Newport Miner December 3, 2014

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SHOPPING CLOSE TO HOME CHRISTMAS STORY CONTINUES RECIPES: SEE PAGES 2B-4B

The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 111, Number 44 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages

75¢

State eyes moving bighorn

Sportsmen’s club worried, says it could jeopardize Hall Mountain herd BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

IONE – The Hall Mountain herd of about 20 Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep, located in the north part of Pend Oreille County near Sullivan Lake, have been used for genetic diversity for other herds for years. About 85 bighorns have been taken from the herd since it was reintroduced in 1972 from a group of bighorns captured in Waterton National Park in Canada, according to Tommie Petrie, president of the Pend Oreille Valley Sportsmen’s Club. “We’ve been a disease free source herd,” says Petrie. He doesn’t mind some sheep being used this way, but he fears the latest effort by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists to capture three rams will hurt the Hall Mountain herd. The state hasn’t developed a management plan for the herd and has provided no support for the herd, he says. The sheep used to be fed near Sullivan Lake’s Noisy Creek Campground. The herd grew to about 100 then, but the feeding was phased out by 2003 after cougars were showing up to hunt the sheep. Petrie says that the fact that the band has survived this long, disease free and without any habitat improvements, predator control or studies or research, shows they deserve to exist in their native habitat. He says bighorn sheep were documented in the county as far back as 1889. WDFW wants to transplant the Hall Mountain rams to southeastern Washington in an effort to provide genetic diversity for the Tucannon River herd, preventing inbreeding. The Tucannon herd has about the same number as the Hall Mountain herd, but only has three rams, so WDFW wants to take two or three from Hall Mountain. Petrie says as far as he knows, there are only seven rams

COURTESY PHOTO|STEVE CLINE

This magnificent ram is one of the Hall Mountain bighorn. About 20 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live in the north part of Pend Oreille County. The herd has been used for years to supplement the genetic diversity of other herds in the state. Local sportsmen say it is time for the state to support the herd.

in the Hall Mountain herd. If three are transplanted, he’s worried it will be subject to the same inbreeding wildlife managers are trying to avoid with the Tucannon herd. Rich Harris, WDFW big game special species manager,

Should county preserve natural resource land?

Vaagen’s confused about reason for lost work for Usk mill BY FRED WILLENBROCK OF THE MINER

USK – Starting this month Ponderay Newsprint Company will chip logs for the first time since opening 25 years ago. The nearby chip mill in Usk, now owned by Vaagen Brothers Lumber, was originally established by Ponderay and a pri-

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

SEE PLANNING, 9A

SEE RAM, 2A

Ponderay will produce chips at mill

Planning commission discusses whether to amend the comprehensive plan CUSICK – How can planning commissioners decide on a land use change without considering the specifics of the reason for the change? That was the dilemma planning commissioners found themselves facing Tuesday night, Nov. 25, when they held a planning workshop to consider amending the comprehensive plan, the county’s guide to long term land use. Commissioners were being asked by Wasatch and Associates to change the county’s future land

told the Spokesman Review that Hall Mountain isn’t prime bighorn sheep habitat. He said the heavy tree cover around Sullivan Lake isn’t ideal for Rocky Mountain bighorns and

SEE MILL, 2A

Steppenwolf coming to Newport May concert benefits Youth Emergency Services BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Land use attorney David Bricklin asked planning commissioners questions at the workshop held Tuesday, Nov. 25. Commissioners are considering a comprehensive plan amendment that would lay the groundwork for rezoning 430 acres of natural resource land into rural. Bricklin, one of the authors of the state’s Growth Management Act, says the county has to leave the land designated natural resource unless they have a good reason not to.

NEWPORT – Steppenwolf, the legendary rock band famous for “Born to be Wild” and the “Easy Rider” soundtrack, is coming to Newport Saturday, May 23. SEE CONCERT, 2A

B R I E F LY Ponderay Newsprint will shutdown again

Democrats holiday party is Dec. 13

USK – The Ponderay Newsprint Company mill has announced another week of market-related production downtime. This decision was made to address sluggish newsprint demand and the need to balance the company’s order book, according to Debbie Johnston, Director of U.S. Public Affairs for Resolute Forest Products. They are the managing partner. This follows a shutdown during the Thanksgiving week. Johnston said at this point they couldn’t speculate on the need for any future downtime.

CUSICK – The Pend Oreille County Democratic party holiday get together is Saturday, Dec. 13, at noon at the Cusick Community Center, 107 First Ave. Prime rib or salmon will be served. Bring your favorite vegetable dish or salad. Questions can be directed to Gayle at 509-710-6493.

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Festival of Trees benefits children eating healthy

Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees returns to Newport, Saturday, Dec. 6 at Sadie Halstead Middle School. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include tree viewings and events for children. Children will have crafts, coloring and free photos taken with Santa Claus. Evening activities include a Benefit Social from 5-7 p.m. Scotia Road will perform during the event and hors d’oeuvres, dessert and holiday beverages will be served. Several decorated Christmas trees will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $1 each and each tree is valued at a minimum of $250.

NEWPORT – The Newport Hospital and Health Services 8B-10B

SEE BRIEFLY, 2A

OPINION

4A

RECORD

7B

SPORTS

8A

LIFE

7A

POLICE REPORTS

7B

OBITUARIES

7B

PUBLIC NOTICES

8B-10B

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

1B-4B

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW NEXT WEEK


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