Lawmakers tout wilderness area

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. French Hill and U.S. Sen. John Boozman celebrated expansion of Arkansas’ Flatside Wilderness on Wednesday, joining with members of the Pew Charitable Trusts at the organization’s Washington office to mark the occasion.

Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, sponsored the legislation and championed it in the House, securing passage there in November. Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, helped to guide the bill through the Senate on Dec. 22 during the closing hours of the 115th session of Congress.

Hill said his colleague played a crucial role in securing last year’s last-minute legislative victory.

“This would not be possible if it weren’t for John Boozman’s diligent work over in the Senate,” Hill said.

President Donald Trump signed the Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act in January, adding 640 acres to the 9,541-acre site northwest of Little Rock.

The extra acreage will be known as the Bethune Woods-Flatside Wilderness, in honor of former U.S. Rep. Ed Bethune, who championed the creation of the original Flatside Wilderness and fought to preserve 91,100 acres of wilderness across the state.

The event, titled “An Evening to Celebrate New Southern Wilderness,” also highlighted passage of the Tennessee Wilderness Act, which will preserve 19,558 acres in the Cherokee National Forest.

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said the legislative efforts had been worthwhile.

“Generations 100 years from now will be able to go and enjoy these beautiful scenic areas, undisturbed,” he added.

Among those on hand for the reception was Anders Reynolds, a Wynne native and an officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ U.S. public-lands program.

Reynolds was an early supporter of expanding Flatside, working to garner support for the measure.