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Click Here 39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 30, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 21, 2003 Resisters sound off against ski area expansion Mount Ashland Association’s board draws protesters By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Protesters shattered the calm of the Mount Ashland Association’s meeting Monday, and vowed to resist plans to build a new chairlift and ski trails on the mountain. A woman beating a stick on a five-gallon plastic carboy led the protesters into the Windsor Inn’s meeting room about 7:45 p.m., as the board of the nonprofit, publicly-owned ski area was discussing a $100,000 state grant that will help pay for completing the environmental review of the expansion proposal. "Welcome to the Mount Ashland Resistance Theater," one woman said as about a dozen people marched into the room. As the protesters approached the board of directors, they were joined by others who had taken seats in the room before the meeting began. Some of protesters unfurled sheets inscribed with "Who owns your water?" and "Expansion Won’t Happen" while others shook sticks at board members that had brown paper bags tied to the ends. When the bags broke, they rained down play money. Advertisement "We are the elite few of the Rogue Valley," said a woman dressed in a costume that identified her as a member of the "Chamber of Growth and Development." "We don’t care about the trees," she said. "We don’t care about the animals. We don’t care about your water." The demonstration ended almost as quickly as it began, with protesters chanting "Expansion Won’t Happen" as they left the building, leaving heaps of bogus currency on the floor. Others who came to the meeting raised their concerns in more civil discourse. During an hour of public discussion, they questioned the ski area’s volunteer board of directors on everything from the accuracy of snow-phone information to the food service arrangements in the lodge. None of those who spoke had anything good to say about the proposal to build at least one new chair lift and as many as 15 new ski trails. "Those 70 acres of old growth (slated for cutting in the expansion) are more important than adding more beginning and intermediate runs on the mountain," said George Sexton. "The Siskiyou Crest is an important resource for the world," Sexton said. "I think you’re playing God and rolling the dice on biodiversity." Several people said they had decided to boycott the ski area until the board of directors started making "more responsible decisions." Protesters who spoke to a reporter after their outburst said they were "trying to save our watershed." "And they’re ignoring us, said Trace Bungay. "We’re tired of being ignored." "There will be resistance" to the expansion, protester Stuart O’Neill said after the demonstration. "And it could continue." O’Neill declined to say what direction future resistance might take. The board of directors open their meeting to the public just once a year. At least one board member expected some kind of a confrontation during the meeting. "I was dreading this meeting," said Blair Moody of Medford, retiring president of the board. "What a way to go out," he said. Moody said he thought the demonstrators hurt their cause. "It’s unfortunate that extremists have to try to intimidate people." He praised people in the audience who opposed the expansion plan but stayed after the meeting to help clean up the mess left by demonstrators. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times