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Danville officials launch "snakes in a pool" probe
Four Danville City Commissioners along with the city manager expressed concern Monday about a recent incident involving The Turtleman, snakes and the pool at the William E. “Bunny” Davis Recreation Complex.

On a recent episode of Animal Planet’s “Call of the Wildman,” Lebanon native Ernie Brown Jr. in his role as The Turtleman, dramatically removed poisonous Cottonmouth snakes from what he identified as the Danville-Boyle County community pool. The Bunny Davis pool is the only facility that fits the filmed footage and the verbal description, Danville Mayor Bernie Hunstad acknowledged during Monday’s City Commission meeting.

Commissioners and city officials have dealt with a few panicked residents, especially those who have children. Commissioners James “J.H.” Atkins and Paul Smiley both recently visited the pool and want members of the public to know there is not any type of snake problem.

Jim Harrison, director at Kentucky’s Reptile Zoo in Slade, recently told WLEX 18 in Lexington that Cottonmouth snakes are only found in western Kentucky. He claims the episode was a fake, a point that commissioners reviewed Monday.

“But (then) you actually have the producers saying it was real,” Hunstad said.

John Drake, director of Danville-Boyle County Parks and Recreation, was not present at Monday’s commission meeting, which drew Atkins’ concern. However, City Manager Ron Scott pointed out that Drake was not specifically asked to attend the meeting. Atkins said due to the recent negative media coverage, Drake should have been present even without a formal invitation.

Atkins said he wishes to ask Drake questions such as, “What actually happened at the pool?”

Hunstad is concerned about whether Drake or other involved employees received money for The Turtleman episode and why they signed confidentiality agreements with Animal Planet without speaking to elected officials. The mayor also said that type of filming potentially places both the city and county governments in a position of liability; the city and county jointly own and insure the entire Bunny Davis complex.

Atkins made a motion that authorizes Scott to conduct an inquiry regarding The Turtleman incident at the pool. The motion also stipulated that Scott would invite county officials to join the fact-finding mission. Boyle Fiscal Court had a meeting scheduled for this morning and the mayor said he would not be surprised if magistrates discussed the snakes in the pool episode.

Hunstad seconded Atkins’ motion. If county officials do not join the fact-finding effort, Scott is still authorized to investigate the situation.

All commissioners present voted to approve the pool inquiry. Commissioner Kevin Caudill was absent.
articles.centralkynews.com/2013-06-11/amnews/39879677_1_turtleman-ernie-brown-jr-danville-city

I new the real turtleman, and I can tell you Mr.Turtleman you are no Al Redman. HA ! You gotta be an old herper,"it was 1970 something" but he made Pritchadrs book and didnt squeel like a fool. Chime in if you ever met this trapper. I know your out there. We gotta have some fun with these fine reportings and jokes of new age unreality show stopers. Snoopcat bearclaw.

Danville officials complete 'snakes in a pool' probe

A recently-aired “Call of the Wildman” episode featuring The Turtleman pulling snakes out of the swimming pool at the William E. “Bunny” Davis Recreation Complex cast Danville in a bad light and exposed local governments to potential legal liability, City Manager Ron Scott reported Monday.

Danville-Boyle County Parks and Recreation Director John Drake should not have signed agreements on his own accord regarding the episode, which Animal Planet officials filmed in September, Scott said. The episode starred Lebanon native Ernie Brown Jr., in his role as The Turtleman, dramatically pulling from the pool what he claimed were poisonous snakes.

Scott, who two weeks ago received the City Commission’s authorization to conduct a formal inquiry into the now infamous “snakes in a pool” incident, noted that neither the city or the county has the right to discipline Drake or any of his employees. Only the Parks and Recreation Board has the authority to hire, discipline or fire employees; that board also is conducting its own investigation, according to Scott.

Mayor Bernie Hunstad suggested commissioners pursue legal action to prevent Animal Planet from continuing to air the episode.

Though commissioners agreed the staged “snakes in the pool” incident was an unauthorized filming that created negative publicity and potential legal liability, no one wanted to pursue legal action.

“(Animal Planet) would use that to get even more people to watch it,” Commissioner Paul Smiley said.

Commissioner Paige Stevens echoed similar thoughts.

“While I’m not proud of it … it’s done,” she said. “Let’s move on.”

Scott noted that Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney was out of town when Drake and others involved in the incident were interviewed, but McKinney supports the fact-finding effort. The city manager also thanked Drake for his cooperation during the process and noted that Drake was in attendance at Monday’s City Commission meeting.

Scott said he believes Drake’s assertion that no one received money for the “snakes in the pool” episode. The city manager attempted to independently query “Call of the Wildman” producers regarding Drake’s statement but said his calls were not returned. Scott said it is “highly unlikely” Drake received any financial compensation for the filming.

Jennifer Kirchner, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she and others working on behalf of economic development work “tirelessly” to promote a positive image of the community and the episode is counterproductive to those efforts.

“As a person who promotes this community, I wouldn’t choose Turtleman,” Kirchner said. “I wouldn’t want him to come anywhere near anything that we do.”

“Promoting people that don’t have teeth — this is not the image that we want to go for.”

However, Kirchner did not render a formal opinion regarding whether commissioners should pursue legal action to stop the unauthorized episode from airing again.

Commissioner Kevin Caudill said he thinks everyone in the community wants to put the “whole snakes in the pool and snakes in the grass behind us.”

Hunstad urged commissioners to go into executive session to discuss possible litigation. City Attorney Stephen Dexter disagreed with the mayor’s request, saying he did not feel a closed session over the “snakes in the pool” incident would be in adherence to state open meetings laws.

After more discussion about moving forward without litigation, Hunstad reminded the group that “we had absolutely no ability to stop (The Turtleman episode)” and that “we should be in control and shape our future.”

The mayor also pointed out the way Brown handled the snakes placed in the Bunny Davis pool was “very unsafe” and could have an impact on “impressionable minds” who think it is an appropriate way to handle poisonous snakes. Officials were never able to determine whether the snakes placed in the pool were dangerous, though The Turtleman claimed they were during the show.

Because commissioners did not support legal action, the mayor ultimately thanked Scott for his report and moved on to the next agenda item.
www.centralkynews.com/amnews/news/amn-danville-ky-officials-complete-snakes-in-a-pool-probe-20130624,0,3042743.story