Community needs help recovering from harsh winter
Brian Baxter | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 3 months AGO
Photo by Connie Shay
Though the first days of May can begin with a frosting of our surroundings, we know the sun will eventually shine, the birds will indeed sing and surely the colorful flowers will blossom. The outdoor “re-creational” spirit of northwest Montanians seems to grow big hearts. The kindness and generosity of our people is at par with and perhaps unmatched by any other region in our great country. This past winter has been difficult for all of us, but no matter how tough we as individuals perceive our own dilemmas, there are always others who have had it worse.
The Bull Lake Rod and Gun Club. located at the south end of Bull Lake and west of highway 56 near the 18-mile marker, has always opened their hearts and facilities to residents and visitors alike. The club has hosted numerous events, often co-sponsored by other groups. These diverse organizations have included Friends of Scotchman’s Peaks Wilderness, Montana Wilderness Association, Cabinet Backcountry Horsemen, U.S. Forest Service, Revett Minerals Corporation and others who have coordinated fun outdoor educational events for both kids and adults. The club also sponsors turkey shoots, bingo nights, summer barbecues, birthdays and more.
The long harsh winter delivered a knockout punch to the club’s facility at Bull Lake. The heavy snows collapsed the roof completely, pretty much destroying the building. The club is bouncing back and looking at options. One possibility is to erect an Amish-style pavilion, similar to the one in Riverfront Park in Libby. The good folks at the club could use some help to clean up the site, plan the reconstruction and to coordinate and organize fundraising events, as well as financial support. Please call 406-295-4994 or 406-293-5363 if you can help in any way.
A flurry of Muhammad Ali-like blows this winter also caused major problems for Kootenai Valley Radio, Libby and Troy’s Community Radio Station. KVRZ — 88.9 FM on your dial — hosts diverse music and radio programs including Kootenai Outdoors and others. The nonprofit organization is run entirely by volunteers out of Libby and Troy. The station strives to develop our local sound with live programs hosted by local volunteers.
The left jab came as the Sheldon Mountain receiver had major problems from heavy mountain snows. A left hook smashed into transmitters at the Libby studio, confounding the problems. And sadly, a straight right cross delivered our beloved Jazz Guru, John Hermann, to loftier mountain heights. If you can assist the station with technical help, financial support or would like to volunteer or host or even be a guest on a show, please contact Brian Sherry, engineer and production manager, at 406-291-9855 or brian@kvrz.net.
Like an aging warrior, who through honest self-reflection begins to understand the err of his ways (at least some of them), the cold and cloudy May day is enlightened by the sunshine a little at a time. The illumination peeks from between the grayish clouds and sprinkles of rain. The warmth of the sun heals the battle scars, and beckons the heart to help others.
There is no time like the present. And none of us know how much time we have.
ARTICLES BY BRIAN BAXTER
Voices in the Wilderness: Forest Choir
After the snowfall, Old Man Winter rests. He is warm now, with his long white hair flowing down his shoulders. After conjuring up infinite patterns of snow flakes, each one unique, and gently laying down the soft blanket of albescence, he tucks his chin into his full beard and begins to dream. In the mountains, the creatures of the earth begin to stir after the quietness of the last flake falling has been fully appreciated.
The Camaraderie of Hunters
Although the rather unexpected warmer temperatures and lack of snow at low- to mid-elevations during most of our recent hunting season did not help much, many hunters had a great season. And seasons are measured in a variety of ways, depending on each individual hunter.
Please thank our tireless firefighters
In the pitch dark, with layers of smoke blocking out the moon and stars, a lone driver takes off on a mission. He meanders his pickup through a maze of old logging roads that would trap a man easily. He feels a slight adrenaline rush of the fight or flight syndrome as he encounters ridiculously steep drop offs at every switchback. It’s a long, treacherous drive, and as he approaches an alder tunnel he fears he has missed his drop point. There are no turnouts on the hill where the Bay Horse fire is active. The old road warrior continues through the brushed in access road in hopes of finding the initial attack team that is spike camped out for the night. Busting through the one last bottleneck of vegetation, the wheel man arrives at the bivouacked squad’s location. Justin Figgins’s exhausted, black-faced crew are glad to see the driver, who has hot meals, Gatorade and other goodies, as well as humorous comments for the men and women of this squad.