Alabama

Stephen McLamb

In light of a six year old who died in DeKalb county in an ATV accident, similar accidents continue to be a problem in the Valley.

Officials with Marshall Medical Center in Boaz estimate they see five victims a week during warm weather months due to ATV accidents.

Police say 38-year-old Gordon Young led officers on a chase through Mobile last week on his all-terrain vehicle. He was caught after turning down a dead-end road.

Delaware State Forest Ranger Rick Bacon, in response for neighbors' complains about noise and trespassing, arrived in Milford recently to put up a bright yellow "Closed to ATVs" sign by a state forest entrance.

But a neighbor, who preferred anonymity for fear of retribution, said, "In Pennsylvania they let things run amok. You have one sign and you need a microscope to see it. In the forest you can see ATV tracks that are deeply rutted. Even nice logging trails have two ruts and get washed out by rains. They become rocky, ankle-breaking hazards putting hikers at risk.

David Jenkins

Just before Christmas, the Obama administration overturned a 2003 Bush administration policy that barred the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from temporarily protecting the wilderness quality of lands under its jurisdiction that merit consideration by Congress for permanent Wilderness designation.

The 2003 Bush policy stemmed from a deal cut by then-Interior Secretary Gale Norton and the state of Utah to settle a lawsuit. In addition to removing federal protection for roughly 2.6 million acres of wilderness-quality lands in Utah, Norton renounced BLM’s longstanding authority to recommend and protect new areas for wilderness protection.

Ben Wolfgang

GILBERTON - Borough police arrested two ATV riders on Saturday night after one of them rammed a police car and the other tried to run over an officer, authorities said.

Police said Melissa Snyder, 287 Main St., Ashland, and Stephen F. Willison, 324 Oakland Ave., Ashland, were riding ATVs west on Railroad Street at a high rate of speed. After police began pursuit at 6:27 p.m., the ATVs turned onto Route 4030.

Off-road vehicles will be banned from Little River Canyon National Preserve effective Wednesday.

Park Superintendent John Bundy says officials will begin enforcing federal regulations prohibiting the use of off-road vehicles and all-terrain vehicles on roads in the preserve.

Andy Powell

Off-road vehicle use at Little River Canyon National Preserve will not be allowed after Aug. 31, park officials said this week.

The practice already should have been prohibited under regulations prohibiting ATV and off-road vehicles in units of the National Park System unless a plan is in place that identifies specific areas or trails, according to a letter sent off-road permit holders.

Holly Hollman

A Limestone County grand jury has indicted an Ardmore man for murder in connection with a fatal four-wheeler wreck.

According to Sheriff’s Department Reports, the grand jury indicted Jonathan Paul Barnes, 27, of 24687 Barnes Road.

Jared Felkins

Four-wheelers and other all-terrain vehicles could be banned in Little River Canyon National Preserve, and Congress will ultimately make the decision.

Preserve Superintendent John Bundy said Tuesday the deciding factor will lie in federal and state laws that pertain to ATV use. He said Congress requires a general management plan for the preserve that would include rules for things like hunting, fishing, threatening endangered species and ATV use.