Bend News | New West Network

<< Newer articles <<    Home     >> Older articles >>

Western Book Roundup

The Atlantic's summer fiction issue is out, and it includes a new story by Missoula's Aryn Kyle, who launched her career in that magazine in 2004 with "Foaling Season," which won a National Magazine Award. She later extended that story into her first novel, The God of Animals. Kyle's new story, "Nine," also features a young protagonist, and Kyle's deft way with children as characters is one of the subjects of an interview by Jessica Murphy Moo featured on The Atlantic's website. They also discuss the University of Montana's MFA program, which Kyle calls "an invaluable experience," and how Kyle was inspired by the changes in her home town, Grand Junction, Colo., to extend "Foaling Season" into the novel it became.

The Rocky Mountain Land Series at the Tattered Cover in LoDo will feature Courtney White on Tuesday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. White shared an excerpt from his new book, Revolution on the Range: The Rise of a New Ranch in the American West, with New West readers earlier this year.

Also in the Roundup: Portland's "Writer's Edge" Conference, and Montana State's new literary magazine seeks submissions. [more]

Seven Years And Seven Rules

Carley Spielman was killed in a traffic accident on the outskirts of Missoula July 23, 2001. Not long after the accident her mother discovered a word document tucked away in the files of Carley’s computer. The list contains seven rules Carley, apparently, felt everyone should live by.

I had the pleasure of knowing Carley during her freshman year of college at the University of Montana. Five years ago Carley's mother sent me the list conjured from her daughter's mind.

And 7 years after her death, I would like to share the seven rules Carley Spielman conducted her life by, with you. [more]

Breaking Free On The River

Charlie loves being held. He’s no dummy. Who wouldn’t like the unyielding affection and unquestionable adoration from everyone who crosses his path? Really, for the regular non-Hollywood star, when else in our life are we 100-percent certain that most every person we encounter will fall in love with us?

Charlie has no doubts about this. His favorite place is tightly wrapped in someone’s arms, anyone’s arms. As a new mom, I like to believe mine are second-to-none, as my arms are the ones to calm the storm on most every occasion. However, much to my chagrin, Charlie seems to have no preferences. “Any arms’ll do,” he seems to say. “Bring ’em on!”

Here in Bend, there is no shortage. [more]

Too much too soon?

Although the push for increased amounts of renewable energy continues throughout the West, a recent assessment from a federal power administration finds that demand could be exceeding supply when it comes to wind farms.

It’s likely that developers in this region will triple the amount of wind power by erecting dozens of new wind farms in the coming years. However, the assessment from the Bonneville Power Administration also reveals that unless more power lines are added with the new farms, transmission networks won’t be able to handle so much wind so quickly.

As it stands now, BPA says it has only enough space on the grid for just one-third of the anticipated 4,716 megawatts. [more]

MORE FISHING TOURNAMENTS SPAWN MORE FISHING FOR ALL

If you've been reading the outdoor section of NewWest.Net over the past week, you'll know I've been writing about the experience of being in my first fishing tournament, the Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir.

One reason I haven't been in a tournament long ago is some false impressions I had about competitive fishing, mainly my concern that it had a negative impact on fishery. Based on my limited experience, it seems that the opposite is true. Now, I believe more tournaments would mean more fishing and bigger fish for all anglers. [more]

Accident At Sunriver Airstrip

One of the busiest private airport facilities west of the Mississippi River was the site of a fatal plane crash Wednesday afternoon.

Douglas J. Sharratt, 50, the top official of a California high-tech company died when his small aircraft crashed and exploded into a ball of flames when he attempted to land at the Sunriver Resort’s airstrip, located fewer than 30 miles from Bend.

Because the airstrip is surrounded by walking and biking paths, as well as numerous homes, at least several people witnessed the crash and follow-up explosion.

Apparently Sharratt had trouble with the landing, as one woman who captured the incident by photograph reports. [more]

Part I: Patience

“Ah-boo,” I whisper through a sweet exhale over my four-month-old son, Charlie. He stretches relaxed across my belly for his mid-morning nap. It’s a respite from the chaotic storm of his wakeful hours. His soft breathing, the barely visible rise and fall, reassures me that “Yes, I am still alive, mommy. Don’t hover over me and don’t worry, I can breathe.”

The past four months with a newborn at home has been a whirlwind - no a complete hurricane - of breastfeeding, napping, diaper changing, sleep-walking days and sleep-forgotten nights simply keeping my little boy alive with the basic necessities of living. If these past months were a movie, the soundtrack to this hurricane-inflicted story would be a complete cacophony. It would be ZZ Top and ACDC fighting it out with interludes of Mozart, Jack Johnson and John Denver in between.

I’ve never in my life done more rocking, feeding, changing, cleaning, cooing, soothing, dancing and “Ah-boo”-ing to this tiny creature that seems to need me with no end. It’s sleep-walking. It’s sleep-talking. It’s sleep tick-tocking.
[more]

No Money, Mo Problems

Unless money literally starts growing on trees, which could only occur on timber that is federally protected because of an owl and thus proves impossible to cut, several Oregon counties are soon to face absolute extinction.

Staggering statistics raging against both Curry and Josephine counties as a result of the demise of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (not to mention the Endangered Species Act) has left county, state and federal officials scrambling to find a way to save schools, law enforcement agencies and other means of public service in each respective county.

Curry County, tucked away in the far southwestern section of the state, is petering on the brink of extinction. Beginning next month, Curry is set to lose about two-thirds of its $6.1 million general fund.

As my old pal Georgia Nowlin, the newest Curry County commissioner, said last July: “What’s wrong with our county?” [more]

Ten Of Oregon's Finest Warm Water Holes

Although scorching summer days may not seem as the perfect opportunity to soak in one of Oregon’s many natural hot springs, truth is this time of year can provide some of the best soaking settings there are.

The trick to enjoying a summertime soak is to wait until darkness blankets the earth. Evening temperatures are typically perfect soaking weather throughout Oregon. Clear summertime skies offer optimal views of the lands beyond this planet. Then there’s the added feature of not having to go through a mad scramble when exiting the warm waters of a hot spring. Granted, soaking in the winter can be immaculate, but using a stiff towel crusted with ice chunks to dry off is not. It’s also terrible having to put on frozen socks and boots.

In the summer it feels glorious occasionally hopping out of a hot spring and feeling the cool night air. Feel free to do some bending exercises. Enjoy being alive on the planet! [more]

Western Book Roundup

Idealistic optimism in the book world is not dead: David Jasper of the Bend Bulletin reported that Kilns Bookstore, a nonprofit enterprise, opened in Bend over the holiday weekend. (Via Shelf Awareness.) Jasper writes, "The opening comes just more than a month after The Book Barn, a 35-year-old shop in nearby downtown, closed due to declining sales and stiff competition from online retailers such as Amazon."

Rick Bass recently reviewed Stephen Trimble's new book, Bargaining for Eden: The Fight for the Last Open Spaces in America for the Boston Globe.

Denise Hill at the NewPages blog noted the arrival of the premier issue of a new literary magazine called The Oval, published by University of Montana undergraduates.

Also in the Roundup: the Virginia Quarterly Review publishes a new story by a Casper author, the Colorado Book Award finalists are announced, and Denver's David Sirota tours. [more]

<< Newer articles <<    Home     >> Older articles >>