Cargo Airport - All for nothing.

[Kyle]

Dont worry I read this all the time. We really miss everyone also. It really makes us smile thinking about everyone. Think I remember when you were Knee high to grasshopper So many memories. I remember doug judging at Neuroc and he got that look in his eye and now he is a big Rock Racer Lee bring Ice cream in the Raider. There are so many more. But dont think for a mintue that Steph and I have forgotten our routes or givin up

[Schoolbus]

Originally Posted by lee_raider

Yea, I miss the people as much, if not more than the wheeling. I just got a Christmas card from Charlie and Cedely, and it brought back a ton of great memories.

When Paragon opens again (notice I said "when", not "if"), I'll come up just to hang out, even if I don't have a vehicle to drive.

Mississippi man... Kyle being towed in an old dadge with a ford fiesta in the bed... "rumbling ponds"... Dozer stucks... bears on the coal road just after neuroc... much smaller offices... broken dana 35 axles... broken dana 35 axles.. broken dana 35 axles... dougies car trailer winning the fight with Ced's right ring finger...
There are more memories to be made... and I offer this to My favorite "Little" buddy, the bus to drive when you come up... its all yours! I'll even put a sticker that says "RAIDER" on it!

[Jim]

The first time I went to Paragon was the 2004 Jeep Jamboree. My '01 TJ was stock except for some stock sized Mud tires and a milemarker winch. I quickly joined BMJA after that, built up the Jeep, drowned it in Paragon Lake (yes, that stuff is so soupy you can slide sideways from near the water to in the water), rebuilt it, wheeled it more, etc. The last time I wheeled there was the February benefit where I ended up trail guiding by mistake a bunch of stockers. Sliding down Turtle and some young kid in cherokee asking how come they didn't close the trail after doing the pre run for the event Had three new FJ's in tow that eneded up doing well except for the plastic skid plates that tended to end up in back seats.

Great time. I need to do it again.

[dale02slt]

Glad to hear the news about the airport, but it annoys me as well because it was a huge mess with out much in the way of support. I probably would have fixed my Durango instead of trading it in on a car . . but gas bills might have killed me . . .


Tim: I think I ended up in your group . . . it was my first or second time off-roading.

It got me hooked . . . and I hope to be able return one day!

[JOKERAL]

Hey guys ... Happy New Year

[4x4reporter]

My first visit to Paragon was shortly after they opened, they had a canopy tent set up at the old staging area, and after the drivers meeting Kyle raffled off a hi-lift and some other things before the ride. I was there doing an article for 4x44u.com, on the park. Since then I had watched and covered many events there during Paragons evolution. I remember the meeting with the Rich, the Cal Rocks guy, in setting up the courses and rules for NEUROC and I went on to do articles on NEUROC for 4x44u.com,Xtreme Offroad magazine, Wasted Trails.com, and then Low Range magazine. I had the privilege to interview Curt LeDuc at one of the NEUROC events and done a feature article on Stan and his tiger striped YJ. Plus I got to wheel there many times and each time created memories that ill last me til I pass on. It would be great to have Paragon back, but I don't think it will be back at the same location. I do believe that Kyle and Stephanie will open another Paragon somewhere here in Pa. and that they are just waiting for the right situation to come along.


Bear

[Fozzy]

My first time at the park was the 9/11 ride. I never new such a great place existed. I went home and bought and built an xj. I attended several Neuroc events. My only regret is not getting there more.
Bring it back so I can build a new ride.
Good luck

[lee_raider]

Two Luzerne County Judges, and one court official are due to be charged with Federal charges, for their dealings with Robert Powell. The charges haven't been made public yet, but it is supposed to be concerning Juvenile probation funds, and gambling funds. The cargo airport isn't mentioned. But, anyone who knows the name Paragon, also knows the scumbag named Robert Powell. And it is good to see that some sort of Justice is coming to him, or his cronies in the Justice system. Maybe, hopefully, the court official who will be charged is Jill Moran!

Link to Times Leader story.....http://www.timesleader.com/news/Sour...1-21-2009.html

[steve&2jc's]

If they throw out the crooked judges can the cases they sat on be re-tried? Could it be that we're one step closer to getting pap back?

[steve&2jc's]

Please keep us up to date Lee.

[JeepGirlTJ]

I remember my first trips to Paragon.. the times with which we needed to line up at the water tower. You know, the days before a staging area? I remember dad and I hiding the doors to the Jeepster in the woods behind the tower and locking them to a tree with a bike chain lock.

If I win the lottery tomorrow night the first thing I am doing is buying Paragon. Then the rest for a house and my Jeep... maybe some for the fiance to lift his Dodge LoL. **Fingers are crossed.**

[BADLANDS]

Updated: 1:41 PM
UPDATE: Federal Authorities: Ciavarella, Conahan concealed $2.6 million



SCRANTON - Federal authorities announced today that they charged Luzerne County judges Mark A. Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan with concealing more than $2.6 million from January 2003 to January 2007, according to charges filed today in federal court.

http://media.timesleader.com/images/HT-gavel.gif Read more Luzerne County Judges articles

[IMG]http://media.timesleader.com/images/300*207/judges.jpg[/IMG]


Related headlines

• Ciavarella calls county's reaction to lawsuit "inflammatory and irrelevant"
• Update: Source says feds to announce charges against judges Conahan/Ciavarella
• Background on federal probe
• Statement from Luzerne County judges
• Luzerne County Commissioners comment on alleged charges against county judges
• News conference set on public corruption investigation

The charges alleged Ciavarella, 58, and Conahan, 56, engaged in fraud by taking millions of dollars from two unnamed people in connection to the construction and expansion of the juvenile detention center.
Payments were made to the judges in return for discretionary acts that the judges took in relation to the juvenile centers, according to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson, said the judges were charged with "engaging in a scheme to defraud the public of their honest services and with conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service."

Specificaly, the charges include "conspiring to impede the IRS in the collection of federal income taxes and with having devised a scheme to defraud the citizens of Luzerne County and of Pennsylvania of the right to their honest services by concealing their receipt of more than $2.6 million between January 2003 and April 2007."

Carlson said the charges stem from a multimillion dollar "honest services fraud scheme" involving the placement of juveniles in juvenile detention facilities.
Under plea agreements reached with the judges, Ciavarella and Conahan have agreed to serve 87 months in prison, and resign as judges.
Check back as this story continues to develop.

[Flash]

Wow! and they seemed like such fine upstanding pillars of the community.

[97XEB]

Excellent news - seems like some LONG overdue justice!

What would it take to get Paragon back at this point? What are the next steps? How do we make it happen? (After two years of NO income, I bet the land owner - what's the name again - wishes he'd not screwed Paragon at this point... )

BRING IT BACK!!!

[coachtazman]

http://www.timesleader.com/

Both Judges got 7 years in jail the corruption, kickbacks & bribes. Amazing...how do you get a set of nutz like that??? Did they really think that they would not get busted? This was long overdue!

I wonder when justice will catch up with Attorney Robert Powells?

At this point, I would think that Kyle & Steph have some great legal leverage in arguing that Paragon was wrongfully taken away from them.

[lee_raider]

GREAT NEWS !!! I don't know which smiley is more appropriate.....a smile because it may help the Knosps', or a frown because these Judges were so ****ed corrupt? I guess both work!

[steve&2jc's]

Originally Posted by coachtazman

I wonder when justice will catch up with Attorney Robert Powells?

I saw on another forum that allegedly Powell was one of the partys paying off the judges. Sweet!

[coachtazman]

Great thread on Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance....

http://www.bluemountainjeepalliance....2584&highlight=

[lee_raider]

Originally Posted by coachtazman

Great thread on Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance....

http://www.bluemountainjeepalliance....2584&highlight=

But it's a members only site. So we can't see it.

[coachtazman]

Originally Posted by lee_raider

But it's a members only site. So we can't see it.

HERE IS THE MAIN PIECE OF THAT THREAD FOR ANYONE WHO ISN'T A MEMBER. This is posted by one of the club members...Key point to take away is that the newpaper article posted below implicates that Robert Powells was one of 2 people that was bribing these 2 judges.........

OK, this just proves that when you do underhanded, sneaky ***** and treat people like ¢rap, it will eventually come back to bite you in the *****.

Flashback: early 2006, Kyle and Steph were being forced out of their leased land and business by Gladstone Partners. Gladstone's main hit man was a lawyer by the name of Robert Powell. We all remember this story so far, right?

OK, now fast forward to early 2009: two Luzerne County judges (Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and his predecessor, Michael T. Conahan) are being indicted for accepting payoffs from a juvenile detention center for placing kids there who didn't necessarily belong there. Payoffs to the tune of $2.6 million in taxpayer money. Now they've been busted by the FBI, IRS, and Luzerne County D.A. Guess who was the guy who did the paying?
Directly from the Pottsville Republican Herald's website:

"Ciavarella and Conahan, who were instrumental in closing a county-owned center in 2003 and directing business to the private Pennsylvania Child Care LLC center in Pittston Township, accepted payments from one of the center’s owners and the contractor who built the center, according to U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson, who announced the charges. The judges falsified business records and financial disclosure forms filed with the state Supreme Court and made rulings that benefited the center without disclosing their financial interests, prosecutors allege.

“I think for everyone who serves in our justice system, everyone who serves in our courts, everyone who serves the public, that this is a sad event when individuals who took an oath violate that oath and violate the law,” Carlson said.

The two individuals who allegedly paid the judges were not named in court documents. But information in the documents indicates they are Robert J. Powell, a Butler Township attorney who was co-owner of Pennsylvania Child Care until June, and Robert S. Mericle, owner and president of Mericle Construction Inc.

It’s unclear if those individuals, called “Participant No. 1” and “Participant No. 2” in the documents, will be charged."

Here's the full article for your enjoyment:

http://republicanherald.com/articles/2009/01/27/news/local_news/pr_republican.20090127.a.pg1.pr27judges_s1.2261087 _top4.txt

I love it. It would just be a great day if he does get charged. I hope the pri¢k rots in jail for what they did to the Knosps and PAP. Have a nice day, Counsellor!
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