Joyces still contend ILM barking up the wrong tree

If the tree is too tall, would the airport (FAA) agree if the upper sections were trimmed back to a reasonable level? The funds that Mr. Joyce received earlier could be used to hire a good arborist to do this. This might be a solution, to satisfy both parties, plus preserve the tree?

Where in this so called contract did the airport state "We're cutting down your trees?" It read more like we need to trim trees back for the safety of the airport operation. This is a historical landmark just like any other that is this age, and should be protected all the same. Oh yeah the city didn't mark it with a marker. The city refuses to remove the trees on Market Street, and ask them why? Perhaps when the chainsaws finish over at this mans property they can bring the crew over to Market and hack them down too. I mean they are in the flight path also and create a danger to the motorist on Market street. In the city if you cut down a tree without their permission they want to fine you. Maybe the airport should have to ask the citizens of the city they effect by such foolish acts. This man and his supporters are trying to save this tree, and a part of history. At least they are trying to preserve something. Not everything in life is disposable. I agree with the other comments on here about the safety of the airport before this became an issue. Ask the airport officials how much pollution the planes release into the air. Oh yeah they don't want to discuss it. Maybe someone should sue the airport for polluting the air around the airport, and the immediate and long term effects we all suffer? Let's not forget the noise ordinance our fine city has in place. Trees are natures way of reversing our mistakes, clean the air, and create a filter from all of the noise. I mean we all have to pay extra for car inspections to make sure we don't pollute the enviroment. Leave this man alone and let him love his tree. The planes can land or take off in another direction that we've already cleared all of the trees from. They have been for years why change it now? Less flights due to the economy so cutting down this man's tree and ruining his enjoyment makes so much sense.

I want to add also that I agree with Gilette and Michele's latest comments that trees are more valuable than we think. We can not have too many. Kudos to the little girl.

Starnews article says that Mr. Joyce offered to return the money to keep the one oak. That's $44,800 for one tree. How many of us would give up that much money? Talk is cheap when things are done to someone else's property. I would like to see people's faces when their property is destroyed and their homes' values went down to drain. The man is 80 something year old, it looks like that's why he couldn't figure out what was said in those papers.

I think a lot of you who call Mr Jpyce stupid do not know the rest of the story.. Mr Jpyce took ILM to court to try to give them the money back & they wouldn,t take it. Has ILM been unsafe for planes to land due to trees for the last 50 years or so?? the many times I landed there no one ever told me that it wasn't safe, did they tell you it wasn't safe because the didn't have that new landing system???? Maybe we should sue ILM for not informing us it wasn't safe because of the trees. Also what would you say if someone wants to cut all your trees down. what about the safety of us on the ground, the pollution from the planes, shade trees, air quality, the noise, the wildlife. But for the grace of God it could be you. Do you know what an easement is or would do if you want to sell your property?? Wake up people do the homework before you throw stones.I was told they would cut my trees one or another when I said no, does that sound like a choice?? does that sound like freedom of choice?? sounds like another government takeover to me..

The trees don't really belong to Charlie, and the trees certainly don't belong to the FAA. The trees belong to all of us...We should be ashamed. ILM officials (and the rest of us) should remember that nobody will care to use the airport if we continue to destroy the area's natural beauty at the rate that we have been.

This little girl, was the cutest ever standing up for the trees, maybe they should have given her a cut of that 44,000...oops sorry, too late its spent & now you wanna sit in a tree all day in 90 degree heat to make a point. Were you in that tree on Friday when those severe storms rolled in? You had common sense then to climb down, where is it now?

When the chainsaws hit the tree, I bet this fool jumps down! The safety of ILM passengers is WAY more important than this tree. (or any tree or group of trees) Considering the importance of tourism to this area, and the completion of our new convention center in the near future, the success of ILM is crucial to the future of this region. Come on people....use your brains and get with the program!

What happened to the $44,000 the gentleman was paidD Did the younger tree hugger receive any of the money? Just wondering!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe this is happening. I understand the airports reason for doing this, but one look around ILM and you can easily see much greater threats than this mans trees. Just a few hundred feet up Gordon Road are high tension lines much higher than these trees and undoubtedly a greater threat than the trees. Besides, if a situation arose where a plane was too low and was in danger of hitting the trees, they are likely the only thing that would prevent dozens of homes and trailers from being obliterated by a crashing plane. Without the trees it will be like a 1000 ton bowling ball plowing through homes. Has anyone driven past this area, they destroyed this mans home. His house not sits in the middle of an empty lot. ILM paid a lot of money in their public relations campaign to encourage people to "Fly ILM". Well guess what, after this fiasco I will fly Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Charlotte...anywhere except ILM. I would rather drive the distance instead of patronizing bullies who threaten to sue a family for standing up for their rights. Make no mistake, ILM is willing to destroy this family financially to get their way. Thank you Airport Authority for making my travel plans for me, and by the looks of things many other peoples as well.

I noticed that there has not been any mention of the family returning the money. The father obviously was not duped when it came time to spend that check.

i think he should have payed attention when he signed the contract

Well... The man signed the papers. Tricked? Didn't he read what they offered him to sign. Stupid...