06/09/06 Hage memorial; tornado aftermath

A memorial service is planned for tomorrow near Tonapah, Nevada for Wayne Hage. The rancher who married former Congressman Helen Chenoweth died Monday at the age of 69. Hage battled the federal government over public lands and private property rights issues and came to be a leader of the Sagebrush Rebellion. Hage had been ill in recent weeks and fell victim to cancer. He will be buried at the Nevada ranch where he successfully fought many legal battles for more than 20 years. Bert Warner hung up the phone Sunday after getting a warning call from the National Weather Service. That's when the tornado hit. It damaged some of his outbuildings and that of some neighbors. It cut a 13 mile wide path through the Payette National Forest, knocking down or damaging thousands of pine and fir trees. Now, what happens to the trees? Residents who live near the Adams County town of Bear are worried about fire danger from the fallen timber and the potential for insect infestation. Payette National Forest officials say the trees probably won't be salvaged this year. Some of the trees are in an existing timber sale area and some private landowners are already planning to salvage their downed trees. Many roads and campgrounds in that part of the national forest are still closed for safety reasons. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott