Such irresponsible reporting and irresponsible journalism!!... The Beacon should consider themselves luck that the Pierces' are as gracious as they are...Isn't it interesting that this reporter seems to be working specifically for the individuals pictured as she includes no interview information with the Pierce family or at their home, yet somehow she felt comfortable taking pictures of the same and including those pictures herein. Also, according to the Volusia County Property Appraiser's Zoning and Land Use Maps, the Pierce property is not only twice the size of the neighboring Kopkas' (who by the way, are NOT residents of the City of Lake Helen), but also reflects that the Pierce property continues on around the end of the "dirt private driveway" referred to as Sand Crane Lane and that in fact, that same dirt driveway dies upon the Pierce property (not as pictured on the map included with this article). As a point of fact, the Pierce property then extends another 100' past the end of the dirt driveway known as Sand Crane Lane further west to the Pierce westerly property line. The dirt driveway does not run parallel to their property as reported, the Pierce property envelopes the dirt driveway on the north and west. If a driver were to simply drive through the fence at the end of the dirt driveway known as Sand Crane Lane, that driver would drive directly on to the Pierce property and remain on the Pierce property for at least another 100', thereby negating any reason for any individuals not going to the Pierce home to even enter upon that area. The Pierces' were also leaving the surfaced area of the driveway (surfaced at their[pierce] expense three years ago) for the neighbors to the south (The Thompsons)exclusive use (again reflected in the pictures, but not indicated to the reader). The property that the Pierces' wish to fence is deemed "private property" by the Lake Helen Police Department and Volusia County Planning Department as well as Volusia County Right of Way, which is why it has remained cordoned off under their protection. Those entities as well as an updated title search performed by a Title Company for the Pierces' at the behest of their attorney on July 26th, also confirms that there is NO recorded easement as claimed by the individuals in this article. The area is a grassed area that only the Pierces' have ever mown and maintained as did only the prior owners of the Pierce property. Never have any of the individuals shown in this article ever accessed or maintained this property.

If this reporter had been forthright, she would have at least mentioned to you the reader, that you can clearly see the Pierce survey marker right behind Diego Micheo in one of the photographs included in this article and that further more, (another important fact)although the Thompson fence (the Pierces' neighbor across Sand Crane Lane) actually encroaches over 5' into the so-called easement from their [thompson]side, and while the Pierces' are still leaving them over 20' of access on the dirt driveway, the Thompson gate is only a standard 16' farm gate and is the same gate that they have always used for theor property access since the installation of their fnce and gate after building their home several years ago. Clearly that have never before now, been concerned with access on to their property, nor have they ever appeared to need anything over and above 16' access. However, if they ever did, the Thompson property actually begins over 25' at their northeast corner, prior to the Pierce property on Sand Crane Lane and so affords them additional access on to their property with an additional 15' easement / road along their easterly property line. And finally, none of the three individuals interviewed for this article have any legal or otherwise need to cross over the Pierce property for any reason, at any time. As a matter of fact, at least one of the individuals is NOT even residents of the City of Lake Helen! There is nowhere to go past the end of the dirt driveway known as Sand Crane Lane, except directly on to Pierce property and to the Pierce home and therefore no valid reason why the individuals given audience in this tainted, unconfirmed and improperly researched article should come onto the Pierce property without specific invitation from the Pierces. One has to fairly ask; Why would these individuals be trying so hard to get access to the Pierces' if they do not think of them as nice or neighborly. Their motivations could only be for ill-will. Too bad this reporter is unable to see when she is being used to cause malicious harm to unsuspecting and undeserving residents of Volusia County. How shameful of this reporter to allow personal friendships to taint journalism, further inflame a bad situation, and with dishonest intent, paint law abiding individuals in such a light as to cause them undue harm and hurt. Talk about someone who should hang her head in shame!