from The Lebanon Democrat::Jan. 7, 2009
Bible Park Foe Hands Out Brow-Raising Material to City Council
By: By J.R. LIND

Lebanon Democrat January 7, 2009 – A frequent critic of the Bible Park distributed some eyebrow-raising material to the Lebanon City Council Tuesday.

During the citizens' comments portion of the meeting, Derek Dodson told the council that Myrtle Beach, S.C.'s Hard Rock Park filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy recently.

Among the major investors in that park was SafeHarbor Holdings, headed by Armon Bar-Tur, the driving force behind Bible Park USA's first attempt to build in the Blackman community in Rutherford County.

But it was the previous occupation of Bar-Tur's father, Amnon, that prompted Dodson's unusual handout.

"The father is reported to have raised $330 million of the $400 million for Hard Rock Park and Hard Rock Park is in total liquidation. ... One last point, I want to show you who you are getting in bed with," Dodson said.

Dodson then made his way down the council with the paperwork.

"I wasn't prepared for that," said Mayor Philip Craighead upon seeing the handout.
Dodson had distributed photocopies of pornographic photographs the elder Bar-Tur took for Penthouse magazine in the 1970s.

The elder Bar-Tur's previous occupation is no secret, having first come to light as the Bible Park attempted to locate in Rutherford County. At the time, his son said his father's work as a photographer more than 30 years ago had nothing to do with the project.

Just before announcing Lebanon as the site for the park, EDG Inc., headed by Rob Wyatt, took over as the driving force for the park. The company was issued a California business license in January 2008.

In other business, the council unanimously approved new distance requirements for beer permits, setting a standard 100-foot buffer between churches, schools, licensed day cares and one- or two-family homes and businesses with on-site permits – such as restaurants – and off-site permits – such as convenience stores. Previously, there was no buffer requirement for off-site permits, while on-site permits required 450 feet of space.

"There was at least one restaurant and one hotel that had trouble siting because of our requirements," Councilor William Farmer said.