Thieves that break into recreation fee sites do double damage.

First, they steal money that is needed to maintain and improve valuable recreation sites that are getting a lot of use, and second, they damage the fee boxes, which cost money to replace.

The thefts at fee boxes at recreation sites along the Payette River in late July are prime examples. The money that was stolen could have been used to paint lines in the parking lot at Banks, which is a launch site for the Main Payette, and which is getting maxed out on weekends. The money is also used to pump out the outhouses and do improvements like pave the dirt parking areas.

Thieves also break into fee boxes at campgrounds where there are no campground hosts. It's personal when thieves hit recreation sites. We're paying the fees and know that money is coming back to the recreation sites that we use.

The best way to deal with the situation is to pay recreation fees with checks. I usually do it. When you make a check out to the USDA Forest Service or U.S. Bureau of Land Management, it's pretty hard for thieves to cash those checks.

I hope someone comes up with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who stole the money from the Payette River recreation sites. It's personal.

A $500 reward is being offered for the information. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 343-2677 or Forest Service law enforcement at 373-4195.