The owner of the Out N' About Tree House Resort in Takilma, OR, won't get the jury trial that he has requested in his dispute with Josephine County. The county has demanded that he prove that an imaginative tree house bed and breakfast built last year doesn't violate zoning laws, or they will close it down. Garnier has circumvented his lack of permits to operate the resort by selling T-shirts, and allowing guests to stay in his tree houses for free.

A Josephine County Judge ruled that Michael Garnier's plight doesn't warrant a jury trial. We say, it sounds to us like a certain judge is in the watch pocket of vested county interests. He knows that when the people speak, they say 'yes' to tree house resorts. And since you are talking about taking away a man's livelihood, why doesn't he deserve a jury trial? We aren't judges--just citizens no different than those that sit on juries--but we think it is more than a little obvious what is going on, and that some light shined onto Southeastern Oregon would be a good thing. [06/29/1997]

February 10, 2012