In brief: Walla Walla man prosecuted for landing plane in Wilderness area
A tip from elk hunters has led to prosecution of a Walla Walla man for landing his private aircraft in the Wenha-Tucannon Wilderness, where motor vehicle use is prohibited.
Brent Dawson recently plead guilty to illegally landing his airplane on Smooth Ridge during the fall of 2013 and again in 2014.
Smooth Ridge is in the wilderness area of the Blue Mountains, says Michael C. Ormsby, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, in the fall of 2014 a group of hunters deep in the wilderness observed an airplane flying low and landing in a meadow on Smooth Ridge. The hunters were upset, says the summary forwarded by Joseph Harrington, first assistant U.S. Attorney.
Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Austin Hess reported this was the second year an individual had accessed the wilderness using the same airplane, with the plane’s tail numbers being removed in 2014.
The hunters reported that they had spent time and energy accessing this remote, secluded area of the wilderness to hunt, only then to discover that Dawson simply flew his plane into the area.
One of the hunters reported the incidences and ultimately received a cash reward for his cooperation in the investigation, Harrington said.
Photos and detailed description of events provided by the hunters led to the identification of Dawson as being the owner of the plane.
The crime of operating a motor vehicle in the wilderness is a Class B misdemeanor that has a maximum fine of $5000 and 6 months in jail.
However, Dawson was fined only $200, Harrington said.
Charity ride boosts youth outdoors
Motorcyclists are organizing a charity ride on Saturday out of Spokane Valley to support Youth Outdoors Unlimited, a Washington-based non-profit that provides guided hunting or fishing adventures to youth with a life-threatening illness or physical disability.
The poker run, leaving Lone Wolf Harley Davidson at 11 a.m., costs $30 a bike and includes lunch and a gift.
Applications are still available for 2015 youth hunting and fishing adventure placements. Several Spokane-area youths have already been accepted.
Info: (509) 431-1604, youthoutdoorsu.org.
Fire danger spikes; burn ban declared
With last year’s Carlton Complex fires still heavy in the memories of locals as well as visitors and anglers, fire officials say they’re concerned that big wildfires already are popping up this summer in North Central Washington.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources declared a burn ban that started Wednesday on DNR-protected lands east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area on Wednesday banned all fires outside of designated campfire grates in developed campgrounds.
All outdoor burning already had been banned in both Chelan and Douglas counties.
DNR’s Eastern Washington burn ban applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection.
Over the weekend, North Central Washington firefighters battled a 1,060-acre fire in Douglas County near Wells Dam, a 600-acre fire east of Soap Lake, and a 6,700-acre fire near Coulee City, the Wenatchee World reports.
All of the fires were contained by midday Monday, and causes were still being investigated.
“This is early for the big fires,” said Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard. “We’re fighting fires now that we would normally see in August.”
Montana free fishing
Free fishing days are water under the bridge in Washington and Idaho, but Montana saves the occasion for the big event of the year for dads.
Everyone can fish without a state license on Saturday and Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day weekend in Montana.