Powell police welcome new dispatcher

Virginia Norris of Powell has joined the Powell Police Department as a part-time dispatcher.

Norris, 34, is originally from Billings. She lived in Washington for a spell before moving to Powell about 3 years ago, looking to be closer to her family.

She kinda found the job by chance.

"I saw an ad in the paper," she said. "I thought, 'That sounds really cool.'"

Norris has worked in child care and at Taco John's.

I suggested that perhaps her experience taking orders from desperately hungry folks would transfer to handling emergency calls. That was probably a bit of a stretch - Norris said she hadn't thought of that connection - but she humored me anyway.

"I have experience and I didn't even know it," she joked.

Norris started training Thursday.

Smoke on the Heart Mountain horizon

Smoke from the Gunbarrel Fire flows over Heart Mountain as the sun sets over Park County on Wednesday (Aug. 13).

Click the little image above for the full-sized version.

Pryor wild horse lovers buck BLM

Despite some public trepidation, Jim Sparks, field manager for the Billings Bureau of Land Management office has said repeatedly that Pryor Mountain wild horses that are rounded-up will not be euthanized.

The BLM has proposed gathering 38 of the estimated 172 wild horses in the Pryors.

No worries. I think...

Cutting 38 horses should not negatively impact the herd because there are plenty of spring foals, said Matt Dillon, who heads the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center in Lovell.

Ginger Kathrens, a Colorado Springs author who has filmed the Pryor herd for public television and founder of The Cloud Foundation, does not necessarily suspect the horses will be poked by a poisonous needle. However she fears if the animals are not adopted, they could spend their final days at a BLM long-term holding facility. And those days could numbered if the bureau decides to euthanize horses.

Kathrens said the BLM is holding 33,000 wild horses, which far outnumbers 13,600 roaming within the confines of wild horse management areas across the west. Sparks said the BLM has the legal authority to euthanize its horses. So theoretically, the bureau could play the dirty needle card to rub-out its surplus horse stock.

Kathrens’ contention is that could lead to a stampede of lethal injections to thin herd numbers and clear pastures for more incarcerated horses.

However, bear in mind, euthanization was only a proposal, not a plan of action.

You got me. I am inclined to believe Sparks at least on the local level. But, what the BLM big shots in Washington, D.C. decide is an entirely different matter.

Kathrens’ argument may have validity. She said the BLM should be exploring ways to get all their horses adopted. If she keeps the heat on, that could elicit more public and media scrutiny and so protect horses from potential death.

Dillon made a valid point too. He said folks should concentrate on finding means to get wild horses adopted, not fretting over the killing of Pryor horses, which he said won’t happen.

You decide. I am just a wacky reporter striving to make sense of what I am told.

I favor protecting both the McCullough Peaks’ and Pryor herds. I also prefer wolves, bears and all other four-legged critters to development.

I will make efforts to stay abreast of the issue. There is a proposed roundup for the McCullough herd as well. There is natural gas in them thar hills. Who will come out on top, natural gas developers or horses?

In the picture, two stallions duke it out for choice grazing.

Park County election judges ready to do their thing

Under the tutelage of Park County Elections Deputy Virginia Livingston, Powell election judges took their oath of office on July 31.

The judges will preside over both the 2008 primary election on August 19 (a week from today for those of you counting) and the general election on November 4.

Park County has 225 judges this year, including alternates. There are 142 Republicans, 70 Democrats, 10 unaffiliated, and 3 Libertarians.

Livingston said the county has worked hard to increase party parity among judges. Last year, there were only 50 or so Democrats.

While the balance is nice, Livingston said political orientation isn’t an end all.

“It’s their brain that matters,” she said.

Gunbarrel meeting coming up

A quick heads up for anyone interested:

A community meeting for lodges and local residents effected by the Gunbarrel fire is on tap for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 a.m. in Wapiti at the old ranger station.

Fire management officials will talk about the fire's current status, and the Forest Service's long-term plans for managing the 39,370 acre blaze.

Graphic courtesy of the National Forest Service.

Gunbarrel fire close-up

It was chocking smoke, invading eyes, nose and throat. Cough, cough — I could hardly hack it.

The flames were lapping at trees and brush. Pine sap was popping like popcorn and pine needles were sizzling like bacon in a skillet.

The fire was moving at a leisurely pace above Wayfarer’s Chapel in the vicinity of the Gunbarrel fire Saturday, but it was still mighty eerie.

The fire had been there before, as evidenced by toasted trees waiting for a stiff wind to mow them down. Still, there was plenty of fuel left and the fire was back - perhaps to finish what it had started.

I didn’t get the cool shot, but I’ll never forget the blistering heat or the snap, crackle and pop of the forest cooking around me.

It was like standing in the middle of a bonfire.

Personnel are keeping a sharp eye on the Gunbarrel fire. Most are minding lodges, campgrounds and cabins. But on the ridge that smoking Saturday, my world was reduced to smoke and flames.

Taking a dip in Buffalo Bill’s pool

A handful of plucky youth were jumping into the Buffalo Bill Reservoir above the tunnels Saturday.
The temperature was in the mid 80s — just right for a somersault or two into the cool waters below.

“I had to get my cliff diving in for the year,” said Rick Jones of Billings and a former Powell resident.

Tyler Evans, Powell, was digging the 10 to 12 foot dive. He's leaped 100 feet at Yellowtail Reservoir, but doesn’t recommend it.

“It was really scary,” Evans said.

The bold bunch were jumping and then warming themselves on the granite rocks.

Two ladies spread beach towels to take in a few rays between dips.

Jeremy Rowan completes a neat jackknife dive and then climbs the rough inverted face rather than swim around. It’s a tricky climb and Rowan loses his grip once, to splash down. Undaunted he tries again and succeeds.

With water dripping from his hair, he says there are places in Spain where people climb hundreds of feet free-hand. If they fall, they plunge into the sea.

Hand-in-hand, Brandie Lambdin and Ivy Garlow, both of Cody, take the leap.

With a minor splash, the two disappear, then resurface to swim about.

“It is so warm on the top,” Lambdin said treading the gentle waves, “I just want to swim on the top.”

It’s a cool crowd on the rocks. Beating the heat is sweet.

In the photo, Tad Denning, Cody, completes a back flip.