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September 17, 2003Stay denied; standoff still a possibilityMan does not have cash to make another appealByRecord-Eagle staff writer HORTON BAY - A Bay Township resident who vows a militia-assisted shootout rather than comply with a court order to remove manufactured homes from his property may be finished with his attempts at court appeals. Charlevoix County District Judge Richard May on Tuesday denied Lyle Barkley's demand for an order staying earlier rulings. May in August ordered that two, 12-by-60 foot trailers and a 24-by-34-foot former school portable be removed by Thursday from Barkley's four acres on Camp Daggett Road. The buildings were not properly permitted, and violate both township zoning and construction codes, May ruled. After learning of the judge's decision Tuesday, Barkley said he would forward the ruling to attorneys who are assisting him. But the ruling states that for Barkley to appeal to the county circuit court he must file an appeal bond of $7,600. Barkley said he cannot pay that amount. "It's back to our standoff, then," he said. Barkley said he would contact militia groups who have vowed to defend him if he is "attacked" by anyone enforcing the court's order. "They will be moving in here," he said of militia members. One such group, the Mutual Defense Pact-Second American Revolution Militia based in Denver, has vowed to bring more than 600 armed individuals from across the country to Bay Township in the event Barkley is attacked. "We're going to stand behind him, 100 percent, if he decides to defend himself," said Pact founder Rick Stanley. "None of us wants this to happen. But when one of our pact members comes under the government's boot heel, when the government is doing something unconstitutional, that's it." Clinton Dare, statewide commander of the Michigan Militia Corps Wolverines, blasted May's decision Tuesday, but said he still hopes to assist Barkley in utilizing court appeals, in an effort to avoid bloodshed. Dare criticized Stanley's rhetoric. "Mr. Stanley hasn't done anything but exacerbate this situation," he said. "I don't want it to go there. We shouldn't be talking in those terms. We should be talking about getting it resolved." Dare said he wanted to speak with Barkley before determining how the Wolverines will proceed. Sheriff George T. Lasater told the Record-Eagle Monday that he is willing to meet with Barkley in an effort to resolve the situation without violence. But Lasater continued to insist he will enforce the court's order. Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, said the governor is aware of the Bay Township situation. "It's something the Michigan State Police obviously has had communications with the sheriff about," Boyd said. Shanon Akans, a spokeswomen for the state police, said troopers "have been in meetings with the sheriff and prosecutor." "We're monitoring it, and providing support," she said. "If there ends up being a standoff incident, we would probably become involved, because they would probably need our assistance. But we're hoping this situation gets diffused before that." Boyne City resident Cheryl Renaud said the Barkley standoff threat was the hot topic at her place of employment, Evergreen Lawn Care near Petoskey. "I don't think it will happen," she said. "I don't think 600 people are going to come support him (Barkley) for this." Jodi Johnecheck-Richards, a Bay Township and Camp Daggett Road resident, said the talk of a shootout over a zoning dispute is unnerving. "I can't believe they are going to shoot, when there's a bunch of kids in there (the Barkley property)," she said. "But if it did happen, it would be scary. I, my children and most of my family live in that area."
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