Bowers Museum faces aftermath of federal raid over artifacts
The News Review:
- Bowers Museum faces aftermath of federal raid over artifacts
- Museums – Looted Antiquities – New York Times
- Racetrack eyed for other uses
Bowers Museum faces aftermath of federal raid over artifacts
CRegister – Jan 26, 2008
Those artifacts are central to the federal investigation and though not removed from the museum have become government property since Thursday Bowers spokeswoman Heidi Simonian said. Keller’s letter also said he was not involved in the acquisition of one American Indian object a ladle which is described in the affidavit. Keller’s letter did not mention 72 other American Indian ladles donated and sold illegally to the museum according to the affidavit. Keller’s letter also said he met lson the alleged smuggler once with the late Labb?at lson’s storage facility in April 1991. Keller added that he had no reason to believe that lson’s Thai antiquities had been acquired illegally and he has had no dealings with lson since that visit. In an interview last week Keller said he was assured by Labb?hat the Bai Chiang items had been obtained legally a topic that the two “argued about” according to the affidavit.
Museums – Looted Antiquities – New York Times
New York Times – Jan 26, 2008
Armand Labbé a former curator at the Bowers Museum who died in 2005 had extensive contacts with Mr. lson meeting with him regularly to choose Thai and American Indian artifacts that Mr. Labbé wanted donated to the museum the papers say. Labbé’s secretary told the undercover agent Mr. lson called the museum’s offices every day.
Racetrack eyed for other uses
MLive.com – Jan 26, 2008
But who will pony up enough millions to buy the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack in Fruitport Township is anybody’s guess. At this point it’s not even clear who will be in the running. Among the possibilities: more commercial and retail to match The Lakes Mall and similar properties farther south on Harvey Street; a casino which has been mentioned by an American-Indian tribe; and continued use as a racetrack. A casino or racetrack however would require much more than just buying the 87-acre site on the market for $9 million. Any gambling proposal for the property would require jumping through myriad regulatory and political hoops — a fact that is leading many to think the former racetrack will be redeveloped as commercial or retail. Listing agent Tom DeBoer said he and owner Magna Entertainment Corp. believe the property at 4800 Harvey is best suited for those uses.
Written by admin on January 26th, 2008 with
no comments.
Read more articles on News.