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ROAD REPORT All entrances are now open. More Info THE DAILY CARTOON ONLINE GREETING CARDS PUBLISHER Yellowstone Net Company EDITOR-IN- CHIEF Bruce Gourley MORE LINKS Discussion Newspaper Archives Send us your comments		FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- On May 16, 2001, Mr. Homer Luther, Board Member of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Mesa Verde National Park Foundations, was presented a "Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award" in recognition of his personal service, commitment, and dedication to national park units within the Intermountain Region. The award was presented to Mr. Luther by Intermountain Regional Director Karen Wade. The National Park Service's relationship with Mr. Luther dates back to the second Nixon Administration. When President Nixon appointed Ron Walker as Director of the National Park Service, one of the first big issues facing him was snowmobiles in national parks. Because Director Walker knew that he would have to testify before Congress about this issue, the Director decided to do some personal research and invited Mr. Luther to join him on a five-day snowmobiling outing from Mammoth, all through Yellowstone, into Grand Teton, and back. This was Mr. Luther's first experience with the National Park Service. In the ensuing years, as the exposure of the National Park Foundation grew in the Park Service, Director Walker was able to increase the membership of the Foundation. It was then that Mr. Luther served his first term on the National Park Foundation Board. It was this experience that hooked Mr. Luther on the simple elegance of parks and the effect parks have on humanity. Following his second term with the Foundation, Mr. Luther decided it was critical to not lose the talents and energies of those whose terms on the Foundation were expiring, so he formed the National Park Foundation Alumni Council, where he serves as Chair to this day. To continue his gift of service to parks and the heritage of this Nation, Mr. Luther has agreed to share his wisdom, time, and talents with three park foundations here in the Intermountain Region: The Yellowstone Park Foundation, The Grand Teton National Park Foundation, and The Mesa Verde National Park Foundation. Regional Director Karen Wade recalls that "a few years ago, staff at Mesa Verde National Park became aware that a critical parcel of land immediately adjacent to the entrance of the park was going to be sold. Concerned that it could be purchased and developed in a way that would not be appropriate as a gateway experience to Mesa Verde National Park, Mr. Luther demonstrated great leadership as a Foundation board member. He challenged other Foundation board member's to join him in raising sufficient funds to purchase the tract of land to preserve the gateway experience to the park. Thanks to Mr. Luther's leadership, this land is now protected," stated Regional Director Wade. The "Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award" was presented to Mr. Luther, in Keystone, Colorado, where leaders and managers of the National Park Service met with partners, tribal representatives, sister agencies of the federal and state government, cooperating associations, foundation and university representatives, and private citizens during the Intermountain Region's General Conference entitled "Stewardship: The Art of Collaboration." Awards were presented to a number of individuals and partners who have worked long and hard with the National Park Service towards accomplishing the common goals of preservation and protection of natural and cultural resources within our national parks. BACK TO TOP
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley Ralph Maughan Kim Steinbacher Steve Brashear Clint Wilkes Hon. Bob Gammage Lee Whittlesey David Monteith Denise Elmer Dr. Bob Bara Matthew McLean		PROPOSED GOLF COURSE RESORT DEFEATED News Brief HELENA, Mont. -- Plans to build a 323 acre golf course resort adjacent to Yellowstone National Park at the junction of highways 287 and 191 north has been defeated. The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that Gallatin County Commissioners acted illegally in zoning the area and that the proposed development clashed with environmental protection goals adopted by the local zoning district. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Gallatin Wildlife Association had sued the developers in lower court and won. The developers and county had appealed their pursuit of building the resort, which would have included nearly 1000 single-family homes and 1600 multi-family residences, along with an 18-hole golf course and various businesses. BACK TO TOP
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		GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION MEETING News Brief WEST YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Mont. -- The Greater Yellowstone Coalition's annual meeting drew a record crowd this past weekend. The keynote speaker was Ted Turner, who is an influential environmentalist and a board member of the GYC. Turner criticized the Bush administration's big oil agenda and the administration's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Accords, which call for reducing the output of greenhouse gases. The meeting also focused on the Bush administration's efforts to retract the snowmobile ban in Yellowstone National Park. The ban is scheduled to take effect in the 2003-2004 winter season. BACK TO TOP
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		GOING TO THE SUN ROAD NOW OPEN News Brief GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. -- Glacier's famous Going to the Sun Road is now open for the summer season. The road typically does not open until later in June, but an earlier opening was made possible this year as a result of low snowfall. The narrow, winding road, 52 miles in length, affords views of breathtaking alpine scenery. BACK TO TOP