CHIMNEY ROCK CHRONICLES March 2011
Volume 6, Issue 1
EDITOR’S NOTE This is the latest issue of Chimney Rock Chronicles, brought to you by The Newport and Gem State Miner Newspapers. Anyone with comments, suggestions or submissions is encouraged to contact our offices at 509-4472433, e-mail theminer@povn. com or mail to P.O. Box 349 Newport, WA 99156. The Miner staff enjoys producing this quarterly newsletter, as it gives us a chance to focus on what is happening around Priest Lake. We maintain our unbiased point of view and want to focus on news stories and events that affect the commuMINER PHOTO|JANELLE ATYEO nity of Priest Lake. If you would like to receive a subscription to this newsletter, contact us by the above informa- Chris Coon of Newport enjoys a cross country trip at Indian Creek Campground at Priest Lake Saturday, Feb. 28. tion. Pat Akins, owner of the Leonard Paul Store at Coolin, said there is tons of fresh snow above 3,500 feet at the lake -Michelle Nedved, Editor and there is plenty of snow down at the lake level for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing.
Not spring yet
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Photograph compliments of Tom Holman Northwest Images
Grizzly habitat protected Acquisition Secures Habitat, Consolidates Ownership NORDMAN – Nearly 500 acres west of Priest Lake, in an area known as Bismark Meadows, is being protected for grizzly bears. The Vital Ground Foundation, a Missoula-based grizzly bear protection group, announced Jan. 6 that it has acquired an additional 327 acres of crucial grizzly bear habitat at Bismark Meadows. This is the organization’s fourth project at the mead-
ows, and brings a total of 491 contiguous acres of lowland seasonal grizzly bear habitat under Vital Ground ownership and management at that location. To compliment the latest acquisition, the sellers also granted a conservation covenant limiting subdivision and development on an additional 20 acres at the edge of the meadows. Located just west of Priest Lake, Bismark Meadows is a 1,100-acre complex of SEE GRIZZLY, 4
Idaho roadless plan upheld WASHINGTON D.C. – The Idaho District Court in Boise Monday upheld Idaho’s Roadless Rule created in 2006 by then-Gov. Jim Risch. It lays out five management themes for Idaho’s 9.3 million roadless acres based on local and statewide input. The plan was challenged by environmental groups. Idaho has the largest and most diverse amount of land in the lower 48 states impacted by a 2001 nationwide roadless rule adopted by the Clinton administration. In 2005, the SEE ROADLESS, 4