Behind the scenes of an air attack

Contributed by Shawna Hartman, Type 2 PIO

The job of Air Tactical Group Supervisor in the firefighting world is somewhat like a traffic policeman at a busy intersection. In Orofino on Thursday, the Air Tactical Group Supervisor, James Grasham, Zone Assistant Fire Management Officer from Idaho Panhandle National Forest stationed in Grangeville, with pilot Dave Parker coordinated the air support on the Braun Road Fire, which greatly assisted in putting that fire out. Air support working the fire in Orofino, included 4 helicopters, 4 single engine air tankers (SEATS), 2 heavy air tankers, and a lead plane. With 11 aircraft over the fire, one could imagine the chaos that could ensue, hence the need for someone to coordinate the effort.

Due to effective regional communication and local pre-positioned air resources, aerial attack was immediate for the Brown Road fire. The terrain in that area makes on the ground firefighting difficult, and the aerial attack allowed the local firefighters to respond directly to the homes for structure protection. Circling above the fire, Grasham, is able to talk with firefighters on the ground as well as the air craft supporting the fire. In coordination with the ground Incident Commander, the Air Tactical Group Supervisor sets objectives for the fire and directs each retardant or water drop on the fire.

In Orofino last week, the helicopters were able to dip from nearby ponds and cool hot spots while the SEATs returned to Grangeville Tanker Base where they reloaded with retardant. The heavy air tankers were flown in from Missoula to assist with the Braun Road fire also. The “heavy” tankers are larger planes that may carry up to 2,000 gallons of retardant and also require a lead plane. The lead plane identifies the line in which the air tanker will drop their retardant load. While identifying that line the lead plane leads the tankers in and “checks the air.” These larger planes returned to Missoula to be refilled and one of them returned with another load to Orofino.

The SEATs hold up to 800 gallons of retardant per load; however, for safety reasons each load is usually only 725-750 gallons. The SEAT pilot can control the amount or coverage of retardant on each drop. If the fuel on the ground is heavy timber the pilot will likely release their complete load to ensure that it will reach the ground and coverage is good. The pilots stationed in Grangeville are highly qualified for wildfire and each year attend training and are re-certified to continue to pilot SEATs.

When the SEATs get to the Grangeville Air Base, support personnel on the ground manage the safety of the “ramp,” the site of the retardant reloading station. SEAT managers keep track of flying time, safety, roll times loading and compliance with contract standards. There are at least five interagency dispatched personnel at the base that assist with the tanker base. As fire activity increase in the area, the more aircraft are called in and in turn more support personnel will arrive to help manage the Tanker Base.

The Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service work closely together and share use of the SEATs. The Idaho Department of Lands holds the contract with the SEAT companies while the US Forest Service provides the airport support and staffing to maintain the Grangeville Tanker Base. This mutual aid agreement allows both entities use of this valuable firefighting resource without carrying the financial burden alone. The SEATs usefulness and efficiency of all personnel involved was exhibited on the Braun Fire.

Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy update

By Carmen Syed

Derek Newland, Director of the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA) of Pierce, spoke to attendees at the recent Pierce-Weippe Chamber of Commerce meeting, held on July 10 at the Pierce Community Center.

Mr. Newland gave an update on the progress of getting the Academy property ready for receiving students in January 2014. Ground is being moved and prepared for the modulars that will house the students. These modulars will begin arriving in mid-August. In addition, the interior and exterior is in the process of being painted, and new carpet will be installed in the next week. A new sign was printed by Express Name Tags and More of Weippe, and Logistics Manager, Harv Nelson installed it in front of the school grounds this last week.

In addition, the IDYCA has advertised for 20 new positions recently, including Cadre Team Leaders, Case Managers and Counselors. Interviews have begun for the Cadre Team Leaders, which will be on-staff in the next couple of weeks. There were many that are interviewing from the local area, but housing will need to be secured for those from out-of-town.

The Academy’s Administrative Assistant, Carmen Syed, is taking over the City of Pierce’s efforts in developing a detailed list of rental properties in the area for these new hires. She has made personal contact this week with those on the existing list, to update the availability. However, any rental property owners that have not been contacted are encouraged to call the Academy at 208-464-1253 to be included on the rental list. The new Human Resource Assistant, Cheryl McIntosh of Pierce, has also recently been hired, and will start work soon. She will be assisting in the housing effort for the new hires.

Things are rapidly moving forward with the Academy, and it is an exciting time for our town, county and the youth of our great state!

Head Start seeks our support

By Elizabeth Morgan

Lewis Clark Early Childhood Program (LCECP) has been serving the community of Orofino for over 20 years. Presently, a group of devoted community members who call themselves Friends of LCECP Orofino Head Start Project are asking the community for support in raising $30,000 to be eligible for other grants needed to purchase and place a classroom on the elementary school site.

LCECP has applied for a supplemental funding grant from Head Start to cover the site development costs associated with development of the center including the playground and parking areas. It is hoped to bring the project to the school site within the next year.

Friends of LCECP strive to raise $30,000 from the Orofino business and private communities. The remainder of the $91,000 is to be earned through private grants and foundations.

Years of monitoring and research confirm that children who attend the Head Start program, have immediate positive effects on cognitive and social/emotional development. In addition, it was discovered that there was significant influence on the health of the child as well as his/her family. This typically improves the entire family’s emotional and economic social status, which in turn benefits the community.

Head Start’s present location is on the county’s road maintenance complex. Immediately behind their playground, heavy equipment travels back and forth, through a parking lot that floods during the storm season. Costs for ongoing maintenance for flooding and dated heating cut deeply into a budget that is already stretched to afford only the absolute necessities.

The building is small, and is not in compliance with the American Disabilities Act, Classroom size may accommodate no more than 14 children at a time and lacks space for supplies.

The center’s size and location limits activities, access, class size and instruction, and presents numerous safety issues of serious concern. Besides being located somewhat inconveniently in an industrial area, there is no connectivity to other education programs or schools.

In the past, the school district has absorbed the cost of transporting students who qualify for Head Start services to and from Orofino Elementary School.

Keeping the kids on school grounds will save money and provide less interruption to their school day. The transition from Pre-School to Kindergarten is made easier, less intimidating because the child is more comfortable and familiar with their surroundings.

Moving the Head Start to OES would allow children to attend preschool in a high quality modular classroom manufactured by Northwest Building Systems in Boise. large enough to accommodate an office separate from the classroom. The building would not interfere with the additional parking area that OES intended to create. The new location will create a seamless unison between Head Start and OES.

Clearwater County is one of the most economically depressed counties in Idaho, with over 36% of children aged 0-4, living in poverty.

Parent intensive programs such as Head Start draw parents to school early in the child’s academic career, promoting greater participation as the child progresses through grade school and beyond.

Research indicates: “Parent involvement promotes a healthy and consistent learning environment by establishing mutual goals between parents and educators and developing activities that bridge home and school.” (Christenson, S.L.; 1995).

Furthermore, children who attend Head Start earn significantly more than their siblings who did not attend preschool. Those that attended Head Start are nearly 30% more likely to have completed high school than their siblings and are more likely to attend college, less likely to be assigned to special education classes; and less likely to commit crimes. It is estimated that society receives nearly $9 in benefits for every dollar invested in Head Start children.

Joint School District #171 Superintendent, Bob Vian believes the program will benefit both students and community. He fully supports the efforts of Friends of Lewis Clark Early Childhood Program to find a way to move the current facility to the Orofino Elementary School grounds.

Seeking additional funds from the community for education is a sensitive issue, especially in light of the school district requesting and receiving the supplemental levy which passed in May. But there is much taking place within the district to maximize the quality of education available for our children. As a former teacher, I see many wheels in motion that will encourage lifelong learning and well being throughout the community. The education our children receive will be relevant to the needs of tomorrow, and become more efficient as the district’s future goals are realized.

Friends of LCECP are planning a bake sale for starters on Friday, Aug. 2. The time and location has yet to be announced. Watch for details in next week’s Clearwater Tribune. Please show your support; Head Start works, and our children deserve whatever it takes.

Jumpers flock to Orofino skydiving event

By Dennis Gray of ChangePoint

This weekend’s Sober Skydive, July 6-7, sponsored by ChangePoint, was a huge success. People from Orofino and surrounding communities came to jump or to enjoy watching the skydiving event. SkyDown Skydiving out of Caldwell provided the jumps. Skydivers leaped out of the planes at 10,000 feet and landed at the Orofino Municipal Airport. Jumpers were from Orofino, Kamiah, Kooskia, Grangeville, Cottonwood, Lewiston, Clarkston, and Peck. Sober Skydive was started to help promote sobriety and to encourage recovery for those who want to change their lives.

The skydivers tried to describe the joy of free-falling at 120 miles per hour, followed by the parachute opening and slowing to brisk glide through the most beautiful landscape a person could view in their lifetime. A nearly universal comment from the skydivers was simply that the thrilling experience was so wonderful it was virtually indescribable.

Of the 35 people who jumped (mostly novice skydivers), they took their first big leap right here in Orofino. A few would-be-spectators could not take just watching and signed up themselves. Some had not flown on a plane before so the experience was even more exhilarating.

Other parachuters were experienced. Several began jumping at the first Sober Skydive a few years ago. Ages of the jumpers ranged from 16-year-olds to people well into their 70’s.

Most of the tandem jumps were friends or family members jumping in pairs. One of the old-timers who had jumped several times in the past took his grandson for this life-changing experience. Moms jumping with their sons and dads jumping with their teenage daughters described their experience as a gift of a lifetime.

The expert pilots and skydiving instructors from SkyDown Skydiving helped new jumpers to reduce the fear, relax, and feel confident in order to better enjoy the experience. These highly skilled instructors had logged from over 4,000 to more 14,000 jumps.

Veronica Miracle, KLEW TV reporter, straps up for her first parachute jump at Orofino Airport on July 6. SkyDown Skydiving of Caldwell provided the jumps. Photo by Charlie Pottenger

 Veronica Miracle is pictured landing after her parachute jump with SkyDown Skydiving July 6 at Orofino Airport. Photo by Charlie Pottenger

 

Lucas Walker of Lewiston was among several individuals who participated in a parachute jump at Orofino Airport July 6-7, courtesy of SkyDown Skydiving, a sport parachute jumping organization out of Caldwell. Upon landing, Lucas declared, "I definitely am doing that again!" Photo by Charlie Pottenger

 

Jessi Noah of Orofino is all harnessed for a skydive at Orofino Airport July 6, courtesy of SkyDown Skydiving of Caldwell. Photo by Charlie Pottenger

Will Orofino share the road with megaload haulers?

The Orofino Chamber of Commerce invited business owners and merchants of Orofino to a presentation held by the Omega Morgan Corporation at the Ponderosa Restaurant, June 26.

Omega Morgan specializes in transportation of heavy rigging and machinery, industrial construction and architectural services. The company was founded in 1991 in Hillsboro, OR, and has become a leader in their field throughout the Pacific Northwest. Their slogan is “Doing the Impossible Daily.”

The megaload haulers are anticipating being given the okay to haul water purification vessels via U.S. Hwy. 12 to Canada, which could begin late in July of 2013. Omega Morgan has committed to working with Forest Service and the Idaho Transportation Department to minimize any negative impact to the area.

The loads are 250 feet long, 20 feet in diameter and weigh 600,000 to 640,000 pounds. If approved, the company would like to make 10 such trips between now and January of 2014, with additional projects proposed for 2014.

The company is requesting to transport between the hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The rigs are required by law to pull over every 15 minutes. The team usually consists of six people, accompanied by a bevy of support personnel. The company will utilize local pilot cars and law enforcement. The transport team will use local hotels, restaurants, fueling stations, grocery and hardware stores and auto supply stores.

John McCalla, CEO and President of Omega Morgan personally greeted each and every person in attendance. He claimed that his company would like to be part of the community as opposed to just passing through.

Most of those in attendance of the meeting were enthusiastic as they listened to the prospects of potential business, but not all were as optimistic.

It would be safe to say that Exxon did not score the highest of ratings locally when they attempted their transport through the corridor of Hwy. 12 in the past. Power lines were accidentally brought down and no one from Exxon was available for answers.

McCalla listened carefully to objections and answered questions as they came.

There are the pros and the cons as in most every decision. In this case the good news is that none of the transport material is toxic, no fuels, nuclear waste, etc. and everything is manufactured within the United States, the community and those up and down our river stand to make a few dollars in the agreement.

However, there are some who wonder where we can draw the line. If we let one company through, does it open the door wide for others to follow? Will they all be as careful and as conscientious as Omega Morgan claims to be?

No one knows the answer to that, but it sure is a valid question.

May unemployment edges up to 6.2 percent amid influx of job seekers

Idaho’s labor force increased by 1,100 workers last month - the largest number in over a year - pushing the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from 6.1 percent in April to 6.2 percent for May.

It was the first monthly increase in the unemployment rate since June 2011 when the rate hit 8.5 percent, just short of a post-recession 8.8 percent, before beginning a steady two-year decline.

The number of workers off the job rose 900 to 47,500, erasing April’s decline.

The tenth of a percentage point increase in the Idaho rate matched the uptick in the national rate to 7.6 percent in May. But Idaho’s rate was still more than a percentage point below the May 2012 rate of 7.3 percent, and May marked the 140th straight month Idaho’s rate has been below the national average.

Clearwater County’s May rate, while still in the double digits at 11.3 percent, was down from 12.6 percent in April, and down from 14.6 percent in May of 2012.

Nez Perce’s County’s rate of 5.6 percent remained the same from April to May. Last May it was 5.9 percent.

Lewis County’s unemployment rate ticked up to 5.9 percent, from April’s rate of 4.4 percent, though it too was lower than last May’s rate, which was 6.2 percent.

May’s labor force expansion ended a four-month decline of 4,000 to October 2011 levels even though Idaho’s economy was beginning to add jobs at a decent rate. The labor force decline raised analyst’s questions about the state’s ability to staff a sustained job expansion, but an influx of new workers – the largest one-month gain since November 2011 – may indicate renewed optimism about Idaho’s economic recovery and its ability to generate jobs.

A modest pickup in hiring by employers increased employment by 300 from April to more than 724,300 after falling for the three straight months. Employers reported hiring over 18,200 workers for both existing and new jobs, the third strongest May on record and just 500 hires short of the May peak in 2007.

All major sectors of the economy except private education services reported increasing payrolls from April to May, and nearly all were at rates higher than average over the past 10 years. Education services dropped 300 jobs from April, reflecting the winding down of the traditional school year.

Overall private sector jobs were running nearly three percent ahead of May 2012 while government, where the impact of recent federal budget cuts was beginning to be felt, was just two-tenths of a percentage point ahead of May 2012. Total jobs were 2.3 percent higher than a year earlier but still 3 percent below the pre-recession peak and unlikely to make up that ground before 2015.

Total employment across Idaho was 7,300 higher than in May 2012 while the number of unemployed was 8,900 lower than a year earlier. The most recent report from The Conference Board found two idled workers for every job posting in Idaho, well below the nearly five-to-one ratio posted during the depths of the recession.

Idaho’s economic improvement has brought a dramatic decline in unemployment insurance benefits of more than 50 percent over the year. An average of nearly 13,900 idled workers received $13.3 million in jobless benefits in May – $3.7 million of that in federal extended benefits – compared to nearly 29,000 who received $28.6 million in benefits in May 2012. Over $13 million of that was in federal extended benefits, which end in December. About 4,100 claimants were receiving federally financed benefits in May.

At the depth of the recession in March 2009, 61,000 workers received $66 million in state and federal benefits.

Eleven of Idaho’s 44 counties posted lower rates in May than in April, led by a five point decline in Power County, which had a temporary food processing layoff in April. Rates in three counties were unchanged.

Compared to May 2012, lower rates were posted in all but six rural counties – Camas, Lemhi, Oneida, Bear Lake, Owyhee and Custer.

Just three resource-dependent counties reported double-digit rates – Adams at 12.4 percent, Clearwater at 11.3 percent and Shoshone at 10.6. Six counties had double-digit rates in April.

Twenty counties had rates under 6 percent, led by Franklin County at 3.4 percent. Twenty-two counties had rates under 6 percent in April.

Orofino Pool Committee swimming with new ideas

A special meeting was attended on June 18, by the members of the Clearwater Community Complex Inc. also known as the Orofino Pool Committee, City Council and interested community members to visit both sites presently being considered to accommodate a new pool for the city, and to meet with Kathy Muir, the State and Federal Grant Manager for Idaho Parks and Recreation.

Clearwater Community Complex, Inc. arranged for the visit with Muir to learn more about the eligibility requirements and considerations when applying for a grant from the Department of Lands and Water.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to learn how Orofino may better qualify for a 50/50 matching Land and Water grant from the U.S. Department of Interior through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The other goal of the meeting was to visit the new pool’s proposed site located behind Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union, donated by Lonnie and Shannon Simpson. Clearwater Community complex was anxious to hear Muir’s perspective and recommendations before actually applying for the grant.

Ironically, and within 24 hours prior to the special meeting, a second site was offered for consideration by Paul and Lee Pippenger, who had just learned the night before that the school board had accepted their bid for the purchase of the junior high building. The Pippengers had offered to the Pool Committee the area behind the gym for the pool and conversion of the old cafeteria of the school into dressing and shower areas.

In the case that the Pool committee decides to build on the old school grounds the Simpsons have graciously offered to donate funds toward the pool instead of the land. In last week’s issue of The Clearwater Tribune it was incorrectly implied that the land would be reappraised and sold to another party to benefit the pool. The reporter accepts full responsibility for the misinterpretation and promises to try harder next time to keep the facts straight.

Muir revealed that under this type of grant the pool facilities could not be connected to an existing building, which house another business, such as the newly proposed community center at the old school building. Both sites would require structures for dressing rooms and showers, and there might be a slight edge toward the first site in that it is slightly larger but no other buildings exist on the site, but that both sites could be considered under the right proposal for the grant.

After viewing both locations, everyone met back at City Council chambers to hear Muir’s remarks. There were many questions and she began by addressing the disappointment she saw in the faces of the committee members who have worked so hard for so long. She prefaced her remarks by saying she had “nothing to do with making the rules, but it was her job to enforce them.”

Muir stated that when the department was new the annual budget for the Land and water grant was substantially more, one million dollars as opposed to the amount of $440,000 received last year. It was decided that because of the budget being cut by more than half that grants would be awarded at the state level one year and at the local level the following year. The next opportunity for Orofino to apply would be in January of 2015, which is a good thing because there is much to do in the interim.

Other good news to hear was that there were not as many applicants as one might anticipate. There were eight applications last year and of those eight, five were awarded grants of various amounts.

The visitor from Boise also countered the Pool Committee with encouragement, saying that in many ways we were above the curve by having two locations to choose from, which will remain up to the Pool Ccommittee. She was aware of an obvious show of commitment from the community, and suggested ways to convince the advisory board that building a pool in Orofino is among our first priorities. A vital and second priority is to find a way to maintain it.

The not so good news is one that has haunted the existence of a pool in Orofino for a long time, and that is the lack of an owner. In order to qualify for this particular grant the owner must be governmental entity, for example, the city or county, or even Dworshak Recreation District.

Another stipulation is that the site must be designated as a Land and Water site in perpetuity, or forever. If the pool is let go and it is decided that the city doesn’t want or is unable to keep it properly maintained, the site must continue to be utilized for recreation in a manner similar to a pool. At the moment Orofino already has two sites designated as Land and Water sites, Orofino City Park and the tennis courts.

Back in the days that Orofino had a pool the city needed to subsidize its annual cost of $45,000 to operate it from the city’s general funds. The proposed operating cost for a pool today is between $60,000-$80,000.This number takes into account the wise planning of utilizing solar energy and geothermal heating in the new pool to run the site more efficiently.

Furthermore, City Administrator Rick Laam claims that there is presently a cap on the amount budgeted for Recreation, and that there are no excess funds available as it takes all of $80,000 to care for the parks we have. The city is restricted by the state the percentage of property taxes that can be used on recreation.

After taking in all the new information provided by Muir, it was asked “What a competitive application would include?”

Proof of a committed community, proof that there is a need to provide children a safe place to swim, and the supportive involvement of a wide source of agencies, elaborate the details of the proposal as much as possible, as funds collected are to be matched by the grant, and pictures - pictures can be worth a thousand words. The presentation counts for much of the board’s decision.

So it’s back to the drawing board and future fundraisers, armed with tips from the authorities in Boise, and something like a year and half before Orofino submits their application.

A word of appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Pool Committee, on behalf of the community we thank you for not giving up.