Fire Department Receives Federal Grant (Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2004 07:18 AM)

The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department is set to receive a federal grant of $58,800 to purchase breathing apparatuses for Glasgow firemen.

The grant comes from the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program which allots federal money to local firefighting units.

The City of Glasgow will need to come up with a 10% match which means the city will pay $5,880 to receive $58,880.

Glasgow Mayor Willy Zeller told Kltz/Klan that the breathing apparatuses that the fire department plans to purchase cost an estimated $4000 each.

Public Administrator Resigns (Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2004 07:15 AM)

Valley County Public Administrator Stan Ozark has resigned the position effective August 17th.

Ozark resigned so he could be on the ballot and run for one of the three positions available on the Valley County Government Study Commission. Montana law does not allow elected officials to serve on the commission.
Because Ozark resigned more than 75 days before the November election, Montana law allows each political party will be able to forward one name to the Valley County Clerk and Recorder to be put on the November ballot.

The Valley County Commissioners also have the authority to appoint a person to serve as Public Administrator until the November election.

The commissioners had not decided as of Monday whether or not to appoint a person to serve the next two months.

Ozark was elected in 2002 and his current term would of ended in 2006.

Third Person Dies In Frazer Crash (Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2004 07:11 AM)

(AP) - A third person has died as a result of a fiery one-car rollover crash in Frazer over the weekend. Valley County Sheriff and Coroner Glenn Meier says 20-year-old Dallas Howard the third died over the weekend at the Salt Lake City Burn Center. Howard was among five people in a speeding car that struck three parked cars on a residential street in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday.

The car rolled three and one-half times and caught fire, killing 18-year-olds Robert MacDonald and Leo Aaron Saddleback at the scene. MacDonald was from the Poplar area. Saddleback was living near Oswego. Two other people remain in a Glasgow hospital, in stable condition.

Howard's death pushed the Montana fatality count to 146, compared with 174 at this time one year ago. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Sheriff's Department Searching For Owner Of Clothes Left At River (Posted Monday, August 30, 2004 11:15 AM)

The Valley County Sheriff's Department is searching for the owner of a saddle, pair of boots, clothes and a fishing pole that were left on the bank of the Milk River near Sullivan Park.

The VCSO was notified on August 22nd that someone had found all the items on the riverbank and the owner was not to be found. The VCSO left the items on the riverbank until August 25th hoping that the owner would come back to pick up the items. On August 26th, fearing that the owner of the items might have drowned in the Milk River, the VCSO and the Valley County Search and Rescue drug a portion of the Milk River looking for any evidence of what might of happened to the owner of the items. No evidence was found so the investigation continues and the items that were found contained no information on who they might belong to.

If you have any information on who the items might belong to you are encouraged to contact the Valley County Sheriffs Office at 228-4333.

Connie Hallock To Be Honored On September 21 (Posted Monday, August 30, 2004 07:27 AM)

Connie Hallock, Social Service Director and Dolores Wentland, Staff Nurse,of Valley View Home will be honored at the Montana Health Care Association Conference in Billings on September 21st.

They will be receiving MHCA's "Commitment to Caring Award" on the night of the annual recognition banquet.

The award is presented to those individuals who display excellence in their duties of their respective professions. Hallock has been employed 22 years and Wentland 19 years at the health care facility.

Frazer Vehicle Roll-over Kills Two (Posted Sunday, August 29, 2004 12:20 PM)

A single-vehicle accident in Frazer early Saturday killed two people and injured three others.

The Montana Highway Patrol is reporting that a 2003 Ford Mustang was traveling westbound on Moccasin Avenue in Frazer at 3:45am when it struck three unattended vehicles.

The vehicle overturned 3-1/2 times and came to rest upside down with three of the passengers ejected and the vehicle engulfed in flames.

18-year old Leo Saddleback and 18-year old Robert Macdonald both of Frazer were pronounced dead at the scene.

A 20-year old critically injured male, who was extricated from the vehicle with burns to his body was transported to the Salt Lake City Burn Center on Saturday evening.

A 20-year old male and a 21-year old female were transported to the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow where they are listed in stable condition.

The Montana Highway Patrol is reporting that speed was a factor in the accident and alcohol and drugs may also have been factors.

The accident is still under investigation.

Immigration Base Goes To Great Falls (Posted Friday, August 27, 2004 10:12 AM)

(AP) - Great Falls will be part of the nation's heightened security along the Canadian border, and Montana Senator Conrad Burns says that involvement is likely to start next month.

Great Falls is getting one of five new bases under the Department of Homeland Security's Air and Marine Branch. Burns says plans call for short-term operations to start next month with surveillance planes and crews working out of the Great Falls airport, or the Montana Air National Guard base. He says there are plans to later establish a permanent operation, perhaps re-commissioning a runway at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

In Bellingham, Washington, last week, federal officials dedicated the first of the five bases. Besides Bellingham and Great Falls, bases will be in Grand Forks, North Dakota; the Detroit area; and Plattsburgh, New York.

Many in northeast Montana had hopes of hosting a base a little closer to the border. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Education Discussion Set For September 8th (Posted Friday, August 27, 2004 10:07 AM)

Dr. Sheila Stearns, Montana's Commissioner of Higher Education, and Dave Gibson, the Governor's Chief Business Officer will lead public discussions of six action items identified by the Board of Regents of the Montana University System to implement a program for shared leadership to improve the Montana Economy. The discussion will occur in Glasgow on Tuesday, September 8 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn.

" Finding out how our university system can help economic development in Montana is extremely important, but we need the involvement of citizens and businesses throughout the state to determine our highest priorities," says Commissioner Stearns. Gibson underlined this position saying, "The University System is a tremendous asset and a critical partner in our ability to successfully create more good-paying jobs in Montana"

The six action items that will be discussed at the public meeting focus on ways the university system can:
* better support worker training in Montana;
* improve distance (on-line) learning opportunities for our rural citizens;
* build stronger university - business partnerships;
* remove barriers to postsecondary education for all Montanans;
* encourage better problem solving collaboration between the university; system and government leaders;
* better promote the state as a tourist and business relocation opportunity to university system alumni.

At each discussion, a panel of community leaders will be invited to respond to the overview by Stearns and Gibson and to ask the first questions in the discussion. Public comment and questions are welcome.

A copy of the document presenting a full discussion of the action items may be found on the web at http://www.montana.edu/wwwbor/SharedLeadInfo.htm

2004 Taste Of Home Cooking School Set For September 23 (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 09:50 AM)

The KLTZ/Mix-93 2004 Taste of Home Cooking School will be held on Thursday, September 23rd at the GHS auditorium.

Tickets are available at the KLTZ/Mix-93 studios for $4 each. You may also purchase them at the door starting at 5pm on September 23rd. The show will begin at 7pm. We hope you’ll join us for a fun, informational evening! And as always, we’ll have plenty of displays from our sponsors and many prizes!

GHS Educational Trust Announces Gifts (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 09:10 AM)
Fifty GHS alumni heading back to college and vocational school this fall will have help with the ever-rising cost of tuition, thanks to the faithful supporters of the GHS Educational Trust. Since the establishment of the trust in 1964 by the Class of 1938, the total number of different students who have received gifts is now 649. The total value of these awards is an astounding $677,247. The trustees gratefully thank all of those whose generosity has enabled the trust to award these gifts.

The trust also made two gifts to GHS for equipment needs. The Industrial Technology Department will receive will receive $3,000 to help finance an additional exhaust fan in the metal shop, and the Family and Consumer Science Department will receive $2,024 for an embroidery machine and software. Through the years, every department of GHS has received support from the trust. The value of these gifts now totals $90,281. The totals for both student and school gifts make it easy to see what an important tool the trust has become in our community, and what vision and determination can do when welded to a generous spirit.

The corpus of the trust now exceeds $18 million dollars. The interest on these assets is awarded semi-annually through an application process administered by the trustees. Application deadlines are July 1st and November 1st of each year. Awards made at the July meeting are usually for both semesters of the upcoming school year, whereas those made at the November tmeeing are for the spring semester only.

Students in their second year of college or second semester of vocational/technical school are eliible for gifts. The awarads are based primarily on need, rather than scholarship, and average students in good academic standing who are showing progress towards the completion of their degrees are given equal consideration. Recipients are always reminded that these gifts should encourage them to return the favor by donating to the trust when they are able to do so. All donations are tax-deductible and no gift is too small.

Whenever the trust receives memorial or honorariums that total $500 or more in the name of a particular individual, a gift to a student or a department of GHS is given in memory, honor or recognition of that person. Donations of $10,000 or more provide an annual naming opportunity.

The following students were awarded gifts at the July, 2004 meeting:

For more information about the trust, or an application, please contact: Danielle Anderson (406) 228-4203; Jeanine Markle (406) 228-2858; Doris Leader (406) 228-9391 or (406) 746-3432 or Linda Allie (406) 228-8561

Farm & Ranch Business Course Offered In Glasgow (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 09:08 AM)

Glasgow area producers will have the unique opportunity this fall to enroll in Dawson Community College’s Farm and Ranch Business Management Course, offered right here in our community. The course objective is to enhance farm and ranch producers business management skills. By taking this course, producers develop the skills necessary to become financially successful.

The Farm & Ranch Management program is a two-year program where students learn computer skills used in accounting, production records, communications and internet access and decision support software. Accurate financial information is utilized to evaluate and consider production, purchase sales and tax and retirment strategies. The course emphasizes the understanding and use of financial and production information to make confident, progressive management decisions.

The class meets one night each week in Glasgow during the 16 week fall and spring semesters. The instructor then visits the participant’s home for six individualized one on one sessions each semester. Each student will be issued a laptop computer and the necessary software utilized in the course. Training begins with the most basic introduction and expands to more complex business management applications. There are no tests and the students earn college credit toward a Farm and Ranch Business Management Certificate.

Dawson Community College will work with students in securing financial aid to cover the cost of this course. Many producers are eligible for grants that may cover all or part of their tuition for the program.

For more information on the Farm & Ranch Management Course offered in Glasgow this fall, please contact Roubie Younkin at 367-5406 or 263-5408

Martz Meets With Corps Officials (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 09:00 AM)

On Tuesday, Governor Judy Martz met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials asking for more consideration to Montana’s economic needs in managing Missouri River water.

Martz says she understands the demands of downstream states to have more water for barge traffic, but told Colonel Jeffrey Bedey that drawing down the upstream states’ reservoirs during drought conditions is unwise for everyone.

Bedey took over as corps district commander in Omaha last month and made no promises to Montana officials.

Fort Peck Lake continues to drop to record lows, down to 2201 feet above sea level on Monday. The reservoir is currently only half-full.

Montana officials learned for the first time on Tuesday that Missouri has asked the coprs to release even more water to extend the barge season for another month beyond the schedule.

County Committee Nominations Due September 3 (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 08:50 AM)

The USDA Farm Service Agency is reminding landowners and operators that the deadline to submit nominations for County Committee positions is September 3rd.

The nominee must be sure to sign the nomination form in order to be nominated asa COC member. All eligible voters will receive a ballot in the mail no later than November 8, 2004. At that time, all eligible voters will vote for their favorite candidate, sign the ballot and return the completed ballot to the county office by December 6.

Nomination forms are available at your local FSA office or by logging on to the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mt

Michael Martin Murphey To Perform Saturday Night In Glasgow (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 08:42 AM)

Legendary cowboy signer Michael Martin Murphey will perform in Glasgow on Saturday night, August 28th at the Valley Event Center. The concert is sponsored by the Valley County Fair Board and KLTZ/Mix-93.

The box office will open at 6:30 with tickets on sale. Virgil Vaupel of Hinsdale will open the concert at 7:30, with Murphey to take the stage at 8pm.

Murphey’s hits include Wildfire, Carolina In The Pines and What’s Forever For. Concessions and beer garden will be available.

Bleachers will be available in the Event Center, but you are welcome to bring your lawn chair or folding chair - an area in front of the stage will be roped off. No lounge chairs will be allowed.

Tickets are available at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, KLTZ/Mix-93, or from Fair Board members. Tickets will also be available starting at 6:30pm at the Event Center on Saturday night.

Havre Officials To Consider Joining Regional Water System (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 08:40 AM)

(AP) - City officials in Havre plan to meet Monday and reconsider joining the Rocky Boy's-Northcentral Montana Regional Water System. They passed on joining the system several years ago -- choosing instead to take out an eight (m) million dollar loan to upgrade Havre's water treatment plant.

But now some worry that there'll be enough water from the Milk River -- a key water source for the Hi-Line city. Area Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Wimmer says authorities upstream in Alberta are deciding whether to build a dam that would hold more of the Milk's water.

Also, the St. Mary Diversion canal system -- which supplies much of the river's water -- is deteriorating and a working group is still trying to secure funding for repairs and renovations. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Third Annual Salmon Derby Is Saturday (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 07:58 AM)

The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture will be hosting the third annual Salmon Derby on Fort Peck Reservoir on Saturday, August 28th.

There will be a mandatory rules meeting at the Gateway on Friday night, beginning at 7pm. The tournament will take the first 50 teams that register. Contact the Chamber at 228-2222 or e-mail them at chamber@nemontel.net for more information.

Montana Governor’s Cup Fisherman Survey(Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 08:07 AM)
The Montana Governor’s Cup Committee has mailed out a survey to the tournament’s past fishermen requesting comments about the tournament and comments about a proposed tournament restructuring. The Committee hopes that the information gathered from the survey will help strengthen the tournament and make the Governor’s Cup one of the premiere tournaments in the region.

The Governor’s Cup Committee welcomes all comments; please contact the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at 228-2222 or e-mail them at chamber@nemontel.net if you would like to make a suggestion.

Montana Delegation Asks For Hi-Line Immigration Base (Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 06:55 AM)

According to the Billings Gazette, Montana lawmakers have been urging Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge to speed up the process of setting up a new immigration and customs base in the state.

Senator Max Baucus sent a letter to Ridge on Tuesday, stating that with a new base opening in Bellingham, Washington, terrorists and smugglers may now turn to Montana.

On Wednesday, Senator Conrad Burns said he had requested a meeting with Ridge to discuss the establishment of the base. Burns said that Montana has been chosen as a Northern Border Air and Marine Branch site and it’s now just a matter of time to get things implemented.

Representative Denny Rehberg praised the efforts of Montana towns and cities near the border but said they aren’t enough. He said there are local efforts in Glasgow and Havre, plus an effort at Maelstrom in Great Falls to base the mission. Rehberg noted that he wants to make sure the border flying mission is deployed soon in the state, since Montana has more border with Canada than any other state except Alaska.

Senator Baucus is concerned because officials have told him the base would only be minimally operational because Congress has not provided enough money. According to Baucus, minimal operations would have the base open only 16 hours a day, requiring 35 to 40 jobs, while a 24 hour base could produce about 70 jobs.

Montana is competing with Plattsburgh, New York, and cities in North Dakota and Michigan to be the next state to have a border base opened.

Grand Opening Of New Hospital In Malta (Posted Wednesday, August 25, 2004 11:13 AM)

This Friday, there will be a grand opening and open house of a new Phillips County Hospital and Family Health Clinic, at 10:30am.

According to a press release, the new facility is a new 6 bed acute care critical access hospital and adjoins an existing clinic owned by the Hospital Association and nursing home/assisted living facility owned by the Good Samaritan Society.

The new facility was created to match current safety codes, which the older facility was not able to do without extensive updating.

Commissioners Approve Employee Pay Raise (Posted Tuesday, August 24, 2004 01:07 PM)

The Valley County Commissioners have approved a 25 cent an hour pay increase for Valley County employees. This increase does not affect elected officials, road department employees or sheriff's deputies. The road department and sheriff's deputies serve under a union contract that is still being negotiated and the elected officials have their salary set by a compensation board.

The increase in pay for county employees figures out to an increase of $520 per year. In 2003 the county employees
received a 40 cent an hour increase.

The commissioners also agreed to pay a flat 85% of a single employees monthly health insurance premium. In 2003 the county paid a flat $335 per year but with the change to 85% the county will now pay $375 per month.

The vote on the salary increase was 2-1 with commissioners Ron Gilbertson and Dave Pippen voting for the increase and Dave Reinhardt voting no.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks News (Posted Monday, August 23, 2004 06:44 AM)

Citizens Advisory Council will meet again Nov. 6
Members of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Citizens Advisory Council are concerned about legislation, hunter access and elk management in the Missouri River Breaks.

Those topics emerged as top issues for the 15-member CAC, which held its first meeting July 31 in
Glasgow. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow.

Following introductions and program overviews by FWP staffers, the citizen advisors ranked issues they would like to address over the next year. Issues ranged from pursuit of a state-parks program and discussion of turkey, sage grouse and bighorn sheep management in northeastern Montana to implications of weed management and private-land leasing in the region.

The group rated as its highest priority legislation that will be discussed in the 2005 Legislature and the management of elk in the Missouri Breaks. Specifically, the group wants to discuss in more detail the renewal of FWP’s popular Block Management program, the implications of resident and non-resident license allocation and whether elk hunting regulations in the Missouri Breaks should be revisited.

The FWP Citizens Advisory Council includes individuals from across Region 6, representing a variety of communities and interest groups. The council will meet quarterly to discuss a wide spectrum of issues, FWP programs and initiatives.

FWP seeks citizen advisor from Sheridan County
Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications from citizens in Sheridan County to serve on a regionwide Citizens Advisory Council.

The council is composed of 15 members that discuss emerging issues and FWP programs and advise the department on all aspects of resource management in north-central and northeastern Montana.

A representative from Sheridan County was selected in the initial round of appointments, but has since resigned, citing time constraints. FWP would like to select a replacement to fill out the remainder of the 2-year term and be available for the CAC’s next meeting on Nov. 6. While service on the CAC is voluntary, FWP pays advisors’ mileage and lodging costs, when necessary.

“ There are a number of FWP issues, from this year’s three-week buck season in Hunting District 640 to upland bird issues, that directly impact Sheridan County and the rest of extreme northeastern Montana,” says Jim Satterfield, FWP’s Region 6 supervisor. “It’s critical that we have someone from those communities on the council.”

If you want more information on the CAC or would like to request an application, call FWP in Glasgow at 228-3700. Or you may email HYPERLINK "mailto:amckean@state.mt.us" amckean@state.mt.us to request an electronic application.

Applicants will be selected by FWP program managers and three citizens.

Information Needed In Search For Missing N.D. Couple (Posted Monday, August 23, 2004 06:30 AM)

     HETTINGER, N.D. ˜ Family members of an elderly North Dakota couple are calling for residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and other surrounding states to provide any information they may have in the search for Norman Olson, 73, and his wife, Yvonne, 69, who have been missing for more than a week from Hettinger, N.D.
    
The family of Norman and Yvonne is pleading with Tri-State area residents to check any buildings near their property or in town that are not often frequented or are abandoned. It is also requested that people check their fields, outlying rural roads, rivers, lakes and streams.

The family organized a search in Adams County on Friday with 40-50 volunteers on the ground, as well as civil air patrol planes that searched areas north of Hettinger. Civil air patrol has continued to fly today, covering areas around Hettinger and 20 miles into northern parts of South Dakota. Nothing has been found thus far.

It is believed at this point that Norman and Yvonne may have crossed state borders into South Dakota, Montana or Minnesota after leaving their home in Hettinger. They are believed to be driving their tan 1999 Ford Taurus with North Dakota license plates EUY-288, however it is possible that they may be separated from their vehicle.
    
If you have any information regarding Norman and Yvonne‚s disappearance, please call Hettinger Sheriff Eugene Molbert at 701.567.2530, or your local authorities.
    

This release is constantly being updated by the family and the current version can be found here:
http://members.cox.net/bkennedy/NormanAndYvonneOlson/ 

A Flyer for distribution can be found here: http://members.cox.net/bkennedy/NormanAndYvonneOlson/NormanAndYvonneOlson.pdf

A Full Resolution photo can be found here:  http://members.cox.net/bkennedy/NormanAndYvonneOlson/NormanAndYvonneOlson.jpg

Fort Peck Tribal Board Signs Gas Pipeline Lease (Posted Monday, August 23, 2004 06:07 AM)

(AP) - The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board has approved a 50-year natural gas pipeline lease with a Nebraska company. The agreement signed earlier this month in Billings extends an existing 25-year deal set to expire in 2011.

Under the lease with Northern Border Pipeline, the tribes on the reservation will receive seven-point-four (m) million dollars in back taxes. Northern Border has also agreed to pay one-point-five (m) million dollars in annual fees to keep piping natural gas across the reservation.

The pipeline enters the reservation's northwest corner and exits on the southern border. It transports gas from Alaska and Canada to markets in the lower 48. (Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Cold Summer Continues (Posted Sunday, August 22, 2004 11:42 AM)

The National Weather Service reports that the summer of 2004 has been one of the coolest in history for Glasgow.

Since June 1st a total of 77 percent of the days have had temperatures below average at the airport in Glasgow. Also since June 1st there have been only 6 days with temperatures above 90 degrees.

For the month of August there has been only one day with a temp above 90 degrees which has not occurred since 1912.
The average temp since June 1st has been 64.2 degrees which is 4 degrees below average which makes it the coolest since 1993 and the 4th coolest summer in the last hundred years.

The National Weather Service is predicting more chilly weather in the next week with temperatures in the 60's and 70's while the normal high temperature for this time of year is in the low 80 degree range.

Filing Deadline For Government Review Passes (Posted Friday, August 20, 2004 02:36 PM)

The filing deadline has passed for those interested in serving on local government study commissions.

Voters in Glasgow, Nashua and in Valley County in June approved the commissions to review the form of government each local entity uses.

In Valley County there were 3 filings for the three person study commission. Those filing included Rick Ost, Stan Ozark and Kim Lacey. Valley County Clerk and Recorder Lynn Nyquist was awaiting word from the Montana Secretary of State on whether an election will have to be held considering there are just three candidates for three positions.

In Nashua there 2 filings for the three positions available with Ron Ost and Darwin Johnson the two candidates.

In Glasgow there were no filings for the 3 positions available on the study commission. Glasgow Mayor Willy Zeller will appoint the three people to serve on the government review for the City of Glasgow.

County Recovering A Portion Of Delinquent St. Marie Taxes (Posted Wednesday, August 18, 2004 02:41 PM)

Through a complex process involving tax assignments, Valley County is recovering a portion of the delinquent taxes on property located at St. Marie.

As of Tuesday the Valley County treasurer reported that Valley County has received $88,807 in tax assignment money on  property in St. Marie.

The taxes are recovered through the tax assignment process which involves an individual or a group purchasing the county's tax lien on the real estate which is delinquent. The tax assignment process also allows Valley County to collect redemption fees on the tax assignments and the county has already collected almost $5000 in fees.

Even though Valley County has collected almost $90,000 in delinquent taxes there is still a sizeable amount of tax money yet to be collected. Valley County Treasurer Jenny Reinhardt told Kltz/Klan that the total amount of delinquent real estate taxes in Valley County total just over $1 million dollars but $556,000 of the delinquent taxes are on property located at St. Marie. Those tardy taxes are for the years 1991-2003.

As of July 30th, the amount of delinquent taxes for 2003 at St. Marie total $80,380 which is 23.6% of the delinquent taxes for the 2003 tax year. These figures do not include penalty and interest charges which would increase the total amount considerably.

Reinhardt told Kltz/Klan that there is plenty of interest in the tax assignment process on property at St. Marie and that it certainly is paying off for Valley County with the tax money that is coming in to the Valley County coffers.

Nearly 100 People Turn Out For Wind Project Meeting (Posted Wednesday, August 18, 2004 07:07 AM)

At a public meeting on Tuesday an estimated 90 people heard about a proposed wind energy project for northwest Valley County.

A Dallas, Texas company, Wind Hunter, is proposing to build a 50- megawatt wind energy facility on private property owned by Valley County resident Bob Westland. Jon Chafin who is a 50% owner in Wind Hunter explained at the meeting that his company is serious as a “heart attack” about building the project which could cost as much as $75 million dollars. The projects first phase would construct approximately 33 wind turbines on the private leased land. The wind turbines are 250 feet tall with a wing span of 200 feet. Each turbine provides 1.5 megawatts of power and provides reliable, competitive electrical power into the interconnected grid of the western United States.

Jon Chafin has been in the energy business his entire career and he told Kltz/Klan that he was in eastern Montana about a year and a half ago when it hit him that this would be an ideal area for wind power development.

Wind Hunter is also currently working on wind projects in New Mexico and Texas. The Valley County Project is currently being engineered by Power Engineering from Boise Idaho. They are currently conducting studies to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Montana Major Facility Siting Act, and the Montana Environmental Policy Act.

Power Engineering hopes to finish the Environmental Studies and Report by November of 2004 and have a final environmental document by June of 2005. The final engineering design plan would be completed by March of 2006 with construction beginning in May of 2006 and commercial operation to start in December of 2006.

The first phase of the project will be situated on 5000 acres and there are currently 2 wind towers operational with another two towers to be completed by the end of this week. These towers are used to gauge the amount of wind in the area and are used for engineering purposes.

Jon Chafin told the attendees at the meeting that approximately 100 construction jobs would be created with the construction of the project. When the project is completed they would need 4 to 5 employees to operate the facility. The General Electric Company would have the contract to construct the wind towers and the generating facility.

Another part of the project would be a proposed 35-mile 230-kilovolt-transmission line that would interconnect the proposed wind project to the new Antelope Creek Substation on the Western Area Power Administrations 161kv-transmission line west of Glasgow. Other facilities would include a new substation at the wind farm, an electrical collection system, access roads, and operations building.

As Jon Chafin told the group on Tuesday, Wind Hunter is serious as an “heart attack, about this project in Valley County and plans on pushing aggressively to make the wind energy facility a reality.

Relay For Life Has Another Successful Year (Posted Tuesday, August 17, 2004 09:36 AM)

The 2004 northeast Montana Relay for Life was a huge financial success with over $51,000 raised for the American Cancer Society.

The Relay for Life was held August 13th and 14th at the Glasgow High School Track and featured 26 teams raising money for the American Cancer Society. Organizers of the event told Kltz/Klan that the original goal was to raise $45,000 but they were very pleased with the $51,000 donated. A total of 1834 luminaries were sold by volunteer which helped raise a large portion of the $51,000.

The 2003 edition of the Northeast Montana Relay for Life was the largest per capita Relay for Life in the western region of the United State.

Organizers told Kltz/Klan that once all the figures are in that they hope to hold that title once again for 2004.

Smoke Hovers Over Montana (Posted Tuesday, August 17, 2004 07:01 AM)

Smoke from wildfires in Alaska, Canada and Washington state hovered over eastern and central Montana on Monday according to the National Weather Service.

Officials estimate that 75 to 80 percent of the smoke in Montana was from Alaska and the Northwest Territories. The other smoke is largely coming from wildfires in central Washington.

The National Weather Service has a website where you can get a look at the smoke plume that is ranging from Alaska all the way to South Dakota. The smoke is coming from several fires in Alaska and Canada which according to officials cover an estimated 2 million acres.

Here is the location of the website.
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/hms.html

Baucus Urges Full Funding For Amtrak (Posted Friday, August 13, 2004 11:34 AM)

Montana Senator Max Baucus today joined 50 of his colleagues in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund Amtrak in the fiscal year 2005 Transportation, Treasury and General Government Appropriations bill, saying the passenger rail provider needs additional dollars to help with equipment repair costs and to maintain the transportation system for another year.
           
Baucus said that keeping Amtrak up and running is vital to rural states like Montana because people rely on it to travel across the state for work and to visit family and friends. He said Montana’s Empire Builder, which provides rail service from Whitefish across the Hi-Line, is also critical to the state’s economy, accounting for thousands of good-paying jobs.
           
In a letter to the lawmakers, Baucus and the senators asked the panel to set aside $1.798 billion for the program nationally in fiscal year 2005, up from $1.218 billion in fiscal year 2004. The Bush Administration requested only $900 million in its fiscal year 2005 budget request to Congress. That lesser funding level would guarantee an end to the program, Baucus and the senators said.
           
“ In the past two years, Amtrak’s financial picture has been one of steady improvement,” Baucus and the senators wrote. “Amtrak has refocused its efforts on its core business – intercity passenger rail. Ridership is at record levels. For the first six months of FY04, ridership is on track to beat last year’s record of 24 million and core operating expenses decreased by $20 million. Amtrak’s CEO, David Gunn, has set forth an aggressive and much-needed five-year capital plan that will restore the railroad’s existing plant and equipment may be fortuitous given the rapidly escalating costs of fuel and the ongoing problems we face with congestion. It is therefore particularly important that we provide the traveling public with viable transportation alternatives such as Amtrak.”
           
The Empire Builder in Montana serves 12 communities along the Hi-Line, contributing an estimated $13 million per year to the economy of those communities, Baucus said.
           
“ Given Mr. Gunn’s proven track record of controlling expenses and improving the company’s operations, we support Amtrak’s FY05 funding request,” the lawmakers added. “Under the President’s FY05 budget request, the Administration requested only $900 million in funding for Amtrak. This level of funding would guarantee an end to the system-wide capital improvements now being undertaken by Amtrak and result in a shutdown of Amtrak’s operations. Similarly, amounts less than the $1.798 billion level will impede the urgent repair and upgrade of Amtrak’s capital assets, which will have significant negative impacts on the railroad’s operational efficiency, on-time performance, revenues, costs and ridership.”
           
“ As the appropriations process moves forward I’m committed to working together with members of the Appropriations Committee and the Montana delegation to protect the Empire Builder,” Baucus said.

Barstad Named New Basketball Coach (Posted Thursday, August 12, 2004 10:49 AM)

The Glasgow School Board has approved the hiring of Chuck Barstad as the new Head Boys Basketball Coach for the 2004-2005 season.

Barstad replaces Ryan Rebsom who resigned the head coaching position this spring to take a college basketball coaching position at Rockford University in Illinois.

Barstad served the past 4 years as Athletic Director for Glasgow High School before leaving that position at the end of the last school year. He currently teaches Health Enhancement at the Junior High Level. He is a graduate of Glasgow High School and MSU-Northern in Havre and previously coached in Hinsdale and Turner.

Hahn attends Warrior Forge (Posted Thursday, August 12, 2004 07:09 AM)

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - - For college students about to enter their senior year, life can be stressful. Making sure their final required courses fall in place, getting that résumé carefully crafted, and preparing for life in the "real world" can be hard enough on most students. But for the daughter of a Turner couple, college life this summer has gotten a whole lot tougher. Andrea C. Hahn, daughter of Gordon and Robin Hahn, spent over a month involved with an intense basic training of sorts for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets called "Warrior Forge."

The training prepares cadets throughout the nation between their junior and senior year of college to be commissioned in the U.S. Army following their graduation next spring. The training is a mixed bag of physical fitness, endurance, discipline, leadership and Army-unique training that will give the cadets a jump start when they enter either the active duty, Reserves or National Guard as a second lieutenant.

" We go to bed late and get up early," explained Hahn. "By noon, we have already been up and in training for seven or eight hours -- a civilian's full day of work! So far, I love the challenge and I am excited to partake in the rest of Warrior Forge."

During a 32-day span, cadets are put through a set of rigorous physical and mental tests that at times can stretch them to their limits. They start with the Army's strenuous physical fitness test with timed push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run. The cadets then go through a barrage of physical challenges that range from the rifle range to the gas chamber, swimming test with rifle and full uniform, and an obstacle course. The course also tests their leadership ability with a series of field problems designed to draw from what they've learned during three years of ROTC instruction.

" This training will enhance my leadership skills," said the cadet. "I will learn how to lead people that I may not even know and how to build a bond that will make for a powerful fighting force."

Hahn will head back to Eastern Kentucky University this fall, where she studies chemistry. "I will graduate from school and earn my commission as an Army officer next year," said the 2001 graduate of Glasgow High School. "I hope to work in the medical services branch of the Army."

For Hahn and her fellow cadets, it's been a summer that could shape the rest of their lives.

BNSF Officials Still Trying To Determine Derailment Cause (Posted Thursday, August 12, 2004 07:00 AM)

(AP) - Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials are still trying to figure out what caused a train derailment near Williston this week. Spokesman Gus Melonas says it was NOT sabotage.

The wreck early Tuesday spilled hundreds of tons of corn, damaged the track and blocked train traffic. It was cleared, repaired and reopened yesterday. Amtrak also uses the track for its Empire Builder line. Officials bused passengers between Minot and Havre after the Burlington Northern derailment. Amtrak rail service between the two cities resumed yesterday.

Melonas says cleanup could run through the week. And it could take a few weeks to cut up the wrecked rail cars for scrap. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Frazer Man Dies When He Jumps From Train (Posted Thursday, August 12, 2004 06:55 AM)

18-year old Frazer resident Eric Big Leggins was killed August 5th when he leaped from a moving train near Poplar and suffered fatal head injuries. Big Leggins body was found on August 11th in tall weeds just off the railroad tracks. Authorities report  that Big Leggins and a friend were riding the train when they both attempted to jump from the train. The friend jumped first and suffered head injuries and broke both ankles. He hit so hard that he didn't know what happened and he didn't see Big Leggins jump from the train. It took a full week before the victim's body was found in the tall weeds near Poplar.

The incident is still under investigation.

Hundreds Turn Out For KLTZ Anniversary (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 10:06 PM)

Thanks to everyone who stopped by during our 50th anniversary celebration on Wednesday! We had over 200 people in the studios during the open house and served about 470 people during our Listener Appreciation Picnic on Wednesday night!

Prize Winners for the KLTZ 50th Anniversary Open House and Picnic:

T-Shirt Winners
Milt Hallock
Glen Meier
Jeff Sather
Sherman Lacock
Shelly Sampson
John Peterson
Verlin Koenig
Judy Miller
Barney Schultz
Jerry Tade

$50 Chamber Big Bucks Winners
Vicky Stumvoll
Jeff Grewe
Chris Kristant
Diane Brandt
Samantha Floyd

Here are some pictures of the fun (please click on the small images for a larger view.)

Shirley receives a bottle of Elvis wine.	A busy open house.	The current station staff (front row: Lori Mason, Luke Hystad, Shirley Trang, Hootch Vegge. Back row: Rod Karst, Mary Nyquist, Stan Ozark, Tim Phillips, Gwen Page.)
Everyone had a good time and great food!

State Auditor Warns Montanans About Fake Insurance Companies (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 03:45 PM)

State Auditor John Morrison was in Glasgow on Wednesday as he tours the state warning Montanans about companies posing as legitimate insurance firms.

Morrison stated that there has been a huge increase in spam e-mail, faxes and even radio, tv and newspaper ads from companies offering unlimited insurance for very low fees.

The State Auditor advises Montanans to call his office before even contacting one of these companies. The toll free number is 1-800-372-6148.

2004 Jeff Jurgens Scholarship Winners Announced (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 09:22 AM)

The 2004 Jeff Jurgens Scholarship winners have been announced. Each received a $750 Scholarship for the 2004-2005 school year, for a total of $6,000 given.
The winners were selected by the Scotty Booster Club and Leah Arneson.
* Tami Barnard - Attending MSU Northern
* Tyler Edwards - Attending University of Mary
* Chelsie Pattison - Attending MSU
* Jessie Vold - Attending UND - Grand Forks
* Kayla Larson - Attending MSU
* Cami Collins - Attending MSU
* Date Doornek - Attending Minot State University
* Randy Elletson - Attending Dickinson State University

Region 6 Block Management Hunter Guides Available Aug. 16 (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 09:20 AM)

Hunter guides containing lists of the Block Management Areas (BMAs) in northeast Montana's Region 6 will be available August 16.
 
Block Management is a cooperative effort among Fish, Wildlife & Parks, private landowners, and public land management agencies to help landowners manage public hunting activities and provide free public hunting access to private and isolated public lands. The program began in 1985.

Hunter guides provide hunters with BMA names, locations, what types of hunting are allowed and a few other basics. Hunters who want a copy of the Region 6 BMA Hunting Guide may call the regional headquarters in Glasgow at 228-3700 or Havre area office at 265-6177 to be placed on the mailing list. Copies will also become available at these offices starting August 16.

Only Region 6 Hunter Guides are available in Glasgow and Havre FWP offices. To receive Block Management information for other Regions in the state, contact the FWP office in those areas. Additional Block Management information can be obtained on the FWP website at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/hunting/blockman/index.asp. BMA hunter guide requests can also be made on the FWP website at  http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/contact/blockorder.asp.

KLTZ Celebrates 50th Anniversary Today (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 06:49 AM)

KLTZ radio celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Bill Holter helped get things underway shortly after 9 a.m. on August 11th, 1954.

We invite everyone to stop by for our open house today, with tours of both stations and Shirley's Elvis collection! Our open house is from 10-3. The listener appreciation picnic is tonight starting at 5:30 in front of the station. We hope to see you during the open house and for those who won tickets, we'll see you tonight at 5:30 for the picnic!

Train Derailment Still A Mess (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 06:10 AM)

(AP) - Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crews are cleaning up the mess after a derailment near Williston. And Amtrak officials are awaiting word on when they can resume rail service between Minot and Havre, Montana.

Amtrak uses the B-N-S-F line. Until it reopens at Williston, passengers are being bused the 385 miles between Minot and Havre. B-N-S-F spokesman Gus Melonas says there are two sets of tracks in the area that were damaged and blocked by debris when the corn train derailed early yesterday morning. He says officials hope to have both lines open sometime this morning.

Thirty-one cars of the 110-car train jumped the tracks. Twenty-five of them spilled corn -- though how much isn't know yet. The cause is also still being investigated. No one was hurt.

The Williston derailment happened just ten days after a Burlington Northern train went off the tracks near Hillsboro, spilling processed sugar. Melonas says the cause of that wreck has not yet been determined. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Sheriff's Department Has Suspect In Burglary (Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2004 06:08 AM)

The Valley County Sheriff's Department now has a suspect in what could be the largest burglary case in the history of Valley County.

Valley County Sheriff Glenn Meier told Kltz/Klan that an investigation continues but no charges have been filed against a Valley County man who is regarded as the main suspect in the case. The man's name hasn't been released.

According to the Sheriff's Department, a home in St.Marie was burglarized on August 4th with the only item taken a small safe which contained over $54,000 in cash along with a rare coin collection.

Deputies recovered the door of the safe on August 6th and the rest of the safe on August 7th. Sheriff Meier said that a large portion of the $54,000 and the coin collection were recovered on August 9th.

The investigation does continue and Sheriff Meier said more information would be released in the coming week.

CRP Federal Register Notice (Posted Tuesday, August 10, 2004 03:01 PM)

President Bush announced that a Federal Register notice has been published that seeks public comment on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

The notice is intended to begin a national dialog on how to best maintain and expand the benefits of CRP. FSA is seeking public comment, among other things, on the following:

1.    how to manage the large acreage set to expire from CRP
2.    how to manage future CRP sign-ups and acreage
3.    how to evaluate the program’s environmental effectiveness
4.    how to better use information technology, such as Geographic Information Systems, that evaluate acreage for enrollment
5.    how to improve CRP, including the Conservation Enhancement Program, through partnerships that better address local environmental issues.

The Federal Register notice is available on the FSA website at www.FSA.usda.gov or copies are available at the Valley County FSA Office. Comments can be submitted via the internet or mailed to the Director, Conservation and Environmental Programs Division (CEPD), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Room 4714-S, Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 20250-0513. Comments must be received in writing by December 8, 2004. 

Fifteen Year Old Glasgow Boy Is Tower Vandal Suspect (Posted Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:29 PM)

A 15-year old Glasgow male is the suspect in the vandalism of the Valley County EMS Tower.

Law Enforcement authorities reported that on August 7th, the Valley County EMS radio communication tower was vandalized when the suspect used rifles to destroy the power meter, base station, air conditioning unit and communication shed door. The estimated cost of the vandalism is $20,000.

Law Enforcement Authorities told Kltz/Klan that Glasgow Police Chief Erickson questioned the suspect and the 15-year old admitted that he committed the crime. The suspect was then transported to the Valley County Courthouse where he was interrogated by a Valley County Sheriff''s Deputy. The case was then turned over to District Court Youth Probation Officer Melanie Sorenson.

The suspect has not yet been officially charged but could face the felony charge of criminal mischief.

The weapons involved in the incident were recovered by authorities.

BN Derailment Closes Tracks (Posted Tuesday, August 10, 2004 10:33 AM)

(AP) - A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train carrying corn has derailed just outside Williston, North Dakota. And the wreck has affected Amtrak service between Chicago and the West Coast.

Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching says he's not aware of any injuries in the derailment. But he says the scene is a mess. The wreck happened around 4 a-m. The westbound train went off the tracks on the southwestern outskirts of the city. Busching says he believes 31 cars derailed.

There is no immediate estimate on the amount of corn that spilled -- or on the damage or the cause of the wreck.

Amtrak uses the same tracks for its Empire Builder line. Spokesman Marc Magliari says passengers are being bused between Minot , North Dakota and Havre, Montana until the tracks at Williston are reopened. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Texas Company Plans To Place Wind Energy Facility In North Central Valley County (Posted Sunday, August 8, 2004 09:33 PM)

Wind Hunter, LLC. (formerly First American Energy) of Dallas, Texas plans to construct, operate, and maintain a wind energy facility in north central Valley County (please refer to the enclosed map for the proposed location). The project, known as the Westland Wind Project, is being proposed by Wind Hunter for two reasons: (1) to provide clean, reliable, competitive electrical power into the interconnected grid of the western United States, and (2) to accommodate future demand for power in Montana and the region. The project would not only bring non-polluting electrical power to homes and businesses, but would also bring tax benefits to Valley County and the State of Montana, and jobs during construction and operation of the project.

The project, when fully developed, will be capable of generating a total of 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity (enough to supply approximately 15,000 homes). In the project’s first phase, approximately 50 MW, or 34 wind turbines of 1.5 MW each, are proposed to be constructed on leased land in the area. Future phases of the project totaling an additional 250 MW would install and operate up to 170 more wind towers on private leased land, Montana state trust lands, or public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

A proposed 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line would interconnect the proposed wind farm to a new Western Area Power Administration substation, that would be known as Antelope Creek Substation located west of Glasgow and just east of Northwestern Energy’s Richardson Coulee Substation. The transmission line would utilize H-frame wood structures, spaced approximately 750-850 feet apart (depending on terrain). The transmission structures would be 65-75 feet in height and the proposed right-of-way would be 100 feet in width.

As a result of the project proposal, Wind Hunter is conducting studies to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Montana Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA), and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The U.S. Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will be the Federal and State lead agencies to complete the environmental review for the project. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be cooperating agencies for the environmental review.

A public meeting in Glasgow is planned for August 17th from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the proposed project. Meeting location, date, and time will be published in local newspapers. The purpose of the meeting will be to provide information to the public about the project and develop issues, concerns, and recommendations related to the proposed project.

Montana FFA Foundation Elects New Board Of Directors Members (Posted Thursday, August 5, 2004 11:16 AM)

The Montana FFA Foundation elected two new board of directors members at its semi-annual meeting in July. Sue Ann Streufert (Stroy-furt) and Belinda Darlinton were each elected to three-year terms.

Streufert is the director of member relations for Montana Farm Bureau in Bozeman. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in agricultural education. Darlinton is the senior credit officer for Northwest Farm Credit Services in Great Falls. She also is an MSU graduate, with a degree in agricultural business.

" I am excited to work with the Montana FFA Foundation," says Streufert, "It is amazing to have a hand in ensuring the future of agriculture in Montana."

Lee Boyer, of the Montana Department of Agriculture in Helena, was re-elected as a director and as the board's president. Ty Jones of Miles City was re-elected as vice-president, Cindy Luoma of Fairfield was re-elected secretary, and Streufert was elected treasurer.

The foundation also recognized retiring directors Diana Alkire of the Montana Farm Bureau in Bozeman and Bruce Glennie of Wells Fargo Bank in Glasgow.

The board of directors is made up of agricultural producers and business people from across Montana. The foundation's primary responsibility is raising funds to support the leadership and personal development of Montana FFA members.

FFA is a national organization of agriculturally educated students. Seventy-five chapters exist across Montana with over 2,500 students participating in the organization. FFA helps students develop their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information on the Montana FFA Foundation call its state office at (406) 587-4118 or see its Web page at: http://www.montanaffa.org.

FSA Reminds Prodcuers About Loans and LDP's (Posted Thursday, August 5, 2004 11:14 AM)

It is each producer’s responsibility to file form CCC-709, for crops delivered from the field to buyer, processor or warehouse BEFORE HARVEST. A separate form must be filed for each “specific” crop. These crops are eligible whether harvested for grain or hay.

Items to Remember:
You must retain beneficial interest, title, risk , and control of the commodity until delivered, fed, or sold;
After filing the CCC-709 you must either: provide the delivery tickets and settlement sheets, or weight tickets if delivered to a livestock producer, certify to the quantity and delivery date; or certify the harvest date and quantity for production fed during harvest.

Rail Crossing Upgrade Planned For Frazer (Posted Thursday, August 5, 2004 11:13 AM)

The Montana Department of Transportation is planning a railroad-crossing project to upgrade the existing signal system with the addition of gates on Main Street in Frazer, Valley County. The upgrade may result in a partial or total replacement of the signal system.

MDT is providing the funding while the railroad is responsible for the installation work. The department anticipates work to begin in the 2005 construction season.

For more information on this project please contact Ray Mengel, District Administrator PO Box 890, Glendive, MT 59330-0890, phone (406) 345-8212 or (888) 689-5296. For TTY (800) 335-7592.

Seven More Montana Fire Departments Receive FEMA Funds (Posted Thursday, August 5, 2004 06:09 AM)

LEWISTOWN - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today announced grants totaling more than $778,000 have been awarded to seven Montana fire departments. The funds, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will provide new equipment and general operational expenses to departments in Charlo, Chester, Culbertson, Kalispell, Lewistown, Polson, and Three Forks, Montana.

"Our local firefighters work tirelessly to protect their communities, often with inadequate funding for their departments and without the best equipment," Rehberg said. "With departments strapped for cash and fire season underway in Montana, I'm delighted to see these grants go to support their efforts and hard work."

Four of the grants announced today will fund the purchase of firefighting vehicles, including:

*        $225,000 for the Lewistown Rural Fire District
*        $179,100 for Kalispell's West Valley Volunteer Fire and Rescue
*        $143,982 for the Montecahto Rural Fire Department in Polson, and
*        $ 90,000 for the Charlo/Moiese Rural Fire Department in Charlo

The remaining grants announced today will help provide general operations and enhanced firefighter safety, and include funding in the amount of $84,000 to the Clarkston Fire Service Area #6 in Three Forks, $44,096 to the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, and $11,970 to the Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department.

"It's important to note that these were competitive grants, and the funds today represent an important federal investment in the work of the men and women who serve and protect our local communities," Rehberg said.  A member of the Congressional Fire Caucus, Rehberg has hosted several grant workshops throughout Montana to help rural fire departments secure federal grants.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Fire Fighters Grant Program. The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the U.S. Successful applicants had to demonstrate financial need and articulate the benefits to be derived from the grant funds in their applications.

Crazy Days Is This Weekend (Posted Wednesday, August 4, 2004 08:05 AM)

Crazy Days 2004 is set for this Friday and Saturday in Glasgow. The theme this year is Footloose, so everyone is encouraged to dress up in Footloose themed clothes.

There will be wet nerf ball throws on both Friday and Saturday, a balloon drop at 1 on Friday plus the Fort Peck Summer Theatre cast will perform in front of the old Valley Drug location at 12:30 on Friday and 1pm on Saturday.

There will be lots of food, of course, with many organizations sponsoring food booths.

Merchants will have sidewalk sales and crazy deals, and the auto, boat and implement dealers will put on displays on main street.

Ewe Lamb Replacement And Retention Payment Program (Posted Wednesday, August 4, 2004 08:01 AM)

On January 27, 2004, the Secretary of Agriculture announced that USDA will provide the U.S. lamb industry with $18 million in payments to sheep and lamb producers to encourage the replacement and retention of ewe lamb breeding stock. Proper clearance is still being sought for the proposed regulation and application form (FSA-384). Currently this form is not available.

An application sign-up period for program benefits has not yet been announced.

August 1, 2003 through July 31, 2004 is the time period when the ewe lambs should have been purchased or retained.

Maintaining adequate records is imperative to being eligible for program benefits. For further information or questions, please contact Sheri at the Valley County FSA Office at (406) 228-4321

Billings Engineering Firm TO Study Water Project (Posted Wednesday, August 4, 2004 07:58 AM)

(AP) - A Billings engineering firm has been hired to study an eastern Montana water project.

Interstate Engineering has been contracted to to the feasibility study for the Dry-Redwater Project. It would bring water to parts of Garfield, McCone, Richland, and Dawson counties.

Project spokesman Todd Kasten says this phase of the study will address potential users. The investigation will also identify possible water sources, water line routes and projected costs to build and operate the system. The probe will include McCone and Garfield counties, and the western edge of Richland and Dawson counties. It will include the towns of Circle, Richey, and Lambert. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Congressman Rehberg To Attend Water Project Ribbon Cutting (Posted Wednesday, August 4, 2004 07:56 AM)

Congressman Denny Rehberg will participate in the Dry Prairie Rural Water System Ribbon Cutting. Dry Prairie is a $200 million drinking water project to deliver water to Froid and Medicine Lake.

Last month, the House Appropriations Committee approved an additional Rehberg request of $4 million for the Dry Prairie Rural Water System for the coming year.

Big Sky Airlines CEO Resigns (Posted Wednesday, August 4, 2004 07:41 AM)

(AP) - The president and chief executive officer of Big Sky Airlines has resigned. Kim Champney's resignation was effective on Monday.

Company officials say he left to pursue personal interests. Board chairman Jon Marchi thanked Champney for six years of hard work and dedication.

Craig Denney is the company's chief operating officer. He will continue to be responsible for airline operations while chief financial officer Fred deLeeuw will assume the marketing and administrative functions.

Big Sky Airlines is a Billings-based regional airline that began service in September 1978. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Lewis & Clark Event Set For April 2005 (Posted Tuesday, August 3, 2004 05:34 AM)

A three day event will mark the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Lewis & Clark’s arrival at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers and their entry into what is now Montana.

The event will begin on Friday evening, April 29, 2005, with a panel discussion: “In the wake of Lewis & Clark,” hosted by Williston State College.

Saturday events will be held at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, part of Fort Buford State Historic Site. A buffalo stew feed will be held in Trenton, North Dakota, Saturday night, with entertainment by the Metis Fiddlers.

Sunday’s events will be held at Fort Union National Historic Site, located on highway 1804, about 24 miles west of Williston, North Dakota.

Featured speakers for the three day event will include: Clay Jenkinson as Meriwether Lewis, Hal Stearns as William Clark, the Lewis & Clark Honor Guard and James Hanson, Museum of the Fur Trade.

Activities will include traditional native encampments, historic encampments, hands-on demonstrations and activities.

For more information contact Diane Brandt, event coordinator, at 228-4614 or 1-800-653-1319.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks News (Posted Monday, August 2, 2004 10:29 AM)
Tentative antelope quotas drop in trio of hunting districts
Permit quotas for a trio of antelope hunting districts in northeastern Montana will be significantly lower than last year, if the state’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approves the reductions next week.

FWP wildlife biologists have spent the last several weeks aerially surveying antelope populations in eastern Montana, and they document fairly significant declines, especially in southern Phillips and Valley counties and northern McCone County.

Because of the declines, caused largely by last winter’s long and severe weather, FWP is proposing reductions of up to 50 percent in either-sex permits, and even more significant reductions in doe/fawn permits. In Hunting District 620 (southern Phillips County), where biologists documented a 23 percent drop in antelope this summer, the department is proposing to issue 500 either-sex permits, down from the 600 issued last year. Doe/fawn permits in HD620 would be cut from 200 to 100.

The decline in antelope populations in southern Valley County’s Hunting District 630 is even more severe, says biologist Pat Gunderson.

“ Surveys in 2003 indicated that the total population was at its highest level since 1993” in southern Valley County, he says. “Unfortunately, the severe winter of 2003-04 reversed that trend, not only with winter mortality but many animals also migrated south and didn’t return. The population estimate for 2004 is roughly 60 percent below the 2003 level.”
In HD630, either-sex permits are proposed to be reduced from 300 to 150, and doe/fawn permits cut from 50 to 10.

Gunderson conducted a total survey in Hunting District 650 and saw a population decline of about 55 percent from 2003 to 2004 in the district, which covers much of McCone County. Based on the survey, either-sex permits are proposed to be cut from 600 to 200 and doe/fawn permits from 100 to 10.

Antelope populations are faring better farther west in Region 6. Biologist Al Rosgaard reports slight declines from last year’s populations in northern Blaine and Phillips counties; in southern Blaine and Chouteau counties, populations are nearly the same as last year.

Tentative antelope quotas for other Region 6 hunting districts remain as proposed. They include: 800 either-sex and 200 doe/fawn permits in HD600 (northern Blaine and Phillips counties), 100 either-sex and 25 doe/fawn permits in HD610 (northern Hill and western Chouteau counties), 150 either-sex and 25 doe/fawn permits in HD640 (Daniels, Sheridan and eastern Roosevelt counties), 200 either-sex and 25 doe/fawn permits in HD651 northern Richland and eastern McCone counties), 200 either-sex and 25 doe/fawn permits in HD670 (northern Valley and northeastern Phillips counties) and 900 either-sex and 500 doe/fawn permits in HD690 (Choteau and southern Blaine counties).

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will finalize the tentative antelope quotas at its meeting next Thursday, Aug. 5, in Helena. Permits results will be posted on FWP’s web site (www.fwp.state.mt.us) and mailed in the days following the meeting.

Deer and elk permits are expected to be drawn later this week, and hunters should know the results of the draw by Saturday, July 31.

Aug. 19 meeting will discuss proposed river recreation rules
Northeast Montanans will have an opportunity to learn about, discuss and comment on rules that could help Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks manage recreation on the state’s rivers at a series of public meetings scheduled for next month.

“ The proposed river recreation rules are designed to provide FWP guidance on managing river recreation in order to prevent or resolve social conflicts,” says Charlie Sperry, FWP’s river recreation management specialist. The Region 6 meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the FWP regional headquarters on Highway 2 West in Glasgow.

The proposed rules reflect the recommendations of the River Recreation Advisory Council, public comments on the council’s recommendations and input from FWP and the FWP Commission. Under the proposed rules, future river management decisions must consider the public’s interests and data on river conditions. A citizens advisory committee would help develop local management plans to include local interest and the unique characteristics of a river or stream. The rules also provide direction on issues such as river outfitting, resident and nonresident use and rationing or allocation systems.

A copy of the proposed river recreation management rules can be obtained from the FWP web site at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/riverrecreation.asp or by calling (406) 444-3888. Written comments must be sent by Aug. 31 by email to " csperry@state.mt.us or by mail to: River Recreation Management Rules, Attn: Charlie Sperry, FWP, 1420 E. Sixth Ave., Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Glasgow-area Hunter Education class scheduled for week of Aug. 9
The summer’s final Hunter Education class in the Glasgow area is scheduled for the week of Aug. 9, with a mandatory field day on Saturday, Aug. 14.

Hunter Education is required of all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1985. Any youth who will turn 12 years old during this fall’s hunting seasons must complete Hunter Education before they can purchase or use a hunting license.

Classes, taught by volunteer instructors, will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on weekday evenings from Aug. 9 through Aug. 13. Students and their parents or guardians should sign up for the class on Friday, Aug. 6 at a brief session in the Quonset classroom located behind FWP’s Glasgow headquarters. Students will receive class materials and learn the venue for the class at the sign-up session.

The class size is limited to 25 students. To pre-register for the class, call FWP at 228-3700.

Crimestoppers Looking For Vandals (Posted Monday, August 2, 2004 10:23 AM)

The Glasgow Police Department is seeking help in finding the individual or individuals who vandalized windows at the Johnnie Cafe, the former Stan’s Bar building, the Montana Bar, and the former Pawn Shop building.

It appears a BB gun was used to shoot the windows. The vandalism possibly occurred on the night of July 30th or the early morning hours of July 31st.

Any information would be greatly appreciated; the caller may remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest. If you have any information on this crime or any other crime, please call the Crimestoppers number toll free at 1-800-222-2226.

Severe Thunderstorms Cross Eastern Montana (Posted Monday, August 2, 2004 10:20 AM)

Severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Montana over the weekend, bringing a little rain, some lightning and a lot of wind.

A trained weather spotter north of Hinsdale reported 65mph winds on Friday night. Over a quarter inch of rain was reported at the National Weather Service office in Glasgow on Friday night, but no damage was reported from the storm system.

Then in the early hours of Sunday, another severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Valley County. At 2:10 a.m. a wind gust of 71mph was recorded at the National Weather Service office in Glasgow.

West of Glasgow at Vandalia, a member of the public reported 2 power poles down, one on each side of the Milk River. Some trees were reported down as well.

Schweitzer Touts Highway 2 (Posted Sunday, August 1, 2004 10:43 AM)

Speaking with reporters in Havre, gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer Friday pledged to support efforts that will improve and repair vital sections of US Highway 2.

" Highway 2 is the lifeline of the Hi-Line," Schweitzer said. "It services 25% of our state and is an important economic corridor cutting all the way across northern Montana."

US Highway 2 runs from Montana's eastern to western border. Throughout the years, the highway has seen an alarming number of accidents and fatalities due to narrow shoulders and steep ditches. The dangerous condition of the two-lane highway has also been a major roadblock in the effort to attract new businesses and industries to the Hi-Line.  

" Nearly 100 years ago my grandparents homesteaded on the Hi-Line. I was born here and I've seen first hand how the failed leadership in Helena too often overlooks the needs of the folks who call the Hi-Line home," Schweitzer said. "When I’m Governor, I’ll see to it that the Hi-Line gets the attention it deserves."   

Schweitzer supports making US 2 into a four-lane highway between the cities of Havre and Harlem.

" Even the longest journey starts with a single step," Schweitzer said. "We can't make the whole highway four lanes all at once, but we have to start somewhere. As Governor, I‚ll see to it that the road from Havre to Harlem is that first step forward." 

Schweitzer vowed to work closely with Montana's Congressional delegation to pinpoint additional sections of Highway 2 requiring immediate assistance. "I'll work with the Congressional delegation to maximize use of our federal highway dollars ˆ doing everything we can to continue the necessary improvements to US 2," Schweitzer said.   

Schweitzer noted that improving road conditions on Highway 2 would encourage economic investment along the Hi-Line by providing a reliable and safe route for the transportation of goods and services.

State Representatives Jonathan Windy Boy of Rocky Boy and Bob Bergren of Havre joined Schweitzer at the press conference.

" With Brian Schweitzer as Governor the people of the Hi-Line will have a strong voice in the Governor’s office," Windy Boy said. "Schweitzer understands the important role Fort Belknap plays in Havre’s economy. Building four-lanes between Havre and Harlem will better connect our communities; so we can work together to attract new businesses, industries and better paying jobs."

Representative Bergren added, "It’s time for a Governor in Helena that won‚t forget about the Hi-Line. Brian Schweitzer understands just how critical it is to make necessary improvements to Highway 2. And I look forward to working with him to make it happen."

August Obituaries

Colleen Haskin Matthews

Colleen Haskin Matthews, age 45, died on Sunday, August 29, 2004 at the Saylor Ranch in Buffalo, MT. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 3 at 10:30am in Nashua, MT at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nashua.

Colleen was born July 14, 1959 in Sidney, MT to Bob and Irened Stordahl. Later the family moved to Billings, Glendive and Glasgow. Colleen graduated from Glasgow High School. On September 2, 1977. Colleen married Scot Haskin. They lived in Nashua and had a ranch in McCone County. Scot passed away on July 18, 1996. She worked for Farm Service Agency for several years. On November 1, 1997 Colleen married Steve Matthew and moved to Loring and later to Judith Gap. Colleen loved her family and family activities. Her greatest achievement was being an EMT which she did for 17 years. In 1993, she was chosen Montana's EMT of the Year. Colleen delighted in helping others.

Survivors include her husband Steve, daughters Michelle Feezell (Ryan) of Nashua, Jenny Haskin of Billings, her parents Bob and Irene Stordahl of Ft. Peck, and her sister Cindy Nass (Greg) and nephews Tyler and Blake of Walla Walla, WA.

Marion Evelyn Meidinger

Marion Evelyn Meidinger, age 79, passed away on Thursday- August 26, 2004 in Everett, Washington. Services are planned for Saturday - September 4, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Jay Ashbaucher officiating. Interment will be at Highland Cemetary. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Meidinger in 1991, her parents from California, and her brother Jack Bickels from Brookings, Oregon.

BORN: September 6, 1924 in Drexel Hills, Pennsylvania PARENTS: John and Dorothy Bickel Marion Meidinger. She was born in Drexel Hills, Pennsylvania on September 6, 1924 to John and Dorothy Bickel. Marion grew up in California and moved to Montana after her marriage to Elmer. They farmed in Fallon, MT, moved to Glendive, MT, and then to Glasgow in about 1959, where she resided with family the rest of her life. Marion dearly loved her family, friends, fellowship, and food. She was known for her famous caramel rolls and pies. She spent many Saturdays selling baked goods at the market. Her church was an important part of her life and she volunteered teaching Sunday school and working in the kitchen whenever she could. Marion enjoyed traveling all over to see her family and spent many times riding the train, which she so enjoyed.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Bacon and son of Bremerton, WA; Marietta and Howard Edwards and 2 children of Salem, OR; Diane and Richard Riegel and daughter of Hatboro, PA; Gloria Cote and 3 children of Bremerton, WA; Dorothy and Ed Foxworthy and 2 children of Bremerton, WA; Lorraine Meidinger of Salem, OR; Lavonne and Fred Francisco and 3 sons of Lamirada, CA; Renee Meidinger of Bedford, TX; and sons Delmer and Wilma Meidinger of Forsyth, MT; Duane, Cindy and 4 children of Glasgow, MT; and Mark Meidinger of Everett, WA. Marion was very proud of her 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Her surviving sister Edith Geluk lived in Arizona, and sister Nancy Wood and Bob Bickel live in California.

Clarence M. “Pete” Peterson

Clarence M. “Pete” Peterson, age 69, passed away on Friday – August 27, 2004 of cancer at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT. Services are planned for Wednesday – September 1, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. at the St. Mathews Episcopal Church in Glasgow, MT. Interment will be at Highland Cemetary. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Honorary Pallbearers Marvin Pishel, Glenn Miller, Kenny Miller, John Mackenzie, and Phill Scott.

BORN: April 12, 1935 at Park Grove, Montana PARENTS: Norris and Evelyn (Torgerson) Peterson Clarence was born in Park Grove, Montana on April 12, 1935. He graduated from Nashua High School and then Montana State University. He married Barbara Hoffman in 1957, they were later divorced. He was in the Army Reserve from 1957 to 1963. He worked for the State Highway Department, taught woodworking, and worked as a carpenter. He owned a shoe repair store for 16 years. Clarence worked for United Building Center as a paint manager along with driving the Valley County Transit Bus. He lived in the Glasgow area most of his life. Clarence enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, building, and flying remote control airplanes. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

SURVIVORS: 3 Sons: Mike Peterson and his wife Mary of Glasgow , MT Rick Peterson and his wife Kelly of Glasgow, MT Bob Peterson and his wife Angie of Bozeman, MT 2 Grandchildren 6 Step Grandchildren 1 Sister: Barbara Tihista and her husband Mike of Orting, WA along with their son Mike JR. Numerous friends and relatives.

Mabel Nelson

Mabel Nelson, age 77, passed away on Friday - August 20, 2004 of cancer at the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, MT. Services are planned for Tuesday - August 24, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. at the Hinsdale Legion Hall with Rev. Martin Mock officiating. Interment will be at Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale, MT. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Mabel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom, and her brother Jim Schultz.

Mabel's hands are now at rest. The hands that cared for and helped raise six siblings and five children, baked thousands of cookies and many loaves of bread, sewed beautiful quilts and Care Bears, and tended her yard and garden especially her lilacs have completed their work on earth. Mabel Nelson passed away August 20, 2004 at Valley View Home in Glasgow, Montana after a courageous battle with cancer. Mabel was born south of Hinsdale, Montana on March 12, 1927 to Luther and Hattie Yeska Schultz. She attended elementary schools at the Broadview and Steen schools before graduating from Hinsdale High School in 1945. After high school, Mabel attended college in Havre for a year, and then returned to south Hinsdale to teach in a country school. In 1950 she married Tom Nelson, and they began their married life north of Hinsdale. Tom and Mabel moved to town in 1955 where she resided until she moved to Glasgow in May of 2004. Mabel loved her home and spent many hours caring for her family and friends. She enjoyed serving cookies to the many people who stopped for coffee and a visit. She was an excellent seamstress who created Care Bears for her fourteen grandchildren.

She is survived by three daughters and two sons: Doris (Jim) Tollefson of Hinsdale, Bob (Jane) Nelson of Big Sandy, Carl (Nancy) Nelson of Deer Lodge, Kay (Giff) Fjeld of Hinsdale, and Sally (Jerome) Wendland of Park City. Two brothers and three sisters survive Mabel: Roy Schultz of Hinsdale, Bill (Lois) Schultz of Hinsdale, Joan Melby of Hinsdale, Frances (Art) Holter of Racine, Wisconsin, and Marguerite (Bob) Stefczak of Seeley Lake, Montana. Mabel is also survived by three sisters-in-laws: Darlene (Bud) Jones of Hinsdale, Alma Jensen of Hinsdale, and Adeline Bomsta of Spokane, Washington. Mabel is survived by 14 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donald “Bud” Hughes

Donald “Bud” Hughes, age 73, passed away on August 19, 2004 at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, Montana. Services are planned for Tuesday -August 24, 2004 at 10:00 A.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Montana with the Rev. Martin Mock officiating. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, Montana. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Darlene Nichols.

BORN: July 29, 1931 in Litchville, North Dakota PARENTS: Hugh and Emma (Tweit) Hughes Donald was born on July 29, 1931 to Hugh and Emma (Tweit) Hughes in Litchville, ND. He moved to Richland, Montana with his family and later moved to Glasgow, Montana. He attended schools in Richland and Glasgow. On October 6, 1951 he married Jeane Figmaka in Glasgow. He was employed by Montana National Guard receiving his honorable discharge in 1965. He was employed by the Avco Corporation and Tumpane Company at the former Glasgow Air Force Base. He later was employed at the Valley County Courthouse retiring in 1989. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and especially with his grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to go to the Valley Event Center in Glasgow, MT.

Survivors: Wife: Jeane of Glasgow, MT 1 Daughter: Barbara Gallagher of Glasgow, MT 1 Son: Mitch Hughes and his wife Mary of Glasgow, MT 4 Grandchildren: Steven Wieder, Tammy Gallagher, Karissa Hughes, and Dylan Hughes 2 Sisters: Marilyn Dykstra and Jackie Hughes, both of Glasgow, MT 1 Brother: Mike Hughes of Rockvale, MT.

Veleda Martha Malunat

Veleda Martha Malunat, age 102, passed away from natural causes on Friday - August 13, 2004 at the Valley View nursing home. Services are planned for Wednesday - August 18, 2004 at 10:00 A.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, MT with burial taking place at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, MT. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. PALLBEARERS: Jack Demko, Bus DeDobbeleer, Will Stahl, Sever Enkerud, Dave Clowes, Spike Rorvik. Preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry in February of 1970, her daughter Betty Lou Malunat Sharp in 2001, grandchildren Dean and Don Malunat, 3 brothers; William, Carl, and Rudolph Lindberg, 5 sisters; Elma Rindahl, Sarah Green, Marie Anderson, Hanna Larson, Esther Baker.

BORN: October 20, 1901 in New Richland, Minnesota PARENTS: Christian O. and Sofie Caroline (Halverson) Lindberg Veleda was born on October 20, 1901 in New Richland, Minnesota to Christian O. and Sofie Caroline (Halverson) Lindberg. Veleda graduated from High school in Okilee, Minnesota. She graduated from Mayville, North Dakota Teacher's College and taught at the Accord School near Whatley east of Glasgow for 2 years from 1922-1924 Veleda married Henry Malunat at Wolf Point, MT on May 5, 1925. She was active in the First Lutheran Church of Glasgow, Hospital Guild, B of LF & Engineman Society, Rebekah Lodge, County Homemakers, Arts & Crafts, Chairman of Valley County Fair. She traveled all over the U.S.A and abroad with her husband and friends. Memorials suggested to the Valley View Home or the First Lutheran Church.

SURVIVORS: Son: Don Malunat of Las Vegas. Nevada Son-in law: Kenneth Sharp of Ventura, California Richard Miller family and numerous cousins and nephews and nieces 8 Grandchildren 8 Great Grandchildren.

Lucille Jensen Barstad

Lucille Jensen Barstad, long-time resident of Glasgow, died of cancer at age 87 on August 16th at St. Vincent Health Care Center in Billings. She requested no services. A complete obituary will follow at a later date.

Ethel M. Drabbs Stender

Ethel M. Drabbs Stender, age 84, passed away from natural causes on Thursday - August 5, 2004 at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT. Services will take place at a later date in Hinsdale, MT. Interment will take place in Seattle, WA. Bell Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her sister Edna, brothers Russell and Foran Drabbs and both of her parents.

Ethel M. Drabbs Stender was born April 4th 1920 in Hinsdale to Frank H. Drabbs and Mary Sheehy Drabbs. She graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1938 and went on to attend the University of Montana in Missoula. Shortly after her admission into college she accepted a position with the FBI and moved to Washington. There she met and later married Ralph Stender on June 30, 1951 where they resided in Seattle. In 1982 she returned to Hinsdale to care for her mother and lived there until 2003 when she moved to Glasgow and lived at the Nemont Manor until her passing. Ethel accomplished great things in life and was loved by all. She was a model, an artist and a gourmet chef. Her witty sense of humor and quick smile were contagious to those around her. She will be remembered as a vibrant fun loving woman with a spunky attitude.

Survivors include brother Thomas of San Diego, CA and sister Mae Sanford of Miles City, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and two great great nephews. Ethel will be buried with her husband in Seattle. Memorial service will be held in Hinsdale, date to be announced.

Effie Marie Brandt

Effie Marie Brandt, age 103, passed away on Monday - August 2, 2004 of natural causes at the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana. Services will be held on Thursday - August 5, 2004 at 10:00 A.M. at the Bell Chapel in Glasgow, MT with Rev. Terry Brandt officiating. Bell Mortuary will be in charge of arrangements. Effie was preceded in death by her husband Otto and her son Ivan.

BORN: January 3, 1901 in Three Oaks, Michigan PARENTS: William Speyer and Mary Jane (Turner) Speyer Effie married Otto Brandt on June 8, 1920 in Minnewaukan, North Dakota. In the spring of 1921 they moved to north of Nashua, Montana where Otto had a sister, Rose Daley. Otto and Effie rented a farm 16 miles north of Nashua until 1927 when they bought a relinquishment homstead in the Bjorklund Community. They moved to the homestead and lived there from 1928 until 1984 when Otto moved into the Valley View Home and Effie moved into the Nemont Manor in Glasgow. Effie and Otto raised three children, Ivan, Gene, and Marle. Effie was self taught and was very artistic. She enjoyed painting, reading, sewing, tatting, crocheting, and was a great gardener. She was an excellent cook, a great cake decorator, and loved flowers.

SURVIVORS: Son: Gene Brandt and his wife Doris of Glasgow, MT Daughter: Marle Brandt of Sequim, Washington Daughter-in-law: Betty Brandt of Glasgow, MT 15 Grandchildren 29 Great Grandchildren 17 Great Great Grandchildren Several step-brothers and step-sisters.

Daniel I. Hammond

Daniel I. Hammond, age 88, a decorated WWII Army veteran and retired rancher, died Wednesday, January 28, 2004, at the Philips County Hospital of natural causes. Memorial services will be at 2:00 P.M., Friday, August 6, 2004 at the Adams Memorial Chapel with interment of ashes in the Veterans Section of the Malta Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Adams Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of arrangements.

Dan was born July 21, 1915, in Saco the son of William P. and Augusta L. (Schultz) Hammond. He was raised and educated in Saco area. He worked the family ranch until joining the Army in 1942. He served in the Southwest Pacific Theater in New Guinea, Bismarck-Archipelago, Southern Philippines and Luzon. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and two Purple Hearts. After his Honorable Discharge in 1945 he returned to the family homestead ranch at Saco. Dan and his brother Myron ran the family ranch. You could find Dan at the Hereford sales, often buying the Grand Champion or the Reserve Grand Champion bulls. He retired in 1974 and he moved to Malta. Dan had a great sense of humor and enjoyed having coffee with his many friends. He was proud of his cattle, garden and lawn. He would always be willing to help anyone who needed it.

Survivors include his sisters, Lorene Riddle of Bullhead, Arizona, Gertrude Craig of Dallas, Texas, Eva M. Davis of Great Falls, Montana; several nieces and nephews and many old time friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother's Myron, Earl, Jerome and Gail.