newwest.net's summer photo contest

H2Ography - Give Us Your Best Western Water Shot!

Whether it's whitewater rafting or a tranquil float in a tube, dousing flames or farming, fly-fishing or camping at an alpine lake, summer in the West is all about water. And so NewWest.Net presents H2Ography, our 2008 summer photo contest. Give us your best water shot and win cool prizes.

The online contest, hosted by Flickr, is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain School of Photography and Missoula-area businesses The Dark Room, The Canoe Rack, and Big Dipper Ice Cream. It's open to pro and amateur photographers alike, shooting in the Rocky Mountain region.

Those Paws Up Blues

Eddie Bauer Draws Ire for Tie to David Lipson’s Paws Up Ranch

Some of Eddie Bauer's Montana customers have taken umbrage at the retailer's recently unveiled co-branding with the Missoula-area Resort at Paws Up Ranch.

Over the past week, Eddie Bauer announced its new fall marketing plan, which is on the front page of the Seattle-based company's Web site. It says, "New for fall, inspired by the Last Best Place: Paws Up Montana. See Our Video."

From The New West Blog

Researching Chronic Wasting Disease in Wyoming

The Jackson Hole News & Guide has a piece today (the first in a two-part series) by Cory Hatch about chronic wasting disease research in Wyoming, and the threats and uncertainties that surround it.

"Since the mid-90s, when researchers first diagnosed CWD as endemic to the southeast corner of Wyoming, surveillance efforts have tracked the disease as it inched its way west across the state. [Researcher Terry] Kreeger and his colleagues agree, it’s only a matter of time before CWD finds its way to 23 winter feedgrounds in northwest Wyoming, including the National Elk Refuge."

resort economy

In Montana, Bitterroot Resort Rides Out Volatile Market

While high-end developments around the West collapse under the weight of huge debt loads the slumping housing market can't support, the planned Bitterroot Resort south of Missoula, having yet to tap investors and with little built infrastructure, appears to be in position to ride out the slow down.

As rancher-turned-resort CEO Tom Maclay said Tuesday, "It's very good to be standing outside of that."

The money spent so far on planning, public relations, carving runs on private land, retaining top-flight resort manager Jim Gill has all been "internal," Maclay says, made possible by "a few land sales" and "good bankers."

OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BREWERIES

Revenue Department Pulls Proposed Rule Restricting Taproom Hours

Following a meeting this morning with representatives of the Montana State Brewers Association (MSBA), Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) Director Dan Bucks pulled the proposed administrative rule which was due to be hotly contested tomorrow afternoon in an official public hearing.

Meeting with Bucks and his staff were Sam Hoffmann, owner of Red Lodge Ales of Red Lodge, and Brian Smith and Brad Simshaw, co-owners of Blackfoot River Brewing of Helena. Hoffmann is president and Smith vice-president of MSBA.

This means tomorrow's hearing is essentially meaningless. It will be held, but will only cover minor issues of little or no concern to brewers.

SOUTH DAKOTA'S WALLEYE FISHING DESERVES ITS REPUTATION

Video: The Eyes of Oahe

If you like to fish for walleyes--often called "eyes" because they need such big ones to gather as much light as possible down at the bottom of the lake where they almost always dwell--you're probably like me and dream about fishing South Dakota's Oahe Reservoir.

I finally had my chance this summer, and now, I'm already trying to figure out how to get back there for more.

Rely on State plans, not federal protection

A New Path for Wolf Management

As the dust settles on a federal court’s reinstatement of Endangered Species protections for gray wolves, one thing is clear: we need to find a new path to achieve balanced, science-based wolf management by the states. At the moment we seem mired in endless conflict that is serving no one’s interests particularly well — not wolves, conservationists, state wildlife managers, landowners or anyone else with a concern for wolves.

So, where do we, as a region, go from here?

PUNISH THE VIOLATORS, NOT THE INDUSTRY

Here’s Your Chance to Support Your Local Brewer

I've been on the Montana Beer Trail for six months now, visiting 19 of our 24 microbreweries so far and writing profiles of their business operations for the Microbrew Montana series currently running on NewWest.Net and the Travel Montana website.

Besides being constantly reminded of the passion the brewmasters have for their product, I've been amazed how well this micro-segment of our economy is faring in the face of today's economic downturn. All Montana microbreweries are all running profitably at capacity, experiencing double-digit growth, or doing major expansions. Three new breweries opened in 2007.

So why does the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) want to knock down the microbrewing industry? Has it been too successful?

the great outdoors

When Animals Attack, and Also When They Don’t

Let's look at animal trends in the Great Nearby for the summer of '08, including attacks, newly observed behaviors, and the menace of new species invading our turf and surf.

To begin, I recommend reading the overview of wildlife dangers provided by the Salt Lake Tribune, a handy guide to animal attacks for anyone in the West. It covers mauling critters from bears to skunks. One valuable tip: "If a bison looks like it might attack you, try to put something between you and the animal. Try to get to a place where you can avoid the head." Gee, who would have thought of trying to hide behind something when faced with an enraged buffalo?