Auction plus rain: A Creston tradition

Sorry, but the forecast for this weekend is rain and a little more rain and then maybe some snow for good measure.

But if there is a silver lining in every cloud, it’s that these April showers will bring with them the 47th annual Creston Auction and Country Fair.

And as frequent visitors at the auction can tell you, rain won’t dampen the spirits a bit. In fact, by now, most auction fans probably expect rain the first weekend in April when the outdoor auction is held.

Indeed, this annual fundraiser for the volunteer Creston Fire Department draws thousands every year to bid on everything from soggy magazines to antique furniture, souped-up cars and boats and trailers.

Saturday is the main auction day, and get ready for lots of fun as multiple auctioneers will be selling household goods, tools, building supplies and everything under the sun. Grounds open at 8 a.m. and bid tickets cost $5.

On Sunday, it’s the big stuff — boats, cars, RVs, farm equipment. Pay $10 for a bid ticket and you may come away with big savings on as major purchase.

Anyway, rain or shine, this is the real deal — a community event that everyone looks forward to.

Give horsemen a hand

Backcountry Horsemen of the Flathead deserve a hand for a lot of good work carried out over the organization’s 40-year history, a milestone that will be celebrated this weekend in Kalispell.

The organization that was established by a handful of outfitters in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1973 actually led to the formation of similar chapters in California, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming, and eventually the establishment of Backcountry Horsemen of America. Now Montana has 16 chapters.

The chapters have come to provide vital support to trail work and other maintenance projects in wilderness areas, to the tune of in-kind contributions to the Forest Service that are worth millions of dollars every year.

Last year, the Flathead chapter alone hauled over 20,000 pounds of cargo in support of maintenance projects in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The 40th anniversary celebration this weekend at the Red Lion Hotel will offer the general public free demonstrations, exhibitions and entertainment. Folks should check out what this outfit is all about!

Seven Eagle Scouts? Wow!

Impressive is the word that best describes the seven 18-year-olds from Troop 1901 who just earned their Eagle Scout awards, the highest rank of advancement within the Boy Scouts organization. All of the students are seniors at Glacier High School and have been in scouting since their elementary school days.

It’s not every day we see that kind of dedication from so many scouts from one troop. While all of these young men are to be commended for their accomplishments, so, too, should the troop leaders who also have gone the distance in providing the leadership that enabled these scouts to excel.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.