[Vision2020] Going 'Nuts' for River Control

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Letters section of today's (December 31, 2010)
Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Brett Haverstick.

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Going 'nuts' for river control

On the first day of the megaload contested hearings, Idaho Transportation
Department Administrator Alan Frew said the main reason for giving Conoco
Phillips/Emmert International permission to blockade more than 40 turnouts
on U.S. Route 12 24 hours in advance of a megaload coming up the road was
to prevent "nuts" from protesting in and/or blockading the turnouts. To
say that Idaho citizens are "nuts" for having legitimate concerns over the
megaload shipments on Highway 12 is complete idiocy. After attending two
days of testimony, I instead severely question the competency of the
department and certain employees. But ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

What if someone wants to go fishing or access a trailhead to hike? Or what
if someone has car problems or a trucker needs to adjust his load? Where
do they park? Why are Idaho citizens being blocked from their own tax
dollar-paid turnouts? Why is ITD rolling out the red carpet when there is
a local anti-megaload petition with close to 4,000 signatures? To heck
with public safety, convenience and the fact that a megaload just arrived
in Montana via an alternative route through the Midwest. Seems like a
perfect time for north central Idaho folks to go "nuts" and show Frew our
river corridor isn't for sale.

Brett Haverstick
Moscow

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Well stated, Mr. Haverstick.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown