Happenings on the
Hilltop…
(Weippe news)
Eva Griffin 435-4051
Judy O'Brien 435-4870
fibermomma@wildblue.net
Scholarship available
For the 11th year, a $500 scholarship is being offered by the spouses and children of Jess and Maxine Johnstun to a deserving Timberline High School Senior. Check with Nancy Tschida, THS Counselor, for more details. The deadline for application is May 9.
Congratulations
Jay Scott Williams and Kelsey Rae Cochrell, both of Orofino, will exchange wedding vows on July 12 in Orofino at Big Eddy. Kelsey is the daughter of Art and Barb Cochrell of Weippe and graduated from Timberline High School in 2005.
Condolences
Our condolences to the family of Harold B. Chapman, 88, of Osburn who died on April 25, 2008. Harold is a former resident of Weippe. He is survived by local residents Ken Chapman, his brother, and Maebellan Steadman, his sister.
Trailriders meet May 6
Pierce/Weippe ATV Trailriders will be meeting May 6, 7 p.m. at the Pierce Timberline Lions Club building.
Doug Gober, Ranger for the North Fork Ranger District of the Clearwater National Forest and Larry Vogel, Recreational Director for the North Fork Clearwater National Forest will present a talk on the "Orogrande Loop System". Members and visitors are welcome to attend.
Help wanted
Help is needed Saturday, May 3 at the Weippe Community Hall for cleanup and maintenance day. The day starts at 8 a.m. with a potluck at noon. Everyone is encouraged to come out and support this activity. A roof will be added to the handicapped ramp entrance so come help with that if you can. We need to get the building lookin‘ good for the upcoming Camas Festival! More info, call Lori at 435-4769.
Pinochle
Delores reports four tables at Lodge Pinochle on Sunday. High score was won by Lori Franchini, low by Mabel Koerling and pinochle by Lori Franchini and Ione Smith. Dolores reminds us the last pinochle game of the season will be Sunday, May 4. There will be a potluck dinner after the games. Games start at 1:30, all are welcome, bring food.
Snow Plowing
Last week we opened discussions on snow plowing here on the hilltop and possible solutions to the problem. We will print all replies (unless slanderous). Here is the first letter received to address the subject:
“I read last week’s note on snow plowing and felt that there is more to be said on the subject.
Everybody on the hill that depends on the Highway District to plow their driveways needs to voice their opinion in one way or another.
If it needs to come up for a vote then it should come up for a vote. “It’s your tax dollars at work here.”
I may step on a few toes here, but driveway plowing is a serious subject. There are points that need to be faced, no matter who the responsible parties are.
There are a lot of people that don’t have any way to plow their own driveways, and they can’t afford to buy something to do it with. They can’t be parking their vehicles at the end of their driveways.
The Highway District has plowed driveways in Weippe ever since the Highway District began. “It is part of the job.”
The people at the Highway District will tell you that “well, they don’t plow driveways in Orofino”, but obviously this is not Orofino and you wouldn’t need your driveway plowed if you only get six inches of snow all winter.
If there isn’t enough money to plow driveways it’s because somebody has misappropriated the snow plowing funds for other things. Last summer, the Highway District sold a snow blower that would have come in real handy this winter. Just because you don’t need a piece of equipment one year doesn’t mean you won’t need it the next winter. Upon until this past winter the road Commissioners that we now have had no idea what a normal Weippe winter is like. This past winter was a normal winter and the money should have been there to handle the snow. From now on there won’t be an excuse for ignorance.
It looks to me like part of the money for snow plowing is going for dust abatement. The amount that people pay for dust abatement does not come close to paying the total cost. So the money is coming from someplace else. “Dust Abatement is an added cost that is taking money from other things.
It is my opinion that snow plowing is far more important than dust abatement. True, it’s nice for some people that live right on the roads not to have to put up with the dust. But more people benefit from snow plowing than from dust abatement.
“On the environmental side”, the dust abatement on the roads does just as much damage when it washes into our streams as the dust does in the air.
All the people in the district should have a say. Voice your opinion on this matter. What are your priorities? Do you want dust abatement or snow plowing ... if you have to make a choice?
I myself would buy a machine to plow driveways for people who want it. But where is the money supposed to come from. The Highway District already gets paid for this service. How many people can afford to pay twice for this service? “I would guess” not enough for a private individual to buy something to plow driveways. You could plow your own driveway with a bobcat or snow blower. But it wouldn’t be practical to do everybody’s driveways.
Will the Highway District pay a private individual to plow driveways? “I really doubt it” although they are collecting the money for it.
Will the County Commissioner’s elect to hold part of our tax money back from the Highway District to pay for a private individual to plow driveways??? “No there is a feasible idea”. We need more opinions on this.
The facts are that driveways are a pain in the neck for the Highway District but it is part of the job and these guys work by the hour, “not by the job”.
These are things that need to be settled before next winter. Do not wait for it to snow to voice your opinion. Either write to this paper or attend the Highway District meetings.
So, voice your opinion, each and every one of you in one way or another. You are paying for this service, you should have a voice in the decision. You had a voice in electing the people that are responsible for making this decision.”
Signed, Gary Kleinsmith
The next Highway District meeting is May 19, 10 a.m. at the Highway District building in Weippe. I am told you don’t need to be put on the agenda for discussion – only if a decision is required at that particular meeting.
Weippe Library
Weippe Public Library Story Time April 29 theme was Oh, Say Can You Seed? by Bonnie Worth. This book belongs to WPL’s The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library. “We planted bean seeds to take home. Then we filled the Story Time flower pot with violet pansies and white alyssum. The pot will be out on the library steps when it gets warmer,” said Youth Services Librarian Eva Griffin. “All the kids took home a free book.”
May 6 is the last Story Time for the spring season and will host a special guest. “I look forward to seeing all the kids for Summer Reading, and of course Story Time will be back in the fall.”
Garden helpers are Amy Jared, Angela Willis, Melissa Skiles, Trulah Powers, Allison Davidson, Brandan Emerson, Kasen Hohnstein, Drew Stacey, Mara Skiles, Kanyon Hohnstein and Michelle Lacey.
Car Wash
The Fire Department is having a car wash at the Fire Hall this Saturday, May 3 from 10 to 4.
Comings and goings
Elwin Hutchins is taking the Little Saw Mill to the University of Montana at Missoula this week for a logging show.
Judy O’Brien’s son and a friend were up from Nampa for the weekend hunting turkey. No turkeys were harmed in this endeavor, but the guys had a great time walking in the woods.
Open House
An open house/community potluck is planned at the Weippe Senior Center as a celebration of life for recently deceased Charles Hubler. It will be Sunday, May 11, from 12 to ? Call Lisa Weyerts, 435-4030.
At approximately 10 a.m., before the potluck at the Senior Center, the Weippe Fire Department will participate in a traditional "silent parade" of fire trucks with flashing lights but no sirens. They will drive slowly through the community to honor fallen firefighter Charles Hubler. The intended route is from Weippe City Hall to the Fire Department building.