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UPDATE - We want everyone to know that our contracted advertising with Time Warner Cable has been terminated due to strong arm tactics used by the USMC. It is our understanding that Cherry Point contacted Time Warner complaining of our ad and immediately thereafter our ad was pulled from the weather channel. We will be pursuing all avenues available to us to rectify this situation.

A couple of weeks ago we e-mailed a newsletter to all members that had signed up to be on our mailing list. This newsletter discussed events that had taken place over the last 6 weeks or so. It also gave facts concerning some of our elected officials and their refusal to address any of our concerns. In today's Carteret County News Times (5-9-01) Mayor Barbara Harris has a letter stating that our facts were untrue and that we were soliciting money. Once again she has misled the public and completely distorted the facts. Our e-mail stated "our thanks go out to those of you who have helped us financially". That was not a request for money - just another example of her inability to understand the English language. She also stated she was not sure if we were trying to close the military bases or smear elected officials. Just to clarify one more time - we are not trying to close, nor are we capable of closing any bases and statements about the officials are true.

We are, however, going to let the public know on a regular basis what kind of representation we are not receiving from Barbara Harris, Jay Murphy, Pat McElraft, and John Wootten. The information provided in the newsletter concerning these officials can be proved. They are not untruths. We have copies of the letter signed by Jay Murphy advising a citizen to "move if you don't like the noise" and even Pat McElraft can't deny that she, in her own words "knows everything". That's what she told us in Cape Carteret at the ECJLUS public meeting. Everything that we have been asking the elected officials to address noise contours, accident potential zones, the safety record of the harrier etc., McElraft has called propaganda. It's interesting to us that she was at that meeting in Cape Carteret and we suppose that she called the information presented by the USMC and the ECJLUS propaganda also, since it was some of the same information that we have been introducing to the public for the last three months. We will continue to publish facts and facts only, even when the elected officials and the USMC don't like it. See below for the BFC response to Mayor Harris and her accusations.

May 11, 2001

Letter to the Editor

The Mayor of Emerald Isle writes (May 7, 2001) that she does not know who BFC is, after receiving no less than10 letters from the Bogue Field Committee, Inc , a non-profit organization, that contained the word BFC numerous times and has attended no less than 5 meetings where the BFC spoke.

It is interesting that she feels compelled to reply to the BFC Newsletter sent to members and took exception to statements about the latest failures of the Mayor, Commissioners McElraft, Murphy and Wootten to address any safety and noise concerns. Our public officials have a fiduciary duty to protect public health, safety and welfare and therefore a duty to fairly and completely examine these issues. Attempts to hide the nasty facts from the public is a disservice to all who live and visit here It�s not about closing Cherry Point. It is about using Oak Grove and Atlantic as alternative sites.

The USMC has produced a map that for the first time identifies a proposed flight path with crash zones over Emerald Isle and populated areas of Carteret County. The members of the BFC are residents and absentee homeowners who do not like the safety and noise issues surrounding the Harrier. They are also very concerned over the possible siting of 160 F/A-18 Super Hornets which are 2-4 times louder than the F/A-18. The USMC knew and did not tell the truth to the citizens about the Super Hornet when they proposed the JLUS. The JLUS does not address this issue. If the siting occurs at Cherry Point / Bogue Field it will be too late to stop noise so severe that some residents in Va., including many retired military, are filing suit to stop the excruciating noise. and dangerous activities If the USMC lies to the public again, like they did in 1988 and elected officials don�t care, it will be too late. Find out the truth. Visit our web site at www.geocities.com/boguefieldcommittee or e-mail us at [email protected] or call (252) 354-3786.

The Mayor writes that the BFC newsletter is full of untruths. The BFC challenges the Mayor to prove her statement. She should call a public hearing for the BFC to answer her charges. Since the good Mayor has spent so much time breaking bread with Maj. Gen. Braaten, I am sure that she will insist that he attend and explain why the USMC is knowingly flying in violation of safety guidelines set by the DoN.
Bogue Field Committee, Inc.

Tom Henson, Chairman.

UPDATE - 6-4-01 -Several BFC members attended the JLUS meeting at Bogue Field on 6-30-01. One of our spokemen, Dean Wyman, played a video for the audience that was a recording from the CBS Evening News, Eye on America Series, dated 5-25-01. This video was extremely powerful as it was an investigative report concerning the safety record of the Harrier. It told of the number of crashes, number of deaths, and stated that it was the most unsafe military aircraft that there is. Mechanics were interviewed and spoke of the frustration of dealing with this aircraft. Retired pilots were also interviewed and said that the problems did not need "band aid" fixing and that the problems with this aircraft were very real and very serious. Even the head of Marine Aviation, Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle was interviewed and stated his disappointment and concerns with the safety of the Harrier. We believe that this video did indeed get the attention of some of the people on the JLUS policy committee. Slowly but surely we believe we are beginning to make an impact. Be sure to check the home page for the link to the latest CBS report.

The BFC mailed a packet of information and questions to the Commissioners of Emerald Isle, Carteret County, the JLUS Policy Committee, the General of Cherry Point and the Commandant of the USMC. Commissioner Jay Murphy of Emerald Isle once again wrote "return to sender" on his mailing. When we recieved this mailing back from him, he had also written "DILLIGAF" on the back of the envelope. Commissioner Murphy also has his e-mail address as [email protected]. His lack of representation of the members of this community is so unbelievably hostile and low class that we feel it necessary to inform the citizens of the town that DILLIGAF stands for, as told to many of us by Jay Murphy himself, "DO I LOOK LIKE I GIVE A F___". This, coming from a man who says he represents us to the best of his ability. This, coming from a man who advises not shopping in local businesses if those business owners question any of his decisions as Commissioner. Once again, we would not publish these things if not true. There are many people who can verify this information if anyone has any doubt. Please remember this at election time folks!

UPDATE - 6-25-01 - After the USMC complained about our television advertising Time Warner pulled the ad, breaking our contract. After much discussion with Time Warner concerning the legal issues involved, we are happy to let everyone know that Time Warner Cable has agreed to honor their contract with BFC, Inc. As of this morning they have placed our television ad back on the weather channel and have extended our contract through October of this year. They have also agreed not to interfer with future advertising purchased by our group. This is good news for all of us since the ad has been most effective in bringing in new memberships, contributions and overall getting the message out to everyone.