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Wayne's Own Blog: Man on a Tower
Wayne Spires is down from his tower. He says that he came down because he believes that the judge may reconsider his decision. The judge made an oral ruling, but nothing was ever written down, so he has hope that the judge is further researching things. Also he feels that the situtation has received the press that it needed. However, he has stated that he will probably go back up Februrary 5th if things don't turn out right.

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Montgomery Advisor
Perched on a ham radio tower 68 feet in the air above his River Falls trailer, Wayne Spires has a good view of the neighborhood.

'When I moved here I agreed to become a member of a landowners association which included sharing the cost of maintaining the roads,' said Spires, 61 years old, in a prepared statement. 'However, I did not agree to become a member of a homeowners association and all the restrictions that go along with it. My bond for title says I am to be a member of a landowners association -- not a homeowners association.'

Spires, along with Edward Abernathy, Jr., Sherri Mummey, Johnny Bass and Christopher Scott, recently lost a lawsuit filed against them by the River Falls Homeowners Association for refusing to join. The ruling, made during summary judgement by Judge John Bush, gave the OK to the homeowners association to place liens on their properties for not paying the $1,500 that was amassed for road maintenance fees.

Wallsboro, located just north of Wetumpka, is viewed as an unincorporated community by Elmore County. The River Falls community is also located near the Coosa River.

"We did not ask to be put under the burden of fixing the road out there," said Dr. Mark Hayden who owns several lots in River Falls. "We did everything possible to get other people to take that responsibility. That responsibility falls on the homeowners association, and it will do its duty. And it will expect its members to do its duty."

Two River Falls Residents, Paul Henderson and John Moore, Jr., paid the fees required and avoided being named in the suit. But on the third day of Spires protest, they were out supporting his efforts.

"These people took this piece of property and turned it into what it is today," said Henderson. "They've lived peacefully without any confusion and without breaking the law. They are trying to just get by to pay lawyers to help them."

Moore came within four days of defaulting on his home.

"I was four days away from losing my property," said Moore. "I have my property now. I had to pay out $3,400 to maintain my land. I had owned it for numerous years."

Henderson and Spires moved into the area around the same time in the late 1980s.

"He told us he was going to do this," said Henderson. "When the Lord spoke to him, he made the decision and up he went."

Spires, in his prepared statement said: "I feel my Lord Jesus Christ - my Savior - has been leading me to this; to cleanse my body and bring me into a closer relationship to him. ... I am asking him to help me work through the financial problems I will have to face concerning legal fees."

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Montgomery Adviser 1/8/07 2:00 CDT

Update: Wetumpka man ends tower protest

Wayne Spires made his descent from a 68-foot radio tower today to end his protest of a court ruling on an ongoing land dispute in a small community outside Wetumpka.

Spires, 61, chose 1 p.m. to complete a full week - to the hour - on the tower behind his Wallsboro home.

"I'm weak-legged," Spires told the Advertiser, adding that he came down because friends had called the secretary of Circuit Court Judge John Bush and "she said he's still doing some research (on the case)."

Spires and neighbors say they were wrongly sued for failing to participate in a homeowners group they wanted no part of.

Spires denied overnight storms played a factor in his decision to come down and said he would go back up the tower depending on the judge's decision.

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Edited by dogstar7 (01/10/07 02:01 PM)

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