Clearwater Tribune

Nixle service coming to Clearwater County

2012-02-22T16:37:00.002-08:00

By Don Gardner

Clearwater County Office of Emergency Management is utilizing a new communications service that allows us to send important, valuable community information directly to residents using the latest technology.

The Nixle Community Information Service allows the county to create and publish messages to be delivered to subscribed residents instantly via cell phone text message and/or email. Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle’s web site at www.nixle .com

Messages may include Weather Warnings and Evacuation Notices as well as other relevant safety and community event information.

The messages can be sent specifically to residents registered within a quarter mile radius, giving them the opportunity to receive trustworthy information relevant only to their neighborhood. Residents decide from which local agencies they want to receive information. Subscribers can also choose the way in which alerts are received, whether it is by email, text message, or over the web, and the service is free.

Nixle builds on the foundations of other public-to-public communication services, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but adds a key component: security. When citizens receive information from our agency via Nixle, they know it can be trusted.

Residents of Clearwater County and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at www.nixle.com. We are very excited to have you experience it for yourself.

Nixle is a community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. It is the first authenticated and secure service that connects municipal agencies and community organizations to residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted consumers over their cell phones (via text messages), through e-mails and via Web access.

Nixle has secured a partnership with Nlets (the International Justice and Public Safety Network), allowing local police departments nationwide to send immediate alerts and advisories. For more information, visit www.nixle.com.

Corps extends public comment period on Dworshak Nutrient Supplementation Environmental Assessment to March 17

2012-02-20T14:54:00.001-08:00

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District is extending the public comment period on an Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the “Dworshak Reservoir Nutrient Supplementation Pilot Study.” The comment period extension will now end Saturday, March 17. This is a 30-day extension of an initially announced public comment period ending today. The Corps extended the public comment period to accommodate wider public input.

The Environmental Assessment is the next step in Corps’ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance as it plans to resume this reservoir ecosystem restoration pilot study in 2012. Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to the Corps effective Oct. 15, 2011 after its environmental review and consideration of public comments. The NPDES permit allows application of liquid fertilizer to Dworshak Reservoir as an ecosystem treatment.

With the extension, public comments on the Corps Environmental Assessment must be postmarked, faxed or e-mailed to the Corps by March 17, 2012, to be included as part of the public record. E-mail comments should be sent to DworshakNutrientSupplProj@usace.army.mil.

Faxed comments should be sent to 509-527-7832. U.S. Mail comments should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Environmental Compliance Section, ATTN: John Leier, 201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876.

The EA and draft FONSI documents are available for viewing at the Corps’ website at www.nww. usace.army.mil; Orofino City Hall at 217 First Street, Orofino; Clearwater County Courthouse, 150 Michigan Avenue, Orofino: and Recorder’s Office, Room 100, Nez Perce County Courthouse, 1230 Main Street, Lewiston.

To learn more about the Corps of Engineers and its mission in the Walla Walla District, see the District website at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/.

Historical Rex Theatre up for sale

2012-02-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Rex Theatre is shown in this 1920 picture of Orofino as the first building on the left-hand side of the street across from the Ford dealership.

By Alannah Allbrett

The Rex Theatre in Orofino is not officially listed for sale with a realtor, but owner, Chris Wagner, says he will sell it if the right offer comes along. “I have thought a lot about it. I am a painter by trade, and I have a few rentals to manage and other things that fill my time up.” Wagner has to make a 120 mile (round trip) trek to Orofino each week. “I’m tired of bringing the film down. I just think somebody could do a better job at it at this point.”

The Rex has been in Wagner’s family since his grandfather, Al Wagner, Sr., purchased it in 1955. Wagner also owns the Blue Fox Theatre and Sunset Auto View, both in Grangeville, The Rex has recently undergone renovations. Wagner said it has a new roof, furnace, carpet, seats, and has been painted. He’s asking $159,000 for the historical movie house.

The Rex is Orofino’s first theatre. It was built in 1914 in its present location at 156 Johnson Avenue. But it looked very different from today. To start with, there was a vacant lot on the left of it with a large barn in the distant background. To the right, facing on a diagonal, was a little gas station or “filling station” as they used to be called.

Theaters are universally switching to digital format, requiring costly new equipment. Wagner reports that film will not be made anymore once everything goes digital within the next couple of years. He said no one knows for sure when the cutoff will be.

Digital movies take a couple of hours to download, according to Wagner, but one doesn’t have to deal with the “messy film.” He has a couple of friends in the business who have made the conversion. “It’s pretty cool,” he said.

Wagner plans on purchasing the computerized digital equipment for his Grangeville theatre. It requires a digital processor, a laptop computer, a content box, and a digital projector. “It’s pretty good sized and weighs about 40 to 50 pounds” Wagner said referring to the stacked computer components.

Movie studios have financing plans for new equipment if a theatre wants to convert. “You have to sign up and order the equipment; you initially have to take out loans to make it happen. Supposedly the film studios will pay 100 percent over a 10-year period,” said Wagner.

When asked if going digital helps a movie theatre get top run movies when first introduced, Wagner said owners have to commit to running a movie for a two week period. “They give a two week minimum on movies like War Horse or Mission Impossible. In a small town like Orofino, you reach a saturation point (where everyone has seen it) within one week.”

Practically, movies could also be downloaded directly to Orofino. When asked if that would solve his commuting problem and keep the theatre open, Wagner said, “I have to see how it works here” [Grangeville], not ruling out the possibility that digital format might be just the answer for keeping the theatre going from a distance.

Marti Deyo receives P.E.O. grant

2012-02-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

Christine Bradbury, P.E.O. Chapter AW Program Continuing Education co-chairperson, Marti Deyo (center) and P.C.E. recipient, Carla Laws, P.E.O. Chapter AW, President.

Marti Deyo received a P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education grant from the P.E.O. Sisterhood, with sponsoring Chapter AW presenting the grant. P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the

United States

and

Canada

whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families.

Marti graduated with a BA in English from Willamette University in 2004. While at Willamette she was a member of the swim team and Delta Gamma. She volunteered in various organizations and worked at the bookstore and surrounding schools.

She spent the fall semester of her junior year studying in London. While there she spent spare time enjoying Shakespeare plays and visiting European countries.

The spring semester she spent on Semester at Sea - a ship that sailed around the world starting in the Bahamas and venturing to Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, India, Korea, Japan, Alaska, Canada, and ending in Seattle. This was a life-changing experience that got her interested in living abroad and becoming an English teacher. She has been in 63 countries.

After graduating from Willamette, she was accepted into the JET Program and moved to

Japan

. She spent five years in three different cities. For three years she was an assistant language teacher and taught elementary to adult learners. The last two years she was a prefectural advisor in charge of welcoming the 121 new JETs to her prefecture (state).

She founded a Peer Helper group and was the founder and editor of the first Aomori Quarterly detailing the events around the prefecture and JET lives.

She returned to the

USA

in 2009 to travel throughout the States on numerous road trips from coast to coast.

She enrolled in Boise State University in 2010 to get her masters in Early Childhood Studies. Spring semester of 2012 she received a graduate assistantship, assisting the professors in various capacities including research, lesson plans, and brainstorming.

Marti has applied for both graduate school to get her doctoral degree in academic administration as well as a position with the Department of Defense working with Head Start programs on bases around the world.

Hooray for Hollywood!

2012-02-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

Rebecca Wentz is pictured in front of a model set that she built for a Match.com commercial. As Art Director, she worked with one other girl using found objects; everything from soup cans, to thumb tacks, buttons, plastic and water bottles, to textured paper towels to create the set.

Local girl, Rebecca Wentz, finds her dream job

By Alannah Allbrett

Rebecca Wentz, a 20 year old young woman from Orofino, has found success in Hollywood. A 2009 graduate of Orofino High School, Rebecca always supposed she would go into pre-med classes in college. She took a sharp departure from that by applying “on a whim” to a specialized artistic school in Los Angeles. She found, to her surprise, that she was one of ten new students accepted at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) to study visual communications. She followed that course of study with entertainment set design and decoration.

Rebecca visited the school in February of 2009, formed a friendship with another girl from the school, and together they found an apartment. With the support of her parents, Lynn and Audrey Wentz, her new adventure in southern California began.

As a school assignment, Rebecca was scheduled to tour a prop house (a warehouse that stores movie props) and write a report. She visited Omega Cinema Props in West Hollywood for what was supposed to be an hour long visit. Bedazzled – five hours later, she was still there. Rebecca said, “I fell in love with it!” She found herself wandering through canyons of prop rows, including: period pieces of furniture, trees, mailboxes, and clothing – anything one might imagine that could be needed for a movie production.

Rebecca had the opportunity also of interning on a set with the students from the American Film Institute. The set decorator asked her to return, and she had the opportunity to work with the art department. She says set design helps tell the whole visual story of a film. A set decorator works with the film’s director to figure out the look for a film. They draft out the set, which may include computer or hand drafting, blue prints, models and sketches.

While in school, Rebecca had the opportunity to study in

Italy

during the Spring of 2010, and 2011, traveling through Paris, Florence, Venice, Rome, and Milan, learning about the culture, art, and architecture.

In the fall of 2010, Rebecca got to work on the film The Artist, a French film set in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932. Rebecca said the whole crew was French and came to the

U.S.

to make the movie. Rebecca said the sound stage was huge; it could hold five different sets at once.

Rebecca helped setting up by placing furniture, and finding the right lights and fixtures. It required researching that period of time to create accurately the right look. At $20 million dollars it was considered a low budget film. After it was made, Warner Brothers bought the film and released it on a limited basis. After people started seeing it, it started playing widely and subsequently won a Critics’ Choice and three Golden Globe Awards. The film has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards.

Since graduating from FIDM in 2011, Rebecca has had many wonderful opportunities such as working on music videos, and on several television commercials for companies such as Honda, Kellogg, and the Oprah Winfrey Network. She worked also on student films and two television shows: The Children’s’ Hospital and NTSF-SD. “I learned so much from those crews, It was awesome.” Production Design is now Rebecca’s dream job.

Rebecca enjoyed Christmas at home in Orofino with her parents whom she would like to thank. “They supported me even though it sounded like a crazy idea.” said Rebecca.

The set for Match.com illustrated the story of a sock puppet who was trying to find its match. The store front names humorously played off the sock theme. The theatre was “Asockalypse Now” showing “The Sock Father.” And the local diner was named the “Sock-Hop.”

CVHC Doctors advocate for drug free youth

2012-02-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

Taylor Kelso, Dr. Phil Petersen, and David Olson demonstrate some props used to showcase healthy lifestyle choices at the 2012 OES Health Fair.

A Health Fair was held Jan. 26 at Orofino Elementary school for grades K-7 where students visited twenty different stations throughout the day. Presenters focused on health issues and came from a wide range of local businesses and organizations including the Orofino Police Department, Sunnyside Fire Department, LCSC Outreach, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics and several others. Topics that were covered were exercise, bone health, germ awareness, internet safety, spine care, boating safety, goal setting and healthy choices.

“We wanted to have a broad range of presentations to really cover every area that is related to health. We asked Dr. Petersen and Dr. Meza to focus on healthy lifestyles that are free of drugs, alcohol and tobacco,” says Angie Baldus, OES Principal.

Dr. Phil Petersen, Physician at CVHC, presented to the morning classes and spoke about smoking in terms of lifelong cost, “How much does a pack of cigarettes cost? Five dollars? Some people smoke one, two and three packs a day! That’s really going to add up over time,” as he held up a little red sports car toy, “If you’re smoking three packs a day, there’s no way you’ll ever be able to afford a car like this!”

Dr. Michael Meza, Physician at CVHC, took over for the afternoon classes and continued on the same track. “The children at all age levels seemed to really enjoy the discussion and many had great questions. We spoke about the importance of healthy decisions, in an attempt to learn healthy behaviors throughout life,” says Meza.

Dr. Petersen recently joined a task force based in Coeur d’Alene that aims to deter kids from using any type of prescription medications that are not prescribed to them. “I know the interest is here to get something similar started in this community. There are a lot of people from the hospital who I think would want to participate and I’m hoping to find more potential members, possibly through the K-12 Roundtable. It’s a very important issue that needs to be addressed here in Orofino as well as all over Idaho,” says Petersen.

“The Health Fair was a great success that the kids enjoyed and learned a lot from. We hope to do it again next year and continue teaching our kids about healthy, safe, productive lifestyles,” says Baldus.

Manufacturing a foundation for the future

2012-02-03T13:00:00.001-08:00

North Central Idaho leaders will be gathering at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston on Thursday, Feb. 16 to discuss regional activities that support manufacturing. Clearwater Economic Development Association (CEDA) and Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers Association (NIMA) are holding their fourth joint meeting of members.

Starting at 2 p.m. there will be an interactive session with young adults in the local workforce and a panel of business, civic, and elected leaders. They will discuss the strengths and challenges of living, working, and volunteering in the region. At 4 p.m., CEDA will host an orientation for anyone interested in the mission, vision, goals, and activities of their organization.

Concurrent NIMA and CEDA business meetings will follow at 5 p.m. Beginning at 6 p.m., with the theme of “Manufacturing a Foundation for the Future,” CEDA Chairman and LCSC Dean of Professional Technical Programs Rob Lohrmeyer and NIMA President and Seaport Machine General Manager Kim Geist Jr. will co-host the dinner and program.

Presenters will share progress on key projects being developed in the region. This includes the City of Potlatch River Ridge Redevelopment Plan presenting the master plan and marketing strategy; the Lewis-Clark State College National Science Foundation Project which uses a solid modeling software tool for supporting the instruction of math, technology, engineering, and math concepts in six area high schools; and the American Manufacturer Network which supports a network of manufacturers’ efforts with Department of Defense contracting.

This public event is open to anyone with interest. For more information, contact Clearwater Economic Development Association at (208)746-0015.

North Central Idaho sees improvements in labor market

2012-01-26T16:19:00.001-08:00

Labor force statistics indicate the north central Idaho economy has been growing in recent months.

North central Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved down another notch from 8.2 percent in November to 8.1 percent in December. A strengthening economy meant the region's unemployment rate in December was significantly below the 9.4 percent in the same month the year before.

All of the counties in north central Idaho, except Nez Perce County, saw their unemployment rates drop between November and December. Even Clearwater County’s when from 13.6 percent in November to 13.3 percent in December. In December of last year it was 15 percent.

Nez Perce County’s unemployment rate went up from 6.9 percent to 7.2 percent, as the full impact of the Clearwater Paper layoff began to be felt. Despite the increase, its rate was below the 7.8 percent of the previous December.

Despite its neighbor’s unemployment increase, Asotin County’s rate fell to 7.8 percent in December after jumping to 9.7 percent in November. Its rate was down a full percentage point from 8.8 percent in December 2010.

Industries showing growing strength in recent months include manufacturing, insurance, logging, retail, restaurants, and health care.

In December 2010, about 4,400 north central Idaho residents were unemployed. Twelve months later, about 3,900 were. That was an 11 percent drop in unemployment. In the same period, the number of unemployed Idahoans fell nearly 13 percent and the number of unemployed Americans fell 9 percent.

Anna Grimaldo to visit Japan with other Idaho students

2012-01-20T13:04:00.001-08:00

Anna Grimaldo, sophomore at Orofino High School, is going to

Japan

in July 2012. Anna was selected to travel to

Japan

with a delegation of high school students from across the state of Idaho. The program is being funded with a grant from the government of

Japan

. Anna Grimaldo will join a group of twelve Idaho students to learn about the culture, history, and people of

Japan

first hand. They will spend nearly two weeks in country. The hope is that they will share some of American culture with their counterparts, and bring back their new found knowledge and pass it on to their home communities.

The student trip is actually the second phase of a grant project submitted by Dr. Dan Prinzing of the Idaho Human Rights Foundation centered in Boise, Idaho. The first phase sent a team of 12 Idaho educators to

Japan

last summer. Michelle George, seventh grade teacher at Orofino Elementary, had the fantastic opportunity to be part of that group. The adults visited several major cities and cultural sites in

Japan

, including some public schools in Tokyo. The educators all wrote lessons plans on various aspects of Japanese culture that are now available on line to any interested teachers world-wide. All of the lesson plans can be found on the Idaho Human Rights Foundation web site: http://idaho-humanrights.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=12

During this second year, Anna will participate in a collaborative study of

Japan

with the other students from around Idaho. They will use the Internet to post projects and collaborate on their learning. They will be sharing their experiences with their home schools next year.

The third phase will bring Japanese students here to Idaho. Anna’s family will host one of the Japanese visitors for a couple of weeks in the third year of the program.

Anna Grimaldo was selected because she has demonstrated exceptional academic and personal qualities, along with an impressive desire to expand her experiences by visiting a country very far from home. Orofino can be very proud of her and confident that she will represent her home community well.

Corps invites public comments on Dworshak Nutrient Supplementation Environmental Assessment

2012-01-18T15:51:00.001-08:00

‘Next step’ in environmental compliance to resume Dworshak reservoir ecosystem restoration

AHSAHKA, Idaho – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District invites the public to comment no later than Thursday, Feb. 16, on an Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the “Dworshak Reservoir Nutrient Supplementation Pilot Study.” This 30-day comment period is the next step in Corps’ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance as it plans to resume this reservoir ecosystem stewardship pilot study in 2012.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to the Corps effective October 15, 2011 after its environmental review and consideration of public comments. The NPDES permit allows application of liquid fertilizer to Dworshak Reservoir as an ecosystem treatment.

The EA and draft FONSI are available for viewing at the Corps’ website at www.nww.usace.army.mil and the Orofino City Hall at 217 First Street, Orofino, Idaho. Comments on the Corps Environmental Assessment must be postmarked, faxed or e-mailed to the Corps by February 16, 2012, to be included as part of the public record. E-mail comments should be sent to DworshakNutrientSupplProj@usace.army.mil. Faxed comments should be sent to 509-527-7832. U.S. Mail comments should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Environmental Compliance Section, ATTN: John Leier, 201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876.

To learn more about the Corps of Engineers and its mission in the Walla Walla District, see the District website at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/.

Broadband coverage for dead spots

2012-01-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

By Alannah Allbrett

The Orofino Chamber of Commerce held its first regular meeting of the year Wednesday, January 4 at the Ponderosa Restaurant.

Chris St Germaine, Project Development Leader for the Nez Perce Tribe, gave a presentation about recent developments erecting towers for a comprehensive broadband system over the Clearwater Valley.

Cities that will have accessible coverage include Culdesac, Kamiah, Fraser, Orofino Riverside area, Ahsahka, Peck, Cherry Lane, Cottonwood Creek, and as many areas in between as possible.

St Germaine said the mountainous topography has been a huge challenge in erecting the necessary towers and getting equipment to those spots. It is also prohibitive to bring power to remote areas. The cost to deliver power to one of the sites alone will be $68,000.

Through the American Restoration and Recovery Act, grants have been obtained, with matching funds from the tribe to undertake this massive project.

The target date for connectivity, in the areas mentioned, is estimated for early March, 2012. The rule of thumb is: if you can see a tower, you are likely in range for service.

Coverage speeds and costs range from: Tier 1 (for the home owner) 3 mbps down and 1.5 mbps up, at a cost of $20 (with a $100 setup fee). Tier 2 (10 mbps up/down for $300. Tier 3 20 mbps down/up for $500. Connectivity at 20 mbps – to be negotiated.

Broadband coverage will greatly assist emergency responders and some of the dead spots will be knocked out. The network will fill in the gaps to areas in Riverside and to the fisheries where before, coverage was not possible.

For site survey information call: 208-843-7307 ext. 2.

Executive Director

Annual bills have been sent out to members via email. If you did not receive yours contact Stephanie Deyo.

$250 raised from the Festival of Trees will go directly to fund next year’s events with more lighting and to meet other festival needs.

The Chamber Auction will be held in March this year, near St. Patrick’s Day so that it doesn’t conflict with the World Jet Boat Races. Dates will be announced.

Next meeting

The next regular chamber meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18, at 12 noon, at the Ponderosa Restaurant.

Clearwater River oil leak still being monitored

2012-01-11T17:06:00.001-08:00

By Alannah Allbrett

The underground petroleum leak discovered in the Clearwater River Monday, December 26, is still under investigation Earl Liverman, a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the leak as being located near Atkinson Distributing, Inc. That business includes an unmanned gas station as well as above-ground storage tanks.

The underground lines at the station were pressure tested as recently as 2011, and no leaks were found at that time. On November 11, a small earth quake, of 2.3 – 2.6 magnitude, occurred in the area which may have triggered a leak.

The EPA listed, among possible causes, an abandoned underground storage tank, a broken gas line, something flushed into the river, or something buried in a sandbar. Another possible cause might have been substances that leached out of an old landfill which used to be in that area.

The leak has been contained by booms, and Atkinson representatives continue to monitor it.

Idaho’s snowpacks less than average

2012-01-06T16:39:00.001-08:00

Snow surveyors from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) measured snowpacks around the state last week verifying that snowpacks are below average.

“We’ve been in an extended dry spell since around Thanksgiving Day,” said Ron Abramovich, Idaho NRCS Water Supply Specialist. “The stagnant weather pattern gave us blue skies during the day and clear skies at night for nearly 30 days.”

Twenty-two snow telemetry sites - the remotely located automated sites that record and transmit snowpack data – registered record low amounts of snow by Christmas Day.

Storms the last week of December finally pushed out the static weather pattern. The storms raised monthly precipitation measurements across the state but not enough to bring snowpacks to average levels. Northern Idaho snowpacks are the best at 75-90% of average for this time of year. Southern and central Idaho snowpacks range from 35 to 65% of average.

“Long term climate forecasts still predict La Niña conditions will bring above average precipitation to the Pacific Northwest for the next several months,” said Abramovich. “We need La Niña and 12 weeks of winter to salvage the year.”

Abramovich added that even if snowpacks remain below average this winter, there is excellent carryover water storage from last year for irrigation, power generation and other uses that rely on the snowpack for water supplies.

NRCS conducts snow surveys at the end of each month from December through May to make snow runoff predictions and water supply forecasts used in managing Idaho’s water resources.

For more information about snowpack, precipitation, runoff and water supplies for specific basins, please view the complete January 2012 Water Supply Outlook Report online at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow and click on the ‘Water Supply’ link.

Eric MacEachern honored for service to ICA

2012-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Eric MacEachern is pictured with ICI-O Warden Terema Carlin, who nominated him for the Feldner Award.

The Idaho Correctional Association (ICA) has given its highest honor, the Feldner Award, to Eric MacEachern of Orofino, a former deputy warden at Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICI-O) who sought to protect the people of Idaho by giving offenders opportunities to change.

Eric “Mac” MacEachern began working for the Idaho Department of Correction as a correctional officer in January of 1985. He served in a variety of positions at ICI-O, including as a member of the department’s Correctional Emergency Response Team, before retiring as the institution’s deputy warden of programming in April.

“Mac was always loyal to IDOC and believed the job of any and all IDOC staff is to provide opportunity for change for the offenders and for each other,” says ICI-O Warden Terema Carlin during the award presentation on December 8 in the Statehouse rotunda. “Every day, Mac provided opportunities for the staff and the offenders to excel.”

MacEachern witnessed IDOC undergo dramatic change during the course of this 26-year career. In 1985, Idaho’s total prison population was 1,339. Today it is more than 7,600.

Still, MacEachern says the department’s mission remains the same – to protect society while keeping IDOC staff and offenders safe. But he says his view on how to fulfill that mission has evolved.

“It took me a long time to realize that just running the prison really wasn’t protecting society,” MacEachern says. “It was that kind of heart-to-heart programming and teaching and role modeling that the correctional officers and food staff do every day, because that that was what was going to protect society when people were released.”

The Idaho Correctional Association represents all correctional professionals in Idaho. The association’s Feldner Award for Lifetime Achievement is considered to be the Idaho criminal justice community’s highest honor. The award honors a criminal justice professional who has shown excellence, dedication, loyalty, and leadership while in service to the citizens of Idaho. The award was created in memory of New Plymouth Police Officer Ronald Feldner who was shot and killed in 1994 while investigating a report of a stolen car.

Theron Bruce and Coral Klaudt celebrate 40th anniversary

2011-12-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

Theron Bruce and Coral Klaudt were married on Coral’s parent’s (Ray and June Klaudt) 25th wedding anniversary, May 1, 1971 at the Church of the Nazarene in Orofino.

They first lived in Missoula, MT before moving to Peck in the autumn of 1971. They met at Bruce’s dairy in 1968, the summer Coral moved to Orofino from Missoula.

Theron attended Banner School, graduated from Orofino High School in 1965, from ISU in 1970 and LCSC in 1994. He has been involved in the logging industry, in education, and at present enjoys a long rewarding career in school bus driving. He drives the same Harmony Heights route that he rode as a boy and concurrently tends the home places.

He enjoys visiting and traveling, trains, hobby-logging and woodworking (from sawing it to sawing it up and building it).

Coral attended public schools in Missoula, MT, graduated from Sentinel High School in 1968, and attended Business College there. She worked at State Hospital North, and for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Primarily a homemaker, she also enjoys gardening, especially her flowers, and has studied and become an accredited flower show judge. She enjoys sharing her flowers and floral art, and helping out at flower shows and county fairs around the area.

Family and faith are priorities to Theron and Coral. They are members of the Church of the Nazarene in Orofino, where Theron served as treasurer and board member for many years, and Coral has helped organize and decorate for seasons dinners and special occasions.

They are both music fans, especially Southern Gospel, Gaither and Blue Grass music. They have lived in Peck for 40 years, where they raised their four children Jeremy, Cicely, Jason and Jarel. Their children attended Peck and Orofino schools, all graduating from Orofino High School before moving on to higher education opportunities and attaining degrees at LCSC, U of I, the U.S. Navy, NIC and others.

Family outings and traveling to visit their children and grandchildren in their various unique and interesting locations around the country are highlights.

Their children are: son Jeremy, his wife Krista in AK with their children Taylor, Sydney and Jerron; daughter Cicely and husband Nathan Bernard on the Oregon coast with their son Sawyer; son Jason and wife Trisha in Florida (with the U.S. Navy) and their girls Rachel and Hannah; and their son Jarel and wife Megan in Wyoming with bird dog Ava Hund. Also part of the family are: DesiRae, Tim and Drake Zabel of Clarkston, WA.

With all the Bruce family coming home to Peck in July, a family reunion celebration was held, honoring special birthdays and anniversaries, including a picnic and camping at the Grangemont place.

Smoking Cessation

2011-12-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

The most important New Year's resolution you may ever make

The New Year is a symbol of renewal and can be a time to prepare for new beginnings. It is a time to set goals and make them public so that you can get support and encouragement from friends and family. Many smokers use the New Year's holiday as motivation to quit.

For some, this is the first time they've tried to quit; for others, they may have tried before. Regardless, this may be the most important resolution a smoker ever makes. Free help is available by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Break the Addiction

Nicotine is the drug in tobacco products that makes them addictive. In fact, nicotine dependence is the most com-mon form of addiction in the United States. Research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.

Quitting smoking can be challenging and may require multiple attempts. But you can quit, and it's important to keep trying. Don't give up! You learn something new every time you try.

Almost 50 million smokers have successfully quit. In fact, since 2002, the number of former U.S. smokers has exceeded the number of current smokers.

Smokers want to smoke because nicotine changes the way the brain works and causes them to crave more and more nicotine. These powerful cravings can make it hard to think about anything else. Smoking can cause both physical and mental addiction. But smokers can beat addiction to tobacco.

The first days are the most uncomfortable. The physical symptoms end about three weeks after you quit. You can beat the mental addiction, too.

Improve Your Health

Breaking free from nicotine dependence is not the only reason to quit smoking. Cigar-ette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and chemical compounds, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic (i.e., cause cancer).

Smoking is one cause of dangerous plaque buildup inside your arteries. Plaque is made of cholesterol and scar tissue. It clogs and narrows your arteries. This can trigger chest pain, weakness, heart attack, or stroke. Plaque can rupture and cause clots that block arteries. Completely blocked arteries can cause sud-den death.

Fortunately, people who stop smoking can greatly reduce their risk for disease and premature death. And the younger you are when you quit, the better your chance for avoiding these problems. So don't wait!

Quitting smoking:

· lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer.

· reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

· reduces respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

· reduces the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

· reduces the risk for infertility among women during their reproductive years. Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby.

If you quit smoking, you will also help protect your children, family, and friends from exposure to secondhand smoke that can cause immediate harm to the nonsmokers who breathe it.

Support to Quit

For support to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669; TTY 1-800-332-8615). You can get free support and advice from experienced coun-selors, a personalized quit plan, self-help materials, the latest information about cessation medications, and more.

You may also want to check out these resources 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or you can go online to: idaho.quitnet .com or call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine (dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588) to find classes nearby to help you quit using tobacco.

This message was brought to you by the Nez Perce Tobacco Prevention Coalition and the Center Disease Control. For more information you may also contact Nimiipuu Health Community Wellness 843-2271 or Mary Johnson 935-4110 or Jean Anne Moose at 621-4612.

Weippe Library helps bring technology to area

2011-12-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

Dan Lambert from Frontier Communications helped string the lights on the tall trees near Weippe Library.

The Weippe Library is helping community members light up their world. A Technology Petting Zoo was held at the library with help from First Step Internet. Two tech savvy support personnel assisted Library Director Terri Summerfield with relieving gadget fears of the young and old alike.

First Step Internet has been instrumental in providing high speed Internet to the Library and community and was part of the BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program) grants provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and federal government. With the recent upgrade, the library’s Internet speed has increased from 1.5 Mbps to over 9 Mbps. This increase helps the eight person Technology Center, free WiFi and cell service run smoothly with little noticeable slow-downs.

Smart-phones, iPads, laptops, Kindles and MP3s were on display and available for the public to touch and play with. While checking out the latest gadgets, patrons were able to register for a free iPod, won door prizes and enjoyed refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. After the Technology Petting zoo, patrons went outside to see the lighting of the trees around the library.

Dan Lambert from Frontier Communications helped string the lights on the tall trees making the library a festival community hub. Frontier Communications is also supporting and promoting high-speed Internet to the Weippe area with Fiber Optics.

If you have any questions about gadgets, technology or the Internet, don’t hesitate to call the staff at the Weippe Public Library, First Step Internet or Frontier Communications.

Andrea Schilling, a love for gemstones and an eye for fine jewelry

2011-12-20T15:47:00.000-08:00

Pictured (l to r) are some examples of Andrea Schilling’s lovely jewelry. First is a necklace and earring set made of cherry quartz, carved wood beads and crystal accents. Next is a necklace of South American topaz and azurite. Second from the right is a necklace made of Swarovsky crystals and Picasso jasper and a silvertone owl. On the far right is a necklace of blue turquoise and howlite turquoise in pink tones. Visit our website to see these creations in full color: www.clearwatertribune.com

By Alannah Allbrett

Andrea Schilling of Orofino has a passion for beautiful gem stones like turquoise, lapis lazuli, and crystals. She breaks out smiling when she talks about her favorite gem stone moss agate. And now her passion for lovely gem stones will develop into a business shortly.

Andrea comes from the city of Cochabamba, in central

Bolivia

, a city of more than a million people. Andrea worked for a company there which made sweaters out of alpaca wool (one of their customers was Bill Cosby). The company was interested in using long distance telephone service via Skype on their computers, and Andrea was asked to test that program. She didn’t want to practice on her actual customers, so she went online and ran into her future husband Les Schilling. They met online, became friends, and later were married. Andrea came to this country eleven years ago and became a “proud

U.S.

citizen” in 2007 because she wanted to be able to vote in the presidential election.

Andrea said she became interested in making her own jewelry after her husband, Les Schilling, gave her a used starter tool kit purchased from eBay. It was filled with lots of different kinds of pliers for making jewelry. She was also inspired by two other people Kathy McIntosh and Sissy Morris. “They have been wonderful encouragement for me” said Andrea.

Andrea became adept at fashioning beautiful jewelry pieces, which she made as gifts. Friends started asking her to make jewelry for them, and friends of her husband wanted it for their wives.

Andrea and Les like to visit Laughlin, NV and While there, they have noticed a wide range of jewelry for sale. Andrea said when one walks into the main lobby of the casino in Laughlin, right away they notice inexpensive jewelry made in

China

. In another spot in the building, one can find expensive jewelry using real silver or gold clasps. The wide range in price between the cheap jewelry and the fine jewelry became apparent, and Andrea decided there was a definite need for something in between – fin, handmade jewelry that wasn’t exorbitant in price but still of good quality.

On their last trip to Laughlin, the Schillings found a store they loved called Garden Critters. The owner of that store uses welded metal, wrapped around river rock to create unusual art pieces and garden ornaments. Those pieces inspired Andrea to get ready to start her own business and furnish Crazy Critters with her own creations. When she gets her website going, she will be up and running. For information on Andrea’s creations call: 476-0249.

Local counselor and author A. Jay Kessinger publishes a book

2011-12-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

A. Jay Kessinger

By Alannah Allbrett

“If God Gets Angry, Why Can’t I?” is the title of a book written by local author, Jay Kessinger (MSW, LCSW) a licensed counselor for over 40 years.

Kessinger says the book is not about God, and it’s not about anger. Rather, it is a book about attitudes and feelings. He explains that the word God is in the title because some of the attitudes discussed are moral and judgmental – God representing the ultimate moral authority in any given society according to Kessinger.

Likewise, the choice of the word Angry is prominent in the title because “Anger is the emotion that’s most likely to be judged in a condemning way when dealing with moral standards.” says Kessinger. “Judgment might be too harsh to apply to all situations,” said Kessinger in this discussion. “There are also what I call non-accepting attitudes toward certain feelings,” demonstrating a person’s feelings might be judged as unacceptable, inappropriate, or just not important. An adoption of these attitudes can lead to internal conflicts and counterproductive ways of dealing with feelings.

Some of the weighty topics this book tackles are: the purposes and functions of feelings; sexual feelings; spiritual experiences, and using feelings to help manage one’s life. The book’s goal is help people manage their feelings (and their lives) in productive new ways.

Jay has worked in the field of mental health as a counselor, psychotherapist, and a case manager. He has practiced at State Hospital North, in outpatient mental health, and in private practice.

To learn more about the specifics of this book, published by Digital Legend, visit the following webpage: www.ifgodgetsangry.com/ or check out the link on Facebook.

Norwegian reporter seeks fate of lost grandfather

2011-12-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

Pelle Nilssen's grandfather, Henry (Nilssen) Nelson, worked for Schmidt Bros. mill and lived in Weippe in the 1940s.

The Clearwater Tribune last month received an e-mail from a retired Norwegian reporter, Pelle Nilssen, who lives in Olso,

Norway

’s capital. Pelle explained that his grandfather, Henry (Nilssen) Nelson, who was born in

Norway

in 1889, immigrated to the

United States

in early 1909, leaving behind a wife, Maren Sofie, and a son, Pelle's father. Pelle is out to solve the mystery of what became of this grandfather he never met, who left behind a young family to come to the

United States

. The story has always intrigued him, and when he retired, his daughter-in-law encouraged him to explore it.

Pelle has tracked Henry to Clearwater County, having come across a filled-out D.S.S. Form 1 (a U.S. Army registration card) that suggests Henry worked for Schmidt Bros. Mill in early 1944, when he was 55, and that he lived in Weippe. Henry listed his wife as Ethel, not Maren Sofie, suggesting that he married again after coming to the

United States

. Pelle doesn't know why his grandfather decided to leave, why he never came back, what became of him. It is one of the many mysteries surrounding Henry's strange story.

Nilssen is a very common name in

Norway

, and often changed in

America

to Nelson. With the help of the Internet, Pelle and his daughter-in-law used Henry's birth date to track him to Butte, Montana. A lot of Norwegians immigrated to Butte, and earlier this year Henry visited the area. He was interviewed by the Silver State Post, which published the interview in its Oct. 12 issue.

The mining and smelting operations in Montana were an irresistible lure for people looking for work and a new start. In

Norway

, Henry worked at the Visnes Mine near Stavanger. Metal for the Statue of Liberty was mined from Visnes. Like Butte, it contained a rich vein of copper.

It is unclear how much time Henry may have spent in Butte. In 1917, eight years after he left

Norway

, Henry's name appears on a list of men who signed up with the United States Army to fight in World War I. The location Henry listed on the form was Deer Lodge. Pelle hasn't been able to confirm whether it was the town of Deer Lodge, or the county of Deer Lodge, both in Montana.

Pelle knows Henry worked on the railroads, including the Milwaukee Railroad. Pacific Railroad, the official name of the line that included Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Paul, had the power to assign Social Security numbers to immigrant workers. Pelle suspects that this is why he can't find many government records-Pacific Railroad could have them tucked away someplace.

In 1920 Henry Nilssen is listed in a Montana state census as a single, with a wife and child in

Norway

. He'd been gone for 13 years and, so far as Pelle knows, never sent letters, yet Henry apparently cared enough about his family to list them as living in

Norway

On the D.S.S. 1 Form, Henry's wife is listed as Ethel. When he married her is unknown. Whether he had any children with her, and what became of them if he did, is unknown. “Did they have any children while living in Weippe? Did they go to school there?” Pelle remarked in an e-mail. Maren Sofie died in 1924. “We do not know when/if he was informed about this. We do not know when/where he met Ethel,” Pelle said.

When Pelle visited Deer Lodge he found a burial record for Henry Nilssen, and in the old part of the county cemetery, went looking for the plot. All he found was an unmarked grave. With Henry Nilssen being so common a name, it is impossible to say whether it is Pelle's grandfather who is buried there.

Plus, there is the D.S.S. 1 Form. “I reckon that these communities are so small, that it would be possible to find and ask old people if anybody remembers a Henry and/or Ethel Nelson (or children),” Pelle remarked. His excitement at the possibility of fresh information is evident even in a simple e-mail.

If anyone reading this remembers Henry and Ethel, please contact the Clearwater Tribune at (208) 476-4571, or e-mail us at cleartrib@cebridge.net.

This D.S.S. Form 1 appears to have been filled out by Pelle Nilssen's grandfather, Henry, who fought in World War I for the

United States

. A street name was not included on the form, but it does list Henry's town of residence as Weippe and his employer as Schmidt Bros.

Fifth and sixth graders ski and ride free at participating Ski Idaho Resorts

2011-12-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

If you’re a fifth or sixth grader you’ve got it made this winter! No more days spent lying around watching television or playing video games! This winter you can get out and enjoy the fun and beauty of Idaho with the fifth and sixth grade Ski or Ride Free Passport.

The fifth and sixth grade Ski or Ride Free Passport program allows students from anywhere in fifth and sixth grade to sign up for the program and receive three free lift tickets at each Idaho ski area for fifth graders or two free lift tickets for sixth graders at each participating Ski Idaho ski area. That’s over 54 day of free skiing or riding in fifth grade and 28 days of free skiing or riding in sixth grade!

To sign up simply go to www.skiidaho.us/fifth-grade-ski-or-ride-free-passport, complete the on-line application or download the printable version, pay the $20 processing fee (receive a $5 off promo code at www.idsaves.org/passport) and your student will be mailed his or her own “Ski or Ride Free Passport” booklet. The passport also includes special deals on equipment rentals, lessons and some ski areas even offer specials for parents or siblings!

The fifth grade passport is accepted at the following Idaho Ski Areas: Bald Mountain, Bogus Basin, Brundage, Cottonwood Butte, Grand Targhee, Kelly Canyon, Little Ski Hill, Lookout Pass, Lost Trail, Magic Mountain, Pebble Creek, Pomerelle, Schweitzer Mountain, Silver Mountain, Snowhaven, Soldier Mountain, Sun Valley *includes Dollar Mt - upgrade to Bald Mountain for $20/day and Tamarack.

Other participating ski areas: 49 Degrees North, Bluewood, Mission Ridge, Mt. Spokane, Loup Loup.

The sixth grade passport is accepted at the following Idaho Ski Areas: Bald Mountain, Bogus Basin, Brundage, Cottonwood Butte, Grand Targhee, Little Ski Hill, Lookout Pass, Magic Mountain, Pebble Creek, Silver Mountain, Snowhaven, Soldier Mountain, Sun Valley *includes Dollar Mt - upgrade to Bald Mountain for $20/day and Tamarack.

Grab your fishing pole! OK Rock reveals its secrets

2011-12-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

By Alannah Allbrett

The mystery of the okay rock is finally unraveled. Diane Upton opened up the can of worms [excuse the pun], by writing a Letter to the Editor inquiring if anyone knew the meaning and origin of the OK Rock near Orofino’s bridge over the Clearwater River.

The Clearwater Tribune received a call from Jim Routh telling us to talk to Tom Province who turned out to be the person who began painting “OK” on the rock. Tom told of a very politically opinionated and vocal fellow employee. “Everything about him was okay” said Tom. His response to this man was painting the rock OK.

But Tom said he quit painting the rock some 20 years ago and did not know who took over that duty for him.

At the urging of his wife Diane, John Farbo came forward and told us his father, Tom Farbo used to use that rock as a gauge for when steelhead fishing was good. “It is the only rock that’s big enough,” said son John. “And it was right close to the bridge so we could see it easily.” His father painted three orange hash marks on it originally (before the OK came to be).

John’s father Tom and he did “drag fishing” for steelhead from a 14’ aluminum boat. But they always checked the marks on the rock before setting out. The lowest mark meant the river was dangerously low; one would probably hit rocks.

The middle mark meant grab your fishing pole! The level of the water was ideal for catching steelhead by drag fishing. John said his father would call and say, “Hey, let’s go!” “We fished every chance we got if it was right” said John.

“One year the paint OK covered our markers” said John. “We didn’t know who did it, but we adjusted by using the OK as our new guide. We knew where the letters OK coincided with our earlier marks. The bottom of the ‘O’ is the new low mark (unsafe). The crotch of the ‘K” is the medium (ideal fishing) level. And the top is the high water mark.”

When asked what happens if one fishes at the high water level John said, “The current is too strong, and it will just push your bait. It’s too much current to fish.”

“In the eighties, said John ‘The letters on the OK started wearing off, so my dad painted it during the 80’s and 90’s with my son Tyson. When he [dad] passed away in 2001, I started doing it. The last few years my kids, Kylie and Hunter, have taken over. They are in charge.

Kylie is a sophomore at OHS, and Hunter is in the 8^th grade. Each year we paint it a different color (but always use white because it shows up best). The kids wanted to keep it blue and white for the Maniacs, but I wouldn’t let them. When asked why, John said, “I just like change.”

John always painted the rock the last week in August, when the water is at its lowest point. When asked if he has ever been spotted doing that. He said a car honked at him once, but mostly it’s just other fishing buddies and buddies from work that paid any attention to it.

John pointed out that one can pull up a website nowadays to determine the water levels of the river. “But they measure below the Northfork” said John. This rock gauges the upper river, the main flow, and it was the only gauge we had for years.”

Dig for a Cure

2011-12-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

By Coach Shannon Erbst

Volleyball shoes, $90; pink volleyball jersey, $45; pink volleyball, $40. Watching your community come together for an outstanding cause - PRICELESS.

On Oct. 11, the Orofino Lady Maniac volleyball team was Diggin for a Cure. In a very exciting match against Summit Academy, the Lady Maniacs played one of their best matches of the season. With the emotions running high from the night’s events, the girls really put on a great show.

It all started with the JV team announcing themselves and who they would be playing for that night. We wanted to honor all the women and men that have either been affected by breast cancer or any cancer at all, with a carnation and a promise to “dig for a cure.” Carnations were discounted and made for the night by Orofino Flower Shop.

Ready to get started, the JV girls jumped into a three game match filled with pink jerseys, socks and hair. Summit did a great job in participating by wearing pink ribbons in their hair as well as a few girls with pink shoe laces.

The Maniacs came on strong in all three games, never giving up. As the match progressed there was a gradual sea of pink entering the gym. It was pack the gym in pink night and everyone was in full support. We really pushed for everyone to wear pink to the game because Pepsi and Coke had vowed to donate 50 cents per pink shirt, up to $500 each. So our goal was to create a pink backdrop in the stands with all of the shirts, and with each passing game the pink really came on!

As fans entered into the school, they were greeted by ICARE selling some beautiful jewelry and a booth where you could purchase pink shirts and other merchandise. In between the varsity and JV matches we had raffles giving away “Dig for a Cure” shirts, calendars and Frisbees. We also held an auction with a beautiful basket full of Pampered Chef items that was donated by Sue Summerton, as well as a poster of the volleyball team that went up for auction. The total between the two auctions was just a little over $200.

As Doug Adams wrapped up the auction someone shouted, “Alaska Loggers will donate $1.00 for every point the Lady Maniacs score tonight.” As we searched the crowd to see where the generous donation came from, we realized it was from one of the fathers from our volleyball team, Mike Reggear. As soon we announced where that came from the gym blew up with pledges from numerous businesses in town.

What an amazing sight to see as hands starting raising and people started running up to benches to include their company in the donation. All companies that donated $75 each were: Alaska Logger, McLaughlin Loggers, U.S. Bank, Clearwater Kids, Glenwood Pharmacy, Orofino Physical Therapy, Potlatch, CEA, Harper Chiropractic, Orofino Loggers, Hanson Garage, Woolsey Construction and Brookside Landing. Thank you so much!

Another amazing donation for the night was from Orofino Builder Supply. They had graciously donated over 250 shirts to be sold during and before the game. The shirts looked awesome in pink, decorated with the volleyball teams’ signatures all over it.

Just when we thought the night was at the highest point, ICARE came forward and announced that they would be awarding $500 to one of our audience members who is currently fighting cancer. Wow! The night was only getting better.

Next on the list of the night’s events was the Lady Maniac Varsity team to announce who they were going to be playing for. As the gym floor started filling up with cancer survivors, fighters and loved ones of family members that had been lost, the entire atmosphere had changed.

How can such a small event make such a huge impact on so many lives? We had all the players and honorees stand in front of the net for a picture, and what a sight to see. Tears, laughter, hugs and emotions were running high. Everyone was looking to each other and supporting one another whether they knew the person standing next to them or not. To be someone that has had a family member affected by breast cancer and to witness all the love and support flowing thru the gym made me absolutely speechless. Strangers hugging strangers, mothers hugging daughters and lost loved ones being remembered. Absolutely priceless!

Next on the list of events: Lady Maniac Volleyball. I was a little worried that with all the emotions on the night the girls may be lacking some focus. Well, they proved me wrong in a big way. We had accomplished something we had not done all year long….the girls came together and showed an extreme amount of chemistry. Was it the night’s events, seeing so many strangers come together for one event? I really think it was in our team all along but with the experiences through the night, it brought out the bond in the girls. They played amazing all three set, never giving up and playing hard to the bitter end.

Beating Summitt Academy in three games was a huge accomplishment on the night but the true incentive went to all the people we were playing for. It was a great showing by the Lady Maniacs capitalizing on the night’s theme, “Fighting together, to never give up.” Anyone that was at the game that night experienced something that Orofino has never done at that level. It was very memorable and something we will continue to do each year.

We are so thankful for all the help we had received on the night, thanks to: Heidi Summers, OHS coaching staff; Cindy Haskett, score keeper/coaching staff; Doug Adams, announcer of all games and the night’s events; Bob Alverson, principal and huge motivator/supporter on the night; the parents of Maniac Volleyball; Pepsi and Coke for their $250 donations; Orofino Builders Supply, over 250 Dig for a Cure shirts; Orofino Flower Shop- carnations for honorees for the night; Joe Hall Ford, $500 donation; Sue Summerton, Pampered Chef basket; ICARE, $500 donation to cancer victim at the event; Jim Hill, purchase of team picture at the auction; Barb Wityczak, purchase of Pampered Chef basket; Salon Savvy, hair care products; Harper Chiropractic, t-shirts.

Thank you also to the OHS Lady Maniac Volleyball players for never giving up and showing true character; all the amazing businesses in town that donated $75 for each point scored by the Maniacs; Linda Johnston for inspiring me every day; and everyone else that had helped with the event, Thank you one hundred times over! Without all the support, we could have never made the night as memorable as it was.

We raised a little over $3,000. We donated $840 of that to Clearwater Valley Hospital for 10 women to get mammograms. Another $500 was donated to ICARE, to be given to two local women fighting cancer.

Pictures will be in next week.

We do have some shirts left over at $5 apiece, if you are interested in buying one call (208) 827-0734 and we can get one to you.

We live in an amazing community; we have great kids and fantastic fans! And I know that I am very proud to call this home. Go Maniacs!

This group of people who either have or have had cancer; or have a family member or friend with cancer, was honored during the Orofino Lady Maniac “Dig for a Cure” event Oct. 11 at the Orofino High School gymnasium.

Tabby Haskett, Jordynn Schwartz, Taylor Erbst, Sarah Campbell, Kaitlyn Reggear, Madison Parks, Megan Gilmer, Morgan Adams, Courtney Adams, Kyla Cobbs and Coach Shannon Erbst (l to r) listen to the Star Spangled Banner during “Dig for a Cure” Oct. 11.

Pam Danielson and Patty Reggear (a cancer survivor) at the Lady Maniac Volleyball “Dig for a Cure” event Oct. 11. Behind Patty is

Chad

Easterbrook.

Clearwater Rocks

2011-11-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

Charlie Pottenger’s boat being towed up the North Fork by Rusty and Darell Bentz. Rusty driving and Darell watching.

Darell Bentz (on the boat) and Rusty Bentz after safely retrieving stranded Charlie Pottenger’s jet boat from the shore of the

U.S.

Fish Hatchery on the North Fork Clearwater River.

By Charlie Pottenger

We had often watched other fishermen guide their boats past the junction of the main Clearwater into the North Fork just past the U.S. Fish Hatchery, envious of the success we observed. Our plan was to go through what we knew was a narrow channel and try our luck. Ten seconds after committing the boat to the chosen course it became obvious from the grinding of the bottom on the shallow rocks that those others watched river levels with more wisdom than I possessed.

We were stuck, grounded on rocks in about 8 to 15 inches of water in a boat needing more than 18 inches! We finally realized we were in a fix!

At that point we had two choices: first, we could have abandoned the boat and sought help. Second, we could work together to move the boat over these miserable rocks toward the “deeper” waters of the North Fork. Naturally, as boat owner and certified genius, I selected the worst choice, to move the boat to the North Fork. My guest fishermen, John Baldwin of Spokane and Marcie and Darold Stanton of Orofino all helped as we rocked and pushed “Old Ironsides” across some of the devilish boulders.

Later, Bryce Sundquist, a wonderful vision, thankfully appeared over the jagged rip-rap rocks defining the boundary of the hatchery armed with a huge coil of strong rope and a ratcheting Power-Pull. At this point Darold waded ashore to assist Bryce and an unidentified Idaho Fish and Game Officer who also volunteered. With the rope we moved the boat ever closer to the North Fork.

At this point Deputy Mike Gladhart of the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and a second officer arrived on an inflatable jet sled and offered additional help and safety advice, prompting us all to don our life preservers as we were outside of the boat in swift water trying to lift and coax the leaden boat over the last rocks before the North Fork. They also opined that we should have sought help when a 20 or 30 foot upstream tow might have freed the boat and that now that we were in the North Fork we might have to spend massive dollars to get out!

This was looking grave. Bryce thought I might make it up stream to the Ahsahka boat ramp, but when we tried the trolling motor fouled in the lush North Fork weeds and the jet also was immediately clogged with weeds. Soon thereafter the trolling motor propeller was broken on some of the many large, weedy rocks and we were stuck. We gave up, tied the disabled boat to the Hatchery rocks and went home to spend a miserable, sleepless night.

The plan was to seek wisdom and make a plan to extract the boat. I called a friend with great boat and wild river experience, Darell Bentz, founder of Bentz Boats in Lewiston. Darell said the only day free in his immediate schedule was Sunday so I drove to pick him up. When I arrived he had recruited his brother, Rusty Bentz to bring his big Bentz boat and we three set out to assess the situation. Three hours were spent trying to understand the complex low-water riverscape in the area between Ahsahka on the North Fork to Pink House on the main Clearwater.

We drove to the private homes of Mr. Bob Davaz and of Tim and Sharon Barnett. Information gained there led Darell and Rusty to decide to launch their boat at Ahsahka and back it down under the highway and the railroad bridges and down through the riffle where I had destroyed my propeller and plugged my jet. Their wisdom was based on the knowledge the Bentz boat requires only eight inches versus my boat’s 18 inches.

Well, the happy truth is that even with the catastrophic decisions I had made on Saturday the great skill of the Bentz brothers had rescued my boat and a little of my self esteem. They were able to tow me back to Ahsahka Landing without touching bottom while I sat in my boat coasting gently touching dozens of the mossy blocks lurking close under the surface.

The good news is that the boat will be inspected and repaired, if necessary. The best news is no one was hurt. The lesson I needed to experience and learn is that the operator of the boat must be positive there is no risk of grounding before going into unknown channels. Another fact...we caught no fish!

I am encouraged my guests have all expressed a willingness to go again and I am not bribing them!

From this Chair…

2011-11-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

By Cloann McNall

I am sorry to learn this week of the death of Aretha Chilton, 98, of Orofino.

She sold me my first and only Jaguar car for only $100 over 20 years ago. It’s a 1920’s model.

I still have the car and the things I like best about it are the low gas mileage and the fact I can replace the steering wheel or tires when they fall off with Elmer’s Glue.

It’s small enough to park in the guest bedroom above the garage. It has a beautiful wood-toned finish that hasn’t faded over the years. It’s about 15 inches in length and has movable parts.

This sturdy little car is here for the duration. Aretha, a retiree of the Clearwater National Forest, handcrafted it from wood from the Clearwater National Forest. I purchased three different models from her and chose the Jaguar for myself.

I remember I purchased a replica of the Walton’s 1930’s Chevy pickup for my son-in-law Darold Stanton and a 1927 Ford sedan for my Dad.

I received a letter last week from Bonnie Bessent in Yuma, AZ, where she winters. When I opened the letter and unfolded a page from the Nov. 13 Yuma Sun I was surprised to see a large photo of my nephew Kevin Wilkins, 51, standing in front of the Yuma City Hall.

The photo cutline read: “Kevin Wilkins is the city of Yuma’s new economic developer. Wilkins accepted the position in October, moving there from Colorado. He has made his home in the Colorado/Nebraska area all his life. As a young man Wilkins started his career in the newspaper business with his father the late Bryce Wilkins. He spent several years in the newspaper industry before focusing on his passion-economic development. In 1994 Wilkins sold his interest in the family newspaper and started his career in the field of economic development.”

Looking at the newspaper picture of Wilkins in a suit with his arms folded across his chest I recall seeing him as a newborn at the Hugo, CO hospital. I lived next door to him until he was three-years-old but have kept in close contact with him down through the years.

The Yuma Sun quotes the president and CEO of GYEDC as saying in part “…having him (Wilkins) will be an asset…it’s a real plus to have someone with his background. He brings a great deal of experience. And I’m already seeing the benefits of having Wilkins on board.”

His mother said “He loves it there.”

So what does his Aunt Cloann have to say about him? He was a sturdy blond kid with a keen sense of humor. He entertained the family as a youngster, mimicking Tiny Tim’s rendition of “Dancing through the Tulips” and doing the soft shoe dance to the song “Bo Jangle.”

Wilkins is married and the father of three daughters and six grandchildren. And an excellent chef, a tradition handed down through the family.

The Phantom and I hope to visit him in Yuma this winter.

Quote: It might not be opportunity you hear knocking—it could be one of your relatives.

How to avoid holiday weight gain

2011-11-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

(NAPSA)-Research from the National Institutes of Health indicates that most Americans gain one to two pounds over the holidays and that the vast majority of Americans do not lose this extra weight once the season ends-but there are steps you can take to stay out of such statistics.

"Although one to two pounds may not seem like much, the numbers gradually add up over the course of a lifetime and contribute to weight gain as we age," says Dr. Hilton Hudson, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Franciscan Physicians Hospital. "This cumulative weight gain puts the body at a greater risk for conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and arthritis."

Thus, avoiding that initial holiday weight gain can help you keep your weight in check for good. Here are some simple ways to maintain your weight throughout all the holiday parties and festivities:

Enjoy food in moderation. There's no need to deprive yourself of your favorite foods over the holidays. The key is to make sure you don't go overboard with portion sizes. In other words, instead of having two servings of mashed potatoes, limit yourself to one.

Don't try to lose weight. Instead of trying to drop pounds this holiday, aim to maintain your current weight. Rather than dieting, just try to live a healthy lifestyle. Often, following a restrictive diet can backfire, causing you to give up and overeat.

Get moving. One of the reasons people gain weight over the holidays is due to inactivity. Many people tell themselves that they're just too busy to exercise. Make a point to schedule your workout times in advance. Think outside the box and plan activities that you actually enjoy, such as an after-dinner walk or a ski trip with your family.

By taking action to avoid weight gain, you'll be well on your way to a happy-and healthy-holiday season.

There's no need to gain weight or deprive yourself of your favorite foods over the holidays.

Mystery of the OK Rock partially solved

2011-11-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

By Alannah Allbrett

The mystery of the meaning and origin of the OK Rock is solved. One sees this rock north of the Orofino Bridge, in the Clearwater River, while traveling towards Riverside. Recently there was letter to the Editor by Diane Upton, which raised everyone’s curiosity about what the rock with the letters OK stood for and how it came to be.

The speculation began. . . Some folks thought it had to do with water levels on the river – when it was safe to boat, etc. Others thought it was a weather indicator.

Super Sleuth, Jim Routh gave the Clearwater Tribune a tip that Tom Province was the man to see to learn of the rock’s origin. Tom filled us in on the details and admitted that he was indeed the man responsible for the rock being painted. He said it has been that way for well over 25 years.

Tom was a diesel mechanic for Clearwater Equipment (where McLaughlin Logging is now). He said that one of his fellow employees was very politically opinionated and very vocal in expressing it. “Everything about him was okay” said Tom. His response to this man was painting the rock OK. “I am the villain who painted it” said Tom. “I don’t know who’s been keeping it up all these years though, because I haven’t painted it in at least 20 years.” Will the mystery painter please step forward.

Athens Guitar Trio delights with classical guitars

2011-11-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Athens Guitar Trio (AGT) arrived in Orofino last week on their first stop of a concert tour in Idaho and put on a spectacular performance for the first concert of the 2011-2012 Community Concert series on Nov. 10 at the Orofino High School. The audience was treated to an evening of superb classical guitar playing by the trio.

The opening piece, Dance No. 1 from La Vida Breve, whetted the musical appetite of the audience with a taste of melodic sounds of the Spanish guitar.

Most of the classical pieces performed were arranged for the guitar by members of the ensemble, Dusty Woodruff, Rylan Smith, and Matt Anderson, who each have a masterful command of their guitars. Individually they play with passion for the music and collectively, as the trio, their sounds blend to produce one harmonic tone that is pleasing to the ear and tends to soothe the soul.

The trio changed the pace at one point in the concert by playing a Scott Joplin piece, "Ragtime Dance". The audience responded with a rousing applause to show their appreciation for the musical diversity demonstrated by the AGT. The trio has a comfortable demeanor on stage interacting easily with one another and with the audience as they introduce each musical selection or tell tales on one another...their camaraderie and love for their music is evident.

After the concert the trio signed autographs and visited with members as they left. Remarks such as "wonderful concert," "they were just great," "thank you for bringing them to Orofino," were frequently heard. The Clearwater Community Concert season is off to a good start and the remaining concerts promise to be equally entertaining.

The Athens Guitar Trio warms up before concert Nov. 10.

Dusty Woodruff and Ryland Smith sign autographs after the Nov. 10 concert.

Group forges strong “Friendship”

2011-11-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Submitted by Jo Moore

Just three years ago, a small group of people came together to see if they could help the Clearwater Memorial Public Library (CMPL) to complete some much-needed upgrading and maintenance projects, as well as help raise monies to purchase new equipment.

The group re-organized as the CMPL Friends, formed a Board of Directors, and secured a “Wish List” from the Director of the library. They began meeting on a regular basis each month, and promptly began work on their “projects,” under the leadership of newly-elected President Kitty Geidl.

With some funds remaining from the previous Friends of the Library, now defunct, their first donation was a new commercial vacuum cleaner in 2008. They also donated to the Summer Reading Program.

One of their first goals was to improve the appearance of the library’s grounds, and with the enthusiastic leadership of member Bernie DeLallo, a landscaping plan was adopted, and money was voted to get the first year’s work started. This has been an ongoing project, and with the help of the members doing the summer watering, the library’s lawn is looking its best ever!

In 2009 funds were allocated toward a big new clock for the library, landscaping, and summer reading, while fundraising efforts were focused on book sales during the summer and at the Patchwork Bazaar.

The Friends were challenged to find money-raising ideas which would net them enough to tackle the really expensive needed projects, so in late 2009, member Cathy Jenni came up with the idea of a Dinner Theater for the following summer, and the rest is history.

The first dinner theater was held in 2010 at the High Country Inn, with the facilities and cooking, donated by member Jo Moore. Volunteers from the Friends formed the labor, and the group was able to raise over $3000, enough to pay for replacement of windows in the children’s section.

This year, 2011, due to problems finding a cast and director who could all be available at the same time, the annual Dinner Theater had to be postponed, but in its stead, an outdoor Texas Barbeque was held in June at the High Country Inn, and this time, the net proceeds exceeded $4,000! That money was allocated toward the new heat pump cost for the library, which was $5,000.

Other projects included a Book Cart, donated by Cathy and Don Jenni, which was launched this summer at its outdoor book sale as “Books a la Carte,” The cart was used all summer and will be on display again during the Patchwork Bazaar. The sign for the cart was made and donated by ASE.

A major decision for the Friends was to decide on a new bench to replace the old one which had sat in front of the library for several years as a tribute to former library director Peggy Flowers. The bench, no longer repairable, had to be replaced, and a new one now stands in its stead for patrons to enjoy, thanks to monies raised by the small group.

Ongoing donations include those made to each Summer Reading Program, and “Let’s Talk About It,” the book discussion group sponsored by the library. There are several projects yet on the “Wish List” and it is hoped that the community will continue to support the Friends’ fund raising efforts in the future, as plans are already in the works for a new “dinner theater” for next summer, with many surprises in store!

The group would like to invite those who would like to be active supporters of the library to attend the group meetings, which are held the first Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. in the library annex.

For more information, check with Library Director Ellen Tomlinson.

OPD Christmas 911 is off to a good start

2011-11-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

King’s Department Store of Orofino donated an abundance of toys, clothing and other items to the Orofino Police Departments third annual Christmas 911 project. Pictured (l to r) are Orofino Police Chief Jeff Wilson; OPD Office Manager, Renée Hedrick; Laura Wolverton of King’s, and Officer Matt Russell.

Once again, the Orofino Police Department (OPD) will be sponsoring and participating in the Christmas 911 project, a project which provides food, clothing, and toys to children with a need.

King’s Department Store of Orofino has generously kick-started the Christmas 911 giving for this season by donating a wide selection of items for children. The gifts range from gloves and warm clothing to toys like talking Kung Fu Panda, baseball bats, Air Hockey, and high chairs for babies.

A big thank you is extended from OPD for the many items that will make Christmas extra special for children in Orofino.

The last two years the Orofino Police Department has been providing full Christmas dinners and gifts to families in our area who have experienced hardship, and most likely would not have had much for Christmas.

The department collected donations from businesses and community members and raised over $5000 in the first year and tallied over $9,000 last year. They were able to provide meals and nice gifts to 16 families the first year and helped 26 families last year.

The meals included turkeys, hams, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls, vegetables, milk, and desserts. The gifts were age appropriate for all children in the family under the age of 18 and were of extremely nice quality. The needs of each child were identified early so that many of the gifts accommodated actual needs.

It’s goodbye to one of the area’s best known and loved pastors

2011-11-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

By Cloann McNall

The Weippe community and surrounding area will soon say goodbye to one of the best-known and loved families when the Rev. Don Blain’s resignation from the Weippe Wesleyan Church becomes effective Dec. 1 after 25 years of service.

Blain and his wife, Patty, are moving to Rapid City, SD to be near his parents, Elmore and Phyllis Blain, as Elmore has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

A farewell potluck dinner will be held at 12:30 Sunday noon, Nov. 20 at the Weippe Wesleyan Church. Another farewell dinner will be held at the church after services on Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 27 when the couple’s four sons are present.

A search committee has been established to find a new pastor for the church. During the Blains’ years of pastoral service the church experienced a successful and thriving youth ministry.

In announcing his resignation Rev. Blain said in part. “over the past 25 years it has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as Pastor of the Weippe Wesleyan Church.” He resigned Sept. 25 after pastoring the church for 25 years.

Patty has resigned her position as a teacher in the Timberline schools where she has taught for the past eight years. She plans to pursue a teaching position when they move to Rapid City.

Blain said “I will be moving Blain Construction to Rapid City with me.” Blain Construction is a local business he established and operated here the past several years.

He said he has been approached about pastoring another church in the Rapid City area but at this time he has no plans to pastor another church.

During their 25 years as pastor of the Weippe church. Patty and Don raised their four sons, Tom, Josh, Andrew and Austin all graduates of Timberline High School where they received publicity for their scholastic and athletic achievements.

Tom graduated in 2002, Josh in 2004, Andrew in 2009 and Austin in 2010.

Tom, a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, who worked here in Blain Construction with his father, is employed in Bartlesville, OK where he moved this year to be near his brothers, Andrew and Austin, both students at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU) in Bartlesville.

Andrew, a junior at OWU is majoring in physical education and is the intramural director at OWU. He hopes to be on a church plant team in Bozeman, MT this summer.

Austin is a sophomore at OWU where he is a ministry major and hopes to go to Asia this summer on a church plant team.

Josh and his wife, Ashley, who met at OWU are pastoring at the Eternal Hope Wesleyan Church in Kooskia where Ashley teaches English at Clearwater Valley High School. Josh was ordained as an Elder in the Wesleyan Church this past July.

Don and Patty have purchased a home in Rapid City, which has a population of around 100,000. He said “I won’t be walking two blocks to church and leaving the house unlocked there like I did here.”

“Weippe is an incredible place to live and work. There is no better community to raise four boys,” Don said. “We have been blessed by the community and the schools.” he added.

He said the fact he pastored the Weippe church for 25 years, after replacing Gene and Bonnie Whetstone who pastored there 17 years makes a positive statement about the church.

The Whetstones are retired and reside in Lewiston.

Don said their new home is eight miles out of Rapid City and is close to Mt. Rushmore, Lead and Deadwood, SD where Black Hills Gold is mined.

He said when at their new home recently their dog Quiver was chasing a ball and a deer grabbed the ball. That’s how tame the deer are there, he added.

“It’s hard to leave Weippe but it’s time for us to move on,” Don concluded.

(Editor’s Note: It’s difficult to have the Blain family move as our ties go back to years of association in Colorado and Oklahoma through the Wesleyan Church. I wish the best for Don, Patty and their sons.) CM

New weather radio installed in Clearwater County

2011-10-31T16:48:00.001-07:00

By Don Gardner, Clearwater County Emergency Management Coordinator

After five years of working with the National Weather Service, Clearwater County now has a NOAA weather broadcasting station on Norton Knob. This station will broadcast official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your source for comprehensive weather and emergency information.

In conjunction with federal, state, and local emergency managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as blizzards and high winds), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal.

Clearwater County’s broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at NWR Channel 5 or 162.500 MHz. If you purchase a weather radio with same capability, you can receive the alerts that are for Clearwater County. Following the radio’s manual you, can program you radio to Clearwater County’s code of 016035.

In addition to the radio broadcast, we have other tools to help you know what the weather is doing in Clearwater County. Clearwater County’s Office of Emergency Management has installed four weather data gathering stations. You can find links to these stations on the County’s web site at www.clearwatercounty.org. Just click on the “Check the Weather” link.

A number of people participated in bringing this project together. I want to thank Neal Johnson for providing and improving the Norton Knob location, making the NOAA broadcast station installation possible. I also want to thank all those who allowed us to place a weather station at their location and for the assistance from the Clearwater County IT Office.

The first Nationwide EAS Test on November 9

Although the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is frequently used by state and local governments to send weather alerts and other emergency notifications, there has never been a national activation of the system.

On Wednesday, November 9, at approximately 11 a.m. Pacific time, Clearwater County will participate in a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. It will be heard on the weather radios, local radio, and seen on local, cable, and satellite TV. This test will last for approximately three minutes then return listeners and viewers back to regularly scheduled programming.

The National EAS is a public alert and warning system that enables the President of the

United States

to address the American public during extreme emergencies. As the federal, state, and local governments prepare for and test their capabilities, this event serves as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses. You can download Clearwater County’s “Family Readiness Plan” at www.clearwatercounty.org.

EAS participants provide a critical public service to the nation as the resilient backbone of alert and warning when all other means of communication are unavailable. This EAS test plays a key role in ensuring our nation is prepared for all hazards and that the public is able to receive critical and vital information, should it ever be needed.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Don Gardner at the Emergency Management Office. 208-476-4064.

Orofino Mayor and City Council Forum

2011-10-27T12:36:00.001-07:00

By Alannah Allbrett

The Orofino City Council Candidate Forum was held Monday evening at Orofino High School. The forum was sponsored by the Orofino Chamber of Commerce’s Public Affairs Committee, with approximately 45 people in attendance.

Ryan Smathers is running uncontested for his second full term as mayor. Additionally, he completed a partial term when that office fell vacant.

Three seats on the city council are open, including one left absent by the passing of Roy Clay. The two incumbents running are: Marguerite McLaughlin and Doug Donner. Newcomers to the race are: Avery Dunaway, Don Gardner, and Shannon Schrader.

Facilitator, Jeff Jones opened the evening by welcoming “concerned voters.” Candidates were asked what motivated them to run for city council. A brief summary of some of their statements follows:

Avery Dunaway wants “to have a voice in what goes on in the community and to be a voice for the people of Orofino.”

Shannon Schrader said, “I started sitting in on meetings and found it very interesting. I would like to be part of making changes. What inspired me, basically, is the council.”

Don Gardner: “I felt it was an opportunity for me to step up. I want to be part of the solution, so I decided to run and donate my time to the city.”

Ryan Smathers: “I want to continue to run because we’re not quite done with some of the projects we’ve gotten started – one of the most important things to our whole community has been the water treatment plant. We’re about to break ground and get it started, and that’s probably the biggest motivator that I have.”

Doug Donner: “This will be my seventh [consecutive] term. Some of the largest projects are right in front of us, such as the water treatment plant that we’ve worked on for so long, as well as other unfinished projects.“

Marguerite McLaughlin: “I’m really proud of attaining the grant that we did for the water plant, but our infrastructure is getting old. I think that we need a lot of expertise on that, and work towards finishing the job.”

Question: In your opinion, what do you think are some of the most challenging issues facing our community; how would you go about trying to resolve these issues? Gardner – wants to promote business opportunities, and to support families and youth. Schrader – said he didn’t know, yet what issues we’re faced with. Dunaway – to find a way to make my kids want to come back here once they leave for college. McLaughlin – is concerned over the apathy about important issues and wants people to communicate at council meetings. Smathers – said funding issues are always a big reality for us. Donner – said we are geographically challenged and need to utilize well defined comprehensive and master transportation plans.

Question: [to incumbents] What has Orofino done to address the recession issue and have any services been reduced? Donner – said we’ve tightened up, and held off hiring a public works employee and we are fortunate that a good reserve program was put in place several years ago. McLaughlin – said employees have taken on extra duties and the city tries to make it work to stay within their budget. Smathers – a lot of the credit goes to prior leadership and currently we watch every penny we spend and go over each bill before authorizing money. The city is a very well run team.

Question: [to challengers] If you had a blank check and could make any improvements that you wanted to in the city, what improvements would you make? Gardner – jobs and job training, a summer job program for youth. Schrader – access for the Riverside area, with a paved bike pathway to the bridge with an overpass. Dunaway – pay off the bond for the water bill and lower utility bills for people. I would also give the school district the funds that they need to finish schools.

Question: As an elected official of this city, please list two issues that you would like the full city council to address or get involved in. Donner – thinks they are already involved with every issue now. Schrader – the North South Trail and to utilize all the recreational opportunities. The city should play a bigger role to bring in money for that. McLaughlin – would like to see businesses brought back into the town and secondly to see youth come back and reside here. Gardner – would like to end the “revolving door” for law enforcement officers. He would also like to utilize and protect Orofino Creek as a resource for recreation. Smathers – downtown beautification and the Rails to Trails program. Dunaway – the railroad tracks and the city pool.

Question: On a scale of 1 – 10 (10 being the highest) how would you rate the performance of the city council over the past four years? Schrader – said he had no opinion on that, everything seems to be carried out the way it’s supposed to. Gardner – gives them a #8 rating and is proud of them. Dunaway – gives the council a #8 for the water bond they got. McLaughlin – thinks they deserve a #9 for working hard and diligently towards the common good of Orofino. Donner – gives council a #9 for the water treatment plant, master transportation plan, comprehensive plan, and the ALP airport plan. Smathers – gives the council a #10 due to past efforts of Roy Clay and the hard working council. He said there are good choices sitting here and he will work with whomever is elected.

Question: In one word, how would you like the public to describe you? Smathers – “Dedicated. I’m dedicated to this community. I always have been and plan to be for a long time.” McLaughlin – “Dedicated. I want people to know that I’m knowledgeable but I’m also dedicated to the goodness of the city.” Donner – “I’d like to choose the same word, or aggressive.” Dunaway – “Friend. I’d like everybody to be able to tell me their thoughts and ideas.” Schrader – “Two words, honest and fair. I’m not a good speaker, but I’m going to be honest and fair if you ask me a question.” Gardner – “Outstanding. When people say, how’s your city council? They are going to say, outstanding.”

Question: What do you think about a skate park? All candidates agreed a skateboard park would be a good thing if it could be budgeted. Young people want one, but the community would have to partner, organize, and find funding for it. The total recreation budget of $45,000 is capped by the state and is only enough to maintain the city’s three existing parks. The city is unable to be the sole provider at this time.

Question: What are your thoughts about annexation of outlying areas which use city services? All candidates agreed it is an issue that is contentious but needs to be looked at. Comments were that it would be very costly to bring their infrastructures up-to-date and might prove costly instead of bringing more revenue to the city. It was pointed out that police and fire protection are already being provided to those neighborhoods. The council has talked about annexation several times, and it might be inevitable at some time in the future.

Question: How would you attract more businesses and jobs to Orofino? Smathers – by supporting the ones that are already here and staying adamant about every dollar we spend being spent locally. McLaughlin – by having an excellent school system. Donner – more town cleanup and utilizing the Clearwater County Economic Development Specialist. Schrader – we have a huge opportunity for recreation development. Gardner – we need to review some of the rules and ordinances that prevent start-up businesses.

Question: What special skill or talent would you bring to the council? Donner – the ability to look at all sides of issues. Schrader – good organizational skills – the ability to bring everybody together to make something happen. Gardner – a dedication to get it done; it may take a little time or go quickly, but it will get done. Dunaway – I’m a good listener; I listen to 30 employees. I am not a very good talker, but I am a very good listener. Smathers – I am definitely able to listen to people and hear all sides of the story, and also it’s important to be accessible and available at any time. McLaughlin – I do listen and ask a lot of questions when we’re discussing issues. I’m open minded but don’t take just one word, that’s being told me, as being the final answer on an issue.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Be sure to take time to vote.

Pierce candidate forum

2011-10-21T12:26:00.001-07:00

By Judy O’Brien

The Pierce Candidate Forum was held Tuesday evening at Pierce Community Center with 50 people attending. The forum was sponsored by the Pierce GEM Committee.

Justin Karst and Carmen Syed are candidates for mayor. Mike Vaughn, Patricia Jacks, Harry Stenzel and Michelle Nelson are running for two positions on Pierce City Council.

The evening was facilitated by Loren Whitten-Kaboth. Candidates were asked their background and goals for the city.

Carmen Syed was unable to attend, as her son Jonathan was being awarded the rank of Eagle Scout Tuesday night. Loren read Syed’s statement, which said she was asked to help and is willing to serve. Carmen has experience in running other organizations within the community and is a business owner.

Candidates were asked, “what was their vision for Pierce.”

Justin Karst “wants to help the people of Pierce and feels he can relate to people, community and family.” He “will try to make Pierce a better place” and is “able to make compromises when necessary.”

Mike Vaughn has raised his family here, his children went to Timberline schools and his main goal is for the community to be aware of what’s happening in City Council.

Patricia Jacks has spent 25 years in Pierce, is a RN and works in Pierce for CVHC. Her goals include upgrading the streets. She also feels government “should be a facilitator for the people.”

Harry Stenzel has lived here most of his life and is self employed in road construction. His main goal is street upgrades. He also feels there are problems with nuisance ordinances that need to be solved.

Michelle Nelson has lived in Pierce 20 years and graduated from Timberline Schools. She feels Pierce is “a great place to live” and her goals are to stay involved and support the community. She will foster economic growth which would also help retain youth in the community.

A question and answer period followed. Answers reflect a brief summation of candidates’ responses.

Question: What experience do you have that would help the community? Nelson – background in education and work within the community. Three years as court clerk. Stenzel – 66 years in Pierce and previous council member. Jacks – deal with people on a day-to-day basis, have ER experience which teaches one to deal with problems effectively. Karst – have engineering experience, I believe “can always make it better.”

Question: Should Judgetown pay their fair share of water bill? All candidates shared the idea that Judgetown needed to pay their fair share and candidates were willing to “go all the way” to see this was accomplished.

Question: Event that caused you to run? Stenzel – streets need attention. Nelson – problem on her street that was solved by council; and issue with Chinese Cemetery. Vaughn – street maintenance and Chinese Cemetery. Jacks – feels one should help out when one can. Karst – protect future of Pierce.

Question: What would you do when you have a stance different from friends? Karst – stand by myself. Vaughn – what is best for Pierce. Stenzel – ask advice from friends. Nelson – would be representing citizens of Pierce so would ask their opinions.

Question: Would you change the way council meetings are run? Nelson – would leave as is. Stenzel, Jacks, Karst and Vaughn all said the mayor handles the meetings. All agreed meetings are run effectively.

Question: What is your top priority? Vaughn – streets, drains, snowplowing. Jacks – streets. Stenzel – streets. Nelson – economic growth. Karst – every issue that comes up in City Council.

Current Mayor Greg Gerot commended candidates for their desire to assist in community issues and said he was pleased to see community interest in this forum.

Australian visitors enjoy first trip to America

2011-10-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Australians Tom and Wendy Buvac just spent a month here in Orofino for their first taste of “American culture,” and it was an enjoyable treat for them. Even though the couple lives just outside a city of over a million inhabitants, their home is in the suburbs and near the “bush,” as they call it the woods.

Tom was brought here to learn the scope of the NightForce operations based here in Orofino, and wife Wendy took her annual “holiday” to come with him, leaving her job as a bank branch manager near Adelaide, South Australia.

During their month stay at the High Country Inn, Wendy and innkeeper Jo Moore had a great time during the days when Tom was busy at the NighForce plant. Jo introduced Wendy to the art of preparing and canning peaches and apples, folding huge quantities of napkins, cooking in large amounts (Wendy helped trim and cut forty thick slices of pork loin for a dinner party,) even cleaning cabins!

On days off the couple was treated to drives around the country, once by the Moore’s, another time by Tom’s mentor at NightForce, Mike Forest. On the days that Jo had meetings in town Wendy would go along and spend her time exploring Orofino. She walked up and down the streets, meeting people as she ventured into stores.

Some of her stops included the Hallmark store, where she bought cards and souvenirs, the Ronatta’s Cakery for a donut, the Flower Shop for some fall ornaments, Glenwood Pharmacy for some postcards, Eagle’s Nest for more souvenirs, the Natural Food Store for some gluten-free products for her mom, IGA for groceries to make lunches, and a stop by Augie’s for a coffee.

On a couple of occasions the couple was treated to dinner at the Edge. Wendy was also a guest of Jo at the CVHC Auxiliary meeting one day, to learn more about the Life Flight program, but for most of Jo’s daytime meetings Wendy enjoyed her walks around Orofino. She especially enjoyed watching the river, as well as the logging trucks going by.

When asked about their most enjoyable memories to take back with them, Wendy and Tom mentioned Lumberjack Days and the logging show as well as all the good eating to be had there, especially a Doughboy! She and Tom were asked at a local sandwich shop if they spoke a different language in

Australia

! (No, the same language, it just sounds different and has a few new expressions for the American ear!)

Both Tom and Wendy enjoyed a couple of visits to the Dworshak Visitor Center, where they viewed the programs and talked with the Rangers. Jo also introduced them to the hamburgers at the Woodlot!

Then last week, the end of their stay, the couple sat in the IGA “car park”, and were intrigued by the number of hunters stocking up and heading out to hunting camp. While Jo had an appointment at the Eye Clinic, Wendy sat and visited with a logger who told her all about the first week of hunting around Headquarters, where it would be wall-to-wall camps. (Tom’s hunting experience consists of being out in the bush with no one around for miles and miles, and shooting “varmints” such as foxes!) Tom said, “Too many people for me!” Jo told him he should be able to stick around to see all the rigs returning to town with their “trophies with antlers” loaded in the back of their trucks!

Some new words or expressions that Jo learned during the couple’s stay included “having a lie-down,” which means having a nap; putting things on the “bench” which is a counter here; “rubbish” is trash; a car park is the parking lot; and one of her favorites is the Australian name for a shopping cart: a “trolley!” She’ll probably be using these new words as part of her everyday vocabulary from now on!

Special note: Mike Forest left for

Australia

two days after the Buvacs’ departure, to help with setting up a new operation for the company over there.

After a couple of months over there he will be followed by other Orofino NightForce employees Sean Simmons and Josh Goodwin, on a rotation basis… what wonderful opportunities for our young men!

Tom Buvac of Australia, in Orofino for a month's training with NightForce

Jo Moore and Wendy Buvac, in High Country Inn's kitchen

Polio soon to vanish everywhere

2011-10-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Yearly, in countries all around the world, Oct. 24 is marked as World Polio Day to encourage mankind’s fight against the dreaded disease, polio.

The only time in world history that humans completely eliminated a deadly disease from the earth was in 1979. After successful vaccination campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the eradication of smallpox in December of that year.

To the present, smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated. Now, we are on the verge of eliminating a second disease from the face of the earth: Polio.

As of Oct. 13, there have been only 444 cases of endemic polio in the world this year. This compares to 717 on the same date last year. In 2010, there were a total of 1349 cases of polio in the world. Fifty percent of these cases occurred in

Pakistan

and

Chad

After a peak of over 300,000 cases (with 57,879 being fatal) in the U.S. in 1952, the introduction of the Salk vaccine in 1955 and of oral Sabin vaccine in 1961, the wild–type of polio has not been documented in the U.S. since 1979. That year, cases occurred in a religious group that declined immunizations. The last case of paralytic polio in the Western Hemisphere occurred in 1991, and the last non-paralytic case occurred in 1994.

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that enters the mouth via the fecal-oral route, multiplies in the gastrointestinal tract, spreads into the blood, then spreads to muscles and the nervous system. After an incubation period of three-six days, it may cause fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs, particularly in children under the age of three.

One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs), which can develop in a matter of hours. Most people with paralysis recover some function weeks to months after infection.

Less than one percent of polio infections ever result in paralysis, and since most people infected with poliovirus have no signs of illness, they are never aware they have been infected. After initial infection with poliovirus, the virus is shed intermittently in feces (excrement) for several weeks. During that time, polio can spread rapidly through the community. This means constant public health vigilance is important.

Among those paralyzed, five percent to 10 percent die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Children whose legs are paralyzed by polio today often require crutches, special braces or wheelchairs in order to move around. Two-thirds of people have residual neurologic sequelae and a post polio syndrome resulting in a new onset of symptoms reappearing after 20-30 years.

In 1985, Rotary International and its affiliated Rotary Clubs undertook as the organization’s number one priority, the task of working with the WHO and countries worldwide to eliminate polio from the earth. Even as late as 1988, poliomyelitis infected nearly 1,000 children worldwide every day.

Rotary, with the recent help of funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have raised over $800,000,000 to this end, and have sponsored countless hours of professional and volunteer help to provide oral vaccinations all around the world during National Immunization Days and on other occasions.

Humankind with the help of national governments worldwide, WHO, Rotary International with its members clubs, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is on the verge of wiping out polio once and for all. The last few cases are the most difficult to prevent!

The Orofino Rotary Club, like its sister clubs in the

United States

and in the over 200 other Rotary countries of the world, take World Polio Day, Oct. 24, seriously. The Orofino Rotary Club hopes to raise a substantial amount of money to combat polio this year, and again each year, until Polio vanishes from the face of the earth. Join us in our Polio fundraisers, as you are able, for humanity’s sake!

Trevor Haag, Orofino’s “Angel of Baseball”

2011-10-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Trevor’s father, Tracy Haag, said “Trevor was very competitive and hated to lose. But he was also a good sport and he would help other kids a lot.”

By Alannah Allbrett

Baseball season is beginning to fade to a memory for some people, and they are already moving on to football and soccer seasons. But, for the hardworking people who sponsor the annual Trevor Haag Memorial Tournament exciting plans are already tentatively underway for next year’s event.

This year’s event was the eighth Trevor Haag Memorial Tournament, a tournament unique in many ways. Many future big leaguers are already looking forward to season nine in Orofino.

The excitement starts each year with a free breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. The traditional breakfast was started by Trevor’s grandparents, the late Chuck and Linda Haag. Trevor’s other grandparents are Tim and Carol Adams of Orofino. All of Trevor’s family: grand parents, aunts and uncles, and immediate family all come out to help. Some family members come from Florida, New Hampshire and New York to stay involved with the tournament.

Excitement mounts in the opening ceremony, as the teams line up on the field. There is a short welcoming speech as the Haag family stands on the pitcher’s mound. Ally Statler comes forward to sing the national Anthem. Colorful, red, white, and blue balloons are released overhead. The balloon colors are white for Grandma Linda, red is for Trevor’s grandparents, and the blue is for Trevor. Someone is chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the games begin.

History

Trevor Haag started playing T-ball at age five, “He played every year that he could,” said his father Tracy. Trevor lost his life to a rare and undiagnosed heart condition (Long QT Syndrome) when he was only twelve years old.

In 2003 he participated in a motorcycle race in Kamiah and seemed fine at the time. During the race he coasted to a stop, his bike toppled over, and he fell to the ground. When people ran to his aide, his heart had already stopped beating. His older brother Justin has the same condition and uses a defibrillator. Justin still maintains an active lifestyle playing basketball but has been through several related health challenges.

Police Chief, Jeff Wilson, who was instrumental in organizing the tournament, in 2004, and also Trevor’s coach, said that Trevor’s passing was really hard on his classmates; “It was really devastating,” he said. Jeff and Jamie Wilson both wanted to do something memorable in Trevor’s honor to promote the sport Trevor loved best and make a positive difference in many kids’ lives.

The tournament, which began with six teams, grew to 26 teams last year. In 2010, 285 kids participated. Through word-of-mouth and Facebook, word has gotten around about this outstanding tournament, and people time their summer vacations now so they can attend from as far away as Washington, Oregon, and Montana.

“When we started out,” Jeff said, “we did a few things differently. We offer especially nice trophies for one thing. There is a huge one for the Trevor Haag Award, for the most inspiring member in the tournament.” The Haag family selects the player who will receive its highest honor. There is also a Justin Haag Team Award, which goes to the team that best exemplifies good sportsmanship qualities in competition.

In 2004, a large billboard sign, with a picture of Trevor on it, was erected at the VFW field. Each year, the name of the championship team is listed below on a permanent plaque. ASE Signs created the sign and donated the labor for construction.

Another thing that is unusual about this tournament is that the umpires, score board keepers, concessions, and people who do the field maintenance are all volunteer helpers. Many tournaments have to hire people to do these jobs but not in Orofino. Jeff said many people were eager to get involved and wanted to help.

“We usually try to do something special for the Haags,” said Jeff. This year we had authentic baseball jersey’s made that had the #8 on the back along with “T. HAAG,” and the front said “Trevor Haag Memorial Tournament.” Trevor’s mother Annette, Tracy, and Justin were each given a jersey, and one was framed, representing one for Trevor.

Each year tee-shirts and supplies have to be ordered and materials need to be printed. The event is not an easy one to plan, since the schedules have to be printed in advance of knowing how many people will actually attend. Jeff and Jamie Wilson have, with experience, gotten pretty good at guesstimating the event.

Several positive emails have been received from visitors to the tournament. The following one pretty much sums up the reason for all the effort that goes into it.

“It was an honor for me, my coaching staff, our players, and our families to be a part of an event this great in honor of a young man we were never fortunate enough to meet. Interestingly enough, after listening to stories about Trevor from locals, we left town feeling as if we did know him. I certainly hope the Haag family knows that even though most of the players that came to town this past weekend did not know Trevor personally, that Trevor has touched their lives now. Those of us involved in South Sound Baseball wish Orofino Youth Baseball, the town of Orofino, and the Haag family happiness and continued success in ventures working with kids.” Jeremy Larson Manager South Sound All Stars.

The tournament continues to generate good will throughout many communities and brings people to our area, often for the first time. Another email thanked all the volunteers that prepped fields, kept score, and were out there in the heat in umpire gear. They enjoyed Orofino so much; they chose to stay an extra day.

Looking forward

Next year promises to be a good one as special events are being planned already. Jeff said they want to put together a real social event in the city park. Instead of the usual late game, plans are for having a band in the park, so all the players will have a chance to intermingle and continue the fun. All the lights on the field will be on for kids to play, and kids can look forward to Whiffle ball and other fun things.

Trevor’s father, Tracy, said his son was very competitive and hated to lose. “Jeff, his coach, had to bench him a couple of times. But he was also a good sport and he would help other kids a lot.” Tracy and Annette Haag wish especially to thank Jeff and Jamie Wilson; “We really appreciate all they have done over the years as well as the many volunteers who willingly pitch in,” Tracy said.

Pictured are some of the great trophies and ribbons given out each year at the Trevor Haag Memorial Tournament. These trophies are awarded to the first through fourth champions and also consolation champions for both the age 12 and under and 10 and under divisions.

Pictured is the Justin Haag Trophy named after Trevor’s brother Justin.

Pictured is the Trevor Haag Trophy given to the player who is voted the most inspirational player of the tournament. The recipient is chosen by the Haag family.

Orofino City Council candidates featured in election forum Oct. 24

2011-10-12T11:38:00.001-07:00

Five Orofino residents will vie for the three open Orofino City Council positions in the Nov. 8 election. The Orofino Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a forum at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 at the Orofino High School cafeteria. It will allow the public to get more information and ask questions of the candidates.

The candidates

Squaring off for seats on City Council are incumbents Doug Donner and Marguerite McLaughlin versus new candidates Avery Dunaway, Shannon Schrader and Don Gardner.

Avery Dunaway – Avery is a shareholder and secretary/treasurer of ASE Signs, Inc. He has been in the area for 16 years and is married to a lifelong Orofino resident. Avery has not previously held an elected position.

Shannon Schrader – Shannon is an auto body technician at Orofino Body Shop. She has been in Orofino for 18 years.

Doug Donner – Doug is running for re-election.

Marguerite McLaughlin – Marguerite is running for re-election. She is currently the elected chair for the Finance and Personnel and the Water and Wastewater Committees. She is also a member of the Street Committee and the Airport Committee. She has served on Orofino City Council for the past six consecutive years.

Don Gardner – Don is the Clearwater County Emergency Management Coordinator, a member of the Orofino Fire Department and an instructor for ISU/FEMA/EST. Don is currently the chair for District 2 Interoperability Governance Board.

The forum will be moderated by Orofino resident and owner of KLER Radio, Jeff Jones.