Free Republic

(But competition isn't the only thing that draws her) West Allis, WI - When friends and family laughed at Sheila Bethia's decision to enter her baked goods for judging at the Wisconsin State Fair, Bethia's retort was simple, "I'll enter every year until I don't get a ribbon - then I'll quit." Thirty years later, Bethia, 60, has yet to come home empty. With more than 200 ribbons and 30 years of State Fair experience, Bethia's enthusiasm for the fair is contagious, a fever likely to be caught by thousands of Wisconsin residents as the fair opens its 11-day run...

"GMUG" stands for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Combined, they encompass some 2.9 million acres of National Forest lands in Central and Western Colorado. These three forests are home to some of the most outstanding recreational opportunity in the West. Right now, the forest's are revising their Forest Plans. These management plans provide broad guidance on what activities may or may not occur on these lands. The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national recreation advocacy group that champions recreational access and responsible use of public and private lands, is growing increasingly concerned about the influence several anti-access groups...