A Vote Against FLDS Colonialization (Sandpoint, Hope: homes, unemployed, neighborhood)

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by CatherineFrances

So did this group buy a huge chunk of land in Northern Idaho (Panhandle.) close to or IN Porthill, M. Springs, Bonners Ferry, Naples, Sandpoint, CDA, Careywood, etc.?

I would like to know if land was already purchased or if they plan on purchasing a piece up in Northern Idaho for sure.

If anyone knows about this... please put it up here. Thank you.

Catherine
PS: I know some nice people up there including regular Mormons, Mennonites, Lutherans, traditional Roman Catholics, etc.

From articles already linked to in this thread:

"Johnson, who lives on a rural estate north of Bonners Ferry, didn't respond to repeated requests for an interview.

But his name turns up in a lot of public records. He owns nine parcels of land in Boundary County, totaling 134 acres. Johnson owns homes on four of the properties, and he appears to have set up a large schoolhouse complex on one of them.

He is also a licensed pilot, Federal Aviation Administration records show, and stores his six-passenger Cessna in a $60,000 hangar he owns on leased land at the Bonners Ferry airport.

Records on file in Washington County, Utah, show a marriage license was issued in 1989 in that FLDS community to Shem Erick Johnson and Margo Wyler. But in a notarized deed filed in December in Kootenai County and signed by Johnson, he claims he is an "unmarried man."

Margo Johnson is manager of Boundary HomeSchool, an Idaho nonprofit that Johnson incorporated in March 2003 in Boundary County, listing himself as the "principle."

Shem Johnson also is listed as the president of S & L Underground, a general contractor licensed to do business in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Arizona.

In 2005, S & L Underground was awarded a $1.9 million contract by the city of Coeur d'Alene to build a replacement 2 million gallon water reservoir on Tubbs Hill.

About that same time, Johnson rented various houses in Coeur d'Alene and bought a house on Peach Tree Drive in Hayden. Last December, he transferred the deed for that residence to Sarah E. Johnson, identified only as an "unmarried woman."

[CatherineFrances]

Thanks. I was looking at land up there (North of B.F.) and around some other parts of NID not just super close to the border. I guess the only way to find out more on those parcels would be to look up county land records (Public record.) on where he owns what.

Catherine

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by CatherineFrances

Thanks. I was looking at land up there (North of B.F.) and around some other parts of NID not just super close to the border. I guess the only way to find out more on those parcels would be to look up county land records (Public record.) on where he owns what.

Catherine

Are you using a realtor? They should be able to help you. Sure is a good idea to know your neighbors!

[CatherineFrances]

Yes, I am and I will ask him too. I looked at FSBO land too.

Catherine

[Need2Leave]

At the risk of being misconstrued by the nature of the keystroke, I will chime in with this:

I could give a rat's behind what Shem Johnson or any other person, FLDS member or not has going on in their private, law abiding residence. If his wife lets him keep a few extra women around, so what. If he wants to own a construction business, and make low bids on government contracts, so what. If he wants to run a church and preach some weird brand of mind polution to those who will follow, so what. If he wants to own 9 parcels of land, 4 homes, and a private school, so what. If he wants to buy 90 more parcels and 40 more homes, so what.

That said, if he (or anyone else) is raising their children to be obedient victims of psycho-sexual abuse at a later date, we have a problem. If abuse of minors is occuring, or being aided/abbetted, we have a problem. If he is lying about his marital status to gain unfair advantage in government matters, we have a problem. If his "extra wives" are lying about having a provider for their household so as to get public assistance, we have a problem.

There is no need to look beyond the legal ramifications of this particular group's M.O. There is plenty law enforcement could be looking into, if they so chose. Lets hope they choose wisely.

[CatherineFrances]

Originally Posted by Need2Leave

At the risk of being misconstrued by the nature of the keystroke, I will chime in with this:

I could give a rat's behind what Shem Johnson or any other person, FLDS member or not has going on in their private, law abiding residence. If his wife lets him keep a few extra women around, so what. If he wants to own a construction business, and make low bids on government contracts, so what. If he wants to run a church and preach some weird brand of mind polution to those who will follow, so what. If he wants to own 9 parcels of land, 4 homes, and a private school, so what. If he wants to buy 90 more parcels and 40 more homes, so what.

That said, if he (or anyone else) is raising their children to be obedient victims of psycho-sexual abuse at a later date, we have a problem. If abuse of minors is occuring, or being aided/abbetted, we have a problem. If he is lying about his marital status to gain unfair advantage in government matters, we have a problem. If his "extra wives" are lying about having a provider for their household so as to get public assistance, we have a problem.

There is no need to look beyond the legal ramifications of this particular group's M.O. There is plenty law enforcement could be looking into, if they so chose. Lets hope they choose wisely.

I agree with what you said here. Thank you.

With that point in mind... if land is sold to someone (Me as an example.)... I would want to know if a huge mega church or other BIG building would be built next to me (No or little zoning.) IF I thought that I was buying a 'remote piece of land' looking at the Purcell, Selkirk, Cabinet, etc. mountain ranges in NID and/or in NW MT looking towards Canada.

I am the type of lady who minds who own business but I would like a 'clue' on zoned or unzoned property of what was close to me before or after I bought 'said property'. As an example, I would want to know if there was a landfill close to me, a factory, a 'Love Canal', a huge chicken corporation ranch, etc. I am not talking about normal farm/ranch operations with smaller farmers/ranchers.

Thanks.

Catherine

[norcalmom101]

1) The articles referenced in this thread would indicate local law enforcement isn't doing much. Best case scenario? They are staying out of the way of the feds. Should we assume this and not contact representatives in government (and the feds for that matter)? Obviously not.

2) The nature of this group is one of seeking seclusion so as to do what they do. I doubt they are going to build anything that will draw attention by annoying their neighbors. To that end I hope the presence of this group doesn't discourage others looking at relocating to the area. This group obviously doesn't represent anyone but themselves, and their sneaky presence shouldn't negatively reflect on the many others ignorant of their activities.

[Sandpointian]

Concern is sharpened when there is enough purchase of land and sufficient numbers to influence the government through legal channels. This tactic has been used through the years in many different countries. All of a sudden, the laws that become enforced are not those that pertain to the law of the land but to the new colony. In fact, the more brilliant approaches are those that seem the most innocuous at first. Local law enforcement can then go through blood transfusion of sorts and the "invasion" is complete.

Unless the local community is fully apprised of the situation and implications, it must be left to state and federal oversight to ensure rights accorded in the Constitution are protected. However, as we all know if thigns have reached the stage where the staties and the feds are called upon, the local scene is likely to have been significantly transformed.

Unincorporated County land and city land/housing is the place to start.

Solutions will not be pretty and may involve some loss of liberty in exchange of protections against what can be overwhelming. It seems to me that the two best defenses are information via disclosure and accountability via oversight. I know, it can open up Pandora's box as to future government abuse--which hopefully can be minimized, but what might be an alternative?

In small and micro towns, 100 votes here and there can have an awfully huge impact on democratic processes. And while the focus is on this FLDS wave of immigrants, the best visual to use is with illegal immigration down south. With enough local voters, a small town can declare itself a refuge city and choose not to enforce laws on the books (which was the case with FLDS in other states). If so, then the colonization process is almost complete.

It is called hysteresis, folks. Once implemented, policies run their course are rarely undone, but become institutionalized and part of the landscape.

[Mtn. States Resident]

While I don't usually post on FLDS threads and sparingly about polygamists in general, I understand enough of the concerns posted previously to say I share all the concerns.

I am a bit puzzled how those in N. Idaho didn't know what a large polygamous population is in Canada near ID. This is not "breaking news." I've known about that gathering for ~ 15 years.

Beyond the UNDERAGE RAPE, SEXUAL ABUSE etc. concerns (as if that wasn't enough), I'm slightly confused about a couple of other things: 1. Has the issue of the polygamists really been raised in NID previously? 2. Is there a thought of why the families may be staying in the U.S. in northern ID instead of Canada? (I might have missed something - please update me). Has Canada done something to encourage more polygamists to move back to the U.S.?

I hope this is respectful enough, Sage, as I mean it that way. I am ignorant of why those in northern ID haven't been more aware of those UT license plates traveling to Canada to see family. The St. George - Canadian border pathway has been well-traveled, or so I've been told.

MSR

[Sandpointian]

Mtn SR,
Re: article.

Their polygamist sect has been living in the southeast corner of British Columbia for almost 60 years without legal challenge by Canadian authorities. Two FLDS schools, with some students from Boundary County, get almost $1 million a year from the Canadian government.

The move into North Idaho by FLDS members began in 2003 after a leadership split in the Canadian community.

So from the POV of NID, things changed materially six years ago. Also, the article suggests that there is a "landmark criminal case" being debated currently...hence the more recent interest.

Also, as non-LDS, I for one do not follow news on the FLDS issues so carefully and am fully engaged in other aspects of life--work and family--so when I read the Spokesman article, I fully admit to being surprised as to the details. Also, there is a qualitative difference to knowing of the group in Canada versus reading about a planned strategic move en masse to NID. I certainly did not know...and I know few who knew more than a few superficial details of the BC community...

I am ignorant of why those in northern ID haven't been more aware of those UT license plates traveling to Canada to see family. The St. George - Canadian border pathway has been well-traveled, or so I've been told.
>>> ????? What relationship does that have with FLDS moving from Canada to NID? Unless they had a frame that said "I *heart* FLDS in NID," I would not have taken another look at Utah plate. Don't forget, we get lots of through traffic here many Western states, esp in the summer. Besides, the issue is not Utah-based LDS, but of the particularly extreme FLDS actively colonizing NID.

But that is exactly the point of the thread, is it not? Unless one is looking for such detailed information, the average citizen is unaware of the depth of issues until it is revealed in some fashion. Now when I google, I see that there are stories online going back at least to 2001, although with a far milder tone that I read this week.