Keep public lands safe


Published on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 10:13 PM PDT

I know the State of California and Kern County is short of funds, but perhaps priorities are not in order.

I recently had visitors from Colorado. I was so looking forward to sharing the beauty of the Kern River Valley with my guests.

The first area we visited was the lower Kern River, Hobo Campground. We no sooner arrived before an employee of a private security company advised us that it was an unsafe area . . . drugs, firearms and vandalism to cars and campsite areas. A short time later a U.S. Ranger came by and she warned us of the same problems. “Not Safe.”

I have lived in the Kern River Valley for 36 years and after talking to several people and voicing my concerns, I have learned that all of the beautiful lower Kern River is unsafe because of drugs and the element that seems to have taken over.

Now I ask . . . how is this situation being addressed? Our highways are controlled, there are laws that pertain to what we can do on our private property. Therefore, there must be a way to keep our public lands safe.

Marge Swedelson

Lake Isabella

Copyright © 2012 Kern Valley Sun

Comments

2 comment(s)

    FBI wrote on Aug 26, 2010 8:14 AM:

    " Either USDA or DOI have the power to call in the FBI to clean up. DO IT! "

    David Dills wrote on Aug 18, 2010 11:23 AM:

    " What an enlightening story. Why is a private security company being paid when their own employees admit they aren't doing their jobs? And clearly a local group of citizens must get together and start patrolling the lower Kern, and advising those living down there that "anything goes" will no longer be tolerated. "

READER COMMENT CRITERION

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

  • Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story. 
  • Comments need to be relevant to the story that is being discussed.
  • Posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. 
  • Be aware that, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, you, not the Kern Valley Sun, are responsible for comments posted on this Web site.  
  • We encourage a civil, collegial, and non-insulting tone.  

Comments that are unrelated to the story, repetitious and/or redundant, potentially libelous or damaging innuendo, contain obscene, explicit, or racist language, personal attacks, insults or threats will not be accepted. 
Comments are unedited and approved by an editor before appearing on the Web site. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

(optional)
Current Word Count:
   


Multimedia

Classifieds

  • View All Ads
  •  
  • Place a classified ad online!
  •  
  •  
  • Call:760 379 3667
  •  
  • Fax: (760) 379-4343
  •  
  • Write: P.O. Box 3074, Lake Isabella, CA, 93240

Jobs

View All Jobs

Homes

View All Homes

Autos

View All Autos

Contact us: 760 379 3667
Click for Lake Isabella, California Forecast