" What decision is there to make on filing criminal charges? We have laws in place on neglect and abuse of animals. What's the hold up? If there aren't charges filed, we definitely need a change in our State's Attorney's office. "

" Yes blueeyes you are 100% correct. We need a complete top to bottom change in our states attorneys office. Please remember this when the next election comes around and tell your relatives, neighbors, co-workers, trashman, etc. That is the only way we can get rid of this spineless idiot and his family and friends. It would sure be nice to have a working states attorney again because we haven't had one for past 12+ years. "

" So which one are you supporting, 61938? The one who was forced out by his fellow judges, or the job hopper that has been running for States Attorney in about 3 other counties. "

" Here, Here, Add my vote for that, 61938, and blueyedbikergirl. What you say is the truth. A few years ago I was stalked and permanently blinded in one eye by a local resident. Although our County Sherriffs Department personnel did a real great job of follow-up on my report, and handled the case seriously, the States Attorneys Office refused to assign a case number to the Felonious Assault & Battery, which is necessary in order to pursue justice. When asked why not, the only reply was "It sounds like too much trouble for us to prosecute." High time that we all got someone in the States Attorneys office who actually WILL work for the citizens, instead of sit on their backsides to collect taxpayer money. "

" To TigerRose, Welcome to my world! I was assaulted AT work by a co-worker with video and the State's Attorneys office said it sounded like a personality conflict to them. Another co-worker filed a false police report about me and again it was a personality conflict. She made a very serious charge that was VERY false and she has a history of doing so but no charges filed. I plan to vote for Komada, I'll campaign for him, and I'm not generally a Republican voter. I'm all for something new in the State's Attorney's office. I'm also sick of seeing tax dollars wasted on the ridiculous drug court where people just keep getting more probation and an occasional county jail stay for continued drug use. Drug court isn't working--get rid of it. File charges against Rose. The Dept of Agriculture has the list of possible fines on their web site for animal abuse. I still don't understand what more Ferguson needs to know. I do know the sheriff had a real hard time getting anyone to get off their butt in the State's Attny's office and get a judge to sign a warrant. Sad, very sad. "

" A few years back, I called the States attorneys office to talk to him about a matter. I was informed that he was on vacation but was scheduled to return the next Monday. I was then asked if I would like to leave a message on his voice mail. I did, and to my surprise a couple of hours later he returned my call. He told me he was calling from Wisconsin, I believe, on a fishing trip. I was impressed with the fact that he would return phone calls while on vacation. Now before you think I am a personal friend, I'm not, although I do know him on a first name basis. This doesn't sound like the person Tiger Rose is attempting to make him appear. Sorry TigerRose. I'm not buying your story. I have known Ferguson for too many years, there must be more to the story than you are telling us. I can't imagine Steve being so cold and callous as you are attempting to portray him. After all the years in his position, I'm sure he has made his share of enemies, for a multitude of reasons, but I am absolutely sure your story did not happen, as you are claiming. I realize you didn't say it was Ferguson personally, but even if it was one of his assistants, I know Steve would not approve of that response. One of the people working as an assistant, at one time, for Steve (Deters) is now running for his job, could it have been him? I know he was a disgruntled employee. I'm not saying he didn't take the action you wanted, but if he didn't, there must be more to the story than you are telling us. Sometimes we hear what we want to, and I suspect this is one of those times. Upon hearing that the office wasn't going to pursue your case, I think your interpretation was that they were saying it was too much trouble. The states attorney's office turns down a lot of cases for prosecution, but I can assure you they don't turn them down because it would be too much trouble. An unfortunate situation is that all to often decisions have to be made as to the chances for success in prosecuting a case. This reality is because that office has limited time and people and could not possibly prosecute every case that comes up. Unforunatly for you, it sounds like that was the case for you. Perhaps the day will come when I personally want them to prosecute a case and for what ever reason the don't, I hope I am a decent enough person that I will tell the whole story if I complain about it. This story seems like a half truth, if not, and I hate to put it like this, but an outright prevarication on your part. As the election for that office nears, I'm sure we will continue to hear horror stories about how inept the current holder is, but it would be nice if the whole story was told. I find it ironic that so far all we have heard on this issue is how bad Ferguson is, and we have heard very little about his opponents, and I think that says a lot. "

" Excuse me blueyedbikergirl, but where in the world did you get you idea that drug court isn't working? Have you read any of the press releases about the many success stories. Have you read the comments made by law enforcement, probation and the judges? If you are choosing to criticise the current drug court system, you are in fact critizising all of those entities because they are all part of it. I suspect that you have a family member or friend who applied for consideration at drug court and was denied. The decision as to who gets accepted for that program is consensus from all of the departments, and not just anyone get in. And as for your ignorant comment about continued drug use, that would be rather difficult considering one of the conditions is regular drug testing. How would you explain that one, Einstein? You need to do a little homework, before you criticise something you know nothing about. Lastly, your endorsement of someone with the personal morals of an alley cat, doesn't say much for you either. I'm beginning to wonder if you also post under the name of attainedage, as you seem to make about as much sense. "

" Dohbaugh, I don't have family or friends who were rejected for drug court. You might want to log on to judici and look up some people in drug court and see that they DO fail drug tests, after 4 years still can't find a job, DO go back to county jail and they are in court every other week for updates on their progress. Drug Court should NOT go on for years. Also, a person CAN get a job with a reasonable amount of time---I know of one out there that just now, since 2002 finally got a job. Wow, now that's impressive. And, this person has failed multiple times and done 10 days in county jail. I can think of a few more, but I'm not interested in explaining it to you. Look it up! I'm not just blowing smoke. It's all public information. Drug court doesn't work in my opinion and based on what I've read. The success stories are few and far between. After more than one or two failed drug tests, they ought to go to prison, not be wasting time in our judicial system and our county jail. "

" Oh and I am not criticizing our law enforcement. But, I have talked to several of them and they don't seem to think drug court is working when they still have to watch these people. Or let's say they arrest them while they are supposedly succeeding in drug court. I still say after one or two failed drug tests in drug court, you go to prison, end of story. "

" Dogbaugh, "And as for your ignorant comment about continued drug use, that would be rather difficult considering one of the conditions is regular drug testing. How would you explain that one, Einstein? You need to do a little homework, before you criticise something you know nothing about." It's not an ingorant comment, don't even start that because you don't know what you're talking about. LOOK IT UP! PUBLIC RECORDS! I HAVE done my homework and I know they get regular drug testing and many fail and get a 10 day jail stay. If they fail, it ISN'T WORKING and they should NOT be allowed to stay in the program. Gross waste of tax dollars and court time. "

" I have obviously struck a nerve with you, blueyedbikergirl. I suspect there is a personal issue going on with you over this issue. Rather than making a vague mention of some officers you have talked to about this, I have a suggestion for you. Contact Mike Hughes (probation director), Judge Shick (original judge assigned to drug court), Judge Jacobs (current overseeing judge) or Kevin Davis, CEAD Council director of Drug Court, and get their opinions. Any of them will be happy to provide you with factual information which will be based on the truth, and not just arbitrary opinions of uninformed individuals, that you seem to think are somehow qualified to make an assessment as to the success of the Drug Court program. Having direct involvement with drug court, I would think their opinions might have more validity than your vague references and what you have gleaned from Judici. I think you are making a lot of assumptions that can't be backed up with factual data. Put your emotions on hold here, and make those calls. Lastly, if I offended you with my Einstein comment, I would like to apologise. But I really think that if you would take the time to check it out, you will find that Drug courts are working, and the local results mimic the results that are occurring all over the country. In the end, Drug Courts are saving the tax payers a lot of money, and more importantly are helping a lot of drug addicts get their lives back in order. "

" Early Bird: so you claim my "story" did not happen. Explain then why I am blind in one eye for the rest of my life. Did I accidentally do that myself while I was buttering bread at the dinner table? Absolutely not. You don't even know me but automatically assume I am a liar. How about you just go to the Sheriffs office. The detectives can show you the files of truth which you deny. Plus pictures taken after the assault. Plus doctors reports that I will never see again, due to this assault. Must be nice to go through life with rose colored glasses, brushing aside what is really going on, and picking on victims disabled by criminal actions. What I said was not my interpretation, but a direct verbatim quote of what was said right there on the third floor of the courthouse. You have no clue who you are dealing with, what is more, I don't think you care either. You want to live in your own little perfect world, and if anyone disagrees with you they are automatically at fault. Get real. "

" TigerRose, since it was so bad and you are "disabled" for the rest of your life, did you hire your own attorney to fight it? So the state's attorney only takes on so many cases...it's not as though you don't have other options. Did you pursue this and if not, why not? I can actually see Early Birds point...this doesn't make sense and there are two sides to every story. I think that anyone who was permanent damage due to something they had no control over would hire an attorney, but that's just me. "

" Let me say that Early Bird definitely has a point here TR. It's sort of hard to believe that it happened the way you said it did. I'm not doubting that you were hurt and that it really happened the way you said it did, but to claim the message given to you was that they were not going to prosecute because of reason you claim they gave you, doesn't pass the smell test. There is obviously something you're not telling us about. We all have times where we hear what we want to, and I think that is what happened to you. I certainly have been guilty of that at times, and I don't fault you for it either. It's too bad we can't hear Ferguson's side of the story here. He can't and won't respond to every thing that comes up on this site. Can you imagine the can of worms that would open? "

" Let me explain my position to you, TigerRose. I'm saying that i think you are not telling the whole story. If in fact you did suffer permanent damage, I would think you do, as another poster suggested, hire a lawyer and pursue it, but please don't expect us to swallow your story that obviously has a lot of missing parts. Why does everyone want the tax payers to always foot the bill. If you have all the proof you claim you have, it wouldn't be hard to find a lawyer who would take your case, with payment contingent upon victory in the court room. In other words without a retainer. Have you considered that? Or is it possible that you have run to the states attorney so many times, that they thought you were the little boy crying wolf again? Lastly, for the biker person, I took Dohbaugh's advice and contacted a county judge, and for some reason, his assessment of the success of the drug court program vastly differs than yours. I liked his comment about throwing people in prison as the only solution, was not working, and this is best thing that has happened for a long time to deal with addicts. Now let me see, who should I believe, the judge, or some anonymous poster? That, by the way, is a rhetorical question. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way that people would have to prove things that the post on here? That will never happen and people will continue to come on here with tales that are awfully hard to swallow. "

" Okay, we're not doing anything for the horses here. Let's quit arguing about drugs and someone do something about these poor innocent horses!!!! :*( "

" I realize this thread is supposed to deal with the horses, but since another subject was brought up, I'll comment on it. I know personally that TigerRose did suffer the loss of one eye. She did receive medical attention, but the vision was lost in the eye. The loss of her eye was because a juvenile age 16, fired a paintball at her. She was hit in the eye with it. Where it went wrong and why a why charges weren't followed up, as the king in the "King and I" would say "Is a puzzlement." Yes folks, she did suffer permanent damage from this and from her vantage point she did not receive justice for it. This is not an accusation on my part toward the States Attorny's office. I just merely wanted to clear up any questions as to if she had been injured. I assure you she was. I have seen this injured eye, and it isn't pretty. She's stuck with it for the rest of her life. "

" The plot thickens, thanks for the info, Billie. Funny how she neglected to mention it was a minor involved. I'll bet there is a lot more to the story that has been left out. "

" I understand your frustration here, heatherwind, but what possible help can be implemented on a anonymous post site? It sounds like the right thing to do has begun. Hopefully the culprit will prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "

" Dohbaugh, I don't think she was purposely leaving out the fact that it was a juvenile that did this. She didn't write about much of the detail.It would take too long and most aren't interested in "old news" anyway. The mere fact she was disfigured was the point, and disfigured she is, believe me. It wasn't the "boss" in the office, but one of the assistants. This happened several years ago, so nothing can be done now. I remember when this incident happened that resulted in the loss of her eye. We did everything we could to help her. She really feels she wasn't treated fairly. As EB pointed out, sometimes these things happen. We have the best system anywhere in the world, but sometimes some things slip through the cracks as we all know. For every case that didn't get the attention it should, there are 100's that do. She is not "anti-law" at all. She has taken some of Lake land's law enforcement classes, and lacks a few hours to complete it, which she plans to do. There is more to this incident than can be told here. It's so easy to say get a lawyer, when some folks simply can't afford to do so. Please, cut her a little slack here. She has been walking around with a horrible looking eye for a long time now, and that is a fact.I won't comment anymore on this, because it won't help her now anyway. I just wanted to try and stick up for her a little. She's been a good and loyal friend to us for many years. Toby was particularly fond of her. By the way she is a staunch supporter of animal rights, and the problem of these horses is distressing to her as well as it is to many others. "

" You're right, Billie. I have made my point and will not dwell on it any longer. I'm sure your friend is a good person, I just had some issure about the way the situation was portrayed in the original post. "

" Get the money from the owner "

" Thanks Dohbaugh. "Nuff" said. "