05/05/08

Congress has approved a bill that would expand the boundaries of the Minidoka Internment National Monument east of Jerome.

The bill is now on President Bush's desk, and if he signs it, the national park service could receive over 200 acres of farmland in the deal, and a ferry dock on Bainbridge Island west of Seattle, more than 600 miles away, could also be included.

Tami DeGrosky, Supt., Minidoka Internment National Monument says, "So it's not that unusual, it's a little bit difficult logistically to manage that. But typically we have somebody who's a pretty well-grounded person out there to do that."

DeGrosky says many of the Japanese Americans interned at Minidoka came from the Eagledale Ferry Dock on Bainbridge Island. She says their descendants have been lobbying to have the dock designated as a historical site.