PRE students claim state poster honors

Even though it was gray and mostly raining, Idaho Department of Lands officials said the energy was wonderful with the teachers being excited to see the kids and the kids mostly in vehicles driving by their grade tables, turning in assignments and picking up new ones.

But it was also a great morning for Smokey Bear as he was able to come out of hibernation to wave at Priest River and Idaho Hill elementary schools at their Wednesday lesson drop-off events on May 19. Smokey’s helpers from the Priest Lake office of the Idaho Department of Lands were on hand giving packets with information and fire prevention materials to students.

Also, certificates and prizes were awarded to the Smokey/Woodsy Poster Contest winning posters in the National Garden Club’s contest, both at district and idaho state levels. Priest River’s Alex Lambert won first place for all of Idaho’s third grade and Ava Ackerman won second place for Idaho’s second grade.

Pam Aunun, Priest Lake Idaho Department of Lands, said Smokey knows of three more state winners but the names are a secret until June 5 when he and his helpers will be appearing at Priest Lake Elementary.

All West Bonner County First through Fifth Graders are eligible to enter the contest which begins in September.

According to his website, Smokey has been working hard since 1944 to inspire Americans to prevent wildfires.

The inspiration for Smokey comes from a 1950 fire in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. While battling the fire, crews received a report of a lone bear cut wandering near the fire line, according to smokeybear.com. Crews hoped the mother bear would return for him. Soon, however, about 30 of the firefighters were caught directly in the path of a firestorm and survived by lying face down on a rockslide for over an hour as the fire burned past them.

The little cub didn’t fare so well. He had taken refuge in a tree that was completely charred by the fire. He escaped with his life, but his paws and hind legs were badly burned.

The crew got the cub, who would later be named Smokey, down from the tree and a crew member agreed to take him home.

A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish ranger heard about the cub when he returned to the fire camp. The ranger then drove to the rancher’s home to help get the cub on a plane to Santa Fe, where his burns were treated and bandaged.

News about the bear, spread and soon letters flooded the agency — all wanted to know how he was doing.

The state game warden wrote of the U.S. Forest Service chief, offering to present the cub that agency as long as he would be dedicated to a conservation and wildfire prevention publicity program.

“The cub was soon on his way to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear,” the website notes.

According to Wikipedia, Woodsey Owl got his start in 1970 as part of a United States Forest Service campaign to raise awareness of protecting the environment.

His first slogan, “Give a hoot, don’t pollute,” was officially introduced on Sept. 15, 1971 by then-Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin.