For the week of February 20 - 26, 2002

Tales of Silver Creek
mark TNC Idaho’s 25th

---

By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve was feted last weekend with a 25th Anniversary Party held at the Limelight Room in Sun Valley.

Part of the celebration included a contest called "Tales of the Creek." Winners were announced that night. And there may be a publication done eventually of a collection of stories, said Sally Boettger, director of development, of the Idaho Nature Conservancy in Ketchum. But there is no concrete plan right now.

Bellevue resident Bob Demorest won for his story "The Cast." Honorable mentions went to Catherine Collins of Pelham, N.Y., for "Fishing Silver Creek for the First Time," Terry Baird from Boise for "Encounter in the Willows," Noah Miller of Twin Falls for "Rendezvous at Sullivan’s Slough," and Francis Ashforth of Portland for a piece of artwork and corresponding story.

Demorest read his story aloud at the party, where he was a guest. He also won a weekend at the Stalker Creek Cabin at the preserve, which will include guided fishing.

There were 30 entries, most of whom have an on-going local connection, said Boettger.

The anniversary party also celebrated the fact that during a three-year campaign, the Idaho Nature Conservancy raised more than $21 million in cash and more than $6 million in land and in-kind gifts for conservation work in Idaho.

"It is wonderful to be able to celebrate this capital campaign during our 25th anniversary year," said Geoff Pampush, director for the Idaho Nature Conservancy.

TNC is a private, international, non-profit organization established in 1951 to preserve Mother Nature’s natural diversity. To date, TNC of Idaho manages 20 preserves and has protected more than 220,000 acres. Its state office is in Ketchum.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.