2008 Woodie Awards
Off-roaders, listen up
Minnow threatens Canadian River recreation
Laura Leedy
Issue date: 4/29/05 Section: Opinion
No more Sand Drags, which have been going on for 32 years.Depressing, isn't it?
What will we do for entertainment on those gorgeous, warm days creeping around the corner? Not having a beer, on the back of a 4x4 tailgate at the river.
The Texas Off-Roaders Association was founded by several hardcore off-roaders who grew up on the Canadian River. They now are fighting diligently to keep the river open for us.
Their motto is "to preserve, protect and promote the rights of Texans to enjoy responsible motorized recreation."
The Off-Roaders scheduled a town hall meeting April 21 at Tripp's HOG Room to discuss the proposal of closure of the river.
Being a member of Amarillo's "Jeep Exclusive" club, I attended the meeting to see what some of the people, who have a strong, influential voice, would say. Speakers scheduled to attend included two of the candidates for mayor, Debra Ballou McCartt and Jerry Hodge, and U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry's district aide, Lewis Britt.
Scott Salter, one of the four directors of TORA, opened the meeting by stating that the main goal of the meeting was "to do everything and anything that we can to do to stop this."
Britt, the first guest speaker, informed us all about the "Take Provision." The "Take Provision" is defined as any means of harm, pursuit, hunting, killing, harassment or catching of any living thing. Any activity that modifies the habitat is considered "harm."
So not only are we "harming" the useless minnows, but we're harassing them, too. Wow - shame on us.
But on a positive note for us off-roaders, Britt did say the U.S. Fish and Game Department does not have the full resources to do what they want to do, which is keep us from having fun at the river.
Debra Ballou McCartt got up and gave her support for TORA and all that we are doing to stop the closure of the river.
"It's real important to a lot of folks to keep this open," McCartt said. "I'm behind you to keep it from closing and will do whatever I can."
It feels good to know that one of the top candidates for mayor used to go down to the river and knows firsthand how much fun it is down there.
Hodge did not show up. Whether he felt this is not an important issue or he just plain forgot, I do not know.
The Texas Off-Roaders Association cannot do this on their own. We fellow off-roaders have to speak up and voice our opinions as well.
Let state representatives and the mayor know they shouldn't close our sandbox due to one minnow.
What will we do for entertainment on those gorgeous, warm days creeping around the corner? Not having a beer, on the back of a 4x4 tailgate at the river.
The Texas Off-Roaders Association was founded by several hardcore off-roaders who grew up on the Canadian River. They now are fighting diligently to keep the river open for us.
Their motto is "to preserve, protect and promote the rights of Texans to enjoy responsible motorized recreation."
The Off-Roaders scheduled a town hall meeting April 21 at Tripp's HOG Room to discuss the proposal of closure of the river.
Being a member of Amarillo's "Jeep Exclusive" club, I attended the meeting to see what some of the people, who have a strong, influential voice, would say. Speakers scheduled to attend included two of the candidates for mayor, Debra Ballou McCartt and Jerry Hodge, and U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry's district aide, Lewis Britt.
Scott Salter, one of the four directors of TORA, opened the meeting by stating that the main goal of the meeting was "to do everything and anything that we can to do to stop this."
Britt, the first guest speaker, informed us all about the "Take Provision." The "Take Provision" is defined as any means of harm, pursuit, hunting, killing, harassment or catching of any living thing. Any activity that modifies the habitat is considered "harm."
So not only are we "harming" the useless minnows, but we're harassing them, too. Wow - shame on us.
But on a positive note for us off-roaders, Britt did say the U.S. Fish and Game Department does not have the full resources to do what they want to do, which is keep us from having fun at the river.
Debra Ballou McCartt got up and gave her support for TORA and all that we are doing to stop the closure of the river.
"It's real important to a lot of folks to keep this open," McCartt said. "I'm behind you to keep it from closing and will do whatever I can."
It feels good to know that one of the top candidates for mayor used to go down to the river and knows firsthand how much fun it is down there.
Hodge did not show up. Whether he felt this is not an important issue or he just plain forgot, I do not know.
The Texas Off-Roaders Association cannot do this on their own. We fellow off-roaders have to speak up and voice our opinions as well.
Let state representatives and the mayor know they shouldn't close our sandbox due to one minnow.