NEWS ROUNDUP

Alleged Hazing of Rookie Firefighters Federal officials are tight-lipped about a probe into the alleged hazing of rookie firefighters. And shocking allegations have been leveled at ranking members of the BLM fire-fighting staff. The BLM has confirmed that an investigation has been completed. But few details are being made public. Eyewitness News heard conflicting stories about just what happened to a rookie firefighter class during summer training sessions. But some of what has been alleged sounds way out of line, including stories of humiliation, sexual fondling, even sodomy. It's unclear whether the public will ever get the full story from the BLM, but the feds are willing to say they simply won't tolerate such behavior. Eyewitness News has filed a Freedom of Information request with the BLM to see if a copy of the report can be obtained, but it's unknown if that will ever happen. Since these, after all, are personnel matters, Eyewitness News was told, and that usually means -- no comment. A good question is whether there are stronger indications of a rift between the BLM and the Forest Service. Officially, no one will say so, but Eyewitness News heard from a few employees that there is discussion underway about seperating the fire functions of the two agencies and that some bad blood has developed. Eyewitness News emphasizes that the allegations came from independent sources and it is not known if these are the same things that are under investigation. Forest Service criticized in Nevada outhouse dispute The Forest Service is being criticized for spending $15,000 to hire a helicopter to empty sewage from a remote outhouse in northeast Nevada, work a citizens group had volunteered to do for free. A state assemblyman described the agency's surprise aerial lift of 5,500 pounds of sewage from the national forest outhouse as a "covert operation" and said he would seek government records to make sure all costs are revealed. The outhouse debate is just the latest flare-up in an ongoing dispute over property rights, a closed road and protection of the threatened bull trout in the Jarbidge River... Tribes not seeking water-land swap: Tribal officials say media reports incorrect The Klamath Tribes are not interested in surrendering their claim for senior water rights in exchange for regaining portions of their former reservation, tribal officials said Tuesday. A press release issued by the tribes said media reports indicating they were considering a trade of water rights for land now held by the U.S. Forest Service were incorrect. Carl "Bud" Ullman, attorney for the Tribes, said the Indians have two objectives: gaining water rights in order to restore fish populations, and regaining about 690,000 acres of former reservation land now in public ownership. Though both objectives are being discussed with federal officials, the Tribes aren't planing on turning over their senior water rights, Ullman said. "While they are being discussed together, each has to face survival on its own," he said. The Tribes have been negotiating with a Cabinet-level working group for about a year... Beaverhead proposal would limit motorized travel Areas recommended for wilderness on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest would be off-limits to motorized travel under a proposal being circulated for a new long-term management plan. The 297-page document suggests areas in the West Big Hole, Pioneer Mountains and Mount Jefferson in the Centennial Range would be managed for their wilderness characteristics. Snowmobiles and ATVs wouldn't be allowed to operate there... Editorial: Exploiting endangered species The Bush administration is pushing a new policy that may drive 500 endangered species worldwide over extinction's brink. Scientists and conservation leaders from around the globe are pleading with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not to allow commercial trade in skins, hides, hoofs, pet swaps and irresponsible zoo collections, because such activities will inevitably invite poaching and over-harvesting. But the administration appears to be ignoring science and public opinion in favor of commercial interests... USFWS releases impacts of wildlife watching A new economic report released by the Department of Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that 66 million Americans spent more than $38 billion in 2001 observing, feeding, or photographing wildlife. The new report, called the 2001 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching Addendum relied on data collected in the Service's 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. "Many Americans enjoy watching wildlife, however we often overlook the positive impact these activities have on state and local economies," said Service Director Steve Williams... You can view the entire report here (pdf)....Tribe says it may launch game preserve near Box Elder The Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is making plans for a 1,700-acre game preserve holding bison, elk and other wildlife that could lead to big game hunts, a tribal official said Tuesday. The animals would be put in a fenced area around the base of Square Butte, east of Box Elder, said Robert Belcourt, the tribal natural resources director. The preserve could be open for tourism within two to three years, and eventually could be open for hunting once the herd grew enough, said Leland Top Sky, the tribe's fish and wildlife supervisor. Two state officials said Montana would have no authority over operation of the game farm by the sovereign Indian nation and could not prevent fee hunting of the captive animals. However, they said the state could regulate the tribe's access to animals for the farm... Reward offered in archaeological cave looting A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the looting of an archaeological cave in Big Horn County. The looting occurred at a site known as the BA Cave south of Shell between early spring and mid-June, causing nearly $7 million in damage, Bureau of Land Management archaeologist Mike Bies said Wednesday...E.P.A. Nomination Advances but Senators Vow Tough Vote Ahead Gov. Michael O. Leavitt of Utah won the bipartisan endorsement of a Senate committee today to head the Environmental Protection Agency. But he still faces a delay on his confirmation vote. The Environment and Public Works Committee voted, 16 to 2, to send Mr. Leavitt's nomination to the full Senate. Only Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut voted no. Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, abstained, saying that Mr. Leavitt's answers had been too vague. The panel's chairman, Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, said afterward that he hoped the Senate would act quickly. "I am confident that his nomination has overwhelming bipartisan support," Mr. Inhofe said. "We must not allow presidential politics or partisan bickering to sacrifice a nominee with a proven record of environmental accomplishments." But a quick Senate vote is by no means certain. Senators Clinton and Lieberman are among several Democrats who have vowed to block a full Senate vote on Mr. Leavitt's confirmation until the Bush administration provides more specifics on its environmental policies. Other Democratic senators who have said they will block the nomination are John Edwards of North Carolina, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey. In addition, Senator Bob Graham, a Florida Democrat and member of the environment committee, who endorsed Mr. Leavitt today, was said to be considering whether to join in holding up the vote of the full Senate... Deal to move water from farms to cities In a ceremony today at Nevada's Hoover Dam -- America's pre-eminent monument to altering arid landscapes in search of water -- U.S Interior Secretary Gale Norton will open a new era in the West's 100-year-long struggle to quench its thirst. Norton is scheduled to sign a historic deal to transfer billions of gallons of water from California's desert farms to its burgeoning coastal cities. The largest sale of water from agriculture to urban residents in United States history, its terms call for farmers in Imperial County, on California's southeastern border with Mexico, to sell up to 200,000 acre-feet of water a year to San Diego for the next 75 years. The water, drawn from the Colorado River, is enough for 400,000 homes a year...City allows boy's therapy horse to stay on property Chick the horse can stay. After one denied request, neighborhood friction and a turn in the national television spotlight, the Lehi City Council agreed to let Tim and Daralyn Hunsaker keep Chick, a 2-year-old quarter horse, at their home in southwest Lehi and approved a zoning change for the property from residential to agricultural. The zoning change will allow the Hunsakers to keep the horse they bought for their 6-year-old son, Dallin. The specially trained horse provides hippotherapy for Dallin, who suffers from cerebral palsy... Chicken Ropin' They laughed at it at first. They said it would never last; that it was just a trend that would disappear as quickly as a West Texas dust devil. But it didn't. The fifth annual Watt Matthews Days Texas National Chicken Roping is scheduled for Saturday in Albany, with 150 to 200 teams lined up for the championship event. Matthews would be proud. The legendary rancher died in 1997, and the folks in Albany -- 120 miles west of Fort Worth near Abilene -- established the celebration in his honor. The first year was 1999, and the events included the chicken roping, a Western photography symposium, a cowboy breakfast on the courthouse lawn, a melodrama inside the courthouse and a Western swing concert. There was also a ranch rodeo, and a chuck-wagon dinner. But chicken roping was clearly the premier event. "It's a new event, and we're pleased to present to the state of Texas the first National Chicken Roping," said Bob Echols, chairman of the event that first year. "There will be three divisions: Junior, Women's and Men's." The chicken roping is a team event. A header and a heeler go to work, on foot, as soon as the chicken is turned loose in a 20-foot by 30-foot pen. The chickens, should it matter, are all roosters purchased from the public market in Weatherford. The ropers have 90 seconds to toss a soft nylon rope around the chicken's neck, and another around its legs. The 10-foot-long ropes were made specially for the event by Classic Rope Co. in Granbury. "They might start making them commercially," Echols said. "This thing could catch on." It has. The folks in Robert Lee, another West Texas town, held their first chicken roping this year, and there is also one in Muleshoe. There was also one in Ruidoso, N.M., but it got too big and was discontinued...