For Immediate Release
April 26, 2007

Contact:
Darrell Knuffke, Friends: 612-332-9630
Brad Sagen, NMW: 218-365-6461

MINNEAPOLIS, MN— Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness (NMW) and Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness have each offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who have recently caused over $10,000 damage to public property on the Superior National Forest. This brings the total reward to $3,000.

“We want to add what we can to the $1,000 reward the U.S. Forest Service is already offering for this information,” said Brad Sagen, board chair of the NMW. “Expression of personal views through wanton destruction of public property is illegal, inappropriate and costly to every taxpayer. We have all lost from the actions of a few.”

Hardest hit were information signs and bulletin boards describing recreational opportunities on the Superior and its Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The vandalism included gunshot damage to signs and bulletin boards, complete destruction of others and outright theft of some. Vandalism is nothing new on the Superior, Forest Service officials report, but this year damage hit new levels. Some property was hit more than once—vandalized, repaired or replaced, then vandalized again. Permit boxes near wilderness entry points were a special target, though not the only one, of the damage which seems to have occurred during the winter months.

“I think every citizen and civic group in the Ely area is probably as troubled by this vandalism as we are,” said Carolyn Sampson, board chair of the Friends. “We invite them and all others to join us in helping the Forest Service protect this national treasure by adding to the reward or raising funds for repairs. This precious land belongs to us all.”

Anyone who has information regarding these crimes can report it to law enforcement agencies or call the Forest Service at 218-365-7609.

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness is a non-profit organization founded in 1976. Its mission is to protect, preserve and restore the wilderness character of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico-Superior ecosystem. The organization has nearly 4,000 members and subscribers nationwide.

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness is a non-profit organization founded in 1996. Its mission is to protect and preserve wilderness and wild places; to advocate for the protection of the BWCAW and the enhancement of its wilderness aspect; and, to foster education about the value of wilderness and wild places. The organization has 400 members and supporters.