Sandpoint needs highway bypass

Does Sandpoint need a bypass? I say yes. Is Sand Creek the best way? I really don't know, but it is the only way. To put it in another spot is wrong. The railroad is there, the land is there, and it will only affect one building.

I had a talk with Bill Lewis recently and he was talking about tunnels and maybe through Dover or who knows where. He also asked me if I had ever played in Sand Creek as a kid. I said no. I ice skated, boated and looked at its beauty and I informed him I will still do all that after the bypass and thought it would even be more beautiful. He also said he and Scott Glickenhaus and a few of their buddies have $100,000 saved to sue the state of Idaho if they start down Sand Creek. If they truly love Sandpoint and Sand Creek, just think of all the good they could do with their money.

I hove always thought of myself as a good neighbor and wouldn't throw my trash on my neighbor's property. Sandpoint's traffic problem is our problem or trash, so why would we throw it onto Dover or anyplace else for that matter.

My wife and I disagree on the bypass and can't discuss it at home — I hope she doesn't see this letter. But my point is we all love tourists and we truly love the money they spend in town, but our real customers are our local people who shop with us and help support the schools, churches, kids and all that goes with being a good community. I never have liked the one-way streets and would like to see them gone. Let's get together, be good neighbors, and put Sandpoint back the way it was. Put the bypass down Sand Creek and have local people be able to get down town to shop if they want to.

There are a lot of locals who don't fight the traffic and just think the downtown is for tourists. Well folks, you're wrong. There is still a lot of good shopping downtown and I, for one, want you hack. So please, the next time someone starts telling you how they love Sandpoint and Sand Creek and how they think the bypass should go some place else stand up and ask them where they live and how they would like a freeway in their backyard.

Beautify Sand Creek, save Dover and surrounding area, build the Sand Creek bypass and get on with our wonderful lives in this beautiful area.

ERNIE BELWOOD

Sandpoint