Video: Cody Library Construction on Track

The new Cody library is moving towards a completion date of October 4. Check out some shots of the work in progress.

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Video: A Gathering of Grizzlies

An art festival/library fundraiser, called "A Gathering of Grizzlies," kicked off on June 21. Folks checked out the painted, fiberglass bears at an artists' reception before the animals headed off to their summer locations in Powell and Cody.

You can see pictures of all 25 grizzlies here, or check out the progress on the new library here.

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Blast from the past

It has been nearly 20 years since Yellowstone National Park and surrounding forests suffered the big fires that remain in our memories. The federal government, particularly the National Park Service has revamped fire policies since then.

I hauled supplies to fire camps in Sunlight Basin and the Big Horns in 1988 and occasionally trucked stuff to Yellowstone. It was exciting, especially at night when the smoke was so thick I could barely see beyond the truck’s hood or when I stopped to watch a tree burst into flames.

I also remember all the cool people I met working out of the fire cache in Cody, both local and from across the country.

My first real taste of fire came when I witnessed the devastation at Old Faithful in Yellowstone — acre upon acre of burnt snags standing in charred ground like skinny tombstones placating the savage beast of fire. I was miffed. How could they let beautiful Yellowstone burn to the ground?

A change of heart came the very next summer when I was foot loose and fancy free working in the park. I was hiking a trail above Old Faithful and watched a humongous bull elk lumbering through the snags after feasting on the thick grass growing among the tottering snags. Yellowstone was rebounding right before my very eyes.

I always loved nature, but that was a pivotal point in my fascination with Yellowstone and the miles of park hiking to come in the next few years.

After living there for several years, Yellowstone holds fond memories. Hypothermia on Specimen Ridge, dehydration on windy Electric Peak and watching my first grizzly munch dandelions in a meadow. I hiked my butt off, visited beautiful places and met some swell people. Yellowstone is indeed a wondrous place.

With the anniversary of fires, I will strive in the next couple of months to recount the efforts of fire fighting 20 years ago and search out some locals that were there both in the park and the surrounding national forests.

The grizzlies, gathered

The "Gathering of the Grizzlies" is an art festival/fundraiser for the teen sections of Park County's libraries. 27 artists painted 25 fiberglass grizzly bears which will be displayed in Powell and Cody this summer. Those bears are pictured in the above slideshow.

They'll be auctioned off on October 4 - the grand opening of the new Cody library.

Check out video of the event here and some library construction work a little later.

Midwest sings the blues of muddy waters

Powell may be high and dry, still. Even after all of that rain we got in the end of May. Unfortunately, the rain clouds that passed over our little part of the world followed the jet stream to the Midwest.

They let loose.

Anyone watching, listening to, or reading national news knows that the rain waters led to a devastating flood. Some media outlets called it the “Katrina of the Midwest.” If the floods are going to impact this area it means higher gas and corn prices. Not much to fret about, until we count the number of people in Wyoming, and even Powell, that come from Iowa and other Midwestern states and still have family there.

Family and friends are my connection. I recently graduated from The University of Iowa. Most of my extended family lives along the Des Moines River. My half-sister has to replace the hard wood floors in the ballrooms at her dance studio. My former roommate, still attending the UI, has nothing to do with her time now. She can’t attend class or work at Walgreen’s (You may have seen photos of the Walgreen’s store in Coralville that was almost under water, that’s the one, bottom right). Before the water level fell her free-time was spent sand bagging around Iowa City. After a few days of volunteering she tried to head home to Illinois but had to turn back because I-80 was closed, rather under water.

Though the flood waters are receding, but the problems aren't over yet. Residents and business owners are just getting back to their property. Some have to wear hip waders to reach their front doors, while the lucky ones are trudging around in muddy sneakers and rubber boots.

Now is the time to see what’s left of personal belongings, if buildings can be salvaged or, if foundations have been ravaged, how long it will take to build a new house or move on. People hoping to save their homes are going through some rigorous summer cleaning—taking wheelbarrow load after load of mud, sediment, drowned earthworms and whatever else the floods might have left in their living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

Just because the waters are going down, doesn’t mean that as we, outsiders, we can just turn away.

It’s not over.

There are several relief organizations still looking for help.

Photos contributed by Lizzy Christian of The University of Iowa campus during the flood June 12 and 13.

Video: Mule Days Rodeo

Jake Clark's Mule Days brought a rodeo to Ralston. Some footage of the event...

Adding to the noise, or sign of the times?

In yesterday's Tribune, Yancy, our managing editor, wrote a piece critical of non-constructive criticism. Specifically, she expressed frustration with the whiteboard writings of John Pung, owner of Anna's Cafe. You can read Yancy's piece here.

Fittingly, Mr. Pung replied on his board.
My photography skills are a little rough, so if you can't read the sign, here's the typed version:

"Negative is that votes don't count! Waste taxpayer money to please a few. And - what is your point??"

Mr. Pung's other sign read, "You can't fix stupid."

I hope no one is giving up that easily.