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May 15 could be our last chance to save the Scotchman Peaks area from being permanently locked up into federally restricted wilderness. This would preclude future generations from having any say in the management as conditions change. This wilderness movement is being led by and funded by some out-of-state and late arrival misguided environmentalists. They selfishly want to make this their private playground, effectively locking out the rest of us.

Led by the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C., over 9 percent of the total land in Idaho, 4.8 million acres, is already federally designated wilderness. And they want more. Fires in wilderness areas are very difficult to fight and often get out of control with disastrous results. Streams and lakes get severely polluted by the runoff. Countless homes and many lives have been lost.

This land belongs to all of us and we need to protect our rights. To preserve traditional North Idaho values, please join me in voting against this proposal on May 15. Our children and grandchildren will thank us.

DAVE REYNOLDS

Hope