Stegall Drive in Jasper to be utilized as an additional facility for the holding of any session or sitting of any Superior, Magis trate or Probate Court proceed ings. I remind you that these are temporary measures during the renovation and construction, and I apologize to any of you incon venienced by these measures. I strongly believe you will be pleased with your new facility when it is completed. Until the next time, stay safe and be healthy. 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