Hearing officer Merlyn Clark began by reading the letter from ITD Director Brian Ness laying out the issues for today's mega-loads hearing. He then notified all present that he practiced law in Lewiston from 1964 to 1979, working for a firm that represented the Port of Lewiston. He also is very familiar with the U.S. Highway 12 and the rivers that run along it; "I have probably fished just about every inch of it," he said. His wife's family owned a cabin along the route on Wilson Creek. "We sold that cabin 30 years ago when I moved to Boise. But I am familiar w/the highway," Clark said. "I don't think any of this information prejudices me or biases me from being neutral today. ... I know the river, I know the highway."