EX-COUNCILMAN: POT-FARM PLAN PROVOKES ASSAULT

Outspoken former Fountain City Councilman Al Lender claims he was hit
in the face Tuesday night by a councilman during a confrontation over
Lender's plan to grow medical marijuana.

Lender, who was voted out of office in 2005 and has sued the city for
slander, accused Harold Thompson of striking him in the face with his
forearm and elbow during a break in the council meeting.

Lender said he will pursue assault charges against Thompson, who
could not immediately be reached for comment.

Fountain Police Sgt. Ralph Maher said Wednesday witnesses are being
interviewed and officers are reviewing audio tapes of the meeting. No
summons has been issued and no arrests made, he said.

The alleged fight came after the council took up a series of
regulations on dispensaries in the city.

Lender and a partner planned to open a dispensary and grow medicinal
marijuana on 14 acres Lender owns on the outskirts of Fountain.

During a break after the council adopted the ordinance limiting where
dispensaries could be established, Lender said he confronted council
members.

Lender said he told Councilwoman Lois Landgraf she was "nothing but
scum, doesn't believe in my constitutional rights and she doesn't
represent me."

He said he then turned to Thompson and said, "You son of a bitch, you
just took my property rights away."

"Well he lunged at me and hit me right in the face in front of
everybody."

Fountain Fire Chief Darin Anstine, who was at the meeting but did not
see the confrontation, said he was asked by police to examine the
left side of Lender's face. He said he found no sign of injuries and
Lender declined to be treated by paramedics.