At last, bipartisan legislation to save the Boulder-White Clouds is poised to be passed in Congress. For over 26 years Idahoans have worked to protect this precious area.
The legislation has been modified and improved over time, and now all four of our congressional and Senate members are supporting this important bill.
Future generations of Idahoans will owe a debt of gratitude to all our representatives. Thank you.
With broad support, Congress should expand wilderness protections along Oregon’s Rogue River
The Rogue River is what most Americans probably imagine when they think of wilderness. It is beautiful, unspoiled, remote -- a wild place in every sense.
Wilderness bills have long divided Idahoans - and the people Idahoans elect to represent them on Capitol Hill.
But not this year. All four members of the delegation have signed on to Idaho's next good wilderness bill, the product of years of patient work by GOP Rep. Mike Simpson. They have agreed to cross party lines. They are moving forward, in an election year.
They have set aside smaller political concerns of the moment to focus on something bigger: Central Idaho's majestic Boulder-White Clouds roadless area, and a consensus-based plan for managing the region.
As our Memorial Day weekends shape up let us take a moment to gander at our Wyoming countryside which is alive with pronghorns, thunderstorms, raptors, sagebrush, meadowlarks, puffy clouds, cottonwoods, badgers, and other delightful gifts provided by Mother Nature. Additionally, let us honor our service men and women and utilize our voices to speak to our elected officials and maintain our high quality Wyoming landscape.
The article "Groups join to lobby wilderness" on 5/18/10, shows a great example of groups with likeminded visions joining together to create a stronger voice in support of that vision.
Collaborations and partnerships have worked well for a project that is close to my heart, Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways and it is validating for me to see other well known groups using a joint effort to achieve their goals.
I moved to Pocatello 4 years ago to attend Idaho State University. One of the reasons that I picked ISU was because the Idaho backcountry is so amazing. I'm glad to know that Idaho's entire Congressional Delegation is supporting new legislation to preserve the Boulder and White Clouds Mountains as Wilderness.
Conservation groups advocating thousands of acres of new wilderness isn't surprising news. What is surprising - and encouraging - is that the groups have hammered out a compromise with a timber industry coalition that had opposed the effort.
Coloradans have a unique opportunity in the coming weeks to protect Summit County's important back country from development at public meetings coming up in Breckenridge, Edwards and Boulder. In Breckenridge, Congressman Jared Polis is holding a public meeting about the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal on June 4, and your attendance can help make sure these public lands get the attention and protection they deserve.
Please join me and other supporters in Breckenridge at the Colorado Mountain College Community Auditorium at 11:45 a.m. (meeting starts at noon).
It has been a number of years now since I last walked the trails in my beloved Boulder-White Clouds. But I cherish indelible memories of growing up in the shadow of those fabulous mountains and of favorite jaunts with my husband, Frank, and our children across flower-studded meadows to camp in this high, wild Idaho paradise.
It is because my family had the opportunity to enjoy this special, unspoiled corner of our state that I feel so strongly that future generations of Idahoans should have that same opportunity.
I would like to thank Mike Simpson, Mike Crapo, Walt Minnick and Jim Risch for their combined support of the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Area. Their joint sponsorship of the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act proves that it is possible for people to come together on an issue of interest and importance to all Idahoans.
Once again, thank you to our entire Idaho Delegation.
Letter: Modified, improved bill
June 3rd, 2010At last, bipartisan legislation to save the Boulder-White Clouds is poised to be passed in Congress. For over 26 years Idahoans have worked to protect this precious area.
The legislation has been modified and improved over time, and now all four of our congressional and Senate members are supporting this important bill.
Future generations of Idahoans will owe a debt of gratitude to all our representatives. Thank you.
Elisabeth Ratcliff
Garden City
Editorial: Wild about the Rogue
June 1st, 2010With broad support, Congress should expand wilderness protections along Oregon’s Rogue River
The Rogue River is what most Americans probably imagine when they think of wilderness. It is beautiful, unspoiled, remote -- a wild place in every sense.
Editorial: Boulder-White Clouds is a careful compromise a decade in the making and it deserves action
June 1st, 2010Wilderness bills have long divided Idahoans - and the people Idahoans elect to represent them on Capitol Hill.
But not this year. All four members of the delegation have signed on to Idaho's next good wilderness bill, the product of years of patient work by GOP Rep. Mike Simpson. They have agreed to cross party lines. They are moving forward, in an election year.
They have set aside smaller political concerns of the moment to focus on something bigger: Central Idaho's majestic Boulder-White Clouds roadless area, and a consensus-based plan for managing the region.
Letter: Rock Creek needs our help
June 1st, 2010As our Memorial Day weekends shape up let us take a moment to gander at our Wyoming countryside which is alive with pronghorns, thunderstorms, raptors, sagebrush, meadowlarks, puffy clouds, cottonwoods, badgers, and other delightful gifts provided by Mother Nature. Additionally, let us honor our service men and women and utilize our voices to speak to our elected officials and maintain our high quality Wyoming landscape.
Letter: Wilderness
June 1st, 2010The article "Groups join to lobby wilderness" on 5/18/10, shows a great example of groups with likeminded visions joining together to create a stronger voice in support of that vision.
Collaborations and partnerships have worked well for a project that is close to my heart, Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways and it is validating for me to see other well known groups using a joint effort to achieve their goals.
Letter: Idaho Backcountry
June 4th, 2010I moved to Pocatello 4 years ago to attend Idaho State University. One of the reasons that I picked ISU was because the Idaho backcountry is so amazing. I'm glad to know that Idaho's entire Congressional Delegation is supporting new legislation to preserve the Boulder and White Clouds Mountains as Wilderness.
Editorial: Don't stop now
May 27th, 2010Conservation groups advocating thousands of acres of new wilderness isn't surprising news. What is surprising - and encouraging - is that the groups have hammered out a compromise with a timber industry coalition that had opposed the effort.
Letter: Support Wilderness protection in Summit County
May 27th, 2010Coloradans have a unique opportunity in the coming weeks to protect Summit County's important back country from development at public meetings coming up in Breckenridge, Edwards and Boulder. In Breckenridge, Congressman Jared Polis is holding a public meeting about the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal on June 4, and your attendance can help make sure these public lands get the attention and protection they deserve.
Please join me and other supporters in Breckenridge at the Colorado Mountain College Community Auditorium at 11:45 a.m. (meeting starts at noon).
Opinion: CIEDRA shows hope for bipartisanship
May 26th, 2010It has been a number of years now since I last walked the trails in my beloved Boulder-White Clouds. But I cherish indelible memories of growing up in the shadow of those fabulous mountains and of favorite jaunts with my husband, Frank, and our children across flower-studded meadows to camp in this high, wild Idaho paradise.
It is because my family had the opportunity to enjoy this special, unspoiled corner of our state that I feel so strongly that future generations of Idahoans should have that same opportunity.
Letter: Thanks to delegation
May 26th, 2010I would like to thank Mike Simpson, Mike Crapo, Walt Minnick and Jim Risch for their combined support of the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Area. Their joint sponsorship of the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act proves that it is possible for people to come together on an issue of interest and importance to all Idahoans.
Once again, thank you to our entire Idaho Delegation.
Steve Priebe
Idaho Falls