'It Sounds Like Cannons'

Since moving into Four Seasons at Forest Meadows nine years ago, residents of the 200-home, 55-and-older development had grown accustomed to the gunfire from a nearby shooting range.

They didn't necessarily like it, but they tolerated it.

Not anymore.

Not since something changed at the Iron Horse Rifle and Pistol Club's range, which is in a wooded patch located on farmland just off Garwood Road, in the township's Erial section, resulting in the noise becoming significantly louder about 18 months ago.

"It's not guns. It sounds like cannons," Linda Damiano says.

Damiano was joined by several Shelly Street neighbors in bringing up the noise issue at the Township Council meeting Monday night.

"It's just mind-boggling how loud this is," Ted Passon told Council.

On Thursday, Patch visited Shelly Street, but due to a mid-afternoon thunderstorm, and the lingering threat of more rain, no one was shooting at the range.

While most people who were home Thursday afternoon probably cursed the thunder, the three Shelly Street residents with whom Patch met viewed the storm as a reprieve.

Jim Mair theorized that a forced change of direction for the shooting-range targets—a change made, he said, after a home on Monticello Drive, in a nearby housing development, was struck with a bullet four or five years ago—may be one reason the gunfire sounds so much louder now than it did when he moved into his Shelly Street home.

But that's not the only reason, according to Mair, who also attended Monday's Council meeting.

"Recently they started shooting ... oh, hell, I don't know—I guess shotguns," Mair said.

Iron Horse has called the Garwood Road property home since 1959—long before Forest Meadows was built.

The large farm property is owned by Watson Waddell.

Waddell respectfully declined to comment for this article when reached at his home Friday afternoon.

"The mayor is setting up a meeting with the residents of that development," he said. "I'm not discussing it outside of that."

Mayor David Mayer has tentatively arranged for the Forest Meadows resident group to meet with Waddell and Iron Horse officers in mid-May.

Councilman Dan Hutchison told the Shelly Street residents he was "listening" to and understands their concerns over the noise.

"I'm a little concerned, though, with property rights," he said.

Police Chief W. Harry Earle noted during Monday's meeting that police have inspected the shooting range and found it meets safety standards.

While the Shelly Street residents don't believe the gun club will take its target practice elsewhere, they're hoping a compromise will come out of the meeting.

"Anything would be an improvement," Mair said. "But—I've got to tell you—this has been going on for years, and nothing has been done. Nothing is going to get done."

"I think, to be honest, there has to be some way to control the noise," Jim Kibelstis said. "We're not objecting to the firing. It's the high-power sounds. And that it's on Sundays."

A description of Iron Horse Rifle and Pistol Club's Yahoo! group page notes that Waddell's mother, Roxanne, allowed the group to begin using her land for target practice in 1959 "with the stipulations that we observe the Sabbath and respect God's creations."

The Shelly Street residents claim the range is being used on Sundays, just like any other day, from morning to dusk.

"I don't ever want to sit out back," Damiano said. "I won't have another family reunion here. I'm embarrassed by all that racket."

Damiano, who has met Waddell, noted the issue is not personal.

"I like him. I like that man," she said. "I just can't stand what goes on."