Sensitive Situation

[Phil Lilley]

I've known- heard of this for years but it has recently been brought to my attention that this situation has turned into a real problem.

The issue- sexual oriented meetings in public parking lots and hiking trails below the dam around the hatchery.

Problem- it's happening day and night. It's reportedly gotten more "in your face" on the hiking trails. And sad thing about it is that not much can be done by law enforcement people but to run them off if caught in the act. Tickets have been issued only to be thrown out because of "profiling".

What's need to happen, I've been told, is that a private citizen has to file a complaint against the persons in the activity, while engaged or while still in the area.

We have sent families to these trails since it's one of the best run of trails in the area. Imagine you kid(s) coming across a pair of people engaging in a sexual act.

This goes beyond calling MDC about poachers. This activity, if not checked, may tarnish the place alot of us hold dear.

I'm putting this out there so that those who fish esp at night be aware of the problem. All the Branson police department if you see anything.

[Bman]

Thanks Phil, I have noticed this going on myself. Both at the senic overlook by the Dam, and the boat ramp area. Sometimes the fruits will back in a parking spot and put a piece of FRUIT, on their dash, putting out the signal.

Thanks for the post, we need to get rid of these.....!@#$%** umm people using our family oriented places for such disgusting behaivior.

Maybe I will start bringing my German Shepherd with me for walks of the areas. Grinn

[FliTrap4]

As many of us carry camera gear for "fish pics" it could be the difference in court if pics of the offenders are presented in the case! Now, I stress, its nothing to be posted here! And I can see the "counter claims" now, how their "privacy" was violated, but its a fight for our own rights to access the area without the insults!

FliTrap

[The Caddis]

Problem- it's happening day and night. It's reportedly gotten more "in your face" on the hiking trails. And sad thing about it is that not much can be done by law enforcement people but to run them off if caught in the act. Tickets have been issued only to be thrown out because of "profiling".

I hate to start something, but...

Who gets patted down in airports? Not terrorists, that would be profiling.

Sometimes the fruits will back in a parking spot and put a piece of FRUIT, on their dash, putting out the signal.

I must be sheltered, never heard of this one but I'll be on the lookout for it when I'm with my kids for this around my parts.

[jdmidwest]

Yuck, why would you want to take pics of that? I really thought years ago that kind of think would run its course and be done. It's not like they can pass along the gene for it to their offspring....

Anyhow, it is Missouri and there are laws against it. Of course they as a minority have more rights. You can't harrass them as it would be a "hate crime". And the profiling thing won't work either. We had a problem around here with them using our city parks as meeting places because of easy interstate access. Local PD figured it out, cracked down, and cleaned up the mess. Most can be monitored on web sites and I think that is how they cracked the case.

Sick, sick, sick. Alot of what is wrong with the country today involves the lack of morals. I heard the nations religious leader that replaced Billy Graham is an openly Gay Bishop. What is wrong with the term "openly gay Bishop". I hope most of us know the answer to that one.

[Aeronikl]

I remember the old days/nights - when we only had to worry about beaver and blue heron attacks - and the occasional Taneycomo Giant Squid sighting. Maybe if we switch the apple on the hood with a stocker rainbow, the squid will take care of them!

This kind of activity at Taney gives a whole new meaning to "Rainbow Coalition".

[bigredbirdfan]

Family values mean nothing these days. Can't watch TV with your kids after 5 oclock. These acts are normal these days and any attention to them is profiling. Welcome to the land of the fruits, nuts and politically correct freaks.

[Phil Lilley]

Tickets have been issued by MDC agents and Branson police but the cases are throw out by our judge. Not sure if it's the judge or a legal matter. That's why supposedly their hands are tied. That's one reason I got the call, I guess.

The way I see it is that, say, if I saw something going on either on the trail or in the parking lot, I call the police, they arrive and inspect the situation. If there's something indecent, I press charges and a citation is made.

It doesn't make sense to me either but that's what I was told.

This has been going on here for years. I remember may be 10 years ago hearing this area was on a national register for just this activity. I personally have seen men in parked cars during the day sitting and suspected... but didn't give it a whole lot of thought.

I suspect this is a place where people do their deeds who don't want to be seen or found out about. Otherwise, at least now-a-days, this type of behavior is pretty much out in the open all over.

So, that's what has to happen to get these people to move on... private citizens pressing charges. And you thought calling the law on poachers was a pain!!

[knuck]

Phil, The situation you describe is a familiar one to us here in St. Louis. The authorities actually closed the 1st highway rest stop travelers had access to on I-255 coming west into Missouri. It was closed approximately 10-12 years ago and to the best of my knowledge is still closed. It got so bad a person could spot these people walking to & from the woods often carrying blankets, when driving by on the interstate. We also have several lesser used county parks that tend to attract these men. In many locals a man can be registered as a sex offender for urinating in public. How can these people engage in this activity day after day without fear of punishment The best of luck to you in raising public awareness of the situation. I have taken my family to those very spots when vacationing down there and am not sure how I would react if my family was exposed to that B.S.

Good luck,

Steve in St. Louis

[Bman]

QUOTE

"Sometimes the fruits will back in a parking spot and put a piece of FRUIT, on their dash, putting out the signal"

I must be sheltered, never heard of this one but I'll be on the lookout for it when I'm with my kids for this around my parts.

Don't feel bad, a majority of the good people in our communities aren't aware of a lot of the foul things that go on with the morally challenged.

I've learned a lot from some of the police and military dog handlers I've trained with over the past 20 plus years...