KLTZ/Mix-93 local & regional news May 2001

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The Glasgow School Board has hired Ryan Malmin as the new head coach of the Scottie football program. Malmin replaces Chuck Syversen who resigned earlier this month after three years as head coach. Syversen is taking a teaching and coaching job in North Carolina.

Malmin has taught in the Glasgow system the past four years and has been an assistant football coach all four years. He also has coached the Glasgow Reds American Legion Baseball Program for the past three years and guided them to a second place finish in at the state tournament last year.

He is a native of Whitefish, Mt and graduated from Concordia College and spent two years teaching and coaching in South Dakota before coming to Glasgow.

Jobs for Montana's Graduates Eleventh Annual Montana Career Development Conference was held on May 1-2, 2001 at the Ramada Inn Copper King in Butte, Montana. The highlight of the conference was the Awards Luncheon at which Governor Judy Martz gave the keynote address and presented awards to the competitive event winners.

JMG is a school-to-work transition program targeting high school students who need help completing an educational program or securing and holding a job. It assists students to stay in school, graduate and successfully transition from school to work. JMG was implemented in May 1990 and is jointly sponsored by the Governor's Office and the Office of Public Instruction and administered through the Department of Labor and Industry.

Two hundred and fifty students participated in workshops and competitive events. These competitive events are the culmination of local Montana Career Association activities. The Montana Career Association is integral to the Jobs for Montana's Graduates instructional program. It provides members with an opportunity to be recognized for outstanding accomplishments, build self-confidence, be part of at team, give back to their community through volunteer efforts, develop leadership skills, take part in civic and social activities, develop a sense of achievement through competition, and interact with their peers.

Decision-Making - Grade 10 1st Amanda Riley, Eagle HS, Columbia Falls 2nd Jamie Dickson, Ronan HS 3rd Brandon Gard, Helena HSTelephone Techniques - Grade 11 1st Susie Dickey, Helena HS 2nd Michael Losinski, Garfield Co. HS 3rd Lauren Stamp, Butte HS Words in the Workplace - Grade 11 1st Brian Mothershead, Garfield Co. HS, Jordan 2nd Maria Dollau, Havre HS 3rd Megan Cleary, Helena HS

Critical Thinking Skills - Grade 12 1st Shanen Eyman, Plains HS 2nd Eric Aune, Dutton HS 3rd Ty Round Face, Plenty Coups HS, Pryor

Employment Preparation - Grade 12 1st Josie Schuster, Plains HS 2nd Katie Crowley, Poplar HS 3rd JoAnn Schurman, Highwood HS

Life Math Skills - Grade 10/11 1st Travis Murnion, Garfield Co. HS, Jordan 2nd Laura Henderson, Simms HS 3rd Megan Cleary, Helena HS Don Church, Eagle HS, Columbia Falls

Life Math Skills - Grade 12 1st Shanel Libby, Whitefish HS 2nd Steven Turville, Dutton HS 3rd Kevin Watts, Jefferson HS, Boulder

Public Speaking - Grade 10/11 1st Susie Dickey, Helena HS 2nd Justin Rody, Ronan HS 3rd Cade Hunt, Dodson HS

Public Speaking - Grade 12 1st Crystal Pengelly, Dawson Co. HS, Glendive 2nd Autumn Murphy, Powell Co. HS, Deer Lodge 3rd Alissa Brady, Billings West HS

Exploratory Career Notebook - Grade 11 1st Frank Jefferson, Plenty Coups HS, Pryor 2nd Kayla Messerly, Whitewater HS 3rd Laura Henderson, Simms HS

Poster/Slogan - Grade 10/11 1st Keisha Williamson, Butte HS 2nd Ashley Diehl, Billings Skyview HS 3rd Steve Redfern, Helena HS

Poster/Slogan - Grade 12 1st Jessica Jacobsen, Plains HS 2nd Rowan Riggs, Billings West HS 3rd Melissa Ward, Butte

ALAS
Chapter Civic Activities 1st Plains HS 2nd Helena HS
Chapter Electronics Presentation 1st Dutton HS Presenter: Nick McLean 2nd Helena HS Presenter: Allen Ozer 3rd Plenty Coups HS, Pryor Presenter: Frank Jefferson
Chapter Banner 1st Eagle HS, Columbia Falls 2nd Plains HS 3rd Havre HS
Chapter Talent 1st Plenty Coups, Pryor 2nd Helena HS 3rd Plains HS

Twelve students received the 2001 Chairman's Recognition Award. These students were nominated by the job specialists as the students who had shown significant growth during the school year through participation in JMG and the MCA. Recipients were: Patches Hanley, Butte High School, Clayton Cleland, Butte Abraham Lincoln Alternative School; Alissa Brady, Billings West High School; Tim Simonsen, Whitewater High School; Holt Hossack, Highwood High School; Susie Dickey, Helena High School; Andrea Stidham, Havre Suns School; James Kensa, Havre High School; Amber Tavis, Eagle High School, Columbia Falls; Denis Reum, Ronan High School, Jessica Jacobsen, Plains High School; and Ty Matt Round Face, Plenty Coups High School, Pryor.
JMG offered three $500 scholarships to assist students in continuing their education. Recipients are: Katie Crowley, Poplar High School; Loren Edwards, Garfield County High School, Jordan; and JoAnn Schurman, Highwood High School.

Schools interested in learning more about the JMG program should contact Lorelee Robinson, State Director at 406/444-2534.

The Glasgow School Board in a unanimous vote decided on Wednesday night to close the South Side Elementary School building and sell or possibly lease the property.

In a special meeting Wednesday night, the board decided to sell or possibly lease the property to the Prairie Ridge Company, which is composed of Valley View Home and the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital. Pine Ridge is planning on building an assisted living and independent living complex in Glasgow and was interested in purchasing the property where the school currently is located.

The district will save an estimated $90,000 according to figures released by Superintendent Glenn Monson. The school's fourth graders will be moved to the Irle School and the fifth graders will attend school at the Glasgow Middle School starting this fall.

U.S. Senator Max Baucus has announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a grant to the Fort Peck Tribes for purchase of manufacturing equipment.

"I'm happy to announce this large grant from the EDA for the Fort Peck Tribes," Baucus said. "These funds will assist the Tribes in expanding their operations and creating more good paying jobs."

The $409,620 grant, funded under EDA's Public Works and Development Facilities Grant program, will allow A&S Tribal Industries to diversify its operations. A&S Tribal Industries will purchase manufacturing equipment, expand their product line and provide more employment opportunities.

"This grant will allow our A&S Tribal Industries to expand our capabilities into new product lines for metal fabrication," said Arlyn Headdress, Fort Peck Tribal Chairman.

"This is good news for the Fort Peck reservation with an unemployment rates of over 60-percent. Jobs are our priority."

A&S Tribal Industries management is working on several product lines to manufacture airplane parts for the U.S. Air Force and pump parts for the private sector.

The American Cancer Society is already thinking about summer in Montana -- especially the American Cancer Society’s premier event -- Relay For Life. This year it is 16 hours from 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 10th, to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 11th at the Glasgow High School track. Each team member is also encouraged to raise $75.00 in the form of pledges or through the sale of luminaries, and qualifies the member for a Relay for Life t-shirt.

Each local American Cancer Society Relay For Life is volunteer-driven and a version of a walk-a-thon -- but with a twist.

The Relay is a family-oriented event in which participants walk, run or wheelchair around a track relay-style for 12-24 hours. Participants camp out around the track, usually at a local high school or college, and, when they are not taking their turn, enjoy a myriad of food, fun and entertainment activities.

Participants, including cancer survivors, individuals, families, and teams from companies and other organizations, collect donations and can win prizes for their efforts.

However enjoyable each event is, the main thrust of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is to increase awareness of the fight against cancer and to raise money to fund that battle.

The money received from the nationwide American Cancer Society Relays helps fund cancer research, education, community service programs and legislative advocacy. Since 1946, the ACS has donated over $2.1 billion to cancer research.

The ACS-funded research has led directly to a number of breakthroughs, including: treatments for childhood leukemia, the development of the Pap test to detect cervical cancer, gene therapies and bone marrow transplants.

Two very special times during each Relay are the Survivors Lap and the Luminary Ceremony.

Traditionally, the first lap of each Relay is taken by local cancer survivors. Most walk, some are in wheelchairs, but all show the undefeated spirit of a cancer survivor.

Come evening of each Relay, hundreds, even thousands of luminaries are placed around the track to light the way for the participants as they make their assigned walk through the early morning hours. Each luminary bears the name of a cancer survivor or a loved one lost to the disease.

Presently, a number of Montana communities have already set a date for their 2001 American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Others are still in the planning stages. The following is the date and time for the Northeast Montana Relay planned for this summer and the nearest ACS office:

To be held at the Glasgow High School track on August 10th and 11th, 2001, 7:00 p.m. Friday to 11:00 a.m. Saturday
Contact: Kristi Farver Oaks
Community Develop. Mgr.
800-252-5470
OR
Mona Amundson
Chairperson for the Northeast Montana Relay
home phone: 228-2522, or cell phone 263-4176
email: mamundson@state.mt.us

Kareen Nicol (228-4068 ) and Monica Garten (228-2392 ) are working on the Team Recruitment Committee for the Northeast Montana Relay for Life. If you want to be on a team, or have a team organized, or have any questions please contact them.

The team registration fee is $100.00, and it is suggested that you have from 8 to 10 walkers on your team to share walking time on the track.

This year it is 16 hours from 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 10th, to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 11th at the Glasgow High School track. Each team member is also encouraged to raise $75.00 in the form of pledges or through the sale of luminaries, and qualifies the member for a Relay for Life t-shirt.

There are several corporate sponsors that do not have teams organized. If you would like to participate as a walker but do not have a team sponsor, please contact Kareen or Monica and they can assign you to one of the area businesses, that have made either a $250.00 or $500.00 corporate pledge.

There will be a team captain’s meeting on June 12th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Deaconess Hospital Board Room. If you are, or are willing to be, a team captain and can have a team organized and turn in the team registration form and roster with your fee at the meeting, you will get a Relay for Life sweatshirt. Team registration forms and packets are available from Kareen or Monica. If you cannot get organized by the meeting, the forms and packets will be available at the meeting.

We have received indications that some of the schools intend to enter teams and we challenge other schools to do the same.

Katie Truscott of Glasgow leads a cast of 52 in the first production of the 2001 season at the Fort Peck Theatre, artistic director Bobby Gutierrez announced last week. She will play the part of Alice in the beloved Lewis Carroll story of Alice in Wonderland. The curtain will rise at 8 p.m. on June 15 at the Theatre in Fort Peck.

The following people from Glasgow have been named to the cast: Amanda Leonard, Marie Fahlgren, Christen Etchart, Taylor Markle, Alexa Etchart, Jenni Wagenhals, Haley Lipszyc, Desiree Sharrett, Dave Odegard, Nick Grobel, Brandy Morehouse, Cassie Volk, Shylla Wessly, Ashley Fossum, Johanna Cotton, Ileena Berkshire, Addy Helland, Kyra Flatow, Marcie Fahlgren, Luke Hystad, Debra Berger, Anna Fahlgren, Becky Rogenes, Quinn Vaira, Jayson Evenson, Jeff Irving, Ethan Lee, Tess Fahlgren, Kevin Hadley, Cassie Erickson, and Jori Guttenberg. Cast member Patrick DeCoudres hails from Fort Peck and from St. Marie are Lindsay Nix and Alex Smithers, and from Hinsdale, comes Andy Mogan.

Named to the cast from the Wolf Point area are Cassie Toavs and Janell Derden, from Malta, Anneva Uphaus, and from Havre, Katie Jarvis.

These volunteer performers join the professional company, which includes: actors Becky Bowler, who hails from Scobey, Jesse Robinson, Erica Anderson, Carly Booth, Aaron Torgerson, Christopher Kristant, and Ryan Grigg; and technical staff members: Shawn Newton of Glasgow, Theresa K. “T.J.” Jenson, Brittiny L. Hollow, and Sam Reis. Marge Holt of Havre has been named musical director for Alice in Wonderland, with Lynne Monson of Wolf Point directing the music for Clue, The Musical and Camelot. Cynde Whiteman of Wolf Point and Kristant will create the costumes.

This combination of professional and volunteer performers has worked well for the Theatre, now in its 32nd year of summer entertainment.

The community is grateful for everyone’s hard work, explains Council President Kari Lee Knierim of Glasgow. “Daily rehearsals and three performances a week require dedication and a commitment of time and resources,” she said. “We are so proud of everyone who works with the Theatre. It is a joy to be there and to watch them.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Enforcement Division, working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, recently shut down two of the biggest poaching operations in the division's history. Nicknamed "Operation Palmetto-Peach" and "Operation Rosebud" the two investigations netted 90 forfeited trophies and 53 defendants, $179,000 in fines and restitution and 76 years of revoked hunting privileges.

"This is a major win for the people of Montana to see these two widespread investigations brought to a successful conclusion," said FWP Enforcement Division chief Beate Galda. "Defendants in 10 states, some as far away as New York and New Jersey, were involved and it required five years of dedicated work to get the job done."
Both investigations involved breaking the law on licenses and limits for big game hunting and transporting illegally killed animals across state lines. Operation Palmetto-Peach involved an outfitter located in Marietta, Ga. with ranch land near Broadus.

The investigation, beginning in 1997, eventually involved 21 defendants who paid $14,000 in fines and $16,000 in restitution to the State of Montana. The defendants lost a total of 12 years in hunting privileges in Montana and 12 other states and handed over trophy mounts from 36 animals. The case included the states of Montana, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Operation Rosebud involved two Forsyth area outfitters and generated $149,000 in federal and state fines and restitution. The investigation eventually resulted in 40 years of revoked hunting privileges in Montana and 12 other states for 21 state and seven federal defendants, worldwide hunting privileges revoked for a total of seven years and trophies from 54 animals were seized.

Charges included killing big game animals without a license, tagging animals with licenses issued to others, killing over the limits and federal Lacey Act violations for transporting illegally killed animals across state lines.

"These two cases illustrate how a few people can do an obscene amount of damage to the resource in a relatively short time," said Warden Sgt. Mike Moore of Miles City, who worked on both cases. "Our wildlife is a very valuable resource coveted by people who will go to extremes, including breaking state and federal laws. This kind of complex, time consuming investigation is the only way to learn the extent of the damage going on around us and to put a stop to it."

State and federal law enforcement is strengthened by an agreement among 13 Western states, known as the Wildlife Violator Compact, that a loss of hunting privileges in one state will extend to all the others in the agreement. Moore said over 50 FWP Wardens and other state and federal game authorities across the U.S. worked as a team to collect the evidence and complete the investigations required to bring these two cases to a close.

Another important partner in solving wildlife crimes is the public. In 2000, the TIP-MONT hotline logged over 1,000 calls, the most calls in the 16-year history of the hotline. The toll free number, 1-800-847-6668, is open 24 hours a day and callers can remain anonymous, do not have to testify in court and may receive a reward for a tip that helps to protect Montana's fish, wildlife and parks resources.

Moore said the forfeited trophy mounts will be made available to local and state government entities, to be displayed with tags noting their illegal origin and the loss of resources to legal hunters. A "Wall of Shame" in the conference room at the Miles City FWP Region 7 office also attests to the waste of public resources involved in these two cases.

"We aren't naive, we know these are only two instances out of who knows how many other cases," Moore said. "But, when we do get a lead we follow it. Putting a stop to even one poaching ring of this size is a major accomplishment for the resource and the people of Montana."Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Enforcement Division, working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, recently shut down two of the biggest poaching operations in the division's history. Nicknamed "Operation Palmetto-Peach" and "Operation Rosebud" the two investigations netted 90 forfeited trophies and 53 defendants, $179,000 in fines and restitution and 76 years of revoked hunting privileges.

Both investigations involved breaking the law on licenses and limits for big game hunting and transporting illegally killed animals across state lines. Operation Palmetto-Peach involved an outfitter located in Marietta, Ga. with ranch land near Broadus.

(AP) A Malta company that sells homegrown Montana beef over the phone and the Internet is struggling.

Big Sky Beef opened in late 1999 and was flooded with orders for meat. But the company took on one-point-two (m) million dollars in debt, and has laid off seven of its 32 full-time employees.

Stockholders trying to get the business back on track are reaching into their own pockets to finance it. A building's being renovated as a processing plant, and by August, the stockholders want it ready to handle a weekly 15-hundred head of cattle. They took over management of the company in October, trimmed operations and have paid down 600-thousand dollars in debt.

(AP) New research indicates that American pronghorn antelope are more closely related to giraffes than to African antelope.

A study conducted by professor William Wood of Humboldt State University in California shows that pronghorn are more like giraffes than African antelope, which never shed their outer horn.

Wood also made a surprising discovery. American pronghorns secrete anti-bacterial compounds from glands in their feet that are nearly the same as over-the-counter acne medicine. Wood says the compounds keep bacteria down on the antelope's skin.

Pronghorn antelope live on the open prairie in the eastern two-thirds of Montana.
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) That ugly, heavy, rusty-looking rock you carted home from a hike or hunting trip years ago might just be a meteorite.

Marlin Cilz of Malta has been fascinated by the rocks from outer space since he was a teen. He says when people spot meteorites, they may not know what they are, but find them unique enough to bring home.

Cilz says meteorites are rusty brown or black, are rather smooth on the outside and may have shallow depressions that look like thumb prints. He says because of the high iron content, they are heavier than ordinary rocks and will often attract a magnet.

Finding a meteorite can be rewarding. Through the Montana Meteorite Laboratory, Cilz will pay about 100 dollars a pound for a meteorite. Cilz has started distributing posters with descriptions and pictures of meteorites to help teach people what the space rocks look like.
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

More census data has been released for Montana, updating 2000 race, population, age and housing findings. Glasgow had a total population of 3,253 people in 2000. There were 1,523 males, 1,730 females.The biggest age group was the 35-44 span, with 492 people in that age category. There were 447 people aged 45-54. The median age for Glasgow was 42.1 years.

There were 1,395 households in Glasgow with 853 families, 385 with children under 18. There were 427 households with individuals over age 65. The average household size was 2.21 people.

On Thursday, about 75 people attended a noon meeting sponsored by Two Rivers Growth, with lunch provided by Independence Bank, First Community Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Valley Bank.

The meeting was conducted by Two Rivers President Rich Kingsley, with reports from board members Bruce Glennie and Sam Waters. Kingsley stated that the board was looking for input from Valley County’s business leaders on what they wanted for the community: do we want to pursue economic development or not?

Kingsley stated that he didn’t believe the job was getting done with an all-volunteer group and proposed hiring a full-time person to work on economic development for the county, as well as the possibility of a part-time position.

Options on funding the position would include a mill levy in Valley County and a new structure for Two Rivers Growth dues. The board also stated that they needed support from all of the business district, not just a few. Those attending were given a survey on whether they could spare money, time or resources to help promote development in the county.
Kingsley also noted that not all development comes from external sources - the group wants to promote internally in helping to promote local shopping and helping current businesses expand their services.

The Two Rivers group also put together a survey that will be sent out to former area residents, asking for their input on the positives and negatives of Valley County. The survey also will ask if former residents would move back to the area and what it would take to get them back. The survey will also be available on the KLTZ website.

Other discussion included what the area can offer to companies that want to locate here: tax relief, financial incentives and an upbeat attitude.

Also at the meeting, Diane Brandt noted that Missouri River Country has just hired Kim Lacey in a half-time position as director, which is a new position.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg was in attendance and stated that he needed help to promote the 4-lane highway idea throughout the Hi-Line.

Two Rivers Growth will now tabulate the results of the local survey to see which direction the group should go.

Upon recommendation of the Long Run Fire Chief, the Valley County Commissioners declare that no burning will be allowed in Valley County, & no permits will be issued effective May 23rd until further notice.

The Glasgow School Board will host a public meeting tonight (May 23) in which the public will have an opportunity to express their opinions on the closure and sale of the South Side Elementary School. The meeting will be held at the High School Auditorium at 7pm.

The Glasgow School Board held a special meeting two weeks ago to hear a presentation regarding the possible sale of the property that the South Side Elementary School is currently located.

Randy Holum the CEO of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital represented a limited liability corporation called Prairie Ridge. This is a joint venture between FMDH and Valley View Home which would construct an assisted living complex and independent living complex in Glasgow.

Holum told the school board in his presentation that this venture has been in the works for about the last six years and the non-profit corporation is currently working on building the project on a section of land near the Evangelical Church on the north side of Glasgow. They have been working with the City of Glasgow and would purchase that city owned land for $1.

The estimated cost of the project is $3.4 million dollars and would consist of a 16 bed assisted living unit along with 8 independent living units. When fully operational the project would employ 15 to 20 people.

Earlier this year the school board decided to keep the school open after taking a long look on whether it was financially feasible to keep it open because of declining enrollments and budgets. Holum outlined different scenarios on how the property could be turned over to Prairie Ridge if the school was closed. He did say that the current building would be demolished if the property is purchased by Prairie Ridge. A rough estimate on the demolition cost would be $100,000.

Scenario #1 would have the school district give the property to the City of Glasgow and then Prairie Ridge would purchase the property for $1.

Scenario #2 would have Prairie Ridge swap with the school district the land they are currently planning to develop with the South Side Property.

Scenario #3 would have the board sell the property outright to Prairie Ridge. Holum mentioned that if the property would be sold for a minimal amount of money the district would actually save money from not having to demolish the building at taxpayers expense.

(AP) Donna Combs is a bookkeeper at Gordon's Food in Glasgow. And she answered the phone when the Montana Lottery called to tell her that the store had sold a winning Montana Cash ticket. World spread around town, and people asked Combs who the winner was.

Her husband, Robert, checked the numbers in the newspaper last Friday and found out they had the winning ticket from Wednesday's drawing. The two arrived at Montana Lottery headquarters Monday to collect the 70-thousand-dollar prize. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) -- Ten Montana counties are being opened to grazing by ranchers who are becoming desperate for suitable pasture to feed their herds. However, currently, Valley County is not among those listed.

The decision by Ag-Secretary Ann Veneman comes three weeks after cattlemen asked for the lands, held in the Conservation Reserve Program, to be opened for grazing. Their petition asked that 44 counties be opened for C-R-P grazing.

The ten counties opened for C-R-P grazing are Blaine, Carbon, Choteau, Fergus, Hill, Liberty, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips and Stillwater.

Ranchers in Montana, and other Western states, have had trouble finding grazing areas, because sustained drought has ruined much of the available grassland. And some officials fear forage crops may dip to record lows this year. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) American Indian educators Tuesday appealed for more than 16 million dollars in new federal spending, to pay for tribal colleges and universities. The nation's 33 tribal colleges and universities have an enrollment of about 68-hundred students, about 20 percent of whom are non-Indian.

Tribal colleges have relied on Congress for funding since 1978. Because most reservation land is held in trust, and tribal economies are weak, the colleges can't rely on property tax collection for revenue. In the current fiscal year, Congress appropriated about 38-hundred dollars per student enrolled in tribal colleges. The colleges are seeking 45-hundred per student for the 2002 fiscal year. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Bobbie Crater from Glasgow High School is the Valley County winner of the First Community Bank scholarship for $500. Bobbie is the daughter of Mike and Chris Carter and is the valedictorian of her class. She plans on attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where she will major in mechanical engineering.

Two Rivers Growth will sponsor a discussion on the future of Valley County and Glasgow this Thursday, May 24th, at noon at the Cottonwood Inn. Everyone is welcome to attend.

According to Representative Jeff Pattison, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has agreed to allow CRP open for grazing. The details were still being worked out and we will have an update as we get the information.

A special provision which allowed producers to be eligible for LDP’s on non-participating farms applied only to the 2000 year crop. LDP’s for 2001 and subsequent crop years are not eligible on contract commodities produced on a farm without a Production Flexibility Contract (PFC).

For more information, please contact the Valley County FSA Office at 1-406-228-4321.

The Glasgow School Board has reorganized and they have elected Dr. Charles Wilson as the chairman of the board. Wilson replaces Jenny Reinhardt who was elected as Vice-Chairman. The board also hired Kelly Doornek as the school clerk a position she currently holds.

In other action the board officially hired Carl Somers as the Principal at the Glasgow High School. Somers comes from Fort Benton where he has been Superintendent of Schools for the past two years.

The board also hired Sheila Plant for an elementary position. Plant has been with the Glasgow system the past three years but was laid off last month in a budget cutting move. But with the retirement of Karen Newton this opened up a position in the elementary which Plant then applied for and received the job. The board hired Chuck Barstad as the activities director for the district. He will take over the job currently being handled by Bob Farrell at the High School.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to announce Duck Creek Fishing Access Site has been reopened for public use. The FAS was closed March 27th for improvements on the boat ramp and parking area.

The ramp has been significantly widened to handle more boating pressure along with additional parking for recreationists.

MFWP would like to thank the public for their patience and Fossum Ready Mix for the work.

(Malta-AP) Hospital officials in Malta are hoping to receive a community development block grant of half a million dollars, to complete the financing for a new hospital.

Darryl Seeley is with the Phillips County Hospital Association. He says they already have three million dollars toward the new facility. Nearly half came from interest on a trust fund, and the rest is from grants and low-interest loans.

The Phillips County Hospital was built in 1952. It has no private bathrooms, and no oxygen outlets in patient rooms. Those are violations of federal standards, and two years ago, the government gave the hospital until September 1st of 2002 to upgrade or shut down. Trustees considered remodeling the existing building, but that would cost three-point-four million dollars, and they can build a new hospital for three-point-five million. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Jordan-AP) -- A Jordan man was killed early this morning, when his pickup truck left a gravel road and rolled.

The Montana Highway Patrol says 31-year-old Edward Murnion was alone in the truck, and apparently lost control on a curve of the Hell Creek Road, about three miles north of Jordan. It happened about 5:15 this morning.

The patrol says Murnion was thrown from the truck, and was dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, and the patrol says alcohol apparently was a factor in the crash.

Murnion's death was the 69th on Montana's roads and highways this year, one more than on this date a year ago.

The Valley County Long Run Fire Department responded to a structural fire Saturday morning and one firefighter sustained injuries that sent him to the hospital.

The fire was at Uncle Phesters Pheasant Farm located an estimated 7 miles east of Glasgow. An incubator building had caught on fire which later spread to some holding pens for birds at the farm. The building and several pens were destroyed in the fire.

The firefighter was injured when a tree started on fire and a branch fell and hit the firefighter in the head. He was taken to the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital and released later that day.

The Fire Department was called out at 8am and the trucks were put away around 11am on Saturday.

Governor Judy Martz and Lieutenant Governor Karl Ohs elevated 41 counties to severe drought alert status. The Governor's Drought Advisory Committee advised Governor Martz that these counties meet the criteria identified in the Montana Drought Response Plan for Severe Drought status. The Drought Alert status, announced April 2 for all 56 Montana counties, remains in effect.

BEAVERHEAD, BIG HORN, BLAINE, CARBON, CASCADE, CHOTEAU, CUSTER, DEER LODGE, FERGUS, FLATHEAD, GALLATIN, GARFIELD, GLACIER, GOLDEN VALLEY, GRANITE, HILL, JUDITH BASIN, LEWIS & CLARK, LIBERTY, LINCOLN, MADISON, MEAGHER, MINERAL, MISSOULA, MUSSELSHELL, PARK, PETROLEUM, PHILLIPS, PONDERA, POWDER RIVER, POWELL, RAVALLI, ROSEBUD, SILVER BOW, STILLWATER, SWEET GRASS, TETON, TOOLE, VALLEY, WHEATLAND, and YELLOWSTONE.

Governor Martz followed up with a letter to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman asking for an extension of last year's Natural Disaster Determination and approval of last month's CRP grazing request.

The Drought Advisory Committee received reports Thursday from federal and state agencies indicating significant deterioration since the committee's April 19 meeting. Water supply and moisture experts acknowledge that current conditions confirm that last year's drought continues, relatively unabated, into this year's growing season.

The committee emphasized that conditions in the remaining 15 counties, still on Drought Alert, remain a serious concern. The Drought Alert status continues for the following counties: BROADWATER,CARTER, DANIELS, DAWSON, FALLON, JEFFERSON, LAKE, McCONE, PRAIRIE, RICHLAND, ROOSEVELT, SANDERS, SHERIDAN, TREASURE, and WIBAUX.

Governor Martz said, "Our administration is working closely with our Drought Advisory Committee and Montana's Congressional delegation and federal agencies to obtain federal assistance programs that are opened only after certain conditions are met."

The Drought Alert level of response is a recommendation to county commissions to organize a local planning counterpart to the state drought advisory committee, to provide a forum for discussion of local impacts from drought, to plan appropriate responses, and to act as a point of communication with the state committee. The Severe Drought status, which is not assigned before May 15, indicates that water supplies and moisture conditions have deteriorated to a point that requires immediate response actions at the federal, state, and local government levels. The Montana Drought Response Plan identifies actions for federal, state, and local response that correspond to both the Drought Alert and the Severe Drought levels.

Lt. Governor Karl Ohs, Drought Committee Chairman, said, "Above normal temperatures and wind in recent weeks have contributed to the rapid and continued deterioration of water supply and soil moisture conditions. This combination makes it doubly important for all Montanans to conserve precious supplies of water this year."

The Governor's Drought Advisory Committee has established a "Drought 2001" Internet site at: http://nris.state.mt.us/drought . For more information, call the Water Resources Division of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at (406) 444-6637 or (406) 444-6628.

(AP) Officials from the federal geological service told Montana's Drought Advisory Committee Thursday that area rivers monitored by their agency are averaging only half their usual levels.

The U-S Geological Survey's report was part of a litany of bad news given to the drought committee today.

The federal agency says peak runoff in most Montana rivers and streams occurred two to four weeks early.

Officials also say seven out of the eight rivers monitored have below-normal levels, and average only 49 percent of the usual level. Ray Kaiser of the Natural Resources Conservation Service agrees, saying the biggest concerns are the Missouri, St. Mary, Milk and lower Yellowstone rivers. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Helena-AP) -- Three Montana players won substantial amounts of money in last night's midweek lottery drawings, including one in Glasgow.

A ticket sold at Rosauers Food and Drug, in Libby, won 100-thousand dollars in last night's "Powerball" lottery drawing.

Another ticket last night won the "Montana Cash" jackpot of 70-thousand dollars. It was sold at Gordon's Food in Glasgow.

Four other tickets were good for 100-thousand-dollars each in last night's Powerball drawing, by matching the first five numbers without the Powerball. Two were sold in Connecticut, and one each in New Hampshire and Missouri. Nobody won the big jackpot, which was worth 38 (m) million dollars. On Saturday, the Powerball jackpot will be an estimated 44 (m) million dollars.

Here are last night's winning numbers: --
Powerball: 12-13-20-28-44 and Powerball 17.
Power Play: 5 --Wild Card: 01-07-09-20-23 and Wild-Card King of Hearts --
Montana Cash: 06-12-24-29-32 (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Department of Commerce is encouraging local governments applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for housing projects to think ‘energy conservation’ during the next round of grant applications. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy points out that an investment of a few hundred dollars in proper insulation, storm doors and windows and similar improvements increases the comfort of a home, maximizes energy dollars and reduces energy consumption by as much as 30%.

On May 22-23 in Glasgow, the CDBG and HOME programs in coordination with the Montana Board of Housing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, will sponsor a workshop for communities and organizations planning publicly assisted housing projects. Representatives from state and federal funding agencies, along with guest speakers, will provide information on the housing development process and grant and loan assistance available. The workshop will be held from 8:00 am - 4:40 pm at the Cottonwood Inn, US Hwy 2E.

The HOME program has approximately $ 4.3 million to grant to Community Housing Development Organizations, local governments and public housing authorities to pursue homeowner opportunities, rental opportunities or a combination of both. The maximum grant award is $400,000. All local governments are eligible to apply for HOME funds except Great Falls and Billings, which receive a direct allocation from HUD.

The CDBG program has approximately $1.3 million to grant to local governments for housing activities aimed at assisting low and moderate-income homeowners or renters. Applications for CDBG funding must be submitted by August 31 to the Department.
Communities are being urged to consider submitting projects to the CDBG program that would combine energy conservation and weatherization activities, in cooperation with the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Local governments can request housing grants up to $500,000.

Homeowners or landlords interested in taking energy conservation steps to help minimize the impact of rising home energy costs should contact their local government officials. By law, CDBG grants can be made only to local government entities. All local governments are eligible to apply for the funds except Missoula, Great Falls and Billings who receive separate CDBG funding.

Governor Judy Martz has encouraged all Montanans to undertake energy conservation measures. In Executive Order No.3-01 issued on March 29, Governor Martz also directed energy conservation measures be taken in state buildings.

Every effort is made to hold meetings at a facility that is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Montanans needing special accommodations should call Joanne Gilbert at (406) 444-2488 by 5pm on May 18.

The Valley County Long Run Fire Department battled high winds and a shortage of water for more than two hours to contain a fire in Oswego Sunday night.

The call came in at 11pm on Sunday evening and when they arrived in Oswego they found two mobile homes completely engulfed in flames.

The homes were empty and in fact no one had lived in them for three or four years and there were no injuries.
High winds made protecting nearby houses a priority, but with no city hydrants available the department had to use tanker trucks and used about 10,000 gallons of water.

Firemen had to return to Oswego Monday morning and afternoon to control flareups from the fire.

(AP) The Montana Water Court has set a June eleventh deadline for water users to have a say in determining water rights claims on the Missouri River, from Fort Peck Dam to the North Dakota border.

The court's proposed decree does not include claims from the Poplar and Redwater rivers, and Big Muddy Creek drainages. So far, objections have been filed to over 14-hundred of the nearly three-thousand water rights claims listed in the decree.

A list of the objections can be obtained from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation regional water resource offices in Havre and Glasgow and at the Montana Water Court in Bozeman.

Chief Water Judge Bruce Loble says the objections are significant to all the water users in the basin, because if one water claim is changed, it has the potential to affect the rest of the water users. Loble says water users should review the objection list for water right claims that might affect them. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission formally adopted a tentative change to the state’s deer regulations for 2001 at its meeting in Missoula on May 8.

The Commission proposes the elimination of over-the-counter whitetail “B” licenses in all of Hunting District 641 and that portion of 640 east of Highway 16. The adjustment was requested by FWP as a result of the severe winter in that portion of the state, which resulted in significant loss of whitetails, the result of game damage complaints and low fawn survival. Glenn Erickson, chief of the Wildlife Division’s Management Bureau, said in response to the game damage complaints over 2,000 whitetail deer were taken in the area following the general hunting season. Final action will be taken at the Commission Meeting in Helena on June 6 and 7

Public comments regarding this issue may be sent by June 1 to: Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Wildlife Division, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701, by June 1.

The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum will be opening up the contract for the construction of the project this month.

According to a press release from the board of directors the projected opening of the construction bids is July 15th with the groundbreaking to follow soon after.

The Interpretive Center is a $6 million dollar project that will showcase the history of several government agencies involved in the Fort Peck Dam Area along with a stunning paleotological exhibit featuring fossils from the Fort Peck Area.

The first draft for the 2001 Fort Peck Management Plan is complete and available for review.

The draft plan can be obtained at any Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office throughout the state. Comments regarding the draft plan will be accepted until June 8th 2001.

The advisory committee will review the comments and necessary changes will be made for a final draft plan. The public will again have an opportunity in August to comment before the final draft is adopted in September. The process allows the public to participate and be involved in the development of the management plan.

The Farm Service Agency would like to remind producers that the deadline for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) has been extended until further notice. Producers are eligible for compensation for 2000 crop losses directly attributed to adverse weather and related conditions. All crops are eligible with the exception of grazing.

CDP covers all insured, uninsured and non-insurable crops. Payments are limited to $80,000 per person. Producers will be compensated if the losses exceed 35% of historic yields. Historic yields will be based on the higher of the 5-year National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) county average yield, your established crop insurance yield, or the NAP-approved yield.

If you suffered a weather related crop loss on any 2000 crop, or if you would like to sign up for the Crop Disaster Program, please contact the Valley County Farm Service Agency as soon as possible at 228-4321.

( AP) The Highway Patrol says a 25-year-old man died early this morning when his pickup truck overturned near Nashua. Officials are withholding his name and hometown until relatives can be notified.

The patrol says his pickup truck was eastbound on U-S Two when it drifted off the highway half a mile east of Nashua, ran down an embankment and overturned one and a half times. The driver -- who was alone in the vehicle -- was ejected through the passenger-side window and died at the scene. The patrol says the accident occurred sometime between two a-m and 6:30 a-m, when the wreckage was discovered.

The death raises Montana's traffic toll for the year to 62, compared with 67 on May 12th last year.

Glasgow High School football coach Chuck Syverson has announced he will be leaving the Scotties for a teaching and coaching job in North Carolina.

Syverson has been the head coach of the Scottie football team the past three years and has guided them to the Class B football playoffs the last two years including the semi-finals of the playoffs two years ago.

Syverson also is an assistant track coach and is the health enhancement teacher at the high school.

Glasgow Superintendent Glenn Monson said the district is already advertising the coaching position along with the head volleyball coaching position.

A 29 year old Glasgow resident, Carol Stingley, has been sentenced on the charge of criminal endangerment, a felony.

She was sentenced on Monday in District Court by Judge John Mckeon. He gave Stingley a five-year deferred sentence for the March 25, 2000 assault on Nashua resident Kurt Kummerfeldt.

According to court documents, Kummerfeldt was talking with a group of people in a front street bar and was given a backhanded hit in the mouth with a beer bottle. The blow, given by Stingley, knocked out a front tooth and loosened another tooth. He needed stitches and oral surgery.

If all the conditions imposed by Mckeon are observed for five years, the charge will be erased from Stingley's record.

She was ordered to abstain from alcohol. She must pay $1232 in restitution and a $1000 fine, in addition to $40 in court costs and a monthly $15 supervisory fee.

Stingley had entered a plea of no contest, meaning she did not admit guilt but understood that the prosecution would show evidence that would likely produce a conviction from a jury.

The Glasgow Police Department is looking for information from the public about the identity of two drivers of four-wheelers who almost struck a woman pusher her baby in a stroller on Monday evening.

According to Glasgow Patrollman Dave Watson, the woman reported at about 9:30pm that two four-wheelers darted out of an alley in the 400 block of 10th Avenue N. without looking. She said they were going about 45 mph.

Another witness said one of the four-wheelers had one headlight, and the other had no lights on when she saw them.
Watson and other officers pursued the two around Glasgow's north side but they got away.

Patrollman Watson said these drivers were quite a danger to whomever they came near. Anyone with information can call the law enforcement center at 406-228-4333 or anonymously to Crimestopper, 1-800-222-2226.

The Glasgow School Board held a special meeting last night to hear a presentation regarding the possible sale of the property that the South Side Elementary School is currently located.

Holum told the school board that Prairie Ridge is interested in working with the school board on the possible purchase of the property where the South Side School is currently located.

Scenario #1 would have the school district give the property to the City of Glasgow and then Prairie Ridge would purchase the property for $1.

Scenario #2 would have Prairie Ridge swap with the school district the land they are currently planning to develop with the South Side Property.

The Glasgow School Board did not make a decision on the future of the school at the special meeting but will host a public meeting on May 23rd in which the public have an opportunity to express their opinions on the closure and sale of the South Side Elementary School. The meeting will be held at the High School Auditorium at 7pm.

If you have written comments you are urged to send them to Glasgow Superintendent Glenn Monson before the May 23rd public meeting. The board would like to make a decision on the possible sale as soon as possible. Holum told the board that Prairie Ridge would like to possibly begin site preparation and possible construction this year.

The Frazer School District is facing an election quandry after balloting on Tuesday left a tie between incumbent George Blount and challenger Joe Howard.

According to school clerk Dean Blount, Roger Fisher was the top vote getter with 121 votes but George Blount and Joe Howard are tied for second with 63 votes.

Dean Blount told Kltz/Mix-93 news that according to election law the Frazer School Board will have to break the tie at their next meeting which is scheduled for Monday.

There were seven candidates vying for 2 spots on the Frazer School Board. Here are the tallies:

Roger Fisher 121
George Blount 63
Joe Howard 63
Phillip Fourstar 31
Harold Gleed 31
Joe Raining Bird 29
Ruth Todd 26

The Frazer voters also approved two building reserve fund levies. The elementary levy passed 170-23 and the high school building reserve levy passed 162-97.

Glasgow School District No. 1 had a 14-percent turnout ... 518 voters out of a potential 3646 registered voters. The Levy passed 301 in favor and 217 against. Charles Wilson ran unopposed with 437 votes.

Nashua school election results: Two-year position for trustee-- Frank Vinton was the winner with 136 votes. Elmer (Red) Whitten had 73 votes. Carla Thista was the winner of the three-year school board position with 1137 votes. Peggy Lauckner received 74 votes. Proposition for building reserve received 167 yes votes and 46 no votes.

Hinsdale High School District 7C school levy election had 123 votes in favor and 24 votes against. Hinsdale Elementary School District 7a school levy election had 123 votes in favor and 26 votes against.

In the trustee election...R. Loran Albus received 121 votes, Lyle Lacock 106 votes and Maxine Korman 59 votes.

Opheim School District No. 9D ... Dale Tarum ran unapposed with 100 votes. Budget authority and levy election passed with 94 votes in favor and 19 against.

Lustre School District No. 23. Jeff Nelson ran unapposed for trustee with 63 votes. Mill levy passed with 45 votes in favor and 25 votes against.

Frazer had a problem with their vote count. According to Dean Blount of the Frazer School District, a decision will need to be made by the county attorney.

Thirty-one (31) communities recommended for Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) grants by the Department of Commerce have been approved for drinking water systems, sewer collection and wastewater treatment systems and bridge projects by the Legislature under HB11. Governor Judy Martz signed the bill on April 30.

These grants ranging from $167,460 to $500,000 totaled $13,672,060.

House Bill 11 also appropriated over $2.3 million for the Ft. Peck and Rocky Boy regional water systems that are in the early stages of planning. The 57th Legislature recognized the need to invest in these systems to provide clean drinking water so people can continue to live in rural communities. The Treasure State Endowment Regional Water System Fund was established to help share in the cost of constructing these systems and to access over the next ten years more than $300 million in Federal funding.

"TSEP creates a vital partnership between the State and local governments to deal with critical public health and safety needs," said Mark Simonich, Director, Montana Department of Commerce. "It makes public facilities projects affordable for our communities, generates millions of dollars in construction activity, creates local jobs and generates local revenues."

Projects being funded are:
* Drinking Water Projects - communities of Browning, Essex, Eureka, Gardiner, Geraldine, Havre, Hot Springs, Lambert, Power, Shelby, and the Blackfeet Tribe.
* Sewer Collection and Wastewater Treatment Projects - communities of Alder, Ashland, Charlo, Choteau, Florence, Froid, Hinsdale, Kevin, Lavina, Lockwood, Manhattan, Nashua, Park City, Stanford, Virginia City, Whitefish, and Whitewater.
* Bridge Projects - counties of Lewis and Clark, Richland, and Yellowstone.

In addition, three other projects are authorized for grants if additional funds beyond what was projected by the Legislature become available. These include a storm drain project in Helena, a wastewater treatment project in Fairview, and a combination water and sewer project in Jordan. These additional grants would total another $1.5 million.

Congress has authorized the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and Dry Prairie Rural Water Authority regional water system project. The environmental assessment and final engineering is currently in progress. It will serve a large area of northeastern Montana, essentially everything north of the Missouri River that is east of Glasgow.

The Rocky Boy regional water system project will serve the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and a large area west in the north central part of the State. This project is just starting the congressional authorization process, which they hope to have completed within the next year or two.

A list of the TSEP recipients awarded grants by the 2001 Legislature is as follows.

TSEP Grant Recipients Type of Project Grant Award
Lewis & Clark County Bridge $500,000
Alder Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Town of Hot Springs Water $500,000
Whitewater Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Town of Virginia City Wastewater $500,000
Town of Froid Wastewater $390,600
Town of Nashua Wastewater $500,000
Richland County Bridge $296,500
Town of Lavina Wastewater $483,000
Gardiner-Park County Water & Sewer District Water $398,500
Park City Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Town of Stanford Wastewater $500,000
Florence County Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Ashland County Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Town of Geraldine Water $167,460
Town of Manhattan Wastewater $500,000
Lambert County Water & Sewer District Water $403,000
Town of Browning Water $500,000
Town of Kevin Wastewater $385,000
Power-Teton County Water & Sewer District Water $425,000
Blackfeet Tribe Water $500,000
City of Whitefish Wastewater $500,000
City of Choteau Wastewater $500,000
Lockwood Water & Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Town of Eureka Water $369,000
City of Shelby Water $500,000
Charlo-Lake County Sewer District Wastewater $500,000
Essex County Water & Sewer District Water $225,000
Yellowstone County Bridge $300,000
Hinsdale Water & Sewer District Wastewater $329,000
City of Havre Water $500,000
City of Helena * Storm Drain $500,000
Town of Fairfield * Wastewater $500,000
Town of Jordan * Water & Wastewater $500,000
*These applicants are authorized grant awards contingent upon additional TSEP funds becoming available.

The Treasure State Endowment Program was established in 1992 by passage of a referendum by Montana voters. The program uses the interest earned from a permanent trust fund that is continuing to grow from the build up of coal severance tax dollars. The TSEP grants are matched by local funds, and by loans and grants from other state and federal programs.

GHS Alumni are reminded that applications for financial aid from the Glasgow High School Educational Trust for the 2001-02 school year are due July 1, 2001. All alumni in their second year of college or second semester of vocational/technical school are eligible for gifts. The awards are based primarily on need, not scholarship, and average students who are showing good progress and commitment are given equal consideration.

Established by the Class of 1938 and 1964, the Trust now holds assets valued over $1,040,000. The interest on these funds is distributed semi-annually to students pursuing post-secondary education at the baccalaureate or vocational/technical level. It is also used to purchase enrichment programs and equipment for GHS which cannot be financed within the school’s regular budget. To date, the Trust has given $398,450 to 476 different GHS alumni and $86,644 worth of equipment and programs to GHS.

For more information about the Trust, or an application, please contact Danielle Anderson at (406) 228-4203, Jeanine Markle (406) 228-2858 or Doris Leader at (406) 228-9391 or (406) 747-3432.

Faced with the prospect of another dry summer, Montana Fish, Widlife & Parks is teaming up with the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana to spread the organization's encouraging advice to Montana outfitters, anglers, and boaters.

"FOAM has developed a solid and helpful set of drought-related guidelines for their members, and we think the messages are so good that we want to help spread the word to everyone who plans to fish in Montana this season," said Larry Peterman, FWP's chief of fisheries.

As for FOAM, executive director Robin Cunningham says the members are happy to join with FWP in this effort. "We're all working for the same folks and share the same interests, and we all want to make sure we can enjoy Montana's waters while conserving the state's wild trout populations during what is shaping up to be another low-water summer," Cunningham said. "Besides, outfitters and guides want to do something extra. Our clients expect more from us, and so does the public."

Here are guidelines FOAM and FWP are encouraging anglers and outfitters to follow this summer: Use extra courtesy when on the water * If you're forced to travel outside your "home" waters due to fire or drought closures, be sure to respect local anglers', outfitters' and guides' etiquette and techniques.
* If you find transplanted anglers, outfitters or guides in your area, recognize that they are trying to enjoy the day or serve their clients just like you are - respect their needs and offer your hospitality.
* Reduced flows concentrate fishing, so be extra patient at put-ins and take-outs.
* Be extra courteous to your fellow anglers, especially the walk-waders. Use waters not affected by drought; try other species
* Fish or take clients to less drought-affected waters such as secondary streams, private spring creeks and ponds, public lakes and reservoirs.
* If you are an outfitter, make sure you have the waters in your operations plan and obtain the appropriate permits and/or permission to be on them.
* Use cooler stretches or start earlier to avoid rising water temperatures.
* If possible in your area, target warm-water or less-sought-after species such as carp, pike, perch, or golden-eyes.
* Make sure you and your anglers have a warm-water species stamps when and where required. Learn more about fishing techniques to use during drought
* Limit the number of fish you or your clients catch and release.
* Use heavier-than-usual gear and tackle to land fish quickly. Learn how to land and release fish quickly and use extra caution
* Pull the boat over to release fish - the closer to their original hole, the better.
* Use a landing net with a rubber net-bag.
* Keep the fish in the water as much as possible - this summer, skip the photos.
* While moving a fish back and forth during resuscitation, it helps to stroke its belly, too. For Outfitters: When booking trips
* Be honest with your clients about the very real possibility of this season's drought conditions.
* If possible, book clients earlier in the season; avoid August and September.
* When conditions warrant, cancel and/or rebook clients - take the long view on your business success.

Other things to keep in mind during drought
* People suffer during the hot days that accompany drought, too - bring extra water and sunscreen and don't underestimate the value of a midday nap or short swim.
* No barbecues, matches, smokes, or open flames during times of extreme fire danger, and avoid parking your rigs on dry grass.
* Ranchers suffer right along with us, so show appreciation to those who reduce irrigation to provide in-stream flow.
* Low water dries up prairie potholes, too, and waterfowl are forced to nest on mainstem waters, so be careful around islands and other potential nesting areas.

For the latest drought information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.us. Click on the "Drought Information" link.

The drought of 2000's full impacts on Montana's fisheries will likely not be detected for a year or two. Because it is difficult to determine the number of young fish in a stream, the focus of FWP sampling activities mostly seek to count catchable fish, which are usually nearly two years old. Here is a region-by-region summary of some of the drought issues confronting FWP fish managers this spring.

Region 1-Northwestern Montana
* Snowpack is about 70 percent of normal. In addition, energy shortages across the West prompted the Bonneville Power Administration to declare a water emergency, so Libby and Hungry Horse reservoirs will be managed for hydropower generation rather than for fish. Planned, stabilized flows to benefit endangered salmon and sturgeon have been abandoned.
* The Thompson, Fisher, and Yaak rivers and Prospect Creek are at record low flows. The runoff forecast for Ashley Lake is 31 percent of normal so water-right holders have been contacted about reducing flow releases.
* Winterkill reports continue to come in as lake and pond ice melts. Winterkills have occurred at Plummers Lake (Many Lakes) and Lost Lake near Eureka, at Church, Egen, and McWennegar sloughs, and Middle and Lower Foys lakes.
* Stream flows on nearly all of the region's major rivers- Clark Fork, Fisher, North, Middle and South Forks of the Flathead, Stillwater, Swan, Thompson, Tobacco, Whitefish and Yaak are below long-term averages.

Region 2-Western Montana
* Stream flows in the region's major rivers--Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek-- are currently 35-75 percent of long-term averages and the snowpack is less than 75 percent of normal.
* Low flows and fire-related closures forced stream sampling to be canceled last fall, but declines in trout numbers due to dewatered spawning tributaries is expected. Fish spawned in 2000 and juveniles still residing in the tributaries will probably be hardest hit. Fall spawning bull trout and brown trout were likely either stranded in tributaries or were not able to access spawning habitats.
* Withdrawals from Georgetown Lake last summer resulted in extremely low over-winter water levels. The low water and minimal inflow contributed to a drop in the lake's oxygen levels to the lowest ever recorded. A significant winterkill is expected. The region is currently working with irrigators, county commissioners and sportsman's groups to negotiate long-term water conservation agreements.
* Other lakes in the region, such as Browns Lake and Lake Upsata, suffer from low winter oxygen levels and may have winterkills.

Region 3-Southwestern Montana
* The Jefferson River Watershed Council, which is getting a fund-raising boost from Trout Unlimited and Orvis, continues to meet monthly. Cooperators are working on a water-use plan.
* A fish kill, related to diminished stream flows occurred in Middle Creek, an East Gallatin River tributary.
* Projections for the region's major rivers for April through July predict flows from 70 to 40 percent of normal.

Region 4-West-central Montana
* Of immediate concern is Bynum Reservoir, about 30 miles northwest of Choteau. The reservoir a very good prairie walleye fishery, but water levels are extremely low and the walleye fishery could be in danger of collapsing. Similar conditions exist at other reservoirs that host cool and cold water fisheries.
* On the Missouri River north of Helena, low-water levels in spawning tributaries could cause a major reduction in recruitment of juvenile trout to the popular 35-mile blue-ribbon segment of the wild-trout river. This would compound problems already caused by whirling disease, which has taken a serious toll on juvenile rainbows in the upper river near Craig.
* On the Smith River, last year's drought dried up around 20 miles of the lower river. With below average snowpack this year, a repeat could be possible
* Flows in the Sun River below Gibson Dam have been reduced to only 50 cubic feet per second, half of the recommended minimum flow.
* More than 100 miles of the Teton River was dry, or nearly so, last summer. A repeat would have severe impacts on native sauger and other migratory fish from the Wild and Scenic stretch of the Missouri River that use the Teton for spawning and rearing.

Region 5-East-Central Montana
* Of primary concern this spring is the Musselshell River Drainage where snowpack is about 60 percent of normal and streamflow prospects for April through July are predicted to drop as low as 30 percent of the long-term average.
* Surface-water supply is rated at "extremely dry" leaving Bair, Martinsdale, and Deadmans Basin reservoirs with little hope of filling. Spring netting surveys set for mid-May at Deadmans Basin will be the first chance to see how rainbow trout and kokanee have mixed with the predacious tiger muskies in these low-water conditions. Planting requests for rainbow trout and kokanee have been cut in half.
* The snowpack for the Yellowstone River Drainage is at 56 percent of average, with streamflow prospects for the major tributaries in the region ranging from 60-64 percent. Ice scour in the Yellowstone River may have reduced survival of trout eggs and younger fish. Sampling on the river was cancelled, because rock outcrops have made it unsafe.
* The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation believes Bighorn Lake will fill to within one foot of full pool. Bighorn River flows will remain at 2,000 cfs at least until August. The lake and river will be likely destinations for anglers seeking water to fish this dry year.

Region 6-Northeastern Montana
* Low-water levels in Fort Peck Reservoir will cause the annual walleye egg-take to move to a more remote location. At normal pool levels, FWP and volunteers collect and fertilize eggs at a spawning building at Nelson Creek on the Big Dry arm. This spring, biologists will use a "spawning barge" anchored to the shoreline just north of Nelson Creek. Workers and equipment will be ferried to the barge and back to transport fertilized eggs.. Transporting walleye eggs via boat could potentially reduce egg harvest especially on windy days when rough water may damage the very delicate eggs.
* With the Milk River drainage snow pack about 45 percent of normal, boat access to Nelson and Fresno reservoirs may be difficult as low-water access is very limited. The impact of low water on the fisheries is of concern but as yet undetermined. Negative impacts to irrigation for agriculture from these already de-watered Milk River reservoirs has area farmers concerned.

Region 7--Eastern Montana
* The Tongue, Powder, and the Lower Yellowstone river basins are all below average snowpack for this time of year. Without a late season storms in the Bighorn Mountains, eastern Montana's warm-water fish will be starting this water year below normal. Spring spawning flows region wide were very poor for sauger, a species of special concern in Montana.
* Prairie drainages both north and south of the Miles City area do not have the snowpack needed to recharge ponds that went into winter very low. However, spring rains can still make a substantial difference in small pond storage. FWP will contact landowners to get information on pond recharge and current pond levels in May before ponds are stocked this spring.
* All scheduled rainbow-trout plants are complete for this year, with 16 ponds excluded from plantings due to low levels. Bass ponds will be stocked later this spring. For the latest drought information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.us. Click on the "Drought Information" link.

Tryouts for this summer's productions at the Fort Peck Theatre are scheduled May 12 and 13, announces Artistic Director Bobby Gutierrez. Sessions begin at noon both days at the Glasgow Middle School. People of all ages, youth and adult, are welcome to tryout.

This summer's season includes Alice In Wonderland, playing June 15 to July 8, Clue, the Musical, playing July 13 to Aug. 5, and Camelot running Aug. 10 to Sept. 2. Performances are scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and the curtain rises at 8 p.m. Rehearsals begin the evening of May 16 at the Theatre in Fort Peck.

"We will be casting roles in all three productions," explains Gutierrez, who returns for an eighth season at the Theatre. "Performers should come prepared to read, sing and have fun."

The Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, Inc. has produced summer entertainment at the historic Theatre since 1970, and has owned the Theatre and its grounds since 1987. This summer's lineup includes a guest appearance of The Dirty Shame Show from Scobey, and several performances of Greater Tuna.

For more information on tryouts or Theatre events, contact Gutierrez at 228-9216.

The Glasgow School Board Tuesday held a hearing on the status of Glasgow Elementary School Teacher Julianne Collins.

Collins was convicted earlier this year to the misdemeanor offense of supplying liquor to minors. Collins pleaded innocent to the charge but a City Court jury found her guilty of the misdemeanor offense. Immediately after the conviction the Glasgow School District suspended her with pay until an investigation was complete and then a hearing in front of the school board.

That hearing was held yesterday and the board passed a motion that stated that they found cause for discipline and suspended her for the rest of the school year without pay. But the board did hire her back for the coming school year in August. Collins was also put on probation for three years and she must obey all laws and all institutional laws and she must also seek counseling at her expense.

This is also a last chance agreement meaning that if a discipline problem occurs again there will be no grievance procedure.
Collins is a Kindergarten teacher at Glasgow's Irle school.

Glasgow Mayor Willy Zeller will face at least one competitor in this year's city elections.

The filing opened up on Monday for the Mayor position along with three seats on the Glasgow City Council.

Zeller will face competition from City Councilman Ed Tipton who currently represents Ward #1 on the City Council.

Since Tipton has filed for the position of Mayor that opens up his seat in Ward #1 and as of Tuesday there had been no filings in that ward.

The council seat in Ward #2 is also up for election this year and the incumbent Ky Idler has announced he will run for another four year term on the council.

The seat in Ward #3 is also up for election and that seat is currently held by Marlene Jackson and she has indicated she will run for another four year term. She will face opposition from former Glasgow Police Chief Bob West who filed for that office on Monday.

The filing deadline is set for June 28th with a Primary Election to be held if necessary on September 11th and the General Election held on November 6th.

(AP) -- North Dakota's transportation director says the state is committed to widening U-S Highway Two to four lanes in northwestern North Dakota.

Dave Sprynczynatyk says construction should begin in 2003, and the work widening the 100-mile section from Minot to Williston should be completed by 2014. He says the agency expects to award the construction contract by the end of 2002.

The move comes as Montana Governor Judy Martz signed a bill that requires the Montana Transportation Department to begin planning for expanding U-S Two across northern Montana as well.

Supporters along the Hi-Line in Montana have argued that region of the state was withering economically and doubling the 700-mile stretch of U-S Two across the state to four lanes would help revive the northern tier. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Friends of the Pioneer Museum were utterly amazed and grateful at the turn out for the Museum Cleaning Day 2001. Twenty-seven very generous people came and within two and a half hours everything was polished, the glass was cleaned, the floors were swept, the area was dusted and many heavy things that needed to be moved were moved and in their place. Many hands do make for easy work and more fun. We also want to thank the Courier, Good Evening Glasgow and the radio staff for the handling of requests for help, the Girl Scouts, and Chad Maczka's World History class for their participation.
Next time you see any of the people listed below, please be sure to thank them for a wonderful job not only for Friends but for the whole community. After all, it is to everyone in Valley County that the Pioneer Museum belongs.
Duane & Berniece Barrett
Carol Cotton
Albert & Doris Franzen
Bernadine Gallagher
Sue Henderson
Lenore Hinerman
Evelyn Kemp
Dorothy Kolstad
Arliss Murch
Kitty Lou Rusher
Echo Sampson (Girl Scouts)
Brenna Sundby
Adam Brayko (world history)
Marian Estrem
Bill Franzen Junior.
Nick Grobel (world history)
Janet Hicks
Jean Hughes
Trent Kinzel (world history)
Butch & Brenda Leckie
Dave Pippin
Nancy Runningen
Bunk Sullivan
Bill Wood
Alyce Tracy

Nemont Telephone Cooperative and its subsidiaries received a total of 211 scholarship applications this year for judging. Final judging took place on April 6. Winners will each receive a $500 scholarship. Alternates were also selected, should the winners be unable to attend college/university or trade school. Alternates each received a $10 Nemont Long Distance pre-paid calling card as the runner-ups.

Nemont Winner - Mina Zuck of Scobey
Alternate- Paula Anderson of Scobey

Nemont Winner - Bradley Opp of Medicine Lake
Alternate - Kevin Nickisch of Medicine Lake

VTI Winner - Kathryn McCloy of Glasgow
Alternate - Andera Peterson of Wolf Point

VTI Winner - Bobbie Crater of Glasgow
Alternate - Lori Redstone of Wolf Point

Project Winner - Tyrele Schaff of Fishtail
Alternate - Anne Gabel of Huntley

Project Winner - Jennifer Stimpson of Lodge Grass
Alternate - Anthony Barnett of Absarokee

MITS (Montana Independent Telecommunications Systems)
Winner - Wayne Fandek of Huntley
Alternate - Nancy See of Hinsdale

Naomi Sirucek
Naomi Sirucek of Glasgow, age 80, died Friday, May 18 at Valley View Home in Glasgow. Funeral services are set for Monday afternoon, May 21, 1:30 PM, at Bell Chapel in Glasgow. Rev. Jerry Overholt will officate. Burial will take place at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in Jerome, Idaho October 31, 1920. Survivors include a daughter, Kathleen Brown of Glasgow; a son, Roy Sirucek of New Mexico; and a grandson, Johnny Dickerson of Glasgow.

Thomas R. Rice
Thomas R. Rice of Glasgow, 81, died on May 13th at the VA Nursing Unit in Miles City. Services are set for Friday, May 18th at 2 p.m. at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with Reverend Lonnie Eidson officiating, and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas was born in 1920 in the Riverside Community northwest of Glasgow to Charles and Cora (Hill) Rice. He lived on the farm his entire life. Thomas served in the U.S. Army in the Army Engineer Corps with the 40th engineers. After the war, Tom came back to the farm. He married Lucile Lindoff at Renton, Washington, in 1950. He farmed, worked construction including the Glasgow Air Force Base, and did custom farming. Tom was very active politically in the Republican Party. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife Lucile of Glasgow, 2 sons: Charles of Glasgow and Richard of Wenatchee, Washington; 1 daughter: Cherie Rice of Palmer, Alaska; 3 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Bradley William Garsjo

Nashua resident Bradley William Garsjo, 25, died from injuries sustained in an auto accident west of Nashua on Saturday, May 12. Services will be Wednesday, May 16 at 2 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow with Reverend Chris Flohr officiating. Burial will be in the Nashua City Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Brad was born in Billings to Richard and Zea (Darling) Garsjo. He attended Meadowlark School in Billings through the 8th grade. He moved to Nashua to live with his dad and brother, graduating from Nashua High School in 1994. He then attended the University of North Dakota-Williston and graduated with a degree in Diesel Technology. After graduating from UND-Williston, he was employed at Willies Farm Service in Scobey and was currently working at Kummerfeldt Ag Cetera in Nashua. Brad loved to help Uncle Milty at his body shop in Glasgow.

He was an outgoing and lively child who played Little Guy football and Little League. He was a hard working young man who loved children.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather William Darling and 1 brother, Mark Richard Garsjo.

Survivors include his father, Richard of Nashua; his mother and step-father, Zea and Jesse Valdez of Billings; 3 sisters: Sydni Wright and her husband Harold and children MaKai and Jaeley of Tacoma, Washington, Lauri Leggett of Austin, Texas, and Audra Garsjo of Nashua; 2 brothers: Zac and Matt Garsjo of Nashua; Grandparents Hartvik and Agnes Garsjo of Nashua, Helene Darling of Billings, and Nick and Santos Valdez of Gary, Indiana; step-brothers: David Valdez, his wife Vicki and daughter Alyssa, and Jason Valdez and his wife Angie of Billings; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mavis Sather Donovan
Mavis Sather Donovan passed away Thursday, May 10 at Valley View Home in Glasgow. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, May 14, 2:00 PM, at Glasgow First Lutheran Church with Rev. Mark Koonz officating. Burial will take place at Highland Cetery in Glasgow. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mavis Sather Donovan attended schools in Opheim and Glasgow, graduating from Glasgow High School. She married Donald Donovan February 19, 1938 in Glasgow.

Survivors include her husband, Donald, of Glasgow; sons, Bob Donovan and Sandy of Silverton, OR, Wayne and Karen of Jones, OK, Victor and Rita of Larslan and Kelly and Debbie of Larslan; 9 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brothers, Menford of Glasgow, Louis of Glasgow; sisters, Gerry Uphaus of Glasgow and Lorene Equosque of Great Falls.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Bennie; sister, Arliss Peck and a grandson, Chad.

Vincent Thomas Traeger
Vincent Thomas Traeger funeral services are Thursday morning, May 10, 10:00 AM at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with Peggy Chambers, pastoral associate officiating. Rosary is scheduled for Sunday, May 13 at 7:00 PM with mass set Monday, May 14, 10:30 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mount Angel, Oregon. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Mount Angel. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Traeger was born July 22, 1927 in Timerlake, SD to Joseph Traeger and Gladys Gamble Traeger. He lived in South Dakota and Oregon. He was an all-state basketball player. Following graduation, he went directly into the U.S. Navy, serving in WWII. He married Maureen Artz in Mount Angel, Oregon, Nov. 19, 1950. They lived in Lewiston, Idaho and later moved to Hawaii where Vince managed the Technicolor Photo Industry and the plant in Seattle, returing in 1991. He lived in Oregon before coming to Glasgow where he lived at Nemont Manor the past two years. He enjoyed playing pool there. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and was always helping people.

Survivors include his wife, Maureen, of Salem, Oregon; two sons, Rick of Glasgow; Tracy, Salem; daughters, Cheryl of San Mateo, CA, Gayle of Mount Angel, Oregon and Kris of Salem, Oregon; 12 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild; brothers, Joe of Mount Angel, Ed of Billings, Jim of Scio, Oregon, Larry of Alaska and Louie of Silverton, Oregon; and one sister, Jeanette of Camas, Washington.

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