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Talk about wildlife!

No. This isn’t Photoshop at work. Gerry Stearns captured this image of two bull moose bickering over a mineral lick. We’ve seen deer do this, but never moose.

 


Road Committee makes comprehensive report
Updated June 25—Six months of diligent work by the North Fork Landowners’ Association Road Committee came to fruition June 6 at Sondreson Hall, as committee members Betsy Holycross and Margaret Heaphy reported the results of the committee’s exhaustive research at the association’s first business meeting of the year.
     Holycross is chairperson of the committee; Steve Berg is deputy chair. Also on the committee are Ed Heger and Steve Weber. We have been reporting on the committee’s progress since it first met Dec. 12. For those stories, along with links to meeting summaries and much more about the North Fork Road, go to the North Fork Road page. The committee’s e-mail address is northforkroad@live.com.
     In other news from the June 6 NFLA meeting, new co-owners of the Polebridge Mercantile Stuart Reiswig and Flannery Coats announced they hope to re-establish the Polebridge post office. For more information, including how to express your wishes to the U.S. Postal Service, please visit the Merc.
     For much more about the new owners of the Merc and their plans for the Polebridge landmark, see Michael Jameson’s feature story, with a charming video, in the June 20 Missoulian.
     Fire Mitigation Committee Chairperson Molly Shepherd advised that all but $20,000 of the grant money for private thinning projects has been spent. For more about the program, go to the Fire Mitigation Committee page.
     Shepherd also reminded members that a wildfire workshop will be held at 10 a.m. July 8 at Sondreson Hall, prior to the 1 p.m. Inter Local Agreement meeting.
     New North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee Chairman John Frederick reported that no business is pending before the committee. He will hold the yearly meeting of the committee at 7 p.m. July 11 at Sondreson Hall.
     It was a productive meeting. For more, see 2009 Meeting Minutes.

2009 schedule highlights

Updated June 25—The semiannual Inter Local Agreement meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, at noon.
     The Inter Local will be preceded at 10 a.m. by a workshop assessing the status of federal, state and private wildfire mitigation efforts on the North Fork six years after the Wedge Canyon fire. Participants will include the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Resource Conservation and Development Council.
     The Inter Local affords North Forkers the opportunity to meet face to face with representatives from agencies that affect the North Fork.
     Prior to the 8 p.m. Pie & Ice Cream Social/Square Dance, Saturday, July 11, at Sondreson Hall, the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m.
     A new kayaking/canoeing program and the annual Hike & Bike Schedule complement this year’s North Fork Landowners’ Association Activity Schedule.
     Six kayak/canoe outings, three hikes and three biking trips—with varying degrees of difficulty—are planned. All North Forkers are invited to participate.
     This year’s social calendar also has square dancing and line dancing for beginners; ecumenical worship services at 10 a.m. each Sunday, July 5 through Aug. 23; the annual post-NFLA election community river float; the traditional Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Steve Berg.
     Business meetings are scheduled the first Saturday of the month, June through October. Annual NFLA elections will take place at 9:15 p.m. Aug. 1, following that business meeting.
     Also on the schedule are the annual North Fork Preservation Association meeting July 25, and the annual North Fork Compact meeting, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 3.
     See the 2009 Activity Schedule.


We’ve added a page
about the NFLA

Posted Feb. 3Our new About the North Fork Landowners’ Association page contains some history about the NFLA, the association’s mission, its current activities and recent accomplishments in service of the community, and a look at Sondreson Hall.

Because of their habituation to humans and food attractants, grizzlies Betsy and Patti got into trouble on the North Fork last year, and had to be captured and hazed. Photo by Pat Cole


Have you seen these bears?

Posted May 19—In the hope of mitigating their increasing habituation to humans and food attractants, grizzlies Betsy and Patti were captured and hazed last fall by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks grizzly-bear management specialist Tim Manley and his crew.
     Named after Betsy Holycross and Patti Craig-Hart, the bears, 3 years old this year, have been seen around the North Fork again this spring.
     If you have a problem with these bears or suspect they are about to get into trouble again, call Manley at (406) 751-4584 (office) or (406) 250-1265 (cell).
     Craig-Hart documented the capture, release and hazing on her Web site, North Fork Tales, which includes photos and a YouTube video of the release.


Burning with permit
allowed through June

Posted May 2—The season for burning slash and other debris with a permit runs May 1-June 30.
     For complete informationincluding burning tips and restrictions, air-quality conditions, and an online permit applicationgo to the Interagency Burn Permit Center’s Web site.
     Compliance with air-quality regulations is required. In Flathead County, call the Air Quality Hotline at (406) 751-8144 or check the burning center’s Web site before igniting your fire.

 

 

 

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