Dear friends,

MILLION DOLLAR BRIDGE BOOGIE

On October 15th, your presence is requested at a bridge dance being held on the Rainy Day bridge over the South Fork of the Clearwater River. This 'million dollar bridge boogie' will take place off route14, about 30 miles east of Grangeville, Idaho. Citizens will gather for an all day picnic then dance into the night on an active timber hauling bridge to show public concern for the preservation of this incredibly diverse habitat.

The million dollar bridge was built to access the Wing Creek-Twentymile Area for timber extraction affecting 52,000 acres of Nez Perce National Forest. Currently, on the Otter Wing timber sale, completion of all spur roads leaves the corporate beasts poised to resume logging in an extremely steep and wet area. It boasts headwaters of pristine steelhead and cutthroat habitat streams such as Wing Creek, Little Wing, Otter Creek and forming tributaries of Johns Creek.

The area is home to lynx, fisher, pine martin and piliated woodpeckers, to name a few inhabitants of this rich and wild place. Activists have documented many violations of environmental laws in the sale -mostly PACFISH violations and trampling of the Clean Water Act. We have conducted an ongoing direct action campaign in Otter Wing the last two years, but the machines continue to grind on.

Sometimes one just has to stop and dance in celebration of the mysterious and beautiful places we inhabit. Please come! We will assemble at the far side of the bridge on October 14th, for folks interested in taking a walk in the sale. On the 15th, we will dance to live and house music on the Rainy Day bridge until the stars begin to shine.

We can make this a memorable and colorful event by wearing costumes or bright clothes. We are still looking for interested bands and musicians to play. There are already a few bands (but the more the merrier) and a public address system. If you can help point us in the directions of some more artists to make this party as awe-inspiring as the surroundings, please contact us. Call the Cove Mallard coalition at 208-882-9755 for more information and more detailed directions. Please try to organize carpooling from your area. We will also send flyers to anyone willing to put them up.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PICNIC In an attempt to stimulate dialogue among concerned locals who might not make it to a backcountry action, we are hosting a free enchilada feed at the old Blaine schoolhouse just outside Moscow, Idaho at 6PM on October 3rd. We hope to hear some fresh perspectives on how we as a community can be stronger in our resistance to the destruction of our National Forests. Call the coalition for directions if you care to join us.

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