Clark Collins, founder and executive director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC), was our keynote speaker at STC’s annual meeting and election of officers on Oct. 23rd. There was standing room only at Dolly’s Restaurant in Vienna when members heard his message of unity and cooperation between all recreation users. Clark traced the reasons he founded the BRC back in 1987 in Pocatello, Idaho as he and other motorized recreationists were closed out of public riding areas near their home town. BRC now has over 636 member organizations nationwide, who represent over 600,000 people of multiple recreational interests, both motorized and non-motorized. Blue Ribbon has assisted STC with our fight over access and trail issues here in the Shawnee through use of their attorney, Paul Turcke. Turke represents STC in our suit over the validity and size of the natural areas and the ATV access issue in the Shawnee. 

Election chair person, Betty Varnum, conducted the election of the new officers and directors for STC. Those elected are as follows: President - Bill Blackorby, Vice president - Garry Jenkins, Secretary - Sue Perina and Treasurer - Nancy Perisho. Directors include Clyde Schmidt, Roger Bailey, Dorothy Arjes, Bill Barnett, Lucy Walker, Denny Maxon and Joy Roy. They join the current directors who have one more year remaining on their term: Cheryl Blackorby, David Flanders, Janette Dove, Linda Granneman, Elmer Ralph, John Mason, Jim Howard Mary Jean Jones, Michael Grubbe, and Dick Manders. Our THANKS to outgoing president, Clyde Schmidt, for all his years of dedication and hard work for STC. Bill Blackorby was vice president the last 2 years and president 3 times previously. Both Sue Perina and Nancy Perisho have held their offices for several years. All of these key people are responsible for the strength and success of this organization along with our board of directors. STC has an outstanding group of hard working, dedicated and knowledgeable leaders.

The following day Clark Collins, Bill Blackorby, Sue Perina, Clyde Schmidt and myself met with Forest Supervisor, Allen Nicholas at his Harrisburg office to discuss various issues in the Shawnee. Later that afternoon I took Clark, Clyde and Dick Manders on an enjoyable colorful trail ride which began on our (Blackorby) property, looped down along the beautiful Hayes Creek and west of Petticoat Junction. Clark was able to familiarize himself with the attributes and topography of the Shawnee since this was his first trip to southern Illinois. We are honored to have had Clark Collins here in the Shawnee discussing important issues with us. Pictures and an article about the Shawnee written by Clark Collins appears in the December issue of the "Blue Ribbon Magazine". More information about the Blue Ribbon Coalition can be found on their web site www.sharetrails.org. 

SHIMKUS FAMILY TRAIL RIDE


On October 19th, Bill and I were pleased to have U.S. Congressman John Shimkus, his wife, Karen, and their 3 young sons as guests at our Eddyville home for a trail ride. After some instruction on horsemanship, they all climbed aboard for an unforgettable adventure. This was the first time on a horse for Karen Shimkus and the boys who are 4, 8 and 10 years of age. Our thanks to Don and Joy Roy and Joe and Sue Perina who supplied extra horses for the occasion so that everyone could have a horse to ride. The Congressman and his staff had ridden with us last year and had enjoyed the ride so much that he wanted his family to have the same exciting experience. They ALL loved it! Congressman Shimkus is co-sponsor of the "Right to Ride" bill which is making it’s way through the U.S. House as H.R. 2966. This bill will " preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, administered by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest service where there is a historical tradition of such use, and for the other purposes." This bill has been introduced by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) in both the House Committee on Resources and Committee on Agriculture for discussion. Congressman Shimkus’s aide, Bill Olson, has attended several of STC’s meetings over the past year and has been very attentive to the trail troubles concerning the Shawnee. He regularly talks with the Forest Supervisor, Allen Nicholas and is supportive of wise use management policies.

EQUINE CHECKOFF REFERENDUM PASSES


On October 7th, horse owners in Illinois voted to approve the equine checkoff program which will assess a $.05 per 50 lb. Bag ($2 per ton) on commercial horse feed. This is a voluntary program. The Horsemen’s Council of Illinois has the responsibility to appoint members to the initial board which will determine how the funds, which could be as much as $400,000 per year, will be spent. HCI is encouraging horse owners who would like to serve on the board to get an application from the Council’s website www.horsemenscouncil.org or contact their offices at PO Box 1605, Springfield, Ill 62705 or call 217-585-1600. This board will lay the groundwork for bylaws, operating procedures, and how the "research, education and promotion out reach" grants will be awarded.

FOREST SERVICE RELEASES NOTICE OF INTENT TO DESIGNATE HORSE TRAILS

On Dec. 9th, the Shawnee National Forest published it’s Notice Of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the location of additional miles of equestrian-hiker trails proposed for designation within four watersheds on the Forest. These watersheds include Lusk Creek, Upper Bay Creek, Eagle Creek and Big Grand Pierre Creek. It seeks to restrict equestrians to these designated system trails ONLY!! Other user- made existing trails which are not proposed and do NOT become designated WILL BE OBLITERATED AND CLOSED!! These four watersheds affect the riding opportunities at the following horse campgrounds: Bear Branch Campground, Bay Creek Ranch, Circle B Ranch, Hayes Canyon Campground, Little Lusk Trail Lodge, High Knob Ranch, 34 Ranch, Double M Campground and the 9 Day Trail Ride. These areas are the first of the 20 some watersheds throughout the entire forest which will ALL go through a similar process to establish designated horse trails and restrict horses to designated trails only. Local residents who live or ride within these watersheds will likewise be affected so it is extremely important that both campgrounds and individuals respond with comments to the forest service. Maps showing the proposed trails are available at the FS office, 50 Hwy 145 South, Harrisburg, IL 62946 or at any of the ranger stations at Vienna, Elizabethtown, or Murphysboro. Maps are also available for viewing at the following public libraries; Benton, Carbondale, Golconda, Harrisburg, Jonesboro, Marion, Metropolis, Murphysboro, Shawneetown, and West Frankfort, and the library at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale but copies will not be reproduced at these locations. For more information and copies of maps on the web, check the SNF web site; www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee Click on "Trail Designation Project" under Current Management News. Send comments electronically to the: mailroom. All comments and suggestions for trails which are drown on copies of maps must be submitted to the Forest Service by JAN 30, 2004.

SEND WRITTEN COMMENTS AND MAPS WITH YOUR TRAIL PROPOSALS TO: MATT LECHNER, NEPA COORDINATOR, 50 HWY 145 SOUTH, HARRISBURG, IL 62946.

Since not all existing trails are proposed in this analysis, it is extremely important that ALL INTERESTED RIDERS AND CAMPGROUND OWNERS carefully examine the maps of the proposed trails and make sure that trails important to them are included in their written comments and accompanying maps. After reviewing copies of trail maps at the FS office in Harrisburg, it can be concluded that many existing scenic trails are NOT BEING PROPOSED BY THE FS SO WILL BE CLOSED UNLESS THEY ARE PROPOSED BY USERS AND ACCEPTED BY THE FS FOR DESIGNATION!! This is going to be an real battle since the environmental community opposes even the number of trails that the FS is proposing. They will be flooding the FS with negative comments and numerous reasons why horse trails should be obliterated using their "fuzzy science" propaganda. Equestrians must make sure that important trails which affect quality riding opportunities in these watersheds become designated. If you are not from this area, please contact the campground of your choice for guidance and copies of trails that they are proposing in their comments. NUMBERS COUNT!! All local trail riders should take the time and effort to make comments to make sure that their favorite trails are included. Many trails which are located away from the campgrounds but are within the watersheds are not being proposed so it is essential that local riders have their important trails on these maps. If private property borders the forest but does not have a designated trail coming to that property, owners will no longer be able to access the forest on non-designated user trails. When the Natural Areas were put in the 1992 Amended Forest Plan, local riders did not get involved and had the attitude "I’m going to ride anywhere I want- the FS will never close the Natural Areas to horses! We’ve always rode there." Look what happened! These areas are now closed! Riders are not going to be able to ride anywhere they want to in the future unless they want to risk being ticketed. The FS will hire extra law enforcement to patrol these areas according to officials. The FS wants horses restricted to designated trails only. This has happened on other forests across the country. It will happen here. Since the FS can not spend money on and do maintenance to non-designated trails, designated trails are necessary, according to the FS, to prevent further resource damage and further user-created trail development. Once a trail is designated, it can not be closed. That’s why IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FAVORITE USER TRAILS BECOME DESIGNATED NOW!! Don’t sit on the sidelines, then later complain that the trails you like to ride are now closed. GET INVOLVED NOW!!!

Because these maps are so large and comprehensive, STC can not mail a packet of maps to all of our many members. Interested equestrians need to obtain copies of the proposed trails in one or more of the watersheds and solicit help from the campgrounds or trail experts in the area, if necessary, to help them identify and propose trails in favorite riding areas which will hopefully become designated. These FS trail maps show many but NOT ALL of the existing trails which were GPS’ed so riders can more easily determine trails that should be proposed for designation. Contact Tim Pohlman, Recreation Program Manager or Richard Blume-Weaver, Planning Staff Officer at the Harrisburg office at 618-253-7114 for info and copies of maps.

EIS OF EQUESTRIAN TRAILS IN THE FOUR WATERSHEDS -ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES


PROPOSED ACTION- The SNF proposes to: (1) Identify a number of miles of trail to add to the Forest’s designated trail within the watersheds of Lusk Creek, Upper Bay Creek, Big Grande Pierre Creek and Eagle Creek, with the additional miles drawn primarily from existing user-developed trails reconstructed and relocated as necessary to avoid resource impacts (2)construct additional trailheads to provide access to the trail system (3) amend the Forest Plan to restrict equestrian use in these four watersheds to system (designated) trails and roads and (4) amend as required- the trail-density standards in the Forest Plan.

We support the construction of additional trailheads at various locations within these four watersheds.

We do not support trail density standards being used in the Forest especially in the Lusk Creek Wilderness which is 1 mile of trail for each square mile. These density standards should be revised to meet the recreation needs of users who frequent this area and should be revised to 4 miles of trail per square mile.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES - Possible alternatives for evaluation in the environmental impact statement include 1. taking no action, 2. designating trails in the 4 watersheds within the constraints of the Forest Plan’s trail-density standards, and 3. designating all trail-routes identified during a series of public workshops on the trails master-planning process. We support #3 with the following stipulation, " that all user trails proposed during this EIS comment process become designated". The FS certainly wants to adopt a Designated Trail System for Equestrians in the Shawnee as it has been proposed in the New Forest Plan which is being formulated now. Responsible Official: Allen Nicholas, Forest Supervisor.

NATURE OF DECISION TO BE MADE- The responsible official will decide whether or not to designate more trails on the Shawnee National Forest, whether or not to amend the Forest Plan to restrict equestrian use in the four watershed to designated trails and roads, and whether or not to amend the trail-density standards specified in the Forest Plan.

ALL COMMENTS AND MAPS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE FOREST SERVICE BY JAN. 30, 2004. Only those commenting during this process can appeal or take legal action later if not satisfied. PLEASE SPREAD THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, RIDING BUDDIES AND SADDLE CLUB MEMBERS SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS EIS COMMENT PROCESS. 

TWO PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES WILL BE HELD REGARDING THIS PROPOSED ACTION. THE FIRST WILL BE HELD ON TUES. JAN. 20TH AT 4-7PM AT THE KC HALL, 100 COLUMBUS DR. MARION, IL. (next to the church on the west side of Russell St.) THE SECOND WILL BE HELD ON WED. JAN 21ST AT THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS AREA, VIENNA, IL 4-7 PM (across from the Vienna Ranger Station.)

OUTFITTER -GUIDE PERMITS


The Forest Service is continuing the implementation of the outfitter-guide permitting process in the Shawnee. However, as required by the Court to report on the status of the commercial equestrian special-use permitting-review process, FS Supervisor, Allen Nicholas submitted the following written statement to Federal Judge Phil Gilbert on Oct. 23, 2003. " In preparation for an informational meeting with potential outfitter-guides, I have directed my staff to re-survey the equestrian-oriented businesses in the area and to review the applications we have received to date. I feel it is important to advise you, however, that as it becomes clear in the community that we are working to permit the commercial equestrian outfitter-guides, our resources are being strained by anti-equestrian activities on the Forest. This past weekend (Oct. 18, 2003) a person or persons unknown destroyed government property (the highlines at Salt Peter Cave) installed by equestrian amenity, posted notices bearing false information regarding restrictions on equestrian use of the Forest, and within the last three weeks stretched fishing line across a trail used by equestrians. I am particularly concerned about the fishing-line incident, as the height at which the fishing line is attached will strike a rider at the chest, neck or face. While these acts may seem like vandalism, they are intended to cause physical, psychological, and economic harm to individuals and local equestrian establishments. I consider these incidents to be quite serious and must redirect available resources to the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. These reprehensible acts will hinder, but not stop, the Forest staff from our mission of permitting and regulating commercial outfitter-guides. We will continue to work diligently to identify those who require commercial equestrian outfitter-guide permits, prepare environmentally-protective operation plans, issue the necessary permits and oversee compliance of the permits." 

On Oct 18th, a couple with their two young grandchildren riding near Salt Peter Cave were taunted and harassed by four men, identified as local well-known environmental extremists. Although these riders were not threatened with physical harm, they were intimidated and psychologically abused and told to get out of the Shawnee Forest even though they were riding on legal equestrian trails. Forest Service law enforcement officer Becca Swaney happened along during the verbal assault and was also harassed by the four radicals. She escorted the riders back to the campground where they were staying at. Later that afternoon two more riders were subjected to similar harassment. Police reports were filed by the equestrians with the Pope County Sheriff’s office but since the riders were not threatened with physical harm, no arrests could be made. People should not have to endure this abuse! The FS is now taking a more forceful stand against this type of behavior and will not permit individuals to harass trail users in the future. Trouble-makers will be arrested!

The Forest Service met in early December with the campground owners who had applied for the outfitter-guide permits 2 ½ years ago. There seems to be a lot of confusion on who needs or don’t need a permit. The FS, itself, has a difference of opinion regarding FS rules and regulations interpretation. They will interview each campground business individually after they get a legal interpretation from their attorneys. Since guides must ride ONLY on designated trails and roads, it is virtually impossible for a guide to operate on the River to River trail (which is the only designated trail at present) and provide customers with a quality riding experience. The designated trails plan MUST PRECEDE the implementation of the outfitter-guide program.

THANK YOU’S


STC wishes to thank the following members for their recent donations of $100 or more. These generous people include: Cherri Block and Bea Yeager, Lonnie and Peggy Barger, Jerry and Doris Boedeker, J.K. Martin, Judith Hejna and Gene Seyfert Money donated to STC is tax deductible since we are a 501c3 tax exempt organization and is used for legal fees, trail maintenance projects and the cost of printing and mailing quarterly newsletters. STC could not exist without donations made by groups and individuals. Our deepest appreciation to all of you who have supported STC financially over the years. We also thank the Little Lusk Trail Lodge (Lonnie and Peggy Barger) for hosting our Christmas party on Dec. 18th. Approximately 100 people attended this "potluck supper" and most everyone went home with a door prize. We thank those who donated door prizes for this event: McKinney’s Western Store, Bear Branch Campground, Circle B Ranch, Little Lusk Trail Lodge and Hathaway Feeds. I have failed to mention the folks who help us fold and label these newsletters over the years. Bill and I THANK Don and Joy Roy, Joe and Sue Perina, Molly Barnett, Dick Manders, Tony and Rita Giuffre, Darrell and Nancy Perisho, Lucy Walker, Gene and Chris Blair, Jack and Mary Ann Taylor and George and Alice Mann for their continuous support.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING STC MEETINGS


REGULAR MONTHLY STC MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ON THE 3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT DOLLY’S RESTAURANT ON RTE 146 AT EAST EDGE OF VIENNA.

THESE DATES INCLUDE: JAN 15TH, FEB. 19TH, MAR. 18TH AND APR, 15TH. 

ALL MEETINGS BEGIN AT 7 PM. DINNER, IF INTERESTED, IS AT 6PM OFF THE MENU

If your e-mail address has changed, please notify membership secretary, Joy Roy at; ajroy@shawneelink.com so that she can continue to send you information on meetings etc.


Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year!

Cheryl Blackorby

STC director and newsletter editor

blackrby@shawneelink.com Ph. 618-672-4768

It is very important that we have your continued membership and financial support so please send in your renewal today if your newsletter is marked with a renewal notice. A number of delinquent members have been removed from our newsletter mailing list. Please stay informed through our quarterly newsletters about the Shawnee especially during the analysis of the Natural Areas trails, Designated Equestrian Trails Plan and the formulation of the New Forest Plan, which sets the management policy for Shawnee National Forest for the next 15 years. Responses from all users are very important in the direction that the FS takes regarding trails, area closures and management policies.

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR RENEWAL TODAY!! THANKS!! DUES AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!


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