Craig Daily Press / No show angers residents from

Archive for Thursday, November 16, 2000

Talk on National Monument proposal cancelled due to inclement weather

November 16, 2000

Brown's Park residents who drove 115 miles to hear Cathy Carlson, grasslands specialist for the National Wildlife Federation, speak about the proposed Vermilion National Monument at the Bureau of Land Management Northwest Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting Thursday were pretty upset when she no-showed.

Carlson was supposed to address the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest Regional Advisory Committee and members of the public on the proposal, but according to Lynn Barclay, spokesperson for the BLM, She wasn't able to make the meeting due to a delay in getting out of Washington D.C. and poor road conditions from Denver.

The Carlson no-show had residents upset and they took the opportunity to speak their mind about the proposed monument.

"I represent our family outfit and I drove over 100 miles to get here so I guess I'm going to say how I feel," Wright Dickinson, Brown's Park rancher said. "The regulations will eventually force us out. We definately oppose it."

Even though most residents had the opportunity to voice their opinions, they seemed to radiate frustration. Residents felt their feelings weren't important and their concerns weren't being considered.

Brown's Park outfitter, Bruce Johnson, tried to relate the way he felt the Brown's Park people were being treated.

"My biggest concern is that everyone wants to protect the environment and wilderness," Johnson said. "I'm not seeing anybody that is trying to protect us or the way we make a living."

The comments were recorded as public record.