KLTZ/MIX-93 February 2001 News

During Deregulation Uncertainty, Co-op Customers Look Ingenious (2/28)

BN Sues To Stop Tribal Utility Tax (2/28)

Local Representatives Take Time Out To Talk To Glasgow (2/27)

GHS Trust To Meet May 15-17 in Reno, Nevada (2/24)

Nashua Old Fashioned Amateur Hour Entries Now Being Accepted (2/23)

Governor Appoints Jim Rice To Fill High Court Vacancy (2/23)

Montana Author Dies (2/23)

Fort Peck Summer Theatre Wish List (2/22)

Williston Representative Apologizes For Montana Comments (2/22)

Man Pleads Guilty In Stabbing Death Of Mother, A Former Montanan (2/22)

Glasgow School Board Facing Cuts (2/22)

Kitzenberg Sees Two Bills Die (2/20)

Kiwanis Update (2/20)

Peggy Ost Wins Ice Fishing Tourney (2/19)

Corps Suspends Flow Test Due To Low Water At Fort Peck (2/15)

Amtrak's Hi-Line Ridership Up 4.5 Percent

Kitzenberg Four-Lane Bill Passes First Senate Vote (2/12)

Kitzenberg Four-Lane Bill Set For Debate Today (2/12)

Legislative Update (2/10)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks Buffet Dinner Set For February 27 (2/9)

Wolf Point Hosts Agri-tourism/Lewis & Clark Workshop On Monday, February 19, 2001 (2/9)

Highway 2 Bill And Ethanol Bill Both Pass Committee (2/8)

Progress Continues On Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum (2/8)

Snowball Dance (2/6)

Ice Fishing Tournament Set For Saturday (2/6)

City Council Passes Non-smoking Resolution (2/6)

Fort Peck Summer Theatre 2001 Shows Announced (2/6)

Representative Pattison Weekly Update (2/4)

North Dakota Governor Supports Four-Lane Highway (2/4)

Memorial Fund Established For Phillips County Deputy (2/3)

Montana Communities To Celebrate 'Teen Day' (2/1)

Glasgow Youth Receives West Point Appointment (2/1)

National Weather Service January Summary (2/1)

McCone County Qualifies For Disaster Funding (2/1)

Phillips County Deputy Dies In Fall (2/1)

(AP) Two years ago, while the Montana Power Company was drafting deregulation plans, Montana's 26 rural electric co-ops were locking up long-term electricity contracts to supply their customers. That means most co-op customers will be in far better shape next year, when Montana Power is shopping for electricity on the open market.

Over the past year, wholesale electrical prices have skyrocketed.

Right now, a long-term contract for a sizable load would likely cost at least 100-dollars per megawatt hour.

Most co-ops right now are paying 25 to 35 dollars per megawatt hour. That was slightly above the market rate when the contracts were signed, but the co-ops wanted to lock in a stable rate. The earliest those contracts expire is 2007. Some of them extend for more than 20 years. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Billings-AP) -- Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad is suing, to stop the Fort Peck Tribes from collecting a four-percent utility tax. At stake is two-and-a-half million dollars a year in tax revenue, for the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes on the northeastern Montana reservation.

The railroad wants a judge to declare the tax invalid. B-N-S-F also seeks an injunction, aimed at stopping legal proceedings against the railroad that began earlier this month in tribal court.

The B-N-S-F action was a direct result of a lawsuit that arose on the Crow Reservation. In that case, Big Horn County Electric Co-op successfully challenged a three-percent utility tax, that was being imposed by the Crow Tribe. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Montana Legislature is in recess now for their mid-session break and the two State Representatives who serve Valley County stopped by the KLTZ/KLAN studios on Monday morning for a live interview.

Education was a hot topic discussed between the two legislators as the State of Montana struggles with education funding.
Both Karl Waitchies and Jeff Pattison stated that their is shortage of money for the state budget and it remains to be decided if public schools in Montana will receive an increase in state funding.

In particular the Glasgow school district is struggling with declining enrollment and will have to make budget cuts totalling over $160,000 for the next school year. This include 6 or 7 teachers released along with the closure of the South Side Elementary School.
The two legislators said the actual money for education might not be decided until the final days of the legislative session when revenue estimates are complete and the spending bills are ironed out.

In any case it didn't appear that there was much hope for more money coming to Montana's public schools.

Waitchies and Pattison both reiterated their support for Senator Sam Kitzenberg's legislation that would make U.S. Highway #2 a four lane highway. The bill has passed the Senate and will be sponsored in the House by Waitchies.

Waitchies stated that the highway bill stands a decent chance of passing the House but money is tight and that could swing the balance whether it passes or not.

All GHS alumni are invited to attend a meeting of the Glasgow High School Educational Trust May 15-17, 2001, in Reno, Nevada. The meeting will be held at Harrah's.

The Trust was started by the class of 1938 and 1964 to provide financial assistance to alumni pursuing post secondary education. Over 430 students have received aid since 1965. The total value of these gifts is $398,450. Students in their second year of college or second semester of vocational/technical school are eligible for gifts. The awards are based primarily on need, rather than scholarship, and average students who are showing good progress and commitment 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.

The Trust also purchases equipment for the high school which cannot be financed within the regular budget. To date, $86,644 has been given to GHS for such needs.

Every other year, dozens of GHS alumni gather at a designated location in Nevada to review the Trust's business and enjoy old friendships. Please join them this year.

For more information, e-mail John Wagenhalls at: jwagenhall@aol.com

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first three places in each category and age group.

The deadline to enter the Amateur Hour is Monday, April 16.

Entries may be sent to Nashua Lions Club, Box 227, Nashua, MT 59248. Call 406-746-3227, 406-746-3345, or 406-785-4531 for more information.

This family-oriented event has drawn contestants from Saco to the eastern border of Montana over the past several years.

Proceeds from the Amateur Hour go towards Lions Club projects, such as Leader Dogs for the Blind and SightFirst. The Nashua Lions Club also helps sponsor scholarships for those wishing to attend Camp Diamont, a camp for children with diabetes and has helped several Valley County residents purchase eyeglasses.

(Helena-AP)

Governor Judy Martz has appointed Helena lawyer and unsuccessful Republican attorney general candidate Jim Rice to the state Supreme Court.

Rice will fill the seat left vacant when Justice Karla Gray was elected chief justice last fall.

Rice's appointment still faces confirmation by the state Senate, and he'll have to run for election in 2002 to stay in office.

The 43-year-old Rice ran for attorney general last fall, losing the election to Democrat Mike McGrath.

Rice also is a former state representative. He was first elected to the House in 1988, and served as the majority whip in the 1993 Legislature. The Glasgow native and his wife have three children. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Helena-AP)

A prolific Montana journalist, humorist and author is dead at age 59. Dan Vichorek died last weekend, of natural causes, at his home in rural Helena.

Vichorek wrote about Montana's people, wildlife and culture. The Livingston native was a Marine veteran, and a journalism graduate of the University of Montana, where he edited the Kaimin newspaper. He was a reporter for The Billings Gazette, The Montana Standard and the Chicago Tribune.

He contributed articles to magazines, and wrote four books about Montana, including the popular "Montana's Hi-Line," which chronicled an Amtrak train ride across Montana's northern tier of cities.

At the time of his death, Vichorek was a technical writer for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Spring cleaning in your future? Things around your house you don’t need? Things that are in good shape and have lots of life?

Perhaps the Fort Peck Theatre can help you out. The group’s annual garage sale is scheduled the morning of March 31, and all items are welcome, but there are special needs as well.

Several items are needed at the Theatre and at the Theatre staff housing, explain Chris Kristant and Ryan Grigg. They arrived in January to get an early start on projects for the summer season and to do regular maintenance on the housing. Both are employed as actors with this season’s company. They have put together the following list of tools and furnishings:

scaffolding and/or a lift
40 foot, A-frame ladder with extension
pickup truck with trailer hitch
reciprocating saw
4 inch belt sander
orbital palm sander
12 or 14 volt cordless drills
“C” clamps
sofas
kitchen tables and chairs
microwave oven
office desks
toilet
dressers
washer and dryer

For more information on the Theatre’s needs, contact Kristant or Grigg at 228-9216.

(Seattle-AP)

A Washington state man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, in the December stabbing death of his mother.

The victim was a former Montana woman -- 54-year-old Peggy Ann Corne -- who grew up on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

His lawyer says 28-year-old James Corne has serious mental problems, and "admitted he made a terrible mistake" when he attacked his mother with a butcher knife, at her home in Auburn, Washington.

Corne originally was charged with first-degree murder, which carries a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. Under Washington state guidelines, he could face 14 to 22 years behind bars, when he's sentenced March 23rd. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Williston, North Dakota-AP)

A North Dakota lawmaker has apologized, for referring to Montanans as an "anti-tax, redneck" breed, during a debate in the North Dakota House.

Representative Earl Rennerfeldt, of Williston, says he was just joking about Montanans' historical opposition to a sales tax. Rennerfeldt says he's sorry if his comments offended anyone.

His remarks came last week, during a House debate on legislation to change North Dakota's sales tax exemption for shoppers from Montana and Canada.

Williston Mayor Ward Koeser says he was shocked by Rennerfeldt's comments. The mayor says Williston has spent a lot of time and energy to build a good relationship with Montana. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Glasgow School Board is facing tough decisions in the coming months as they decide how to cut $166,082 from the districts general fund budget.

Glasgow school superintendent Glenn Monson told Kltz/Mix 93 news that the board met on Monday to start putting together some ideas on how to cut the budget in a way not to harm the educational process in Glasgow. Monson said not only will the board have to cut $166,000 from next years budget but they will also face extra costs including a 15 percent increase in utility costs which will amount to an estimated $60,000 extra. The district also is obligated for another $36,000 in experience level increases for certified staff working for the school district.

This amounts to $262,000 which will have to be cut from the schools budget.

When the board met on Monday they outlined some of the possible areas where the budget could be sliced.

Those items include a $20,000 cut in the districts activity budget. A rise in prices for lunch tickets and a cut of $3000 in the school foods budget. A $17,500 cut in the schools supply budget, reducing the districts teaching staff by six or seven teachers which could save $150,000. Closing the South Side School which would save $100,000 and reducing equipment purchases by $11,000. The district will also reduce contracted services and save $20,000.

These budget cuts aren't finalized but are currently on the table and will be discussed at a public meeting on Tuesday March 6th at the GHS auditorium. The meeting will begin at 7pm and all legally possible alternatives will be open for discussion along with explanations of why some items can't be reduced.

KLTZ will air a Community Corner with Monson on Thursday, February 22nd, at 1:30pm

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg had two bills die during committee action last week at the Montana Legislature.

Kitzenberg sponsored SB 409 which would of created three new state parks in northeast Montana. The legislation was tabled in committee on Friday in the Senate Fish and Game Committee.

The bill would of created a Lewis and Clark State Park near Wolf Point along with an Educational State Park adjacent to Kiwanis Park in Fort Peck which would of included an IMAX theatre. The third park would of been built in Phillips County and would of been called Homestead State Park.

Another bill tabled in committee was SB 452 which would of prohibited the use of pepper spray in juvenile detention facilities. This bill was tabled yesterday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

	Glasgow's High School wrestling coach Mark Johnston made his annual visit to a recent noon luncheon meeting of the Glasgow Kiwanis Club. His presentation included updates on team members and prospects for the upcoming tournament matches. Glasgow Kiwanis meets each Wednesday at noon at the Elks.
	Every February members of the Glasgow Kiwanis Club invite their sweethearts to a banquet in celebration of St. Valentine's Day. This year nearly 40 members and guests dined at the Cottonwood Inn and were entertained following the meal by musical selections from John Campbell, Pam Marks and Karen Wall with technical assistance from Bill Marks.
	A recent guest at Glasgow Kiwanis Club was Chuck Carlson who showed slides from his vast library of native and migrating bird species, sharing his knowledge and answering questions during the noon luncheon. For membership information, please call Bill at 228-9225 or Lila at 228-4346.

Peggy Ost of Nashua caught over sixteen pounds of Lake Trout on Saturday, during the Glasgow Chamer of Commerce and Agriculture's annual ice fishing tournament at Fort Peck Marina.

There were 55 individuals entered in the tournament, with 151 holes sold.

A total of $3,100 was paid out to the top 6 places:

(AP) -- The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is suspending plans to test modified flows, from the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River, due to low water in the reservoir. The corps says the test would have evaluated impact of higher-than-normal spring and summer flows, released in combination from both the powerhouse and spillway.

Larry Cieslik is chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. He says snowpack in the mountains is only 60 percent of normal, and the reservoir is 12 feet below normal. Cieslik says it is highly unlikely the snowpack would provide sufficient water, to allow adequate releases over the emergency spillway to conduct the test this year.

The modified flow tests were tied to determining the impact on three endangered species of fish and birds, that use the Missouri River system. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Amtrak ridership along the Hi-Line was up four-and-a-half percent last year. That's a big rebound from 1999, when passenger numbers dropped off considerably.

The Amtrak Empire Builder parallels Highway Two, and there are twelve Montana stations, from Wolf Point in eastern Montana to Libby in the northwest corner. Nine of the 12 saw passenger increases.

In Whitefish, the busiest Montana station, the number of riders boarding and getting off was up more than 29-hundred, totaling more than 57-thousand for the year.

Glasgow's numbers were up .4%, from 5,668 in 1999 to 5,688 in 2000.

Senator Max Baucus says the increase will provide a boost for Hi-Line commerce. Democrat Baucus plans to meet with Amtrak officials next month in Washington. He'll lobby Amtrak to add express rail car service for shipping. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Senator Sam Kitzenberg's bill that would make U.S. Highway #2 a four lane highway has passed the State Senate on a voice vote of 50-0.

This bill still has one vote left in the Senate before it will move on to the House of Representatives.

The legislation passed a Senate committee on Thursday with two amendments including one amendment that states:

THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT MAY NOT EXPEND ANY RESOURCES ON THE U.S. HIGHWAY 2 PROJECT THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE ANY FUTURE HIGHWAY PROJECTS.

Another amendment states:

THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A STATE FUNDING MATCH FOR THE U.S. HIGHWAY 2 PROJECT.

The legislation is expected to come up for another vote in the Senate sometime this week.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg's bill that would make U.S. Highway #2 a four lane highway across the northern tier of Montana is set for debate and a vote in the State Senate today.

The Senate will convene at 12:30pm today and the highway bill is item number 10 on the agenda.

The highway bill passed a Senate Committee on Thursday and Kitzenberg told KLTZ/Mix-93 news that he is looking forward to a vigorous debate on the Senate floor.

The legislation was amended in committee with amendments that state that:

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A STATE FUNDING MATCH FOR THE U.S. HIGHWAY 2 PROJECT.
(3) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT EXPEND ANY RESOURCES ON THE U.S. HIGHWAY 2 PROJECT THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE ANY FUTURE HIGHWAY PROJECTS.

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation today.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg saw two of his bills pass a senate committee Thursday and move to the Senate floor.

A bill that would require the State of Montana to make US Highway 2 a four lane highway passed committee muster Thursday but with an amendment that could make it hard to find funding to make it a reality. Kitzenberg told KLTZ/Mix-93 news that the committee insisted on adding an amendement that forbids any state money already appropriated for other state projects to be used to pay for the four-lane highway. The bill now moves to the floor of the Senate where it is expected to be brought up for consideration early next week.

Also passed out of committee is a bill that would have the state of Montana purchase renewable fuel vehicles for the state fleet. Kitzenberg's original bill would have had the state purchase 5 percent of their vehicles to run on renewable fuels but the committee pared that down to just 5 vehicles this year and 5 next year.

A renewable fuel vehicle is a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than gasoline.

Also yesterday an estimated 40 people got on a Glasgow school bus at 3am and rode to Helena to encourage the Montana Legislature to increase funding for Montana education. The Glasgow school board sponsored the bus with people from all across eastern Montana making the trip.

The Glasgow school district is one of many districts that is hurting financially because of declining enrollments.

According to school teacher Gordon Hahn, Glasgow has had to cut over a half million dollars from it's budget over the past 5 years and Hahn says it's time for the state to increase funding for public education.

Currently the Montana Legislature is considering several bill dealing with funding for education, including the Governor's bill, which would provide no increase for education the first year and just over 13 million dollars in the second year of the state budget.

Jim Satterfield, Region 6 Supervisor with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, would like to extend an open invitation to the public to attend a buffet dinner on February 27th at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow honoring the department’s centennial year.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the FWP. New director, Jeff Hagener, and assistant director, Rich Clough, will be in attendance for the program.

Following dinner will be a showing of FWP’s centennial video and a brief update on the progress regarding the department’s 6-year plan. A question and answer session will conclude the program.

Please RSVP your attendance to 228-3700 by February 19th.

Farmers and ranchers in northeastern Montana are invited to learn about and discuss the educational, economic, and networking opportunities offered by the upcoming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial at a February 19, 2001, workshop at the Sherman Inn in Wolf Point.

The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes a lunch. The registration fee is $40. To register, call Travel Montana, 444-2654. Pre-registration is suggested.

The workshops, entitled "The Corps of Rural Discovery: Lewis & Clark Visitors Among Montana's Ag Community," are designed to help farmers and ranchers identify ways to benefit from the upcoming bicentennial observance in 2003-2006. The topics to be covered include:

* Educational Opportunities: How to tell agriculture's story to urban visitors, showcasing land stewardship; * Economic Opportunities: Diversifying an ag operation with a recreation business, assessing the costs and benefits; * Networking Opportunities: Using the upcoming bicentennial to develop stronger urban/rural relationships and cultural exchange.
The workshop is sponsored by the Montana Commerce Department's Economic Development Division and Travel Montana; Montana Stockgrowers Association, MSU Extension; Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, and the Montana Agriculture Department. - more - At the Wolf Point workshop, 3 area farm or ranch operators will share their "real life" experiences in adding a recreation business to their agricultural operation. Also, a local Lewis & Clark Bicentennial organization representative will talk about local planning efforts. The Wolf Point area presenters include:

* Wagner Harmon, Montana River Ranch Country Inn, Bainville * Marcia Foss, Foss Wagon Train & Cattle Drive, Culbertson * Patti Armbrister, Rock Creek Lodge, Hinsdale * Linda Twitchell, Northeastern Plains L&C Bicentennial Commission, Wolf Point
Other workshop presentations and presenters include:

* Farm/Ranch recreation business cost/benefit analysis by Dave Sharpe, Community Development Specialist, MSU Extension, Bozeman * Customer expectations and marketing by Bill Bryan, President, Off The Beaten Path, Bozeman * "Undaunted Stewardship" program by Steve Pilcher, Executive Vice President, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Helena * "Telling Agriculture's Story" by Barb Wilkinson, Director of Communications, Colorado Livestock Association, Golden, CO, and Matthew McKamey, Marketing Officer, MT Department of Agriculture, Helena * Montana's Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Planning by Clint Blackwood, Executive Director, MT Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Helena * "Montana's Lewis & Clark Story Where You Live" by Hal Stearns, Education Committee Chairman, MT Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Missoula
Registration forms and agenda information are available by contacting Travel Montana, 444-2654, and the Montana Stockgrowers Association, 442-3420. A workshop agenda is attached.

The Corps of Rural Discovery: Lewis & Clark Visitors Among Montana's Ag Community
An Agriculture & Tourism Industry Workshop Agenda

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration

9-9:15 a.m. Workshop Introduction: Lewis & Clark Visitors Among Montana's Agriculture Community: An Opportunity Knocking Presenter: Victor Bjornberg, Tourism Development Coordinator, Travel Montana, Helena, MT

9:15-9:30 a.m. Undaunted Stewardship: A Montana Agricultural Family Program for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Presenter: Steve Pilcher, Executive Vice President, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Helena, MT

9:30-10 a.m. Setting the Stage: Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Visitors & Planning Presenter: Clint Blackwood, Executive Director, Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Helena, MT

10-10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Education Opportunities:

* 10:15-11 a.m.: Cross Cultural Exchange - The Ag Land Steward and the Lewis & Clark Traveler. Presenters: Bill Bryan, Off The Beaten Path, Bozeman, MT; Farm/Ranch Recreation Business Operators from workshop area

* 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Telling Agriculture's Story Presenters: Barb Wilkinson, Director of Communications, Colorado Livestock Association, Golden, CO; Matthew McKamey, Marketing Officer, MT Agriculture Department, Helena, MT (cont'd)

12:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch Presentation: Montana's Lewis & Clark Story Where You Live Presenters: Hal Stearns, Education Committee Chair, Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Missoula, MT; Clint Blackwood, Executive Director, Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Helena, MT

1:30-4:00 p.m. Business Opportunities:
* 1:30-2:45 p.m. Farm and Ranch Recreation Businesses Presenters: Dave Sharpe, Community Development Specialist, MSU Extension, Bozeman, MT; Farm/Ranch Recreation Business Operators from workshop area.
2:45-3 p.m. Break

* 3-4 p.m. Visitor Expectations and Marketing Presenters: Bill Bryan, Off The Beaten Path, Bozeman, MT; Farm & Ranch Recreation Business Operators from workshop area

4-4:30 p.m. Lewis & Clark Planning and Happenings In The Local Area. Presenters: Representatives from area Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Committees and other resources.

Thank you for your participation in the workshop which is co-sponsored by:

MSU Extension Montana Stockgrowers Association Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission Montana Agriculture Department Montana Commerce Department's Economic Development Division, Small Business Development Centers, and Travel Montana

Senator Sam Kitzenberg's bill to work on turning Highway 2 into a four-lane across Montana (SB 3) passed out of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee on Thursday. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for debate.

Also, SB 320, Kitzenberg's bill to require the purchase of some state vehicles that burn ethenol also passed out of committee on Thursday.

We'll have more details for you on Friday.

Also, a bus left at 3am Friday morning for Helena from Glasgow to attend a forum to encourage the Montana Legislature to increase funding for education.

The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum continues to progress according to Peg O'Brien who is the Chief of Natural Resources for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

O'Brien told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that the contract for construction of the center will be awarded in June and groundbreaking will take someplace this summer.

Construction will include an 8000 square foot hall which will feature the three themes of the Interpretive Center. This history of the construction of the Fort Peck Dam, the story of the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge and the paleo story featuring life size models of dinosaurs such as the T-Rex.

Also constructed will be a seperate wing with office space and a multi-purpose room.

The cost to build and design the center will be an estimated $6million dollars which O'Brien said is what it is taking to design and build a first class facility.

She expects the design to be completed in 30 days and the contract awarded in June.

The annual Glasgow High Snowball Dance was held on Tuesday night. KLTZ/MIX-93's Jason Baker, who joined the staff last week, kept the hits going with the traveling music show; over half the student body turned out for the dance. (To see a larger picture, click on the small ones below).

Time out for a picture...	Watching the singing Scottie wrestlers...	Scottie wrestlers sang "Time of Your Life"

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will be holding their annual ice fishing contest at the Fort Peck Marina on Saturday, February 17th, from noon to 3pm. 200 ice holes will be pre-drilled. Participants must be 18 years old and children may fish with their parents.

The largest fish of any species weighed in will win $1,000. Bring your chair of choice and join in the wintertime fun. For more information contact the Glasgow Chamber at 228-2222.

The Glasgow City Coucil passed a resolution Monday night making the Glasgow Civic Center a smoke free facility. Council member Marlene Jackson vehemently opposed the measure saying the council was discriminating against her and taking away her rights.

The council chambers had been the only part of the civic center that smoking had been allowed but a group of community members with the Valley county Tobacco Prevention Coalition came before the council last month and asked them to make the council chambers smoke free. Currently the chamber has a fan but that blows the smoke into the gym area.

After a lengthy debate the council voted 5-1 to make the Civic Center a smoke free facility.

The council also appointed Nikki Friede to term on the Glasgow Recreation board that will end on April 18th of this year. Friede will fill out the remaining term of Mary Skordinsky who resigned from the board in January.

Also appointed to the Glasgow Housing Authority was Larry Virts who take over the position held by Dale Garvey who resigned.

The council took under advisement a proposal by Scot Dahms who was seeing permission to trap fur bearing animals in the Sullivan Park and lagoon areas. The council agreed to have the city attorney check out boundary lines in that area to see where the city property begins and ends.
The council awarded Morrison and Mairleigh the engineering contract for the water and sewer pipe retrofit that is scheduled for this year. That projectis expected to cost an estimated $130,000. Interstate Engineering was awarded the engineering contract for the CTEP sidewalk project which is expected to cost $150,000.

Mayor Zeller brought to the council an idea to possibly consolidate the positions of City Judge and Justice of the Peace. Currently the city expends $44,646 for the city judge position. Valley County funds the Justice of the Peace and state law now allows the consolidation of the two positions. The council will contact the county about the possibility of that consolidation.

The agenda is set for the 2001 summer season at the Fort Peck Theatre in Fort Peck. Alice in Wonderland kicks things off, followed by Clue, The Musical, and Camelot. A guest presentation of the Dirty Shame Show from Scobey on July 4, and several performances of Greater Tuna promise to be summer highlights.

Mary Strand, who chairs the summer theatre board for the Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, Inc., said the board considered many options before making a final decision on the line up. "Coming off the success of last year's season, which was all musical, the board feels we have the energy and momentum for another very challenging summer. Our audiences love musicals, and so we chose what we feel will be a solid schedule. Some of it will be familiar, and some will be new to most people."

New to Fort Peck, Clue, The Musical, is based on something found in nearly every home: the board game "Clue." Words such as Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, the conservatory, the billiard room, and the candlestick will revive memories for many. The plot revolves around a group of murder suspects holed up in the home of Mr. Boddy, who is the show¹s narrator and the murder victim. "Make plans to come often as each performance will have a different ending," Strand says.

The inspired madness and wisdom of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland will give the season a vigorous, fun start. This story has delighted young and old since its first publication in 1865.

The Fort Peck musical will be a straightforward representation of Alice, a dreamy, Victorian child who encounters a menagerie of fanciful characters as she meets the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

The season winds up with Camelot, an account of King Arthur¹s first years with Guenevere, her attraction to Sir Lancelot, and the final dissolution of the Round Table.
Love songs that live in everyone¹s memory such as If Ever I Would Leave You, I Loved You Once in Silence, and How To Handle A Woman, not to mention Camelot itself will delight all.
Each production will run for four weekends: Alice in Wonderland, June 15 to July 8, Clue The Musical from July 13 to Aug. 5, and Camelot from Aug. 10 to Sept. 2. Performances are scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Advance tickets and reservations are available from the Theatre box office, 406-228-9219.
Located in Fort Peck, the historic Theatre has been home to live summer theatre
since 1970, produced by the Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, Inc.

When Thomas Edison came up with his "bright idea" to harness the awesome power of electricity, he naturally cornered the market for his product. At first, he was the only one with the technology to light the country's homes, and initially each structure was lit individually. In short order, groups and clusters of homes were able to be served with a single generation system. It seemed that everyone wanted the service and so the first utilities approached the city of Chicago to set up an unusual arrangement: the utility agreed to supply every citizen with power at a reasonable price. In return, they would be granted the privilege of being the only supplier, and would be guaranteed a reasonable price for the product. In exchange for the monopoly, the utility agreed to open itself to regulation.

That system remained in place for the better part of the last century. It is important to remember that there were three major components of the utility; it controlled the supply, transmission and distribution of power. Regulatory bodies monitored each element. So the agencies like Montana's Public Service Commission had authority of dams and coal plants on the supply side, the high voltage lines for transmission, and the distribution composed of poles and wires to homes and businesses.

Electric power became enormously important world wide, and the regulation model that seemed the only way to go at the turn of the 20 century began to look cumbersome and inefficient at the beginning of the new millennium. Policy makers believed that competition wold improve efficiency, tie prices to real cost of electricity and encourage innovation.

Montana's legislature passed SB390 in 1997. The deregulation bill was supported 302 by totally Democrat controlled Public Service Commission and was carried by a Reuplican Senator and a Democrat House member. The bill was bipartisan. Some of the most prominent Democrats in our state supported deregulation.

Here are a few facts about SB390. It is the supply side of the equation that SB390 deregulates. The supply part of a person's electric bill is about 40% of the total. Originally, all customers were going to be able to choose their own supplier and venture in the deregulated marked in July of 2002, but the PSC recently voted to extend that time for residential customers until 2001; hopefully the skyrocketing prices will have come down by then. Remember, though, that only the supply part of the bill will be subject to the extension; the other parts of your power bill are not subject to those constraints. The PSC may grant other increases to the utility that are not subject to the supply price moratorium, so it is likely that some folks will still see increases.

Montana is a net exporter of energy. Shortly after the Montana legislature deregulated the generation, Montana Power Company sold its generating facilities and left the supply business. At the same time, other elements aligned, some by chance and some by design, that combined to push up the price of electricity.

Drought conditions are not news to us grain producers in Montana; we have struggled with them for the past several years. Every segment of the economy is affected now, because the low snow pack has shrunken our ability to produce the cheapest electricity, hydropower. At the same time, while moisture was low, the price of natural gas skyrocketed. Add the fact that increased economic growth throughout the West drives up the demand for electricity, and stringent and unpredictable environmental rulings have a chilling effect on generator building, so you have a pretty foolproof recipe for disaster.

In short, we are facing a basic supply/demand classic struggle that has no immediate end in sight.

The 2001 legislature has looked at many different bills that attempt to deal with this crisis. More are waiting in the wings. We need to take a hard look at all of them, sort out the conflicting bills and come up with something that will make sure that Montanans get power that has two key ingredients: power needs to be both reliable and affordable. We will work to these positions.

The electricity deregulation debate is very technical. In my next FOCUS, I will take a stab at providing a glossary of terms used in the discussion, so that everyone can be on the same page with the specialized lingo. I will spend the next few editions of FOCUS on this important issue.
Please contact me with any concerns you may have. Let me know if your business brings you to Helena. I would welcome any hometown faces. You may contact me at 406-444-4800.

(AP) North Dakota Governor John Hoeven has thrown his support behind a proposal by a Montana legislator to build a four-lane highway across northern Montana.

In a letter to Republican Senator Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow, Hoeven says he considers transforming the final 98-mile section of U-S Two in northwestern North Dakota to a four-lane road a vital economic component for his state. And he says he supports Montana joining such an effort.

Kitzenberg's bill would order the Department of Transportation to put the 667-mile proposal on its list of construction projects.

The agency has estimated the project would cost 1-point-1 billion dollars over 20 years. The department has said Kitzenberg's idea would require it to take money from other projects elsewhere in the state where the population is greater than in northern Montana.

Meanwhile, Kitzenberg thanked everyone for making the trip down to Helena for the hearing on Thursday.

"Thank-you to all who came, wrote letters and prayed to support SB 3 (4 for 2). Keep it up! The testimony was great. The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee will consider the testimony and will probably vote next week on sending the bill to the Senate. This bill is very important to our survival on the Hi-Line. Tell others."

(AP) As an investigation of his death continues in Great Falls, a memorial fund has been established for the wife and one-year-old daughter of Phillips County Sheriff's deputy Shawn Van Vleet.

Van Vleet accidentally fell over a railing five floors up inside the Holiday Inn at Great Falls shortly after two a-m Wednesday. Police in Great Falls said no foul play is suspected, but the 27-year-old Van Vleet had been drinking and they're trying to determine whether that contributed to his death.

Van Vleet was stationed in Havre as part of a tri-county drug force and was in Great Falls attending a statewide narcotics conference.

The sheriff's office in Malta says it was flooded today with telephone calls from people wanting to help the family.

The fund was set up at the First State Bank of Malta, Post Office Box 910, 59538.

Several Montana communities and schools are planning special events to recognize and celebrate the value of our state's youth as part of the eighth annual "Teen Day" on Feb. 6. The theme is, "Teens, Our Promise for the New Millennium."

Teen Day is a statewide effort coordinated by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Adolescent Health Program), Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies, and the Promoting Action for Teen Health (PATH) coalition.

Examples of activities include a school essay contest and special teen luncheon in Libby, teen center open house and teen art show in Miles City, a week of special teen-focused events in Havre, and a teen breakfast and awards ceremony in Great Falls.

Other communities planning events include Sidney, Wolf Point, Hinsdale, Saco, Malta, Lewistown, Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Hardin, Helena, Trout Creek and Livingston.

These communities are planning events such as dances, swimming and skiing parties, and awards for talent and citizenship. Some businesses are offering discounts to teens, and some communities are allowing teens to temporarily assume the roles of teacher, clergy, broadcaster and public officials to gain the perspective of leadership.

For more information about Teen Day activities, contact Pat Brown at DPHHS, 444-4233.

Jonathan Wiens, a senior at Glasgow High School, received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He will graduate from the Academy with the class of 2005.

Jon received nominations from Senator Conrad Burns, Senator Max Baucus and former Representative Rick Hill.

Jon is the son of Richard and Kari Wiens, grandson of Arnold and Sara Wiens and Bill and Dorothy Bell, all of Glasgow.

This past January was drier and much warmer than normal. The average temperature of 8 degree was 7.2 degrees below normal. The average high was 17.1 and the average low was -1.2 degrees.

The warmest high was 47 degrees on the 5th while the coldest high was -5 on January 31st. The coldest temperature was -24 on January 10th.

January precipitation was about half the normal, at only .18 inches. Measurable amounts fell on only 4 days, with traces on 3 days.
Glasgow received 8.7 inches of snowfall for the month, with 4 inches falling on January 9th.

The warmest temperatures occurred in the first half of the month, with 9 days in a row climbing above freezing. Only 3 days in the last half of the month reached above freezing, all at 33 degrees.

The highest wind gust occurred on January 27th, with a northwest wind gust of 66mph.

(Helena-AP) -- Federal and state officials say disaster assistance is now available for the McCone County Rural Electrical Association.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reviewed information on facility and equipment damage incurred during severe winter storms from October 31st through November 20th.

After the review, McCone County joins Carter, Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Wibaux in the federal disaster declaration.

Under the declaration, rural electrical associations and state, local and tribal governments are eligible to apply for federal funding through "FEMA's" Public Assistance Program. The program pays 75 percent of the approved cost to repair or replace facilities. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Great Falls-AP) A Phillips County sheriff's deputy, Shawn Van Vleet, died when he fell over a hallway guardrail on the fifth floor of the Holiday Inn motel at Great Falls.

Officials say the 27-year-old deputy, who was stationed in Havre and was the Phillips County representative on a tri-county drug task force, was returning to his second floor room from a friend's room on the fifth floor just after two a-m yesterday. He was in Great Falls attending a law enforcement conference on narcotics.

Police Chief Bob Jones says Van Vleet's blood alcohol content was point-23, twice what's considered legally intoxicated. Officials are trying to determine if alcohol was a factor in his death. The body was taken to Missoula for an autopsy.

Van Vleet is survived by his widow and a one-year-old daughter. Funeral arrangements are being made in his hometown of Wibaux. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

OBITUARIES

Doris was born on March 1 1950 in Poplar to Lee and Alice Jones Martin. She was raised and lived her entire life in Poplar. She enjoyed quilting and sewing.

Doris is survived by her partner, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, 3 aunts, and many other family members.

Evelyn was born on August 17 1926 at Plentywood to Jay and Florence Bedwell. She grew up in Redstone and Attended schools there and in Flaxville.

Evelyn married Dale Fishell Jr. in Plentywood on July 10 1948. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1998. After their marriage they lived in Flaxville where she worked for the telephone company and Dale farmed in the Wolf Creek community. She later was a cook at the Flaxville schools for 23 years. She loved cooking baking and working in her yard. She was a super cook and the coffee pot was always on.

She is survived by her husband, mother, 3 sons, 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, a half brother, 4 step brothers, and 7 step sisters.

Edna was born on April 18 1925 in Valley City ND the daughter of Arthur and Alice Ratzlaff. She graduated from Valley City Public School in 1943. She married George Walker on January 27 1945 in Long Beach Calif. They moved to Malta in 1947. She worked for Montana Power Company from 1959 until 1986.

She enjoyed working with people, writing letters, reading, embroidering, walking, cooking, baking, traveling, her birthday club, flowers, following the Malta Mustangs and her grandchildren's activities and sports.

She was a member of the little White Church, American Legion Auxiliary, and a 50+ year member of the Order of Eastern Star.

She is proceded in death by her parents and her husband, George who passed away on May 30 1984.

She is survived by two dauhgters Pat Nessland, Nan Hoverson, son Duane Walker, sister Dorothy Olson, brother Buzz Ratzlaff, her grandchildren Wendy Sandfur and Rick, Jennifer Botkin and Bob, Kevin Nessland and Kara, Kelly Nessland and Nathan Malmin, Travis Walker and Catie, and Nick Walker. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Christian Hanneson, Shelby and Ally Sandfur, Ande Nessland and Adam Botkin, and many nieces and nephews.

Martha Helen Christensen Sauer died on February 24 in her home northeast of Nashua from cancer at the age of 66. Services will be February 28 at 10:00 am in the Bell Chapel. Rev. Martin Mock will be officiating, burial will be held at the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale MT. Bell Mortuary is in cahrge of arrangements.

Martha was born on January 23, 1935 in Voltaire, North Dakota to Gustuf A. and Jennie Adea Christensen. She was raised and attended schools in Volaire, ND. She was married at a young age to James Kirby and then raised her 9 children on her own. She enjoyed spending time with her family and playing bingo, skippo, yahtzee, and canning were some of her favorite things. Crocheting was her absolute favorite thing and she received many rosettes.

Martha is survived by 3 sons, 6 daughters, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 2 sisters, and 2 brothers. She is preceded in death by her parents and 2 brothers.

Ervin Gluba died in the Valley View Nursing Home of natural causes on February 9, 2001 at the age of 82. Services will be held on Wednesday February 14 2001 at the Bell Chapel. Rev. Martin Mock will be officiating. Burial will take place at Highland Cemetery, Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ervin was born on March 12, 1918 in Poplar to Anton and Frances Gluba. He was raised in Poplar and worked as a ranch in the Poplar area. His parents had homesteaded as wheat farmers in the Poplar area in 1912. During World War II Ervin worked in the ship yards in Tocoma Washington. After the war Ervin returned to Glasgow and he worked various jobs as a ranch or farm hand around the Glasgow area. Ervin moved into the Valley View Nursing Home in 1992. He loved to take care of animals and cared for the Valley View cat and also any stray cats that were around.

Ervin is survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Hans Martin , 93 died Friday February 9, 2001 at the Phillips County Good Samaritan Center of natural causes. Memorial services will be held in the spring, cremation has taken place. Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Hans was born February 27, 1907 at Swift Current Sask. Canada, the son of Alex and Johanna Martin. His family moved to the Saco area to ranch in 1912. Hans was the second of 10 children. On December 14 1933 he married Cordelia Dyson and together they ranched in the area for their entire working years. Hans was very blessed for he truly fulfilled his life's ambition of owning his own ranch and home. They were both very dear to him.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Cordelia, whom he adored; two daughters, Jean bullock of East Wenatchee, Washington, Loretta Menge of Saco; nine grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; two sisters, Olga Bliven of Helena, Ann McClintick of Walla Walla Washington; one brother Chris Martin of CutBank; one sister in-law, Emma Erickson of Saco; one brother in-law Jim Dyson of Glasgow. He is preceded in death by 3 sisters and 3 brothers.

Christine Hanson died on February 2, 2001, of natural causes at the age of 94
in Lake View Care Center in Bigfork MT. Services will be held on Saturday
February 10, 2001, at 2:00 pm in the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, MT.
Burial will take place at the Highland Cemetery also in Glasgow. Rev.
Martin Mock will be officiating. Bell Mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of
arrangements.

Christine was born on September 28 1906 in Norway to Nels and Merit Strand.
She came to the United States in 1907 and lived in North Dakota. She
married Adrian Hanson in 1927. They moved to Glasgow in 1934. Christian
and Adrian had the Hanson Dairy for many years.

Adrian proceeded Christine in death in 1978. They had celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary in November 1977.

Christine lived in Glasgow until 1989, she then moved to Seattle to be with
her daughter Loreen. In 1990 she moved to Bigfork where her daughter Eloise
and familey lived. She enjoyed spending time with her daughter Donna and
family in Arizona. She also took two trips back to Norway to visit
relatives. She had been a resident of Lake View Care Center since 1995.

The focus of Christine's life was her family. She was noted for her
hospitality and her fine baked goods. She was an excellent seamstress and
taught many of her children and grandchildren to sew. As a member of the
First Lutheran CHurch in Glasgow, Christine actively participated in church
functions and she was also a member of the Sons of Norway.

Christine's family has such fond memories of time spent with her, enjoying
her humor, wisdom and love. Family get-together often included Christine
playing her accordion while the rest of the family danced. She will be
missed so much.

Christine is survived by 3 daughters Donna Hurst of Sun City Arizona,
Eloise Berg of Bigfork Montana, and Loreen Olds of Seattle Washington, as
well as 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 2 great great
grandchildren.

Richard S Simanton, 74, died Sunday, February 4, 2001, at the Phillips County Hospital of natural causes. Memorial services will be 10 am Saturday February 10 at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Cremation has taken place. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of the arrangements.

Dick was born on November 2 1926 in Malta the son of Robert and Myrtle Simanton Sr. He was raised and educated in Malta. He married June Walters on December 31 1953 in Great Falls. Dick was the custodian at the Phillips County Hospital for 39 years retiring in 1995. He started playing the drums when he was 14 and played for many bands over the years. Dick was a member of the Episcopal Church. He enjoyed his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife June Simanton of Malta; daughter Teresa Jones of Hinsdal; son Michael Simanton of Casper WY; sister Donna Main of Missoula; and brother Robert J. Simanton of Malta.

Helen Irene Tourtlotte, 90, died of natural causes on Saturday, February 3, at Valley View Home in Glasgow. Services will be held on Wednesday February 7 at 11:00 A.M. in the First Lutheran Church at Glasgow. Rev. Martin Mock will be officiating. Interment wiil be at the Highland Cemetery located in Glasgow.

Helen was born on September 2 1910 in Grand Forks N.D. The daughter of Ivor and Augusta Harbo and the eldest of eight. As a child of three years old she moved to the family homestead five miles south west of Glasgow.

Helen attended schools in Glasgow, graduating in 1928. She attended normal training in Dillon, Montana and taught at Sunnyside School near Larslan, Until she married Eugene Tourtlotte on December 24, 1932. They moved to Fort Peck during the building of the dam, and in 1951 the family moved to Glasgow where Helen resided for the past fifty years.

She was a talented seamstress all her life, and worked for several years as a seamstress at Adrian's in Glasgow. She was also known for her wonderful culinary skills- especially her lemon meringue pies!!

Helen was active in her church work her hole life. She taught Bible Studies and Sunday Schools many years and was Sunday School Superintendent for 17 years at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow and the Lutheran Church in Fort Peck.

Helen is survived by her son John Tourtlotte of Havre MT, daughters Jane Borsvold of Walled Lake Michigan, and Dr. Julie Brous of Cleveland Ohio. As well as 5 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, 3 sisters Georgia Montfort of Vandalia MT, Aileen Fuhrman of El Paso Texas, and Betty Nell Montgomery of Prescott AZ, and brother Ivor Harebo jr of Verde Valley AZ.

Monna R. Larsen, 84, died on Thursday, February 1 of natural causes at
Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. Services will be Monday,
February 5, at 2pm at the Hinsdale American Legion Hall with Reverend Martin
Mock officiating. Burial will be in Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale. Bell
Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Monna was born in 1916 on her family farm on Lonesome Coulee in South
Phillips County south of Malta. She was raised there and attended the
Phillips School. She married Hubert Lemieux and they had 2 children, Peggy
Torstenson of Kalispell and Pat Lemieux of Hinsdale. Hubert passed away in
1952. In 1954, Monna married Marius Larsen and they had one son, Larry
Larsen of Tacoma, Washington. Monna also had 9 stepchildren. Monna lived in
Hinsdale from 1954 to 1994, when she moved to Nemont Manor in Glasgow. Monna
worked as a housewife on the Larsen's Farm east of Hinsdale until 1974, when
she and Marius moved into town. They were both very active in Senior Citizen
activities in Hinsdale. She enjoyed cooking, playing bingo, pinochle and
many other activities. However, what she loved most was spending time with
her family. She was a wonderful person who would never turn away a person in
need, and she will be missed greatly by all her family and friends.

Survivors include 1 daughter, Peggy Torstenson and her husband Buck of
Kalispell; 2 sons: Larry Larsen and his wife My of Tacoma, Washington, and
Pat Lemieux and his wife Laura of Hinsdale; 9 stepchildren: Arabelle
McMullen of Whitewater, Virginia Fewer of Malta, Elaine Lundstrom of Moses
Lake, Washington, Leslie Larsen of Libby, Russell Larsen of Wilsaw, Jerry
Larsen of Bluff, Utah, and Rodney Larsen of St. Marie; 1 sister, Mary Moore
of Malta, dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded
in death by Hubert in 1952 and Marius in 1995, brothers Ward, Charlie, Ted,
Howard, harold and Bert and sisters Helen Hartsock, Kathryn Bell and Jesse
Johnson.