Yellowstone Net Newspaper

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNP) -- 1997 has proven to be an eventful year for Yellowstone. After the holidays, we will be taking a closer look back at the major events and stories of 1997. In the meantime, following is a listing -- in no particular order -- of some of the major Yellowstone happenings in the past year. We welcome your comments and input before we run a full story following the holidays.

** The slaughter of over 1000 bison during the 1996-97 winter season.

** The tragic death of Yellowstone geologist Roderick Hutchinson and a park volunteer in an avalanche.

** A federal judge's ruling that Yellowstone's wolves must be removed.

** The controversy over closing a section of winter snowmobile roadway to study bison migration patterns.

** The celebration of Yellowstone's 125th anniversary.

** An increase in entrance fees which netted more money for the Park.

** The "unavailability" of funds to repair Old Faithful village's ancient, leaking sewer system.

** Greatly increased geyser activity in the Upper Geyser Basin.

** Park official's efforts to team up with a commercial company to further develop bioprospecting in Yellowstone.

** The founding of the Yellowstone Net internet site. (You didn't think we'd leave this one out, did you?)

Send us your comments and suggestions.

People and Places

A Weekly Column
by CLINT WILKES

wilkes01.jpg (1500 bytes) 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 respond by email to these stories.

BILLINGS, Mont. (YNET) -- Christmas 1997. Wow, what a year this has been! I know I have a lot to be thankful for as I look back over 1997 and forward to 1998 and the twenty-first century.

The year started out with me spending several weeks in Yellowstone. Yellowstone in the winter is an unbelievably beautiful place. I stayed at the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful for a few days, rising early each morning to stroll over and marvel at Old Faithful geyser. Old Faithful is a sight to behold anytime, but especially during the winter when the cold weather creates an enormous plume of steam.

During this time I ran into a friend I had known while writing my book during the summer of 1994. Hill Theolis has one of the most rewarding jobs in the world: he is charge of maintenance at Old Faithful Inn. One morning I met Hill for an extensive tour of this historic building which is closed during the winter. One of Hill's responsibilities is to make a daily walk through the entire building. I was thrilled that he asked me to join him on this particular morning.

The best part of the tour was getting to walk up to the roof of the grand building and look out upon the panorama of the geysers and surrounding landscape. THANK YOU, Hill Theolis.

1997 began at Old Faithful, then it was off to complete my book tour. I was on campuses in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and Idaho as I headed toward Montana to complete my schedule. It was here I met Bruce and Debra Gourley. Luck is a matter of doing the work needed to be prepared for an opportunity. I will thus call it luck that created an opportunity where I became partners with Bruce in this site.

Now, I can't wait for 98! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may God bless Bruce and Debra Gourley.

No Bison Slaughtered this Winter as 1997 Draws to a Close

by BRUCE T. GOURLEY

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, (YNET) -- According to Yellowstone officials, no bison have been slaughtered this year for having the disese brucellosis. The absence of any killings is largely explained by the mild winter which has not led many bison to seek to leave Park boundaries. Only a few have been ventured outside the Park.

Although the bison issue may well be tied up in the courts for many months (if not years), a federal judge's ruling that no more than 100 bison may be killed this winter ensures that the mass bison slaughter of last winter will not be repeated this time around.