Letters to the editor: Salmon, Highway 55, school elections and civilized debate
Salmon
Gov. Brad Little’s salmon work group is meeting to discuss restoring salmon populations in Idaho. I am writing to urge U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher to join U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and Little in committing to taking a results-oriented approach to saving our salmon. The only action that will yield results and not continue to waste taxpayer dollars on halfhearted conservation measures is removal of the four federal dams on the lower Snake. The science is simple: Water behind these dams is too warm for the salmon, and the species faces extinction.
In school, I learned about the tremendous migration of the salmon, who through an instinctual force known only to them are able to return to their natal spawning grounds. To a child, the concept of home as a place of safety resonates strongly. As we watched these red and white fish swimming upstream to reach home, we suddenly felt so related to a species that had seemed so different from us.
Idaho is our home. Rivers provide for Idaho, sustaining everything from rural economies, to the natural ecosystems we take pride in. Salmon are key to a healthy Snake.
Breach the dams now to save salmon from extinction.
Julie Sheen, Pocatello
Highway 55
The main north/south highway in Idaho is dangerous, crowded, and an embarrassment to the state. I traveled several times between Boise and McCall over the weekend of Aug. 21-24. On that Sunday there were apparently two mishaps. We passed mile after mile of cars stopped on the highway south of Banks running 10 miles or more north of Banks. On Monday, coming back, traffic backed up north of Banks again for 10 miles or more. Some people sat for 3 1/2 hours or more while police cleared a fatal accident. Just a wild guess, but I bet there were 10,000 people stopped in traffic for several hours over those two days. Apparently this is not uncommon. Sundays are wall to wall cars, boats and huge campers; the highway is smeared with skid marks. People try to pass in the worst places.
I would be happy to pay 10 cents or more per gallon in gas taxes to fund a decent highway. The Legislature needs to stop pretending this will go away. It won’t, until someone they know gets killed on that road, or some oil tanker goes in the river. Why spend $10 million now on a partial fix?
Robert Elgee, Hailey
School elections
Re: Jim Hardy’s message about the recent school elections. May I suggest that people vote no matter how “insignificant” they may think the issue is. We have been given a right to voice our opinions by voting. Don’t complain if you don’t participate. And remember to vote in November.
Marilyn Stave, Meridian
This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 1:09 PM.