The Yellowstone
Net Newspaper Wednesday November 12, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 16 |
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MORE NEWS The Yellowstone Net Newspaper is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays ARCHIVES DISCUSSION FORUMS Go to the Yellowstone Net Home Page Note: In-house stories are signified by the abbreviation YNET. Otherwise, the stories herein are from outside sources, to which proper credit is given.
Publisher / Editor Staff Writers |
This past summer, Yellowstone officials signed a deal with Diversa Corporation, a California-based biotechnology firm, to harvest microbes from Yellowstone Park. The deal was touted as a way to bring income to the Park from scientific discoveries that become commercial successes. Up to this point, Yellowstone has received no royalties from the millions of dollars that have been realized from scientific discoveries in Yellowstone's thermal pools. One such example is a Yellowstone-enzyme that is now commonly used in DNA fingerprinting. However, The Salt Lake Tribune has reported that National Park Service officials are having second thoughts about the matter. The deal with Diversa Corporation sparked instant opposition from the public sector, including threats of lawsuits. Now, according to the Tribune, internal documents indicate that Yellowstone officials understood all along that the deal with Diversa would benefit the company more than the Park. Royalty payments to Yellowstone would amount to less than 10 percent of profits realized, although no set figure has been acknowledged. Indeed, Yellowstone officials acknowledge that the agreement with Diversa is being rewritten even now, and that the final draft will differ from the initial document. ---------------- On Monday we wrote about a group called Buffalo Nation which is actively seeking to reduce the number of bison killed this winter by herding stray bison into safe areas. The Billings Gazette reports that state officials in Montana are hoping that the number of bison slaughtered this year will be considerably lower than last year. Although there has been no significant policy change from last year (a long-term management plan is currently being studied, but will not be ready for another year or so), officials are proposing the use of such measures as hazing (or herding) stray bison back to safety, and of allowing more of the animals to remain in certain areas outside of Park boundaries. One factor which has not been discussed much, but which may turn out to be an asset, is the effect that the El Nino weather pattern is expected to have upon Montana and Wyoming. Weather experts are predicting a mild winter for the Montana and Wyoming region. Last year's harsh winter was credited with making it especially hard for the bison to forage inside the Park, leading to a mass exodus. A mild winter this year may lead to a reduction in the number of bison seeking to move out of Park boundaries. |
A Weekly Column
All three companies are excellent companies and I have many friends who work for each one. However, Hamilton Stores is my favorite because of one particular person: Nina Sims. Nina Sims is the personnel director for "Hams" and was extremely helpful to me as I spent the summer of 1994 in Yellowstone writing my book. Nina is one of the most fun and interesting people I have ever met. Several paragraphs in my book are about her and her stories. Many more stories could have been told, but most of her stories ended with her saying, "Clint, please do not print that." I also appreciate the fact that Hamilton hires many retirees. I myself am closer in age to being "old" than being "young," so I have a lot of friends closer to my own age in the Hamilton Stores. More retirees work for "Hams" because the jobs there are less physically demanding than many of the jobs at Amfac and Yellowstone Park Service Stations. Hamilton has had stores in Yellowstone since 1916. Each has a wooden sign out front, and a store is located in each of the lodging locations within the Park. The stores each have a differing mixture of merchandise, so you may not want to "wait until later" to get that shirt you really want. I learned that lesson some years back when I missed out on some great bargains because I "waited." The Hamilton family still owns and operates the company. Terry Povah, the president, is married to one of the granddaughters of the "Mr. Hamilton." The summer headquarters and warehouse for "Hams" is in West Yellowstone. Next Wednesday: Amfac
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Every Wednesday Clint Wilkes will offer a story of interest to
everyone who loves Yellowstone and the surrounding area. Some stories will be humorous,
others will illustrate a point. You the reader are invited to