With 13 members of the Mineral County Resource Coalition present, the first face-to-face meeting since January was held in the pavilion of the St. Regis Park on a crisp Tuesday morning.

Co-chairs Willie Peck with Idaho Forest Group and Carol Young were voted unanimously to retain their positions on the annual vote and with that, the meeting began.

The Coalition further discussed the possibility of a memorial in the name of Roger Hearst that will be placed in the developing Murphy Creek Trail system.

It was suggested the memorial could take shape as the name of a trail or if the red tape isn’t too thick, a custom-made bench.

Interpretive signage will be in this family friendly setting highlighting the botanical significance of the trail.

Hearst, who died in October 2019, was a retired forester who had served as Mineral County fire warden and in other community positions during his retirement.

“Having Roger’s name amongst the educational markers about the history of the area and timber industry will be fitting,” said Denley Loge, local rancher, and House District 14 Representative. A trail named in honor of Loge’s father skirts the St. Regis Community Park and is a favorite meandering walk for residents and visitors alike.

“Recreation is a big part of everything we are doing,” reported Peck.

The Murphy Creek parking area improvements and final touches to the trailhead should be completed this year. The recent tree removal along Interstate 90 east was spearheaded by the Montana State Highway Department as a project to address a safety issue.

The tall trees were harvested because they block the sun from melting the ice on the asphalt during the winter months making traveling more hazardous.

They also harbor deer and elk who can jump in front of motorists with little notice.

Imperial Forestry has planted almost 400,000 trees this spring in the burn areas of 2017 including the Sunrise and Sheep Gap fires. There were a few trees left over from the planting that the Coalition will work with the United States Forest Service to see if there is an opportunity for the group to help plant the remaining stock.

Over the last few months, the Coalition has been collaborating with the Sanders County Collaborative to work on projects that are on the Lolo National Forest and affect both counties.

The groups have agreed to meet quarterly to discuss ways to assist the USFS in getting support and having more groundwork done.

COVID-19 meeting restrictions could still be in place so the next meeting will take place in the same location at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 and is open to the public.

More information abou the Coalition can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mineral-County-Resource-Coalition-

110528423992345/. Also, a website is soon to come.