Dumping of junk must be addressed

Recently while researching small lakes that supposedly held big fish, I discovered Bengston Lake. To my surprise, in order to gain access to it I would be required to get a permit from the logging company in control of all of the land around the lake. I was further informed that the cost of the permit was $300 per year, per vehicle.

The reason given by a company representative was that due to increased vandalism and illegal dumping they were forced to lock their gates in order to keep the slobs and vandals out. They set the fee for entry high with the hope that nobody would pay $300 to dump their garbage. Fair enough.

A few days later, still on the hunt to find a good fishing spot, I ventured up the Cedar Ponds Road, southwest of Sultan. About three miles from the end of the pavement I discovered a 1950s ton-and-a-half flatbed truck abandoned in the brush along the side of the road. It had no windows and was completely trashed. It was also piled high with old mattresses, lumber and other junk. It still had a license plate, although the last tabs were from 1996. (I took photos.) A short way from there, I found an old TV, three old barrels and more junk. No wonder we are finding more of our hunting, fishing and recreational areas being closed off or assessable only for a fee.

We need to become more aware of damage being done by these slobs who desecrate our public lands because they are too lazy or too cheap to dispose of their junk in the proper manner.

Incidentally, the owner of the truck should be easy to find. Just trace the license number.

CARROLL E. “MIC” HEFFRON

Mill Creek