The Yellowstone
Net Newspaper Wednesday November 19, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 19 |
||||
|
MORE NEWS The Yellowstone Net Newspaper is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays ARCHIVES DISCUSSION FORUMS Go to the Yellowstone Net Home Page
Publisher / Editor Staff Writers |
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Thus far, the fall season has been mild in Montana and Wyoming. Very few bison have, at this point, wondered outside of Yellowstone's boundaries. So far, they have been permitted to roam as they will. The Interim Bison Management Plan is still being put together, and may be in process for quite some time yet. However, some changes in the Park's bison management plan may lead to less bison crossing the Park's boundaries in the first place and thus placing themselves in danger. A combination of hazing the animals to keep them from leaving the Park and of penning persistently wandering, negatively-tested (regarding the disease brucellosis) bison in holding pens for the duration of the winter may help significantly, Park officials hope. --------------- Grand Teton National Park recently announced that the new national park fee system generated an additional $1.3 million in revenues for the Park. The additional money will be used for much needed programs and projects within the Park. An even greater amount of additional revenue is expected next year. --------------- According to the Billings Gazette, Senator Craig Thomas is upset with the National Park Service over the Park Service's decision to deny input from Wyoming communities during the initial stages of the drafting of a study regarding the potential closing of a segment of Yellowstone's winter snowmobile road system. Yellowstone is considering closing a segment of road to study the effect upon bison migration patterns. Thomas has charged that the Park Service's decision with violating the spirit of the National Environmental Protection Act. The NEPA does suggest that state and local governments be involved in regards to federal decisions, but the Park Service decided that input from nearby communities was unnecessary in the earliest stages of the environmental assessment. However, the National Park Service has released the initial draft of possible options regarding the snowmobile road closure, and is accepting input from the public until December 15. Click here to read the draft for yourself. The snowmobile controversy is already showing signs of becoming an even greater issue than the bison controversy. Click here to read about the "Snowmobile Showdown."
|
A Weekly Column
Amfac operates all the hotels, including the restaurants and gift shops found within the hotels. In addition, some campgrounds, deli stores and ice cream stores are operated by Amfac. Amfac is the largest employer of college students and young adults in general, although they do hire older workers as well. In my book I note that spending a summer working in Yellowstone is an experience never to be forgotten. I even met a number of young people who had been fired for using drugs (marijuana) who still thought that their abbreviated summer experience in Yellowstone had been the best. All three concessionaires plainly warn job applicants that Yellowstone is federal property and has a zero tolerance for drug use. Among other things, Amfac operates the Bridge Bay Marina. I strongly recommend the scenic cruise on Yellowstone Lake which Amfac offers. Amfac also operates the three public corrals in the Park, located at Mammoth, Canyon and Roosevelt. Roosevelt is my favorite place in Yellowstone, and the Roosevelt cookout is the best meal in the Park. (Reservations should be made well in advance.) The past three Roosevelt head wranglers -- Greg, Shawn and Sean -- are friends of mine. This summer's head wrangler was Dave, whom I met only briefly. Nonetheless, I greatly admire Greg, who was a chopper pilot in the Gulf War. I know what kind of person it takes to be a combat chopper pilot: as a young infantryman with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, I was rescued by chopper pilots on several occasions. When I met Greg, I could tell right away that he had the "right stuff." Amfac headquarters are in Aurora, Colorado. They are also a major concessionaire at other national parks, including the Grand Canyon and the Everglades. Although Yellowstone is the best place to spend a summer working, the Grand Cayon and the Everglades would be good places as well. Next Wednesday: Yellowstone Park Service Stations
|
||
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