Interesting thread from AT journals foru m

“Bounce.

I feel like this is important.”

“I read about 5 posts and they never say what the issue actually is. They just ramble on and on. Something about not being able to name a price for shuttle service. Is that correct? I've gotten prices from shuttles before.”

“Read on; it gets worse.”

“I read the whole damn thing.. I guess Im just stupid.. i never really saw clearly what the problem is?”

“I only know that Benton McKaye is rolling in his grave.”

“Trouble in Erwin
This is a little long so if you are not interested...don't read it! I am truly sorry to have involved the AT community in these continued problems here in Erwin. I feel that this DOES concern anyone that is interested in long distance hiking or planning a section hike or a thruhike of the AT because nearly every one of you will be using a shuttle service of some kind at some point in your hike. You yourself may be providing shuttles for friends on this list for a donation or to the general hiking public for a $1 per mile. Or you could be friends with one of the other hostel hosts that run shuttles as part of their services. This concerns everyone in the AT community. For those calling for more information let me try to be brief... Several weeks ago John Shores attended a County Commissioners meeting where he called for the committee to do what ever they could to shut me down. He told them that I was running an illegal shuttle business and not paying taxes. The minutes to this meeting are public record. This seems to have prompted an "undercover investigation" where an officer called pretending to be a hiker and asked for a shuttle to the outfitters. The "hiker" did not want to wait until my group of guests wanted to go and insisted I give him a price to take just him. I told him I would have to charge him $20...the standard $1 per mile that dozens of shuttle drives charge all up the trail. I was written a traffic ticket for running a shuttle business without a shuttle liscence... but there is no such thing in our state as an official shuttle liscence. When I went to court to find out what I could do to comply with what ever law it was that I had broken ... I was informed that it was being turned over to criminal court and that citation would be reissued as a warrant. The judge that refused to hear the case still would not clarify what law I had broken. So, I have been waiting for 2 weeks to be served or arrested for....SOMETHING shuttle related. I have nothing to hide from anyone, I have every single business liscence I was told was required, I pay city, county and Tennessee State Sales taxes. I have commercial insurance for both the house and my van... I have tried to do every thing right but I did feel I needed legal representation in this case. There seems to be no existing law that I have broken. I feel the need to be protected from laws being created to fit the situation. Besides, the threat that my children could be taken out of my home because I "allow you strangers/hikers to stay here where my children live..." (This was a statement made by one of the investigators) It had nothing to do with a traffic violation and I was very alarmed. My family is too important to me to just leave this threat up to chance. I NEED An Attorney! Many of you know FIRSTHAND what kinds of things I have been through with Mr. Shores. You have witnessed his temper and his slanderous and often crude remarks about me and my business. Many have watched horrible confrontatations where the police have had to be called. Some have seen him fly me a "salute" as he drove by. The list goes on and on and I am weary of it! I have tried to stay on the higher road and hope that he would eventually find something else to take his attention... but since this has not happened I have to take the proper steps to protect myself, my business and my family from his intent to cause harm! I do not ask for this to be "solved" or even discussed here on this or any other forum or list. All I ask is that IF you feel that this concerns you and you want more information to please call me, email me or soon I will have a website up at missjanetshouse@earthlink.net. Thank you Baltimore Jack and many others who support me, know me and my girls and have watched this develop and UNDERSTAND. To anyone who is upset about this or feels it is inappropriate to air it here, my apologies.

7/8/03 2:36 PM”

“bounce”

“My friend Mountain Dew who is doing a through hike right now commented in his journal regarding Janet's place. Renound as one of the best hostel's on the trail! He also speaks of Baltimore Jack. The government just loves being in the thick of everyone's home...”

“Doesn't Bill Bryson mention in his book that Erwin is one of the least hiker friendly towns on the trail. I guess this is a little evidence.”

“A few of the shuttle drivers I've used in Georgia along the AT have told me that they had to get a "shuttle license". Without it they would get fined. I've used shuttles in other states but this subject has never come up.

I was told that the Forest Service was upset because a "business" was being run in their forest and I guess they aren't getting a piece of the pie. A lot of shuttling doesn't occur on public roads as we know...

I don't have a solution to this problem but I believe that if the shuttle driver is reporting their income and paying taxes then no one should be bothering them.

Also, I hate to say this, but they should probably be following the rules and regulations for businesses involved in public transportation. I mean, what if they are shuttling you and have a wreck? If you sustain some injuries and have medical bills to pay then will they be obligated to help you? Do they have insurance?

Jeez...I'm no help, but sometimes I feel like I've taken a few chances when paying someone to shuttle me around.

I guess the bottom line is that it doesn't bother me what they do...just so they're not bothering anyone else. Blah!!

I'm surprised that we haven't had more discussion on this issue.”

“I thought it was fairly obvious from the thread that the guy who owns Uncle Johnny's Hostel, John Shores, is allegedly attempting to close Miss Janet's down because he doesn't like the competition.

I quote from the above post, which Miss Janet posted on the trailforums thread:

have nothing to hide from anyone, I have every single business liscence I was told was required, I pay city, county and Tennessee State Sales taxes. I have commercial insurance for both the house and my van... I have tried to do every thing right but I did feel I needed legal representation in this case. There seems to be no existing law that I have broken.

Miss Janet takes a "donation" for her shuttle service; she doesn't charge a fee. Please read through all this again, and the next time you are hiking through that area, and require the services of a hostel or shuttle, I suggest you let your conscience be your guide.”

“I hear ya! It is obvious and is very upsetting too. I apologize about rambling into another subject. Maybe John Shores should get a ticket too!! hehe After all, what's he doing right that she's doing wrong?

Nothing.”

“Good for her.”

“Great News, gald to hear Miss Janet came out ok, but she must have spent $$$$ on legal fees already. We as a hiking community must lend our support.”

“Yes, this is very good news, but another question looms...

Bitpusher seems to be cheating on Matt with another website. Shame, shame.”

“Ok, I admit it. I'm cheating too.

:p”

“What can I say? I'm hungry for content and the traffic on this place drops off after work, lol...”

“sooooooo busted, guys.”

“There you go talking about busts again, yam...”

“nooooooooooooooooo comment, LOL”

“What's wrong with posting here and on a backpacking site?”

“lol ped”

“That link doesn't take you to the thread. Which one is it?”

“Jeez, this is like work...

It works for me, but the thread name is "The changing face of the AT"...”

“Whoa! I clicked on the link again and it took me right to it. Before, it just took me to a privacy page and then the main page.

interesting”

“Worked for me, but I'm registered at the site.”

“Could be the first time you go to the site, it takes you to that privacy page.”

“Thats exactly what it's doing bit.
A clunky solution if you ask me.

I've ran into those types before. Just bar-hopping to Maine.

There's a lot of ways to have fun in the woods. It's just a shame that either side won't make room or allowances for the other.”

“"Stop the Insainity!"

LMAO!”

“stop having so much vainity, Tilt!”

“We havn't have any TT trips around that area have we? ;-)”

“Greg needs to back away from the bong.”

“He needs to back away from the "i" key...”

“He sure does, HPM. lol”

“It looks like a charlie manson style post.”

“A thread about Nude Hiking Day

The last time I was on the AT on Nude Hiking Day, I would have frozen my naughty bits off, had I been nude, lol...”