Hough to speak at Sandpoint chamber

SANDPOINT —Want to know more about the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness? Thursday’s Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce meeting is your chance.

Phil Hough, Friends Of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness executive director, will be giving an update on the status of the area’s proposed wilderness designation. Sen. Jim Risch introduced the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016 in December 2016, which would designate 13,900 acres of land as an official wilderness area.

The monthly general membership luncheon will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, with registration starting at 11:45 a.m. The meeting takes place at the Community Room of the Columbia Bank building, 414 Church St.

Hough is a founding board member of the Idaho Trails Association, as well as a past president of the American Long Distance Hikers West Association, a past president of the Kinnikinnick Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society, and the former chair of the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. In May 2007, he was awarded the Idaho Conservation League’s highest award for environmental activism for his work on the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area.

All are welcome to attend the luncheon. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-chamber members; and includes lunch catered by Tango Café.

Please register online at sandpointchamber.com or call 208-263-2161 to reserve a space.