1860 Days 2011 Grand Marshals Marv and Nettie Karn

Narrative by their son Mike Karn; with added information submitted by Marv and Nettie, in parenthesis.

Marv and Nettie celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18.

My mom and dad met in Salem, OR.  After they married, the Air Force took them to Arizona and Texas, then back to Salem after an honorable discharge (Korean War Vet - Jan. 4, 1951 to Jan. 5, 1955; USAF Crew Chief).

Dad took a job as a correctional officer at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Dad was a member of the shooting team and won many awards for his marksmanship. While employed at the pen, he volunteered to work at the Forest Camp on the Wilson River near Tillamook, OR.  The Forest Camp was manned by convicts and a small group of guards. They would travel around the Northwest when fire season was on and fight forest fires!

I can remember Dad being gone for two to three weeks on big fires. This was Dad’s chance to earn some decent money! Sometimes when he was gone, Mom would take us three older boys out to the strawberry and bean fields so she could make some money to help put food on the table.

Then one day, interrupting plans to go to Alaska, came the ad in the Oregonian.

I remember it was alarge ad advertising for workers to come to Pierce with 20 years guaranteed jobs working at Jaype Plywood, with lots of fishing and hunting as a bi-product. Dreamland for Dad and us kids. My dad was more than happy to work plenty of hours to get ahead. (Moved to Pierce, Dec. 13, 1965). We got rid of the Fiat 600 and got a brand new 1966 Toyota Land Cruiser with a winch. We traveled the backwoods and hunted and fished every chance we could as Dad was an avid outdoorsman, with four boys to pull winch line. Mom was a bright fixture with all the kids and later, the early morning loggers and mill workers. (Nettie cooked for Pierce High School and 25 + years in restaurants in Pierce).

She was always ready to tell you how bad you looked or how dumb you were. And, where else could you hear the cook say, “Aw, Fishguts”. Her homemade soups and pies were popular with the patrons of the Clearwater Café where she last worked with her good friend Bobby Jo Mc Millen. (Nettie is known for her hot cakes “Nettie’s Killer Cakes). People who were around then will agree what a pair they made. 

Mom and Dad both are known to be as good of workers as it would be possible to find. Ask anyone. Mom and Dad are living comfortably in the remodeled home that we moved to in 1965, on  Ash Court in Whispering Pines. (Marv retired from Potlatch, Jaype Mill in August, 1994. He served four years on the Pierce City Council in the ‘70s. He was an active member of the Odd Fellows in Pierce. Marv and Nettie raised four sons in Pierce, Marv, Jr., Eric, Mike and Gary).

Orofino teacher among 37 to spend week exploring 1950s Cold War history

Pam Danielson, a teacher at Orofino Junior Senior High School, was among 37 teachers from around the state selected to attend the Idaho Humanities Council’s 2011 weeklong summer institute, titled Are You Now or Have You Ever Been…Fear, Suspicion, and Incivility in Cold War America, scheduled for July 24-29 at the College of Idaho in Caldwell.

Supported in part by the IHC’s Endowment for Humanities Education, and generous grants from The Whittenberger Foundation and State Farm Insurance, the institute will immerse teachers in an exploration of the Cold War and its legacy for domestic and foreign policy. 

Teachers will receive room and meals for the week, texts and curriculum materials, and optional college credit. 

The week will feature lectures, panels, and films on the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s and their impact on American constitutional law and civil liberties; popular culture of the 1950s and how Cold War fears were interpreted in American literature, music, art, and film; the history of the arms race, and more.

Participants also will learn about 1950s political history of Idaho and the Intermountain West and its lingering impacts. 

Lead scholars for the week include David Adler, Director, James and Louise McClure Center, University of Idaho, Katherine Aiken, Dean, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, University of Idaho, and Ron Hatzenbuehler, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, Idaho State University. 

The week also will include several special lectures that will be free and open to the public.

Nicholas Thompson, a senior editor at The New Yorker and author of The Hawk and the Dove, will deliver the keynote address, “The Hawk and the Dove: Lessons for Today’s Foreign Policy from Paul Nitze and George Kennan.”

David Walker, a Boise State University military historian, will present an overview of the Korean War.  Marc Johnson, longtime political analyst and partner with Gallatin Public Affairs in Boise, will present “The Singing Senator and Little Joe from Idaho: The Cold War and Idaho Politics.”

Ellen Schrecker, professor of history at Yeshiva University and author of Age of McCarthyism will present “McCarthyism Was More than McCarthy: Anticommunist Political Repression during the Early Cold War.”  F. Ross Peterson, Utah State University Emeritus Professor of history, will present “McCarthyism and Mountain West Politics, 1950-57.”

The Idaho Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting greater public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the humanities. The IHC hosts an institute every summer that explores different humanities topics and themes.

For more information about this summer’s institute, see IHC’s website at www.idahohumanities.org or contact IHC Grants & Fiscal Officer Cindy Wang at 208-345-5346, or cindy@idahohumanities.org.

Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement being prepared for proposed land exchange

Orofino, ID—The Forest Service has signed an addendum to the 2008 feasibility analysis for the Upper Lochsa Land Exchange.  The addendum takes a closer look at the federal lands recently proposed for exchange by the Idaho County Commissioners.

According to Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell, the Idaho County Commissioners objected to all action alternatives presented in the 2010 Draft Environmental Impact Statement because of potential negative economic impacts to Idaho County’s tax base.

The Commissioners countered with a new alternative that identifies approximately 45,000 acres of federal lands entirely within Idaho County that could be considered for exchange for the roughly 40,000 acres of Western Pacific land within the Upper Lochsa drainage.  Those lands are also located within Idaho County.

The 45,000 acres identified by Idaho County exceeds what is needed to complete the exchange and will be refined through future public involvement processes.

Brazell said he welcomes the alternative as he seeks a solution to what has been a contentious proposal.  At the same time, he acknowledged the new alternative is likely outside of the agency’s authority because the Forest Service only has authority to approve a value-for-value exchange.

Idaho County has indicated they plan to pursue legislation that would allow an acre-for-acre exchange with the provision that additional revenues generated by the swap would be allocated to watershed restoration efforts in the Upper Lochsa lands.

Project Manager Teresa Trulock said the next phase in the process is to develop a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement which presents and analyzes the new proposed alternative.  That would be followed by a 45-day public comment period.

She expects the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to be released sometime in October.

The Upper Lochsa Land Exchange was initiated in 2008.  It originally involved the exchange of approximately 40,000 acres of” Western Pacific Timber LLC lands that were interspersed with Forest Service lands near Lolo Pass for scattered parcels of national forest system lands located within Benewah, Bonner, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai and Latah counties.

The Forest Service sought to acquire the lands to block up ownership in the headwaters of the Upper Lochsa River.  The lands also hold significant aquatic, terrestrial and cultural values.

Information regarding the exchange including the 2008 Feasibility Analysis and the July 2011 Addendum can be viewed at the Clearwater National Forest website http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/ under the heading “Projects.”

For more information, contact Teresa Trulock at (208) 935-4256.

Bonner Mountain Music Festival July 23

The Bonner Mountain Music Festival will be Saturday, July 23 at the Robert Spence home,

12459 Upper Fords Creek Road at mile marker 12.5, Orofino.

The festival is a variety show with local talent from the Clearwater area featuring old and new country, gospel, blue grass, and country rock.  Performers are Shiloh Sharrard, Jake Bonner, Dyan Spence, Pat Threewit, Mike and Pidge Jenkins, Bob and Elsa Riek, Julie Hutchinson, and Mike Riccomini, plus many other favorites.

The music plays from 1 to 8 p.m. with a break for a potluck dinner that begins at 4 p.m. Bring a covered dish, your own table service, a chair, and a coat.

For more information, please call 476-5330. Everyone is welcome! See you there!

Clearwater County removing flammable vegetation

C-PTPA and Clearwater County crews work to remove fallen branches and other flammable vegetation from Cavendish Highway.

Cavendish Highway, located past Ahsahka, looks much cleaner since C-PTPA and Clearwater County crews removed a great deal of flammable vegetation and clutter.

Last year Clearwater County received a grant to remove flammable vegetation within the Sunnyside Fire District. After the bidding process Clearwater County awarded the project to Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (C-PTPA).

Working with homeowners and once the weather cooperated C-PTPA began to remove excessive fuels in the prescribe area earlier this year. The intent of the hazardous fuels reduction treatments is to create a system of fuel breaks throughout the project area that can slow down or stop a wildfire and provide a safe evacuation route.

During the last couple of weeks C-PTPA has focused on Cavendish Hwy. The work has involved removing and chipping hazardous fuel along the roads deeded right-of-way. If you have driven the Cavendish road lately you will notice a nice park like setting along the side of the road where the project was conducted. The project has been going well and should conclude later this year.

Clearwater County encourages homeowners to develop a defensible space around their home. Doing so can help protect your home when a fire approaches. Keep in mind that preparing your property for fire does not mean removing all your trees. Simply removing over-hanging branches or limbing trees up from the ground can be a good benefit.

What are the most important things to do to protect my home?

·   First, make sure you have a nonflammable roof covering and assembly. Your roof is the most vulnerable spot for embers that blow in and collect.

·   Clean out gutters and downspouts of debris and leaves.

·   Keep the surface and area beneath decks and porches free of debris and leaves.

·   Maintain a 3-to-5-foot space around your house and all attachments that is “fuel free” – no flammable mulch, woodpiles, or plants that can allow fire to touch the house.

·   Screen vents with metal mesh; if possible, replace large win-dows with double paned or tempered glass to resist break-age during a fire.

Of course, large flames can and will ignite your home if they are close enough to the house. Ensure that trees and shrubs within the first 30 feet of your home are healthy, spaced apart, and not overhanging the house.

If your home is on a slope, thin out vegetation to a further distance (50 to 100 feet) to slow fire’s spread as it approaches uphill. 

For more information please contact Clearwater County Office of Emergency Management at 476-4064.

OPD reminds recreational vehicle owners to observe city parking ordinances

Drivers of campers, RVs, boat and ATV trailers, and other recreational vehicles are asked to be mindful of how and where they park in Orofino city limits.

Orofino city officials lately have been receiving complaints about recreational vehicles being stored on streets or in city right-of-ways, and Orofino Police Department (OPD) has issued parking tickets for these violations.

View Orofino’s city parking ordinances at www.orofinopd.com anytime, or at www.clearwatertribune.com after Thursday, July 7.

Interested persons may also phone OPD at (208) 476-5551 to request a copy of the ordinances.

Get ready for another fun-filled Pierce 1860 Days

Jerry Coles (left) and Ray Carbough (a.k.a. Ephram) at last year’s Pierce 1860 Days Legends of the Old West Street Shooters. Photo by Marlene Johnson

By Kathy Coles

Come join Pierce for another exciting, fun-filled Pierce 1860 Days celebration this year, Aug. 5, 6 and 7. As in the past few years, the weekend rocks from Friday afternoon on. Starting off will be the Friday evening kick-off, the Timberline Lions Club BBQ, Berry Bake-Off, and Pie and Ice Cream Social. There will be country music to enjoy by Shiloh Sharrard, and later that evening, live music at the Timber Inn.

Events

Saturday, Aug. 6, the Legends of the Old West shooters will get the day started, bringing outlaw excitement to the streets once again. For the morning, an ATV Fun Run, a Co-ed Softball Tournament, the Ducky Derby, Kid’s Fishing, Bow Shoot, and the “Walk for Joyce.” Be here for the parade, which will feature this year’s Grand Marshals, Marv and Nettie Karn, and the Auction right after. ’Best of the West’ contests touting the Best Groomed Beard, Longest Beard, Best 1800s Costume, and the Best Lookin’ Legs-male and female, and the best mustache, in 1800s costume, will be held Saturday. There will be a Kids’ Stickhorse Roundup on Main Street, a ping-pong ball drop, and a huge water balloon toss, among other fun games.

We have plenty of food choices - a Lion’s Club breakfast and the Dutch Oven Cook-Off offering public tastings in the afternoon. A wide variety of vendors will be offering their specialties all day also along with the diverse restaurants in town.

The Fabulous Kingpins will be playing for the Saturday night street dance, so get your dancing boots on and party the night away.

Sunday, Aug. 7, features more softball, and you won’t want to miss the very popular Country Church service. More contests and games for kids of all ages will be held in the Park. Finally, the drawings everyone has been waiting for! Get your tickets for the chance to win the half-ounce Gold Miner Charm and a massive stainless five burner barbeque…the drawings will be Sunday afternoon.

We invite you to enjoy the weekend on the hilltop at Pierce’s biggest event - for everyone in the family.

The schedule of events will be posted in Pierce and nearby towns. For vendor or parade information and forms, please visit pierce-weippechamber.com or call the Blue Moose Mercantile, 208 464-1083. See you here!