The road across Hells Canyon Dam will be closed between 8 a.m. and noon, and from 1 p.m. until dark on the following dates while Idaho Power crews perform maintenance on the dam: • Oct. 8-17

• Nov. 10-21

• Nov. 24-Dec. 13

The closure dates are based on the current repair schedule, but can change depending on the weather or other issues.

Volunteers are needed to improve wildlife habitat at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of National Public Lands Day.

Volunteer crews will pick up litter, remove noxious weeds or tend wildlife-friendly landscaping at the refuge’s visitor center from 9 a.m. to noon. Families, students and teachers and other groups can help out.

Volunteers should pre-register by contacting Kash Anderson at (kash_anderson@fws.gov; or 467-9278)

Dutch oven chef and former Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer C. W. “Butch” Welch will conduct classes on big game field dressing and butchering, Saturday, Sept. 29 in Garden City.

Learn more and register for one or both classes at Welch’s website: www.ceedubs.com/classes-clinics.

“Field Dressing Big Game” and “Home Butchering” classes will be held at Fish and Game’s Hunter Education Center, 109 W. 44th St. Both classes will be repeated on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Field dressing will be the focus of a 3-hour morning session beginning at 9 a.m. both days. Welch will talk about cooling the animal, minimizing damage by insects and storing the meat in camp and for the trip home.

From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. both days he will focus on home butchering and talk about safety, sanitation and proper packaging techniques. The class will explain how to bone, trim and maximize the yield from the animal and offer tips on grinding burger and making sausage.

This class will end with grilled homemade bratwurst for class participants.

Pre-registration is required and each class costs $25 with multi-class and two-person discounts available.

Compiled by Roger Phillips and Pete Zimowsky