Copper Creek Road to close temporarily

The Lincoln Ranger District will close Copper Creek Road #330 to install a new bridge at the Copper Creek crossing immediately above the road junction with Indian Meadows Road No. 1882.

The bridge installation will begin on Monday, and the road may remain closed to all motorized traffic for the remainder of the month.

Indian Meadows Road

No. 1882 will be open to the public with access to Indian Meadows Trailhead. There are four campsites available at the trailhead.

Copper Creek Campground will be closed during the bridge replacement.

For further information or questions, contact the Lincoln Ranger District for further information at 362-4265.

Skidway Campground reopens to the public

Renovations are complete and the Skidway Campground has reopened to the public.

During the closure period, the campground loop road received some spot resurfacing, parking spurs were widened and graveled, and new picnic tables, fire rings, and a bulletin board were installed. Handicapped access has also been improved.

There will be no fees collected for the remainder of this season.

For more information contact Roy Barkley at the Townsend Ranger District, (406) 495-3853.

'Antique detective' to offer appraisals at park

A Montana "antique detective" will offer her appraisal skills at a presentation at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park Aug. 15.

Connie Olind, an antique storeowner who does research for newspaper articles, invites attendees to bring an antique to the program or come enjoy what others have collected.

The presentations starts at 8 p.m. at the campground amphitheater.

Olind enjoys researching antiques' past and has completed several studies on collections such as buttons and paper dolls. Connie will give "off the cuff" appraisals with whatever objects are brought to the program, but unlike public television's "Antique Road Show" where the hosts know what items to research beforehand, she won't give specific price-values.

This program is free to Montana residents and those registered to camp that evening in the park's campground. There is a $5 per vehicle entrance fee for non-residents.

For more information, contact Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park at (406) 287-3541.

Moonlight hike slated for Ridge Trail Aug. 15

The Montana Discovery Foundation is hosting a moonlight hike Aug. 15 on the west end of the Helena Ridge Trail. Meet at the Park City Trailhead.

The family-friendly hike will begin at 7 p.m. for a loop hike on the west end of the trail, providing great views of the surrounding mountains and watersheds. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes, bring water and be prepared for a moderate trip that includes some uphill hiking. The hike will last about two hours.

For more information or to register, call Debbie at 495-3711.

Hunter-ed classes offered in September

Fall hunter education classes will begin in Helena in September. Registration for these classes will take place Aug. 26 at C.R. Anderson School, 1200 Knight St., 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm.

A home-study alternative program will be available for students 15 or older. Inquire at registration night.

Students must read and complete student manual before the first night of class.

Any person who is born after Jan. 1, 1985, is required to present a Hunter Education Certificate when purchasing any license.

Interested youths must be 11 or older to register for the classes, to be held at C.R. Anderson, Jim Darcy School and East Helena Middle School.

Youths younger than 18 need to have a parent or guardian register with them. There is no charge for

classes.

Adults are also welcome. The next hunter education class for the Helena area will be in the spring of 2009. Any questions, contact the Helena Hunter Education offices at 444-4046 or 444-3188.

Class schedule:

- East Valley Middle School -- Sept. 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 6:30-9 p.m.; field course Sept. 20

- C.R. Anderson -- Sept. 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 6:30-9 p.m.; field course Sept. 20 20

- Jim Darcy School -- Sept. 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 6:30-9:00 p.m.; field course Sept. 20

Elk archery group to meet in Bozeman

The third meeting of the 2008 Elk Archery Committee will meet in Bozeman Aug. 13 at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Region 3 office.

The committee is leading a statewide effort to identify, define and recommend regulations in 23 hunting districts outside the Missouri River Breaks aimed at resolving wildlife management issues related to hunter harvest, hunters' relationships with private landowners, related landowner concerns, and outfitting on public and private lands.

The committee, as requested by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, will specifically address concerns about hunter crowding, access issues and opportunity inequities between archers and rifle hunters.

The Aug. 13 meeting -- set for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at FWP, 1400 South 19th Ave. -- is open to the public. For information call Quentin Kujala 444-5672.

Cowboy poets to perform at Bannack

Cowboy poets Rick Kuntz, Roy Pace and Val Prophet will perform their original poetry Saturday at the old church in Bannack Saturday.

Pace, former sports editor at the Independent Record, has been entertaining folks with his poems for 20 years. Roy loves reciting his poetry outdoors and has performed on many cattle drives, trail rides, wagon trains and at Bannack Days for over 10 years.

Kuntz was born and raised in the Yellowstone River Valley in Custer. He has been writing and reciting cowboy poetry since 1990 and has been a featured performer at the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Lewistown and also at the Cowboy Poets of Idaho Gathering in Salmon, Idaho.

Prophet, a one-time Bannack resident and miner, has lived in Beaverhead County most of his life and taught art at the Dillon Middle School for 30 years, he is currently a noted auctioneer. Val has been writing songs and poems for 50 years and has a unique perspective on Bannack.

The program is free. For more information call the park at 834-3413.

Canon photo classes at Yellowstone on tap

Canon will hold free digital photography workshops at Yellowstone National Park thew week of Aug. 18.

Professional photographers will share their experience taking landscape and wildlife photographs using the latest digital technology.

Photographers leading weekday programs include Otto Pohl and Anne Sherwood.

Aug. 22-23, the walks will be led by Canon Explorer of Light Darrell Gulin.

Canon will provide digital single lens reflex bodies and lenses for all participants, though guests are welcome to use their own equipment. Guests should arrive 15n30 minutes before the class begins. Participants can print the images they have taken and be able to download their photos from the Web.

The free workshops will take place daily (except Tuesday) from Aug. 18 through Aug. 24. The daytime workshops begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Old Faithful Inn. The evening program begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Snow Lodge Meeting Room.