OTTAWA - SDC Continuing Coverage-- Press Clips

[quade 4]

http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/g160655a.html

Quote

Skydivers: Risks 'just part of game'

Some praise facility, deceased owner; others question safety practices

June 9, 2003

By SARAH OKESON
of the Journal Star


OTTAWA - The two skydivers whose collision Saturday sent one to his death typically used smaller "fast canopies" that left less room for error, a supervisor of the surviving jumper said Sunday.

Roger Nelson, 48, the owner of Skydive Chicago in rural Ottawa, died at 5:27 p.m. Saturday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria after another skydiver, Todd Fey, collided with his parachute about 50 feet off the ground about three hours earlier.

"In skydiving, accidents happen, and that's a risk we all take," said Rose Eakins, the owner of Skydive Hutchinson in Hutchinson, Minn., where Fey, 43, worked part time. "When you're flying fast canopies and jumping with a group of people, stuff can happen."

Nelson's death was the 14th since the facility opened in 1993, with 10 of the deaths in the last five years. The fatality rate there had been as high as eight times the national average.

"The thing that comes to mind is why don't they shut the place down?" asked Don Smith of Princeton, whose son, Steven, and another jumper died Oct. 6, 2001, when their parachutes became entangled during a group exercise with 20 jumpers. "The place is not the right place to be."

Local authorities have investigated Skydive Chicago before and concluded they didn't have any reason to try to shutter the facility.

It was unclear Sunday exactly what type of equipment the two jumpers were using. General Manager Donovan Bartlett, whose fiancee also died during a jump, declined to comment. Skydive Chicago's Web site said the Golden Knights, an Army team that specializes in aerial formations, was scheduled to train people Saturday.

"There's a great loss today, and that's all that needs to be said," Bartlett said.

Fey, a Marine from Fargo, N.D., was taken to Ottawa Community Hospital, but a supervisor there said Sunday he was no longer a patient. Eakins said he had suffered a broken leg and had returned to Skydive Chicago.

"The place is phenomenal," said Eakins, whose daughter and son-in-law honeymooned there. "Roger Nelson is an icon in his business."

But Terry Murray of Evergreen Park, a former employee at Skydive Chicago, questioned the safety practices at the facility.

"He would put people in the air in unsafe conditions to make the almighty dollar," Murray said. "The carelessness, the recklessness was accepted and promoted by Roger Nelson himself. When you're jumping that small, that fast, that radical, you've got to give yourself more of an out for landing and not come whipping in between people, which he did on a regular basis."

Murray also said Skydive Chicago had problems with drug use.

Ronald Passmore Jr., 33, of Butler, Ind., who died last July 14 while trying to skim across the water of a small pond, smoked marijuana two hours or less before his death, according to the LaSalle County coroner. Bruce Greig, 38, of Jacksonville, who fell to his death Oct. 14, 2001, when his chute malfunctioned, had used the drug Ecstasy and had trace amounts of marijuana and cocaine in his system.

Nelson, the captain of the U.S. skydiving team in 1982, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1987 after pleading guilty to running an international drug smuggling ring.

"There was no safety in skydiving whatsoever," said Passmore's ex-wife, Christine, who divorced him after arguments over his skydiving. "I knew that from day one. They do all kinds of stupid tricks. I don't approve of that sport at all."

Bartlett, Skydive Chicago's general manager, said no one jumped Sunday because of the weather, but he expects skydiving today if the weather permits.

"Unless you're a skydiver, you don't understand," said Eakins. "It's just part of the game. It's a risk you're willing to take."

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[quade 4]

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=1313118&nav=1sW7GGmC

Quote

Children plan to keep Skydive Chicago open

UPDATED: 6/9/03 12:42 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

OTTAWA - Skydivers are remembering Skydive Chicago owner Roger Nelson as a good teacher who stressed safety.

Nelson died over the weekend after he collided with another skydiver during a jump over rural Ottawa southwest of Chicago.

Scott Ayer of Naperville says Nelson always stressed safety and many people loved him. Joaquin Franco of Mexico says he was so impressed by Nelson's teaching style that he planned to use it when he opens his own program in Mexico.

The LaSalle County sheriff's department is investigating the accident. Nelson's death was the 14th since Skydive Chicago opened in 1993.

Nelson's attorney says his adult children plan to keep the drop zone open. It is one of the nation's largest skydiving operations with about 75,000 jumps a year.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

"The thing that comes to mind is why don't they shut the place down?" asked Don Smith

Asshat!

Quote

"Unless you're a skydiver, you don't understand," said Eakins. "It's just part of the game. It's a risk you're willing to take."

Exactly!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[jlmiracle 7]

Quote

Quote

"The thing that comes to mind is why don't they shut the place down?" asked Don Smith

Asshat!

Dave - you are being too nice. Don't ya just hate the media.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[indyz 1]

Quote

Asshat!

Do you care to elaborate? It seems like a perfectly valid opinion to me. Name-calling just makes us as skydivers look worse.

[betzilla 56]

Thanks for keeping us posted on the press' field day, Quade. it always interesting to see who says what.

[quade 4]

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/Midwest/06/08/skydiving.death.ap/

Please note the historical inaccuracy of the Nelson being the Captain of the "U.S. Olympic skydiving team" in the AP story has been still not been corrected here.

Nelson was the Captian of the U.S. Skydiving Team but it was and remains an non-olympic event.

Quote

Skydiving instructor dies in accident

Monday, June 9, 2003 Posted: 0042 GMT ( 8:42 AM HKT)


OTTAWA, Illinois (AP) -- The owner of a skydiving center, whose business had been criticized for a high number of fatalities and who once served time for drug smuggling, has died in a parachuting accident at his own facility.

Roger Nelson, 48, was jumping Saturday with another man who bumped into Nelson and caused his parachute to collapse, investigators said.

Nelson fell about 50 feet to the ground, and was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.

The other parachutist, Todd Fey, 43, of Fargo, North Dakota, was being treated at a hospital.

Nelson's death was the 14th at Skydive Chicago since the facility opened in 1993. Eleven of those deaths occurred in the past five years, making the center's fatality rate eight times the national average.

Nelson was captain of the U.S. Olympic skydiving team in 1982. In 1987 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to running an international drug smuggling ring.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AggieDave 6]

Alrighty.

Well, its not so much what he said, but how the media reported it. Ever since the collapse of Bonfire in 1999 and how it was treated by the media, how I was personally treated by the media and how everything was reported (even the clips of me on the national news), I hate it when they report like this.

They are vultures, without so much a care for the people involved. Sensationalism is the key.

The news media was on scene at Skydive Aggieland after we had a 182 go down a couple weeks ago. They TV news media could care less that everyone was ok, infact they practically fucking packed up and left after finding out that no one died and that no one had so much as a scratch on them.

So what you see as a perfect valid opinion, I see as the media being the vultures they always are, with out a care for peoples lives or well being!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[kallend 2,027]

Quote

"The thing that comes to mind is why don't they shut the place down?" asked Don Smith of Princeton, whose son, Steven, and another jumper died Oct. 6, 2001, when their parachutes became entangled during a group exercise with 20 jumpers. "The place is not the right place to be."

Very accurate NOT! - it was a 10-way + cameraman. I was part of the 10-way.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[airtwardo 7]

Keep in mind it's actually Ottawa, Illinois...
Not Chicago!

The 'quality' of the news reporting there has always left a lot to be desired!

...If you graduate top of you class in Journalism, you don't exactly race to Ottawa for a job!

I was born and raised in Peru, Illinois...12 miles west of the DZ. belive me, that's ALWAYS been the quality of reporting in that area.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Vallerina 2]

Quote

They are vultures, without so much a care for the people involved. Sensationalism is the key.

It was a quote about what many people feel in the Chicago area. While it may be from a whuffo who has little knowledge of the sport, many other whuffos in this area have the same sentiment. The quote in which you were referring to was not sensationalism (I'm assuming that the guy's father is a whuffo.)

I am disgusted, however, by other skydivers who obviously have knowledge of the sport running to the papers to add nothing but negativity and nothing of value. Ugh...I think it's time he lets his personal stuff go...

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[jlmiracle 7]

IMO, its seem the media can't get much accurate anymore. Does anyone remember if or when they used to report facts and could back them up?

I'm sure its not only the New York Times that makes up stuff.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[AggieDave 6]

So you're saying treating a quote from someone with very little experience in an area, speaking like an expert in that area, is NOT sensationalism?

Ok, maybe not, but that's like asking me about some brainsurgan's safety record...I have no fucking clue!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[diverdriver 5]

Quote

So what you see as a perfect valid opinion, I see as the media being the vultures they always are, with out a care for peoples lives or well being!

Uh folks, I was already contacted by the press to use my Spread the Love post for their article. They are hawking around everywhere. I declined their use even though they said they would run it in its entirety. I still declined. I wrote it for me and for our community. The whuffos will think what they want no matter what I say. They always have twisted our words and they always will.

I am not surprised Steve's dad is mad. He wants to blame someone and can't believe his son could do anything wrong. However, the fact of the matter is Steve caused the collision that killed Deb and him. So, don't let a grieving father's words get you all riled up. Just feel compassion for him for no matter what happened he still lost his son. And that's got to hurt.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[AggieDave 6]

Ok.

My views of the media still stand firm, though. My past experiences with them are too damned painful to change that.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skydiverjerry 0]

i think the general message is that as with all incidents there are people out there who see the chance to advance they´r own agenda. if you like they see the chance now to get revenge for any small injustice or hurt that has been done to them.

the press for the sake of a fair ? and balanced report, ( or more likely cos it sells ) will jump on this, after all the news is there and you don´t have to make it up then! ( not that any reporter would ever do that )

sorry but it,s a fact of life that we as skydivers are not understood by the woofoos out there and that includes the press they lack the immagination courage or wit to ask and learn.

it would be nice if we could help them to understand but it will allways be that those that can do those that cannot will just find fault.

Quote

life is a journey not to arrive at the grave in a pristine condition but to skid in sideways kicking and screaming, shouting "fuck me what a ride!.

• Quote

[indyz 1]

Quote

I am disgusted, however, by other skydivers who obviously have knowledge of the sport running to the papers to add nothing but negativity and nothing of value. Ugh...I think it's time he lets his personal stuff go...

Terry has had a long-standing vendetta against SDC. He's probably in the Chicago media's speed dial. Search rec.skydiving for "TandmTerry" for more info.

[airtwardo 7]

Chris-

I'm really glad you are doing what you're doing, and handling this in the professional manner that you are.

( wouldn't expect any less considering your profession )

Thanks for "doing it right"

-Jim

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Vallerina 2]

Quote

So you're saying treating a quote from someone with very little experience in an area, speaking like an expert in that area, is NOT sensationalism?

No, since there were many people with limited knowledge who feel the same way, it's not sensationalism. They never portrayed him as an expert. They said it was the guy's father before they even said the quote. You can disagree with it, but it's not sensationalism. I disagree with him as well.

Quote

I still declined. I wrote it for me and for our community.

Chris, what you wrote was wonderful. It portrayed Roger's unmatched passion for the sport very well. While it's a shame that others won't be able to read that about him, I understand the reasonings behind your decision.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[quade 4]

Judy this is NOT directed at you but the thread in general.

Why do skydivers constantly whine about the media rather than doing something positive like directing them to a place where they can get the correct information?

For instance, I've just sent off a batch of notes to CNN and AP about the inaccuracy of Nelson being the Captain of the U.S. Olympic Skydiving Team. We all (should) know there has never been such a thing. I referred them to USPA headquarters about the subject.

If a news outlet puts the reporter's contact information at the end of a story, I usually make a point of including it in my quotation of the story just so that folks might be able to refer the reporter to a more official and hopefully accurate source of information.

Whining does nothing.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[jfields 0]

Dave,

We are sensitive when tragedy strikes our communities, whether discussing the Bonfire or skydiving incidents. Yet, at the same time, there have been a great many snide comments in the forums about Darwin Award winners and such. Very few people can see the humor when the death is in their back yard, and occasionally the tables are turned and we are on the receiving end of scrutiny and jokes.

I don't think it is really fair to play the sarcastic joker when things happen to other people then cry foul when it hits home. Sometimes, we just have to stand up and take our lumps from the media. They are only reflecting the sensationalism and morbidness we all pay them to show us. Some of the stories will be deserved and some won't, some will be factual and some won't, but they all have our names on them. We'll deal with them and move on, as always.

[fozchek 0]

"The thing that comes to mind is why don't they shut the place down?" asked Don Smith of Princeton, whose son, Steven, and another jumper died Oct. 6, 2001, when their parachutes became entangled during a group exercise with 20 jumpers. "The place is not the right place to be."
______________________

When racers on a Nascar track collide and there is a fatality, do we ask for the track to be shut down?

grrrrrrrr.

I hope you can someday find peace, Don.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Why do skydivers constantly whine about the media rather than doing something positive like directing them to a place where they can get the correct information?

Why?

Because in my personal experience with the media, they don't give a fuck. Even when presented with the correct information, they have ignored it and played the sensationalism side of things.

Of course, my views stem from personal experience with the media in the past 5 years.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Zenister 0]

come on dave, you must have forgotten the fundamental creed of journalism.

"if it bleeds, it leads."


so when we finally get to shoot all the lawyers we have to call all the reporters in for the story..

and put them up against the wall next..

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[JohnnyD 0]

Quote

Quote

I am disgusted, however, by other skydivers who obviously have knowledge of the sport running to the papers to add nothing but negativity and nothing of value. Ugh...I think it's time he lets his personal stuff go...

Terry has had a long-standing vendetta against SDC. He's probably in the Chicago media's speed dial. Search rec.skydiving for "TandmTerry" for more info.

Public Service Announcement:
Save your brain cells and avoid this.