THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701030243
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 71 lines
In response to the Dec. 15 guest column by Linda and Michael Campbell:
We are not ``Wild men with dogs'' but concerned hunters and nearby residents.
Hunting with dogs in the area of the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge goes back to before white people lived here. Jerry Bass, a Nansemond Indian, carries on that tradition with the Bass Hunt Club, in existence since 1876.
The reason the Campbells found dogs miles from where they were used is that dogs do not know property boundaries. While it is legal for them to enter the refuge, it is not legal for them to be released into the refuge. The dogs looked malnourished because, during hunting season, they run for miles every day; the rest of the year, they lie around.
They are still well fed. And, after all the exercise, they usually are very tired and need to be lifted into the truck. Wouldn't you, after running five or more miles nonstop?
We do not want to see every animal shot down and ravaged, as the Campbells believe. We know about balancing nature and man. The idea of ``walking in balance with the earth'' comes from Native Americans.
If it were not for greedy people, there would be no need for national parks and refuges.
The reason we want the $10 fee lowered is the simple fact that we already own the refuge. We pay taxes for it every year. Do the Campbells pay themselves $10 every year to use their own house?
Regarding fishing on the 750-acre Lake Prince in Suffolk, an average Saturday sees more than 100 boats, and is not crowded, while 2,100-acre Lake Drummond allows only 12 boats.
If you are handicapped, you cannot enter the Refuge. Is this legal? If it were not for our being in the Refuge office complaining one day, and seeing the management giving a handicapped hunter a hard time, he would not be able to enter the Refuge now on a four-wheeler. If a business did not have handicapped facilities, it would face federal violations.
We have done a great deal of research on the subject of the swamp. We have asked a number of legislators to help us. The Campbells need to read the Great Dismal Swamp Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-402), the National Wildlife System Act and other adjacent acts, as we did.
These will clarify why we are doing this. The very laws that were passed to protect refuges are the same laws that keep American citizens locked out of them.
The Refuge should be managed to protect wildlife and allow recreational activities. The Great Dismal Swamp can and should be an asset to the public, not a liability harming adjacent communities as they are now doing.
Jerry F. Bass Sr., Chairman
Great Dismal Swamp Awareness Association
Stephen C. Thompson Jr., Co-Chairman Policy hurts feelings
My four boys sell mistletoe every year to buy Christmas presents for their family and friends. I am very proud of my boys for thinking of this.
This year, the assistant night manager of Wal-Mart in Suffolk told them they could not stand outside and ask people if they wanted a piece of mistletoe for Christmas. The money usually would be spent at Wal-Mart.
Now I have four boys with hurt feelings because of one very rude man there.
This used to be the only store where we shopped. Not anymore.
Rita Cockrill
Shiloh Drive
Windsor
Editor's note: Sam Wiggs, Suffolk Wal-Mart manager, said sales in front of the store by individuals or organizations for nonprofit are usually approved. If items are being sold for profit by the individual or organization, this is discouraged.