A pine beetle burns in effigy: South Dakota shows us a missed opportunity
And more tributes to Chuck Chin
When the pine beetle swept through B.C., devastating our forests, one of our responses was to start marketing the blue-hued wood that was able to be salvaged from the kill. In Custer, South Dakota, they have taken what I might call a more American approach:
In what’s become an annual winter tradition: hundreds of people carrying torches set fire to a giant wooden beetle effigy in Custer, South Dakota, to raise awareness of the destructive impact of the mountain pine beetle on forest land in the Black Hills…
People set the tall beetle effigy on fire amid drum beats and chants of “Burn, beetle, burn.” Firefighters kept watch, warning participants not to throw the torches, even as some people launched the burning sticks into pine trees piled at the base of the beetle. Fireworks dazzled overhead.
Here is a picture from the event page:
“The event is ALWAYS on the third Saturday of January”, it says..
Look at this:
You can buy merch, too:
Thanks to Alison Borealis on Bluesky for tipping me off to this.
Here’s an invite code: bsky-social-tc5iq-wpr6g
Budget talks
As I mentioned, I wasn’t able to fully pay attention to yesterday’s budget meetings. For the library, I heard general support for their work with some questions about if they could find ways to generate more of their own revenue, infrastructure challenges at the Nechako Branch, and a question of if they can see a way forward to opening on Sundays.
Tourism Prince George, folks largely happy with their work, and there was some talk about their work inviting influences from other parts of B.C. up to Prince George to promote the food and outdoor rec scene here.
From RCMP — apparently they aren’t looking to hire someone to work as a liason with families/friends of missing persons, but rather a different staff position that would cost the same amount.
Also from RCMP, they say they are able to take a more fulsome approach to tackling crime with the creation of a provincial hub focused on repeat offenders here. Also mention that Moccasin Flats presents an ongoing challenge.
There are “very few vacancies,” apparently, and the local force is “well-positioned” to fill them.
There was then continued talk on the hiring of more officers and civilian positions over the next several years.
In interesting timing, “Police spending has ‘no consistent correlation’ with lower crime rates, new Canadian study says.”
More tributes to Chuck Chin
Ted Clarke at the Citizen has an extensive write-up on Chin’s work, legacy and the tributes coming in:
Chin's willingness to attend events and share his photos made him a friend to thousands who came to appreciate his talent behind the lens to freeze time and preserve history…
Like any accomplished photographer, Chin knew natural light at the start or end of the day was best for landscape photos and captured the colours of a frosty winter painted by the sun that turned whisps of cold river steam to brilliant orange against a red sky…
Just read the whole thing here.
You can also read Brendan Pawliw’s reporting in My Prince George Now:
Former Mayor Lyn Hall says it didn’t matter what event he attended over his two terms as mayor, Chuck was never far behind.
“He really captured in his photography what Prince George is all about and that will really stand out to me. Every event that I went to, there was Chuck – he was at sporting events and conferences all over the city and I think it captured the essence of Prince George if you will – that will stand out to me.”
Or Caden Fanshaw’s report on CKPG:
It’s impossible to be comprensive but tributes from the Prince George Cougars, Spruce Kings, Exploration Place, AiMHi, the Community Foundation, Community Band, Tourism PG and countless more.
On Hell Yeah Prince George, where Chin’s work found it’s largest audience, Dave Mothus writes:
As an admin team we chose to wait before saying how gutted we are that our friend is gone. We spent thousands of hours online and in person with Chuck-Susan Chin building our HYPG community. When Chuck moved on from being an admin he said he would slow down….he lied!
Chuck embodied the soul of our community and he will be missed. However, in darkness there can be light. The PG Community Foundation has created a legacy fund in Chuck’s name where we can make any sized donation to ensure he is never forgotten. https://www.pgcf.ca/fund/Chuck-Chin-Legacy-Fund
And this from fellow newsletter writer and photographer
:In no small way, Chuck Chin taught me that taking photographs of places you love is a genuine way to show them that love. I'll miss seeing him and his camera at every event and every park I go to.
I'm really grateful to have gotten to know Chuck over the years. I remember totally fanboying out when he told me he liked my photographs and literally said "holy cow, Chuck Chin knows my name" after he walked away.
To this day, I still tell Britt that I'm going on my "Chuck Chin walk" when I'm heading down to Cottonwood or downtown or wherever to take photographs - his impact on how I view photography is without comparison.
Anyways, I'm rambling on but I guess I wanted to make a post here because he will be so seriously missed. He was one of the nicest, kindest people I've ever met and I am so glad we have so many of his photographs to remember him with.
And finally:
Quick news:
West Fraser permanently closes Fraser Lake Sawmill, cutting 175 jobs. Mayor Sarah Story:
“The impact goes beyond just job losses, as it also affects taxation, volunteerism, sports, the school system, businesses, equipment owners, and contractors.
This was Fraser Lake’s last major industry and will impact our community with around 65% of the 177 workers losing their jobs and almost 1 million in lost taxation to go along with Endako’s lost taxes.
It's truly disheartening to see families and workers losing their jobs, especially considering that the Fraser Lake Sawmill has been a significant industry in the area for over a century. Fraser Lake Sawmill has been here for 105 years since 1919 moving locations once in 1977.”
In the Robson Valley, the weekly newspaper the Rocky Mountain Goat has been sold to its new editor, who is bullish on the future of community journalism.
In the northwest, Ellis Ross is leaving prpovincial politics to make a run for the federal Conservatives.
Man hospitalized following another shooting in Moccasin Flats.
Report raises questions around growing mining exploration in northern B.C.
Today’s song: “I Play My Bass Loud” by Gina Birch:
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