As methamphetamine moves into the small, isolated towns of
the rural West, the waste left by its manufacture pollutes the
environment while the drug's abuse and the traffic in it strain the
resources of local law enforcement and social services.
Magazine
August 14, 2000
As methamphetamine moves into the small, isolated towns of the rural West, the waste left by its manufacture pollutes the environment while the drug's abuse and the traffic in it strain the resources of local law enforcement and social services.
Feature
Sidebar
In his own words, Erec Hopkins describes how he started
injecting - and selling - methamphetamines.
Mike LaScoula, the Spokane County Health District's
chemical and physical hazards advisor, describes the toxic hazards
created when a house is turned into an illegal methamphetamine
lab.
Uncommon Westerners
With the recent untimely death of Marc Reisner, the West
loses a man of independence and integrity, as well as a writer
whose book "Cadillac Desert" helped to change the nation's view of
Western water and water projects.
Essays
A Telluride, Colo., woman, irked by the way some New Age
whites cannibalize Indian spirituality, has taken on the name of
"White Dork" and the totem animal weasel.
In all the hoopla of magazines touting "adventure travel"
and ecotourism, the writer wonders why folks don't consider just
staying home for a change.
Book Reviews
Mary Taylor Young's book, "On the trail of Colorado
Critters," teaches children about how to watch and understand wild
animals.
An EPA report reveals that some children of Washington
state farm workers show elevated levels of pesticide
exposure.
Robert Michael Pyle's book, "Chasing Monarchs: Migrating
with the Butterflies of Passage," follows the colorful insects from
Canada, down to Mexico, and back up to the California coast on
their amazing yearly migration.
Mike Kahn is riding his bike from California to Maine, and
using his laptop computer along the way to educate children about
the natural world that he sees on his journey.
The journals and paintings of four artists who explores
the West after Lewis and Clark will be featured in Idaho.
Forest activists gather for a rally Sept. 15-17 in
Romayor, Texas.
Land protection is the focus of a conference about the
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah on Sept.
15.
Northwest authors will teach their secrets at the Nature
Writers Retreat in Leavenworth, Wash., Sept. 24-27.
Heard Around the West
Narcisse, Canada: home to 70,000 snakes; man regrets
climbing into outdoor potty; Indian tribe plans bowling alley
instead of casino; unscrupulous photographers use technology to
track wolves and bears; Sequim, WA, elk wear collars to alert
m
Dear Friends
Why HCN is writing about meth; good news from HCN's
Writers On The Range and online archives; two HCN parties coming
up: September board meeting in Boise and 30th anniversary in
Boulder.
News
The ski town of Telluride, Colo., is fighting a
developer's plans to build up the Valley Floor, 857 acres of
pasture and wetlands that are currently open space on the highway
leading into town.
Western wildfires rage; Rosebud Sioux Tribe cuts its
planned giant hog farm by half; Dick French is ousted from job in
charge of cleaning up Hanford Nuclear Reservation; Clinton
withdraws support for a Great Sand Dunes National Park.
At Ted Turner's Montana ranch, biologists are trying to
train wolves to stay away from cattle by using shock collars that
jolt the animals when they get too close to a cow or
calf.
Idaho's Grouse Creek Mine was once hailed as
environmentally friendly, but now the mine is closed, and
environmentalists fear the company's plans for draining a leaking
tailings pond may harm fish in the Salmon River.
Due to lead poisoning, Grand Canyon California condors
have been recaptured until officials can track down the
source.
Local farmers are fighting a proposed gravel mine on 550
acres of fertile farmland near the Willamette River north of
Eugene, Oregon.
Visitors to the Snake River in Wyoming avoid the fee-demo
program by donating to the Snake River Fund; the Forest Service
gets the money only after local river-users approve the agency's
river projects.
Southern California is trying to reduce diesel emissions
by turning to cleaner-burning energy sources for public
vehicles.
Near Virginia City, Mont., and throughout the West, small
mines face minimal regulation and oversight, and private landowners
and the state are often left with huge cleanup costs and polluted
streams.
The federal Fish and Wildlife Service is allowing a
Tucson, Ariz., developer to build in habitat critical for the
endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl.
California has cut its landfill waste by 40 percent, and
some give composting the credit.
On Arizona's Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge,
managers are caught between desert bighorn sheep advocates, who say
the animals need human-made waterholes, and others who say that
hauling water by authorized motorized vehicles harms the
wilderness.
National forests across the country are cash-strapped and
hard-pressed to get everyday work done because a greater percentage
of the agency's budget is staying in Washington, D.C.
The Jackson Hole Airport near Grand Teton National Park
has decided to allow some helicopter flights, despite fierce local
objections.
The owners of a golf course at the base of Oregon's Mount
Hood are trying to restore endangered salmon to the stream that
runs through it, the Wee Burn.
Letters
Featured stories
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mountain Time Arts, a Bozeman-based nonprofit, is seeking an Executive Director. MTA advocates for and produces public artworks that advance social & environmental justice in...
-
BEND AREA HOME WITH AMAZING CASCADE PEAKS VIEW Enjoy rural peacefulness and privacy with one of the most magnificent Cascade Mountain views in sunny Central Oregon! Convenient location only eight miles from Bend's...
-
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER High Country News, an award-winning media organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks a Marketing Communications Manager to join our...
-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF High Country News, an award-winning media organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks an Editor-In-Chief to join our senior team...
-
RESEARCH FELLOW (SOUTHWESTERN U.S. ENERGY TRANSITION) The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in partnership with the Grand Canyon Trust is seeking a full-time Fellow to conduct topical research...
-
LENDER OWNED FIX & FLIP 
2 houses on 37+ acres. Gated subdivision, Penrose Colorado. $400k. Possible lender financing. Bob Kunkler Brokers Welcome.
-
ONCE OR TWICE A short historical novel set in central Oregon based on the the WWII Japanese high altitude ballon that exploded causing civilian casualties. A riveting look...
-
HISTORIC LODGE AND RESTAURANT - FULLY EQUIPPED Built in 1901, The Crazy Mountain Inn has 11 guest rooms in a town-center building on 7 city lots (.58 acres). The inn and restaurant...
-
HOUSE FOR SALE Rare mountain property, borders National Forest, stream nearby. Pumicecrete, solar net metering, radiant heat, fine cabinets, attic space to expand, patio, garden, wildlife, insulated garage,...
-
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER- NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL Want to organize people to protect Montana's water quality, family farms and ranches, & unique quality of life with Northern Plains Resource Council? Apply now-...
-
CONSERVATION MANAGER The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) is hiring an energetic and motivated Conservation Manager to develop and complete new conservation projects and work within...
-
POLLINATOR OASIS
Seeking an experienced, hardworking partner to help restore a desert watershed/wetland while also creating a pollinator oasis at the mouth of an upland canyon. Compensation:...
-
ELLIE SAYS IT'S SAFE! A GUIDE DOG'S JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE by Don Hagedorn. A story of how lives of the visually impaired are improved through the love and courage of guide dogs. Available on Amazon.
-
COMING TO TUCSON? Popular vacation house, furnished, 2 bed/1 bath, yard, dog-friendly. Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
-
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY All positions available: Sales Representative, Accountant and Administrative Assistant. As part of our expansion program, our University is looking for part time work from home...
-
RUBY, ARIZONA CARETAKER S. Az ghost town seeking full-time caretaker. Contact [email protected] for details.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Powder River Basin Resource Council, a progressive non-profit conservation organization based in Sheridan, Wyoming, seeks an Executive Director, preferably with grassroots organizing experience, excellent communication...
-
ADOBE HOME Passive solar adobe home in high desert of central New Mexico. Located on a 10,000 acre cattle ranch.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition, based in Ely, Nevada is looking for a new executive director to replace the long-time executive director who is retiring at...
-
STEVE HARRIS, EXPERIENCED PUBLIC LANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY Comment Letters - Admin Appeals - Federal & State Litigation - FOIA -
