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Past Issues
Top Stories
Friday October 17,
2003....Friday, October 10, 2003......Friday, October 3, 2003 ......Friday, September 26, 2003
October 17, 2003
City de-annexes
land in Island Park Resort
County to ban
snowmobiling on open water
Tourism group works
on promoting travel to eastern Idaho
Sportsmen make
holiday drive an anual event
IPSA to poll
community about a firing range
Island Park is NWS
StormReady
Radio program to
focus on winter recreation
City de-annexes
land in Island Park Resort
By ELIZABETH LADEN
In a 2-1 vote, the
Island Park City Council agreed last week to de-annex 1.2 acres
of land in the 100-acre plus Island Park Village Resort. The
ground is part of a 5.2-acre parcel at the southwest corner of
the resort, with U. S. 20 frontage.
Resort manager
Rich Zimmerman made the request. He said the de-annexation would
put the entire resort in the county, and simplify the process of
subdividing the 5.2 acres. The resort plans to subdivide the
property so that part of it can be sold to the North Fremont
Hospital District and used as a medical clinic site. Zimmerman
emphasized that the District has shown interest in the purchase,
but no further steps have been taken.
City Council
members Tom Jewell and Maxine Layton voted for de-annexation, and
Renee Foster voted against the measure. Councilman Torrence
Anderson was absent.
Last month, the
Island Park Planning Board would not vote on Zimmerman's
request— they sent it to the City Council. The council would
not deal with the matter in its September meeting but agreed to
make a decision at a special meeting they set for Thursday,
October 9.
Earlier this year,
on behalf of the resort's association of homeowners, Zimmerman
had asked that the resort not be included in the Island Park area
of impact. The city included it anyway, but the County Planning
Commission did not accept the city's proposed area of impact map.
Preparation of a revised map has been in limbo for several weeks.
Zimmerman's larger
argument for detaching the resort from the city and the area of
impact has been that the resort is platted, owns its own roads
and water supply, and is hooked into the county's sewer system.
Other than the sewer, it does not require services from the city
or the county.
In Thursday's
meeting, Mayor Brad Smith said, “I would like to point out
that the county does not provide anything. You basically receive
the same services as the city, which is nothing. I do not think
we need to consider that when we consider this
(de-annexation).”
“I did some
findings and facts about de-annexation,” Foster said.
“We had discussed that after mapping is done, it would be
the option of the homeowner (to de-annex or stay in the city). We
never discussed commercial property.”
Foster said that
she consulted with Ken Harward, Executive Director of the
Association of Idaho Cities and “his first instinct was to
say that de-annexation would not benefit the city.” He also
noted that the issue could be “political,” she said.
Foster also said
that she talked with people at the county and the Ashton Family
Practice, the business that wants to provide medical services in
the Island Park facility and neither had “an opinion”
about de-annexation.
“I cannot
come up with a reason to de-annex,” she concluded.
Jewell and Layton
both stated that it is more important to them that Island Park
has a clinic than it would be to deny the de-annexation request.
City Attorney
Stephanie Bonney told Zimmerman that the vote allows him to
proceed with a subdivision proposal to the county. However, she
will make the vote part of the record by writing an ordinance
allowing the de-annexation.
In other business,
County Clerk Vada
Roberts sad that enough “warm bodies” did not show up
for the city's scheduled cleanup of its Adopt-A-Highway miles.
“Let the
record show that I was ready to do it,” Jewell said.
After a brief
discussion in which a new date could be found, the council
decided to put the cleanup on hold.
The council
granted liquor licenses to Angler's Lodge, Elk Creek Station,
Grub Stake, Henry's Lake Station, Last Chance General Store, and
Robin's Roost.
City to hold a
`meet the candidates' session
Meet the
candidates running for mayor of Island Park and four seats on the
City Council at an informal get-together set for 6 p.m. Thursday,
October 23 at the City Building in Last Chance.
In a council
meeting last week, Councilwoman Maxine Layton suggested that the
city sponsor the event, and she promised to provide cookies and
punch.
The council opted
for an informal session rather than the usual moderated panel in
which candidates state their qualifications, experience, and
reasons for seeking office, and then answer questions from the
public.
The event will
last 45 minutes because a public hearing and regular council
meeting are scheduled that evening for 6:45 and 7 `clock
respectively.
The candidates are
Mayor: Richard Bishop, Tom Jewell, and Brad Smith. Council, all
running unopposed: Torrence Anderson, Renee Foster, Val John, and
Maxine Layton.
Election Day is
Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open 8 p. m. to 8 p. m. at the
City Building. City residents can register to vote the day of the
election. Call Clerk Vada Roberts for an absentee ballot at
558-7687.
Top
County to ban
snowmobiling on open water
Stream skippers
beware: riding snowmobiles on open water in Fremont County will
be against the law, starting this winter. On Monday, Fremont
County Commissioners Bill Forbush, Gordon Trupp, and Gordon Smith
voted to amend the county's Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) ordinance
to prohibit snowmobiles and all OHV's from riding on “any
public body of water or water flow, including but not limited to
lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, or canals unless such
body of water or flow is so frozen over that it can safely
withstand the weight of non-moving off road vehicles.”
Commissioners said
they received nearly 50 letters and several phone calls asking
them to enact the ban. Two people voiced support of snowmobiling
on open water, commissioners said.
Individuals and
groups have asked the commission to ban this type of
snowmobiling— known as stream skipping— in past years.
No action was taken until this summer, when Mack's Inn resident
Jerry Crabs told commissioners that stream skipping is increasing
and can be detrimental to the river and riparian habitat. Crabs
rallied area residents to send letters to commissioners
supporting the ban. Island Park Sportsmen's Association President
Dennis Kennedy also wrote a letter of support on behalf of the
organization's 250-plus members
Commissioners
could not give the exact date that the ban will go into effect
because the county clerk was out of town and she is in charge of
having the ordinance advertised as a notice. They also noted that
the wording of the draft ordinance may change, and the ordinance
title may include “oversnow vehicles.” Ordinances and
amendments to them can usually not be imposed until they are
published in the county's newspaper of record, the Standard
Journal.
Commissioners said
they were not sure what the fine would be for violators of the
ban. Also, they noted that they cannot post signs on private land
that warn snowmobilers that stream skipping is illegal, but they
can post signs in the water and on county and state property.
Private landowners and organizations can post signs if they want.
Stream skipping
has been most prevalent by the Mack's Inn Bridge in Island Park.
Other areas are Fish Pond at Harriman State Park, near the Ashton
Reservoir, and Warm River.
Other regulations
that can lead to fines imposed on riders of snowmobiles and OHVs
are speeding, reckless driving, harassing wildlife and birds,
driving without headlights between dusk and dawn, driving without
adequate brakes; driving on a public roadway or highway unless
the public roadway is closed to conventional vehicle travel, and
driving without a red or orange safety flag attacked to a
whipstick at least 8 feet above the surface of level ground.
Snowmobiles are excluded from the safety flag requirement.
In other business,
The commission
approved the following businesses to have licenses to sell
liquor, beer, and wine; Angler's Lodge, Cougar Corner, Fremont
County Clubhouse, Grub Stake, Henry's Fork Lodge, Imperial Club,
Robin's Roost, Speedy Turtle (Last Chance General Store), Stage
Stop, Trails Inn, Trouthunter, and White Pine Travel Plaza.
In 1982, the
county imposed an additional $100 fee on the liquor license for
businesses selling wine, but has never collected the fee.
Businesses have now been asked to pay it.
Top
Tourism group works
on promoting travel to eastern Idaho
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Thirteen members
of the Yellowstone Teton Territory organization and Idaho
Department of Commerce Director LaMoyne Hyde met at the Last
Chance Lodge this week to discuss tourism in the
Yellowstone-Teton region of Idaho. Fremont, Teton, Clark,
Madison, Bonneville, and Jefferson counties are in this region.
The group
discussed where to allocate $4,000 in grant money left over from
the last fiscal year and more than $14,000 of a $142,000 grant
for the current fiscal year.
The grants come
form the state's lodging tax collections and the money has to be
used for travel and tourism promotion.
Funds pay expenses
for YTT members participating in shows where they promote travel
to the YTT. Money is also paying for a four-color snowmobile map
that is also funded by map advertisers, and for a billboard
directing Utah travelers toward Idaho— Yellowstone Bear
World, a YTT member, is paying for half of the billboard.
Another major
expenditure is the development of the YTT Web site, to include
information on members of the organization, a travel planner,
events, and links to event Web sites.
YTT member Kevin
Phillips, president of the Island Park Area Chamber of Commerce
and owner of Island Park Polaris, said he would promote the
region at the Minneapolis Snow Show November 13 – 16. YTT
members should give Kevin their promotional materials soon, so he
can haul them to Minnesota.
Phillips also
asked that some of the $8,000 allocated to Island Park promotions
in this year's YTT grant be spent on a regular radio spot
featuring snow and trail conditions in Island Park. His idea was
well received and he was asked to bring the group a proposal and
the name of a radio station that would do the spot.
YTT Chairman Larry
Wolf, manager of the CottonTree Inn in Rexburg, encouraged
members to invite new members to the group. Membership is $50 a
year. Call the YTT office in Rexburg for an application form and
list titled “Top ten reasons why you should join Yellowstone
Teton Territory.” The number is 356-5700. Or, stop by or fax
the Island Park News for the information or log on to
www.yellowstoneteton.org
Island Park
members are Angler's Lodge, Enchanted Forest RV & Campground,
Island Park News, Island Park Polaris, Red Rock RV, Sawtelle
Mountain Resort, The Pines and Phillips Lodge, and the Timber's
Edge.
Top
Sportsmen make
holiday drive an annual event
Members of the
Island Park Sportsmen's Association (IPSA) this week voted to
start a fund to help needy families during the holidays. IPSA
sponsored a golf tournament last week at the Island Park Village
Resort, and used the proceeds from the tournament— more than
$900— to seed the fund. The account is at the Bank of Idaho.
“During a
discussion between some local folks, it was a surprise to find
that there are some families that do need help,” said IPSA
President Dennis Kennedy. He said that he, Roni Ruegsegger, Bob
Benjamin, and Mary Benjamin, decided to see what they could do
about helping those in need during the holiday season.
Kennedy said that
the tournament was a success “because it did so well on such
short notice. It appeared that everyone involved wanted to make
sure that there were no families that went without having
Christmas this year. The Sportsmen's Association would like to
thank all the businesses and individuals who donated, and played.
A special thanks goes to Steve Mueller for the time he spent
getting the prizes.”
In the IPSA's
regular monthly meeting Tuesday, members voted to make the
tournament an annual event and to schedule it on a day before
Labor Day. IPSA will create a committee to organize and promote
the event. Interested people should contact IPSA President Dennis
Kennedy at 558-7542.
Golf tournament
results
1. Tate Brooks,
Bob Benjamin, Dave Geitzen and Donna Gietzen, 28; 2.34 Three-
team tie: Flo Culbreth, Pat Leitgib, and Carolyn Valla; Eddie
Lewis, MaryLou Lewis, and Dean Sanders; Dennis Kennedy, Rick
Kennedy, Mike Jones, and Chippa; 3. Kevin Phillips, Jason Bowman,
Michelle Bowman, and Bruce Hopkins, 36; 4. Steve Mueller,
Michelle Mueller, Aaron Hecht, and Megan F., 39: 5. For
first time tournament golfers, except for Mary Benjamin who is a
veteran of the golf circuit— Mary Benjamin, Roni Ruegsegger,
Dion Smith, and Bonnie Cummins, 45.
Men's long drive -
Dennis Kennedy; Women's long drive – Pat Leitgeb; Men's
closest to pin - Tate Brooks; Women's closest to pin – Flo
Culbreth.
Top
IPSA to poll
community about a firing range
Island Park
Sportsmen Association plans to survey the community about
establishing a shooting range in Island Park. The decision was
made at the group's regular meeting, held at the A-Bar and Supper
Club Tuesday and attended by 14 people, including Robin Jenkins
of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
If enough people
are interested, IPSA will look for a range site. If the site is
on National Forest land, an environmental assessment would have
to be done, Jenkins said, looking at possible impacts of the
facility on wildlife, people, and at lead dispersal. A special
use permit to use the land would also be required. Jenkins said
that IPSA would have to purchase insurance, too.
The survey will
ask what types of firearms people would like the range to
accommodate, if people are interested in sporting clays, and how
much people would be willing to pay for memberships. Membership
fees would cover the costs of building the range and purchasing
insurance. People would also be asked to make location
suggestions. The Island Park News, a member of IPSA, will
distribute the survey.
Meanwhile, if you
have any questions, ideas, or concerns, contact IPSA President
Dennis Kennedy at 558-7542.
In other business,
Kennedy applauded volunteers who took part in IPSA's reservoir
cleanup (see story in last week's paper or at
www.islandparknews.com/topstories.htm).
It was noted that
the next regular meeting of the organization would be in
May— date, time, and place to be announced.
Top
Island Park is NWS StormReady
The city of Island
Park is now an official National Weather Service Storm Ready
Community. Fremont County Disaster and Emergency Management
Services Director Bill Wuthrick presented the city with a
certificate noting the designation at a council meeting last
week. He also gave the city StormReady signs to install by their
“Welcome to Island Park” sign.
Wuthrick said that
incorporated cities in the county receive the designation when
the county is certified as StormReady. Wuthrick fulfilled all of
the NWS's requirements to obtain the designation for Fremont
County.
Some 95% of all
declared disasters are weather related, Wuthrick said, so
StormReady communities have an edge if they are hit with storms
and floods.
According to NWS
statistics, weather-caused disasters lead to around 500 deaths
per year and nearly $14 billion in damage.
The StormReady
program helps communities with training in communication and
safety skills needed to save lives and property before and during
the event, and helps community leaders and emergency managers
strengthen local safety programs.
Wuthrick said that
weather spotters who live throughout the county have been trained
to watch for signs of impending storms and notify the NWS's alert
system, which in turn alerts media, schools, and local
governments.
Each community
will also be given radios that are tuned into a frequency that
broadcasts weather alerts, he said. Island Park will get theirs
in the spring, when a new antenna is installed to transmit the
data.
Wuthrick said that
Island Park is one of the worst storm areas in Idaho and the area
has the same earthquake probability as California.
The StormReady
program can give advice on how to make structures safe in
earthquake-prone areas, he said. Thee program also provides
information on how to assemble a “72-hour emergency
preparedness kit,” said Wuthrick. He said it takes around 72
hours for relief workers to mobilize to help disaster stricken
communities so it is a good idea for homes to have the kits,
which include water, blankets, flashlights, blankets, and
sanitary supplies.
According to NWS
data, Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on
Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000
thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and an average of
six deadly hurricanes.
Stop by the city
or county offices for StormReady brochures and information, or
cal Bill Wuthrick at 624-7625.
Top
Radio program to
focus on winter recreation
Mike Connaughton
of the Mountain River Ranch in Ririe will host a radio talk show
on winter recreation on AM 690 and FM1260. Connaughton announced
plans for the show, tentatively named Outdoor Connections, at a
Yellowstone-Teton Territory organization meeting at the last
Chance Lodge this week.
He said it would
run in the 7 to 8 a. m. time slot. It would probably be aired
from 7:45 to 8 at the start, but could be expanded if there is
participation and interest. He said it is scheduled for airing
Monday through Friday starting next month.
He invited people
to give him information about events and outdoor recreation in
east Idaho communities. He said he would do live interviews,
phone interviews, and read information sent in. For more
information and to provide information for the show, call Mike
Connaughton at 538-7337 or 589-6438.
Commissioners
approved a plat amendment at the 400-acre Centennial Shores
development on the Island Park Reservoir. Three lots will be
re-shaped into two lots to increase the size of the building
sites. There are 111 lots in the development.
Top
HOME
Friday, October 10,
2003
Sportsmen clean
tons of junk from the Island Park Reservoir
Dam history from
the U. S Bureau of Reclamation
Island Park Dam to
be repaired
President signs
bill to transfer water facilities to irrigation district
Local folks start
holiday drives for neighbors here and in faraway places
Eagle Scout
projects celebrates bygone train era
Help is needed to
prepare ornaments for the National Holiday Tree
Chamber to host
Celebration of Lights
Island Park’s
new Web site is ‘under construction’
Sportsmen clean
tons of junk from the Island Park Reservoir
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Island
Park Sportsmen’s Association (IPSA) volunteers removed more
than 10 tons of construction equipment from the bottom of the
Island Park Reservoir last week, IPSA President Dennis Kennedy
said.
The equipment was used to build the Island Park Dam more than 60
years ago. It was accessible because the reservoir is just 12
percent full right now. They hauled the debris to the Island Park
Landfill.
Kennedy said the dam’s contractor disposed of broken
equipment by placing it in flat section of land with had a
crevice next to it. The used parts were pushed toward the crevice
and left behind after the dam was finished.
In those days, the danger of soil and water contamination from
heavy metals was not known.
The Bureau of Reclamation and the National Forest Service gave
the association permission to do the clean up. Volunteers used a
boom truck and pickups to remove ancient caterpillar tracks,
rusted axles, springs, rear ends from trucks, and about 500 feet
of cable, Kennedy said.
Top
Dam history from
the U. S Bureau of Reclamation
During
the late 1930s, the Bureau of Reclamation built Island Park Dam,
Grassy Lake Dam, Cascade Creek Diversion Dam, and Cross Cut
Diversion Dam and Cascade Creek Feeder Canal and Cross Cut Canal
as part of the Upper Snake River Project.
In 1940, Reclamation transferred the dams, the canals, and the
Fremont-Madison Division to the Minidoka Project. The transfer
added nearly 150,000 acre-feet of stored water, several miles of
canals, and 995 farms to the Project.
Max J. Kuney received the contract for the construction of Island
Park Dam in 1934. Kuney began to clear the dam site and build the
construction camp and access road before the end of the year.
Work on the dam started in the spring of 1935, when workers began
excavating the spillway. They started the inlet and outlet
tunnels in March. Three months later, Kuney again began clearing
the dam site after snow levels had dropped. Most of the early
work concentrated on the diversion and outlet tunnels. Rock fill
of the dam and dike embankment started in 1936.
Workers excavated and lined the spillway with concrete through
most of 1937. Workers brought the dam to within 12 inches of the
final crest height in 1937, but heavy snow forced construction to
halt for the winter. The contractor started again on June 11,
1938. Grouting work on the foundation rock started June 22, and
was completed August 15. Derbon Construction resumed placement of
earthfill on the upstream section of the dam above the auxiliary
cutoff wall on July 27. This allowed the placement of earthfill
over the rest of the dam until October 1, when workers completed
the zoned earthfill dam and dike 91 feet high. Island Park Dam
impounds 127,600 acre-feet of water.
Top
Island Park Dam to
be repaired
The
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the Fremont-Madison Irrigation
District plan to close the Island Park Dam this month to make
some repairs.
Bureau of Reclamation and Fremont-Madison Irrigation District
workers plan to close the dam's gates for maintenance, drying up
300 yards of the river between the dam and Buffalo River.
Fish managers and advocates believe the trout will move to the
Buffalo until the project is done. They say the fish would
benefit in the long run, if the water held back during the
repairs were to be released to help fish during the winter.
During a recent inspection, BOR officials found damage to gates
that regulate irrigation releases, and crumbling patches in the
dam's irrigation tube.
The Buffalo River's flow is around 200 cubic feet of water per
second— the reservoir’s winter flow is 80 cfs.
Repairmen will slowly cut flow past the dam and anglers will
mount a salvage operation to rescue any trapped fish.
Top
President signs
bill to transfer water facilities to irrigation district
President
Bush has signed a bill transferring ownership of irrigation
facilities operated by the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District
from the Bureau of Reclamation to the district.
Fremont-Madison Irrigation District has maintained and controlled
the Cross Cut Diversion Dam, Cross Cut Canal and the five Teton
River wells since shortly after they were built.
The bill also authorizes the transfer of Idaho Department of
Water Resources Permit 22-7702.
It will take about 18 months to follow all necessary procedures
to complete the transfer of title— studies required by the
National Environmental Policies Act must be completed. The
studies will cost some $100,000.
The district first proposed obtaining title to the Island Park
Dam and other irrigation facilities it has operated, but that
proposal was controversial. The request was trimmed to include
just the Cross Cut facilities and the Teton wells. Still, the
project has had its opposition, including the Greater Yellowstone
Coalition.
The transfer will not change the operation of the
facilities— farmers will still get the same water at the
same level.
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, authored the House version of the
legislation Bush signed, and in a news release, congratulated
"all parties who were determined to resolve this
issue."
Sens. Mike Crapo and Larry Craig, both Idaho Republicans,
introduced the bill in the Senate. In a news release, they
praised the president for signing the bill and all those involved
in the seven-year process leading to his signature.
Top
Local folks start
holiday drives for neighbors here and in faraway places
Island
Park residents Bob Benjamin and Dennis Kennedy held a golf
scramble at the Island Park Village Resort this week to raise
money to help needy families during the upcoming holiday season.
Announcing the scramble at the Island Park Area Chamber of
Commerce meeting Wednesday, Benjamin said money raised and other
donations would purchase gifts and food for families who live in
Island Park. Names of the families will be kept confidential and
will be obtained through a contact in the Sheriff’s
Department as well as from information provided by neighbors. If
you need help or know anyone who needs assistance, contact
Benjamin at 558-7000 or Kennedy at 558-7542.
Katie Bell, president of the St. Anthony Lady Lions and an agent
at Outback Realty in Island Park, has set up Island Park
collection spots for the Lady Lions’ Operation Christmas
Child drive, which operates under the umbrella of Samaritan's
Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is a national nondenominational
Christian organization that since 1970 has provided spiritual and
physical aid to hurting people around the world.
Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in
desperate situations by giving them gift-filled shoeboxes. In
2002, the drive’s volunteers collected more than 6 million
shoeboxes for children in about 95 countries.
Everyone is invited to donate a shoebox full of gifts to the St.
Anthony Lady Lions’ drive. The Lady Lions arrange to have
the shoeboxes collected by the national group that will
distribute them overseas.
Island Park area residents can drop their shoeboxes off at the
Bank of Idaho and the Island Park News office, or, if the office
is closed, go next door to Last Chance General Store. Deadline
for drop-offs in Island Park is Friday, November 21.
Shoebox preparation. Find an empty shoebox. You can wrap
it—lid separately—if you would like, but wrapping is
not required.
Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or girl and choose an
age category: (2-4), (5-9), or (10-14). Attach the appropriate
BOY/GIRL LABEL (see below- print these out) on the TOP of your
box and mark the correct age category.
Fill your shoebox with a variety of gifts: Toys: small cars,
balls, dolls, stuffed animals, plastic kazoos, harmonicas,
yo-yos, small Etch A Sketch�, toys that light up or make noise
(with extra batteries), Slinky, etc. School supplies: pens,
pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad
sets, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators,
etc. Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, comb,
washcloth, etc. Other: hard candy, lollipops, mints, gum,
sunglasses, flashlights with extra batteries, ball caps, socks,
T-shirts, toy jewelry sets, hair clips, watches, small picture
books, etc.
On a file card or piece of paper, write your name, complete
address, and organization (if any). Please enclose $5 or more for
each shoebox to help with shipping and other expenses. Checks are
recommended and should be made payable to Samaritan's Purse.
Gifts are tax deductible.
Place the address information, along with your donation, inside
an envelope. If you are sending a note or photo to a child, put
it inside your box-not inside this envelope. Place sealed
envelope on top of gifts inside completed shoebox.
For more information, please call Katie Bell, 558-9336.
 ...
Top
Eagle Scout
projects celebrates bygone train era
By
NANCY STRATFORD
Shotgun resident Danny Cutler chose his Eagle Scout
project in the best tradition of scouting. He made and installed
metal signs interpreting railroad and Island Park history at
strategic locations along the old Union Pacific Railroad
bed— now a multiple use trail.
The train once ran through Island Park on its way from Salt Lake
to West Yellowstone. Its main customers were tourists on the way
to Yellowstone National Park. It also hauled lumber, farm
products, cattle, and other freight.
Danny’s research drew on expertise from the Island Park and
West Yellowstone historical societies, West Yellowstone historian
Paul Shay, the Museum of the Yellowstone, Harriman State Park,
and the National Forest Service.
Danny’s scout troop helped him installed the signs this
fall.
A goal of the project is to help present and future generations
learn more about the train era in Island Park.
Each sign has a map of the train route from Ashton to West
Yellowstone and an historical photograph taken near where the
sign is installed:
Tunnel near Warm River. Built around 1915, the tunnel is 557 feet
long and was constructed to deflect rockslides from the
overhanging wall. The first passenger train over the new line, in
June 1908, was delayed by one day due to a slide here.
Island Park Siding. This is where cattle were shipped from the
Railroad Ranch until the early 1970’s. E. H. Harriman was
the president and owner of the Union Pacific Railroad at the time
the ranch, now part of Harriman State Park, was established.
Big Springs Terminus. Passengers heading to Yellowstone in 1906
and 1907 exited here.
Trestle. This wooden bridge is located near the Continental
Divide.
Reas Pass. This is the highest point on the Oregon Shortline Spur
of the Union Pacific— 6,934 feet in elevation. Some of the
deepest snow was encountered here when the tracks were cleared in
the spring.
West Yellowstone Depot, built in 1909. Passengers began their
tour of Yellowstone here.
Top
Help is needed to
prepare ornaments for the National Holiday Tree
Island
Park folks are busy making ornaments for the National Holiday
Tree, which is coming from Idaho for the first time in the
national Holiday Tree Program’s 39-year tradition. More
volunteers are needed to prepare the ornaments, organizers say.
The designs have already been cut from wood and just need
painting and trimming, said Nancy Stratford, president of the
Island Park Historical Society (IPHS). IPHS and the Island Park
Library Friends are sponsoring the decoration project.
Ornament workdays are set for Pond’s Lodge at 2 p. m. on
both Thursday, October 16 and Thursday, October 23.
The National Holiday Tree celebration’s theme is, "From
Idaho's Heart to American's Home." Island Park’s
ornaments are snowflakes with a scene in the center, snowflakes
with a snowmobile in center, fish, moose, elk, sheep, snowmen,
trees, cowboy Santas, and library books with Island Park’s
history inside.
The National Holiday Tree organization has a drawing for trips to
the tree-lighting celebration in Washington D. C. "Since we
have some students who are home-schooled in Island Park, we are
submitting the entry form for the Washington. D.C. trip drawing
for these students," Stratford said.
Ornaments must be mailed to Boise by November 1.
St. Anthony will host a party for the tree and dozens of trees
that travel with it for placement at other government buildings.
The party is scheduled to be at the parking lot at the city of
St. Anthony complex (former Forest Service headquarters) at 5 p.
m. Wednesday, November 12. Island Park people are invited to
caravan to St. Anthony for the event, which will include
caroling, refreshments, and other fun stuff. To join the caravan,
meet in the Pond’s Lodge parking lot at 4 p. m. on
Wednesday, November 12. If you are south of Pond’s, join the
line when it passes by.
Tree cutting ceremonies will be held at 11 a. m. Monday, November
3 at a location north of the Garden Valley/Crouch communities
near Boise. The location of the big tree, located within the vast
Boise National Forest, will be announced near that date.
Then the tree will be moved to Boise for travel preparation,
emerging on November 8 in Boise at the Veteran’s Day parade.
That launches the beginning of visits to 53 Idaho towns planning
celebrations as the tree and its escorts travel throughout the
state.
At 10 a. m. EST on December 1, the tree arrives at the
nation’s capitol building, capping a year long effort by
Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forest employees and
hundreds of volunteers to fund the trip, make 6,000 ornaments,
and find nearly 70 companion trees for Congressional and
Washington, D.C. offices.
On December 11, the Speaker of the House will light the
"People’s Tree" at a ceremony beginning at 5 p.m.
EST.
Top
Chamber to host
Celebration of Lights
Christmas
Day is less than 11 weeks away, and the Island Park Chamber Area
of Commerce wants you to start thinking about lighting up your
home and business to celebrate the holiday season.
In the chamber’s regular meeting this week, held at
Angler’s Lodge, chamber members decided to hold the second
annual Celebration of Lights holiday decorating contest.
To participate, mail the entry fee of $25 per business or $10 per
home to the Island Park Chamber of Commerce Celebration of
Lights, P. O. Box 83, Island Park, and ID. 83429. Include your
name, phone number, and address— give directions if you are
in an out-of-the way place. Registrations must be received by
Monday, December 15. Register early so you can design your
decorations in plenty of time to get them up before it gets too
busy!
A list of participants will be printed in the Friday, December 19
issue of the Island Park News. Entries will be judged on Saturday
and Sunday, December 20 and 21, so please have your lights on
during those two evenings.
Winners will receive cash prizes and be acknowledged in the
Friday, December 26 issue of the Island Park News, which is set
for distribution on Christmas Eve.
For more information, call Celebration of Lights Chairperson
Tania Phillips at Island Park Polaris, 558-7390.
In other business,
U. S. 20 Plan. Chamber President Kevin Phillips said that he was
"not impressed" with proposed alternatives for the U.
S. 20 Corridor Plan for the Island Park area presented at an
Idaho Transportation Department open house last week. Chamber
members did not decide how—or if— the organization will
comment on the plan. Phillips suggested that people attend a
special Island Park City Council session on the plan next
month— tentatively set for 6 p. m. Thursday, November 6.
Chamber members will promote Island Park at upcoming travel
shows, including he Minneapolis Snow Show and the Idaho State
Snowmobile Association convention in November. Chamber members
should go to Island Park Polaris to give Phillips their brochures
and other promotional materials.
Dede Eby of Angler’s Lodge volunteered to check the
chamber’s voice mail and fill requests for information left
by callers.
Present at the meeting were Bill Ashton, Bob Benjamin, Marjean
Eastman, Dede Eby, Tim Macfarland, Marla Payne, Kevin Phillips,
Bill Smith, Brett Whitaker, Rich and Robbin Zimmerman, and two
Integrated Technologies representatives.
Top
Island Park’s
new Web site is ‘under construction’
A
calendar of events, scenic photos, and information on area
attractions and businesses will be featured on the Island Park
Area Chamber of Commerce’s new Web site. The site is being
built by designers at Integrated Technologies of Shelley, and
paid for with a grant from the Idaho Travel Council.
To add your business or organization to the site, join the
chamber and find out how to contact the site builder.
To join the chamber, send your name, address, phone number,
e-mail address, and Web site address (if any) with a check for
$75 (business) $30 (organization) or $20 (individual) to Island
Park Chamber of Commerce, P. O. Box 83, Island Park, ID. 83429.
Top
Friday, October 3,
2003
Island
Park City Election
Two file to run
against Mayor Brad Smith: Four to run for four city council seats
City
report
Island Park City
Council hears two requests to de-annex from the city
City ambivalent
about supporting the Island Park Library
Citizens oppose
fast decision on code amendment
Dozens of history
buffs enjoy presentation on the life of Andrew Henry
Biz briefs: Jim
Sevy and Send it home
New group
recognizes the blessings & obligations of business ownership
in the Yellowstone region
Women’s Health
Fair drew a crowd, gave important tests to women & men
Island
Park City Election
Two file to run
against Mayor Brad Smith: Four to run for four city council seats
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Brad Smith will have some competition while he runs for
the position of Mayor of Island Park this November. Smith,
appointed mayor last month to fill a vacancy, filed to run for
the four-year term last week. City Councilman Tom Jewell and
Richard Bishop are challenging him.
Four people have filed to run for four seats on the Island Park
City Council: Incumbents Torrence Anderson, Maxine Layton, and
Renee Foster and Valerie John.
Brad Smith, age 50, 3306 Hwy 20, 558-7209. Smith was
appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Council in 2001 and ran
as a write-in that November, receiving 27 votes— 94 of the
city’s 217 registered voters had turned out for the
election.
Smith moved to Island Park from Nebraska in the mid- 1970’s
and has an associate’s degree in railroad law. He and his
wife, Dione, own the Grub Stake in Last Chance and the Island
Park Guide. When Island Park News reporter Katy Mueller called
the Grub Stake to interview Smith about his decision to run for
mayor, the female who answered the phone refused to inform him
about the call.
Smith has not had a 100 percent attendance record at council
meetings. When Mayor Laurie Augustin appointed council members to
serve on, or attend, meetings of organizations that conduct
business important to the city, Smith was asked to participate in
the Gem Community Team. He went to one or two meetings and
stopped going. He has failed to show at many meetings of
organizations and agencies that are important to Island Park,
including two workshops on the U. S 20 Corridor Plan and a recent
economic development workshop help by the state Department of
Commerce.
Tom Jewell, age 65, 4266 Church Lane, 558-7215. Jewell
was appointed to the Island Park City Council in June 2003 to
fill a vacancy created in October 2002 when Renee Foster resigned
from the council. He retired in 1996 from a long and
distinguished career at Idaho State University, where he served
as special assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs and handled
large university budgets. He coached football for 13 years,
wrestling for 20 years, and golf for six years. He is a member of
the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame (1958-60, football).
Jewell has owned his Mack’s Inn property since 1963. He
served briefly on the Island Park Planning Board and is a member
of the Island Park Historical Society.
Richard Bishop, age 51, 4285 Gooding, 558-9485. Bishop
is a long time Mack’s Inn area resident and father of 13
children. He is a graduate of North Fremont High School and Ricks
College. He is a Boy Scout leader and former president of the
Fremont Economic Action Team. He is a carpenter, and once worked
full time chasing logs and serving the logging industry in the
Targhee Timber Association.
He grew up in Island Park and spent nearly every summer here
before becoming a year-round resident in 1999.
Bishop ran against Laurie Augustin for the position of mayor in
November 2001 and received 37 votes to her 50.
Torrence Anderson, age 31, 4430 Strawberry Lane, 558-9249, running
for a two-year term. Anderson works as a distributor of snack
foods. He is a graduate of Hurricane High in Hurricane, Utah and
has lived in Island Park for six years.
When he ran for a two-year term on the City Council in 2001,
Anderson said he favored government leaders who know what the
government is legally allowed to do and then do not exceed the
minimum requirements.
He also said, "We don’t need any more taxes."
However, Anderson did not oppose the 3 percent property tax
increase the council recently imposed on city residents.
Anderson received 77 votes in the November 2001 election,
When Island Park News reporter Katy Mueller called the Anderson
residence and asked to speak to Torrence, the female who answered
the phone quipped that he had already had "too many
calls’ that day.
Anderson has not had a 100 percent attendance record at council
meetings. He also regularly fails to appear at meetings important
to Island Park held by community organizations and agencies.
Maxine Layton, age 64, 4113 South Big Springs Loop Road,
558-0967, running for a four-year term. She and her husband asked
to annex all of their property into the city, since some was in
and some was out. Layton was appointed to serve on the City
Council in March 2001 to fill a vacancy. She ran for the seat in
November 2001, and received 71 votes. In 2001, she ran with the
promise to complete some of the city’s unfinished business,
specifically stating that one of these items was passing the
state-mandated area of impact ordinance. This is still unfinished
business.
Layton has 13 years of experience working for he city of
Centerfield, Utah.
Layton has not had a 100 percent attendance record at council
meetings. She also fails to appear at many meetings of community
organizations and agencies important to Island Park. However last
week, she said that she would represent the city on the Gem
Community Team.
Renee Foster, 48, Elk Creek Trailer Park, running for a
four-year term. Foster has lived in Island Park for almost 17
years. She is a part time employee of Elk Creek Station. She
worked briefly as City Clerk and ran as a write-in for City
Council in November 2001 and received 24 votes. She wrote a
1,525-word letter resigning from the council in October 2002. She
asked to be appointed to the council in June this year, but Tom
Jewell was selected instead. Then, she was re-appointed to the
council last Thursday after presenting the council with letters
of recommendation that were not shared with the public.
The 2002 resignation letter expressed frustration with some city
officials and disappointment that she no longer felt comfortable
sitting on the council. In her letter, she strongly implied that
many decisions made by then mayor Laurie Augustin and Brad Smith,
a councilman at the time, took place outside regular council
meetings.
Last week, Foster said that she regrets that she resigned from
the council. In a December 2002 interview about the letter of
resignation, she said, "Some said I wrote the letter in an
emotional state and should take it back ad turn in a different
one and not resign. But I read it again and there is nothing to
take back. I love government and I loved working for the city,
but not under the present conditions."
Valerie John, age in the 30’s, Elk Creek Trailer Park,
558-0930, running for a two-year term. John works at the Hungry
Bear Market and is a member of the Fugowee Snowmobile Club. She
has been an active participant in Idaho State Snowmobile
Association conferences. She writes a column on snowmobiling and
the superiority of winter to other seasons for Smith’s
publication. Smith calls her the Evil Val John because of her
daring-do.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open from
8 a. m. to 8 p. m. at the City Building in Last Chance. For
information on absentee ballots, call City Clerk Vada Roberts at
558-7687.
Top
City
report
Island Park City
Council hears two requests to de-annex from the city
By
ELIZABETH LADEN
The Island Park City Council Thursday heard two requests
annexation from the city. The first is a small piece of land in
the Island Park Village Resort. The second is the Henry’s
Lake Lodge Subdivision on Hwy 87 at Henry’s Lake.
The Council refused to act on a request to de-annex a small
parcel of land made by Island Park Village Resort manager Rich
Zimmerman on behalf of the resort’s homeowner’s
association and a potential buyer of the property.
Nearly all of the Island Park Village Resort lies outside the
Island Park city limits. A 5.2 acre parcel on U. S.20 is in the
city— this is the parcel the resort wants to de-annex, said
Zimmerman. He said he would like the de-annexation to take place
soon because the Fremont County Hospital District wants to
purchase a portion of the land, on which it plans to build a
clinic that would be managed by the Ashton Family Medical Center.
Now, the proposed clinic site is half in the city and half out.
Fremont County planners say they do not want to issue a building
permit until the entire site is in the county, said Zimmerman.
In a recent community meeting, dozens of people voiced support
for the proposed clinic.
The Island Park Planning and Zoning Board would not act on
Zimmerman’s request for de-annexation when he made it at the
Board’s September meeting. They decided to let the City
Council handle the matter.
Representing the resort, surveyor Rick Byrem told the council,
"I remember that when you talked about annexation in the
beginning you said you would not force people to be in the city
if they did not want to be."
Consensus of Mayor Brad Smith and City Council members Torrence
Anderson, Tom Jewell, and Maxine Layton was that they needed more
time to study Zimmerman’s request.
Byrem noted that the clinic planners hope to start construction
this fall.
Anderson offered the most vehement opposition to de-annexation.
"I do not think we should because it’s
commercial," he insisted. "I would rather be us doing
it (monitoring the development) rather than (the county)."
Layton said, "If we start de-annexing it (other
de-annexation requests) will grow." She did say she would
change her mind if it would "help the community,"
noting that she wants to see a clinic built in Island Park.
Smith said, "He is actually talking about a pretty small
parcel…"
Ray Stratford, chairman of the city Planning Board, said,
"They can buy the property anyway and ask for the part not
in the city to be annexed."
Zimmerman said that they "do not want to be in the city so
there is a battle there. The city cannot provide us anything.
Everything is hinging on tonight’s meeting—it depends
on what the city wants to do."
Anderson’s motion to deny the de-annexation was killed and
the council decided to meet at 7 p. m. on Thursday, October 9 and
try to come to a decision then.
Nevin Edgington of the Henry’s Lake Lodge Subdivision
presented 29 letters from property owners in the subdivision
asking the city to de-annex the property from the city.
"We are a bunch of unhappy campers off Hwy 87," said
Edgington. He said he has 29 letters— that’s almost
every owner in the subdivision. He does not have letters from
"one person who is on a mission and another person who is
building a house and does not want to antagonize you folks, and
the last is a corporation in Seattle" that he cannot locate,
he noted.
"We do not think that the city is able to do anything for
us. If they cannot, why do we have to belong to the city? There
is no benefit to us as homeowners to be in the city of Island
Park. We want you to de-annex us. I live up here because I do not
want to live in a city," he said.
"I think you ought to realize that the city watches what is
happening to the building (construction) and the county does not
do its job," Stratford argued.
The City Council told Edgington that the city couldn’t act
on a de-annexation request until it is first made to the Planning
Board. Edgington asked that it be put on the Board’s agenda
for the Wednesday, October 1 meeting, which starts at 7 p. m.
Top
City ambivalent
about supporting the Island Park Library
For
the second time, the Island Park City Council would not commit a
specific amount of money to help the Island Park Library, which
is in a budget crisis due to underfunding by the Fremont County
Library District.
Island Park Library Friends Board member Terre Short asked the
council to allocate $1000 to the library from the city’s
community donation find. The city budgeted $2000 for the fund for
fiscal year 2003.
Short said that the District Board has decided not to pay the
library’s utility bills.
She noted that the Island Park Library has still not consolidated
with the District and the IPLF is managing library services until
the consolidation,
"I do not want the city to get involved in funding the
library. I can see one time shot things. I do not think the city
can afford to give the library operating dollars one time is fine
but I do not think we should get into the day to day…"
insisted City Councilman Torrence Anderson.
Short said that the IPLF Board estimates that utilities could
cost $2500, and said $1000 "is a reasonable request to ask
the city."
Councilman Tom Jewell said, "It would be half of our
community fund money."
The IPLF Board’s original budget was for more $18,000, and
in preliminary meetings, the District Board said that that amount
would be doable. The county allocated the library $13,600 and
asked the IPLF Board to reduce the library’s hours by one
third.
Short said that the IPLF Board agreed to keep the hours as they
are and find some way to raise the money for utilities.
Planning Board Chairman Ray Stratford said, "Everyone ought
to realize we (Island Park property owners in and out of the
city) are paying 48 percent of the county library taxes and we do
not get nearly that."
The $13,500 is around one tenth of the District’s fiscal
year 2003 revenues, which comes from taxes and grants.
The council told Short to send bills to the city and they would
be considered on a case by case basis.
Short said that the IPLF Board is committed to the library and to
raising the money needed to keep it open.
Short also noted that the city could re-open the budget and
allocate money to the library from the city’s unencumbered
funds. No one on the City Council responded to her comment.
In other business,
City Council noted that the Cannon family has to be
told to stop building a garage when Stratford told them that the
garage would actually be used as a karate studio.
The council denied a request made by Councilman Torrence
Anderson’s wife, Shauna, for a donation to the karate
studio. Layton said, "If we start giving private business
money we will be in trouble."
Shauna Anderson looked directly at her husband and said, I was
misinformed!"
City Councilwoman Maxine Layton volunteered to attend Gem
Community Team meetings, the next of which is at 7 p. m. on
Thursday, October 2 at the Island Park Ranger District.
The council set Saturday, October 4 as a clean-up day for its
Adopt-a-Mile stretch of U. S 20.
The council approved licenses to sell liquor for A-Bar and Supper
Club, Island Park Lodge, Jared’s Wild Rose Ranch,
Pond’s Lodge, Sportsmen’s Lodge, The Pines, and
Trouthunter.
Top
Citizens oppose
fast decision on code amendment
Citizens objected to the Island Park City Council taking
action to amend the city’s development code Thursday night
without discussing the issue in a public hearing.
City Attorney Stephanie Bonney has asked the city to amend the
development code so that the words "node" and
"zone" are interchangeable and so that scoring Class II
permits is optional.
Bonney said that a hearing is not required and the city can amend
the code when there is ambiguous wording, which she says exists
in the code now.
Jan Brown, a Pinehaven cabin owner and one of the code’s
authors, insisted at August Planning Board and council meetings
that scoring is required by the ordinance creating the code—
it is not optional. She and Planning Board Chairman Ray Stratford
have also told the city that "zone" and
"node" have different meanings.
Scot Christensen, Greater Yellowstone Coalition Conservation
Organizer, Caroll Sweet of the Island Park Citizens for
Responsible Development, and Stratford, all opposed the
amendment,
"We would be really against it if you are not going to open
it to the public for review." Sweet said. "Those of us
who live here and are concerned about development do not think
scoring should be optional. It was put in there for a reason and
I feel that it should be used."
Sweet said that IPARD wants to sponsor workshops on the city and
county development code and comprehensive plan so that people
understand their purpose.
Anderson, pushing for a vote, motioned to approve Bonney’s
amendment.
Opponents to the amendment kept talking.
"Lee Nellis, who developed the code for both the county and
the city, recommended the scoring and I see no reason why we
should change it," said Stratford.
"I do not feel it is a change to the code, it is a
clarification to the code," argued Bonney.
"Why would you not want the community to be involved‚
they helped shape it in the beginning, and clearly there is a
liability issue (if scoring is not used)," said Christensen.
The council decided to ask the Island Park Planning Board to
discuss the issue further.
Top
Dozens of history
buffs enjoy presentation on the life of Andrew Henry
By
ELIZABETH LADEN
The life of Andrew Henry was the focus of the Island
Park and West Yellowstone historical societies’ annual joint
dinner Friday, held at Lakeside Lodge and attended by 55 people.
East Idaho tourism advocates should do more to promote
Henry’s life and market visits to places where he and other
mountain men were involved in rendezvous and battles, said the
guest speaker, Rexburg historian Louis Clements. A retired
history teacher, Clements is the editor of the Snake River Echoes
biannual history magazine, author of dozens of history books, and
a Rexburg Chamber of Commerce director. He is the 2001 recipient
of the Idaho Historical Society Esto Perpetual Award recognizing
significant contributions to the preservation of Idaho history.
Henry’s Lake and the Henry’s Fork are named after
Henry, who was the leader of a group of 300 to 400 men who
trapped in the Henry’s Lake area and Upper Valley in 1810 -
11. The group spread out and set traps in every drainage in the
area, battled native Americans, enjoyed a Rendezvous in the Teton
Valley, and spent down time carving their names on rocks. The
authenticated rocks give us some idea of where they camped.
Several members of the group spent a rough, hungry winter near
the river outside of St. Anthony—at what is now known as
Fort Henry. Clements told the group the exact location of the
fort, as far as a1930’s archaeological expedition conducted
by students from the former Ricks College was able to discern.
The Fort Henry Memorial that officially begins the Fort Henry
Historic Byway is not where the fort was located, but close to it
nonetheless.
Clements said that as far as anyone knows, Henry did not keep a
journal, so his life story is pieced together from reports by
those who kept journals, and also some government records. After
his Upper Valley trip, Henry went back to St. Louis, Missouri for
10 years, during which time he served as a major in the War of
1812. Then he returned to the Rockies for another trapping
expedition with 100 men or so, including Joe Meek, Jim Beckworth,
Jim Bridger, and William Sublette.
Also at the dinner, the Idaho Historical Society presented the
Island Park Historical Society with a collection of photographs
from the Sherwood Museum that used to be at Henry’s Lake.
The IPHS will use them in upcoming displays.
Door prizes included historic Island Park area photos, books by
Clements, tickets to shows at BYU-Idaho, the blanket presented to
Island Park City Councilman Tom Jewell by the Nez Perce Tribe
during the August 2003 Camas Meadows Memorial, with a photo of
the presentation by John Losch, a basket of kitchen goodies and
homemade jam from B. J. Hultz, candles, a handmade basket from
Africa, a book of history stories by Jan Dunbar, and a gift
certificate to the Food Roundup. Favors at the delicious dinner,
featuring chicken or beef, were copies of a Snake River Echoes
featuring Island Park stories and postcards of Island Park
historic photos.
The following people purchased a membership in the IPHS that is
good now through the end of 2004: Individual Memberships ($10):
H. Edward Benson, Joyce Farrar, Lorraine Sutton, Steve Zaborsky;
Family Memberships ($15): Kyle Babbitt & Philip Chavez; Terry
and Janice Crellin; Jan and Cal Dunbar; Tom Jewell and Sheri
Dewey; Clint and Marge Krehbiel; Barry and Nancy Phillips; Gale
D. Reiser; Bill G. and Louise Smith; Chuck and Judee Stanley;
Charles and Mary Carolyn Stoy; Business Memberships ($35): Island
Park News, Yellowstone Drain and Sewer.
IPHS is running a membership special— join now and you will
receive a membership for the rest of of 2003 and al of 2004 Send
$10, individual; $15, family; or $35, business to the Island Park
Historical Society, PO Box 224, Island Park, ID. 83429. Include
your name, full address, phone number, and E-mail address, if
any.
Top
Biz briefs
Sevy
builds Web sites, repairs computers
Jim Sevy, former manager of Henry’s Fork Landing,
is trading in his apron and spatula for a mouse and a computer.
Sevy, a Mack’s Inn resident, will use his high tech skills
to design Web sites and repair computers. He is now working on
giving the Island Park News’ site a new look.
For more information or to schedule a Web site consultation or
computer repair, call him at 520-3007.
Send it Home provides mail & office services
Send it Home, located on Madison Street in West
Yellowstone east of the Playmill Theater, is a specialty mail and
office service. Owner Pati Taylor will pack your package and ship
it U. P S or FedEx. The business does faxing and copying, and
provides customers with computers to access the Internet. Taylor
recently added gift-wrapping to her menu of services.
For more information, contact Pati Taylor at (406) 646-7300 or
[email protected]
Top
New group
recognizes the blessings & obligations of business ownership
in the Yellowstone region
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Yellowstone
region business owners are blessed to be here and obligated to
preserve the quality of life that drew them here, Peter Christ,
Chairman of the Yellowstone Business Partnership told a group of
people gathered at the Trouthunter in Last Chance this week.
Christ is Chairman of he Board of Directors of the Bozeman-based
Yellowstone Business Partnership, a non-profit organization of
conservation-friendly business owners.
"We want to become a new voice that you have never heard
before," said Christ, owner of Bridge Creek Backcountry
Kitchen & Wine Bar in Red Lodge. We are NOT a voice that will
look at the resources in this region and divorce ourselves from
what needs to be cared for. As business people, we want to help
shape the future of this region, to make it a place that remains
spectacular so our children can enjoy the quality of life that
drew us all here in the first place."
Christ said that the "world’s eyes are on us. There has
always been a worldwide focus on the Yellowstone region."
Jan Brown, a Pinehaven cabin owner, recently became the executive
director of the Yellowstone Business Partnership. Brown and
Partnership board members are visiting communities surrounding
Yellowstone to sell the new organization, gather members, and get
ideas that will help the group set its agenda.
Several Island Park business owners and members of community
organizations attended the Trouthunter event, as did Island Park
City Councilman Tom Jewell and Fremont County Commissioners Bill
Forbush and Gordon Smith.
Last summer, the Partnership teamed up with the Sonoran Institute
to produce Getting Ahead in Greater Yellowstone: Making the Most
of Our Competitive Advantage, authored by the Institute's head
economist, Ray Rasker of Bozeman. The report notes that,
"our natural landscapes and friendly towns" are
important economic assets, and that the area’s pristine
environment is an important element in the region's robust
economy. The report details economic findings for each of the 21
counties in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho that surround Yellowstone
and Teton National Parks. Getting Ahead in Greater Yellowstone
can be downloaded as a PDF file from the Partnership’s web
site (see address below).
Other directors are Bill Bryan, Vice Chair, Off The Beaten Path,
Bozeman; Chris Pope, Secretary, The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Co,
Bozeman; Steve Shuel, Treasurer, MacKenzie Northwest Management,
Bozeman; Paul Bertelli, Jonathan L. Foote & Associates,
Livingston; Scott Carsley, Yellowstone Alpen Guides, West
Yellowstone; Steve Duerr, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce,
Jackson; Tony Jewett, National Parks and Conservation
Association, Helena; Dwight Minton, Church & Dwight,
Princeton, New Jersey; and Katie Salsbury, Intermountain
Aquatics,
Driggs.
A basic business membership in the partnership is $100.
To join, contact the Yellowstone Business Partnership, PO Box
7337, Bozeman, MT. 59771, (406) 522-7809,
[email protected]; Web site: www.yellowstonebusness.org
Getting Ahead in Greater Yellowstone: Making the Most of
Our Competitive Advantage
Summary Findings
Population
Trends
Currently more than 370,000 people live in Greater Yellowstone.
From 1970 to 2000 the area’s population grew by 141,621
people, a 61% increase (compared to 38% nationally).
The population of Greater Yellowstone has aged, as is the case in
the nation as a whole. In 2000, 33% of residents were at least 45
years old, compared to only 29% of residents 10 years earlier.
People under 20 years old represent 32% of the area’s total
population.
Compared to the rest of the nation, Greater Yellowstone’s
population is not racially diverse, with more than 93% of
residents considering themselves white. This number repeats
itself throughout neighboring areas and adjoining states.
Employment Trends
Greater Yellowstone’s economy is growing rapidly, outpacing
the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, as well as the nation
as a whole. From 1970 to 2000, more than 143,000 new jobs were
created.
Wage and Salary (people who work for someone else) and Proprietor
(self employed) employment have both grown over the last 30
years. Wage and Salary accounts for 73% and Proprietors for 27%
of all employment in 2000.
Employment growth in Greater Yellowstone is concentrated in some
industries more than others. The most prosperous industries are
in Service and Professional fields, which consist of a mixture of
high-wages occupations such as engineering, medical and financial
services, and low-wages occupations such as hotel maids, retail
associates, and social services. These industries accounted for
more than 71% of new jobs between 1970 and 2000, and 62% of all
employment in 2000.
The fastest growing sectors over the last 30 years were: Services
(37%), Retail Trade (19%), Government (12%), and Construction
(10%). Note that although Government employment grew, its share
of the overall job base shrank from 18% to 15%.
The largest employment sectors in 2000 were: Services (30%),
Retail Trade (18%), Government (15%), and Construction (9%).
Not all sectors of the regional economy are doing well. Mining
grew 0.5% from 1970 to 2000, and amounted for 2% of all
employment in 2000. Farming and ranching lost more than 1,300
jobs in the same time period, and accounted for 6% of employment
in 2000.
Income Trends
Total personal income in Greater Yellowstone has grown in recent
years, with more than $5,140 million in new income earned between
1970 and 2000.
Non-Labor income was the fastest growing source of personal
income, representing 48% of all new income in the last 30 years,
and 38% of all income in 2000. Services and Professional
industries grew by 39% and amounted to 37% of all income earned
in 2000.
Non-Labor income is a combination of dividends, interest and rent
(money earned from investments), and transfer payments (money
paid by the government to individuals).
Growth in this category can be attributed to several factors,
among them strong gains in the stock market and an increasing
number of retirees. Over the last 30 years, Non-Labor income has
had a stabilizing effect relative to down turns in labor income.
Leading Services and Professional growth has been the relatively
high-wage producer services (finance, insurance, real estate,
legal, engineering, etc.), which from 1990 to 1997 grew by 42%.
Much of the growth of this type of “knowledge-based”
industry depends on access to larger markets via airports.
Services alone accounted for 24%, Government 12%, Construction
7%, and Retail Trade 6% of all new income in the last 30 years.
After Non-Labor sources, the largest sectors in 2000 were
Services (19%), Government (13%), Retail Trade (8%), and
Construction (7%).
On the other end of the industry spectrum, growth in traditional
industries (agriculture, mining, forestry, and oil and gas
development) has been sluggish. In 2000, less than 10% of total
income in the area was derived from these industries – less
than half of what these same industries accounted for in 1970.
Farm and ranch income fell by $291 million (or 67%) since 1970.
Earnings Trends
Per capita income in Greater Yellowstone has been rising
steadily, from $15,401 in 1970 to $23,357 in 2000. Note that per
capita income is total personal income – including non-labor
sources – divided by population. Per capita income is rising
largely due to increases in non-labor income.
On the other hand, average earnings per job (in real terms) for
the region have been steadily declining from $27,262 in 1970 to
$23,426 in 2000. This decline is consistent with trends in the
three surrounding states, though more severe, and in contrast to
upward earnings trends for the nation as a whole.
Agricultural Trends
From 1970 to 2000, farmers and ranchers in Greater Yellowstone
shifted their production away from livestock (57% of gross income
in 1970, versus 44% in 2000). Crop production has remained
relatively stable, representing 30% of gross income in 1970 and
39% in 2000. More income in 2000 is from the rental of farm land
(10% of gross income, versus 7% in 1990). Government payments in
2000 represented about 10% of gross farm income, not a
significant change over the last three decades.
Overall farm and ranch businesses operate with very tight
margins; production expenses are growing while commodity prices
fell. This trend has cut profitability from $334 million in 1970
to $51 million in 2000.
Business Establishments
From 1990 to 2000, more than 4,000 new businesses were
established in the region; of these, 90% were small, employing
fewer than 20 employees. Small businesses are by far the most
vital and dynamic part of the region’s economy.
Unemployment Trends Unemployment in Greater
Yellowstone has been steadily declining and was lower – 3.6%
in 2001 – than that of surrounding states and the nation.
The region’s unemployment rate fluctuates seasonally, from a
low of 2.9% in the summer to a high of 4.8% in the winter in
2001.
Housing Affordability The ratio of median house value to average
earnings expresses the affordability of housing in the region. In
1999, housing was most expensive in Teton County, Wyoming (the
median house value was 12.8 times average earnings) and cheapest
in Clark County, Idaho (the median house value was 2.4 times
average earnings).
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines 30%
of gross household income as the cutoff for reasonable housing
costs. In 1999, nearly 36% of households in Greater Yellowstone
spent more than 30% of their income on rent.
Migration Patterns Greater Yellowstone is characterized by high
rates of migration. In 2000, only 50% of the region’s
inhabitants were born in the state of their current residence,
and 28% lived in a different county five years earlier.
Education Levels On average, Greater Yellowstone
residents are better educated than the population from
surrounding states and the nation, and education levels are
improving. In 2000, 89% of the adult population (25+) had a high
school education, 28% had a college degree, and 8% a graduate or
professional degree.
Airports Regional airports are critical to
connecting local economies to larger markets. They are also
important for tourism. The number of enplanements at Greater
Yellowstone airports grew by 4.5% in 2000, faster than the nation
at 3.8%. The growth rate varies between airports and is subject
to significant seasonal fluctuations.
Top
Women’s Health
Fair drew a crowd, gave important tests to women & men
Nearly
200 people focused on all aspects of women’s health at the
Women’s Health Fair, held at the Country Manor in St.
Anthony Saturday.
Every available appointment for a mammogram at the Portneuf
Medical Center’s portable testing unit, parked next to the
Manor, was filled. Women and men took advantage of many free-or
reduced-cost tests and procedures, including hearing tests, flu
shots, blood screening, blood pressure readings, eye pressure
tests, and diabetes testing.
Exhibits covered many topics, including nutrition, diet and
exercise, acupuncture, yoga, vision challenges, cosmetics,
domestic violence, and children’s health care. Kathleen
Nelson, from Eastern Idaho Technical College Health Professions
Division, gave a workshop on stress. Dr. Stephen J. Cheyne of St.
Anthony gave a talk on hormone replacement therapy and
osteoporosis. In two separate workshops, Martha Tweedy, Idaho
Falls, of the American Cancer Society, and Sharon Marler, author
of MammySlammy: Mammograms with Courage and Humor, spoke about
how to cope with a cancer diagnosis: how to handle the news,
share the news, and find the best treatment and support.
The fair included free samples of lamb donated by Jean Siddoway,
part of an attractive display on lamb that included free recipes
and nutritional information.
Organizers billed the event as a special day for moms, and women
left their children home to enjoy visiting with one another.
Visitors left with bags filled with samples and literature. Many
won neat door prizes, including an overnight stay at the Blue
Heron Inn, meals at Johnny Carino’s, cosmetics, and discount
coupons from AmeriTel Inns.
Top
Friday, September
26, 2003
Baby
of the Year:
Sheylaci Lisbeth Gunnell
Island Park residents Nathan and Jancey Gunnell pose
with their new baby, Sheylaci Lisbeth Gunnell. Sheylaci is the
Island Park News Baby of the Year because she was the first baby
in 2003 whose relatives called in her birth to the paper.
Sheylaci was born on Saturday, September 13. Jancey was given a
basket filled with a new mom-pampering Melaleuca spa collection.
Sheylaci received a supply of disposal diapers and a basket
filled with baby goodies, including natural baby cosmetics from
Nature’s Nook in Rexburg.
Highway 20 planning meetings set
for next week
Commerce director discusses
economic development in Fremont & Clark counties
Historical Socety helps Dick
Rock’s descendent find his final resting place at
Henry’s Lake
Community Care looks at building a
clinic in Island ParkIsland Park folks to help decorate the
National Christmas Tree & 70 others
Island Park folks to help decorate
the National Christmas Tree & 70 others
Learn about the Yellowstone
Business Partnership in a reception at the Trouthunter
Sportsmen’s group elects
board, appoints officers
PAWPRINT: School News
Jill's Place to honor veterans
Yellowstone prepares for winter
season changes
Fremont County looking for new golf
course manager
Pond’s to hold holiday arts
& crafts fair
County raises landfill fees
County planning panel approves
small Henry’s Lake subdivision
Fall themes in reading & art
featured at the library Saturday
Book sale
still under way
Highway 20 planning meetings set
for next week
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Scenarios for
improving safety, access, and traffic low at five of Island
Park’s busy areas will be proposed at two public open houses
next week. The gatherings, hosted by the Idaho Transportation
Department (ITD), are part of the planning process for the
20-year U.S. 20 Phase II Corridor Plan for the road from the
Ashton Bridge through Island Park to the Montana border on U. S.
20 and Hwy 87 to the Montana border.The agenda and time, 4 -7
p.m., are the same for both meetings. Dates and locations are
Wednesday, October 1, at Angler's Lodge, Last Chance; and
Thursday, Oct. 2, at Ashton City Hall, 714 Main Street, Ashton.
At Jill’s Caf� in St. Anthony Monday, the Island Park News
had a luncheon discussion with ITD representatives and
consultants about the plan. The News also attended the Fremont
County Commission meeting to hear the ITD representatives talk
about the plan with commissioners Bill Forbush and Don Trupp.
Right now, ITD Project Manager Lance Holmstrum said, planners are
gathering data, engineering analyses, and public comments that
will help them come up with possible alternatives. These
alternatives will be reviewed in another round of open houses,
after which feasible alternatives will be chosen to be looked at
in another set of open houses. The entire process should conclude
by the end of next summer_ with the draft plan ready in June.
Implementation of the plan depends on funding, and there is no
way to predict how much money ITD will be allocated from year to
year, Holmstrom noted.
Here are alternatives that the team will present at next
week’s open houses. Holmstrom said he hopes these will spark
brainstorming about more alternatives.
Corridor-wide Alternatives
Shoulder Widening - Several areas within the
corridor have deficient shoulders. ITD District 6 planners
recommend a minimum of 8 feet for shoulder treatments in this
corridor to accommodate vehicle breakdowns as well as bicycles
and pedestrians. This alternative would standardize shoulder
width throughout the US 20 corridor at 8 feet wide. Highway 87 is
recommended to match the shoulder width on the Montana side of
the corridor.
Rumble Strips - The addition of rumble strips on the
right of the fog line would help to lessen run off accidents.
Winter Maintenance - Addition of magnesium chloride in high
winter accident areas may help prevent collisions and slide offs
in areas where ice builds up and is difficult to remove.
Sight Distance - Ensure adequate sight distance at all
driveway and roadway intersections by removing objects and
vegetation that have encroached into the clear zone, as it has in
areas like Federal Hill.
Speed - Develop more consistent speed signage and
enforcement along the corridor.
Weigh Station - Support the addition of a permanent
weigh station and Port of Entry somewhere along the corridor.
Congestion Reduction - US 20 is forecast to have higher
than acceptable congestion (Level of Service D) throughout the
study area. Congestion needs to be brought to acceptable levels
(Level of Service B or better) throughout the corridor.
State Highway 87 Alternatives
Culvert improvement at Targhee Creek
Culvert improvement at Howard Creek
Work will restore bisected wetlands and drainage into
Henry’s Lake
Renovate SH-87 to same standard as Montana side of corridor.
This would include:
� Widen shoulders
� Improve clear zones
� Improve roadway surface (chip-seal)
Mack’s Inn Area
Access Management - Eliminate multiple accesses
to Mack’s Inn. Better utilize driveways that can be accessed
by side roads.
Alternative Access - Create back entrance, off of Big
Springs Loop Road, into Mack’s Inn area and eliminate
driveways on US 20.
Traffic Light – Put a traffic light at the
intersection of Big Springs and control all US 20 access points
by providing access off side roads.
Yale-Kilgore Intersection
Turn Lanes and Acceleration Lanes - Lengthen existing
turn lanes and add acceleration lanes for vehicles turning onto
US 20.
Traffic Light - Add traffic light control at the
intersection.
Re-align Existing Road – Re-align existing
intersection to create an improved intersection and establish
access controls on the newly aligned portion of the highway.
Interchange - Construct an interchange to give access
while eliminating turn movements on the corridor.
Sawtell/Big Springs Intersection (Village Crossroads)
Turn Lanes and Acceleration Lanes - Lengthen existing
turn lanes and add acceleration lanes for vehicles turning onto
US 20.
Jug Handle Intersection - Create new intersection after
right off to cross corridor. This eliminates left turns, but
still provides access across the corridor.
Interchange - Construct an interchange to give access to
eliminate turn movements on the corridor.
Traffic light - Add traffic light control at the
intersection.
Last Chance Area Alternatives
Access Management - Limit driveway access to US 20 (one
driveway approximately every 600 feet) and connect parking areas
for circulation between properties.
Frontage Roads With Intersections - Limit highway access
to intersecting streets at a maximum of every quarter mile and
construct roads in front of local businesses to access
properties.
Back Roads with Intersections - Limit highway access to
intersecting streets at a maximum of every quarter mile and
construct roads behind local businesses to access property.
Area Bypass - Construct a new alignment with access
control to the east of the existing alignment, keep the existing
highway as a business loop through Last Chance.
Aspen Ridge
Fremont County Commissioner Bill Forbush suggested that the Aspen
Ridge area be given a closer look. He and Clerk Abbie Mace noted
that there have been accidents and near accidents at the turn-off
to Bootjack and Red Rock roads, and that in winter snowmobile
parking by the Outlet Bridge causes some traffic and safety
problems there.
Cathy Koon, ITD Public Information Specialist, "The people
who live and work in the area have ideas from firsthand knowledge
about how the road should be improved," she noted. "We
listen to everyone and want to hear all your ideas."
Don Galligan, HDR Engineering, Inc. of Boise, invited people to
visit the Web site for the plan— www.rs20plan.com. Input on
the above alternatives, new ideas, and other thoughts can be
e-mailed from a link at the site. HDR is gathering and analyzing
technical data and integrating public input as the company writes
alternatives that will be presented in the final draft.
Galligan, Koon, and Holmstrom all said that the best input is to
give specific information about specific roads.
Top
Commerce director discusses
economic development in Fremont & Clark counties
By ELIZABETH LADEN
Elected officials in Island Park, Ashton, St. Anthony, and other
communities in Fremont and Clark counties need education about
the importance of economic development programs to healthy
communities. This was the consensus of a group of people who
gathered at Pond’s Lodge recently for a review of the
Fremont/Clark Economic Development program. The review was hosted
by the state Department of Commerce and attended by the
Department’s director, LaMoyne Hyde.
Hyde is an Idaho Falls resident who owns Hyde Driftboats and
Outfitters and Last Chance Lodge, as well as a water treatment
business. When the governor appointed him to head the Department
earlier this year, he put his family in charge of the businesses.
Also at the meeting were other Department of Commerce
representatives; Peter Gladstone, director of the Fremont/Clark
Economic Development Program; Suzette Bollinger, Cathy
Stegelmeir, and Susan Baker, all from Ashton and members of the
Fremont Economic Adjustment Team (FEAC) that hired Gladstone;
Gary Campbell, owner of Pond’s Lodge, and Richard Crofts, a
Pond’s Lodge employee; Dubois residents who are members of
the Clark County Economic Development Board; and Fremont County
Assessor Ivel Burrell and Treasurer Pat McCoy, also members of
FEAC.
For a while, FEAC had merged with its Clark County counterpart,
based in Dubois. Meetings alternated between St. Anthony, Ashton,
Island Park, and Dubois. Driving distances were hard on members,
especially in the winter, so the teams went back to separate
meetings. There are supposed to be two representatives on the
team from the cities of Ashton, St. Anthony, and Island Park, and
a representative from the County Commission. Participation has
been low, many complained at the Pond’s gathering. The city
of Island Park has not sent a representative in months, and Mayor
Brad Smith was a no-show that night as well.
Strategies for getting local governments to participate were
discussed and included increasing communication among the
communities, sending more meeting reminders, and giving more
reports about economic development issues to local governments.
Department of Commerce officials promised to help by visiting the
cities and counties to talk about the Department’s many
programs. Hyde said he would come personally to both counties to
tell officials about all the programs available to help rural
Idaho businesses start up, stay solvent, and expand.
"I was amazed when I came to work at the Department to learn
about all the programs we have to offer," said Hyde.
"My pledge to you is to do all I can to help you take
advantage of these opportunities." Hyde noted that he is
visiting small communities all over Idaho.
One of the programs funded Gladstone’s wages, offices, and
expenses for three years, with some matching dollars from cities
counties, and private industry.
Department officials said that the grant money runs out on June
30, 2004, and if interest and funding are there, it will probably
be renewed.
Dubois representatives said that Gladstone has done a wonderful
job helping their community with projects to restore its main
street, get a business incubation center going, and helping
businesses see if and how they could expand.
Gladstone said he is ready to do more to help Fremont County
communities— once they get on line and participate. He noted
that he is helping to host business training classes for
potential and existing businesses, along with the Idaho Small
Business Development Center and Bechtel.
Commerce Department officials urged Island Park, Ashton, and St.
Anthony to revitalize and strengthen their Gem Community programs
because committees of active programs can apply for grants and
technical assistance for economic development projects. Gem
programs in the three cities are in a slump. In Island Park,
Genny Prahasto has resigned as chairman and the city and chamber
of commerce, which formed the team in May 1997 by passing a joint
resolution, does not participate. The team has just two active
members— Ray Stratford and Adrienne Keller. Stratford
recently urged people to come to the meetings. The next one is
set for 7 p. m. Thursday, October 2 at the Island Park Ranger
District office.
Here are Commerce Department programs that could help Fremont and
Clark communities, if elected officials and other community
leaders would jump on board, learn more about them, and take the
necessary steps to receive the help needed to bring the programs
to their communities:
Idaho Rural Initiative. Programs to develop understanding of
leadership and governance; telecommunications; education and
labor force development; infrastructure/pubic facilities; and
economic development. To actualize these programs, grants are
available for economic development and Gem Community program
implementation.
Rural Incentives. The Workforce Development Training Fund helps
businesses by paying part of an employee’s wages. The Three
Percent Broadband Investment Tax Credit helps businesses add
broadband Internet service.
Community and Rural Development provides financial and technical
assistance to cities and counties to construct and rehabilitate
public facilities necessary for economic diversification,
business expansion and job creation‚ for example business
incubation centers like the one planned for Dubois.
Economic Development helps businesses expand, attracts new
businesses, assists local development efforts and develops,
maintains, and disseminates economic and demographic data.
International Business helps Idaho businesses access new markets,
export goods and services abroad and increase foreign awareness
and acceptance of Idaho products and services.
Tourism Development helps Idaho's tourism and recreation industry
expand by marketing the state's travel opportunities at home and
abroad, distributing grants to communities to promote tourism and
developing the state's film industry. The tourism unit divides
the state into travel districts. Yellowstone Teton Territory
promotes Island Park, Fremont County, and other eastern Idaho
communities, using money from lodging taxes.
Idaho's Science and Technology Committee works to foster
technology development and transfer and coordinate the state's
efforts on technology programs, such as the Technology
Reinvestment Project.
The Fremont Economic Adjustment Team meets next at 7 p. m.
Wednesday, October 1 in the Fremont County Courthouse. Everyone
is welcome to attend. For more information, call Peter Gladstone
at 624-1298.
Top
Historical Socety helps Dick
Rock’s descendent find his final resting place at
Henry’s Lake
  The
Island Park Historical this week was able to help visitors Frank
and Fran Bernatz, Missoula, locate the grave of one of their
ancestors. The ancestor is also an important part of Island Park
history. His name is Dick Rock, and Fran said that she is his
descendent on his brother’s side— making her a
great-great-grand niece.
Rock settled at Henry’s Lake in 1872 after working as a
guide and scout for the U. S. Army. He was the area’s second
white settler, after Gillman Sawtell. One of his many ways to
earn a living was to capture wild animals and tame them to ship
to zoos.
Unfortunately, one of the animals he tamed and kept for himself
for several years gored him to death. On March 22, 1902, his pet
buffalo, Lindsay, gored him 29 times after he had turned his back
on her when feeding her in her pen.
Fran brought with her a copy of Rock’s biography by Nolie
Mumey, titled Rocky Mountain Dick, Richard W. Rock, Stories of
His Adventures in Capturing Wild Animals, The Range Press, 1953.
The book has several photos of Rock and his ranch buildings.
Rock is buried on private land in a spot Rock had designated to
be his final resting place. A long-time Island Park resident
guided the Bernatz’s and IPHS President Nancy Stratford,
Vice President John Losch, and Secretary Elizabeth Laden-Losch to
the spot. The grave is marked by a cairn of rocks and a wooden
cross that has been torn apart.
Fran said that she would like to place a more permanent marker on
the spot. IPHS officers will discuss her desire with the
membership and, if IPHS would like to become involved in helping
the Bernatz’s, the landowner will be contacted.
If you are interested, come to an IPHS meeting. For details, call
Nancy Stratford at 558-7875.
Photos:
Dick Rock at his henry's lake Ranch; Fran Bernatz holds teh
broken cross together at her ancestors's resting place.
Top
Community Care looks at building a
clinic in Island Park
Community Care Urgent
Care and Injury Center, a health care business based in Idaho
Falls, has made an offer to purchase land in Island Park on which
it may build a health care facility, Dr. David Daniels, a
Community Care partner and family practitioner, told the News
Wednesday.
The land is west of U. S. 20 at Village Crossroads, on the road
to Stonegate.
Daniels is one of Community Care’s three doctors and he is
based at the Rexburg facility. The company owns clinics in Idaho
Falls and Rigby and, Daniels said, "We have been thinking
about building a facility in Island Park for the last year and a
half."
Daniels said that when his company learned that Ashton Family
Medical Center had said it is planning to build a facility here,
they moved forward with the land purchase.
"We have money down while we consider if it will be feasible
to go ahead with it," said Daniels. He said that the company
hung Community Care banners on the lot to evoke response from the
community. It did the trick— he has had numerous calls.
"So far, we have had mixed reactions," he said.
"Some think we are edging in on the Ashton clinic, and they
resent it. But others have shown support for us having a facility
in Island Park."
Daniels said if they decide to go ahead, they would most likely
be open on weekends at first, and then expand hours and days to
meet community demand.
"There is so much we do not know about what people need and
about how many people would use the facility," he said.
Community Care clinics in Rexburg and Idaho Falls draw patients
from Island Park, West Yellowstone, Ashton, and St. Anthony, but
"we still have to look at the numbers and see how many
people we’re talking about, if they pay for their care with
insurance or have no insurance, what kind of care they need, and
so on. We also know that Island Park will not support two
clinics," Daniels noted.
Daniels said that the Island Park clinic would use the
company’s full service lab in the valley, with samples
traveling by courier and results sent up fast by fax. He said
they would probably use portable x-ray equipment until a need for
permanent equipment was evident. And, he said they have several
options for providing prescription drugs to patients on a
short-term basis, until they can have drugs mailed to them from a
pharmacy.
The Ashton facility would be built with funds collected by the
Fremont County Hospital District, which never dissolved when the
Ashton hospital closed down. The District collects around
$130,000 a year from Island Park and Ashton residents, and
allocated the money to the Ashton Family Medical Center and the
Ashton Living Center, both private operations.
One Hospital District member told the News that the land
Community Care plans to purchase is the same site the Ashton
facility had hoped to buy and if Community Care builds in Island
Park, the Hospital District would most likely withdraw its plans
to build here.
Community Care may hold a meeting in Island Park to see how
people feel, Daniels said. He also noted that his company might
consider a partnership with Ashton.
Meanwhile, Daniels invites people to call him and share their
thoughts on the issue— Community Care in Rexburg is
359-1770. Or, write Dr. David Daniels, Community Care, 72 East
Main, Rexburg, ID. 83440.
Top
Island Park folks to help decorate
the National Christmas Tree & 70 others
Island Park folks will get together at Pond’s Lodge next
month to make ornaments for the National Christmas Tree, which
will be harvested from the Boise National Forest in November.
The national tree entourage will pull into the parking lot at the
city of St. Anthony complex (former Forest Service headquarters)
at 5 p. m. on Wednesday November 12. Island Park people are
invited to caravan to the tree site for an outdoor party
organized by St. Anthony residents that will include caroling,
presentation of the ornaments, refreshments, and other fun stuff.
To join the caravan, meet in the Pond’s Lodge parking lot at
4 p. m. on Wednesday, August 12. If you are south of Pond’s,
join the line when it passes by.
This is the first time Idaho has been given the honor of
providing the tree that will adorn the front lawn of the U.S.
Capitol in Washington, D.C. this holiday season. Idaho will also
provide about 70 companion trees that will be placed in the U.S.
Supreme Court and other government offices in our nation's
capitol. Organizers of the project have selected the theme
"From Idaho's Heart to America's Home."
The 70-foot Engelmann Spruce will be cut during a special
ceremony on November 3. It will travel to more than 50
communities throughout the Gem State so that Idahoans have a
chance to see it before it is transported east. The tree will be
lit at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Thursday
December 11
The Idaho Legislature has passed a resolution urging all Idahoans
to participate in the effort to provide the Capitol Holiday Tree.
Everyone is invited to make ornaments on one or all of the
following dates: 2 p. m. Tuesday, October 13— special time
for children; 10 a. m. Tuesday, October 21, and 10 a.m. Tuesday,
October 28. You can also make ornaments at special events of your
favorite organization, or at home with your family. Patterns and
other supplies for ornaments that fit the national specifications
will be provided. The ornaments will reflect Island Park themes:
trout, wildlife, pine trees, and winter. For the specifications
and information on bargain trips to Washington D. C., visit
www.capitolholidaytree2003.org
Volunteers are needed to help with the ornament-making sessions.
You can also make a donation for supplies if you would like. The
Island Park News will donate money for supplies used on Tuesday,
October 14, and for any event the Island Park Library holds so
that children can make ornaments at the library.
For more information about Island Park’s tree-trimming
activities, or to volunteer, contact Nancy Stratford, 558-7875.
For information about the St. Anthony party for the tree, call
Darby Merrill at 624-3409.
Top
Learn about the Yellowstone
Business Partnership in a reception at the Trouthunter
Directors of the
Yellowstone Business Partnership will hold an informal catered
reception to introduce the organization to the Island Park
community from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 29 at the
Trouthunter in Last Chance.
Jan Brown, a Pinehaven cabin owner, recently became the executive
director of the Bozeman-based organization. Brown left a job at
Bechtel to take the position. Before that, she was the executive
director of the Henry’s Fork Foundation. She was the first
chairperson of the Island Park Gem Community Team, and once owned
Lucky Dog Retreat in a remote area of Island Park known as
Fransenville. Brown has also worked at Harriman State Park and
has served on many community and state committees over the last
three decades. She has a home in Bozeman in addition to her place
at Pinehaven.
Brown and others from the partnership will discuss economic and
environmental challenges facing the Island Park area.
The Yellowstone Business Partnership is an organization of
businesses in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that are
interested in positive growth that does not harm natural
resources and the region’s remarkable quality of life.
Membership in the Partnership is open to businesses operating in
the Yellowstone region that support the following core values:
Environment is a Cornerstone of Economy - The Yellowstone
Business works to create sustainable economies in partnership
with the conservation and stewardship of the region's natural
assets. The Partnership rejects the notion the communities must
choose between economic and environmental health.
Our Parks are Our Future - The Yellowstone Business Partnership
believes that the vitality of the regional economy and our
communities is directly related to the health of our great
national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and surrounding
public lands. For this reason the Partnership endeavors to
protect and sustain our federal reserves.
Business Success is Our Goal - The Yellowstone Business
Partnership believes that our region is at a crossroads.
Decisions must be made that support business prosperity while
sustaining our natural resources.
A Sense of Place is Our Heritage - The Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem is a unique and wondrous landscape that shapes our
culture and supports our livelihood. We celebrate its natural
qualities, its colorful history, and its sense of opportunity.
Leadership is Our Responsibility - Business creates economic
wealth. Natural environmental assets are an essential component
of the regional economy. Joining with their communities,
businesses can advocate for natural resource stewardship as an
active step toward community well being and economic vitality.
Seeking Solutions is Our Objective - The Yellowstone Business
Partnership embraces a frank, open and informed dialogue on the
issues of the day. The Partnership seeks solutions, innovation,
and inclusion across the diverse, Greater Yellowstone community.
A basic business membership in the partnership is $100. To join,
stop by the reception or contact Yellowstone Business
Partnership, PO Box 7337, Bozeman, MT. 59771, (406) 522-7809,
[email protected] ; Web site:
www.yellowstonebusness.org
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Sportsmen’s group elects
board, appoints officers
In a recent meeting
at Pond’s Lodge attended by 18 people, members of the Island
Park Sportsmen’s Association (IPSA) elected people to serve
on the organization’s nine-member board. Elected were Dennis
Kennedy, Bill Smith, Mary Lou Lewis, Willie Glans, Bill Heiter,
Ron Kynaston, Eddie Lewis, Barry Phillips, and Nancy Phillips.
The Board then selected the following members to serve as
officers in 2004: president, Dennis Kennedy; vice president, Bill
Smith; and secretary-treasurer, Mary Lou Lewis.
Members at the meeting voted unanimously to have Dennis Kennedy
write a letter to the Fremont County Commission stating that the
IPSA supports any action the county may take to ban stream
skipping in Island Park— the practice of snowmobiling on
open water. It was noted that stream skipping is not a good
conservation practice.
The group discussed progress made toward finding a location for a
shooting range on land in the Caribou-Targhee National
Forest’s Island Park Ranger District. It was noted that an
IPSA member and a Forest Service representative still has to
drive around the Forest in search of a location. Heiter said tat
the range has to be laid out so that shooters face north. He said
that in this hemisphere, this would ensure that shooters are
least bothered by the sun.
Kennedy said that the shooting range and other important topics
would be addressed at the next meeting, set for 7 p. m. Tuesday,
October 1 at the A-Bar and Supper Club. He also noted that a
speaker or speakers will attend the meeting, and everyone is
invited.
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Paprint by
Kristina Doyle
North Fremont Schools News
North Fremont sports
teams have been doing extremely well this year, and the players
invite you to come to their games. The high school football team,
who is still undefeated after winning their game 31-18 against
Malad, has their next home game on Sept. 26 against Challis, and
another game on Oct. 3 at West Jefferson. The volleyball team
will also be playing Challis on Sept. 26, and Butte on Sept.30,
both home games. The soccer teams will play at Teton on Sept.27,
and then have a home game against Madison on Oct. 1. The
basketball teams will be starting their season in November, and
the wrestling team will start in December. The junior high
football teams have home games against West Jefferson on Sept.
25, and the Junior high volleyball team has a game on the 25th at
South Fremont. The volleyball team will also be going to District
Competition at Firth on the 27th at 10 a.m.
Renaissance Action Team members went to the school board this
week to ask them to fund the program again. Last year the school
board helped pay for team members to go to a conference in Las
Vegas, and helped with the expenses for rewards and incentives
for everyone in the school. The team put together a speech and a
powerpoint presentation about how much they learned in Las Vegas
and are waiting for the board's decision.
Drivers Ed. with Mr. Clark started on Thursday for anyone born
before March 15, 1989. The class will be two days a week until
mid December. The 13 students are excited to finally be taking
the class, even though they have to be at the school at 6:30 a.m.
Most of the students in this class will be able to get their
driver's licenses around April 15th.
The North Fremont Education Foundation announced that they will
donate $1,000 to North Fremont High School. The money will be
used for many different improvements around the school.
In the elementary school, Mrs. Lenz' class wrote essays about
their " Three Favorite Things". Students answered many
different things, but some of the most common were football,
reading, video games, bike riding, and their siblings.
In Mrs. Scafes' second grade class, the "student of the
week" is their high school aide Brittany Hammond. The
student of the week has their body outlined and cut out of paper,
colored by other students and hung up on the wall. The other
students ask them questions and the responses are posted too.
Some of Brittany's answers were: she is 17 years old, her
favorite state is Hawaii, her favorite car is the VW Beetle, and
she wants to go to college at the University of Idaho.
Potato harvest break starts in one week, and everyone is excited
to go on vacations or make money working in the potatoes. The
high school will not issue work permits this year, so the
students won't be able to have excused absences if they take off
extra time to work. School will be out from September 27 through
October 13.
Birthdays for the end of September are Ryker Wynn and Jonathan
Carmona on the 14th, Esther Fuentes on the 15th, Matthew Heck and
Stephen Pennino on the 17th, Franco Leon on the 20th, Tyler
Valentine on the 24th, Hayden Keith Gerdes on the 28th, Remington
Gonzales and Fernando Garcia on the 29th, and Hayden Beard on the
30th. Happy Birthday to all!
Top
Jill's Place to honor veterans
Chuck Noble of Jill's Place and Dick Marler are honoring area
veterans by placing their photos on the walls of the popular St.
Anthony Eatery.
Marler is gathering the photographs and scanning, printing, and
framing them. Chuck is displaying them on the walls. They hope to
have the project completed by Veteran's Day—November 11,
although the display will change as more photos are added any
time.
They are labeling the photos with name, branch of service,
rate/rank, honors, and KIAs.
Many photos are already on display, said Sharon Marler,
Dick’s wife, who is helping with some of the technical work
needed for the photos.
"People just stand and stare at them. Kinda' touching,"
she said. "This project has to be made public so all the
vets can have their photos on the walls and be recognized. There
are soooo many young kids...teenagers....that stop and read
them."
Dick is head of security at the state Juvenile Corrections Center
in St. Anthony, the owner of a wildlife photography business, and
a columnist/photographer for the Island Park News. He is paying
for all the frames and photograph paper.
For more information, stop by Jill’s Place or call Dick at
624-4706.
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Yellowstone prepares for winter
season changes
Winter may seem a
long way away, but if you plan to visit Yellowstone Park during
the snowy season, it is important to plan far ahead, park
officials said this week.
Yellowstone Park is scheduled to open for the winter season at 7
a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, weather and snow conditions
permitting.
"As a result of the March 2003 Record of Decision for winter
use, we have had a number of inquiries from park visitors about
what to expect this coming winter," Superintendent Suzanne
Lewis noted. "During the 2003-2004 winter season, several
changes will be implemented:"
950 snowmobiles will be allowed in the park each day, and
everyone entering the park by snowmobile must have a snowmobile
entrance reservation. If traveling with a commercial guide—
80 percent of all snowmobile entries will be commercially
guided— reservations will be made through that company. If
traveling independently and operating a personal or rented
snowmobile, make a snowmobile entrance reservation by calling
Xanterra Parks & Resorts at (307) 344-7311 between 7 a.m. and
6 p.m. There is a cost for the snowmobile entrance reservation,
and visitors will still be required to pay the park entrance fee.
All commercially guided operators will be required to use
snowmobiles that meet the park's best available technology (BAT)
requirements. Currently, several models of snowmobiles produced
by Arctic Cat and Polaris have been certified as meeting these
new noise and pollution requirements. The list of approved BAT
snowmobiles is on the park's Web site at
www.nps.gov/yell/press/03115.htm
For non-commercially guided snowmobiles, BAT snowmobiles are not
required in the 2003-2004 winter.
All snowmobile operators are required to have a valid state
driver's permit; no learner permits are allowed.
Beginning the winter of 2004-2005, all snowmobile entries will be
guided— 80 percent commercial/20 percent
non-commercial— and all snowmobiles that enter the park must
be BAT.
The park's new Winter Use Plan is the result of a decade of
comments, research, and lawsuits. The plan's goals include
providing a cleaner, quieter, and safer winter experience for
visitors, employees and wildlife.
For more information on visiting the park during the winter,
including the
park's 2003-2004 Winter Trip Planner, visit the park's web site
at
www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/winteruse/index.htm or call (307)
344-7381.
Top
Fremont County looking for new golf
course manager
Fremont County parks
and Recreation Department Director Tamra Cikaitoga announced this
week that her department is looking for a manager for the Fremont
County Golf Course north of the city of St. Anthony, east of U. S
20. Current manager Frank Mackert has resigned, effective at the
end of this season.
The job will be advertised as a three-year position. The manager
would work seven months of the year and be paid a salary of $2400
per month plus 25 percent of the green fees after $10,000. The
manager also has the potential to earn money operating the snack
bar and lounge and the pro shop and golf cart rentals.
Resumes will be accepted until October 17. The Golf Advisory
Committee and the County Commission will interview applicants.
For more information, contact Cikaitoga at 624- 7266.
Top
Pond’s to hold holiday arts
& crafts fair
Pond’s Lodge
owner Gary Campbell announced this week that he will host the
Pond’s Lodge Holiday Arts & Crafts Show, Fri. Sat. Sun.
Nov. 21 – 23.
He said around 30 space would be available for people to sell
handmade crafts and artwork suitable for holiday gifts. Other
activities will be scheduled at the lodge during the event.
To register, call Louise at Pond’s Lodge, 558-7221.
Top
County raises landfill fees
Fremont County
Commissioners this week passed a resolution to raise the landfill
fee by 5 percent. The fee is currently $60 for a single-family
house, so that category will increase to $63 per year. The fee is
on property tax notices.
Commissioners are in the process of establishing fees for the new
Five County Detention Center, the expanded St. Anthony Work Camp,
and the new Springcreek Manor, and revising fees for the state
Juvenile Detention Center and the Ashton Living Center.
Top
County planning panel approves
small Henry’s Lake subdivision
In its September
meeting, the Island Park Planning Commission approved a small
subdivision bordering Hwy 87 near Henry’s lake.
The Lolo-Hopkins Subdivision will consist of four lots on 12
acres along the highway and next to the Yellowstone Acres
development, said Planning Administrator Karen Lords.
Top
Fall themes in reading & art
featured at the library Saturday
Reading Rendezvous
time has changed from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. on Saturday. The
Reading Rendezvous story theme Saturday will be "Fun in the
Fall," and will include an art activity that will be used to
decorate the library.
The Island Park Library Friends book sale netted $127.50 last
weekend, and the sale will continue this week during library
hours. There is still a large collection of sale books covering
many subjects and tastes, including cookbooks, classics, and
hardback fiction in great condition.
Hours for the
three libraries in Fremont County
Ashton Library. Mon.
- Thurs., 2 - 6; Friday - 1 - 5; Sat. 10 - 1. Call 652-7280 for
more information. Story Hour every Friday at 1:30 p. m.
Island Park Library. Thursday, noon to four; Friday, noon to 5; a
Saturday, 11 to 4. Reading Rendezvous— stories and
activities for children— is at 11 a. m. on Saturday.
St. Anthony Library. Open Mon. - Wed. noon - 6; Thurs. noon - 5;
Fri. and Sat. - 10 - 1. Call 624-3192 for more information. Story
Hour Wednesday at 1 p. m.
Top
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