10.01.2015 Views

Fish Ladders allow Bonneville - The News-Examiner

Fish Ladders allow Bonneville - The News-Examiner

Fish Ladders allow Bonneville - The News-Examiner

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

2 - August 17, 2011 - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

Inside this issue<br />

<strong>Fish</strong> <strong>Ladders</strong>..............................Page 4&5<br />

Josh Thornock.........................Page 6 & 7<br />

Oregon Trail Center...................Page 8&9<br />

A True <strong>Fish</strong> Story!........................Page 10<br />

Your Photos..................................Page 11<br />

Map...........................................Back Page<br />

Index of Advertisers<br />

<strong>The</strong> following merchants make the Bear Laker possible.<br />

Please take a moment to thank them by shopping at their businesses.<br />

A-1 Insulation.........................<br />

..8<br />

Advantage Plus Credit Union.<br />

..7<br />

Bear Lake Comm. Church........<br />

..6<br />

Bear Lake Fun Time.................<br />

T<br />

..4<br />

Bear Lake Golf Course.............<br />

..5<br />

Bear Lake Log Homes .............<br />

..6<br />

Bear Lake Memorial Hospital..<br />

..3<br />

Bear Lake Realty......................<br />

..5<br />

Broulim’s................................<br />

..8<br />

Bushman Land & Livestock....<br />

.1<br />

Dee’s Super Service................<br />

11<br />

EZ 2 PLEZ...............................<br />

..4<br />

Inn at Snow Meadows.............<br />

..6<br />

Inn at Snow Meadows.............<br />

..9<br />

Jensen’s Market.......................<br />

..9<br />

KOA Montpelier......................<br />

..8<br />

Lakeside Pizza........................<br />

11<br />

Minnetonka Market................<br />

10<br />

Montpelier Golf Course..........<br />

..5<br />

Oregon Trail T<br />

Center.................<br />

11<br />

Paris Country Store.................<br />

..8<br />

Paris Grill, LLC.......................<br />

11<br />

Pickleville Playhouse..............<br />

..7<br />

Re/Max Real Estate................<br />

..1<br />

Recreation eation Realty....................<br />

..9<br />

Super 8....................................<br />

10<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> ...............<br />

..2<br />

Vic’s Hardwar<br />

dware e ......................<br />

..9<br />

Walton Feed, Inc. ...................<br />

..9<br />

Wilks Welding W<br />

& Repair .........<br />

10<br />

Please visit the local area businesses<br />

featured in this edition whose support<br />

for <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> has brought<br />

you this year’s Bear Lakers.<br />

On the Cover...<br />

Bruce Grayum from Montpelier took the cover shot for this<br />

edition of the Bear Laker. He said, “<strong>The</strong> air was clear and the<br />

sky was filled with clusters of beautiful clouds. <strong>The</strong> rich blue<br />

"Caribbean" water below was dotted with water sports activity.<br />

I couldn't resist one more photo opportunity as we headed back<br />

down hill. <strong>The</strong> whole scene was an example of the beauty and<br />

the pleasures of living in Bear Lake.” Bruce said the picture<br />

below was taken west<br />

of Montpelier. Three<br />

seasons are represented.<br />

<strong>The</strong> green grass contrasts<br />

the fall colors of<br />

the trees in the background<br />

and snow on<br />

the mountains. He calls<br />

it, <strong>The</strong> Day After the First<br />

Snow.<br />

Volume 36 No. 5 • August 17, 2011<br />

Editor..................................................................Sherry Brown<br />

Staff Writer.........................................................Valerie Hayes<br />

Ad Sales............................................................Brandi Phelps<br />

Ad Design...............................................................Tawni King<br />

Layout/Design....................................................Sherry Brown<br />

Contributing Writers.................................Lori & Brit Thornock,<br />

Ann Keysor and Roger Grunig<br />

Photo Submissions.........................Bruce Grayum, Lori & Brit<br />

Thornock, Brian Nate, Sherry Parker, Caroll Sue Follette, Dee<br />

Johson, Colleen Earley and Dave Bower<br />

<strong>The</strong> Bear Laker, published five times throughout the summer, is a<br />

product of <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> in Montpelier, Idaho. To contribute<br />

or offer suggestions, contact Sherry Brown at editorne@dcdi.net or<br />

call 208-847-0552. All information included in this publication is<br />

copyright <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> 2011.<br />

Calendar of Events<br />

AUGUST 2011<br />

Monthly Quilt Show at the <strong>The</strong><br />

Oregon/California Trail Center in<br />

Montpelier. 866-847-3800<br />

15 - 20: Rich County Fair - Randolph,<br />

Utah (435) 881-4534<br />

20: Daniel Beck performs at <strong>The</strong><br />

Oregon/California Trail Center in<br />

Montpelier. 866-847-3800.<br />

20: Bear Lake Valley Health Care<br />

Foundation Annual Golf “Fore”<br />

Health Golf Tournament at the<br />

Montpelier Golf Course, for more<br />

information, contact Bear Lake<br />

Memorial Hospital or Craig Thomas<br />

at (208) 847-1630.<br />

26: SaddleStrings Cowboy Band performs<br />

at <strong>The</strong> Oregon/California Trail<br />

Center in Montpelier. 866-847-3800.<br />

26 - 28: Bear Lake Parade of Homes -<br />

Homes on display, sponsored by the<br />

Bear Lake Home Builders Association,<br />

for more info call 801-725-8941.<br />

27: Bear Lake Brawl Triathlon, a<br />

Gold Medal Racing event, Sprint and<br />

Olympic distances. (801) 335-4940.<br />

TBA: Bear Lake Classic Triathlon by<br />

BBSC Endurance Sports at<br />

Rendezvous Beach at 8 a.m.<br />

TBA: Beaver Mountain Music<br />

Festival - Funk & Reggae. Afro<br />

Omega, Shaky Trade, Charles Grodon,<br />

Michael Christiansen Quartet. Familyfriendly,<br />

Food. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.<br />

TBA: 12-hours of Bear Lake,<br />

Mountain Bike Relays. 800-756-0795<br />

TBA: Annual Bear Lake All-Niter<br />

Men’s Softball Tournament at<br />

Allinger Park in Montpelier.<br />

TBA: Annual Bear Lake All-Niter<br />

Co-Ed Softball Tournament, in<br />

Montpelier.<br />

TBA: Rich County Ranch Rodeo,<br />

Laketown, Utah. Long Round 8 a.m.,<br />

Short Round 6 p.m. 307-354-6691<br />

SEPTEMBER 2011<br />

Monthly Quilt Show at the <strong>The</strong><br />

Oregon/California Trail Center.<br />

2 - 4: Bear Lake Parade of Homes -<br />

Homes on display, sponsored by the<br />

Bear Lake Home Builders Association,<br />

for more info call 801-725-8941.<br />

3: Bear Lake Golf Scramble at Bear<br />

Lake West Golf Course. 9 a.m. and 2<br />

p.m., (208) 945-2744.<br />

10: LOTOJA - Logan to Jackson<br />

Bicycle Race - (801) 546-0090, (801)<br />

546-0090, or call the Greater Bear Lake<br />

Valley Chamber of Commerce at (208)<br />

847-0067.<br />

17: Ireland Bank & First Idaho Title<br />

Presents <strong>The</strong> Annual Golfing “Fore”<br />

Families 18 Hole Charity Golf<br />

Tournament at the Montpelier Golf<br />

Course. Montpelier, ID 208-847-1981<br />

TBA: Bear Lake Memorial Hospital<br />

Annual Community Health Fair, 8<br />

a.m. to noon (all ages welcome). (208)<br />

847-1630.<br />

TBA: Montpelier Mayor’s Marriage<br />

Celebration Week - Date Night, Not<br />

So Newly Wed Game, Couples Golf<br />

Tournament.<br />

OCTOBER 2011<br />

Monthly Quilt Show at the <strong>The</strong><br />

Oregon/California Trail Center in<br />

Montpelier. 866-847-3800<br />

TBA: Brake for Breakfast - 7 a.m. to<br />

10 a.m. at the Bear Lake Memorial<br />

Hospital Nursing Home Portico on<br />

5th Street. Sponsored by <strong>The</strong> Health<br />

Cooperative (THC) and Bear Lake<br />

Memorial Hospital.<br />

TBA: "We're Grateful!" Banquet at<br />

the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital at<br />

(208) 847-1630.<br />

TBA: Annual Montpelier Parks &<br />

Recreation's Pumpkin Walk,<br />

Montpelier Lions Park. 5 pm - 9 pm.<br />

Call 208-847-0508 for more information.<br />

Awards given for various categories.<br />

Calendar of Events<br />

courtesy of<br />

Bear Lake Convention<br />

and Visitor’s Bureau<br />

P.O. Box 471<br />

Garden City, Utah 84028<br />

435-946-2197


Suppliment to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - August 17, 2011 - 3


4 - August 17, 2011 - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

<strong>Fish</strong> <strong>Ladders</strong> <strong>allow</strong> <strong>Bonneville</strong><br />

Photos and article by Valerie Hayes<br />

<strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> staff writer<br />

<strong>The</strong> completed pool-weir designed fish ladder in Georgetown<br />

Canyon looks like this.<br />

<strong>Bonneville</strong> cutthroat trout are the only native trout in the <strong>Bonneville</strong> Basin,<br />

which encompasses most of Utah, a little bit of Idaho and Nevada. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />

big, fish-eating piscivores that are very uniquely adapted to the desert environment.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y can withstand high stream temperatures, yet they also live in<br />

areas that are extremely cold in winters. Some of the coldest temperatures are<br />

recorded right here in the heart of the Bear River Water Shed.<br />

In the past few years, two major areas in the Bear Lake Valley have been<br />

identified for a watershed-wide <strong>Bonneville</strong> cutthroat trout restoration effort to<br />

restore connectivity and habitat for the trout.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first area was a spawning tributary to Bear Lake for migratory<br />

<strong>Bonneville</strong> cutthroat trout called <strong>Fish</strong> Haven Creek. <strong>The</strong> trout come out of<br />

Bear Lake to spawn in this tributary. For many years, cutthroats have not been<br />

able to spawn naturally here because of barriers to the creek.<br />

A lot of reconnection and restoration was done on <strong>Fish</strong> Haven Creek to<br />

<strong>allow</strong> the cutthroats to come up and spawn naturally in some of the historic<br />

spawning grounds.<br />

In late 2009, a 300-foot long box culvert that was a migration barrier to<br />

about 98 percent of the migrating fish was removed from the creek. It was<br />

replaced with a structure called a “bottomless arch culvert.” <strong>The</strong> culvert is 12<br />

feet wide and 230 feet long. It has<br />

concrete footings that are poured 3<br />

feet deep below both sides with a<br />

keyway. <strong>The</strong> arch was dropped and<br />

locked in place and grouted in. <strong>The</strong><br />

weight of the structure holds it in<br />

place.<br />

Spring of 2010 was the first time<br />

in approximately 60 years that fish<br />

were able to get up into the <strong>Fish</strong><br />

Haven Creek system and spawn<br />

naturally.<br />

<strong>The</strong> second area identified was<br />

Georgetown Creek which is an<br />

important tributary of the Bear<br />

River for <strong>Bonneville</strong> cutthroat trout.<br />

<strong>The</strong> diversion headgate at the<br />

mouth of Georgetown Canyon traditionally<br />

blocked upstream cutthroat<br />

trout migration, so it was<br />

determined that a “fish ladder”<br />

needed to be built to give the fish<br />

access to the upper part of the<br />

drainage.


Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley – Bear Laker – August 17, 2011 - 5<br />

cutthroat to spawn naturally<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are typically five types of fish ladders: pool-weir, vertical slot, Denil,<br />

steeppass, and natural bypasses or fishways. <strong>The</strong> fish ladder in Georgetown<br />

Canyon is basically of the pool-weir design. This is the oldest of the fishway<br />

designs. Pool-weir designs work well for jumping species like trout and<br />

salmon because they are sensitive to water surface elevation changes.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fish ladder is made of concrete and has boards (the ladder) that step up<br />

pooled water. <strong>The</strong> fish will come up to the headgate and go through the ladder<br />

and end up in the upper portion of the drainage. <strong>The</strong> ladder was<br />

designed by Sunrise Engineering of Afton and constructed by the Bureau of<br />

Reclamation implementation crew of Provo.<br />

As of this date, the fish ladder is not operational because there are two<br />

other conservation measures being done in Georgetown that will support a<br />

larger population of the cutthroat trout. Those two ongoing projects include<br />

the Georgetown Road Relocation Project and the Alleman Dam Removal and<br />

Restoration Project.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fish ladder will probably be operational in the next year or two.<br />

This structure in<br />

<strong>Fish</strong> Haven is<br />

considered a<br />

bottomless arch<br />

culvert. <strong>The</strong> culvert<br />

is 12 feet<br />

wide and 230<br />

feet long. <strong>The</strong><br />

culvert <strong>allow</strong>s<br />

fish to spawn<br />

naturally-something<br />

they<br />

haven’t done in<br />

<strong>Fish</strong> Haven<br />

Creek in about<br />

60 years.<br />

A closer look at the fish ladder in Georgetown. Boards (the ladder)<br />

<strong>allow</strong> the fish to spawn naturally. <strong>Fish</strong> come up to the headgate<br />

and go through the ladder and end up in the upper portion of the<br />

drainage.


8 – August 17, 2011 - Bear Laker Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

Bear Laker – August 17, 2011 - 9<br />

Forest fire fighter could be hero next door<br />

Joshua “Sause” Lee Thornock (1983-2009)<br />

Thanks to the Thornock family,<br />

Montpelier District, Caribou-Targhee<br />

National Forest and friends for<br />

supplying valuable information<br />

and photos for this story.<br />

<strong>The</strong> great use of life is<br />

to spend it for something<br />

that will outlast it.<br />

When he was very young, Joshua’s dream was to be a fire fighter.<br />

At the time of his death, “Sause” was living that dream and had<br />

attained the position of Engine Boss in the South Zone Fire Crew of<br />

the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.<br />

Sause was fondly known by many. He loved all his friends and<br />

family dearly and rarely had harsh words to say about anyone. He<br />

was able to get along and work well with people.<br />

He began his Forest Service career as a seasonal employee in<br />

2001 as a member of a four-person weed crew where he spent his<br />

time spraying and cutting noxious and invasive weeds. During that<br />

time, he received a safety award for treating 300 acres of weeds<br />

without an accident.<br />

Josh was always willing to jump in and help someone without<br />

being asked. Ken Klingenberg, a forester at the Montpelier district<br />

office, remembers a day when he was frantically looking for an<br />

item he had misplaced at the warehouse. <strong>The</strong> next thing he knew<br />

there was an extra set of hands rummaging through a pile of stuff<br />

helping him look for the item. Of course it was Sause. Without hesitation<br />

Sause said to Ken, “What does a guy need to do to get a job<br />

with you next year” Needless to say the next year he was working<br />

for Ken.<br />

Josh was a hard worker and had a great work ethic, something<br />

that he learned from his father and family. A lot of assignments he<br />

went on would be a test of anyone’s endurance, strength and commitment<br />

to the job. He enjoyed the challenge and the hard work<br />

that was given him.<br />

During the 2002 and 2003 summer seasons, Josh worked on the<br />

timber crew. He spent the summers thinning trees, building barbwire<br />

fences around timber plantations, distributing pheromone<br />

packets in an effort to cut down the large number of bark beetles<br />

attacking trees and spraying weeds in timber sale areas. He participated<br />

in prescribed burns as a means to prep sites before trees were<br />

planted, helped with Type 2 stand exams (counting the amount of<br />

trees in a specific area) and worked with the recreation crews reworking<br />

trails and recreation facilities. In 2003 he also continued to<br />

support fire fighting efforts and was made Squad Boss on the East<br />

Table Fire on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in July, and Saw<br />

Boss on the Winslow Fire on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest<br />

in September.<br />

Besides being a great worker, he was also an example and friend<br />

to all whom he worked with. Other employees would jump up and<br />

even compete at the chance to get to work with Sause for the day.<br />

He was an extremely loyal friend to all.<br />

After long hours and no days off anyone has a tendency to<br />

become grumpy. <strong>The</strong>re were many times when Josh pulled some<br />

crazy stunts to cheer up and get everyone laughing. When coworker,<br />

Ash Phelps, would come in to work in a bad mood, Josh<br />

would pick him up, turn him upside down and tickle him till he<br />

started to laugh. That sight would definitely put a smile on anyone’s<br />

face.<br />

Sometimes out of the blue, Josh would break out in song which<br />

would echo throughout the forest, just to lighten the air and lift<br />

everyone’s spirits or he would yell out for all to hear, “Hey You<br />

Guys,” a movie quote from one of his favorite movies, <strong>The</strong><br />

Goonies.<br />

During his short career, Josh participated in 14 fires in 2004 as a<br />

fire fighter, a Fire Engine Operator on 10 fires in 2005, 26 fires in<br />

2006, 16 in 2007, and 18 during the 2008 season. While doing site<br />

prep for a controlled burn in 2007 in a natural regeneration stand of<br />

lodge pole pine in Unit 5 of the Emigration timber sale he was<br />

knocked unconscious, when a tree he was cutting down, hit him on<br />

the right side of his head.<br />

Josh fought fires in almost all of the western states and in 2008<br />

received his qualification to become an Engine Foreman. This gave<br />

him authority to take a fire engine out on fire incidents and supervise<br />

a two-person crew. He helped with the clean up in Las Vegas,<br />

during the Bird Flu outbreak. He even spent two weeks in Texas as<br />

part of a 20-person crew to help find parts from the space shuttle<br />

Discovery disaster. Josh performed flawlessly in these duties and<br />

provided excellent safe supervision for his crew members.<br />

In 2009 Josh was looking forward to running a skidsteer with a<br />

wood mulching attachment to aid in reducing hazardous fuels and<br />

putting in fire lines around prescribed burns. He was so excited for<br />

this new position and couldn’t wait to get out on his new machine<br />

and get to work. Unfortunately the machine was late in arriving,<br />

and he never received the chance to get out in the forest that summer<br />

and tear stuff up.<br />

Those living deeply have no fear of death. Josh was big on having<br />

no fear. He loved life and knew how to enjoy it and bring joy to<br />

others. He believed that one should never hold back. He was never<br />

afraid of dying…he was afraid of not living. He always went about<br />

life creating experiences that required courage and no fear or hesitation.<br />

He was always helping a friend in need, no matter what the<br />

case maybe. Josh always gave his all and joyfully so. He was<br />

always up to something and planning something just to get a rise<br />

out of someone, to make them laugh and smile.<br />

Josh had many challenges come his way. Whether it was crashing<br />

vehicles, having a large quaking aspen hit him in the head, or<br />

having a large grapefruit-sized tumor removed from his thigh, he<br />

always bounced back and pushed forward with even more determination<br />

and with a great fun-loving attitude. On a calm spring<br />

night, May 22, 2009, Joshua Lee “Sause” Thornock passed away<br />

due to a pulmonary embolism in the same living room in which he<br />

and all of his friends hung out, talked and shared their dreams.<br />

He often recited his favorite lines from the movie, Masters of the<br />

Universe, “Don’t say good bye, say good journey. Live the journey<br />

for every destination is but a doorway to another. Good journey,<br />

Josh; good journey.<br />

A memorial grove was built in<br />

Joshua’s honor in Bloomington, by<br />

family, forest service brothers and<br />

sisters, friends and neighbors.<br />

Josh found great<br />

enjoyment in being<br />

Smokey Bear for<br />

parades and such.<br />

Brian Nate, Josh & Ash Phelps<br />

Josh’s yellow fire shirt hangs in the<br />

lobby of the Forest Service office in<br />

Montpelier. <strong>The</strong> frame was made<br />

by Dennis Duehren, District<br />

Ranger of the Montpelier District.


8 - August 17, 2011 - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

<strong>The</strong> Oregon Trail Center,<br />

Photos and article by Valerie Hayes<br />

<strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong> staff writer<br />

Years ago, a community meeting was held where those present listed the<br />

assets of the community and tried to find ways to capitalize on those assets.<br />

Among the assets was the presence of the Oregon Trail.<br />

A few members of the group present at the original development meeting<br />

envisioned a museum or interpretive center that would provide an attraction to<br />

the many people who journey along Highway 89 on their way to the Jackson<br />

Hole area.<br />

An initial board was formed, along with many supporters, and grants were<br />

obtained. Federal highway enhancement funds provided the major portion of<br />

the money needed. Montpelier City and Bear Lake County played big parts in<br />

the early work. Hundreds of private individuals, along with foundations, small<br />

and large businesses and corporations added to the sums needed to build the<br />

center.<br />

<strong>The</strong> gift shop in the National Oregon/California Trails Center opened<br />

Memorial Day 1998. Hundreds watched as Idaho’s Governer Dirk Kempthorn<br />

cut the ribbon July 13, 1999 at the center’s official grand opening.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Trail Center, as the locals now lovingly call it, struggled for the first five<br />

or six years. In 2006, when Becky Smith of Georgetown took over as director,<br />

nine buses had toured the center between May 30 and September 1 of that season.<br />

Today, in its 12th season, the Trail Center serves 12 to 16 scheduled tour buses<br />

per week. Tours run every half hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.<br />

In 2007, Jeff Trevitz, aka Jeff the Chef or Cookie, visualized and sketched a<br />

wagon circle dining room, which was then built on the top floor of the center<br />

and is used for tour buses, dinner concerts and large group events. Smith says,


Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley – Bear Laker – August 17, 2011 - 9<br />

gem of Bear Lake Valley<br />

“When Jeff is cooking, it’s like home.” She also says that people tend to stay in<br />

the center longer when they can smell his cooking.<br />

<strong>The</strong> top floor also has on display beautiful donated quilts from May 1 to Oct.<br />

30 each year, and visitors may purchase them if they desire.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is always an exhibit located on the top floor. This year’s exhibit is<br />

“When Two Trails Cross,” which is an examination of how the westward migration<br />

affected the Native American culture. This is done through the photographs<br />

of Beatrice Wrenstead and artwork and artifacts from the Museum of<br />

Natural History.<br />

On the main floor is the encampment where visitors experience local people<br />

playing the part of actual travelers on the Oregon Trail. <strong>The</strong>y explain what is<br />

happening in the camp, what they have gone through to reach the halfway<br />

point along the trail, and the obstacles they may face in the future. Prior to<br />

reaching the encampment, each visitor experiences what it was like to purchase<br />

a wagon and stock it in preparation for the arduous trip along the trail. Visitors<br />

will also have the opportunity to ride in a life-like wagon, complete with creeks,<br />

cracks, bumps and jarings simulated by the use of hydrulic pumps.<br />

Around the outside wall of the encampment hangs an extensive collection of<br />

paintings by Gary Stone. J.R. Simplot commissioned Stone to do the series of<br />

paintings which depict the Oregon Trail in Idaho.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Allinger Community <strong>The</strong>atre was also built on the main level of the center.<br />

Many concerts and events have been held there over the past few years.<br />

Peg-Leg Smith’s Trading Post is located at the front of the center and contains<br />

unusual trail-related items and a variety of books related to the Oregon Trail.<br />

Located on the lower floor of the center is the Rails & Trails Museum containing<br />

DUP, early Bear Lake and railroadartifacts.<br />

This past winter, the Oregon/California Trail Center Auxiliary was formed.<br />

It has become very important in helping support and sustain the center by raising<br />

much needed funds.<br />

A 360 degree virtual tour of the center can be found on the center’s website<br />

at www.oregontrailcenter.org.


10 - August 17, 2011 - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

A fisherman’s dream, a TRUE fish story<br />

Roger Grunig/Submitted Photos<br />

Idaho State Record holder for 41 years. Cutthroat<br />

Trout. 18 lbs. 15 oz. Caught by Roger Grunig.<br />

Roger Grunig<br />

Submitted Story<br />

I woke early again this morning reliving the battle<br />

a large cutthroat puts up. I couldn’t get it out of<br />

my mind, the thrill of a hook up, the adrenalin of the<br />

first powerful run. Realizing sleep was out of the<br />

question, I quietly left my warm bed and sleeping<br />

bride. Trying to keep noise at a minimum, I dressed<br />

for cold weather.<br />

A soft voice asked, “What are you doing out of<br />

bed so early”<br />

“I’m going to drive to St. Charles this morning<br />

and fish for A LITTLE WHILE.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> reply was, “Dress warm.” A wife’s blessing is<br />

an answer to a man’s prayer.<br />

Leaving the house I noticed snowflakes falling on<br />

a slight wind out of the north. Not unusual in April<br />

in Bear Lake. <strong>The</strong> date was April 30, 1970.<br />

Daylight still an hour away, I drove to my location.<br />

I pulled my chest waders on by the interior<br />

light of my car and slowly walked down the channel<br />

of St. Charles Creek where it entered Bear Lake.<br />

I started casting my lure, retrieving it slowly.<br />

After a dozen or so casts, the ice was building in<br />

the guides on my rod. <strong>The</strong> water was warmer than<br />

the air so I gave my rod a bath in it, freeing the ice<br />

in the guides.<br />

An hour later I was nearing the end as far as I<br />

could wade. One more cast... the retrieve suddenly<br />

STOPPED! <strong>The</strong> felt head shake of a good one. <strong>The</strong><br />

fish did what it wanted to do and I hung on. Playing<br />

the fish and keeping the ice out of my rod guides<br />

was a dance in motion (I’m glad no one else was<br />

there to witness that, HA!). After 30-plus minutes, I<br />

started to gain line and bring the fish closer. I was in<br />

thigh-deep water when I finally got him to me.<br />

Laying on the bottom by my feet he looked huge.<br />

Reeling my rod tip down in the water, I gently<br />

began to lift him with my rod. Knowing at any second<br />

the 8 lb. test line was going to break, I brought<br />

him up to where I could reach him. Dipping my arm<br />

into the freezing water above my elbow I had a grip<br />

onto his gill plate and finally he was MINE. I had a<br />

safety snap stringer in my waders that I quickly<br />

attached to him and the buckle on my waders.<br />

Making another cast at a fish I had seen “move”<br />

while I was playing this one I just caught, I looked<br />

down at my catch and thought, “I bet he goes 14<br />

lbs.” Another cast, a quick look and I think, “Maybe<br />

15 lbs.” After thinking, “Maybe 16 lbs.,” I headed to<br />

find some scales. Laying him in the trunk of my car,<br />

I took off my chest waders and left in search of some<br />

scales.<br />

Mark’s and Mike’s, a small convenience store,<br />

was open in Paris. Mike Pugmire, co-owner, agreed<br />

to weigh the fish. Several locals were in the store<br />

and, boy, were we all surprised when the scales read<br />

18 lbs. 15 oz. I showed the fish off to several friends<br />

before going home, changing clothes and going to<br />

work. I had wrapped the fish in plastic and laid him<br />

in my freezer.<br />

When I returned home from work, still excited<br />

from my catch of the day, my wife said, “Glenn<br />

Paige, the local conservation officer called.”<br />

Returning his call, I found out this fish could be a<br />

new state record! Paige took the fish to Idaho Falls<br />

the next day so the biologists there could verify it<br />

was a true cutthroat trout. I got an official weight<br />

verification slip that required three witnesses’ signatures<br />

verifying they saw the weight of the fish.<br />

Paige returned from Idaho Falls that evening to<br />

inform me a determination was made – true<br />

Cutthroat – NEW STATE RECORD.<br />

I was asked to donate the fish to the Idaho <strong>Fish</strong><br />

and Game so they could have it mounted and me<br />

noted as the catcher of this record fish. <strong>The</strong> fish<br />

would be and still is today on display at the Idaho<br />

<strong>Fish</strong> and Game headquarters in Boise, in their trophy<br />

room. Understanding was made if this record is<br />

ever broken the mount will be returned to me. <strong>The</strong><br />

old record was set in 1946 from American Falls. I’m<br />

still the record holder from April 30, 1970.<br />

Oh, by the way, the other fish that was there that<br />

morning, April 30, 1970. I introduced myself to her<br />

on May 1, 1970, when I replayed the big catch from<br />

the day before. She was big and put up a big fight<br />

and felt heavier than my record catch. You guessed<br />

it, I landed her, a big female cutthroat. But to everyone’s<br />

surprise, I turned her loose. This is a memory<br />

with me for my life. Good days, good times and<br />

wonderful memories.<br />

Happy fishing to all.


Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley – Bear Laker – August 17, 2011 - 11<br />

Left: Photo Submitted by<br />

Carol Sue Follette<br />

THE DAY IS DONE<br />

Below: Photo Submitted by Dave<br />

Bower<br />

ST. CHARLES BARN<br />

Below: Photo Submitted by<br />

Sherry Parker.<br />

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH<br />

JANE LLOYD/SUBMITTED PHOTO<br />

ADORING


12 - August 17, 2011 - <strong>The</strong> Bear Laker - Supplement to <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>, the only newspaper in the whole world that cares about the Bear Lake Valley<br />

M o r e o f<br />

SUNSET ON BEAR LAKE<br />

COLLEEN EARLEY/SUBMITTED PHOTO<br />

COLLEEN EARLEY/SUBMITTED PHOTO<br />

WAGON WHEEL<br />

DEE JOHNSON/SUBMITTED PHOTO<br />

BEAR LAKE RAINBOW<br />

For late breaking news<br />

check out our website<br />

www.news-examiner.net<br />

Like us on Facebook<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>-<strong>Examiner</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!