A Sad Result…

Dear Editor, 

For me, the sad result of folks voting against the preservation of the unique Scotchmans Peak area makes me wonder if the proud legacy of Idahoans as conservationists has ended. Whereas people were once willing to sit down and discuss issues regarding keeping these treasures landscapes as they are, they are now standing and shouting down opinions with which they disagree.

With a mere 13 percent of our public lands having been designated wilderness — where one can get away from the noisy fast-paced world to relax, reflect, observe, listen and be restored. To be reminded that we are part of this beautiful creation brings a sense of stewardship to care and protect our water, air and ecosystems that give us and the rest of creation a quality of life. The other 87 percent of our public lands allow recreational vehicles, mining, logging and grazing. 

Have those who voted against wilderness experienced the quiet peace of that special place? I don’t believe one could vote no had they entered one of these nature cathedrals. I encourage you to do it. It just might open minds and hearts if you let it. Thanks to those who will continue to work for wilderness.

River Burdick
Sandpoint

While we have you ...

... if you appreciate that access to the news, opinion, humor, entertainment and cultural reporting in the Sandpoint Reader is freely available in our print newspaper as well as here on our website, we have a favor to ask. The Reader is locally owned and free of the large corporate, big-money influence that affects so much of the media today. We're supported entirely by our valued advertisers and readers. We're committed to continued free access to our paper and our website here with NO PAYWALL - period. But of course, it does cost money to produce the Reader. If you're a reader who appreciates the value of an independent, local news source, we hope you'll consider a voluntary contribution. You can help support the Reader for as little as $1.

You can contribute at either Paypal or Patreon.

Contribute at Patreon Contribute at Paypal

You may also like...

Close [x]

Want to support independent local journalism?

The Sandpoint Reader is our town's local, independent weekly newspaper. "Independent" means that the Reader is locally owned, in a partnership between Publisher Ben Olson and Keokee Co. Publishing, the media company owned by Chris Bessler that also publishes Sandpoint Magazine and Sandpoint Online. Sandpoint Reader LLC is a completely independent business unit; no big newspaper group or corporate conglomerate or billionaire owner dictates our editorial policy. And we want the news, opinion and lifestyle stories we report to be freely available to all interested readers - so unlike many other newspapers and media websites, we have NO PAYWALL on our website. The Reader relies wholly on the support of our valued advertisers, as well as readers who voluntarily contribute. Want to ensure that local, independent journalism survives in our town? You can help support the Reader for as little as $1.