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NEWS
Floaters arrange their gear near the Rainbow Drive access site for an afternoon on the Swan River on July 9. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Dispute Swirls Around Swan River Access
JULY 16, 2014 | 5
W•O•R•D•S of the Week
AN INDEX OF RECENT NEWSMAKERS
DROWNING
A 33-year-old Washington woman died on July 12 after she slipped and fell in a creek in Glacier National Park. Officials say drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the park. (STORY, PAGE 17)
SWORN IN
Five new members of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council were sworn in last week, including new Chairman Harry Barnes. Hopes are high that the new government east of the divide can move forward after two years of division and separation.
HIGHWAYS
President Obama is expected to urge Congress this week to support the Highway Trust Fund that pays for road and highway projects across the country. The fund is expected to run dry later this summer. (STORY, PAGE 13)
MELTING
Parts of Yellowstone National Park were closed after
an underground hot spot melted the asphalt of a road. Officials are looking into how to resolve the issue.
Public access site closed temporarily along popular section of Swan River as commissioners seek an- swers to heavy congestion
By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon FERNDALE — Last week, as tem-
peratures rose toward 90 degrees, Tracy Howell loaded up her two young kids in Kalispell and drove to their favorite sec-
tion of river.
The Swan River meanders north
from the lake through a calm stretch of water destined for Flathead Lake at Big- fork. It’s ideal for floaters on inner tubes or anglers casting after trout, and during the hot summer months the river hosts a constant parade of people.
“There’s not that many floats that the kids can really enjoy where there’s no rapids,” Howell said. “I bring the kids down here often. They love it.”
But when Howell and her family showed up last week, they found the most frequently used put-in — the Swan River
Fishing Access Site on Rainbow Drive in Ferndale — was closed.
This popular section of water appears to be the latest battleground for public access, as nearby homeowners report heavy congestion, illegal parking and other overcrowding issues while others consider it one of the only ways to enjoy a popular river.
Last month the Lake County Com- missioners opted to close the popular site during the week while reviewing the matter. The county access site, which
See Swan River PAGE 28
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