The Official Blue Springs War is Bad for Divers

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markanderson0701

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There appears to be some kind of a war going on between the old/current ownership of Blue Springs Quarry in Waldron Indiana and the want to be owner of the same quarry. I have known the previous owner for several years and I met the want to be owner one time before they disappeared from the property.

I have talked to both sides and read posts on various web forums from one side and the conclusions I have come to are as follows:

1.) The old owner has possesion and control of the quarry itself and it is open for diving.

2.) The want to be owner has control of the Blue Springs web site.

3.) The want to be owner is actively trying to give the impression that the quarry is closed to divers which is NOT TRUE. The quarry is open and I dived it last weekend.

These intentional actions that represent the quarry as closed are bad for Indianapolis area divers. No matter what you may think of Blue Springs or it's old or want to be ownership it is the best bang for the buck as far as diving around Indianapolis goes. No mater who wins the war the casualties will be Indianapolis area divers.
 
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@ Hello MarkAnderson - Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your statement.

Blue Springs was closed by myself and is under litigation at this very moment. At last count one of the previous sellers is trying to operate as if nothing has happened. As of June 10th one of the previous sellers had divers signing waivers that had our company header and was using our liability insurance as if it was their own. The other Seller (Jack Kesler) has also requested that no diving take place.

Now this is just my take on things since I'm on the side that had equipment stolen and had my good name slandered by Nelson saying we we're squatters and was escorted off the property. To the contrary. We called the Shelby Sheriffs office and filed the report since all my equipment was stolen and as of this date is still not in my possession.

I differ from your opinion. Most diver do not want to dive just anywhere. They want to dive where they know they are getting good air, have proper safety processes in place and a clean and maintained environment. Water visibility is the most important facet of diving since it is a visual sport. I find it interesting how most of your posts around the internet are about Blue Springs and it's operations.

I'd also like to address the fact that I have not continued to make posts about the issue and have only replied to questions on the board. Even the divers that have come to me and asked what is going on receive only a top level view.

As far as the quarry being closed. I closed it, Jack Kesler (Seller) has closed it yet there is one seller that is trying to do business. He's trying to prosper of the labor of your fellow divers. We did the cleanup, built the kitup stations, built new underwater platforms, harvested underwater growth and completed the maintenance on the Airfill station. (Bank Tanks were 12 yrs out of Hydro and bird poop an oil all over the Air Compressor. I hope you liked the new Air Compressor room too since it was constructed by volunteer divers)

You also mentioned that my argument must be false. I don't think I've made any argument, just stated the facts. Please don't just take my word. Go and verify it, talk to the divers who volunteered hundreds of hours trying to provide a quality place for midwest divers to come to. Call the Shelbyville Sheriffs office and see who filed the burglary report.

Once again thanks for giving me the opportunity to address your statement.

I'd like to express my gratitude to all the divers for their support and kind words. I encourage all Midwest divers to visit some some of the other great diving locations located in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

Hidden Paradise
Portage
Heigh
Gilboa
Mermet
My Favorite - Natural Springs
Phillips Quarry
 
You say you only respond to questions but I didn't ask you any questions. I stated a fact. Blue Springs Quarry in Waldron is open for diving and I dived it on the 2nd of July 2011 after you posted it was closed. I also notice you pull my posts and any posts that don't support your position. As far as the compressor and kit up stations go I haven't purchased air from Blue Springs in years. I bring all the gas I need to dive with me. And the kit up stations? What happened to all of the ones that the scuba shack built and put around the place? I understand you did a lot of work and had other divers do a lot of work. I understand you called the sheriff and filed a report. I also understand that you are not in control of the property you claim to own and claim is closed when in fact it is still in operation. My posts are about Blue Springs and it's operations because it is my local dive hole. I only post because you post that the facility is closed and it is NOT. All divers don't care about your plans. Some divers want to dive the place regardless of what you do or think. You say you have only mentioned facts. Why isn't one of those facts proof that you actually own the place? Why are you not out there running YOUR property? Why didn't the sheriff support your position? Why haven't you done anything to stop the operations from continuing on your property? Why do you pull posts that don't support your position? Why is the only FACT you continue to point to is that you filed a police report? I'm on the side of divers who don't want to drive two or more hours to dive an overpriced quarry when there is one right here that may not be the best but it does the job. No one, including Nelson has ever said anything bad about you or even mentioned you by name. Just that a deal to buy the place fell through. You are doing enough to yourself by claiming the facility is closed when clearly it is not. Sorry things didn't turn out as you planned but claiming ownership is not the same as ownership.
 
Once again proving that 99% of people running a dive business are far from business savvy. You don't dump money into a facility until the ink is on the paper and the facility is yours.
 
Once again proving that 99% of people running a dive business are far from business savvy. You don't dump money into a facility until the ink is on the paper and the facility is yours.

Not to mention the hard work and good will of your friends and fellow divers.
 
@markanderson

- I also notice you pull my posts and any posts that don't support your position.
Reply: Didn't pull your posts, I replied to them.

- What happened to all of the ones that the scuba shack built and put around the place.
Reply: When We bought the place there were 3 Kit Up stations. 1 was removed by Scuba Shack, 1 is at N Beach, 1 is at Central Beach.

- I also understand that you are not in control of the property you claim to own and claim is closed when in fact it is still in operation.

Reply: You are correct that I am currently not in control of the facility. That is why we are in litigation. Not just civil but criminal as well. All "Signed" contracts give me the rights to do operations. That includes closing it. There are a lot of things going on that I would like to share with everyone but can't until we have concluded litigation.

What one of the sellers has done is wrong and Illegal, I am hopeful that after the court hears what has happened then Blue Springs will be back in Business and operating as a safe, clean and respectable establishment.

On a personal not... Since you are an original IDC member, why didn't you just call to blast me versus trying to rake me over the coals publicly?

@Brian - Ink is Dry, that is why we're in the litigation process.
 
@Brian - Ink is Dry, that is why we're in the litigation process.

Then something doesn't add up. If the ink was dry then you would have been the one having him removed for trespass.
 
Hence litigation... And I can't give the other side anymore ammunition to defend their actions here in the public forums. But I will say this. We are not just chasing a Civil Suit, we are also working on a criminal suit aswell.
 
Someone pulled my post on the IDC blog. You replied all right but the original post of mine is gone.

I am not trying to rake you over the coals. I actually believed you at first, but once I placed a phone call and found out the quarry was open, not so much after that.

I agree with Brian. Something does not add up or you would be in control and would have had people removed not the other way around.

Filing a police report does not a criminal case make. If you had any proof of something criminal someone would have been arrested, not told to leave. This leaves me to conclude it is a civil mater.

Hiding behind the I can't say anything because of litigation isn't exactly helping your position in the court of public opinion.
 
@ Markanderson -

- Someone pulled my post on the IDC blog. You replied all right but the original post of mine is gone.

Reply: I wish I had a great reply but I don't. I replied to your post is al I can say.

- I am not trying to rake you over the coals. I actually believed you at first, but once I placed a phone call and found out the quarry was open, not so much after that.

Reply: Believed me at first? I've not said much to anyone. Have you come to my office and talked to me? Only people who have taken the time to talk to me have I shared any glimps to what is going on.

- I agree with Brian. Something does not add up or you would be in control and would have had people removed not the other way around.

Reply: Heck I even agree with Brian... Things don't add up! But this is where we are. I was not escorted from the property, I left after being asked by the Sheriff If I wanted to continue to do business with the sellers. My response was very simple. Yes to one of the seller and I would see the other in court. I then left. The Sheriff came up to my vehicle as I was leaving and assured me he knew what was going on and to get my attorney. Here we are.

- Filing a police report does not a criminal case make. If you had any proof of something criminal someone would have been arrested, not told to leave. This leaves me to conclude it is a civil mater.

Reply: The Sheriff was told by one of the seller that he had removed the property for my protection and so it wouldn't be stolen. He was also told that I would be able to recover the items on Monday. Still hasn't happened and now we're being told that the items are not to be returned at the advise of their attorney. So the Sheriff did his part and kept things calm trying to come up with a resolution. If something is removed without your permission and is not returned... I call that theft and that is a criminal action. Call me crazy!

- Hiding behind the I can't say anything because of litigation isn't exactly helping your position in the court of public opinion.

Reply: Up until to now I didn't have to help my position in the COURT of public opinion. But all of a sudden you join ScubaBoard an all your posts are about the Operations at Blue Springs. Something over on the IDC forum. Been a member since July 9, 2009 with no posts and then all of a sudden you want to focus on the operations at Blue Springs.

I'm sorry I can't / wont provide you more information here in a public forum and if that means that I'm losing popularity points in the court of public opinion, then so be it. Those that know me have offered nothing but support and kind words. That is what the other side is trying to tare down. The support of the dive community.
 
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