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
Today's Featured Stories
-
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR 
Western Resource Advocates (WRA) seeks a friendly, detail-oriented, and self-motivated Development Coordinator to provide administrative support to the Development department. This position will report to...
-
FIELD ORGANIZER, MONTANA Help Northern Plains Resource Council protect Montana's water quality, family farms and ranches, & unique quality of life. Work hard, meet good people, make the...
-
FOR SALE Successful llama trekking business with Yellowstone National Park concession for sale! A fun and enriching business opportunity of a lifetime! Call 406-580-5954
-
ALBUQUERQUE VACATION HOME Centrally located. One bed, one bath, lovely outdoor patio, well-stocked kitchen.
-
NEW AGRARIAN PROGRAM DIRECTOR Quivira (www.quiviracoaltion.org), a Santa Fe-based nonprofit that aims to shift current practices of agriculture and land stewardship to those that produce good food, support meaningful...
-
SPECTACULAR SCENIC MOUNTAIN VIEW HOME BUILDING SITE Located on top of Sugarloaf Mtn. 5 mi W of downtown Colorado Springs, CO. $80,000.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR opportunity in Eugene, Oregon! To learn more and to apply, visit our website at www.bufordpark.org.
-
FUNDRAISING & OUTREACH COORDINATOR Does the prospect of working to protect one of the Southwest's last remaining flowing rivers get you excited? Join the team at Friends of the...
-
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Position Summary Western Resource Advocates (WRA) seeks a dynamic, organized, and creative Digital Engagement Specialist to be an essential part of our growing Communications Team....
-
NORTH IDAHO FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Founded by sportsmen and women 1936, the Idaho Wildlife Federation (IWF) is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to conserving and enhancing Idaho's natural resources, wildlife, habitat,...
-
SMALL HISTORICAL FARM FOR SALE - NEW MEXICO
23-acres, adobe home, shop, barn, gardens, pasture, orchard. https://www.zillow.com/homes/222-Calle-Del-Norte,-Monticello,-Nm_rb/ or call 575-743-0135.
-
NEW MEXICO GILA NATIONAL FOREST HORSE RANCH 43 acres in the Gila National Forest. Horse facility, custom home. Year round outdoor living. REDUCED to: $1.17 MM 575-536-3109
-
GRANTS MANAGER AND EDITOR
Are you a strong communicator who excels at building relationships, writing winning grant proposals, and staying organized? You sound like a good fit for our...
-
REPORTER
The Wallowa County Chieftain, has an opening for a reporter. Experience with and understanding of editorial photography also required. Journalism degree or equivalent, an understanding...
-
2017 JOHN DEERE LAWN MOWER Z930R 15 hours on it, 3 years warranty, 22,5 HP, $1600 Sale price. Contact: [email protected]
-
OWN YOUR OWN CANYON - 1400 SF STRAW-BALE ECO-HOME ON 80 ACRES - 3 HOURS FROM L.A. 1400 sf of habitable space in a custom-designed eco-home created and completed by a published L.A. architect in 1997-99. Nestled within its own 80-acre mountain...
-
HEAD BREAD/PASTRY BAKER AND ASSISTANT POSITIONS Hiring Part/Full time for Summer Season - entry level & experienced positions. Year round employment for optimal candidates. Pay DOE.
-
EVERLAND MOUNTAIN RETREAT Everland Mountain Retreat includes 318 mountaintop acres with a 3,200 square foot lodge and two smaller homes. Endless vistas of the Appalachian mountains, open skies,...
-
COUNTRY ESTATE NEAR KINGS CANYON AND SEQUOIA PARKS Spectacular views of snowcapped Sierras. 15 miles from Kings Canyon/Sequoia Parks. 47 acres with 2 homes/75' pool/gym/patios/gardens. 1670 sq.ft. main home has 3 bdrm/1 bath....
-
GILA NATIONAL FOREST NEW MEXICO Beautiful off-the-grid passive solar near the CDT. 9.4 acres, north of Silver City. Sam, 575.388.1921
