Record Snowfall (Posted Saturday, January 31, 2004 10:51 AM)

The National Weather Service is reporting that Glasgow has now received 61.1 inches of snow as of Saturday morning which is a new seasonal record for snowfall in Glasgow. The old record was set in 1951-1952 when the total snowfall was 60.9 inches.

A new record was also set for the amount of snowfall on January 30th when 5.8 inches of snow fell in Glasgow breaking the old record of 4.8 inches set in 1971.
Glasgow has also received 32.2 inches of snow for the January 2004 which is a new record for the month of January. The old record is 28.8 inches which was set in 1916.

The National Weather Service is also reporting that the snow depth in Glasgow is 25 inches which is the second greatest depth observed in Glasgow. The record was 26 inches on February 10, 1916.

Emergency Travel Only Recommended On County Roads (Posted Friday, January 30, 2004 10:25 AM)

Valley County Commissioner Dave Pippen is recommending emergency travel only on all county roads in Valley County. He told Kltz/Klan on Friday morning that road crews were busy clearing roads for residents who had to get to Glasgow in an emergency situation. Pippen said that road crews are also waiting for most current storm to blow through so they can clear out the main county roads.

The commissioners are considering putting a 2-mill emergency levy on the tax rolls to help pay for the costs of clearing county roads. The county has already spent over $17,000 on overtime and equipment costs since the end of December.

Corps Lacks Money For Fort Peck Boat Ramps (Posted Friday, January 30, 2004 09:47 AM)

(Billings-AP) -- Low water isn't the only problem boaters stand to find at Fort Peck Reservoir once the ice melts and the recreation season begins.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers lacks money to make permanent boat ramps usable, and says it will try to install temporary ramps at key spots around the lake.

Corps spokesman Roy Snyder says he doesn't think there will be any paved boat ramps that will be usable and there is no money for any. Snyder says there are enough concrete plank ramps to accommodate boaters temporarily.

Concrete planks were pulled from the lake last year when paved ramps were installed at some locations.Snyder said the corps put those concrete ramps in storage, in case they were needed again.

The plank ramps are spaced a bit less than 1 foot apart. Boat trailers bounce from plank to plank until the boat is in enough water to float off the trailer.

Meanwhile, Fort Peck continues to drop. It's now three feet lower than the previous record low set in April 1991. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

County Declared Disaster Area (Posted Thursday, January 29, 2004 10:23 AM)

The Valley County Commissioners have passed a resolution declaring that Valley County is in a disaster situation relating to the extreme weather and heavy snowfall that has hit Valley County this winter.

The commissioners signed the resolution yesterday and sent a copy to Montana Governor Judy Martz.

As of January 28th Valley County had spent just over $17,100 on overtime and equipment in plowing out all county roads since the first big storm on December 26th. This money is putting a crimp on the county budget and the commissioners are looking for help from the State of Montana. State law requires a county to assess a 2-mill emergency levy and use that money before the county would be eligible for state assistance. The commissioners are looking at assessing the 2 mills which would raise an estimated $42,000 in tax revenue to help with plowing out county roads. If the county were to use all of the money raised by the tax increase then they would be eligible for state assistance.

Valley County Commissioner Dave Pippen told Kltz/Klan that the $17,100 already spent by Valley County can be used towards that $42,000 limit. Pippen said it won't take long to run through that money and if any flooding occurs in Valley County this spring the costs will just increase.

Glasgow has already received over 49 inches of snow since October of 2003. Glasgow is well on its way to breaking the all-time record amount of snowfall set in 1951-1952 of 60.9 inches.

County road crews are busy again on Thursday plowing out the main county roads while at the same time dealing with several small emergencies. Commissioner Dave Pippen told Kltz/Klan that road crews will be working as much as possible to clear county roads even if that means working through the weekend.

Snow Totals Reaching Record Levels (Posted Thursday, January 29, 2004 09:31 AM)

As many of you know, this past December went down in the record books with a total of 18.8 inches of snow. This broke the previous record for the month of December of 16.5 inches, set back in 1929.

Through Wednesday , a total of 24.4 inches of snow has fallen at Glasgow this month. This makes this January the 4th snowiest January on record. The record snowfall for the month of January is 28.8 inches, set in 1916. With more snow in the forecast through Saturday, we have a shot at breaking the all-time record snowfall for the second month in a row.

The total snowfall since October 1st is 53.1 inches. The all-time record for the season is 60.9 inches, set during the winter of 1951-52. The second snowiest on record is 1998-99 with 58.6 inches, and the winter of 1996-97 is third place with 53.7 inches.

For the two month period (December-January), we have had a combined 39.8 inches of snow. This breaks the old record of 38.1 inches set during December 1915 through January 1916.

Meanwhile, the official snow depth at the Glasgow airport is 23 inches. This is the second greatest depth ever observed in Glasgow. The record was 26 inches on Feb 10, 1916.

The average high temperature so far in January is 16.2 degrees, and the average low is -1.2 degrees. The average monthly temperature so far is 7.5 degrees which is 3.1 degrees below average. We are on pace to have the coldest January since 1997.

Poplar Man Charged In Fort Peck Shooting (Posted Thursday, January 29, 2004 08:50 AM)

(Poplar-AP) One woman dead, another injured and a Poplar man in jail facing charges of murder and attempted murder.

Francine DeCouteau was shot in the head and killed Monday night at an apartment complex in Poplar. A 23-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder and is recuperating in a hospital at Williston, North Dakota.

Robert Brien is charged in both the killing and the wounding. He appeared yesterday Fort Peck Tribal Court before Judge Marvin Youpee and then was returned to the Roosevelt County jail at Wolf Point.

Fort Peck Tribal Criminal Investigator Terry Boyd says the suspect was not at the apartment when lawmen arrived but was arrested at another residence later. Boyd says the case remains under investigation. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Two Valley County Residents Die From Apparent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Posted Thursday, January 29, 2004 07:18 AM)

Two Valley County residents died yesterday as the result of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning according to Valley County Sheriff Glenn Meier.

Bill Anderson and Nancy Barnett were found dead at their residence 50 miles southwest of Hinsdale in Valley County yesterday at 3pm. Law Enforcement authorities were called by Anderson at 11am informing them that Barnett was suffering health problems and needed medical help.

Valley County was in the middle of a blizzard with over 5 inches of snow falling yesterday and  winds blowing 20-30 miles an hour. It took the Hinsdale Ambulance 3 hours to travel 50 miles and reach the residence as it plowed through county roads with five to six foot snow  drifts. The ambulance was assisted by Valley County road plows and Valley County Search and Rescue personnel.

By the time they reached the residence both Anderson and Barnett were dead with the preliminary cause of death carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sheriff Meier said the deaths are still under investigation.

Hi-Line Rail Route Blocked (Posted Thursday, January 29, 2004 06:00 AM)

(Essex-AP) -- Amtrak passenger trains won't be running across the Montana Hi-Line until at least tomorrow. This, after avalanches yesterday knocked 15 empty cars off the track near Essex. They were part of a 119-car grain train operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

B-N spokesman Gus Melonas (muh-LOH'-nus) says the train and three locomotives were eastbound to Great Falls from Pasco, Washington.

At about noon, three miles west of Essex, the train was traveling less than 20 miles per hour. A snow slide hit the middle of the train, knocking seven cars off the tracks, and the train stopped. About 15 minutes later, a second slide hit the rear of the train, knocking off another eight cars. Melonas says there are two lines in the area, and both are blocked by the snow and derailed cars. Nobody was hurt. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Glasgow Woman Enters Plea Agreement On Drug Charge (Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2004 11:42 AM)

A Glasgow woman has entered into a plea agreement with Valley County that will have her receive a 4-year deferred sentence on a felony drug charge.

Jaime Aliperto appeared in District Court on January 20th and gave her approval to the agreement which dismisses one felony charge while she pleads guilty to a felony charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

The charges are the result of an incident that occurred on August 1st when law enforcement authorities caught her trying to sell marijuana to another Glasgow resident.

The charge dismissed was criminal possession with intent to distribute.

As part of the plea agreement, Aliperto is set to receive a 4-year deferred sentence along with an $800 fine plus 26 days in the Valley County Jail. The plea agreement also states that Aliperto must pay half of the jail costs.

District Court Judge John McKeon still has to officially sign off on the plea agreement and will sentence her after Aliperto's probation officer completes a pre-sentence investigation.

The other person who was charged in that same incident on August 1st is set to go to trial on April 6th on 2 felony drug charges. Darin Aliperto is charges with criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell and conspiracy to commit criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

City Council Accepts Resignations From Two Employees (Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2004 09:54 AM)

The Glasgow City Council accepted the resignation of two city employees on Monday night. Glasgow Assistant Chief of Police Mike Sukut and Deputy City Clerk Julie Jenssen both have resigned and will moving from Glasgow.

Sukut has accepted a job with Wal Mart in Billings and will work with loss prevention. His last day on the job is January 29th.  Jenssen will be moving with her family to South Dakota later this summer.

The council also approved the full-time hiring of Glasgow Police Officer Colin Kemmis as a full time patrolman. Kemmis has been working as a part time officer since January of 2003 and he will replace Mike Sukut on the police department.

Four new Volunteer Firemen were approved for a six-month probationary period.
The four include Brady Dale, Josh Thompson, Doug Wixon and Brad Olsen.

Wildlife Conservation Grants Awarded by federal government to 3 Montana Tribes (Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2004 05:30 PM)

WASHINGTON – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding six grants, totaling nearly $1.3 million, to help five federally recognized Indian tribes conserve and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species and other wildlife on tribal lands.

“ For generations, Montana's first stewards, have led the way in managing pristine habitats native to Indian country," Rehberg said. "I'm proud of the work of the tribes in Montana. These important grants represent the federal government's investment in these tribe’s continued leadership in managing and sustaining vital fish and wildlife resources."

The Fish and Wildlife Service grants fall under two new programs, the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program. Similar to cost-share programs recently developed to assist states, local communities, and private landowners, the new programs assist tribal managers to undertake wildlife conservation projects.

Grants announced today include:

·        $412,050 awarded to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (Pablo) for Grizzly Bear Habitat Enhancement ($200,000), and for a project to sustain the Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse ($212,050);
·        $152,615 to the Blackfeet Nation (Browning) toward four Wildlife Projects;
·        $250,000 for the Chippewa Cree Tribe (Box Elder) to Enhance Tribal Fish & Wildlife;
·        $250,000 to the Ft. Belknap reservation, (Harlem) for Comprehensive Wildlife Management; and,
·        $225,000 Ft. Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes (Poplar) toward Swift Fox Restoration.

Chamber Banquet Set For March 6 (Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2004 11:28 AM)

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will hold their 87th Annual Banquet and Awards night on March 6th.

This years banquet will have a Hawaiian theme, so guests are encouraged to dress "Hawaiian" for the evening's dinner and events.

The banquet will be held at the Cottonwood Inn beginning with a no-host social at 6:00pm. The Chamber will be honoring past directors and presenting the President's Choice Award, the Del Strommen Ag Person of the Year Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award beginning at 6:30pm.

Dave Rye form the Northern Broadcasting System will be the guest speaker for the banquet. Following these events will be a Casino Night that will begin at 8pm and go till 10pm.

Tickets are $20.00 are available at the Chamber Office.

Washington Woman Arrested On Amtrak (Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2004 11:27 AM)

A 31-year old Washington woman was arrested Monday evening after she was pulled off the Amtrak passenger train in Glasgow.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Glasgow Police Department cooperated in the arrest of Viola King. She has been charged with felony custodial interference after she left Whatcom County, Washington, on the train with her two and half year old daughter. According to the Glasgow Police Department, King boarded the train with her daughter after losing a custody battle with her ex-husband.

King was arrested without incident and taken off the train with her daughter. She was then transported to the Valley County Law Enforcement Center in Glasgow where she is currently being detained. She is expected to be arraigned today in Justice Court and then be extradited back to Washington.

The two and half year old daughter is currently being held in a foster home in Glasgow and is awaiting the arrival of her father from Washington.

Filing Season Opens(Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:01 AM)

Monday marked the first day of filing for political offices in Montana and also in Valley County.

There were two filings for the position of Valley County Clerk of Court. Pat Hill who is the incumbent announced she will be retiring at the end of this year. Leah Erickson and Maridene Johnson both filed yesterday on the Democratic ticket.

The incumbent Valley County Commissioner, Dave Reinhardt, also filed yesterday for another 6-year term on the commission. Reinhardt, a Republican, was the lone person to file for the position on the first day of filing.

The filing period runs through the month of March.

Kids Invited To Fish Home Run Pond On February 7 (Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2004 07:24 AM)

Young anglers and their parents are invited to the first ice-fishing event at Glasgow’s Home Run Pond, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7 on the pond just east of Glasgow.
The session, co-hosted by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Glasgow chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch and hot drinks will be provided by Walleyes Unlimited.

All youngsters under age 18 are welcome to fish, and parents are encouraged to come help the junior anglers. The requirement for participants to have fishing licenses has been waived because of the educational nature of the Feb. 7 event.

Participants can bring their own fishing gear, or use tackle and bait provided by Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Walleyes Unlimited and FWP volunteers will drill holes in the ice and heated ice shelters will be available if the weather is inclement.

The Feb. 7 event is the first ice-fishing opportunity on Home Run Pond, which was opened to youth fishing in May 2003. Because of safety concerns, the pond located on the Fort Peck Highway (Highway 42) is closed to winter fishing except for organized events such as the one next month.

“ Because this is our first winter for the pond we don't know how the fish are faring,” says Andrew McKean, FWP’s angler education coordinator in Glasgow. “But the pond was stocked with rainbow trout in the late fall, and I expect kids to catch perch and crappie, too. Thanks to Walleyes Unlimited volunteers, there should be plenty of warm food, and plenty of help for kids.”

Walleyes Unlimited decided to move their annual ice-fishing outing from Flat Lake to Home Run Pond because of the expectation of higher catch rates.

“ We’re pleased to be co-hosting with Fish, Wildlife & Parks,” says Lee Erickson, of the Glasgow chapter of WU. “This fits our mission to promote fishing among kids and to partner with the department to promote conservation opportunities.”

Glasgow Man Escapes Drug Charges (Posted Monday, January 26, 2004 11:11 AM)

Criminal drug charges have been dismissed against Leighton Hughes by the Valley County Attorney.

District Court Judge John McKeon signed the dismissal order on January 13th effectively dropping all charges against Hughes.

Leighton Hughes had been arrested on July 25th and was charged with the felony offense of operating an unlawful clandestine laboratory. But on December 29th, Judge McKeon granted a motion by Hughes's attorney to suppress the statement made by Hughes on July 25th. On that date Hughes told law enforcement officials that the drug laboratory was his and he had used the lab to produce illegal drugs.

Judge McKeon ruled that the statement by Hughes was coerced by law enforcement officials and ruled that his admission to guilt could not be used in court.

Valley County Attorney Ken Oster then filed a motion for dismissal of the case.

Oster wrote that without the statement there is insufficient evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt there Hughes committed the crime he was charged with.

Census Bureau Projects Population Loss Through 2020 (Posted Monday, January 26, 2004 09:53 AM)

The U.S. Census Bureau has released the latest population estimates for Montana Counties and the figures estimate that Valley County will continue to lose population through the year 2020.

The Census Bureau estimates Valley County's population at 7,230 for 2004. These numbers show a population drain of 445 people since the 200 census was conducted.

The numbers also show a population estimate for Valley County in 2010 of 6850 and 6740 in the year 2015.

The 1990 census showed Valley County with population of 8239.

For a complete listing of all counties in Montana and the population estimates you can access this website.
<http://ceic.commerce.state.mt.us/Demog/project/NPAallcounties90-25_0104.pdf

Keep Dogs, Supplemental Feed Away From Wintering Wildlife (Posted Friday, January 23, 2004 09:38 AM)

Deer, antelope and upland birds are having a tough time in northeast Montana’s winter weather. They don’t need any additional pressure from humans.

But Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are increasingly responding to instances of wildlife harassment. The most frequent violation, according to Warden Dave Loewen, is domestic dogs chasing deer and antelope – as well as pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse - that are concentrated in vulnerable areas.

“ Right now animals are strictly in survival mode,” says Loewen. “They’re trying to conserve energy, so they won’t move unless they have to. Plus, they’re concentrated around hay yards and homesteads and even on the outskirts of towns in the region.”

That situation makes them targets for unattended dogs, which are taking advantage of their vulnerability and chasing them. Loewen reminds dog owners that allowing a dog to chase wildlife is a misdemeanor offense.

“ The dogs get to go home and spend the night in a warm doghouse,” says the warden. “The wildlife has to find a way to survive in the elements.”

When chased by a dog, wildlife has to expend critical energy running away, plus the animals are displaced from areas where they had food and security into areas where they may not have either. That makes them even more vulnerable to winter weather, vehicles or other unattended pets.

“ It’s important that dog owners know that they will be charged with a misdemeanor if we find their dogs chasing wildlife,” says Loewen. “And their dogs could be destroyed.”

Fish, Wildlife & Parks also reminds residents that feeding wildlife not only compounds these seasonal problems, it’s also a misdemeanor offense.

“ People think they’re doing wildlife a favor when they feed them, whether they’re spilling grain or feeding them hay,” says Loewen. “When you feed wildlife, you’re artificially congregating animals in an area that can’t sustain the population. Artificial feeding also draws them in closer to yards and homesteads, where wildlife is vulnerable to unattended pets.”

The department recognizes that deer, antelope and upland birds are congregating around livestock feeding operations, and have descended on ranchers’ hay stacks. Fish, Wildlife & Parks has spent more than $30,000 so far this season in Region 6 to supply materials to fence hay stacks and discourage wildlife from congregating around these agricultural operations. In order to be eligible for this game-damage assistance, landowners must allow some level of free, public hunting.

So far, FWP hasn’t observed widespread mortality among the region’s deer, antelope or bird populations, but winterkill may be on the horizon.

“ Generally we won’t see natural mortality until late February or March,” says Harold Wentland, Region 6 wildlife manager. “But this winter weather started early and hasn’t broken, so I suspect we’ll start to see widespread winterkill earlier than normal.”

If you see dogs or other domestic pets harassing wildlife, or would like more information on the hazards of feeding wildlife, contact FWP’s Region 6 at 228-3700.

Former Glasgow Man Sentenced On Check Schem (Posted Friday, January 23, 2004 09:35 AM)

Former Glasgow resident Del Weech was ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution and serve six months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud/check kiting scheme.

In August of 2001, Weech opened a business checking account at Independence Bank in Glasgow in the name of "Scottish Small Engine Repair." From September 17th until the account was closed on October 22nd deposited nearly $24,000 in bogus checks that he wrote on a closed bank account from Illinois. He then withdrew about $10,000 in cash.

Weech was sentenced in Federal Court in Great Falls and along with the restitution and prison sentence he was put on five years probation.

Crossing Upgrade Planned Northwest Of Glasgow

The Montana Department of Transportation is planning a railroad-crossing upgrade project on 5 km (3.2 miles) northwest of Glasgow on State Secondary 246 in Valley County.

The project will include upgrade to the electronics of the existing railroad crossing signal system to include the addition of gates. The upgrade may result in partial or total replacement of the signal system.

It is currently anticipated the construction will begin in the spring of 2005. MDT is providing the funding while the railroad is responsible for the installation work.

For more information on this project please contact Ray Mengel, District Administrator PO Box 890, Glendive, MT 59330-0890, phone (406) 233-3600 or (888) 689-5296. For TTY (800) 335-7592.

Baucus Secures Funds For Fort Peck Access Roads (Posted Thursday, January 22, 2004 03:26 PM)

(Washington, D.C.) –Montana Senator Max Baucus has secured nearly $1.5 million to help repair roads in the six counties that provide access to Fort Peck Lake.

The funds --$1,491,150 -- are contained in a package of spending bills approved by the Senate today. Known as the omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2004, the measure has cleared both chambers of Congress and will now go to President Bush for his expected signature.

The funds will be used to help continue to repair and improve 262 miles of roads in the counties of: Phillips, Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, and Valley.

Baucus said the access roads need repair because of intense use during summer months, and because the roads also provide access for hunting in the fall, ice fishing in winter.

“I’m very proud to have helped secure these important funds,” said Baucus, who is Montana’s senior U.S. Senator. “Improving access roads to Fort Peck Lake will help improve safety, provide valuable access to our public lands, and help create jobs in the area.”

Baucus secured the funds at the request of government officials, concerned citizens, and business owners in the six-county area.

“This just goes to show that working together really does work,” Baucus said. “Fort Peck is a treasured place for all of us. That’s why I’m proud we’ll able to continue to make it even better.”

Don Phau, chairman of the Fort Peck Advisory Committee, praised the news, saying years of work are starting to pay off.

“We’ve worked for years on having good road access into Fort Peck Lake, and this will allow us to continue to upgrade and make all of Fort Peck Available to the public,” Phau said. “Our thanks to Max Baucus for his staying with us on this important road program. It’s taken a lot of effort and work.”

“We are absolutely ecstatic,” said Fergus County Commissioner Vern Peterson. “These funds will go a long ways.”

Burns Announces Additional Hatchery Funding (Posted Thursday, January 22, 2004 01:34 PM)

U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that an additional $1 million for Fort Peck Fish Hatchery was included in the omnibus appropriations bill for FY04, bringing the total funding to $8 million for FY04. This funding will go towards the completion of the warm water fish hatchery at Fort Peck. Burns, a senior member of the powerful appropriations committee, sponsored the original legislation that authorized the hatchery, and has shepherded the funding for the project over the last several fiscal years.

“ This is a project that has been in the works for years now, and this additional funding in the omnibus bill will really go a long way in getting a few steps closer to completion,” said Burns. “This project never would have happened without the support and dedication of the communities around Fort Peck reservoir who wanted a warm water hatchery. Working with them, we were able to take that idea and turn it into a reality, and I’m thrilled to see it nearing completion.”

The hatchery dream began its reality in 2000, with a feasibility study funded through money raised by the Fort Peck Hatchery association and matching dollars from a Burns appropriation. That same spring, Burns introduced the “Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Authorization Act of 2000”. Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), now retired, committed to including it in that year’s Water Resource Development Act. Once passed and signed into law by then President Clinton, Burns set to getting funds appropriated for the project. The funds included for FY04 brings the total funds appropriated to nearly $16,000,000 for the project’s duration. Hatchery construction is underway, with completion planned for 2005.

This omnibus appropriations bill has passed through both the House and the Senate and will now be signed into law by President Bush.  

Group Promises More Action On Missouri River Sedimentation (Posted Thursday, January 22, 2004 07:44 AM)

(Pierre, South Dakota-AP) A group that formed to battle sediment in Missouri River reservoirs expects to beef up its efforts during the coming year.

The Missouri River Sedimentation Coalition says it wants to "pull out all the stops" this year. In February, the group plans to meet with congressional delegations from several Missouri River states.

Spokesman Howard Paul says the meeting will be a good first step in gaining national recognition for the problem. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Glasgow Schools Meet Federal Standards (Posted Thursday, January 22, 2004 07:09 AM)

(Helena-AP) -- State officials say one of five Montana schools failed to meet new federal education standards.

A report by the state Office of Public Instruction concludes 685 of Montana's 862 schools are making the grade on reading and math test scores, attendance, high school completion rates and test participation.

But the report says 173 schools are NOT meeting standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act. Schools could be required to spend money on things such as teacher training or lose federal aid if they don't fulfill requirements for two or more years in a row.

The list of schools NOT meeting the standards includes 61 on or near Indian reservations. It also includes eleven high schools in Missoula, Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Kalispell.

All four schools in the Glasgow School District have passed the AYP report according to Superintendent Glenn Hageman. For a complete listing of all schools in Montana and how they fared in the report you can access this website. http://www.opi.state.mt.us/index.html

Athletic Districts To Change (Posted Wednesday, January 21, 2004 07:57 AM)

Big changes are coming to Class B athletics next year with the MHSA approving realignment for the 2004-2005 school year.

The District 2-B conference will be reduced from 7 teams to just 5 teams for football. Chinook and Harlem have been removed from the conference and both teams are now part of the 1-B conference. Here are the current teams in the 2-B for football.
Glasgow
Malta
Poplar
Plentywood
Wolf Point

The MHSA also approved a regional schedule for Class B football which means each school will have a football schedule assigned to them. This is the Glasgow Scottie football schedule for 2004.
@Glendive
@Forsyth
H-Chinook
@Shelby
H-Poplar
H-Malta
@Wolf Point
H-Plentywood

Basketball, Volleyball and Track will also look a little different for the 2004-2005 athletic season.
Here is how the 2-B conference will look for those sports.

Glasgow
Harlem
Malta
Poplar
Plentywood
Wolf Point

The Glasgow basketball schedule will look different for 2004-2005. The new regionalized scheduling for basketball will now have the Scotties playing Scobey for girls and boys basketball. Havre has been eliminated from the schedule along with Sidney. There is the possibility that Sidney could be added to the schedule in the next couple of months but Glasgow's rivalry with Havre has ended at least for the coming school year. The significant addition though is Scobey who will now play Glasgow in both boys and girls basketball.

Commissioners Propose Levy To Gravel Roads (Posted Wednesday, January 21, 2004 07:13 AM)

The Valley County Commissioners are considering proposing a ten mill levy for the June primary election that would allow the county to spend extra money on graveling county roads.

The commissioners ran the levy in 2000 and it passed by a slim margin. The county used the extra money to gravel county roads for the next two year. The levy was only on the tax rolls for two years and the commissioners declined to put another 10 mill levy on the ballot in 2002. At their regular meeting on Tuesday they discussed putting the levy on the ballot again in June but after a short discussion decided to table the matter for the time being. Commissioner Ron Gilbertson wanted to get a better feeling from the public on whether they supported the levy election.

Commissioners Hire Great Falls Attorney In Lawsuit (Posted Wednesday, January 21, 2004 07:12 AM)

The Valley County Commissioners have hired Great Falls Attorney Max Davis to represent the county in a lawsuit that has been filed by Valley County Attorney Ken Oster.

Oster filed the suit against Valley County on January 6th asking the court to resolve a salary dispute between himself and the county.

Max Davis is a partner in a Great Falls law firm and was unanimously hired by the Valley County Commissioners on January 20th. Davis will be paid by the hour as he does preliminary work on the lawsuit. Valley County has until January 26th to file a response to the complaint filed in District Court by Oster. Oster is represented by Glasgow Attorney Jim Rector.

Glasgow Meeting To Focus On Changes In Disability Services (Posted Tuesday, January 20, 2004 06:51 PM)

The public is invited to learn about upcoming changes in the way the state
provides services for people with developmental disabilities at a meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Job Service Office, 74 Fourth
St. N., in Glasgow.

Staff of the state Developmental Disabilities Program will outline a plan
that will allow people with developmental disabilities and their families to
have more choice in the services they use. Under this plan, the state will
allocate Medicaid money to qualified people based on their individual needs,
and those individuals and their families or guardians will be significantly
more involved in choosing how the money is used.

About 4,000 consumers benefit from the state's developmental disabilities
services each year, according to Jeff Sturm, program director.

For more information, contact the Developmental Disabilities Program at
444-2995.

Comments Sought On Proposed Fort Peck Fishing Contests (Posted Tuesday, January 20, 2004 06:31 PM)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on 5 fishing contests proposed for Fort Peck Reservoir during the open-water season of 2004.

All five of the proposed contests are sponsored by Montana Walleyes Unlimited and would target walleye. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 27.

Following is a list of the contest applications by month.

APRIL
April 24: Tough Guy Walleye Tournament, Hell Creek

JUNE
June 5-6: Rock Creek Walleye Tournament, Rock Creek Marina

JULY
July 17: Women’s Hell Creek Walleye Tournament, Hell Creek
July 23-24: Hell Creek Walleye Tournament, Hell Creek

AUGUST
Aug. 21: Walleyes Unlimited Ladies Walleye Tournament, Fort Peck Marina

Additional information on each contest, including sponsor, number of participants and winning fish from last year, can be found on the FWP website at HYPERLINK "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us" www.fwp.state.mt.us. Click on Fishing and look under Hot Topics. You can also call (406) 444-2449 for information.

Contests are not allowed on holiday weekends under FWP’s new rules, and contests may not be held on consecutive weekends on any waters except Flathead Lake and Fort Peck Reservoir.

Applications for contests may be approved, denied, or approved with conditions. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts or require additional access site maintenance to mitigate impacts.

Comment on the proposed contests through Feb. 27 by writing FWP Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620 or emailing HYPERLINK "mailto:kzackheim@state.mt.us" kzackheim@state.mt.us.

Glasgow Man Charged With Assault (Posted Tuesday, January 20, 2004 06:27 PM)

30-year old Walter Dale Longtree has been charged with misdemeanor partner/family member assault and felony assault on a peace officer after an incident that occurred on January 15th.

The Glasgow Police Department was called to a residence at 210 9th Street South at 4:30am on January 15th after hearing a report of domestic disturbance.
After an investigation the Glasgow Police Department charged Longtree with the misdemeanor and felony.

Longtree made an appearance in Justice Court and bond was set at $10,000 and his case was bound over to District Court. Longtree was still incarcerated in the Valley County Jail as of January 20th.

Voters Have Opportunity To Change Face Of County Government (Posted Monday, January 19, 2004 11:13 AM)

Valley County voters will have an opportunity in the June primary election to change the face of county government.

Every 10 years, each local government unit in Montana must hold an election on the question of conducting a local government review. If the question is approved, then a second election is held to establish a study commission that will conduct the actual review.

If the study commission recommends an alternative form of government or changes to an existing government, the recommendation must be submitted to the voters for their approval.

Montana currently provides five basic optional forms of government. The five basic optional forms are the commission-executive, commission-manager, commission, commission-chairman, and town meeting. Each form can be even further differentiated by the adoption of many structural options. Some of those options include, partisan or nonpartisan elections, term of office, district or at-large commissioner elections and size of legislative bodies.

Of the 56 counties in Montana, 52 of them operate under the traditional commission form of government and this includes Valley County. Petroleum County has adopted a commission-manager form of government. Fergus County has adopted a charter government and Deer Lodge and Silver Bow Counties have consolidated with municipalities.

So Valley County voters will have to decide in June if they would like to conduct a review of their present form of government. If approved a review board would then have to be elected and if they decide on any changes they would have to be approved by the voters of Valley County.

BNSF Postpones Branch Line Abandonment (Posted Monday, January 19, 2004 07:39 AM)

(Helena-AP) -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway is postponing planned abandonment of two branch lines in northeastern Montana.

B-N-S-F previously announced it would seek to abandon lines from Plentywood to Scobey and Glendive to Circle early this year because the lines are not profitable.

However, Department of Transportation Director Dave Galt says the railway now plans to postpone filing the abandonment petitions until after June 30th. Galt says this will give the state six months to study the lines and develop a list of options for retaining rail service in the affected areas.

A study already has begun and meetings are scheduled from next week at Plentywood, Scobey, Wolf Point, Circle and Glendive. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Northern And Fort Peck Community College Reach Degree Agreement (Posted Monday, January 19, 2004 07:38 AM)

(Havre-AP) -- Montana State University-Northern and Fort Peck Community College have an agreement to let students to get a four-year business degree while taking classes in eastern Montana.

Classes are taught at Fort Peck Community College by adjunct faculty using video conferencing or videotape. Fort Peck students can complete a bachelor of science degree in business technology with a minor in small business management.

Four of Northern's classes are being offered this spring at the community college with 20 students already enrolled. Another 15 students are completing prerequisites and are expected to begin M-S-U-N classes next fall. Classes are taught at both the Poplar and the Wolf Point sites. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Valley County Jail Needs Major Changes (Posted Thursday, January 15, 2004 01:34 PM)

The Valley County Jail is in the need of major changes according to a expert on jails working for the National Institute of Corrections.

Mark Martin, who is a private jail consultant working for the National Institute of Corrections evaluated the Valley County Jail in a visit to Glasgow on January 13th and 14th. Martin's visit was coordinated by Valley County Sheriff Glenn Meier who arranged for the evaluation after attending the National Sheriff's Institute last year. The evaluation is a free service provided by the NIC and didn't cost Valley County anything.

Martin evaluated the jail over a two day period and was identifying deficiencies in the facilities and operations of the Valley County Jail.

The jail was built in 1973 and was built to house 10 males and 6 females at maximum capacity. Martin noted the jail has seen an increase in the amount of inmates over the past two years with total admissions in 2003 at 272 and that compares with 183 admissions in 2001. The length of stay for an inmate has also increased from an average stay of 7.4 days in 2001 to 8 days in 2003. The total prisoner days increased dramatically from 2001 when the total was 1356 prisoners days all the way to 2202 prisoner days in the year 2003.

In a presentation to the Valley County Commissioners on Wednesday, Martin told the Commissioners there are major problems with the Valley County Jail.

The prominent problem is that the locking mechanism on the individual cells is broken and in fact virtually hasn't worked since the jail opened in the early 1970's. This doesn't allow the jail employees to lock down the prisoners in their cells.

Other problems with the jail include the lack of an effective security perimeter. The door used to bring prisoners into the basement of the courthouse is also used by the general public. This allows prisoners to be in the same hallway area that is used by the public going back and forth in the basement of the courthouse.

Martin also mentioned fire safety issues when he told the commissioners that there is no second safety exit for jail employees or prisoners in case of a fire. He mentioned that if a fire marshal were to ever inspect the jail they could possibly shut the jail down immediately just on fire safety issues. He also mentioned the lack of natural light in the jail area and the poor artificial light that is used to light the jail. There is also limited ability to separate the various inmate classifications and no exercise or program space for jail prisoners. Martin also mentioned that there are sanitary issues in the jail and that it needs to be cleaner.

The evaluation also included various security issues in the Valley County Jail. These issues include the broken locking mechanisms on the individual cells plus a jail layout that is not conducive to effective inmate supervision. The evaluation also mentioned that there is inadequate holding areas and intake areas for prisoners. Martin also criticized the current set-up which has the kitchen area being used as the staff work area.

Martin will send an official evaluation to Valley County in the next month which will indicate the deficiencies in a more specific and detailed version.

The Valley County Jail currently operates on a budget of $290,000 which also includes the dispatch funding.

No decisions have been made on what changes will be made to the Valley County Jail but the Commissioners will be looking at many options in the coming weeks.

Preliminary Report Issued On Plane Crash (Posted Thursday, January 15, 2004 07:04 AM)

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report on the crash of a airplane southwest of Glasgow on January 1st.

Dennis Hogenson, an investigator with the NTSB, arrived in Glasgow on January 6th along with a representatives of Teledyne Continental Motors, the make of the aircraft engine. Also in Glasgow was a representative of the Cessna Aircraft Company.

Those three along with Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier visited the crash site on January 7th to investigate the crash.
The preliminary report which was released this week doesn't release much information but does confirm that the last contact with the airplane was at 6:23pm on January 1st  when the pilot reported he was diverting to Havre because of bad weather.

The pilot along with three passengers were traveling from Mobridge, South Dakota to Cut Bank, Montana. The preliminary report estimates the time of crash at 7:00pm on January 1st when the plane collided with snow-covered terrain 23 miles southwest of Glasgow.

On January 2nd the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice for the aircraft after it failed to arrive at the pilots planned destination. After a two day search hampered by bad weather the aircraft wreckage was located 23 miles southwest of Glasgow.

Those killed in the accident were the pilot Bill Newman,45, a Cut Bank car dealer, his sons Lance, 14, and Ray, 24, and Ray's fiancée, Jessica Grode, 21, of Ipswich, South Dakota.

The complete preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board can be accessed at: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/AccList.asp?month=1&year=2004

Glasgow Man Arrested On Sex Charge (Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2004 11:17 AM)

An 18-year old Glasgow man has been arrested and charged with sexual intercourse without consent. The arrest occurred Tuesday morning as the Glasgow Police Department charged Drew Wetz with the felony after an investigation revealed he'd had sexual relations with the girl who is under the age of 16.

The investigation started when the parents of the female called the Glasgow Police Department and reported that the girl had left her house early Tuesday morning but wasn't in school. After an investigation the Glasgow Police Department found the girl and Drew Wetz at a residence on the 1200 Block of 1st Avenue North. Further investigation by the police resulted in the felony charges being filed against Wetz.

As a formality the Valley County Attorney's Office filed a warrant for Wetz's arrest Tuesday afternoon even though he was already in custody. Wetz was arraigned in Justice Court and bond was set at $5000 and his case was bound over to District Court to face the felony charge.

As of Wednesday morning Wetz was still incarcerated in the Valley County Jail.

Valley County Community Foundation Grants Available (Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:45 AM)

Applications are available now for grants from the Valley County Community Foundation, announces Sam Waters who chairs the grant committee. In general, Waters noted, the amount of grants ranges from $500 to $1,000.

Grant applications may be picked up at First Community Bank in Glasgow and they must be returned by Feb. 15 for consideration by the VCCF board.

Groups working on charitable projects that serve the people of Valley County are eligible to apply. The Foundation awards grants to projects in the areas of arts and culture, basic human needs, education, economic development and natural resources and conservation.

VCCF is a steward of the community’s savings account and earnings from the permanent endowment provide money for the grants. Anyone wishing more information on the grant process or the Foundation may contact Waters during business hours at 228-8231.

Dog Owners Asked To Keep Track Of Their Pets (Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:43 AM)

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are concerned about wild dogs chasing wildlife in the Glasgow area.

Dave Lowen a Game Warden with FWP told Kltz/Klan with snow conditions deep in the Glasgow area wildlife are in a struggle for survival. When winter conditions are tough Deer and Antelope tend to lose their inhibitions towards humans and especially dogs. Dogs take advantage of the situation and chase the wildlife pushing Deer and Antelope into areas that they don't belong. Lowen told Kltz/Klan that the incident involving 85 antelope drowning in Fort Peck Lake on January 9th  could of been caused by dogs chasing the wildlife into an area they weren't  familiar with.

Lowen is reminding dog owners that dogs found chasing wildlife can be destroyed by law enforcement personnel and owners of the dogs could face up to an $1000 fine or 6 months in jail.

If you see dogs chasing wildlife you are urged to contact the Valley County Sheriff's Office or the Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Glasgow. You are urged to get a description of the dog, and note the location of the incident.

Glasgow Man Arrested For Alleged Russian Roulette Incident (Posted Monday, January 12, 2004 03:19 PM)

A 61-year old Glasgow man has been arrested and charged with felony assault with a weapon after an incident involving the game Russian Roulette on January 8th.

According to the Glasgow Police Department, Jack Corscaden was arrested just after 9:00 pm on January 8th after police were called to his residence at 827 3rd Avenue South in Glasgow. The call to law enforcement officers came from a 29-year old female who was in the residence at the time of the incident.

Corscaden was transported and booked into the Valley County Jail and appeared before Judge Linda Hartsock on January 9th. Bond for Corscaden was set at $10,000 which he did post and he was released from custody.

His case has been turned over to District Court.

Dozens Of Antelope Drown After Falling Through Fort Peck Lake’s Thin Ice (Posted Monday, January 12, 2004 03:17 PM)

Thin ice is a hazard not just for winter anglers, but also for wildlife. Approximately 85 pronghorn antelope drowned after falling through thin ice on Fort Peck Lake on Friday afternoon, Jan. 9.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel responded immediately after hearing of the incident, in the Duck Creek area of the lake, but were unable to save any of the antelope. Carcasses of the animals were removed from the lake with the help of Valley County Search and Rescue’s airboat, and were taken to a local landfill. Meat from the carcasses was not salvageable, reports FWP Warden Captain Mike Herman.

Herman estimated that the ice cover was only about 2 inches thick. The herd of more than 100 antelope was apparently crossing the lake when several of the animals broke through the ice. Some individual antelope turned and managed to reach the shoreline, but most of the herd went into the water. Attempts were made to rescue as many animals as possible, but Herman reports that few of the submerged antelope managed to escape from the water.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel worked for about four hours Friday afternoon and evening removing the carcasses. They were assisted by volunteers and Search & Rescue responders.

Valley County Attorney Files Suit For Salary Increase (Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2004 06:17 AM)

The Valley County Attorney has filed a lawsuit against Valley County demanding the county pay the full amount of a salary increase which was granted in July of 2003. The Valley County Commissioners were served with the court documents on Monday by the Valley County Sheriff. Glasgow attorney Jim Rector is representing Oster in the case.

The court documents contend that the commissioners granted all elected officials in Valley County a 7% pay increase in July of 2003. This included the Valley County Attorney. Montana law allows for the county to pay 50% of the County Attorney's salary while the state of Montana also pays 50%. With the seven percent increase approved by the commissioners, Osters salary was increased to $69,382.00 per year with Valley County to pay 50% of that salary.

The problem is that the state of Montana didn't step up with a pay increase as large as the counties, instead they increased the County Attorney's pay by just 2%. This amounts to $2269 per year that Oster is not receiving as part of his paycheck.

Oster contends that regardless of what the State of Montana does,  that Valley County is responsible for whatever amount that the state doesn't pay.

The Valley County Commissioners disagree and they told Kltz/Klan on Monday that the states shair isn't their responsibility and they have no intention of paying the $2269. But in fiscal year 2002 the commissioners did pay the amount that the state of Montana didn't but chose not to in 2003. According to Valley County Commissioner Dave Pippen about half of the counties in Montana pay the extra amount while the other half choose not too.
In the court documents, Oster is demanding a resolution from District Court on his behalf along with a requirement that Valley County pay the amount of money that the state isn't picking up. He's also asking for unpaid salary from July 1, 2003 through the date of judgment and that the court award interest on the judgement at a rate of 10 %. The document also states that Oster is asking the court for a penalty against Valley County in the amount of 110% of the salary due and unpaid plus attorney's fees and costs.

The suit was filed in District Court on January 6th.

Jail Busy In 2003 (Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2004 03:39 PM)

2003 was a busy year for law enforcement officials in Valley County with a huge increase in the usage of the Valley County Jail.

According to Valley County Sheriff Glenn Meier in 2003 there were 2149 prisoner days in the Valley County Jail. That compares with 2002 when there were 1057 prisoner days in the jail.

The amount of prisoners in the Valley County Jail also correlates with the number of criminal cases in District Court. According to the Clerk of Court the number of felony criminal cases has jumped from 8 in 2001 to 23 in 2002 and that number increased to 29 in 2003.

2004 Political Season Beings This Month (Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2004 03:38 PM)

The 2004 political season will officially begin on January 26th when filing will begin for political posts on the county and state level.

It's actually a light year on the county level with just two positions up for election. Current Valley County Commission Chair Dave Reinhardt is in the final year of a six year term and has indicated to Kltz/Klan that he plans to run for another term. Reinhardt was elected to the commission in 1998.

Valley County Clerk of Court Pat Hill will also see her term end in 2004 and she has indicated that she will be retiring after her term expires in December of 2004.

Candidates will be able to officially file on January 26th and the filing will close on March 25th.

Glasgow Man Wins A Round In District Court (Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2004 03:37 PM)

Glasgow resident Leighton Hughes has won a victory in District Court on his charge of operating an unlawful clandestine laboratory.

On December 29th, District Court Judge John McKeon granted a defense motion to suppress the statement that Hughes made on July 25th admitting his ownership of chemicals to produce amphetamines.

Hughes was arrested on July 25th after law enforcement officials were called to a garage on Glasgow's south side after reports of a fire were called into the dispatch center.

After the Glasgow Fire Department extinguished the fire, members of the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force were called onto the scene after officials believed that the garage could of been clandestine lab used to manufacture drugs.

Hughes was interrogated by law enforcement officials later that night and admitted to producing illegal drug in the garage.

Hughes's attorney argued during a hearing on December 29th that his statement shouldn't be allowed and the statement admitting his guilt be suppressed in court. Judge McKeon agreed with the defense and suppressed the statement.

As of January 6th the case was still pending in District Court and hasn't been dismissed.
If Hughes were to be found guilty of the felony charge he could be sentenced up to 20 years in the Montana State Prison.

Bodies Recovered From Plane Crash (Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2004 06:47 AM)

(Glasgow-AP) - The pilot of a plane that crashed near Glasgow on New Year's Day had radioed shortly before the plane disappeared that he was diverting to avoid bad weather.

That was the last contact authorities had with 45-year-old Bill Newman of Cut Bank. The crash killed him, his two sons - 14-year-old Lance and 24-year-old Ray - and the older son's fiancee, 21-year-old Jessica Grode (GROH'-dee) of Ipswich, South Dakota.

An aerial searcher spotted the wreckage of the Cessna 182 Sunday about 25 miles southwest of Glasgow. Rescuers recovered their bodies yesterday. Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier says the plane crashed at a steep angle, and the four people died instantly. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Juveniles Cited For Alcohol Possession (Posted Monday, January 5, 2004 09:24 AM)

Several local juveniles were cited for illegal possession of alcohol in the early morning hours of January 1st according to the Valley County Sheriff's Department.

The citations were the result of two vehicle accidents that took place south of Nashua on Highway #117. Those cited with misdemeanor possession of alcohol included, 18-year old Derek Baumgartner, 18-year old Jessica Svingen, 18- year old Kyle Viste, 19-year old Luke Morehouse and 19-year old John Etchart.

19-year old Nik Anderson was cited for illegal possession of alcohol along with possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor theft. Anderson was arrested and taken to the Valley County Jail where he posted bond in the amount of $1915.

The vehicle accidents are still under investigation by the Montana Highway Patrol and the Valley County Sheriff's Department.

Missing Plane Found (Posted Monday, January 5, 2004 07:24 AM)

(Glasgow-AP) -- A search plane has found a Cessna missing since New Year's Day.

The plane crashed about 25 miles southwest of Glasgow. Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier says all four on board died on impact.

The single-engine airplane was flown by Cut Bank businessman Bill Newman. Two of Newman's sons, 14-year-old Lance and 24-year-old Ray also were on the plane, along with Ray's fiancee, Jessica Grode of South Dakota

. Meier says about a dozen people with snowplows will plow 15 miles of county road, and then a snow cat will be used to get to the crash site today to recover the bodies. (Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Nancy M. Barnett

Nancy M. Barnett, age 46, died Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at a ranch 50 miles southwest of Hinsdale, MT of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Hinsdale Legion Hall in Hinsdale, MT with Howard Pippin officiating. Interment will be at the family ranch. Bell Mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Nancy was born March 30, 1957 in Glasgow, MT to Virgil Barnett and Dorothy (Kapphan) Barnett. She lived in Glasgow and Wolf Point graduating from Wolf Point High School. After high school, Nancy went to Great Falls Technology School where she recieved her C.N.A. She worked in Wolf Point and Glasgow. She has lived on the ranch since 1982. She enjoyed watching tv, loved being outside especially hunting and fishing. She also loved to go on picnics and especially enjoyed spending time with family. Nancy was preceded in death by her brothers Ted Barnett and Gordon Barnett.

Survivors include: 1 daughter, Billie Jo Klasna and her husband Casey of Wolf Point, MT; 4 brothers, Gary Barnett and his wife Christine of Glasgow, MT; Tim Barnett of Sidney, MT; Wayne Barnett and his wife Betty of Nashua, MT; Randy Barnett and his wife Kristi of Glasgow, MT; 2 sisters, Elma Winskey and her husband Ben Winskey of Glasgow, MT; Cnady Grimes and her husband Steve Grimes of Anchorage, AK; plus many nieces and nephews.

William McKee "Timber Creek Bill" Anderson

William McKee "Timber Creek Bill" Anderson, 82, died Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at the family ranch 50 miles southwest of Hinsdale, MT of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the Hinsdale Legion Hall in Hinsdale, MT with Howard Pippin officiating. Interment will be at the family ranch. Bell mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Bill was born May 26, 1921 to parents McKee Anderson and Josephine (Goldman) Anderson on the Tatum Homestead in Southern Valley county. Bill lived his entire life on the family ranch. He was a rancher, horseman and bailing wire, mechanic. He loved visiting with his neighbors and teaching about horsed in addition to observing wildlife and seeing his calves on the ground. His greatest love was running wild horses. He was married to Rose Uphaus from 1941 until 1967 and Linda Baker from 1967 to 1977. He has been with longtime companion Nancy Barnett since 1982.

Survivors include: daughters Rose Stoneberg and her husband Ron Stoneberg of Hinsdale, MT and their children Sierra Holt and her husband Jason Holt of Brno, Czech Republic; Sylvan Walden and her husband Bob Walden of Fort Peck, MT; Mary Karen Anderson and her husband Tom Lovas of Anchorage, AK; Billie Jo Klasna and her husband Casey Klasna of Wolf Point, MT; sons Milton McKee Anderson, Judy Anderson, Kim Guinnane and their children Amber McKee Anderson, Adne M. Anderson, Axton M. Anderson; Whit David Anderson and his wife Tammy and baby daughter, Hunter Alex of Overland Park, KS; 1 brother, Jack Anderson and his wife Betty Anderson of Seattle, WA; 1 sister, JoAnn Smith of Santa Cruz, CA.

Leroy J. Whittle

Leroy J. Whittle, 83, died Friday, January 30, 2004 at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT of natural causes. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church In Glasgow, MT with Rev. Martin Mock officiating. Interment will be in Highland cemetery in Glasgow, MT. Bell Mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Leroy was born September 20, 1920 in Opheim, MT and was raised there as well. His parents were Robert Whittle and Sarah (Buffen) Whittle. He attended schools and graduated from Opheim High School in 1938. After high school he went to a CC camp in Belton, MT for 2 years, and then served in the army air force from 1940 to 1945. Leroy served in the South Pacific. After he finished his active service he retired from the Air Force Reserve. Leroy married Fern Risa on Opheim on December 16, 1945, They lived in Fort Peck where he worked at the Administration Building and in the Fort Peck Hotel. Leroy worked at the First Security Bank for 38 years. He also worked with the Boy Scouts and was treasurer of the Lutheran CHurch for many years. He enjoyed hunting with his children, and was man of many talents. Leroy was preceded in death by his brothers Fred, John, Charley, and Bob Whittle and his sisters Myrtle and Jean.

Survivors include: wife Fern Whittle of Glasgow, MT; sons John Whittle and his wife Donna of Glasgow, MT; Phillip Whittle and his wife Arlene of Nashua, MT; David Whittle and his wife Bev of Powell, WY; daughters Lois and Jim Davidson of Denver, CO; Colleen and Brent Murray of Cheyenne, WY; sister Vera Hybak of Seattle, WA; 8 Grandchildren, and 2 Great-grandchildren.

Melvin Fuhrman

Melvin Fuhrman, 79, died Thursday, January 22, 2004 at the Valley View Home in Glasgow, MT of natural causes. Funeral services will be Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 2:30pm at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, MT with Rev. Martin Mock officiating. Interment will be a private family burial at a later date. Bell mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Doris Fahlgren

Doris Fahlgren, 79, died Saturday, January 17, 2004 at the Valley View Home in Glasgow, MT. Funeral services are planned for Thursday, January 22, 2004 at 11am at the Malta Lutheran Church in Malta, MT with Rev. Gordon Johnson and Rev. Marie Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale, MT. Bell mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Doris was born on September 29, 1924 on the family farm in the Grain Community norht of Nashua, MT to Axel and Hulda S. Peterson. Doris attended the Grain Country School and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1942. After high school she worked for the Thomas Dignan Law Office and at the Triple A. On November 17, 1946, Doris married Carl "Swede" Fahlgren in Glasgow. They made their home in Hinsdale where they owned and operated the Fahlgren Service Grocery Store. In 1950, they sold the store and bought a farm west of Hinsdale which they operated for 17 years. In 1967, they moved to Malta and operated the M & F Chevrolet garage and Hesston Implement business until they sold the garage and retured in 1984. Doris always kept the books for the farm and the garage. Doris enjoyed traveling, made several trips to the National Finals Rodeo, cross country skiing, and Essex, and the Scandinavian Housta Fest in ND. She loved her roses and was a wonderful bread and connamon roll baker. Doris was active in the P.E.O., Eastern Star, ALCW, Lutheran Church, and served on the Cemetery Board in Malta. She also enjoyed quilting and was active in many community activities. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl "Swede" Fahlgren on January 25, 2002, her son Dennis in 1973, an infant daughter Carla, a grandson Joey Fahlgren, her brothers Harold Peterson, John Peterson, and Vernon Peterson, and a sister Rose Graham.

Survivors include: daughter Ann Hoffmann and her husband Don of Lake Stevens, WA; sons John Fahlgren and his wife Mary of Glasgow, MT; Russell and his wife Mary of Worley, ID; 9 grandchildren; 1 great-child; 2 step-grandchildren; 4 step-great grandchildren; sister Irma McInerney of Glasgow, MT.

Mayme D. Collins

Mayme D. Collins, 77, died Sunday, January 18, 2004 at her home in Nashua, MT of cancer. Funeral services are planned for Thursday, January 22, 2004 at 3pm at the Bell chapel in Glasgow, MT with Rev. Martin Mock officiating. Burial will be the Nashua cemetery in Nashua, MT. Bell mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Mayme was born on December 14, 1926, the 9th of 12 children to Knute and Elizabeth Berg in Wildrose, ND. She moved to Nashua, MT as a young woman with her family and attended Nashua High School. Mayme married Rayburn "Scoop" Collins in Glasgow in 1941 and 4 sons were born to them; Gerry, Dennis, Wayne, and Philip. Mayme attended beauty college in the 60's and then owned and operated the Nashua Beauty Salon in her home for 40 years. She enjoyed caring for her home and yard and was an articulate seamstress. She made beautiful quilts for all her family as well as baby blankets for each new baby. Her greatest passion in life was her sons and their families. She had a special relationship with each of her 10 grandchildren and thouroughly enjoyed sharing in their lives. She took a special interest in caring for those in need, whether it be neighbors friends or family. Her compassionate and generous nature provided the perfect opportunity for her to see what would be of assistance to someone and her desire to help with any task. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985, her eldest son Gerry in 2003, 4 sisters and 1 brother.

Survivors include: sons Dennis and his wife Julie Collins of Glasgow, MT; Wayne and his wife Jane Collins of Nashua, MT; Philip and his wife Lori Collins of Nashua, MT; daughter-in-law Isabelle Collins of Ramona, CA; four sisters Betsy Ouren of ND; Agnes Wurzer of CA; Alyce Booth of CA; Thelma Frey of Billings, MT. Also 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

James Andrew Four Star

James Andrew Four Star, 34, died Saturday, January 17, 2004 as the result of a car accident on the Nickwall road south of Wolf Point, MT. Vigil Services are planned for Monday, January 26, 2004 at 7pm at the Poplar Cultural Center. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 10am at the Poplar Cultural Center with Fr. Michael Schneider officiating. Burial will be in St. Ann's cemetery in Poplar, MT. Bell mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

James was born May 13, 1969 in Wolf Point, MT to Adrian J. Fourstar and Odessa Marie (Jones) Four Star. James attended school in Poplar and Frazer, MT. He obtained his high school diploma at Clearfield, UT. He was squad boss for the Montana Indian Firefighters. James loved to play basketball and loved to watch NFL football and enjoyed the outdoors and being with his daughters. James also enjoyed weightlifting, working out, and was a member of the Catholic Church. James was kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor. Our baby brother was a quiet, hansome, intelligent man and he will be forever missed by us all.

Survivors include: Parents Adrian Four Star Sr. and Odessa Jones Four Star; daughter Angelina Jolie Four Star Kensey Davis of Poplar, MT; brothers Adrian Four Star Jr., Mike Four Star, and adopted brother Thomas Four Star; sisters Dolly Four Star, Antoinette Four Star, Claudia Four Star, Janet Four Star, and Lucinda Deleon; grandmother Marie Cantrell; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Virginia Wagar

Virginia Wagar, age 91, died thursday, January 1, 2004 at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT. Vigil services are planned for Tuesday, January 6, 2004 at 7pm at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow, MT. Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 at 2pm at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow, MT with Rev. Thad Kozikowski officiating. Burial will be in Hillview Cemetary in Hinsdale, MT. Bell mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers: Howard Powell, Chuck Barstad, Dean Hawkins, Travis Johnson, Kent Murr, Tom Harmon, Jan Jimison.

Virginia was born July 2, 1912 in Glasgow, MT. She married Glen Fredrick Wagar on December 31, 1932 in Glasgow, MT. She loved to play bingo and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a hard worker, always there for her relatives when times were hard. She lived in Glasgow, Bremerton, Washington, Whitefish, Glasgow, and Hinsdale, MT. Virginia and her husband Glen owned the Rainbow bar in Hinsdale, MT until they retired and moved to Great Falls, MT in 1973. She also worked for Boyd's Laundry & Drycleaners in Glasgow for many years. She was preceded in death by her son Gorden in 1933, husband Glen in 1987, and her daughter Ardith "Tiny" in 2003.

Survivors include here sister Emma Nelson of Great Falls, MT; daughter Margaret Murr of Glasgow, MT; 16 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.