Former State Senator Fred Thomas Verbally Assaults FS Ranger following illegal OHV Use

By Matthew Koehler, Unfiltered 7-21-08

From the man who brought all Montanans higher utility bills through de-regulation, comes this account of illegal motorized wrecreation and verbal assaults directed at a Forest Service ranger. With political leaders like these, it's no wonder that parts of the Bitterroot Valley are still the Last Best Place for Tearin' It Up. See Also: http://www.leftinthewest.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1718 and http://www.leftinthewest.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1389 .

SNIP: "When the ORV ranger went to investigate the incident the group renting out the cabin, with former Stevensville Senator Fred Thomas as the main perpetrator, drove him off with verbal assaults."

From the Bitterroot Quite Use Coalition

Citations Issued in the Bitterroot
http://www.quietusecoalition.org/stories/citations-issued-bitterroot

Over the July 4th holiday (and some days after), a large group of people rented out the Bitterroot National Forest's East Fork Guard Station and caused an incident with forest officials. During the time they were up there a few motorcycle riders rode cross-country off the nearby Needle Creek trail #434 (the trail is in an official Roadless Area).

Even though local media outlets showed great interest, a story was hard to come by since details about the incident, including what damage the motorcyclistswere actually cited for, remains unclear due to the Forest Service’s refusal to release any information. When asked Supervisor Dave Bull responded,

“There was an incident involving off road motorized vehicles in the area around the East Fork Cabin on Sunday, July 6. A Forest Service law enforcement officer was contacted by TipMont and the Bitterroot National Forest's OHV Ranger was contacted by private citizens in the area. Our OHV Ranger made the initial contact with the group. A subsequent contact with the group was made by two Forest Service law enforcement officers and a Ravalli County deputy sheriff. A federal citation was issued for resource damage. The responsible parties will rehab the disturbed areas. Other aspects of the incident are still under investigation, and I cannot provide you with any further details at this time.”

The Bitterroot Star, a weekly out of Stevensville, was the only paper to actually report on the incident, you can read the full story at the bottom of this page: http://www.bitterrootstar.com/pageone.html#6

The damage was witnessed by a recreational stock user and reported to Tip-Montana, who contacted Bitterroot law enforcement. When the ORV ranger went to investigate the incident the group renting out the cabin, with former Stevensville Senator Fred Thomas as the main perpetrator, drove him off with verbal assaults. The federal official came back with agency law enforcement, a deputy country sheriff and Thomas was allegedly issued a citation for interference, but the group was allowed to remain at the cabin.

It remains unclear what damage was actually cited, the impacts around the rented cabin or those witnessed in the Needle Creek IRA. Additionally, eyewitnesses and the stock user were reluctant to speak with reporters for fear of retribution by local motorized users in an area commonly called “Bonanza Lands.” Residents here are supposedly known for their reclusive and sometimes hostile nature.

Since the Forest Service was not forthcoming with details, and pictures of the damage were unavailable, BQUC representative and Wildlands CPR employee, Adam Rissien, went out on July 12th to investigate the illegal use. Once there several places where single track routes leave the main trail were documented, and also where motorized use widened corners on the main trail. Additionally, there were no trail markers or Wilderness boundary signs, in fact without a GPS device it is difficult to tell which portion of the trail you are on as it moves from the motorized to non-motorized designation. Photos from the area are available at:
http://www.quietusecoalition.org/stories/citations-issued-bitterroot

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