After reading Natty Role’s highly misleading letter in a recent Daily Bee regarding the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, I felt the need to respond to the misinformation.

The meeting he mentioned at Clark Fork High School was scheduled only after Clark Fork residents objected to the Forest Service previously ignoring Clark Fork. At that meeting FSPW controlled the mikes and brought in some outside supporters. However, contrary to Mr. Role’s claim, the vast majority of Clark Fork people were, and are, opposed to the wilderness designation, and the corresponding increased federal restrictions on lands that belong to all of us.

Furthermore, Mr. Role’s personal attacks on Dan Rose and Stan Myers were shameful and uncalled for. The FSPW while representing a minority, is well organized, and would help their cause if they would teach their hired guns some civility. Stan Myers, myself, and many others with mailing addresses in Hope, reside in the rural areas between Clark Fork and Hope, and unlike Mr. Role, have been deeply involved in the Clark Fork community for many, many years.

Mr. Role’s troglodytical claim that catastrophic wildfires are beneficial is sick and disgusting. Tell that to the thousands of families who have lost their homes, farms, and businesses in recent years. Even worse, countless lives have been lost. Think it won’t happen here? Think again. Scientists agree that continuing climate change will cause our forests to experience more mortality and disease which will lead to more catastrophic wildfires.

Led by the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C., over 100 million acres in the U.S. is already permanently locked up into federally designated wilderness. Almost 10 million acres of that is in Idaho, in the 15 wilderness areas, which is almost 10 percent of the total land in Idaho. The last thing we need is more of our land burdened by government restrictions. To preserve our traditional North Idaho way of life we need to vote “no” on Scotchman Peaks Wilderness on the May 15 ballot.

Finally, I know some have different opinions, which is OK. But let’s agree to disagree to disagree without resorting to lies, distortions, and insults. There is already too much divisiveness in this country.

DAVE REYNOLDS

Hope