As the current fires become more active, smoke columns from several fires are becoming more visible to Bitterroot Valley residents. Here is an update as of 4:15 p.m. Monday:

• Although small size at ? acre, the Big Creek Fire, two miles west of the Big Creek Trailhead, is producing smoke clearly visible to valley residents. This fire is located in steep, rugged terrain and the Forest is responding with a helicopter and bucket drops.

• The Lake Loma Fire, on the ridge between upper Blodgett and Sawtooth drainages, is now estimated to be 10 acres is size.

• A column of smoke that appears to be coming from upper Blodgett is actually the Elbow Fire on the Nez Perce National Forest.

• The Diamond Lake Fire, also on the Nez, is producing a column that appears to be coming from Lost Horse. This fire is actually located approximately 2 miles west of Bear Creek Pass.

• The Pettibone Fire, also on the Nez, is further west – approximately 10-12 miles west of Lost Horse drainage.

• The Forest is responding to a report of smoke near Carlton Lake on the Stevensville Ranger District. No fire has yet been confirmed in that location.

The Bitterroot National Forest reports at least 17 active fires within its management perimeter, but the most visible fire is just west of the Forest, and the Montana border in Idaho.

The Storm Fire, located in the Storm Creek drainage on the Clearwater National Forest, was started by lightning on August 9. Relatively inactive for several days, it stayed at 2 acres or less in size until Sunday, when it grew to nearly 50 acres. With high temperatures Sunday and little overnight humidity increase, the fire remained active and Bitterrooters awoke Monday to a visible column of smoke.

The next few days are projected to be hot and dry – conditions that are conducive to active burning. By Thursday, fire weather forecasts predict much cooler temps with the possibility of rain. Forest spokesperson Nan Christianson said Monday that the backcountry fires pose little threat but Forest managers are concerned about the possibility of human-caused fires in or near the wildland interface. Christianson urges landowners and recreationists to be particularly careful with campfires or any open burning, saying, “any new starts in the wildland interface will have the potential to grow very quickly during the next two days.”

No official fire-related road closures or fire restrictions are currently scheduled on the Bitterroot National Forest but travelers should be aware of very limited access on the Hells Half Road, due to active burning on the Hells Half Saddle Fire. In addition, the Nez Perce National Forest is closing the Magruder – Elk City Road at Dry Saddle due to wildfires burning on their side of the divide.

Here’s a run down of current fires on the Bitterroot National Forest:

• Kootenai Creek Fire, is located approximately 1 mile east of South Kootenai Lake in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness west of Stevensville. It is approximately 1/2 acre in size, and was started by a lightning strike on August 7.

• The South Fork of Big Creek Fire, also in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness west of Victor, is located approximately ? mile south of Big Creek Lake. It was started by lightning on August 7 and is estimated to be 1 acre in size. A second as-yet unnamed fire is burning in the upper reaches of the drainage near Big Creek Lake. It is smaller than ? acre in size.

• The Indian Creek Fire, located at the junction of Indian Creek and Schofield Creek in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, burned actively on Sunday and is nearly 60 acres in size. It was started by lightning on August 2.

• The Cooper Point Fire is located on the West Fork Ranger District near Paradise, and has covered approximately 40 acres.

• Kidney Lake Fire, on the Darby Ranger District, is also approximately 40 acres in size.

• Wapiti Fire is creeping around, covering approximately 15 acres.

• The Schofield and Schofield 2 Fires are each approximately 1 acre in size. These fires are located in Schofield Creek, in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, and were also started by lightning on August 1.

• The Arastra Fire, started by lightning on August 1, is currently ? acre in size. It is on the ridge between Grizzly and Arastra Creeks in the Burnt Fork drainage east of Stevensville.

• The Lake Loma Fire on the ridge between Sawtooth and Blodgett, is located in high, rocky terrain on the Darby Ranger District and is less than 1 acre is size.

• Both the Lunch Creek and Eagle Creek fires have been inactive, and each is estimated at less than 1/10 acre.

• The East Stripe Fire, located southeast of XIII Mountain in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, has been inactive and remains at 1/10 acre.

• The Wood Hump Fire, also caused by lighting on July 18, has been burning actively and is approximately 2200 acres in size. It has spread from the Bitterroot to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, and is located in the upper reaches of the Selway River in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

• The Hells Half Saddle Fire is located near the Magruder Corridor in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. It was started by lightning on June 30 and burned very actively on Sunday. It is currently estimated to be 1000 acres in size, and is impacting access to the Hells Half Lookout.Travelers in the area should expect access restrictions on the road to the lookout.

Farmers Market Harvest Festival

The Valley Farmers Market, on Bedford and Third Streets in Hamilton, is hosting the 2008 Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off contest at their Harvest Festival. If you have a very large pumpkin growing in your garden, consider entering it. You could win a cash prize!

There will also be contests for extremely large or small or weird looking non-pumpkin vegetables or flowers. If one of yours is lurking out under the foliage, bring it to Market, Saturday, September 20. It just might win an award!

Valley Farmers Market is open from 9am till 12:30, Saturdays, from the first weekend in May to the last weekend in September. Shop here for locally grown produce and hand crafted items and enjoy locally cooked snacks from cinnamon or spinach rolls to chicken burritos and pulled pork BB-Q sandwiches. Both Bitterroot Beanery and Zaxan provide coffee and iced drinks. As always, foot tappin’ live local music keeps the Market jumpin’!

If you’d like to enter your veggie in this year’s contest or need more information, call Laura Craig, Market Manager, at 961-0004.

Red Cross seeking donations

“Montana’s annual wildfires have had a negative impact on many residents. Dozens of families have been evacuated, and we’re just getting into the thick of wildfire season. Smoke adds mental and physical stress,” said Rod Kopp, CEO. “Despite what seems to be annual chaos, American Red Cross of Montana has been on the scene from the beginning of the season, providing shelter, meals and comfort to individuals, families and volunteer firefighters affected by disaster.”

American Red Cross of Montana is issuing an urgent appeal for contributions to help fund local disaster relief efforts. While continuing to provide relief to victims of wildfires, the Red Cross requests assistance from Montanans to help ensure quality services continue here.

“Between July 1, 2007 and June 30 2008, the Red Cross spent nearly $250,000 in disaster relief in Montana and our disaster relief funds are nearly exhausted.” Kopp also said.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the generosity of American people. You can help the victims of the Montana wildfires and other local disasters by making a gift to the American Red Cross of Montana Chapter today. Your generosity helps enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Donations can be sent to American Red Cross of Montana, Chapter Headquarters, PO Box 2406, Great Falls, MT 59405. Internet users can make secure online contributions by visiting http://www.montanaredcross.org.

TGRF grants available

The Greater Ravalli Foundation wishes to announce the deadline for the grant cycle ending September 15, 2008. This process expedites funding requests to benefit the youth of Ravalli County. Deadlines for submission of grant applications for consideration are: March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. For the current cycle grant applications may be obtained on line at www.tgrf.org. Return to HYPERLINK "mailto:adminassist@stockfarm.com" adminassist@stockfarm.com or fax to 375-1889 by September 15, 2008. Financial support is limited to the growth and development of Ravalli County’s school children K-12, addressing four specific areas. Those areas that the Foundation will consider funding are basic essentials of daily life in the Bitter Root Educational facilities, supplies and grassroots programs; scholarships for all levels of academic ability; sustenance, such as winter clothing, hot meals and other food programs; and various capital line items as they arise, such as cafeteria equipment and extracurricular program needs.

Seattle Dispatch By Jean Schurman

For weeks I have been plotting my course to Erin’s flat in Seattle. After looking up her address on MapQuest, I figured out I would be driving in downtown Seattle, alone, and hoping to find the right exit on several interchanges. I reviewed and reviewed the maps. I was ready for my great solo summer adventure.

The trip across Idaho and Washington was uneventful and with James Lee Burke’s newest book on CD as company, the miles flew by. Det. Robicheau and Clete Purcell had just solved the crime when I topped Snoqualmie Pass. Traffic was picking up but I was feeling confident, I knew it was Exit 10 that I was looking for.

I made the exchange and was on to the second part of the map. Even though it was 5 p.m., it was Saturday and traffic was relatively light. I made the second exchange and I was feeling pretty confident. That was a mistake.

I somehow missed the next exit I needed and suddenly was lost. Compounding that, I made the mistake of looking up from the road and realizing this Montana farm girl was surrounded by huge buildings and multi level roads going every which way. I can’t print what I said but needless to say I was a bit intimidated. But I had to keep driving. I got off at the next exit and found myself in a neighborhood of extremely nice homes. I drove and drove, looking for a convenience store but there weren’t any in that area. After stopping and reviewing the three maps I had, I determined it was back to the skyscrapers.

Back I went, thankful my Montana plates excused, somewhat, some of my lane changes. At one point, I was traveling down the road and suddenly, I don’t know how, I was going into, and just as quickly coming out of, a parking garage. You should have seen the look on that attendant’s face. But I kept driving and working my way towards the water. I finally found the street my friend lives on and was never so thankful to see a couple of other Montana license plates. I made it!

Saturday night we went to dinner at a very hip joint in Ballard, over by the locks. We ate Mexican food but with a seafood flair, and it was very good. Then it was back to the hotel room for this old lady. I had to find it by myself and am proud to say I drove right to it… by way of the detour into Green Lake we’d made on the way over.

Sunday we met for that Seattle staple, coffee. It wasn’t Starbucks, it was Peets and I have to say it was some of the best coffee I’ve ever had. The area, Queen Anne’s, was quite nice. Then, it was off to the waterfront and Pike Place Market. All I can say is wow – the people, the flowers, the vegetables and the fish – the sights were amazing. There were even free samples of chocolate spaghetti. My neck was sore from looking this way and that to see everything.

We wandered through Pioneer Square and on to Safeco Field to take in my first professional game. Even though the Mariners are not having the best of years, it was still amazing and fun to watch everything. Then it was back to Pioneer Square for more people watching. It turned out the bartender at the J & M had a Montana connection, a family cabin in Big Timber, so we felt right at home. Erin had heard of an Irish pub so we headed out to find that pub. We walked in, took one look and turned right around and left. Scary! Another stop to watch the ships on the Sound and then we were off for sushi.

Erin first introduced me to sushi at the Signal in Hamilton right before she moved. I thought that was pretty darn good but this was outstanding. I even had some of the type that is served uncooked and it was really good. I can’t say the same about the sake’. Wow, that was harsh.

We spent most of Monday doing touristy things with a bit of local flair thrown in. The Seattle Aquarium was something. I only regret I didn’t have my grandson with me; he would have loved it. I especially liked the octopus. Amazing.

I said goodbye to my friend and headed north Monday afternoon. Once again I was at the mercy of the Seattle area drivers but had figured out to stay in the middle lane and act like I knew where I was going. I stayed on the freeway until I saw a sign indicating La Conner. That was the last time I was on the freeway until I hit Spokane.

I spent Monday night and most of Tuesday roaming around the Skagit Valley. What an amazing place. With Mt. Baker looming in the distance, I crisscrossed the valley. One winding road took me to a great look out over the Samish Bay where there were oyster farms. On the way back down, I went down to the shore and watched a couple of women shucking the oysters and a few more cleaning traps and boats. I was fascinated with the Holstein cows grazing right next to the bay where oysters were farmed. There were great fruit stands with berries galore on every corner. The fruit stands also offered up great cheeses and ice creams as well as every kind of vegetable.

Tuesday night I wandered out to the state park at the west end of Camano Island. Along the way I saw mansions alongside well-used red barns and small farmsteads. It was obvious that the area there is in a state of change just as our own Bitterroot Valley is. I found the state park and watched as the tide came in, bringing crabs and shells and a few fishermen. Then it was time to leave the Puget Sound area and head inland.

I stayed in Monroe, just east of Stevens Pass. The next morning, I was reminded just how small our world is. As I was looking for a place to sit to have breakfast at the motel, a nice couple invited me to sit with them. There was a bit of a stunned silence when I told them I was from the Bitterroot. It turned out they were too, Stevensville in fact. I had a very pleasant breakfast with them and do hope they will give me a call here at the Star as I don’t remember their names!

I wandered around across Washington, sticking to the two-lane roads most of the way. In fact, after the thousands of cars in Seattle, seeing only 20 or so across Highway 2 was quite nice. My solo venture gave me rest and relaxation as well as a new appreciation for the Bitterroot. The next time I’m waiting to get onto Highway 93, I’ll remember bumper-to-bumper traffic and be thankful it’s not that bad here, yet.

Births

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

7-17-08

Boy, 5 lbs., 18-3/4 inches, to Jessica and Jimmy Moore, Stevensville.

7-30-08

Girl, 4 lbs., 11 oz., 18 inches, to Jessica Reimers and Thomas Garnett, Stevensville

8-1-08

Boy, 4 lbs., 10 oz., 18 inches, to Rebecca Eakle and Joshua Edmondson, Hamilton

8-5-08

Boy, 7 lbs., 4 oz., 20 inches, to Desirea Slate and Sam Anderson, Darby

8-15-08

Girl, 7 lbs., 4 oz., 20-1/2 inches, to Skye and Kody Martin, Victor.

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