mikeigo

This has already been posted on the Bonfire Forum: Yes, we are still open and still fighting the Airport Authority. I am very limited in what I can actually report because of the nature of the law suits. Take it from me personally, we will win this battle not only for Gold Coast but for the entire skydiving community. We cannot give up and allow this airport to set a precedent to use against other skydiving operations. Over $72,000.00 has been spent in legal fees so far, defending our right to skydive at the airport and we haven't even been to trial yet. Their intent is to break us financially and they're doing a pretty good job. I recently borrowed another $50,000.00 from the bank to continue the fight. Hopefully, when all this is over we will be able to recover our attorney fees. What can you do to help? Just come out and make a skydive with us. We just upgraded the engines on our Otter and now it's a SUPER OTTER, the fastest climbing jump plane on the gulf coast. We are, however, hurting for business right now and need all the help we can get in that department. If you want to write a letter, please be professional and don't be an embarrassment to our sport. That's the last thing I need right now. You may send e-mails to: [email protected], with a cc to: [email protected] I think a letter writing campaign would be our best tool right now. Thanks to everyone that has shown us such gracious support in the past.

Yes, we are still open and still fighting the Airport Authority. I am very limited in what I can actually report because of the nature of the law suits. Take it from me personally, we will win this battle not only for Gold Coast but for the entire skydiving community. We cannot give up and allow this airport to set a precedent to use against other skydiving operations. Over $72,000.00 has been spent in legal fees so far, defending our right to skydive at the airport and we haven't even been to trial yet. Their intent is to break us financially and they're doing a pretty good job. I recently borrowed another $50,000.00 from the bank to continue the fight. Hopefully, when all this is over we will be able to recover our attorney fees. What can you do to help? Just come out and make a skydive with us. We just upgraded the engines on our Otter and now it's a SUPER OTTER, the fastest climbing jump plane on the gulf coast. We are, however, hurting for business right now and need all the help we can get in that department. If you want to write a letter, please be professional and don't be an embarrassment to our sport. That's the last thing I need right now. You may send e-mails to: [email protected], with a cc to: [email protected] I think a letter writing campaign would be our best tool right now. Thanks to everyone that has shown us such gracious support in the past.

Kevin Tassin and Diane Berkshire have checked in. They are both safe and sound. Still no word on Mark Garatie or GD. It's probably just a communication thing. If it was bad news we probably would have heard something by now. Also, you can remove Phil Baxter from the homeless list. His home made it through okay.

We plan to have our grand reopening with our SUPER Otter on September 24th. Currently the airport is operating under a TFR (temporary flight restriction), but that should be lifted soon. Also, our court date that was scheduled for last Wednesday has been postponed until after the first of the year. The airport, not the FAA, imposed the TFR. I could have probably contested it but I've learned to pick my battles carefully.

As many of you know, Gold Coast Skydivers is in the middle of a heated court battle with the Airport Authority at the Trent Lott International Airport in Moss Point, Mississippi. To make a long story very short, they are trying to get rid of me after 13 years. It is my belief that because I threatened to expose the tower scam at the airport (number of operations allegedly flown), the airport is trying to run me off to keep me quite. It is ironic that the airport director asked me to put one of our wind blades on top of the tower for the relief helicopters that are flying into the airport. The storm blew the airport's wind sock away. Not only did I set up our windblade, I also fixed the roof access door that was blown off during the storm. I can't even believe it!

Bill Barcelo called and left a message the other day so we know at least he is alive and well. Our phones are still only working part time but apparently are able to receive messages. According to Kreg Hoag, his brother Kevin and family evacuated and are doing as well as possible. Brian and Jennifer Myers, Mike Kerlec, Kevin Tassin, as well as Mark Garatie are still unaccounted for so if anyone knows their whereabouts, please contact this forum. We repaired the roof at the DZ yesterday and are now concentrating on the clean-up. FEMA has set up a command center at our facility so the prospects of skydiving at the airport in the near future does not look very good. We will keep people posted with any new news as we receive it. We have made the Otter available to fly humanitarian missions if needed. Bill Klutz, Mike (the truck driver from Foley) and myself distributed a truck load of water to the residents of Pascagoula yesterday. The water was donated by Bill's employer, Degussa Corp., and was gone in five minutes. These people are in desperate need of the most basic necessities of life. It's tragic.

Craig Crosier stayed with us Saturday night and was on his way to visit family in Florida, so I know he was out of harm's way. Martin and Robin are OK, we talked to them this morning. Any word on Mark Garatie, Kevin Hoag, Brian and Jennifer Myers would be appreciated. There are so many others that we are concerned about so if you are reading this newsgroup, please check in and let us know you're safe.

Travis and his wife are alright. Their home is in one piece and they are doing well.

William knows what happened to him but does not remember the accident. That's good in a way and bad in a way. I want him to remember what happens when you swoop downwind during 25 knot gusty conditions. I'm sure there will be lots of people at the DZ that will remind him. Just because we love him, of course. He seems to have gracefully accepted the possibility of never jumping again due to the extent of his injuries. That doesn't mean he will never jump again, he's simply looking at it realistically. He's already planning a career as a home builder and knowing William the way I do, I'm sure he will be successful.

William is doing remarkably well. He's been out to the drop zone several times. He's still in a neck brace and will be for another two months but he's walking without assistance and talking where you can understand him. His mental capacity is almost back to normal, which is much higher than most people. He still has difficulty remembering people's names but I have that problem and didn't have a brain injury. All in all, things are looking good.

I will be visiting William this afternoon so I may have more to report later on. According to Laurel, he took two assisted steps today and is actually talking, a little slurred, but talking nonetheless. Although it may take some time, I believe he is on his way to a complete recovery.

I dropped by to see William today and the greatest thing in the world happened. He gave me the finger! I told him I was sick and tired of hearing about all the cool things he was doing for everyone else and all he would do is lie there when I was in the room. I said, "William, please let me know you can hear and understand me, lift a hand, point a finger or hell just give me the finger if you can". Next thing I know, he's flipping me off! It was not a reflex, it was the real thing. He also hugged Leanne and was feeling up Laurel under her top. Now that's the strong Marine that I know! The best day yet and many more to come.

Day 18: I'm writing this for Laurel because William has been moved to a room and she is spending all her time there. He is still unconscious and has assisted breathing with a trach tube. The doctors have decided not to operate on his neck and are about to release him to a long term care facility. Laurel is searching now in the Pensacola area so he can be close to his family. I wish I had better news to report.

This is the latest. We filed a motion and had the case moved to Federal Court. The airport responded with a motion to remand the case back to a Jackson County court. Our lawyer, who has done an excellent job, filed a 34 page "brief" entitled "Opposition to the Motion to Remand". The Jackson County Airport Authority (JCAA) now has 5 days, which is over now, to respond. I don't know if they have yet. It would take them that long to look up all the case law that was cited in our attorney's brief. Now it's a waiting game to see if we get to stay in Federal Court where we belong. If we are successful, they may want to come to the table and deal. Maybe not though, because it seems they have an unlimited amount of grant money to fight me. If the FAA would step up to the plate and put the airport in conditional non-compliance, all this would go away. We've proven our case to them, so now we're waiting for them to make a move. This is going to be a very hollow victory if we win and I'm broke from all the legal fees. Hopefully, we will be able to recover our attorney's fees when we file our countersuit. Thanks again to all those that have helped with our legal defense fund. I have just been able to access the account so we can now get our thank you letters in the mail.

Chili is right, I have been forbidden from talking about this case in a public forum. I will say this however, we are going to win this case!! There are so many people that have stepped up to the plate in our defense and I can't thank you enough. After this is all over we will celebrate with one heck of a boogie, that's a promise. We will ask people to submit boogie names and then we will let the drop zone vote for the best name. It's a little premature right now, but I'll keep people posted as much as my lawyer will allow me. BTW, thanks Brie, for all the legal research help. You will be one of the guests of honor at our boogie.

This letter was sent by the FAA to the airport manager at Trent Lott International Airport. Dear Ms Snapp: (airport manager) Jackson County and the Jackson County Airport Authority entered into certain obligations by accepting Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for Trent Lott International Airport. Among these is the obligation to make the airport available to all types and classes of aeronautical activity on fair and reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination. Additionally, the airport sponsor is obligated to make the airport as self sufficient as possible. We have received specific, written complaints from Mr. Mike Igo of Gold Coast Skydivers alleging discriminatory leasing practices on Trent Lott International Airport. Mr. Igo alleges as follows: (1) Without cause or reason, the ground lease for his packing dome was not renewed. (2) In spite of fully complying with the terms of the lease for his main building by January 16, 2005, he was issued an eviction notice on January 18, 2005. (3) The lease offered him was limited to one year, while several other tenants on the airport were given five year leases. Please respond in writing to these specific complaints. You should address to the extent possible why these alleged actions are not violations of the grant assurances. Sincerely, William J. Schuller, P.E. Program Manager

Actually, the airport is now under official investigation by the FAA. No one will admit to me where their operations figures came from so maybe they can explain to the FAA. Manly Barton, our District One Supervisor, took these mysterious figures to the Atlanta Regional Office to support the need for a control tower at Trent Lott International Airport. When I questioned him at his office, he politely asked me to leave and threatened that if I didn't support the tower project I would get no help from the Jackson County Board of Supervisors. I pointed out that the supervisors have never helped me in the 12 years I have been at the airport, so that threat didn't hold water with me. Since that meeting, it has been Manly Barton's appointee to the Airport Board that has launched this unending attack on Gold Coast Skydivers. Coincidence, I think not. I have caught them in lie after lie and have reported all this data to the FAA. When I questioned the Airport Manager about why I couldn't get a long term lease, she replied, on tape, that all the tenants at the airport had a one year lease. That proved to be a lie when I subpoenaed the records. Then she had the audacity to say that she became the Airport Manager in April and was not aware of the terms of the leases. When I pointed out that one of the 5 year leases had been signed in July, 3 months after she was hired and had her signature on it, she looked down and said "I must have made a mistake". Tell that to a jury. We've got them on the run now and are not going to back down. Someone has to pay the consequences for their actions, otherwise they will continue the harassment. This fight is not just for Gold Coast Skydivers, but for everyone who enjoys the freedom of body flight. Thanks to all those that have contributed to our defense fund and for those that have called and wished us well. We will win this battle!!

I'm posting this in a couple of places to keep people up to date on our legal battles with the airport. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the people that have called, written and made donations to help us fight this battle. Yesterday we successfully moved our case to Federal Court. The county court date of February 22nd is no longer valid. I also initiated an investigation with the FAA into the Federal Funds scam that is going on at the airport. Now suddenly, the airport wants to work out some kind of agreement. It's too little and too late for that. Someone will be held accountable for what they've done to me and what they're doing with the huge sums of grant money they're getting. They reopened the second gate so people can now drive up to our property and not have to park in the airport parking lot. We're open for business as usual. After all this is over, we're gonna do something special for all the people that have helped us with this fight.

I'm posting this in a couple of places to keep people up to date on our legal battles with the airport. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the people that have called, written and made donations to help us fight this battle. Yesterday we successfully moved our case to Federal Court. The county court date of February 22nd is no longer valid. I also initiated an investigation with the FAA into the Federal Funds scam that is going on at the airport. Now suddenly, the airport wants to work out some kind of agreement. It's too little and too late for that. Someone will be held accountable for what they've done to me and what they're doing with the huge sums of grant money they're getting. They reopened the second gate so people can now drive up to our property and not have to park in the airport parking lot. We're open for business as usual. After all this is over, we're gonna do something special for all the people that have helped us with this fight.

Here's the latest. We're attacking the Jackson County Airport Authority on a number of fronts. Like they say, the best defense is a strong offense. This morning I faxed William Schuller, head of the FAA Airport District Office, a request for an investigation into the misuse of federal funds at the Trent Lott International Airport. I will mail him a hard copy today. As I pointed out to Mr. Schuller, some of the allegations are speculation but most are backed up by raw data that I obtained through subpoenas. This fight is heating up to the boiling point. My attorney seems to think the airport board will want to sit down and work with me but I say it's too late for that. This is not a vendetta. I honestly believe that if we don't fight them now, we will have to fight them at a later date. By the end of this week, the court date of February 22 should be moot as we are having the case removed to Federal Court. I will keep everyone posted as more information becomes available.

Chuck, It was me who was supposed to submit the affidavit and I was there. The judge did shaft us because she realized it was going to be an all day trial and must have had other things to do. As soon as she dismissed the case within 10 minutes the lights were out in the courtroom. We are going to prevail so do not worry. I appreciate your support though. We hired a lawyer and that will help us with the preliminary stuff.

Chile is absolutely right. I have never been a plaintiff in a lawsuit and I made a very stupid procedural error. Unfortunately, I'm not as sharp as I used to be. I retained an attorney today who said the error I made could have been easily corrected by the judge if she felt like hearing the case. Obviously, she didn't. There's no one to blame but myself and I feel terrible for letting down the people that were in attendance today. It certainly didn't help my cause for the law library to be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for Mardi Gras. Maybe my review of civil procedures would have caught the error. I actually left the courtrrom so upset that I was ready to just throw in the towel. Then I thought about my Dad and how disappointed he would be in me if he knew what I was feeling. Suddenly the spirit and fight came back. Yea, I lost round 1, but this is a 15 round fight and I will win it. I have alot of people depending on me and I won't let them down again.

How could I ever forget the best looking tandem master that I had on staff? The Gold Coast gang miss you down in south Mississippi. Come visit us again and I promise we'll introduce you to some more deep fried, southern culinary delights. I'm glad to hear that you haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. Mike Igo Gold Coast Skydivers

The entire Gold Coast gang is sending all the positive vibes possible your way. We hope your grandmother recovers quickly. Take care.

The Mardi Gras Boogie is scheduled for February 21-29. The closest and cheapest airport to fly to is Gulfport, Mississippi, located about 40 minutes west of the DZ. Mobile, AL is 40 minutes east of the DZ but the ticket prices seem to be higher there. Check out our website www.goldcoastskydivers.com for hotel information.