WFFC

4 minutes. ----- ~~~Michael

Local non jumpers who never paid the registation fee anyway. Since the move, you must be a jumper or have a jumper sign you off to let you in. ----- ~~~Michael

That's a rare sight...

ye have little knowledge...I emailed the newspaper and asked them to forward the stories to me so I wouldn't have to drive to Ottawa. They graciously sent them on.

Another story today: August 18, 2004 Ottawa Daily Times 3rd man facing charge in plane case By DAN CHURNEY, Staff Writer A third man also is facing a charge in connection with the seizure of a planeload of marijuana Friday morning at the Skydive Chicago airfield near Dayton. William Ivan Pardo, of Brownsville, Texas is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to do the same. Pardo's age was not available this morning. Pardo is a certified parachute rigger, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Pardo was arrested on these charges by U.S. Customs agents in Brownsville on Friday -- the same day that Ira J. Williams, 31, of Manteno and Gene M. Lisula, 31, Orland Park, were taken into custody by Customs agents after landing their plane at Skydive Chicago. The agents had followed Williams' and Lisula's craft by air for eight hours as Williams and Lisula flew from Texas to Skydive Chicago. When the men touched down, they were met by Customs agents who had been dispatched to Skydive Chicago ahead of time. The agents in the planes also landed. The government said they found about 1,000 pounds of marijuana in Williams' and Lisula's plane. This amount would usually be valued at about $1.2 million. According to court documents, Williams and Lisula flew the marijuana into the United States from Mexico. The case is being prosecuted in Texas.

Partial personal attack, partial consumer alert. Should have read: I'm taking this guy to small claims court if anyone wants/needs to join me. The reason for this is X. This simply covers your goal without name calling. ----- ~~~Michael

Was proper planning involved? -No *They did not obtain all the permissions that would be needed to complete a stunt like this. The event organizers probably would not have granted it anyway due to the potential outcomes. Again, the stupid human trick award for the WFFC 2004 goes to these two. ----- ~~~Michael

Dude- You were way off on your days. I guess I don't have to keep looking for them now. Way cool! PS - Originals emailed to you... ----- ~~~Michael

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the other things you're referring to (dropping cars in the desert, etc) were planned. They probably had more than a few days (hours) planning that went into them to make sure all bases would be covered to make sure no one got hurt. All paperwork (if needed) was filed, permissions to do (drop, whatever) were obtained, contingencies in place, prior to doing the stunt. This stunt did not look like it had any planning whatsoever and the parties involved had a reckless regard for the safetly of those around them. The difference between the two? Planning. ----- ~~~Michael

Coverage is out there - Elsinore had it. They just didn't have enough to cover their losses.

From the Gail Rameriz article here: "The phone line is working now. Betty said half the hanger is gone. "We've lost everything", she said. She also told me that there is no insurance." ----- ~~~Michael

not a problem...comment edited. ----- ~~~Michael

OK...what's the real story then? BTW, anyone know who the two mentioned in the article are and what (if any) their relationship to SDC is?

I'll be tossing some money their direction shortly. Now, an item of concern that all DZs should take a look at is their insurance. Elsinore was underinsured for their losses (nada for staff unless they had their own insurance) and one of the articles said Lake Wales had no insurance. Not sure it's beneficial for us to keep tossing money at DZs when they don't make business plans for natural disasters. Hopefully, other DZs that have no insurance will take this as a hint to review their own. ----- ~~~Michael

I'll bring my popcorn to see if that's even possible. ----- ~~~Michael

Roger Nelson spent some time in the pokie after smuggling drugs.

Here's both articles, in date order. Thanks to the Ottawa Daily Times for sending them to me. Aug. 16, 2004 Arrests made, marijuana and plane seized at Skydive Chicago By DAN CHURNEY, Staff Writer An eight-hour air pursuit ended early Friday morning with the arrest of two pilots, as well as the seizure of a half-ton of marijuana and an airplane at the Skydive Chicago facility near Dayton. Ira Williams, 31, of Manteno and Gene Lisula, 31, Orland Park, are each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. They were taken into custody by U.S. Customs agents after they landed their craft at 3:50 a.m. Agents said they found 1,000 pounds of marijuana inside the plane. Federal agents said they became suspicious of the plane when it took off from an airport in Brownsville, Texas, which is on the border with Mexico. The plane was tracked by radar until it landed at Edinburg, Texas. When it left there, it was being followed by a U.S. Customs jet, which was eventually joined by three other government jets. As Williams' and Lisula's craft approached the airport at Skydive Chicago, a U.S. Customs helicopter from Cincinnati, containing response team agents, was dispatched to Skydive Chicago to await the arrival of Williams and Lisula. Williams' and Lisula's plane landed, followed by two of the government planes and the arrests were made. Fred Morelli Jr., the attorney for Skydive Chicago, could not be reached for comment this morning. A Drug Enforcement Administration report from late 1999 said that that agency, as well as U.S. Customs, had placed Skydive Chicago under surveillance because of suspected illegal drug trafficking activity there. The DEA report also said that reports had been received of duffel bags being dropped from aircraft associated with Skydive Chicago. Skydive Chicago was then operated by Roger W. Nelson, who had been convicted in 1987 of federal drug smuggling charges. Nelson died in a skydiving accident in June 2003 and his children took over the operation. They refused to comment this morning about the arrests. Williams and Lisula are being held at the federal jail in Chicago and had a court hearing Friday. However, a federal spokesman said they will be taken to Texas where their case will be prosecuted. August 17, 2004 Skydive attorney: 'No knowledge of plane'; $1.2 million in marijuana seized By DAN CHURNEY, Staff Writer Fred Morelli Jr., the attorney for Skydive Chicago operators Matthew and Missy Nelson, is mad at the two pilots arrested Friday at the facility on drug trafficking charges. "I'm angry at them. Matthew and Missy are really angry at them. It took a tremendous amount of nerve to land there," said Morelli. The objects of Morelli's displeasure are Ira Williams, 31, of Manteno and Gene M. Lisula, 31, of Orland Park, who are each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Williams and Lisula were arrested at 3:50 a.m. Friday by U.S. Customs agents after Williams and Lisula landed their airplane at the Skydive Chicago runway just north of Dayton. Authorities said they found 1,000 pounds of marijuana in the craft. This quantity of marijuana would usually be valued at about $1.2 million. Customs agents in four jets had followed Williams' and Lisula's plane for eight hours after it took off from an airport in Brownsville, Texas. Morelli, who was once a judge, said he is "absolutely confident" that neither Matthew nor Missy Nelson, nor anyone involved with the management of Skydive Chicago, had anything to do with Williams' and Lisula's flight. Matthew and Missy took over operation of the facility after their father, Roger W. Nelson, died in a skydiving accident in June 2003. Morelli also said that he believes the men landed at Skydive Chicago because it is one of the few airports in Northern Illinois that is closed late at night. He added that runway lights were not lit when Williams and Lisula touched down. Matthew Nelson was gone at the time and Missy Nelson was sleeping, but she was wakened by the sound of the helicopter that landed federal agents at the airport, Morelli said. Morelli further said that he believes the plane used by Williams and Lisula was rented in Texas and has been returned there. Morelli said he did not know what connection, if any, Williams and Lisula had to Skydive Chicago. However, Williams' and Lisula's names are mentioned on the "bulletin board" archives at Skydive Chicago's Web site. One entry dated Thursday said they had participated in a fireworks show at the facility. Another entry dated Dec. 22, said that Lisula had flown a plane for parachutists, while an April 2002 entry noted that Lisula had made a suggestion about expanding the facility's parking lot. A federal spokesman said that Williams and Lisula will be taken to Texas where their case will be prosecuted. They are being held in the federal detention facility in Chicago.

A second article has been posted online. Attempting to get the full text of yesterdays and todays articles without subscribing ($30) to the Ottawa Daily Times. More when I have it.

After the office staff gets back to Quincy, the lost and found list will be posted. I do recall a couple cameras being announced on ocassion. ----- ~~~Michael

An old skydiver told me that the intro in Cutaway was based off of Roger's smuggling days. But, that could be wrong.

yeah. until someone gets injured again. Skydivers, alcohol and fireworks do not mix well. Consider that next time.

Not sure the year, but the WFFC in Quincy (2000 or 2001) also had a fatality-less year. ----- ~~~Michael

1000 pounds. Agreed. There's a history of not so legal substances there (albeit long ago). would not have been good at all if it continued.

Just had an article read to me over the phone. It did not identify if the plane was one of SDC's or not. Incident happened @ 3:00 AM this morning apparently and was on the front page of the Ottawa Daily Times. It has not been posted online that I can find at this time. Trying to get the article scanned for posting... ----- ~~~Michael

Not a first...no one owes beer... ----- ~~~Michael