TO THE EDITOR:

For many years now my husband Brad and I have spent many wonderful days up along the St Croix hiking trails in Rushseba Township for hunting grouse, walking to our favorite fishing spots or just to explore the area. One of the best part of our times in that area have been the getting there; driving County Road 3 to Stevens Creek.

I am a naturalist/writer and have written for years about our adventures in this area, the beauty of all the wildlife and the landscapes, watching the sun rise over the river, spotting eagles fishing from trees, spying on the otters as they slide down the river banks, watching deer drink from the shallows, catching my largest catfish ever, identifying all the plant-life, picking hazelnuts from the roadside, often thanking God our Creator for all this beauty, being comforted in the "knowing there are beautiful places to go for our pleasure."

But last Sunday as we drove on 3 to Stevens Creek to go for our first hike of this spring; for the most part of the drive on 3 it was totally littered with trash. We were heartbroken by what we saw. An old stove, couch, tires, bags and bags of trash; the whole drive there has become someone's dump-site.

I am appalled at the sheer disrespect and sloth of the person or persons who have decided to trash this beautiful area/road. The people who are dumping their trash should be ashamed of themselves. Have you no conscience, no respect for others, do you not know that nature is a gift from God? Why would you think its OK to dump your trash?

I pray this letter is read by those who have dumped their garbage over the banks of County Road 3 and that they are convicted by their abomination to destroy such a beautiful area and that they would change their ways.

Nancy and Brad Nelson
Forest Lake Township