New Library Is Open!

[Wolf Creek Library in the News]

[Opening Ceremony]

[Cutting the ribbon, photo by TJ]

[Local Celebrity: Wolf Creek Jim, the Cowboy Poet]

Today a few of us went into town for the grand opening of our new town library. The tiny old one was closed many years ago. The new building was finished 2 1/2 years ago, but only open 3 hours a week as a reading room. Now we have a librarian, a system for checking out books, and internet terminals for public use.

The library is a major milestone for this town, and made possible through the hard work of many volunteers and donors. It is not funded through the state or county like many others. The people of Wolf Creek have made it happen all by themselves.

The ceremony was sweet, with music, poetry and readings by local authors. I was particularly taken with Wolf Creek Jim. He's been a gold miner in these hills for many years. He recited a poem called "Bureau of Large Mistakes" criticizing the bad decisions and mismanagement of our forestry resources by the state. He signed a copy of his book for me and gave me permission to print that poem in our organization's newsletter. It's particularly appropriate because we are currently battling the BLM as they try to log a piece of land directly above the stream where we draw water.

There was a raffle of items donated by local businesses. I won a nice gift: a free year of tire service at Wolf Creek Autowerks. Perfect!