Paragon is in danger!

[StreetDoc]

I found this today, there's not a lot that we can do about it but watch and hope.
http://www.paragonap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11673

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Paragon Land News

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Before the rumor mill starts to fly. We want to be up front with all our customers and supporters. Currently Paragon and PCA Corporation (land owner) is in legal dispute over our lease agreement for this property. We have done everything within our powers to honor our agreements with the land holding company, but they are trying to evict us from the premesis so they can sell the property. We are still in business and will remain in business as long as possible and we are fighting this with every measure available.

We know the next question is how can you help. Unfortunately, there really isn't anything you can do. We would however, appreciate everyone's hopes and prayers for a good outcome.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kyle & Stephanie Knosp
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Paragon Adventure Park
info@paragonap.com
(570) 384-0550[url][/url]
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DEFINITION OF A VETERAN A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."

[Jen2Goofy]

Article in the Hazelton PA newspaper about the lawsuit involving Paragon Off Road Park


Posted on Fri, Jan. 26, 2007


ATV park owner fights landlord
Kyle Knosp of Paragon Adventure Park says PCA Corp. wants to sell land he’s leasing.
By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky @ timesleader . com

HAZLE TWP. – An ATV park owner is facing off in court against a group with ties to a politically connected attorney in a dispute involving a potential $22 million land sale.

Kyle Knosp, owner of Paragon Adventure Park, said he believes landlord PCA Corp. is accusing him of breaching his 25-year lease in order to sell the 2,500-acre recreational site to Gladstone Partners.

Knosp learned last March that PCA Corp. had plans to sell the property. The only thing standing in the way of the major land deal is Knosp’s lease.

PCA Corp. is headed by Phillip Seltzer, who also operates Butler Enterprises, a firm that owns large parcels of land in the Hazleton area.

Before selling the parcel, PCA Corp. must dissolve the lease with Knosp.

Court documents reveal that PCA Corp. has a sales agreement with Gladstone Partners, a limited partnership formed in May 2005 that is headquartered at 10 Fox Run Road in the CAN DO Corporate Center, Butler Township.

The only building on that road is Powell Law Group, the law office of Robert J. Powell.

A receptionist at the Powell firm said Robert Powell was in charge of Gladstone Partners and indicated it was “more of a personal” project.

Lawyer Jill Moran, the Luzerne County prothonotary and a partner in the Powell firm, is representing Gladstone in the action against Knosp.

Moran says Knosp breached the lease in several ways, including refusal to provide PCA Corp. with proof of profits and insurance on request, as well as causing damage to the land by cutting roads, digging ditches and chopping down trees.

Knosp said he is being bullied into giving up the lease so politically connected people interested in development can buy the land.

He claims he never received written or verbal requests for profit or insurance information prior to the filing of the lawsuit in June. Knosp pointed to a clause in the lease that states “alterations to the leased land will not be considered damage if they are made in the ordinary course of the business operations.”

The lease specifies that Paragon will pay PCA 6 percent to 11 percent of its gross profits as rent, with a minimum monthly payment of $2,500 in 2005 and 2006. The minimum rent increases $1,000 annually beginning in 2007.

Pasco Schiavo, a lawyer who represents PCA Corp., said he could not discuss the matter or identify anyone from Gladstone Partners because of a confidentiality agreement.

Moran also said she could not identify her clients without their permission. She said they are operating out of Powell’s law offices because they can’t gain access to the Paragon property, where they plan to set up a temporary trailer, because Knosp refuses to vacate the premises.

Knosp said he is worried by Powell’s relationship to Gladstone given Powell’s political connections.

Powell, former county solicitor, is co-owner of a company that acquired a lucrative contract with Luzerne County in 2005. The county awarded a $58 million, 20-year lease to PA Childcare for use of its Pittston Township juvenile detention facility.

Powell and Gregory Zappala, an investment banker from western Pennsylvania, own PA Childcare. Zappala is the son of a former state chief justice.

The judge who assigned himself to Knosp’s case on Jan. 17 is the same judge who handled a case involving PA Childcare.

Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Conahan sealed a lawsuit that was filed by PA Childcare against former county Controller Steve Flood and two state auditors in 2005. The suit sought to prevent Flood from releasing state documents that were critical of a juvenile detention center deal.

Conahan’s ruling was overturned by the state Superior Court in November.

Powell did not return calls seeking comment.

A hearing on the case is scheduled before Conahan on Monday.

While the court case plays out, ATV riders are worried they will lose one of the top-rated ATV parks in the nation.

Knosp hopes his legal fight is not in vain – for the sake of his patrons and his family. He and his wife, Stephanie, invested their life savings in the park, he said.


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Some people are like slinkeys, they’re not of much use but they will still bring a smile to your face if someone pushes them down the stairs.

www.vajeepgirls.com

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(O||||||O)

[ThePhantum]

There is a petition online titled Save Paragon Adventure Park http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/savePAP/

Regardless of whether you have wheeled PAP or not, everyone should sign this in support of keeping the park open.

Below is the Petition Statement:

Paragon Adventure Park is the largest private and legal offroading park in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region of the country. For many denizens of these areas, Paragon is the only place to legally operate an off-road vehicle on challenging terrain. PAP brings thousands of such enthusiasts into the greater Hazleton area all year long, bringing tourism business to many sectors including lodging, food, entertainment, fuel, and mechanical repair.

Recently, the public was made aware of a dispute between the operators of Paragon Adventure Park and the owners of the lease on the land they operate on. Below is an excerpt of a statement from the operators:

"Paragon and PCA Corporation (land owner) is in legal dispute over our lease agreement for this property. We have done everything within our powers to honor our agreements with the land holding company, but they are trying to evict us from the premesis so they can sell the property. We are still in business and will remain in business as long as possible and we are fighting this with every measure available."

We, the undersigned, strongly petition the PCA Corporation to abort all attempts to enact an early termination to PAPs lease terms and stop all attempts to sell the land upon which Paragon exists on. Furthermore, we petition the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce to step in on behalf of the many businesses that stand to lose significant amounts of business if PAP is forced to close.
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97 XJ Sport with a bunch of stuff

[Jen2Goofy]

From the Knosp Family


Default The latest verdict

Sorry we didn't get to you sooner. It's been a long day and we just got home (and off the phone) from doing many interviews with the news media. This is a very emotional time and we have a lot of personal feelings that we would love to express, but at this point, we choose to take the high road and maintain professionalism. As some of you may have already heard, the verdict was issued today in favor of Gladstone Associates. We apologize, but at this time, we are very limited in what we can say. But at this point, we fully anticipate fighting this vigorously and through all avenues possible. We appreciate the support of our off-road community and again, please keep contacting editors and people from news stations, not only local level, but state and national level. Please remember that it is important for us to remain professional, well spoken and portray the most positive image that we can for our sport and industry and the events that are happening presently. As more details arise and as we are permitted to divulge more information on the situation and personal commentary, we will do so.


Thanks again for your support and we'll see you all on Saturday.

The Knosp Family
_________________
Some people are like slinkeys, they’re not of much use but they will still bring a smile to your face if someone pushes them down the stairs.

www.vajeepgirls.com

www.fm2cd.com

(O||||||O)

['drack]

This absolutely sucks. They plan on putting a commercial airport up there now...conveniently located in the hub of that industrial park. I've just started reading the links and shit, but has it been explained as to how they exactly breached their lease? For one reason or another, it's been a couple years since I've actually gotten to go up there, guess unless something radical happens no one'll get there again .

Wow, just wow....
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Drink more Ovaltine!!!

[HEMIjer]

I just saw this on another site. It really sucks. I only made it up to PAP once (last July) but I think that weekend is what got me seriously hooked on wheeling and rocks.

The staff there was great and I really feel for them as we spent a good amount time chatting with them and I think for them it really was a lifestyle more then a job.

I suppose for the moment all we can do is hope that something happens in appeals.
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98 TJ - Getting There