In his column this week, Larry Wilson makes some pointed observations about the upcoming Feb. 14 county commissioners’ meeting to consider adjustments to language for the North Fork Zoning District concerning setbacks. Recommended reading, as usual.
Category Archives: Commentary
Wilson’s holiday parties restrospective
Larry Wilson’s column this week is a retrospective of all the recent North Fork holiday get-togethers at Sondreson Hall. He talks about the big Thanksgiving dinner (your friendly web wrangler attended that one) and the Christmas and New Year parties.
Larry Wilson reports on a “sparkling” Christmas party
Larry Wilson’s column this week reports on the “sparkling” Christmas party held at Sondreson Hall last weekend, not to mention the people and the food that conspired to make it a successful event.
Larry Wilson on Christmas parties past and present
Larry Wilson’s column this week reminds everyone of the upcoming North Fork community Christmas party at Sondreson Hall and provides a nice retrospective on past events. It’s recommended reading, as usual.
(And, no, I have no idea why Larry’s column is online sometimes and sometimes not. The Hungry Horse News follows its own, incrutable logic in such matters.)
Ben Lamb: Why the Baucus/Tester wolf delisting bill is the better choice
Ben Lamb had an excellent guest commentary posted to last Wednesday’s New West. He’s lost patience with all the political posturing over wolf management. It’s an entertaining read . . .
The political wrangling over wolves since the latest relisting in August is now in full force. It’s unfortunate that we’ve arrived at a place where the only solution that most Montanans see regarding wolves is political in nature.
Looking back over 100 years of wildlife conservation in the state of Montana, political solutions have rarely helped wildlife. In the past, hunter-conservationists struggled mightily to remove political influence from wildlife management, and we were largely successful. . .
Wilson praises Polebridge Mercantile and Northern Lights Café
Larry Wilson’s “North Fork Views” column in this week’s Hungry Horse News heaps well-deserved praise on the Polebridge Mercantile and Northern Lights Café and their new owners.
As usual, Larry’s column is recommended reading.
Wolves all over the news
Wolves have been getting enough press the last couple of days to turn a seasoned PR flack green with envy.
Here’s an overview of the more notable local and regional coverage . . .
- The Daily Inter Lake has a pretty good write-up on Rep. Denny Rehberg’s local hearing on the impact of relisting gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
- Bill Schneider unloads on pro-wolf groups in the Flathead Beacon for refusing to consider any comprimise on wolf protection. He argues that the political backlash may put the integrity of the Endangered Species Act at risk. He also provides an excellent summary of the various legislative proposals floating around right now.
- By contrast, there’s an AP article in the Missoulian indicating that Montana, at least, is trying to reach a settlement with environmental groups that successfully sued to put wolves back under federal protection.
- At the same time, both Montana and Idaho are trying to get the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow limited wolf hunts in certain areas under something called the “10(j) rule.” Go figure.
Bears, lynx and being there
This week’s Hungry Horse News columnists give the North Fork a fair bit of ink. “Her N. Fork” by Carol Vuchetich discusses the experience and responsibilities of living on the North Fork. Larry Wilson’s “North Fork Views” is a nice end-of-summer piece, ruminating on a quiet fire season and the big uptick in bear sightings. And G. George Ostrom even gives the North Fork (and Larry Wilson) a mention as he talks about Lynx, past and present.
Larry Wilson’s column viewable online — finally
Longtime North Fork resident Larry Wilson’s weekly “North Fork Views” column in the Hungry Horse News is accessible online.
Finally!
The best way to find it seems to be to go to the “Columns” section of the HHN’s website. Click on the “More of this story” link to read Larry’s full column. [Corrected Oct. 21 because they changed the web address for columnists.]
Partnering to protect the Transboundary Flathead watershed
Dave Hadden, director of Headwaters Montana, Robin Steinkraus, executive director of the Flathead Lakers and Will Hammerquist, program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association’s Glacier Field Office have a nice commentary piece in today’s Flathead Beacon . . .
Here in Montana, August brings us the county fair and farm harvests. And this year we also celebrate a harvest of victories for Glacier National Park, the North Fork Flathead River and Flathead Lake. In addition to commemorating Glacier’s first 100 years, citizens from across the Montana-British Columbia border, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester did yeoman’s work to protect this special place.