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I wish to thank the 5,672 residents who voted against the proposed Scotchman wilderness.

For over a decade, unchecked misinformation and untruths were used to justify the run-up for this poorly conceived proposal. Many thought this wilderness was preordained, indeed, there was a lot of collusion between the supporters, a sympathetic Forest Service, the previous county commissioners, outside wilderness interests, among others. In less than three months, we put the other side of the story out and the truth prevailed. Residents of this county should be proud of voting down this lock-up of our public land.

A big thanks to the county commissioners who put the advisory vote on the ballot and reacted the day after the defeat, to prepare a resolution to Sen. James Risch against the wilderness. True to his word, Sen. Risch stated a day after, he would honor what the county decided and announced he would not reintroduce the wilderness bill. This may be the only time, ever, that a county voted and rejected a proposed wilderness. It has never happened in Idaho before. Bonner County, you made history. Thank you, again.

STAN MYERS

Hope