Show LVCV1 0rWM S'andard-Exarrxne- Ufa r 30 Thursday Juty 30 1998 "Ifcd good about it We Ve got a lot of support in the Legislature and I think we can wcnk thrvugli all this -- Bear From t Mike Ferguson “I feel good about it” he said “We’ve got a lot of support in the Legislature and I think we can work through all this” Because the Fergusons weren't allowed to import the bears they’d bought they worked around the regulations and contracted to bring in bears that belong to a Minnesota woman Ruth LaBarge who runs a business called Animal Actors of Smoky Hollow The bears LaBarge owns are considered part of a trained animal act and are exempt from the state law that controls importation of wildlife id that will allow them to operate as a roadside zoo but Mtk Ferguson is convinced they’ll overcome the red tape and get on with the show On July 16 the Idaho Fish and Game Commission refused tggfttnt Ferguson an exception to die state wildlife code that deals with menageries and pavate zoos said Jack Trueblood information officer fofthe Idaho Department of Fish g$yg-nmen- Blacker Furniture ” aq4 Came "(Ferguson) came to the Fish and Game Commission meeting and his proposal was we grant an exception for licensing for wildlife parks" Trueblood said "He didn’t get it” Jie Fergusons wanted to change state licensing requirements for importing and displaying wild animals Trueblood said The commission rj£$Jed his proposal because it woujd not have enhanced public safety provided a broad public benefit or conformed to new Ihw's Trueblood said which are the criteria for changing the state’s wildlife code Ferguson wanted to import more black bears He has bought $f Ts in the process of buying about 30 bears in Minnesota that he wants to make the core of the park’s collection but the commission wouldn’t allow him to import them yet But the commission agreed to consider modifying the regulations when it meets again in October If the commission dvetdes to change the rules the changes must also be approved by the Idaho Legislature which witLfiext meet in January 1999 "He wasn't happy about it He said it would drive him out of business " Trueblood said "But our concern here is wildlife in the state and not the personal economics of developers” t h i On Action Lane® Reclining Furniture H-L- AND Y tourist attraction — The economics are substantial TheTergusons have spent about S 500000 getting the park ready for (he public The bears are kept w itljjn a set of double fences and elecvified wire separates them intolmaller groups The Fergusons aren’t done yet - thKy plan to build a gift shop sna$ bar theater museum RV campground and visitor center in the next three to five years Valene said Mike Ferguson said he believes he was misled by the Idaho Fish and Game Department about licensing but he said he's optimistic he and the slate can work out their differences THREE-WA- RECLINERS FOR Y PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE The park had its grand opening last week and Mike Ferguson said it was a great success The Fergusons invited as Trained animals for now at299 POWER LIFTRecliner TWO-WA- R exburg’s Recliner Hampton Prices Starting Lane' s4B9 many influential visitors as possible trying to drum up support for the park w hich Valene describes as “Rexburg’s only real tourist attraction" The park consists of a few small ponds and a slough which are home to captive ducks geese and river otters A small herd of 1 1 elk roams the grounds as do a few reindeer and fallow deer There are turkeys peacocks and swans There will be a petting zoo for kids with young farm animals For $10 you can get a Polaroid snapshot of you and a trained bear And there are plenty of bears of them in fact -Twenty-on- e black bears European grizzly bears Kodiak bears Ferguson said even if he’s allowed to bring in his own black bears he’ll probably continue to rent the Kodiak and European grizzlies from LaBarge “There just aren’t many places you can see a Kodiak bear” he said The big bears roam inside electrified wire enclosures among small stands of trees They all have dens made of sections of corrugated steel culvert Some are isolated into individual areas others like three Kodiak cubs are allowed to live and play together Visitors must stay inside their vehicles and the windows must stay rolled up The loop through the facility takes about 30 to 45 minutes at a speed limit of 3 miles per hour Visitors are allowed to go through the park as many times as they w ant "We get so many people who come through after visiting Yellowstone who say they never saw a bear” said Valene Ferguson "and they’re just thrilled to see so many of them Prices start at Simply Irresistible “Omega” Rocker Transitional Comfort! “Malibu” Handle Recllner Rocker Recliner Smooth Gliding! Glide Rockers Prices Starting at a week! We are now open 6 days wBB here" Slip into something more conversational (10 a minute) 400 minutes v HYtt s3995 per month First Incoming Minute Free That's just 10t a minute i Iftuiys bkhuied: Caller ID : 1 VoiceMail Utah Toll Free j FREE 6 months Hurry! Offer ends July 3 1st Long distance for Call (787-3:- 7) Other plans start at $1995 P $t men from life GSIXl’ afcT? 0m I VOICESTREAM STORES Uyton Hifli ritfway Critar Sef Nor ‘2X VWst Uyw 09dm www Ik Vfe h cSr-i- ii-- a 4 1 2 rtc ii-- o re ua narii’1 we to JCC i 3 vo'cestram com Co'tXYjT cf W- - wt o Cy Cc-c- s u S :i a C o- -a t— r - Si t- T"- - c’ rcf Coi ti i-- a AUTHORIZED DEALERS ASC VWVn 2’ TU-9X- 7 Afi CrfJ ' it CiQ’lt! Circuit City 0 V'-- t A i?- - t— i i-- 0 d E0 - — it - ic - S c-vj'- ( -- i Tti '- fiiTT"! e tec Cenptaw be s 5ov-- -- i '? As: 3 yfCi t Sew Vc "x Vr Pist 9 CV r Swvk Futw V- Vwjj V Smi 3 c3 Tot S'ttt 'tK3b m -e Ci'v cb- '2 - V- ' v n tc rV y ' 1 vi-- - t AX 3 Vi - Srwt 'S3 vHsr Scr 3 'OiV -- jr- - y S'- - r re- - r 5 j V'1 CC -- S&fetyA Vmr mwt y cm unioni cull |