I have been a resident of Blaine County for 35 years. Each day when I return to my home far out East Fork, I always feel a sense of calm and security. That feeling has changed. This past Friday night, sometime after dark, some low life entered my garage and stole something very important to me—my Scott Genius mountain bike, one season old.
This bike meant more to me than just a form of exercise. It was my way to escape, get my heart rate up, and feel the rush of adrenaline and sense of accomplishment after a challenging ride alone or with friends.
Yes, the bike can be replaced at great expense. What can never be replaced is the sense of security and peace of mind that I have experienced at my own home for so many years. This has been forever taken away from my family. I spent this past weekend not wondering so much why me, but rather what type of slime ball would pull off a stunt like this? A desperate mountain biker or some meth head just trying to score his next fix? My gut tells me the latter! My years of mountain biking have only helped reassure my feeling that my fellow mountain bike enthusiasts are good, honest people who genuinely care for and love the great outdoors.
If there is any lesson to be learned from this, it is that this area has changed greatly through the years; some things for the better, and unfortunately, some for the worse. Keep your neighbors abreast of any suspicious behavior in your neighborhoods and, sad to say, keep your doors locked at all times.
Brian Webber
East Fork
