The Silver Valley's source of information

KINGSTON - If you read it for the first time, the title of Joe Peak's "North Fork Notebook" may imply that the column is just a weekly update on the river, but just a few lines into it, you'd realize it's chock-full of information and opinion about the latest happenings throughout the Silver Valley.

Very fitting, considering the man who has spent more than 25 years behind the words is just the same - loaded with knowledge about the place he's called home for more than three decades.

Sunday, the longtime Silver Valley resident and philanthropist celebrated his birthday; the co-owner of the Enaville Resort Snakepit turned 64 years old.

Peak and his wife, Rose Mary, came to the valley in 1978, and went in with partner John Florent in buying the resort. The couple has been there ever since, nary taking more than a day away, as one of them needs to be there to keep the operation running.

"It's been a lot of hard work," Rose Mary says. "We're open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. If we took vacations it was usually separate vacations so one of us could be here."

Being at the resort as long as they have and helping the amount of customers they do has allowed Joe the opportunity

to gain a wealth of knowledge about the area, often getting information from those customers and sharing what he's learned in return.

"If he doesn't know the answer to something, he will find out," Rose Mary explains. "He's very personable in that way."

Rick Shaffer, manager of the Wallace Inn and prime minister of Historic Wallace, has known the Peaks for close to 20 years. He said that while a lot of the information Joe has accumulated comes from his time at work, a lot more of it is from him just getting around and helping throughout the valley.

"He is so community minded," Shaffer said. "He's at Yoke's, at Osburn Drug. He donates food. He contributes meals. He gets a lot of info for fishing and hunting, but also a bunch from just being about in town."

His experiences on the rivers and in the terrain have also added to what he knows about the area. In a way, he has become the Silver Valley expert, Rose Mary says, even having television stations calling him asking for updates.

"They will usually call here to talk to Joe to find out about the rivers," she explains.

A point Shaffer was quick to expand on.

"If you want to know something about what's going on, just call Joe Peak," he said. "You may get the Joe Peak slant on it but you'll get the information."

Community involvement

To some, Joe is known as a community organizer, putting together several fundraising events and sponsoring others. One of note is the annual Ride the Wall bike ride, which he originally organized, Rose Mary said.

According to Judy Blalack of the Silver Valley Fuller Center for Housing, approximately $4,000 was raised during the event this year, pre-expenses. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Silver Valley Fuller Center for Housing as well as the Rose Lake Quick Response Unit.

Blalack said the couple has been sponsoring the ride for a number of years, and has been really involved with it. She added the couple provides the barbecue that follows the bike ride and for several years have been cooking at the event.

Blalack said the Peaks have been exceptional volunteers to have working with the organization.

"They're great people. We do really appreciate them," she said.

Shaffer said that like many, Joe knows the adage "what goes around comes around," but added that's not his reason behind being involved. Instead, it's a giving, helping heart.

"He's always out there helping the community any way he can," Shaffer explained. "Every request for a donation, every request for a cater-out, he never says no. He's got so much heart and drive to make things happen. It's incredible."

But beyond organizing events, he likes to stay plugged in to what is going on. Shaffer said he has an amazing memory and seems to know just about everything.

"He doesn't miss anything," Shaffer noted. "He's inquisitive ... number one, he never forgets a name. Number two, he listens. He asks questions and is interested. He cares about what is going on."

Of course, Shaffer added, Joe wouldn't be anywhere or be able to do what he does in the community without his wife of 40 years by his side.

"Joe is a gem, and Rose Mary is a diamond," he said. "If there was no Rose Mary, there would be no Joe."

Working through cancer

In January 2007, Joe was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. He has been battling the disease at various stages since then, receiving treatment often. Rose Mary said there was a period of about 19 months during the battle where the cancer was what she called "under control," but it has intensified recently, requiring more chemotherapy.

"It turned around where he had to go back in for more treatment," she said.

In spite of it all, he has not allowed the ailment to slow him down. He is still running the show at Enaville, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

"Being in the business is kind of a two-edged sword," Rose Mary said. "It's a good distraction for him, but I know he isn't getting enough rest. In the summertime we just go all the time - early morning to late at night.

"It's difficult to do this when you're feeling well, let alone when you're not. If I was in his shoes, I know I wouldn't be going as hard and fast as he is."

It's what the business demands, she said. So he continues to drive right along.

"He does everything bad for himself and good for cancer, but because of strong faith and strong family, he just plows right through it," Shaffer explained.

Even to the point that he doesn't allow his condition to show at work.

"If a stranger came up and talked to him and didn't know about his cancer, they may not realize he has cancer," Rose Mary noted.

All they would know about is his involvement in the community, his heart, and his plans to see everyone on the North Fork.