Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the annual gem show put on by the Idaho Gem Club. There were many wonderful displays and activities. My wife even got in on the action at the silent auction. We both came away from that with some nice materials. One piece my wife purchased was a branch of petrified wood. I cut that piece of wood at a diagonal like some pieces I saw at the show. It turned out to be a very nice piece. It so far has been the best 75 cents either of us has spent on rough material (see first photo below). The best thing that I found at the show was different ways to cut and display rocks. I am already looking forward to next year’s show. The photos below are from the show. Unfortunately I don’t who did the displays but I am very grateful that they took the time to share their wonderful collections.

A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred near Wells, Nevada, on Thursday February 21, 2008, at 6:16 AM PST. This earthquake was felt threw out the region. Many people in the Boise/Nampa areas felt but I did not; I guess I was too busy getting my son ready for day care to notice. My family in Twin Falls really felt it as it interrupter their morning tea. For more information about this please visit this site www.seismo.unr.edu/feature/2008/wells.html.

Last November/December the Mountain Home Ranger District announced that they were considering shutting down the Dismal Swamp, Lostman Creek and Buck Creek area. This area has been a destination for rock hounds searching for smokey quartz and topaz for many years. The period of time that comments are being accepted on this proposal has been extended to April 2008. Rock hounds can still have influence on the final decision but only those who commented during the original comment period will be able to appeal the decision. Please send your comment to the Mountain Home Ranger District; information is listed below.

Thank you, Ed Moser, for keeping track of this issue and supplying the information.

Mountain Home Ranger Dist.
2180 American Legion Blvd.
Mountain Home, Idaho 83647

Address comments to case #CV03-119M-DWN
Attn: Clayton Nalder

Phone: (208) 587-7961

Email: intermnt-mtn-Home@Fg.fed.us

Owyhee County officials are closing off 6,000 square miles of back country. Warmer temperatures are creating muddy conditions that are creating a dangerous and expensive situation for the county and the sheriff’s office. Owyhee County says this is a problem every year, but heavy snowfall this winter makes the situation even worse. The back roads where people go for rock hounding, simply can’t handle visitors right now. As of today, February 27th, it is illegal to travel these roads. Road closure signs are going up across the county, including nearly everything south of Highway 78. The county says it will reopen these areas as soon as possible.