Editor’s note: The following is the second in a series exploringthe controversy surrounding ATV use on the Fair River.

MONTICELLO — It began innocently enough with a few peopleenjoying the tranquility and cool waters of the Fair River, butlandowners now claim ATV riders are a dangerous and troublesomehazard.

“It was not a problem until it became overpopulated and abused,”said landowner Vickie Russell, who said she was citing her ownopinion and not necessarily those of all the landowners along theriver.

For Russell, the decision to close the family’s property to ATVriders was not necessarily an issue of land rights and damage somuch as one of safety and the attitude of the riders.

Russell said originally she “didn’t mind” ATV riders on theriver and, since her family also rides, enjoyed their presence.When not riding, she said, they would lay out in the sun and thechildren could play in the sand. She didn’t have to worry aboutspeeding ATVs or dangerous litter, such as broken beer bottles.

“You do have some who are like us — family-oriented — who gofor picnics and to have clean, harmless fun,” she said.

That all changed in the late 1980s and during the 1990s as ATVsbecame more popular, she said. As ATV use rose, so, too, did theproblems associated with their use on the river.

The river became a popular riding spot for not only localresidents, but also those from outside the county and even thestate.

Russell listed the main problems as racing, partying, ridinglate at night and, of course, littering. She said it was commonduring cleanups to find broken beer bottles, camping trash and evencondoms.

Also, a major concern is ATV damage to riverbanks, Russell said.Some riders like to do stunts, such as spinning wheels, on thebanks and that does extensive damage, she said. There is nocontroversy surrounding riverbanks. They are definitely privateproperty.

“It just got out of control,” Russell said. “The bad ones havejust about run all the good ones out, so there are more bad onesout there now than good ones. We just chose to ride somewhereelse.”

Now, Russell said she and her family won’t ride the river andthey prohibit others, including relatives and friends, from ridingon their river property. They now ride on other property theyown.

She said this decision was based on fear for her children andthe attitude of many of the present river riders. She said she wasworried about the safety of her family because of the speeding ATVsand the careless attitude of the riders.

Tuesday: Comments from an ATV rider who stilluses Fair River.