Ann-alog, a Pixel Remix, where Ann Torrence blogs about photographing for a book on U.S. Highway 89, the greatest road trip route in America. Photography tips, locations, trip reports, and real life.

New in fall 2008, wind farm at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon

Having polished off that Halloween candy, folks along US 89 are catching their breath from all the election news, before turning their attention to the proper rites of fall: football, turkey and pie. Wonder how many of those turkeys will have come from Sanpete Valley? Which reminds me, Sanpete County has a Turkey Whisperer.

Headlines from Highway 89

History in the flesh: Museum exhibits racy WWII plane art (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
"During WWII, nearly 50 percent of the pilots that flew missions into enemy territory were killed in combat. The "Bomber Girls" gave these brave pilots courage," says musuem director.

Emigrant girl in tough dog sled race (Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, Montana)
The first Montanan in 10 years will compete in the Junior Iditarod in Wasilla, Alaska.

Local columnist Bert Raynes on graceful losing, and birds this week in Jackson Hole (Jackson Hole News & Guide, Jackson, Wyoming)
"Regardless of whether an elevated office or a relatively commonplace one, it hurts to lose. Hopes dashed, a feeling of rejection, plans denied or at least deferred. Worse, for some time we've been a nation in which only No. 1 counts. Runners up are ignored, all their exploits ignored."

9 Aggies to attend launch of Endeavour (Herald Journal, Logan, Utah)
"Nine Aggies are traveling to Florida for the event as part of their grand prize in the 2008 NASA University Student Launch Initiative competition, which was held in Alabama in April."

Miss USA visit Spanish Fork at the tire store (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
"For someone who travels the whole world, it is great to have Miss USA visit a small town."

Is new boxing club home to next champ? (Nogales International, Nogales, Arizona)
2012 Olympic boxing prospect crossing border to train at new Nogales club.

This weekend on America's greatest highway

29th Annual Four Corner States Bluegrass Festival and Fiddle Championship (Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona)
The rodeo stands have been spruced up and $6,500 in cash and a $4,000 mandolin are among the prizes at the bluegrass festival.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

Bridge in Zion National Park

The election signs are coming down and the holiday decorations are starting to appear on lightpoles along historic Highway 89. The winter road closures in Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton are in place; Zion is continuing the shuttles for an extra month this year. At the other end of the highway, Saguaro National Park is starting its high season.

Headlines from Highway 89

Sawmill puts every little scrap to use (Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, Montana)
How one sawmill finds a use for the entire log (except the knotholes).

Jackson High swimmer competes with 1 leg (Jackson Hole News & Guide, Jackson, Wyoming)
Born with a birth defect, swimmer had leg amputated at age 8 so she could wear a prothesis, now competes on team contending for state championship.

USU students celebrate Festival of Lights (Herald Journal, Logan, Utah)
"Diwali, India's annual Festival of Lights, may be thousands of years old, but a group of Aggies decided to bring some modern flair to the ancient celebration.".

Grand Canyon's Hermit Road to reopen (Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ)
"Hermit Road, also known as West Rim Drive, has been under construction since February for widening to 24 feet, re-paving, addition of bike and walking trails and new shuttle bus stops."

Parents attend Literacy Night to help their children learn English (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
They may not speak the language themselves, but these parents show up to help their children become literate in English.

Historical society buys Henry Wickenburg's grave (Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona)
"After submitting to the Town of Wickenburg a bid for $1,000, the Wickenburg Historical Preservation Society will take possession of the Henry Wickenburg gravesite and will proceed in making improvements on the grounds."

Univ of Arizona opens satellite campus in Nogales (Nogales International, Nogales, Arizona)
Location to offer two bachelor's degrees in the border city.

This weekend on America's greatest highway

The 2008 Capitol Christmas Tree (Choteau Acantha, Choteau, Montana)
"A gorgeous 60-foot fir tree from the Bitterroot National Forest will be in Choteau on Nov. 8, and the Choteau Chamber of Commerce is inviting everyone in the community to turn out for a special tree event at 10 a.m. at the Teton County Courthouse." The tree, traveling in an environmentally-controlled trailer, will also make US 89 stops in White Sulphur Springs and Great Falls, Montana, later in the week.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

LDS Temple in Manti Utah

Campaign signs mingle their traditional red, white and blue hues with the seasonal colors on historic Highway 89. This last few days of ordinary time, before Halloween launches America into the holiday season, will be filled with pumpkin-carving contests, youth soccer games, and gathering in the last of the garden produce. Livingston Montana already had a foot of snow; the first killing frost brought down the basil in my Salt Lake City garden. The last of the 2008 state fairs is going on in Phoenix (more below), where it's actually time to start the tomato garden for 2009. Keep a sharp look-out for little ghouls and goblins this week as you travel America's greatest highway, U.S. 89.

Headlines from Highway 89

Fairfield taps into alternative energy through Wind for Schools program (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
Governor Brian Schweitzer was on hand for installation of a wind turbine at Fairfield High School.

Lucky's opens with a leash cutting (Star Valley Independent, Afton, Wyoming)
Animal shelter in Thayne ID to open with "leash cutting".

Cowboys in training (Herald-Journal, Logan, Utah)
"It isn't very often you see a celebrity in Cache Valley." Make that a rodeo celebrity or two coaching at a rodeo cam.

Remote site contains 30,000 plants worth $18 million (Sanpete Messenger, Manti, Utah)
Hunters find a pot farm in rural Utah.

Eagle Scout candidate gives Sharlot Hall's grave a fresh look (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
The scout project honors Sharlot Hall, writer, rancher and Arizona's territorial historian and first female appointed to a state-wide office.

Latin Mass makes a return to the Valley (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona)
"The Latin Mass, a relic from the 16th century, is returning to churches across the Valley, the nation and the world one year after Pope Benedict XVI loosened restrictions on priests performing it."

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Demoliton Derby at the Arizona State Fair (Fair schedule)
The Arizona State Fair in Phoenix runs from 10 October to 2 Novemberr 2008. This weekend with fair admission you can see the demoliton derby; next weekend will feature an Indian Rodeo. Best of all, Sunday admission is free.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

Cowboys have finished gathering the cattle from summer range. Pumpkins decorate porches, raked leaves are starting to pile up in front yards along historic Highway 89. Mid-October means orange hunting vests, football games to decide championships, and getting together those Halloween costumes. Enjoy a great weekend of Indian or Saint Martin's summer while it lasts.

Headlines from highway 89

Health department offers drive-through flu shots (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
"This drive-through wasn't serving burgers and fries. In fact, the only menu item at the City-County Health Department's Thursday drive-through was a flu shot."

Park Receives Shipment of Bear-Proof Food Storage Boxes (Grand Teton National Park News Release)
Grand Teton National Park has will install 52 new bear-proof food storage boxes as part of the park's bear management program.

Bear Lake commission, bureau crossing border (Herald Journal, Logan, Utah)
"After 35 years of being based in Idaho, the Bear Lake Regional Commission and the Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau will soon run their offices from Utah."

Falcon Hill: Historic 1st for Davis, Air Force (Davis County Clipper, Provo, Utah)
Hill Airforce Base, private and public partners to build research park on military land.

Prescott man's efforts to share Indian ways prompt Culturekeepers award (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
"Donald Nelson grew up in Prescott and still loves it here, but part of his heart always stays on the Hopi mesas. Nelson has shared his rare ability to bridge two cultures with hundreds and that is why he recently received an Arizona Culturekeepers award."

Mexican workers in U.S. during WWII can get back pay (Tucson Citizen, Tucson, Arizona)
"Mexican laborers who helped the U.S. meet its labor demands during World War IIcan now apply for money that was withheld from their paychecks in the 1940s and sent to the Mexican government as an incentive for them to return home."

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Mile High Marching Band Invitational (City of Prescott News Release)
Sixth annual competition of the bands, 14 in all, from around the state of Arizona.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

The Yavapai County Courthouse

Freezing temperatures are predicted this weekend for much of the territory along historic Highway 89. It's time to harvest the last of the tomatoes. Might see some pumpkin patches dusted with snow. Even Phoenix is going to be unseasonably temperate, below 80 degrees. Break out the golf clubs! Or snow shovels, depending on where you find yourself on America's greatest highway.

Headlines from highway 89

Community ice hockey arena readies for opening (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
"IcePlex organizers expect to have the arena open in two weeks for open skating, skating lessons, and yes, hockey."

Dogs, cats, turtles and stuffed animals overtake St. John's Episcopal Church (Jackson Hole News & Guide, Jackson, WY)
The annual Blessing of the Animals in Jackson

The books are here! (Star Valley Independent, Afton, Wyoming)
Pick up your free copy of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and participate in the Lincoln-county wide reading event

Lehi High School to celebrate 100th homecoming (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
Utah composer Kurt Bestor is writing them a fight song

Legendary elk brought down (Richfield Reaper, Richfield, Utah)
"Traffic became tight on Cove View Road in Richfield Sept. 30 when word got around that someone had finally taken down a highly publicized bull elk, known to most as Spider Bull, south of Manning Meadows Reservoir in Piute County."

Courthouse plaza is among top-10 public spaces in U.S. (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
The historic public square shares honors with iconic locations like New York City's Central Park, the Santa Monica Beach, and Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Kitt Peak offers chance to look through big scope (Tucson Citizen, Tucson, Arizona)
Make reservations now for special event for the public to view through Kitt Peak's 36" scope during 6-11 Nov.

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Discover prehistoric heritage at Stone Age Fair (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona)
Learn to make stone tools practice throwing a spear with an atlatl. See if you can hit the target and are skillful enough to hunt down a mammoth. Saturday 10 am to 3 pm at Northern Arizona University.

Kitt Peak offers chance to look through big scope (Tucson Citizen, Tucson, Arizona)
Make reservations now for special event for the public to view through Kitt Peak's 36" scope during 6-11 Nov.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

High Schools up and down US Highway 89 have been celebrating Homecoming this week. Think marching bands, Homecoming court candidates, chrysanthemum corsages, hand-painted signs, and football game heartbreakers. No sports scores this week, but lots of Homecoming news.

Headlines from Highway 89

King for a day: Choteau teen with Down syndrome vies for homecoming crown
(Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
The 19-year-old senior is a proud Choteau Bulldog--and a huge football fan--but until Friday night, he had never made it on the field.

Powder Puff game ends in a 6-6 tie (Star Valley Independent, Afton, Wyoming)
"The annual Senior/Junior Powder Puff game ended at the conclusion of overtime."

Video game programmers drop Xboxes, hit running track (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
"When an Orem-based video game development company wrapped up an employee cooking contest in the spring, all signs pointed to the need for another competition -- immediately."

Volunteers and sponsors make National Public Lands Day big success (Southern Utah News, Kanab, Utah)
Like an army of ants moving across the desert floor, more than 100 volunteers worked on four projects in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Dignitaries invite Pride of Prescott band to New Year's Day Parade in London (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
The Pride of Prescott High School Marching Band may be marching in the 2010 London New Year's Day Parade.

Pinal County Sheriff Candidate Disputes Photo Speeding Ticket(Apache Junction News, Apache Junction, Arizona)
"A car owned by Republican Sheriff candidate Paul Babeu was cited for speeding by photo radar however, Babeu has not accepted responsibility and wrote on the ticket that the identity of the driver is "unkown" (sic)."

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Oct. 4 parade features home-built fire train (Glendale Star, Glendale Arizona)
Glendale Fire Engineer built a kids fire train for special events. See him at the annual fire parade to raise money for the Glendale Firefighters Charities.

The maple leaves are crimson between Fairview and Spanish Fork, Utah today. The farmstands are overflowing with apples, the last of the corn, and a few early pumpkins. The weekend weather forecast looks spectacular along most of historic U.S. 89--it looks like we will have a great first fall weekend anywhere on America's greatest highway. Saturday is a special day at all of the National Parks on the highway (more about the fee-free day after the news).

Headlines from Highway 89

Blackfeet program gives students construction skills, improves housing (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
Demonstration home is the end result of a coalition of labor unions and employers teaching construction skills to Blackfeet workers who then renovate down-and-out rental housing units.

Star Valley resident receives Bronze Star 63 years after service (Star Valley Independent, Afton, Wyoming)
In 1945 at the age of 18, Vern Bloxham earned a Bronze Star, but it wasn't until 2008 that he was formally honored with and received the medal.

Lehi cornmaze in shape of American Idol star David Archuleta (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
12-acre cornmaze at Thanksgiving Point Utah (photo)

Salina Company recognized for service to its employees on military deployment (Richfield Reaper, Richfield, Utah)
A Salina based company was one of 15 employers that was presented with a Defense Department Freedom Award Thursday night in Washington, D.C., for financial and emotional support of National Guard and Reserve members.

Page hospital celebrates 50 years (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona)
"Page Hospital had 25 beds when it opened in the autumn of 1958, and still has 25 beds. But the difference in services is as vast as the medical technology that has mushroomed over 50 years. The current Banner Health facility is four to five times the size of the original hospital administrated by dam contractor Merritt-Chapman & Scott."

Ready, set, fold: Housekeepers compete (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona)
Mesa hosts housekeeping Olympics

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Glacier National Park to Waive Entrance Fees On September 27 and September 28 (National Park Service)
In observance of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27th, and to honor newly naturalized citizens on Sunday, September 28th, Glacier National Park will not be charging entrance fees.

All 391 NPS units are waiving entrance fees on Saturday.

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

Summer is winding down on U.S. Route 89. Even in Phoenix, the daily high is predicted to stay below 100°F for the week ahead. It's time to start looking for the autumn colors of the aspen and cottonwoods at the higher elevations. Deer hunting season is underway in a number of localities, so watch for ATVs on the highway shoulders.

Headlines from Highway 89

New Grocery Store Opens in Downtown Great Falls (source, Great Falls, Montana)
When Albertsons closed its store in April, downtown residents had nowhere to shop for groceries, until a local entrepreneur opened Everyday IGA this week.

Livingston residents, almanac predict cold winter for 2009 (Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, Montana)
"With summer coming to an end and fall on its way, it is almost painful to think about the winter, but some people in Livingston can already see the signs that predict what kind of snowy season the area can expect."

Zap! Marauding grizzlies in for nasty shock (Jackson Hole News&Guide, Jackson, Wyoming)
Outfitters test electric fences around camps to deter grizzly intrusions under new Wyoming Game and Fish program.

Filmmaking school to open in Springville (Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
"Utah may not have had a great reputation for filmmakers in the last few years, but one local arts school is hoping to change that perception with a new film school for high-school and college students."

NPS seeks to clean up uranium mine site at Grand Canyon rim (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona)
A former private in-holding, the Orphan Mine is two miles from the Grand Canyon Village. Patented in 1906 as a copper claim, the mine produced nearly 800,000 tons of uranium ore in the late 1950s.

Over 3,000 immigrants become US citizens in Phoenix ceremony (source, Phoenix, Arizona)
"More than 3,000 immigrants filled the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix on Wednesday and became U.S. citizens. They pledged allegiance to their new country. They sang a song and waved American flags. Then, they registered to vote in time for the election in November."

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Yavapai County Fair (Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona)
Tractor pulls, carnival, produce and livestock displays, and a traveling rainforest exhibit

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.

I'm starting a weekly round-up of local news in communities along the 1,600 miles of historic Highway 89. I'll be featuring items that won't make the national media, plus a don't-miss upcoming weekend event somewhere along the highway. Here's the first installment.

Headlines from highway 89

Montana Hutterite Colony Raising Natural Pork (Choteau Acantha, Choteau, Montana)
The new Midway Hutterite Colony in Pondera County is not only home to 19 families who previously lived at Miller Colony, it is also home to a 60,000-square foot, climate-controlled high-tech pig barn, where colony members raise USDA-certified natural pork.

Palin's plane stops to refuel in Great Falls (Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana)
Many Americans, particularly reporters, are hoping to get a glimpse and a word with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for vice president.

Jackson Housing Prices Falling (Jackson Hole News & Guide, Jackson, Wyoming)
Some say reported 9 percent drop in median home price not accurate, but concede slowdown.

Lehi High says the bats are all gone (American Daily Herald, Provo, Utah)
There are no more bats in the belfry -- or the auditorium, the hallway or the classrooms -- at Lehi High School anymore.

Eighth Annual Hoop Dance competition defies rainstorms (Navajo Hopi Observer, Flagstaff, Arizona)
The weather echoed the sentiments of the Peshlakai family as they remembered their son Champion Hoop Dancer Jameson "Sonny" Peshlakai on Aug. 31. But heavy rains and wet grass did not stop the annual Hoop Dance Contest event honoring Jameson - held every Labor Day weekend.

Southwest Legends Gunfighters are proud to announce that Florence is now their new home. (Florence Reminder, Florence, Arizona)
"After several months of meetings and negotiations, Florence has graciously accepted our reenactment group to perform on Main Street."

This weekend on America's greatest highway

Sanpete County Fly-in (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
Guest speakers are former Tuskegee Airmen.
Activites and free plane rides for kids (advance sign-up at the website).
Note to participating pilots: Watch for & stay clear of "TCA" (Turkey clearance area): min 1000ft (low, long metal barns, west of hwy 89 from Fountain Green to Manti)

links to news items or upcoming events on US 89.