Pottsville Seven issue $100 challenge to community

WALLACE — Members of the Pottsville Seven, the group looking to beautify and restore the currently named East Shoshone Park in Mullan are asking for help and donations from locals of the community after receiving news that they will not receive some previously expected funds. The members met with the Shoshone Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to discuss updates and funding options.

The group previously discussed using funds from the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), to help aid in their improvement efforts. RAC is a 15-member Idaho Panhandle Committee that participates in collaborative decision-making and makes recommendations for distributing Title II funding for different projects adjacent to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. However, during the most recent meeting, the group received unfortunate news from Deputy Ranger Ashley Nettles.

Nettles, representing the United States Forest Service (USFS), explained the process of obtaining the grant.

“We sent in our information to Washington to be vetted, and they were cleared,” Nettles said. “We submitted an entire nomination package that was approved by the Chief of Staff. The last step is the Office of the Secretary, and unfortunately, they rejected our nomination package.”

It was instructed that there needs to be more outreach to try and increase the administration's agenda of diversity, inclusion and equity.

“We are having to start from scratch,” Nettles said.

All hope is not lost for the group, and progress is still able to be made, as they recently became affiliated with the Mullan Community Foundation, a group whose goal it is to enhance and enrich the lives of the citizens of Mullan. They have provided another entity to apply for grants, which will help, but not obtaining the RAC grant certainly leaves a large monetary hole.

Kjell Trusedel, member of the seven, has been working with a local company, Mike’s Speciality Welding to begin building new grills and fireplaces for the kitchen locations.

The group will continue to push forward, as financial worries won’t keep the seven down. Despite the slightly upsetting news, at the most recent meeting, the group remained positive.

“I pledged $100 to the cause, and I challenge members of the community to do the same,” said Bud Koski, a member of the Pottsville Seven.

The group will meet again next month, with Shoshone News-Press following the story.

Anyone who would like to donate to the project can do so at Mullan Community Foundation, P.O. Box 472 Mullan, ID 83846, with the notation Pottsville Park.