Friday, October 12, 2012

Cemetery Improvement Corporation agenda for October 13, 2012, meeting



REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
Post Office Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR  72701
 13 October 2012 Agenda

Call to Order

Welcome to New Members & Guests

Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation

Minutes of the 8 September meeting

Treasurers Report

RNCIC WebSite

OLD BUSINESS

Final Status of Brantley property

‘Weiner Dog’ Race @ Bella Vista

Status of Land Transfer to VA

Veterans 5 KM Race - The remainder of this meeting is devoted to the Race;

          What has been done

          What remains to be done

          Who is responsible to accomplish

          Do we need a Special Meeting before the race

          Make notes for yourself so that we can assemble a useful ‘After-    Action’ Report for next year; suggested format -
                   What I did

                   Contacts made for Sponsors/Freebies/ etc. with results

                   What went well

                   What needs to be changed

                   Other useful information

          Can be handwritten; be ready to submit a copy to the Secretary at the          December/January meeting.



NEW BUSINESS

Any Essential New Business?

Motion to Adjourn      

         


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

RNCIC cancels August meeting

REMEMBER there will not be an RNCIC meeting this Saturday on Aug. 11.  The meeting has be canceled.
 
We will meet again on Saturday, Sept. 8, same time and same place as usual.  Are you working on getting 5K Race sponsorship?  We will only have two months from the Sept. meeting until the Race.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Minutes of May RNCIC meeting and agenda for July 14, 2012 meeting







REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORP.
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702

AGENDA
14 July 2012
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Welcome to New Members & Guests
OLD BUSINESS

Status of Brantley House
Results of the Yard Sale
New Brochure
New Donation Letter
“Weiner” Dog Race
Other Old Business
NEW BUSINESS
Status of Land Transfer to VA
Next Property Acquisition
Next “Money Maker”
Reminder of 2012 Annual Reports (Officers)
The meeting will be July 14, 2012, 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 27, 1195 So. Curtis Ave., Fayetteville, AR.


REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

P.O. BOX 4221
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72702

Minutes from the May 12, 2012, Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by President Ron Butler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Ron offered the prayer.
Board members present were: Ron Butler, Merle Williams, Lorna Sterrett, Jake Lamkins, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Virginia Middleton, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, and Beverley Swaim. Board members absent were: Harold Crivello and Wes Stites. Other RNCIC members present: Jim Glover. Visitors present: Kathy Potter (Ron’s daughter) and Brenda Austin.
Minutes of the April meeting were presented. Peggy made the motion to accept the minutes as written, it was seconded by Jake, and the vote was unanimous. The April 30, 2012, Financial Statement was presented with an ending balance of $2,353.78. Jake made the motion to accept the financial statement as written, it was seconded by Roger, and the vote was unanimous.
WEB REPORT
Jake reported 27 visits during the past month. Jake posted information on the upcoming Yard Sale and the availability of the house for sale at 1098 So. Hill Ave. both on the web site and on Facebook.
PUBLICITY
Merle gave a suggested placement for the yard sale signs. Brenda Austin, our visitor, offered to give signs from her political campaign for the RNCIC to use. Peggy offered to get the information on the signs. The signs will be put out by 6:30 on Friday morning, June 8.
5K RACE
Nothing to report.
OLD BUSINESS
Details for the yard sale were discussed. Merle will take care of the signs, check out free advertising in the newspaper and the Star Shopper. The sale will run on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Remaining items will be donated to charity. Almost all RNCIC members volunteered to help with the sale between the two days. Beverley requested newspaper and plastic bags for packing up purchases. Donation forms are available for people donating items to the sale.
Jake and Peggy presented the newly revised brochure. Jake made a motion to accept the brochure, it was seconded by Budd, and the vote was unanimous. Lorna will see that ample copies are run for distribution at the Memorial Day ceremony and at the yard sale. Thanks were expressed to Jake and Peggy for updating the brochure.
Merle is preparing a draft letter for solicitation of funds from organizations. Peggy has a list of over 100 Wal-Mart vendors and others to be used for mailings.
A Draft for a Future Property Acquisition Plan to initiate a direction of our movement for future land purchases, and Fund Raising plans were tabled until the fall.
Ron has submitted a letter to Carolyn Harrison with the VA in Washington D.C. inquiring if the VA would consider purchasing Lot #7 to be used for the cemetery director’s use in the future and thus securing that lot for the Cemetery. Nothing has been heard in reply.
Ron has had the opportunity to visit with the renter of the house on Lot #19 and explain our work to him. Ron gave him a brochure to pass on to the owner of the property and house.
Corrections will need to be made to the Memorial Day program regarding RNCIC information. These corrections will be passed on to Raymond Jones.
NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business to be discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30. If members have any items to be discussed at next month’s meeting, please notify Ron Butler so they may be placed on the agenda.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorna Sterrett, Secretary
THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST IN JUNE DUE TO THE YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 AND 9. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE AT 1098 SO. HILL AVENUE TO HELP WITH THE YARD SALE. THANK YOU!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Northwest Arkansas TV stations finally noticing that Fayetteville City Council approved zoning of the former sale-barn property that allowed 4-story student apartments to be built next to the Fayetteville National Cemetery, one of the few such facilities in the U.S. to listed as a National Shrine

Please visit KNWA channel 29 Web site or watch for a rerun of a well-done segment on the subject early in the morning. The reporter interview Ron Butler, president of the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation and Jeremy Pate of the Fayetteville Planning Department and at least one outraged veteran. Why didn't our local TV stations pick up this story a year ago and alert the public to the second attempt by the Campus Crest corporation to get approval of this project? We have had information online on the subject for several years now, and there were council meetings and planning meetings etc. on the subject. Just a bit late, but at least the truth will be told, after the fact. But MAYBE this will help some people who made bad decisions to rethink mistakes of the past and think more before pushing bad projects into neighborhoods. Direct link to video online.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Yard sale on S. Hill Avenue to replace June meeting of Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation


To Gloria Bailey, Ron Butler, Randolph Charette, Harold Crivello, Jim and Sharon Glover, Jeremy Johns, Jake Lamkins, Melissa Lee, Cliff Madewell, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Ginger Middleton, Richard Richards, Josh Sakon, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, Lorna Sterrett, Wes Stites, Beverley Swaim, Chris Turner, Cindy Whiteaker, Kate Williams, Merle Williams
 
THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST IN JUNE DUE TO THE YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 AND 9. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE AT 1098 SO. HILL AVENUE TO HELP WITH THE YARD SALE. THANK YOU!
 
 
REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 4221
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72702

Minutes from the May 12, 2012, Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by President Ron Butler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Ron offered the prayer.
 
Board members present were: Ron Butler, Merle Williams, Lorna Sterrett, Jake Lamkins, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Virginia Middleton, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, and Beverley Swaim. Board members absent were: Harold Crivello and Wes Stites. Other RNCIC members present: Jim Glover. Visitors present: Kathy Potter (Ron’s daughter) and Brenda Austin.
 
Minutes of the April meeting were presented. Peggy made the motion to accept the minutes as written, it was seconded by Jake, and the vote was unanimous. The April 30, 2012, Financial Statement was presented with an ending balance of $2,353.78. Jake made the motion to accept the financial statement as written, it was seconded by Roger, and the vote was unanimous.
 
WEB REPORT
Jake reported 27 visits during the past month. Jake posted information on the upcoming Yard Sale and the availability of the house for sale at 1098 So. Hill Ave. both on the web site and on Facebook.
 
PUBLICITY
Merle gave a suggested placement for the yard sale signs. Brenda Austin, our visitor, offered to give signs from her political campaign for the RNCIC to use. Peggy offered to get the information on the signs. The signs will be put out by 6:30 on Friday morning, June 8.
 
5K RACE
Nothing to report.
 
OLD BUSINESS
Details for the yard sale were discussed. Merle will take care of the signs, check out free advertising in the newspaper and the Star Shopper. The sale will run on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Remaining items will be donated to charity. Almost all RNCIC members volunteered to help with the sale between the two days. Beverley requested newspaper and plastic bags for packing up purchases. Donation forms are available for people donating items to the sale.
 
Jake and Peggy presented the newly revised brochure. Jake made a motion to accept the brochure, it was seconded by Budd, and the vote was unanimous. Lorna will see that ample copies are run for distribution at the Memorial Day ceremony and at the yard sale. Thanks were expressed to Jake and Peggy for updating the brochure.
 
Merle is preparing a draft letter for solicitation of funds from organizations. Peggy has a list of over 100 Wal-Mart vendors and others to be used for mailings.
 
A Draft for a Future Property Acquisition Plan to initiate a direction of our movement for future land purchases, and Fund Raising plans were tabled until the fall.
 
Ron has submitted a letter to Carolyn Harrison with the VA in Washington D.C. inquiring if the VA would consider purchasing Lot #7 to be used for the cemetery director’s use in the future and thus securing that lot for the Cemetery. Nothing has been heard in reply.
 
Ron has had the opportunity to visit with the renter of the house on Lot #19 and explain our work to him. Ron gave him a brochure to pass on to the owner of the property and house.
 
Corrections will need to be made to the Memorial Day program regarding RNCIC information. These corrections will be passed on to Raymond Jones.
 
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to be discussed.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30. If members have any items to be discussed at next month’s meeting, please notify Ron Butler so they may be placed on the agenda.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Lorna Sterrett, Secretary
 
THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST IN JUNE DUE TO THE YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 AND 9. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE AT 1098 SO. HILL AVENUE TO HELP WITH THE YARD SALE. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Photos from Memorial Day 2012 at Fayetteville National Cemetery on Flickr set linked below

Photos from 2012 Memorial Day at Fayetteville National Cemetery online at Flickr set at this address:
Memorial Day 2012 at bottom of set

Monday, May 28, 2012

Fund-raising group for expansion of Fayetteville National Cemetery always working in background of Memorial Day celebration

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of national cemetery and the new apartment complex along its eastern and northeastern edge. Please plan to park a few blocks away. Sale-barn property formerly used for parking by cemetery visitors is buried under red dirt and construction material.







Sunday, May 27, 2012

Nation of Change as Memorial Day Looms: Honor the Dead, Heal the Wounded, Stop the Wars

Amy Goodman gathers significant comment from soldiers and their families at this link: Amy Goodman

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Mayor of Fayetteville AR announces intention to run for re-election at 2 p.m. on the Fayetteville Square near the entrance to the Old Post Office: Everyone invited!

The Mayor is announcing to run for re-election TODAY, and if you want a short fun event to see friends, catch some sun, and enjoy the downtown square, I hope you will come out - today 2 pm, on the square just outside the Old Post Office! I think Lioneld has done a great job, I hope to see you there!

Friday, March 16, 2012

John Cumpston drives down Government Avenue to visit the grave of his father, Milo Cumpston, on the 67th anniversary of Iwo Jima day and learns that student apartments are being built next to Fayetteville National Cemetery

Please click on images to ENLARGE.





Here is a sample of comments people shared with me during the time the Campus Crest approval to build student apartments next to the National Cemetery was being considered by Fayetteville officials:
"Remember, I got one of the most aggressive & rude calls from a phone mill somewhere, from a man w/a Eureka Springs phone number who had a direct connection to our Fayetteville City Planning Department where I was ordered by the nasty man to tell them how much we, Fayetteville, needed this massive student housing project right next to our national cemetery. (Actually the guy didn't say that specifically because he couldn't even tell me where this wonderful much needed project was. When I asked him where it would be , he retorted, "the University of Arkansas Campus". When I told him he must be wrong about that, didn't really seem to know the facts, he got mad....But still, instant connection to a pleasant LIVE lady on our city offices phones..."

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Agenda for national-cemetery fund-raising group's March 10, 2012


Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
Post Office Box 4221
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702
AGENDA
                                                      March 10, 2012

BOARD MEMBERS: Ron Butler, Merle Williams, Harold Crivello, Lorna Sterrett, Jake Lamkins, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Virginia Middleton, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, Wes Stites, Beverley Swaim
ABSENT BOARD MEMBERS:
GUESTS:
Meeting Called to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Minutes of the 11 February Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Web Master’s Summary
OLD BUSINESS
Future Land Acquisition Plan
Fund Raising Initiative (Wes)
Status of Brantley Property
Annual Reports for State of Arkansas (2008/2009/2010)
NEW BUSINESS
Fayetteville Noon Lions Address
Grant Requests
Yard Sale
Memorial Day Ceremony

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view.




Friday, February 10, 2012

Agenda for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, meeting of Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation at American Legion Hut on S. Curtis Avenue between 15th St. and E. Huntsville Road in Fayetteville, Arkansas

For recent photos from Fayetteville National Cemetery and surrounding area, please see part three of National Cemetery friends and neighbors set of photos on Flickr.

Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
                   Post Office Box 4221
             Fayetteville, Arkansas  72702

                                     AGENDA

Meeting Called to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Prayer

Minutes of the January 2012 Meeting

Treasurers Report

Web Master Summary


                                       OLD BUSINESS

Other Old Business?


                                          NEW BUSINESS
Land Acquisition Plan (Discuss - Approve?)

Business Initiative Proposal (Wes Stites)

Status of Brantley Property Negotiations

Annual August Report to State of Arkansas (2008/2009/2010)

Other New Business ?
How about a discussion of the monstrous 4-story student apartments about to be built next to the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Please click on image below to see layout of the plan.

Friday, February 3, 2012

THE NEXT RNCIC MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY 11, 2012, 10:30 A.M. AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 27, 1195 SO. CURTIS AVE., FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 4221
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72702
 
Minutes from the January 14, 2012, Meeting
 
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by President Ron Butler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Harold Crivello offered the prayer. Minutes of the December meeting were approved. The December 31, 2011, Financial Statement was approved with an ending balance of $37,597.57. There were 10 members present.
 
OLD BUSINESS
 
5K RACE
Final net proceeds from the 5K race were $6,005.57. Merle expressed thanks to Wes for all the work he did for the race. Roger suggested that for the next race we get a television station sponsorship resulting in additional TV coverage. Ron reminded that the application for Academy Sports sponsorship be turned in as soon as possible this year.
 
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Jake reported for the Nominating Committee that the following 12 names be nominated for the Board. Merle Williams, Virginia Middleton, Aubrey Shepherd, Harold Crivello, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Ron Butler, Wes Stites, Budd Saunders, Beverley Swaim, Lorna Sterrett, and Jake Lamkins. The vote was unanimous.
 
The 12 Board members drew slips indicating their term of service on the Board. They are: One Year Term - Wes Stites, Jake Lamkins, Lorna Sterrett, and Peggy McClain. Two Year Term - Budd Saunders, Harold Crivello, Ron Butler, and Aubrey Shepherd. Three Year Term - Merle Williams, Roger McClain, Beverley Swaim, and Virginia Middleton.
 
The Board of 12 members then elected the Officers for the 2012 year. They are Ron Butler, President; Merle Williams, Vice President; Lorna Sterrett, Secretary; and Harold Crivello, Treasurer.
 
CORRESPONDENCE WITH VA
Ron read his letter of Dec. 27, 2011, to Lynn Harrison, Reality Specialist with the VA, with the current status of RNCIC acquisitions and questions regarding contiguous properties and whether or not the VA could help with a grant or funds to purchase properties.
 
In a telephone conversation of Jan. 10, 2012, between Lynn Harrison and Ron Butler, regarding the acceptance of non-contiguous properties, she confirmed that properties do not need to be contiguous, so the purchase of lots 20 and 20A would be acceptable. It is very doubtful that the VA would provide a grant to the RNCIC; the VA may purchase those properties directly sometime later.
 
Ms. Harrison said a “Task Order” is being prepared to accomplish the “Due Diligence” for Lots 15-18. This means VA personnel will come to Fayetteville to do an environmental survey, a neighborhood survey, and verify the land titles and survey. No date was given, but it appears it may be sooner than we thought. This is the first step in having lots 15-18 being transferred to the VA. When this part of the “due diligence” is completed, the package is then forwarded to the Department of Justice for their review and action. The time for this action is unknown.
 
NEW BUSINESS
 
Discussion ensued regarding the next acquisition of property. The motion was made, seconded, and passed to start negotiation on properties 20 and 20A with the Brantley family heirs.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. If members have any items to be discussed at the February meeting, please notify Ron Butler so they may be placed on the agenda.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Lorna Sterrett, Secretary
 
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY 11, 2012, 10:30 A.M. AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 27, 1195 SO. CURTIS AVE., FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

RNCIC Board discusses making offer for yellow house with large adjacent lot where Hill Avenue turns into Ellis Avenue at 11th Street intersection

 
SUBJECT: Negotiations for Lots 20 & 20A
 
TO: 2012 Board of Directors
 
At the January 2012 RNCIC meeting, I received the board’s approval to begin
negotiations for the subject properties and subsequently called the principal owner, Mr. David Brantley. He affirmed that both he & his sister (the only heirs) wish to sell the lots as soon as possible. I requested an “asking price” and his response was $60,000.00.
 
I asked if there was anyone locally who had access to the house; he did not know of anyone. Some time ago, he had given a key to a person who was interested in buying the property but never got the key back. He described the house as two bedrooms, built on a cement block foundation with foam insulation under metal siding and a crawl space, but no central air or heat. Reportedly, there are some items of property remaining in the house to include gas space heaters, maybe a refrigerator, plumbing fixtures, a ‘spool bed’ & buffet that his sister has an interest in, and perhaps more items.
 
His local representative will be the Niblock Law Firm, that he will soon hire to handle the sale of the property. However, I would like to purchase directly from the owners, as we did when we bought Lot 18, without incurring the extra cost of an attorney. A person who has previously done these direct buyer-to-seller transactions for the RNCIC thinks it can easily be done again.
 
I request approval of the Board of Directors to make an offer of $52,500.00 cash, plus a Letter of Donation-in- Kind, in the amount of $7,500.00, for a total offer of $60,000.00.
The RNCIC presently has a bank balance of $37,500.00. If Mr. Brantley accepts our offer of $52,500.00, we will have a deficit of $15,000.00. Although this deficit is significant, I have been assured that the RNCIC can obtain a $15,000.00 loan from a private
individual, renewable for up to three years, for interest of just $1.00 per month.
Obviously, the stated interest amount is very good for the RNCIC.
 
In the event our offer is not accepted, negotiations should take place until both the seller & RNCIC arrive at an agreeable price. Any agreed upon purchase price greater than $37,500.00 will result in a larger shortfall than the $15,000.00 stated above and will require discussions with the private individual to obtain the necessary funds.
 
In summary, the owners are very interested in selling the property to save their continuing costs of taxes, insurance, and property maintenance. I sincerely doubt that the RNCIC will ever again have the opportunity to obtain this much property for this price.
 
We will also need to investigate selling and moving the house, rather than demolishing it. It is in good condition compared to the others that we have purchased, and even if we have to donate the house, we can significantly reduce the cost of clearing the lots.
 
If you agree with the process outlined above, please send your ‘YES’ vote, or if you disagree, your ‘NO’ vote to Lorna at lornasterrett@yahoo.com . Your questions and/or comments are also welcomed. Please reply no later than Friday, 3 February 2012.
If there are sufficient ’YES’ votes to further pursue this matter, I will call a Special Board Meeting as soon as possible to finalize this action and continue negotiations for the purchase of Lots 20 & 20A.
 
Thank You for Your Consideration,
 
/S/
Ronald L. Butler
President, RNCIC
.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

First burial at Fayetteville National Cemetery since apartment-developer's fence went up on the former Washington County Livestock Auction property to prevent access to the construction site for four-story buildings. For decades, visitors to the cemetery were allowed to park on a portion of the land

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of mourners' cars parked on Government Avenue, National Street and in the cemetery's driveway. Gotta wonder what a soldier's burial service will be like when the construction trucks and machines dominate the area and next August 15 when the students are expected to move into the apartments. And notice the trail in the riparian zone as an example of another instance of city-required paving of important wetland that currently helps protect the Beaver Lake watershed.

North is up in this drawing. The trail is shown running near the edge of the Tanglewood Branch and the national Cemetery is along the bottom borders of the drawing. 











Aerial view from above MLK Jr. Blvd (right bottom) and S. School Ave. (lower left) In 2010, the VA contractors expanding the cemetery to new land (middle right) rented part of the sale-barn property's wetland pasture to store material (reddish center of photo).

Thursday, January 12, 2012

RNCIC meeting 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012

                                     

  REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION                                                          
                                                                                                 &nb sp;     
Post Office Box 4221
                                                                                                     
Fayetteville, Arkansas
                                                                                                                                                                                   
14 January 2012
                                                                                                           
AGENDA
Meeting called to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
Minutes of December 2011 meeting
Treasurer's Report

                                                                                                       
OLD BUSINESS
Any remaining business from 2011 5 KM Race
Land Acquisition Plan (5 yr average donations by month)
Report from Nominating Committee
Other Old Business

                                                                                                         
NEW BUSINESS
Next acquisition of property
Review letter to VA & telephonic response
Election of officers
Other new business 


Motion to adjourn


NOTE: additional items may be added during the meeting 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Foggy Morning blues: Sale-barn reduced to rubble, huge oak destroyed beside National Cemetery, leaving squirrel homeless and confused

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. See more related photos on Flickr Fayetteville National Cemetery set of photos at this permanent link.

Planning officials require preservation of only one big oak across Government Avenue from National Cemetery



Squirrel climbs surviving tree after inspecting downed tree whose hollow provided safe haven

Why was this spectacular example of urban habitat destroyed?