Seniors may see cuts in discounts at some Forest Service sites

NATIONAL FORESTS – The U.S. Forest Service has proposed reducing discounts it has offered to seniors and disabled visitors at campgrounds and other facilities that are managed by private vendors, who operate about half of the national forest campgrounds.

Currently, holders of the “Senior” and “Access” passes have enjoyed a 50 percent discount at all Forest Service sites. The proposal would reduce the discount to 10 percent at the concessioner-managed sites.

Seniors 62 and older pay a one-time $10 fee for their lifetime pass. Lifetime passes for the permanently disabled are free. The discounts debuted in the mid-1960s.

Private vendors have complained that the 50 percent discount is too high, especially as the ranks of seniors mushrooms with aging baby boomers.

The Forest Service is accepting comments on the proposal until Monday at tinyurl.com/ discountproposal.

Staff and wire reports

License buyers balk at donation

STATE PARKS –Barely half of Washington’s drivers are paying the optional $5 to support state parks when renewing their vehicle licenses.

Officials blame it on the economy.

Since the program started in September, only 51.5 percent of car owners are volunteering to check off the donation, said Virginia Painter of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

That’s enough to keep the parks open, for now.

The Washington Legislature approved the fee last year and said parks would remain open as long as adequate donations were collected. State parks said it needs to receive about $1.2 million a month over the biennium; the average collected through December was $1.1 million.

Staff and wire reports

Mulies decline in Montana

WILDLIFE – Mule deer numbers have declined in Montana, state biologist say, citing drought and freak spring storms that have taken a toll on fawns.

The deer should rebound, but hunters can expect restrictions on mule deer hunting for two years.

Associated Press