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Mar 30, 2004 The world is in turmoil, things are being blown up people are being killed. Accusations are being thrown around blaming one then the other. It seem as if most the world has gone mad. Nothing is, as we would like it to be. There’s a little valley in Southeaster Idaho. It’s called Lower Presto; it’s not on any map. I doubt any one not from there has ever heard of it. The Blackfoot River runs through it on one side is the Bannock / Shoshone Indian Reservation. On the other side are the decedents of the original settlers who first came to the valley in 1857. Unlike the Hollywood version of the old west the Indians and the Settlers have lived peacefully in this valley through all these generations. So why does it have any significance? It’s a place where history is honored, where the old is as important as the new. It’s a place where every one knows their family tree without going to the inter-net. It’s a place where not much changes. They are mostly Cowboys in the old tradition. They ride horses, they tend cattle horseback. There are still cattle drives that can take days. It still takes a week or two to round up the cattle and bring them down from the high country to winter pastures. Indians and Whites work side by side while maintaining their own cultures. The residence hold the valley in a reverence not many people can appreciate. The valley changes very little with out sacrificing the comforts of the times. What set Lower Presto apart are the efforts they take to maintain their heritage. They have a historian who writes a biannual magazine as well as biographies of some of the more interesting who have lived in the valley. Several books have been written about this valley. Two are in the Library of Congress. The valley has produced a number of distinguished individuals who have go on to make the valley proud. The valley it’s self has a history. The wagon tracks of the original Oregon Trail are still visible in spots. It was a stop for immigrants moving west, it provided feed for their livestock and water for all. Through the care and persistence of the local residence the river is as it has been for thousands of years. A few years ago the residence on both sides of the river challenged the Federal Government when it tried to make it a tourist attraction of a portion of the river. The valley prevailed; it will remain as it has always been for at least a little while longer. It isn’t much of a story. I just wanted to write something pleasant for a change to get away from my usual political ranting. ------------ About the Author: Ken Hughes is a retired businessman. A political junkie who's passion is the re-education of Liberals and Term Limits for Congress. He has had very little sucess at either. Email Ken Hughes: uncleken@sbcglobal.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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