A Deist Among The Mormons • By Daryl L. Hunter
What I think of the Mormons and why Mitt Romney should be President!

I live in a beautiful rural valley of 700 people in eastern Idaho and after I came to live here I found out that Utah isn’t the only place that is fifty percent Mormon..............................As a compulsively inquisitive geo-political junkie I decided to look through the Book of Mormon so I could learn a little about the belief of my neighbors. As with any outsider looking into another’s faith, I found many outlandish passages that would require faith to swallow, however, this is a characteristic that all religions share. What I have learned of my Mormon neighbors in the years since my voyeuristic venture into the sacred book of the LDS Church is more telling. My anecdotal experiences have revealed to me that I couldn’t have better neighbors or live in a finer community....................................................Although I can’t achieve faith, I admire, and may be envious of those who do. One of the problems I find in my on going analysis of life and faith is the paradoxical dichotomy of religion that fosters the Achilles Heel of human nature, “tribalism.” The tribalism of religion pits one religion against another, hence 99% of the worlds problems. The tribalism of Evangelicals is undermining the ability of their conservative brethren, the Mormons, to carry forward the flag of conservatism and I find this as an affront to common sense. -----------------------> More

North Yellowstone’s Winter Road • By Daryl L. Hunter
Winter in Yellowstone is truly a wonderful thing to experience, its deep snows, bitter cold, abundant wildlife and stark beauty can imprint memories that can last a lifetime....................Access to Yellowstone in winter is the problem, it has become illegal to take a private snowmobile into Yellowstone and very few of us have snow coaches of our own or are capable of marathon ski expeditions too access Yellowstone’s winter wonders, but it is not as inaccessible as many think........................... The snowmobiling destination resort of Cooke City and Silver Gate Montana need groceries regularly to keep its citizens alive so Yellowstone Park maintains winter access to these communities. US-212 can be accessed through Yellowstone’s north entrance in Gardner Montana, so Yellowstone visitors can access a smidgen of Yellowstone’s treasures in winter by car.----------------------------------------> More

Immigration response from Senator Larry Craig to Daryl L. Hunter and My open letter response to Senator Craig
Dear Daryl: • Because of your past contact concerning immigration reform, I wanted to get back to you on recent developments in this area. On May 25, the Senate passed S.2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, following several weeks of highly-charged debate..................
Dear Senator Craig • I agree, we must bring them out of the underground economy and send them back to Mexico where their current employer can get them a legal visa so they can return legally. Oh, I guess that isn't what you meant, you meant, bring them out and give them amnesty!

Environmental Challenges for the Ranching Community
My grandfather used to love to tell the story of a preacher who came to the ranch to visit. "My goodness, Joe, you have a beautiful place," said the minister. "The green grass blowing in the wind, the cottonwood trees filled with singing birds, the abundant wildlife, and the sparkling streams, it is amazing what you and the good Lord have done."............Yes," my grandfather said, "It is beautiful. But you should have seen it when the Lord was doing it by himself."

English Translation of Ayman al-Zawahiri's letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - scary and informative!
And it doesn't appear that the Mujahedeen, much less the al-Qaida in the Land of Two Rivers, will lay claim to governance without the Iraqi people. Not to mention that that would be in contravention of the Shura methodology. That is not practical in my opinion.You might ask an important question: What drives me to broach these matters while we are in the din of war and the challenges of killing and combat? My answer is, firstly: Things may develop faster than we imagine. The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam-and how they ran and left their agents-is noteworthy. Because of that, we must be ready starting now, before events overtake us, and before we are surprised by the conspiracies of the Americans and the United Nations and their plans to fill the void behind them. We must take the initiative and impose a fait accompli upon our enemies, instead of the enemy imposing one on us, ..........more

Montana Governor Schweitzer’s plan to convert coal to gas • by John S. Adams
You don’t have to be an independent trucker to feel the gas squeeze these days. With crude oil prices hovering close to $70 per barrel and gasoline topping $4 per gallon in some parts of the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Americans are looking for answers to the nation’s growing fuel crisis. Govennor Brian Schweitzer believes Montana is sitting on the answer.....more

Farm Bureau Blasts Misleading Ethanol Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. • The American Farm Bureau Federation today expressed serious concerns regarding a study it believes may be intentionally slanted in an attempt to discredit the positive role home-grown renewable fuels are playing to boost the nation’s domestic energy supply.

Alternative Fuels Mean Economic Freedom • By Frank Priestley
Big Oil has America in a headlock and it’s high time for our government to step up and do something about it. That something is to support renewable, clean-burning alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Big Oil has America in a headlock and it’s high time for our government to step up and do something about it. That something is to support renewable, clean-burning alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

The Wolf: Icon Of The Wilderness
Perhaps more than any other member of the animal kingdom, wolves have historically played the villain's role. Misperceptions about wolves have abounded for centuries, historically, cultures worldwide, believed that wolves were so aggressive that they posed a risk to humans but, ironically, wolves are wary of humans because man has been killing wolves for millennia. Folklore is littered with proverbs and metaphors about this fearsome carnivore, from Peter and the Wolf in Russia to the wolf’s mysticism in Native American culture; wolves have long been a powerful symbol. Even today, wolves engender excitement merely at the possibility of an appearance on the wilderness stage.............................Since reintroduction the wolf population of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is thriving. In the ensuing years the wolf population grew to 650 wolves by 2002 and more than 1,500 today (January, 2008). The wolves are growing at a rate of about 24 percent per year, according to federal counts. This prolific animal population has grown exponentially beyond the wildest dreams of environmentalists and fulfilled the nightmares of the regions hunters, and ranchers...................................the Fish and Wildlife Service would allow ranchers and trappers to obtain permits to kill wolves so that livestock depredation from wolf over population, will stay minimal. -----------------------> More

Ski Jackson Hole • Among the granite escarpments of the legendary Grand Teton Mountain Range, lucky skiers and snowboarders find exciting exceptional skiing and riding opportunities on Rendezvous Mountain at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This awesome mountain offers 2,500 acres of wild beauty and a breathtaking 4,139-foot vertical drop, at one time the largest vertical of any ski resort in America. Jackson Hole is more than an ordinary winter resort. Skiers and riders of all abilities enjoy Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort flaunts some of the most difficult terrain on the continent. Advanced skiers and riders meet their match on the two peaks. Beginner and intermediate skiers can enjoy the Resort's 22 miles of machine-groomed runs.

Biofuel Dynamics and Rural Economies by Frank Priestley
A group of scientists called CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) recently released a detailed research paper titled, “Convergence of Agriculture and Energy: Implications for Research and Policy,” that takes a comprehensive look at how biofuel development will affect our economy and environment..................two new ethanol plants with a combined 70 million gallon per year capacity are planned for construction in Cassia and Minidoka counties. the economic impacts of each new ethanol plant includes millions of dollars invested in construction and annual operating costs of between $59 million and $112 million

INL reports hydrogen fuel breakthrough • IDAHO FALLS
For years, the idea of converting diesel fuel into clean hydrogen gas was a science-fiction pipe dream. But the announcement Wednesday in Idaho Falls that an eclectic team of researchers has accomplished that feat means hydrogen-powered electricity on a commercial scale might be on the horizon.

Two wolves from the Druid Pack in Yellowstone National Park

Mad Dash For Yellowstone • By Daryl L. Hunter
Santa Clause was good to me this year, and a Canon 400mm 5/6L telephoto lens dropped down the chimney and this little boy couldn't wait to put that hunk of glass to work. I had a long weekend for the New Year’s holiday, and the kids were out of school so a trip to Yellowstone was nearly possible if Murphy's Law didn't rear his ugly head.

Winter in Yellowstone is truly a wonderful thing to experience. Its deep snows, bitter cold, abundant wildlife and stark beauty can imprint memories that can last a lifetime, and I have been anxious to share it with my boys. Access to Yellowstone in winter has become problematic since it has become illegal to take a private snowmobile into Yellowstone. So instead of accessing Yellowstone from the south entrance, outside Jackson Hole close to my home, the trip mandated a mad dash for north Yellowstone’s winter road, an eight-hour drive away. I had a hunch that this might be a good time for serendipity to dish me up some wolves for my photo portfolio. --------------------------------------> More

Eight Men Claim Sexual Encounters With Senator Larry Craig
Eight men say they either had sex with Sen. Larry Craig or were targets of sexual advances by the Idaho lawmaker at various times during his political career, a newspaper reported.

One of the men is the former escort whose allegations disgraced the Rev. Ted Haggard, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Idaho Statesman reported Sunday............................................But in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press on Sunday, the senator said the newspaper's report was "completely false" and he accused the paper of careless journalism.-----------------------> More

Shocking data shows • by Greg Losinski
IDAHO FALLS- When you mix 200 volts of electricity with water you’re setting the stage for some shocking results and that is just what Fisheries biologists with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game found during their recent population surveys on the South Fork of the Snake River.  Each year, researchers use electrofishing equipment to assess populations near the Conant Valley.  This is the year they’ve been waiting for to learn how well the cutthroat population is responding to the efforts to save the famed fishery.

Success for species and People • by Senator Mike Crapo 
Teddy Roosevelt first applied the term "conservation" to the process of wise-use and preservation of natural resources. A century later, conservation laws have successfully restored species like the American bald eagle, gray whale and peregrine falcon to sustainable populations. This is a terrific start to the greater goals of preserving wildland resources, which is the intention behind the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These goals have strong public support, including mine. The many people in Idaho, other western states, and in the East who support the Act are continually working out better and better ideas for achieving the goals of the Act.

Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig want renewable energy program fully funded
Washington, DC – An agricultural program that promotes renewable energy use will build on its success if funding remains steady for it, according to Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig. The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program (also known as Section 9006), is currently funded at $23 million a year to provide grants and loans to farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses to help them purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Living the Wyoming Way
Ever look at a newcomer and think, "If they only knew how we did things here in Wyoming"?....................................Enter the Wyoming Humanities Council, a group putting together "Welcome to Wyoming," a guide for newcomers. The idea was introduced last year during a series of "conversations" held around the state on different topics by the council.........................................An emerging theme: Newcomers should observe and listen.................................While buying a table and chairs at a local thrift store and trying to load them into his car, a man walked by and asked if he needed help." Before I knew it, this complete stranger had loaded my table and chairs into his pickup truck and was enthusiastically offering to follow me to my place, which he did," Dougherty said. "I remember taking a right turn at a stop sign and thinking, 'If I was in New York, this guy would take a left turn.' But he didn't. The stranger had no ulterior motives, just kindness.

Wyoming commission approves gray wolf management plan
By Bob Moen • Over the objections of environmental groups, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved a plan Friday under which the state would manage gray wolves once the animals are no longer under federal protection.

''This state has a reputation for being able to manage wildlife and manage them well,'' commission president Bill Williams said. ''I think we have to ask everyone to take a bit of a leap of faith here.''

Wyoming's plan will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which rejected the state's first proposal for not adequately protecting wolves.

The federal agency must approve the state plan in order for it to move forward with removing special protections for wolves under the Endangered Species Act. The agency has already approved---------------------> More

Construction jobs jump over 2006 levels
The Wyoming Department of Research and Planning has just released employment data for October The data show that the construction sector in Wyoming added 2,800 jobs, compared to October 2006.

The new jobs translate to a growth rate of more than11 percent. According to the release, it is possible that the warmer-than-average weather contributed to job gains in construction.
Overall job growth in Wyoming continued at a steady pace, despite the recent slowdown in the natural resources and mining sectors, with an increase of 9,500 jobs, up 3.4 percent from the previous year.

Senator Jon Tester advocates troop withdrawal while admitting ignorance
By Mike Dennison • “We need to start pulling troops out - no ifs, ands or buts about it,” said Tester, D-Mont. “It's just a matter of how it's done, how orderly it's done. We need to let (Iraqis) know it's going to change there..............................................“We went to the places that the military took us,” Tester said. “I'm not in any way intimating that I'm an expert on Iraq because I've been here for a day. You just about have to be boots-on-the-street, packing a rifle to know what's really going on.”.....................................................Tester said he met with U.S. soldiers, including some from Montana, one of whom told him that if the U.S. military pulled out now, “the country would collapse.”------------------------ More

Tourism promotion pays off for Montana • By Marti Bara
Out-of-state tourists, or nonresident visitors as we like to call them, last year alone spent approximately $1.9 billion in Montana with a total economic impact of $2.6 billion when considering the residual spending effects of suppliers and employees. That's a tremendous influx of revenue into our economy. Looking at how the nonresident travelers spent their $1.9 billion in 2003 helps illustrate the businesses that benefited from visitors to the Big Sky state:

Senator Johnson Joins Ethanol Across America
"Senator Johnson has shown he can work with members on both sides of the aisle," said Senator Burns. "Ethanol Across America is about all of us working together, for a common goal."