An Epic Battle Over A Rock
It Started As A Rediscovery, But Now Two States Duke It Out Over The Fate Of A Boulder
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The War Over Indian Head Rock
An Ohio man could face jail time for taking the "Indian Head Rock" out of the Ohio River, which actually belongs to Kentucky. It's a rock fight that's got everyone's attention. Steve Hartman reports.
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Ohio River Boulder War
"Only On The Web": Steve Hartman speaks with upholsterer Steve Shaffer, whose discovery of a legendary boulder has led to a legal battle on both sides of the Ohio River.
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Two states have laid claim to Indian Head Rock. (CBS)
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"I think I just wanted to reach out through the mist of time and touch it, to be real honest with you, and to see if it was still there," he said.
He's talking about Indian Head Rock, an eight-ton boulder that used to sit in the middle of the Ohio River near the town of Portsmouth, Ohio.
As boulders go, it was a fairly popular one. Back in the 1800s, people used to come out to see the face, carved there by Indians, some people said. A few visitors did a little carving of their own - until about 100 years ago, when the river got dammed and the rock got flooded.
Shaffer said when he first heard that story as a boy, it planted a seed in his mind, "that someday it might be found."
For three summers, Shaffer and some dive buddies scoured the rocks on the river's bottom - to no avail.
Until out of the murk …. "I swam around the rock and there it was."
The face. "Then you start to see initials," Schaffer said.
No doubt, Schaffer had found Indian Head Rock.
"It was in beautiful shape," he said.
And that's where this story could have easily - some say should have definitely - ended. But Shaffer was so excited about finally finding this rock, he wanted to share that joy with others. So he did what a lot of people would do when they find a particularly interesting rock: He picked it up.
"At that point did it ever cross your mind there could be jail time in this?" Hartman asked.
"Absolutely not," Schaffer said. "Absolutely not."
Unfortunately for him, "Ohio" is just the name of the river. At least along one side it actually belongs to Kentucky.
Kentucky state Rep. Reginald Meeks said: "Yeah, I'm mad!"
"First of all, I couldn't believe that individuals from one state could brazenly come across the border and basically invade another sovereign state," he said.
He even wrote a resolution, which passed unanimously.
"We would ask that they return the property," the resolution said.
Ohio immediately fired back.
"If they're going to introduce a resolution then I want to introduce a resolution!" said Ohio state Rep. Todd Book, who represents the people of Portsmouth.
"We have the right to this rock. If they knew where it was, why didn't they go get it?" he said. "I mean, didn't they in essence abandon this rock?"
For now, Indian rock sits in the Portsmouth Municipal Garage, enjoying the spotlight once again, waiting for the courts to sort it all out.
If Kentucky wins, not only could Shaffer be sent upriver for felony theft, the rock could be sent downriver - back to where it was before all this started: back to forgotten.
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First of all,, I can''t believe that we have leaders in this country that would make a statement such as the one above.
If they applied that same statement to the illegals thats pouring over our border in the south,, I could understand that statement,, but they don''t. They''d much rather fight over a silly rock, than actually do something meaningful for this country.
Again we have a "Nero" type situation while "Rome" burns..
What a fu(king disgrace!!
"First of all, I couldn''t believe that individuals from one state could brazenly come across the border and basically invade another sovereign state," he said.
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Seriously, we are all frakkin Americans, you sir, need to grow up, Kentucky isn''t its own seperate country. You really want the rock then you should have gone diving for it. Otherwise don''t you dare act like one state is better than another and should be treated as if it was its own country. By the way this is from a North Carolinian, not someone from Ohio. Rep, worry about more important issues, such as war, depression and economy, and getting the greenhouse algea oil thing into the works so we won''t need oil. For those that don''t know, there has been a scientific research project going on with an algea that produces oil, convert 1/10th of New Mexico into this algea farm thing and we could yearly grow enough to fuel all of America.
Umm I was referring to Mexico, not Kentucky. Go back and reread my post. Then you might understand better to what I was saying. OK?
If the rock was really such a big deal why didn''t they work out a reasonable compromise like placing it it on the border between the states as a shared historical landmark? Oh I forgot foolish pride and arrogance prevails over common sense solutions.
How about a biblical solution. Cut it in half and give half to each state or blow it up so that it isn''t an issue anymore.
Posted by gheemaster38 at 11:24 AM : Mar 29, 2008
Excuse me, mr. doofus, but it''s "posession", not "position". Position doesn''t even make any sense.
From here on Ohio State should play the University of Kentucky in football and the winner gets to take the rock back to their home state for a year! Perhaps this would motivate the Buckeyes to finally beat an SEC team!
LSU #1
From here on Ohio State should play the University of Kentucky in football and the winner gets to take the rock back to their home state for a year! Perhaps this would motivate the Buckeyes to finally beat an SEC team!
LSU #1
From here on Ohio State should play the University of Kentucky in football and the winner gets to take the rock back to their home state for a year! Perhaps this would motivate the Buckeyes to finally beat an SEC team!
LSU #1
From here on Ohio State should play the University of Kentucky in football and the winner gets to take the rock back to their home state for a year! Perhaps this would motivate the Buckeyes to finally beat an SEC team!
LSU #1
I am guessing not!
Is the finder of the rock actually facing jail time?
What a crock!
This country as a whole puts too much merit on little stuff. We have homeless, and hungry in our own backyards and this is what our state officials are willing to use up tax dollars on! What a shame.
Hey, I know lets get the federal government invovlved too. Really couldn''t we say that this ROCK is a part of American history? It should tour the United States. Wait did I say united, my bad it really doesn''t seem that way does it. Especially when states are going to feud over gravel!
What an INCREDIBLE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY you''ve put into a rock! Your legislation is one symptom why our system of government is becoming more and more inept! It''s a symptom of WASTING MONEY* on ludicrous issues while avoiding the serious concerns of unemployment, health care, crime and so on. A ROCK, sir...it''s just a ROCK! Yes, I''m angry...it''s STUPID the amount of time, money and energy you and your colleagues, on the behalf of the STATE OF KENTUCKY have devoted to an inanimate object that''s nothing more than 19th century graffiti!
If I weren''t so incensed at the waste of it all, I''d be laughing at the imbecilic leadership of the people of Kentucky!
A Concerned AMERICAN!
P.S.
*Oh, I''m sure you haven''t spent any ''hard cold cash'' on this, but what about your time...aren''t you PAID for YOUR TIME to create legislation? Aren''t your colleagues PAID to listen, discuss and vote on your legislation? Aren''t employees PAID to write up this legislation? And who''s going to pay the Grand Jury? Aren''t they going to lose a days PAY because they aren''t listening to more important cases such as murders, felonies and so on? Are the people of Kentucky aware of the amount of money you are wasting?
If Kentucky had moved the rock when the river was damed and the water rose to cover the rock, then perhaps they could make a claim of ownership.
But they left it there hidden.
Umm I was referring to Mexico, not Kentucky. Go back and reread my post. Then you might understand better to what I was saying. OK?
Posted by slim1h2o at 05:02 PM : Mar 29, 2008
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slim1h20,
my post was like a letter t the kentucky rep in the story, I wasn''t talking to any other posters. Sorry that you thought my message was directed towards you.
And no, you can''t have them back.
Finders keepers.
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by jessallgood
March 11, 2009 9:14 AM PDT
- The issue that seems to be getting lost in this story is that the man trespassed on federal property, as navigable waters are under the jurisdiction of the US Army corps of Engineers, and did irreparable damage to a known and protected archaeological site by removing it's main contributing element. What he did was in violation of state and federal law. Period. He is no champion for history. The site was under the care and protection of professionals with the state, who preserve sites such as this for posterity. When he removed the boulder, he did not do so with the care and cautious recording of data that professional archaeologists do. No care has been made for the long-term preservation of this artifact. Sandstone needs to be preserved or it will deteriorate. While submerged, it was protected. Unless professionals correctly stabilize it, it will deteriorate and be gone. What he did was wrong, and Kentucky has every right to regain possession of it's antiquity, and do whatever the state archaeologists deem necessary to preserve it.
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