OCR Text |
Show mDDnmmnit ttn Sunmmimiintt 'Made in America' subject meets his maker J three native trout to the High Sierra ?"; "What is the depth of Convict Lake, the deepest lake in the area?"; and "What is the most popular breaking-strength for fishing line in the area?" Mson Me Guide Jackson Jackson's most controversial con-troversial auto mechanic is leaving town to settle a criminal charge against him, but Jim Rossi said he's been driven out by local insurance in-surance companies because of his philosophy on car repair. Rossi and partner John Dorsey agreed to leave town for two years if charges of auto theft and conspiracy were dropped. The two men were charged with repossessing a an without the proper lien process. The real problem, said Rossi, is that he argues for quality repair on autos after collisions, which is costly to insurance companies. He said he is also the victim of a vendetta by Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Terry Rogers. For instance, Rogers stopped him from giving away free beer at a barbecue without a permit, but allowed a similar event weeks later, he said. Rogers said he is aw are of Rossi's feelings. But he said the leave-town deal was received well by insurance agents who claim they've been intimidated by Rossi and partner Dorsey. Supposedly, Sup-posedly, Dorsey is in the habit of yelling at agents while chewing on a double-edged double-edged razor blade. THE ASPEN TIMES Aspen One of Aspen's most controversial con-troversial citizens was literally shot to pieces recently. recent-ly. The dead man, Michael Hernstadt, was evidently shot 10 to 20 times with an AR15 rifle, which the Aspen Times called "the civilian equivalent to the powerful M16 combat rifle." Police arrested Aspenite Keith Porter, who had been thrashed by Hernstadt in a fight last December. The case, shrouded in overtones of drugs and violence, ranks as one of the most brutal episodes in the town's history. The origins of the murder go back to a recent Monday night gathering with Hernstadt, Hern-stadt, local pianist Bobby Harrison, Aspenite Jim Homans, and Porter. Harrison arranged a truce that night between Hernstadt Hern-stadt and Porter. (By various accounts, Porter had suffered either broken ribs or a dislocated shoulder after af-ter a fight with Hernstadt last winter.) The peace fell apart by Tuesday morning and Porter left the gathering. gather-ing. The other three men went out for breakfast. While in Harrison's car Hernstadt that Aspen police failed to take action after two complaints com-plaints were made over Porter Por-ter threatening violence with his AR15. (Police Chief Rich Rianoshek replied that in both cases, the complainants later asked that the matter be dropped. One complainant, complain-ant, said the Times, dropped charges because police could not guarantee Porter would be held in jail without bail. ) In a final grisly irony, Porter Por-ter has claimed to police that Michael Hernstadt once tried to recruit him as a hit man. The victim was to be brother William. The Times said Michael was openly jealous of the political success suc-cess of his sibling, who is a. state senator in Nevada. William said of his brother, "He wasn't the nicest man in the world, but he didn't deserve to die like a dog." In a dramatic meeting with Aspen's Historic Preservation Committee, (HPC), an architect explained ex-plained why he had to restore an historic Aspen house by stripping it to a virtual vir-tual skeleton of two-by-fours. The house in question was the former home of Fred Glidden, otherwise known as Western novelist Luke Short. The committee approved plans for restoring it earlier this vear Rut arrhitprt Stan THEkl TRAIL Vail The Eagle County School Superintendent, Charles Schwann, withdrew his resignation res-ignation after he and the district's board worked out an agreement on the superintendent's super-intendent's responsibilities. The document says, among other things, that the board sets the philosophy and goals of the district, while the superintendent sees to the operation and administration. administra-tion. Mammoth Lakes Mono County is getting a new deputy. But Deputy Suzanne Gibney is no stranger to law enforcement work in the area. Until her cover was blown in early April, she worked as an undercover un-dercover drug agent, and her investigation led to 18 arrests. Sheriff Lloyd "Digger" Vilson said the drug sweep netted more people than in any single drug crackdown. Five warrants are still outstanding. out-standing. Gibney could not comment on the cases to The Review newspaper, since that might prejudice the 18 cases. The deputy said she didn't foresee any problems, though, "It'll be difficult whenever I run into people who have known me in my 'other' life " Mammoth Electric-Cable Electric-Cable TV warned people that illegally tapping onto their lines is a misdemeanor in California, punishable by a $1,000 fine andor 90 days imprisonment, or civil damages to the cable company com-pany of at least $5,000. The company has a "line auditor" who finds three or four violators each day. The "video pirates" use methods such as climbing the cable pole line or using an illegal drop to take over a neighbor's neigh-bor's cable connection. A headline writer at The Review was perhaps not entirely en-tirely serious when he wrote this short headline "Girl Scouts Are Selling Their Cookies." The Review has a weekly Trivia Contest too, but it prefers to ask questions about the local area. For instance, the recent quiz had a fishing theme and posed such puzzlers puz-zlers such as: "What are the was struck by a bullet in the chest through the windshield. wind-shield. The other two men left the scene. According to one source, Porter walked up on the car, blasting it, then stuck his weapon through the window and shot the victim's face and torso until his ammunition was gone. Police arrived and talked Porter into giving up the weapon. The Times said both victim vic-tim and alleged killer had been taking cocaine Monday night. Sources said Hernstadt, Hern-stadt, in recent months, was exhibiting "the paranoia typical of heavy cocaine users" and feared he had angered local drug dealers. Hernstadt had long been a figure of notoriety since he moved to Aspen in 1965 and bought 1,700 acres of land in Pitkin County. He had been charged with assault six times, and had sought public office three times. In his last race, for county commission, com-mission, he received 30 votes. (A documentary about Hernstadt, "Made In America," was shown at this year's U.S. Film Festival in j Park City.) Hernstadt's brother William blamed the victim's ! troubled life partly on the I Pitkin County Commission, i because it passed land codes I that kept Michael from developing his vast acreage. William also complanied Mathis ripped away much of the house's components, including in-cluding the Victorian molding and mansard roof. Mathis said he was forced for safety's sake to tear out much of the house. To illustrate its deterioration, he smashed samples of rotten rot-ten siding and crumbling bricks at the meeting. Committee members said they should have been informed in-formed more fully about the demolition. But an HPC consultant con-sultant said that even with that knowledge, the committee commit-tee might have approved the demolition. The Pitkin County Commission might be looking forward to a lawsuit, . -since it voted unanimously to deny night operations to Ruthie's Restaurant, located at a local ski resort area. Officials Of-ficials said they are tied by code, which only allows commercial in that zone unless it is a necessary part of the ski area. (The resort does not function at night. ) The restaurant's attorney has argued the code allows necessary accessories to the skiing, and has said the restaurant might go broke without the night business. Now, said the lawyer, the question will have to be taken up in "future legal proceedings." Meanwhile, the county is considering a ski zoning change that might allow the night restaurant. |