Comments on: Illegal Fishing Sting Nets 17 Violations

By: Naked Truth

Naked Truth — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:07:38 +0000

It all comes down to the owners of Watermelon Park. I think they are alright with the “party” atmosphere. Don’t just blame the brown skinned people. I know many white people who go there to party! As far as the trash left behind. Again, it is up to the owners. They should patrol their own property. If this was an issue of house renters in your nieborhood, wouldn’t it come down on the property owners?

By: River Watcher

River Watcher — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:49:04 +0000

I read all the reviews that person wrote seems like a mild mannered peaceful person.
Maybe I should have posted another users review, one where they used the words ‘Bad Element’ arrived.
There was many bad reviews on several websites, one described it as a drunken free for all good time and the staff turns a blind eye to it.

My point on this is what vacationers/tourists think of our area. Its beautiful here its not how I want people to remember it.

By: Berryres

Berryres — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:48:55 +0000

Its described to a T what happens and goes on there.

I couldn’t imagine being there on a outing and found out I was in the middle of a raid.
Sounds like more went down there than we were told. Don’t know how they could have mistaken Game Wardens for Border patrol agents.
Perhaps this was the incident that was in the police reports on gang activity unit Aug 26th.

By: Sarge

Sarge — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:50:12 +0000

Obviously, that guy was a bigot (sarcasm off)

By: River Watcher

River Watcher — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:36:34 +0000

Just another summer day in WMP. I did find this funny but embarrassing at the same time. Id also like to bring it to everyones attention to read my above posting.TY

August2010
The river was beautiful. Mike was great. Staff was friendly. The tubing was AWESOME. The campsites were the biggest I’ve ever seen. Nice, wide, more than enough room. We arrived on a Thursday and left on Sunday and also had some tent people meeting us there. For us, the stay was nice. For the tent people not so great due to the bath houses being completely disgusting. You also have to bring quarters with you to use the showers which the website doesn’t disclose. A certain nationality of people showed up Friday night, by the hundreds. Things went downhill from there. They were loud, dirty and I think the bath house situation was because of them. They played loud music, left their trash everywhere, sped through the campground. Border patrol was all over the place and cops frequented the campsite over the weekend. On Sunday, they all packed up and left. They left garbage EVERYWHERE. I felt so bad for the owners to have to clean up such a mess. This is such a beautiful place to camp. I hope the owners can figure out a way to deter the illegals (I’m assuming illegal with so much border patrol officers around).

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Virginia/Berryville.html

By: River Watcher

River Watcher — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:31:42 +0000

Region IV – Mountains & Shenandoah Valley
Cast nets illegal for taking game fish… On July 17h â€“ 18, Sgt. Carl Martin and Conservation Police Officers Keith Crider, Beth Harold, and Rob Ham conducted a plain-clothes special operation on the Shenandoah River in Clarke County. This operation targeted the illegal use of cast nets for the taking of game fish near Watermelon Park. On September 2, 2010, eight of ten defendants (cases were continued for two) appeared in Clarke County General District Court and entered guilty pleas to violating 29.1-531, taking and/or possession of game fish by illegal methods. The court imposed fines ranging from $100 to $250. In addition, five cast nets and five mesh bags used to hold the fish were forfeited to VDGIF for educational and outreach efforts.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/outdoor-report/2010/09/22/index.asp

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:18:03 +0000

I’m down with the “Minuteman” type of organization. Start a citizen patrol, have a constant presence on the river. Also, how hard would it be to pass a law that states you need to display a valid drivers license AND fishing license to purchase a casting net?

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:27:14 +0000

Let’s take note of the fact that twice (just what’s been reported) now the illegals have done violent acts in this area. The killing by MS13 of a govt. witness kidnapped and brought here in Clarke for her execution and the more recent stabbing right there in Watermelon Park. Both incidents done by illegals.

Note also the DGIF reluctance to state just how short staffed they are. As they say, “each county has only one officer assigned.” Yes, the same officer does all of them. It is not unusual to call the sheriff on a game issue and get your return call from one of the F&W police officers hours or days later. By then the culprit you called about is long gone of course.

What is really sad as a tax payer is there is a fair sized US ICE and Border Patrol facility right there in Harper’s Ferry. Supposedly a refresher training school. You would think that just once they would visit the Shenandoah and get some real world On The Job Training. We need fewer Border Patrolman taking lunch at the Charles Town Pizza Hut (witnessed) and more of them visiting Watermelon Park’s area.

By: nancy martin

nancy martin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:23:00 +0000

And so it begins. The national angst over illegal immigration is writ large all over the recent WMP news events. It’s bigger than personnel, bigger than legislation, much, much bigger than posting bilingual signs. I hope we can enter this national dialogue with an eye on conservation, health, cultural awareness and compassion. Man, that’s a big job for all those involved.

By: Right Winger

Right Winger — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:09:24 +0000

You’re the one who brought up the other thread, not me. Perhaps you should pay more attention to what you say and not others.