This is for the people who enjoy coming to Shoshone County to play winter sports. A large number of snowmobilers enjoy coming to the Wallace area to ride and play. The area of Burke at the power substation is one of the most popular.

On April 30, I went for a drive up Burke Canyon to check out the snow levels. There is still a large amount of snow up Burke. But worst of all, when I turned around at the Burke substation, the parking lot was a mess from the winter users. There is trash everywhere: glass and plastic bottles, empty oil containers and beer boxes, and broken pieces of snow-cats and sleds. Plastic bags and half-burnt logs are everywhere. I am not just blaming the snow-catters and the sledding people, I am sure the local party animals had a hand in this mess.

Come on, people, let’s protect our area and sports, and keep it clean. Shoshone County road crews don’t have to plow all the way up to the Burke substation for the snowmobilers. This letter has gone out to Shoshone County and out-of-area winter recreationists.

Please help clean up, and please tell others to clean up after themselves.

Jim and Rayma Shields

Wallace

All around the world, young 16-year-olds are beginning the “rite of passage” of learning how to drive. Should we really put the responsibility of driving in the hands of these teenagers?

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “The crash rate per mile driven is twice as high for 16-year-olds as it is for 18- and 19-year-olds.” Driving takes diligence, concentration, skill and maturity. These skills do not come overnight, they take time to develop.

Yes, it may be helpful to have your 16-year-old drive to be able to run errands for you, take siblings to soccer practice, drive themselves to school, and to their friend’s house. But it only takes one second of indecision or inexperience for someone to die from a car crash. A car crash doesn’t only hurt the driver, but it could potentially hurt others around them.

Teenagers should not start driving at the age of 16. They need to have time to mature and to understand how dangerous driving can be. Rethink before letting your 16-year-old drive.

Danielle Huffman

Spokane