July 2000 News Archive

MANWARING SENTENCED IN HOMICIDE (7/27)
District Court Judge John Mckeon has sentenced Jonathon Manwaring to a 30-year sentence in the June 1999 beating which resulted in the death of Randy DeTienne.

According to court documents, Manwaring beat Detienne with his fists at a southside Glasgow residence, leaving the man in a coma. DeTienne died in a Billings hospital 12 days after the assault.
On April 20th Manwaring pleaded guilty to mitigated deliberate homicide. As part of the plea agreement three other counts of deliberate homicide and aggravated assault were dismissed.
On July 6th, Judge Mckeon handed down the 30 year sentence but suspended 20 years of that sentence. Manwaring was also credited for the 377 days he has spent in jail. Manwaring was also ordered to reimburse Valley County $15,000 for his court appointed attorney and pay $5,741.34 restitution to the county.

Judge Mckeon also strongly recommended that he not be put in the Montana State Prison. The sentencing also stated that for strictly limited situations, during the first 10 years of his sentence he may not return to his family home in Valley County or have any contance with his mother or the victims family.

BAUCUS ANNOUNCES FAA GRANTS (7/26)
U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today announced that two Montana cities have received Federal Aviation Administration grants totaling $275,000, including:

City of Glasgow - $250,000 - to construct a concrete apron near the airport terminal to handle the larger aircrafts that use the facility. This will help separate aircraft operations by size and provide pavement surfaces for handling heavier loads.

City of Kalispell - $25,000 - for environmental assessment. This will allow studies to be conducted that will evaluate the environmental impact of proposed airport development at Kalispell City Airport.

"I'm glad we were able to help secure these funds for the folks in Kalispell and Glasgow," Baucus said.

"This money will help improve airport conditions in these areas while stimulating economic growth and creating jobs."

HATCHERY CLEARS ANOTHER HURDLE (7/26)

The proposed Fort Peck Fish Hatchery is one step closer to reality now thanks to brisk sales of the warm water fish stamp and private donations that have been made to the hatchery. Myron Gartner one of the organizers of the hatchery told Kltz/Klan news that total sales of the stamp at the end of May was $150,000 and $68,000 in private donations have been received. This money was used to pay off $125,000 in loans that the hatchery received from eastern Montana lending institutions earlier this year. That money was used to pay for a design and engineering study done by the Army Corps of Engineers. All money that is raised now by the hatchery will be used for operation, maintenance and construction of the hatchery. Currently in Congress there is legislation that would appropriate $20 million dollars for the construction of the Fort Peck Hatchery.

BURNS BILL ON FORT PECK WATER CLEARS HURDLE (7/26)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Montana Senate Conrad Burns today announced that a key House subcommittee unanimously passed his bill to authorize the construction and operation of the Dry Prairie Rural Water System on and around the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Burns said that the bill, which unanimously passed the Senate last year, would provide a stable foundation for economic development in the area of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

"The area around the Fort Peck Reservation needs help,” Burns said. "In order to create jobs and improve public health, we need to provide the region with stable sources of clean water."

"I am concerned that we don’t have much time to get this vital bill through Congress this year," Burns said. "Although we’ve finished working on it in the Senate, the House only has a few weeks to pass it. If they don’t act soon, we have to start the whole process over again next year."

Burns said that the need for a safe and reliable water source is particularly acute on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In one community, sulfate levels in the water are four times the standard for safe drinking water, and in four communities, iron levels are five times the standard. These factors exacerbate health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, which occur at above-normal rates on the reservation.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has been forced to issue several health alerts for drinking water despite the fact that the reservation is located near one of the largest manmade reservoirs in the United States. IHS said such problems will only grow along with the population. The system would provide water not only for drinking but also for agriculture.

Burns' legislation authorizes $175 million to be spent over ten years on the development of a water
system, providing water for over 24,000 people on and near the reservation.
The bill has the support of residents of the reservation and the endorsement of the Tribal Council of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.

Burns has also worked to include $435,000 in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for planning of the Dry Prairie Rural Water System. That appropriations bill is eligible for consideration by the full Senate, but Democrats have put a hold on the bill, blocking further action at this time.

JUNE UNEMPLOYMENT STATS RELEASED (7/25)
Unemployment statistics for the month of June have been released for Montana. Valley County ended up at 3.8% for June 2000, compared to 3.9% in 1999. The state rate is 4.2% compared to 4.5% a year ago. For full county statistics, head to the State Statistics In Brief page.

7 FORMER TRIBAL EMPLOYEES PLEAD GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING (7/25)
(Great Falls-AP) -- Seven former employees of a tribal child care program, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, have pleaded guilty to embezzling. They admitted taking money from the program by submitting false timecards.

Fifty-three-year-old Mitchell Dulane Headdress is the former director of the Child Care Assistance Program. He admitted in a plea agreement that he stole more than five-thousand dollars, from 1997 through July 1999. He faces a maximum ten years in prison. A federal prosecutor says he'll recommend lighter sentences for several others.

The seven will be sentenced October 19th in Helena.

In separate cases, three brothers of Mitchell Headdress, also former tribal employees, have pleaded guilty to felonies involving theft of government money.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

LIBRARY RECEIVES COMPUTERS (7/25)
The Glasgow City-County Library, August 7th from 4:30-5:30 PM is celebrating the arrival of public access computing in our community!

With a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Glasgow City-County Library has purchased computers for a new computer lab, equipped with two new Gateway computers with Internet connections, and one new laser printer.

Join us for an Open House Monday, August 7th from 4:30-5:30 pm and see trainers from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation demonstrate how to use the computers.

The Glasgow City-County Library is located at 408 Third Ave., South in downtown Glasgow. The new computers add to the library's growing infrastructure that includes a computerized card catalogue and inventory system.

FORT PECK DAM INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE A BIG SUCCESS (7/23)

Hundreds of people from Montana and North Dakota attended the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum open house on a hot Sunday at Fort Peck. Dr. Keith Rigby and many other workers were on hand to
explain what the different fossils were and where they came from.

Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum Board President Larry Mires said the day was designed to be a big "Thank You" to northeast Montana for all the support given to the center so far. Several groups had fund-raising booths, rides, games and food to provide a carnival atmosphere outside. Mires noted that the board wanted to provide a place for some of the area organizations to raise some money for their causes as well.

Besides the fossils and musuem plan displays, there was a train ride for kids, Barney the dinosaur and a model of Peck's Rex. Those touring the field station were also offered a chance to use some of the tools that the workers use to chip away the stone from bone.

There was a slight bit of controversy on the day as the Walton family arrived with signs and pamphlets stating that they are the rightful owners of the land where the Peck's Rex fossil was found. Lawsuits filed against the government by the Waltons in the past have been thrown out, but according to a flyer handed out by the family, they are part of another lawsuit that challenges ownership of the land.


Thighbone	Peck's Rex model	Stegocerous cast in background

Dino-ribs anyone?	Peck's Rex jawbone	More of Peck's Rex

The tiling for the center, which will have a riverbed look to it. Far right pic is roof design.

ANOTHER MISSOURI RIVER BATTLE (7/23)
(Washington-AP) -- Another battle over the Missouri River's flow is blocking consideration of a 22-point-five (B) billion-dollar bill, that would finance energy and water projects and nuclear weapons testing.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to increase the river's flow to save endangered species along the waterway.

To implement that, Senate Democrats want to eliminate protections against increased springtime water releases now in place for farmers, barge operators and other river users. Republican Senator Christopher Bond of Missouri has added a provision to the annual energy and water spending bill that would prohibit the change.

Now the bill is on hold, as Democrats in the Senate work to strip the provision from the bill.
(Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

BNSF MERGER PLAN SCRAPPED (7/23)
(Billings-AP) -- The Canadian National Railway Company and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation have dissolved their merger plan. The merger would have created the largest railroad in North America. The chief executive officers of the two companies issued a joint announcement yesterday. They say that waiting for the U-S Surface Transportation Board to approve the merger is not in the best interests of the companies' shareholders. The U-S Court of Appeals recently upheld an S-T-B moratorium on railroad mergers, which will last about 15 months. The proposed merger was announced in December, and caught Montana agriculturalists and officials off guard. Most said they saw the merger as a negative, particularly for captive shippers.
(Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

AAUW AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

The Glasgow branch of the American Association of University Women has awarded four scholarships, each in the amount of $300 to area college students.

The four winning entries from the many applications received included; Nicole Bell, daughter of Steve and Vickie Bell, and a senior in physical therapy at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, Marissa Copenhaver, daughter of Russ and Teddi Copenhaver a sophomore elementary education major at Montana State University-Northern, Ristina Johnston, daughter of Mark and Kathy Johnston also attending MSU-Northern and majoring in elementary education, and Jesse Franzen, son of Lyle and Deanna Franzen who is majoring in English at Montana State University-Bozeman.

Funds for the scholarships are derived from the AAUW-sponsored annual Thanksgiving Bazaar.

FORT PECK DAM INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND MUSEUM UPDATE (7/19)
A member of the board of directors of the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum, Larry Mires, told Kltz/Mix 93 news that it’s been a very busy summer involving the Interpretive Center.

Dr. Keith Rigby from the University of Notre Dame is back this summer with volunteers from Earthwatch and they are currently out in the fields doing paleontology work and also working at the field station in Fort Peck prepping fossils and working on the Pecks Rex fossil.

Mires also said that the board is in the process of setting up an office and gift shop at the field station plus setting up specific times for groups to tour the station.

Mires told Kltz/Klan that the executive board is currently looking over plans for phase one of the actual construction of the Interpretive Center. These initial plans are called the 10 percent phase and changes can be made in the plans by members of the executive board. It appears that early next year in January or February that the plans will be let out for bid and construction could start in the summer of 2001 with opening of the Interpretive Center possibly in May of 2003.

The Interpretive Center will also be holding an open house on Sunday at the field station from noon until 7pm.

Larry also provided us with some updated photos of the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum, though these are still preliminary. Also included in the pix below are some floor plans. Just click on any of the small images for a larger view.

	Projected Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum Graphics

PHOTOS FROM STREET RESURFACING ON GLASGOW'S NORTH SIDE. (7/18)

PHOTOS FROM ONGOING GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL TRACK RECONSTRUCTION (7/18)


Ditch around football field will be used for drain tile.		Mounds of dirt from drain project	Drain outlet pipe south east of track.

FORT PECK DAM INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND MUSEUM TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY (7/18)

The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum will host a Summerfest/Open house this Saturday, July 23rd, from noon to 7pm at the museum storage area near Fort Peck. There will be games, speakers, exhibits, booths and a very special guest for the children.

Participating groups include: Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Woman on Mission Calvary Baptist Church, Valley Community Food Bank, Wolf Point Optomist Club, Valley County 4-H, St. Marie Woman's Club, Nashua Lions, Church of Nazarene, Wolf Point Police Department, Dr. Keith Rigby, Paleontologists of the University of Notre Dame, Earthwatch.

Also this week, we will have some comments and photos from Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum board member Larry Meiers, on the progress of the center.

INTERIOR FUNDS PASS SENATE: BURNS NAMED AS SENATE NEGOTIATOR (7/18)

Montana Senator Conrad Burns today announced that the Senate approved the Interior Appropriations Bill, which includes over $37 million for various Burns-requested projects in Montana. Burns was also named to the committee that will iron out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.

“I will have one major goal in working with my colleagues from the Senate and the House: doing what is right for Montana,” Burns said. “This bill includes funding for important conservation efforts and aid essential to job creation in the state. You can bet I will fight my hardest for every dollar.”

Burns was successful in getting approval for the following Montana projects:

$8 million for the implementation of the Rocky Boy Water Project, a water program for the Rocky Boy Reservation and the surrounding area that Burns earlier pushed through Congress. Burns is seeking additional funds in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

$5.077 million for sewer upgrades in Yellowstone National Park.

$5 million for maintenance and snow removal on the Beartooth Highway.

$4.544 million for upgrades to the sewage treatment system in Glacier National Park.

$2 million for the construction of a fiber optic system through the Crow, Fort Peck and Northern Cheyenne Reservations. The lines will be used for distance learning and telemedicine projects to benefit the communities. This is a joint project between Rocky Mountain College and Deaconess Billings Clinic and the respective tribal colleges and health care facilities.

$2 million for research on whirling disease, including $700,000 for continued study at Montana State University-Bozeman.

$2 million for management initiatives along the Upper Missouri, including $1 million for the Undaunted Stewardship program and $1 million for Lewis and Clark Bicentennial preparations.

$1.75 million for the Centennial Valley Conservation Project in Southwest Montana.

$1.6 million for completion of the Bozeman Fish Technology Center.

$1 million to continue the Western Montana Project to secure conservation easements in the Blackfoot Valley and Ninepipe areas to preserve wildlife habitat.

$1 million for the Montana Cadastral Mapping Project, which will use satellites to provide digital maps of public and private land ownership.

$1 million for construction of a “raceway enclosure” at the cold water fish hatchery in Ennis.

$1 million for the Montana National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis at the University of Montana in Missoula. The center will use satellites and other technologies to research catastrophic forest fires in order to combat them more effectively.

$750,000 for the implementation of a Coldwater Habitat Conservation Plan for bull trout in Montana. (This is part of a larger $1.5 million Montana/Idaho project.)

$500,000 for Montana Tech (Butte) research on the impacts of coalbed methane development on water resources in the Powder River Basin.

$500,000 for noxious weed research at Montana State University-Bozeman.

$400,000 for engineering and survey work for the construction of a visitor center at Fort Benton.

$250,000 for construction of a dam at the Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife Refuge near Havre.

$250,000 for the INPSYCH program at the University of Montana in Missoula. The program is designed to get more Indian students involved in undergraduate and graduate psychology programs.

$200,000 for the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center for ecological and genetic research in Bozeman.

$100,000 for the Grizzly Citizen’s Management program, which gives local people a voice in the grizzly reintroduction efforts in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
The bill also includes the following provisions that will impact Montana:

$40 million for state Land and Water Conservation Funds. States can use the funds for conservation easements and other conservation programs.

$30 million for the Forest Legacy program, which is used for responsible conservation programs.

Montana will receive a portion of a $13 million increase in payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) funding, for a total of $148 million for the program.

Montana will receive a substantial portion of $5 million for activities and construction in National Parks that relates to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration.

Burns successfully increased funds for tribal colleges by $1.9 million. Montana is home to seven of the nation’s 28 tribal colleges.

A provision would prohibit the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management from increasing fees for running fiber optic cables through their lands.

The bill authorizes nine new stewardship projects in Forest Service Region 1 that includes Montana. There are a total of 28 projects in the nation.

A provision was included that allows ranchers with grazing permits to continue using Bureau of Land Management lands while environmental reviews are completed.

BAUCUS SAYS OPEN SPACE BILL MOVING FORWARD WILL IMPROVE FUNDING TO MONTANA COUNTIES FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (7/18)

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today applauded a move by leaders of a Senate committee to insert part of his bill into a measure to boost federal land payments to counties with a federal presence, increase open space funding, and improve funding for wildlife and conservation programs.

Baucus said Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Frank Murkowski of Alaska and top committee Democrat Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico included Baucus's language that would boost to $325 million a year Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to counties that include federally owned public lands that are not taxable by local government.
Under Baucus's provision, PILT funding to Montana would increase from $9.3 million in fiscal year 1999 to a projected $22.7 million, a 144-percent increase.

"This is good news for Montana and western states with a large federal presence," Baucus said. "We need to make sure that the federal government pays its fair share. This will help our counties deal with increasing demands and lighten the tax load on real property owners and homeowners."

PILT payments, which have averaged $116 million over the last six years, are made on an annual basis for federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (all agencies of the Interior Department); the U.S. Forest Service (part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture), and for federal water projects and some military installations. Montana ranks fourth among states receiving PILT payments.

Congress appropriates PILT payments each year. But in the past these funds only accounted for 40 percent of the funds owed under the PILT formula. The BLM allocates according to a formula in the PILT Act that includes population and the amount of federal land within an affected county. These payments are in addition to portions of other federal revenues (such as oil and gas leasing, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting) that the federal government transfers to the states.

Baucus also noted that the agreement reached by Murkowksi and Bingaman on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) also adopted Baucus's provision to provide $50 million to a ranchland protection program, which would buy conservation easements on ranchland susceptible to development. The new measure also includes:

$100 million for the National Park System Resource Protection Program, which would provide funding to the National Park Service to protect natural, cultural and historical resources threatened by activities in and outside national parks. This money, for instance, could be used to help restore Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park, Baucus said.

$150 million for a Historic Preservation Fund. Half of that money would be used by states, local governments and tribal historic preservation programs.

Montana County PILT Payments received FY 1999: $9,370,216 PILT Payments Under Baucus Bill: $22,765,018 Annual Increase for Montana Counties: + $13,678,361

Valley County received $33,455 in PILT payments in 1999; the payments under the Baucus bill would jump to $81,275 which is an increase of $47,820.

MONTANA AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MAKES AWARDS (7/18)

(Helena) --Joe Boyd, Chairman of the Montana Agriculture Development Council, announced the council's award of funding for twelve projects and one loan totaling over $250,000 for agriculture development applications ranging from market education to the expansion of the state's value-added food industry.

"The Montana Growth Through Agriculture Program is designed to enhance new and innovative agriculture products and processes through market development and promotion," says Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture and a member of the council. "Funding received from the May 2000 special legislative session was utilized to expand and advance Montana's agricultural industry."

The twelve marketing projects were awarded as follows:
Montana Amber - Edible Oil Seed Marketing
Montana Mission Mountain Market - Product Development and Marketing
Sun Roads Farms - Echinacea Marketing Feasibility Study
Northeast Montana Irrigation Expansion and Alternative Market Development
MSU Eastern Agriculture Research Center - Development of Low Oleic Safflower Variety
Guaranteed Montana Beef - Marketing Feasibility Study
Sweet Grass Lamb - Marketing Feasibility Study
Montana Department of Agriculture - Montana Food Month and Pacific Rim Trade Mission
Lustre Dairy - Feasibility Study
Montana Stockgrowers Association - Consumer Communications and Education Campaign
Montana Grain Growers Association for Producer Market Education & Information

The loan was approved for the Cattle Development Center, Custer, Montana

The next deadline for project applications to the Montana Growth Through Agriculture Program is July 31, 2000, according to Peck. The producer and industry representatives that make up the Agriculture Development Council facilitate the Growth Through Agriculture program and will review the applications in August of this year. The Agriculture Development Council members are: P. L. "Joe" Boyd of Billings, Chairman; Larry Barber of Coffee Creek; Robert Hanson of White Sulphur Springs; Susan Lake of Ronan; and Everett Snortland of Conrad. The Council also includes Ralph Peck, the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture and Peter Blouke, the director of the Montana Department of Commerce.For further information and application materials, please contact Paul Nordstrom at the Montana Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, MT 5 (406) 444-2402, or by e-mail at agr@state.mt.us.

DIRECTOR URGES USE OF HAY HOTLINE (7/18)

(Helena)-- Ralph Peck, director of the Department of Agriculture encourages producers seeking forage to take advantage of the Hay Hotline, a listing on the department's web site of producers wanting to either buy or sell hay, or lease pasture.

"The need for good, Montana grown forage around the state is widespread this year because of the drought," says Peck. "This free service allows producers to have one more option in the face of less than ideal conditions."

The Hay Hotline lists by county, hay for sale or pasture for lease along with listings for producers in need of pasture or forage. Entries specify the hay type, bale configuration, certification, tonnage amount, location, delivery options and pasture acreage. The Hay Hotline also includes listings from neighboring states and provinces.

Those who would like to put listings to either buy or sell on the Hay Hotline can do so free of charge by contacting the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-2402. The Montana Hay Hotline can be found on the internet at http://www.agr.state.mt.us

For more information on the Hay Hotline, or other services provided by the Montana Department of Agriculture contact Theresa Genereux at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at agr@state.mt.us.

CITY TO START PAVING TUESDAY MORNING (7/17)
Starting Tuesday and lasting for approximately 2 days, the city will be doing construction on 5th, 6th & 7th Avenue North, between Highway 2 and 8th street. Please move your vehicles off the street tonight. Construction will begin at approximately 7am each morning

BURNS BILL PASSES SUBCOMMITTEE (7/14)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns on Thursday announced that the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, of which he is a member, passed the funding bill for energy and water projects, which includes over $27.4 million for Montana.

"The projects found in this bill, like the rural water systems around Fort Peck, directly contribute to economic development in some of the state's poorest areas, and that means jobs where there weren't enough jobs before," Burns said. "Water is one of Montana's most precious commodities, and this bill will help us use and distribute it wisely."

The bill includes the following Burns funding requests for Montana:

-$16 million for the implementation of the Rocky Boy Water Settlement, a water program for the Rocky Boy Reservation and the surrounding area that Burns earlier pushed through Congress. The Interior Appropriations bill contains an additional $8 million for the project.
- $3.62 million for annual operation and maintenance at the Fort Peck Dam.
- $2.273 million for annual operation and maintenance at Libby Dam.
- $1.5 million to complete the Fort Peck Rural Water System. Funding to finalize the system was originally included in last year's bill, but Senate and House negotiators reduced the amount at the last minute.
- $1.15 million for studies on impact of human activities on the Upper and Lower Yellowstone River, including the Governor's Task Force.
- $837,000 for the Milk River Project, which will establish a series of irrigation improvements along the river.
- $435,000 for a study on the Dry Prairie Rural Water System near the Fort Peck Reservation. This is the second of two rural water systems in the area that Burns has helped moved toward completion.
- $350,000 for continuation of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell program in Billings.
- $325,000 for recreational improvements at Canyon Ferry.
- $283,000 to support operations of the Hungry Horse Dam and reservoir near Columbia Falls.
- $251,000 for Bureau of Reclamations safety investigations of dams in Montana and other inspection work.
- $200,000 to address flood conditions in Glendive. The city has been experiencing flooding, particularly during the winter when ice flows have blocked the Yellowstone River.
- $100,000 to address flood conditions in Miles City. The confluence of the Tongue and Yellowstone Rivers is prone to seasonal flooding.
- $100,000 to study fish mitigation at the diversion dam on the Lower Yellowstone River. Burns said that the study is necessary to protect threatened and endangered species. The dam has disrupted their migration and is harming some fishing traveling through the dam.

In addition, Burns has secured funding for national projects in which Montana will take part. Those include:
- $30 million for projects studying and producing ethanol.
- The bill contains $9.815 million for the Department of Energy‚s (DOE) portion of the EPSCoR program, a national competitive grants program that benefits 18 rural states and Puerto Rico. Montana will receive a share of the total funding, which comes from several federal agencies including DOE.
- Burns successfully added $7 million to the Purchase Power and Wheeling (PPW) budget for a total of $77 million. The PPW programs provide support to three power marketing administrations, including the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), that supply energy to rural electric cooperatives, municipal electric systems and public power districts. WAPA, which serves most of eastern Montana, will receive a large portion of the increase.

- $7 million for initiatives supporting bioenergy projects and their byproducts.
The full Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Burns is also a member, is scheduled to consider the bill next Tuesday.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETS: TRACK OVERHAUL AND GOLF FEES ARE MAIN TOPICS (7/14)

The Glasgow School Board met in regular session on Wednesday evening at the school administration office.

The Glasgow school district has one major project currently going on: the complete overhaul of the high school track. Superintendent Glenn Monson told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that the track project is expected to be completed within the next 5 weeks. Currently the pavers are raising the track six to eight inches in spots while putting in a new asphalt base. The contractors are also putting in sub-surface drains so water won't get under the track and deteriorate the base of the track. Monson said he expects the pavers to complete their job within two weeks.

The board had corresponence from Sunnyside Country Club regarding the golf program at Glasgow High School. Sunnyside would like the district to pay $1000 in user fees for the use of the golf course during the golf season and they also would to see the number of golfers in the program dropped. The board tabled the issue and will put it on the August board agenda.

In personnel decisions the board hired Elizabeth Collins as the new K-5 music teacher. Collins comes from the Ronan area and has worked the last two years at the International School in Kuwait. The board also re-hired school superintendent Glen Monson to another one year contract.

MAN KILLED IN SHOOTOUT IDENTIFIED AS FORMER WOLF POINT RESIDENT (7/13)
(Helena-AP) -- State investigators have released the name of the man killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers in Glendive. Thirty-nine-year-old James Daniel Erickson was shot by a Dawson County deputy Monday, after he shot and wounded Glendive police officer Katie Hagemo.

Mike Batista is the administrator of the Justice Department's Division of Criminal Investigation. He says one of the sheriff's vehicles at the scene was equipped with a video camera that recorded the shooting. Batista says a preliminary investigation shows the shooting was justified. Investigators were going to search Erickson's car and the place he was staying in Glendive.

Batista said Erickson was originally from Wolf Point.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

BURNS INTRODUCES PILT PAYMENT AMENDMENT (7/12)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns today introduced an amendment that would increase federal payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to counties by $3 million. The Senate unanimously approved the amendment.

"This administration has ignored the funding needs of the PILT program for years, and I am committed to getting Montana counties the funds they need and deserve," Burns said. "Counties depend on these payments for their schools and roads. If the federal government is going to own lands in our state, it has an obligation to make up for our lost tax revenue. While this increase is a small step toward full funding of the PILT program, I believe it's an important one."

The amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill follows Burns' earlier successful effort to add $10 million to the PILT program at the committee level, thereby increasing PILT funding by $13 million over the administration request for fiscal year 2001. Burns introduced a similar successful amendment to last year's FY2000 Interior Appropriations bill that increased PILT funding $10 million over the administration's request.

The increases are part of an attempt to restore PILT funding to its full federal authorization over the next five years. The Senate GOP budget, which passed earlier this year, included a five-year PILT plan at Burns' urging.

PILT payments are made to county governments that contain federal lands to compensate for lost property tax revenue. These revenues are used for public school funding and infrastructure projects.

Burns wrote the amendment with Senators Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), Rod Grams (R-Minn.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

The Senate is currently debating the Interior Appropriations bill, which funds the Department of Interior. Burns is a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which wrote the bill.

BURNS HIGHLIGHTS RURAL HOSPITAL STRUGGLE (7/13)
During a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Montana Senator Conrad Burns today highlighted Montana hospitals' struggle with diminishing Medicare reimbursement and announced that he is pushing a bill that would increase those reimbursements.

Burns said that regulations written by the Health Care Financing Administration, which administers the Medicare program, in order to implement the 1997 Balanced Budget Act have shortchanged rural health care facilities. During the hearing, Burns said that hospitals from Billings to Polson have been set back by the regulations.

"For the past three years, Montana's hospitals have lost money serving patients," Burns said. "This bad problem looks like it's only going to get worse, folks. Already this year, I've seen that many of Montana's health care facilities are doing far worse than in 1999.

"These health care providers are good people and good managers. Most of them have been forced to cut costs to the bone and do not have any more room to reduce costs."
Burns also said that he is backing a bill, the Geographic Adjustment Fairness Act, aimed at making Medicare payments more fair and accurate to help Montanans keep their access to quality health care. Burns is also sponsoring a number of bills that would increase Medicare reimbursements for rural health care, including home health organizations, registered nurses, and inpatient and outpatient services in hospitals.

Burns said that the impact of these bills will reach far beyond the hospitals.

"It is important for us to note that in most rural communities, hospitals are the largest or second largest employers," Burns said. "In Montana, this is especially true and we must not forget that the wages and salaries paid to local health care workers account for a significant amount of local economic activity."

Burns is a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

BURNS MEETS WITH IRRIGATORS IN COUNTY (7/12)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns was is Glasgow last week meeting with several groups including agricultural producers who use the Milk River for irrigating. The producers explained to the Senator the need for federal help as the Milk River is continuely running short of water for the irrigators. Senator Burns told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that he was happy with the meeting as several items were brought to his attention and he will take the concerns back to Washington D.C. and see if he can get any federal appropriations to help the irrigators.

Senator Burns also told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that the legislation authorizing $20 million dollars to be used for the construction of the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery is now in the House of Representatives. Burns stated that he feels the hatchery legislations stands a good chance of passing Congress this year.

MOTORCYCLE WRECK KILLS WISCONSIN MAN (7/12)
(Dodson-AP) -- A man from Wisconsin is dead, following a motorcycle wreck on U-S Two, near Dodson. The Montana Highway Patrol says he was driving a motorcycle that clipped the corner of a pickup truck yesterday, and crashed. The patrol says it happened as the motorcyclist attempted to pass the pickup, which had slowed to make a turn. The name of the man killed hasn't been released. He was 52. The death pushed Montana's 2000 highway fatality count to 113, compared to 101 at the same time last year. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

COUNTIES LOOKING FOR BETTER RURAL ROADS (7/12)
(Fort Peck-AP) They're picturing thousands of Lewis and Clark Bicentennial tourists mired bumper-deep in the thick road mud, known as "Montana gumbo." Commissioners for six Montana counties say they want to get federal money, and improve some back roads near Fort Peck Lake, so that scene doesn't actually play out. The commissioners have united with some businesses to seek (m) millions of federal dollars for work on some 300 miles of roads. The Fort Peck Lake area is famous for its abundance of wildlife and walleye. It's infamous for the gooey, clinging muck on roads after a good rain. Counties involved in the lobbying effort are Petroleum, Valley, Phillips, Garfield, McCone and Fergus.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

FORMER TRIBAL EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY (7/12)
(Great Falls-AP) -- A former employee of the Fort Peck Tribes has pleaded guilty in U-S District Court in Great Falls, to buying groceries with a tribal account at a Wolf Point grocery store.

Henry Headdress was a clerk at the Water Resources Management and Development office of the tribes. He charged groceries on a blanket account at Albertson's for over two years. He says it got easier the more he did it. Under the plea agreement, Headdress likely faces a probationary sentence, restitution of over 15-hundred dollars to the federal government and over 750 dollars to Albertson's. He is scheduled to be sentenced in late September. Three of Headdress' brothers, all of the Fort Peck Reservation, have appeared in federal court on similar charges. Two have pleaded guilty.

COURT: APPEAL PROCESS MUST BEGIN ALL OVER IN SCOBEY TEACHER FIRING (7/11)
(Helena-AP) A Montana Supreme Court ruling means a Scobey teacher that was fired in 1994, may have to go through a lengthy administrative appeal process all over again to get his job back.

The Scobey School District fired Mike Radakovich in 1994 and several others, because the district's budget had been reduced.

Some teachers who were kept on had less seniority and the Scobey Education Association took the case to an arbitrator, who ruled against Radakovich. Radakovich filed an administrative appeal, in which the county superintendent and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Keenan upheld the firing. That took four years. Radakovich appealed to District Court, which reversed the orders of the state and county superintendents and ordered the Scobey School District to reinstate Radakovich as a tenured teacher.

The Scobey School Board appealed to ruling to the Supreme Court.

The high court ruled that the administrative appeals process was flawed, and the appeal now goes back to the county superintendent.

Neither Radakovich nor his attorney could be reached for comment. Radakovich lived in Glasgow for several years before moving last summer.

Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

YET ANOTHER TORNADO HITS VALLEY COUNTY (7/10)
Another tornado warning was issued for Valley County on Monday night, with National Weather Service Doppler Radar detecting a tornado 12 miles west of Hinsdale about 542pm. Radar continued to indicate the development of the tornado near Hinsdale as it moved east toward the Vandalia and Tampico areas. A National Weather Service employee reported the tornado at Vandalia Dam at 6:14.

The tornado moved north of Glasgow, passing about 10 miles north of the city before passing out of the area. No injuries were reported, although there were reports of some damage including a tree down on a trailer in Hinsdale. We're working on getting some pictures from the Hinsdale area on Tuesday.

Here are a couple shots of the storm after it had passed the Glasgow area. Click on the small pix for a larger view. You can also check our weather page for a few shots of damage from Hinsdale.

BAUCUS GETS $10 MILLION INCREASE FOR IMPACT AID SCHOOLS (7/10)

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today announced that he successfully included an amendment to a fiscal year 2001 spending bill to boost funding by $10 million for schools on and affected by federal land, meaning such Montana schools will see funding increases of 40 percent.

Baucus's amendment will boost impact-aid funding from $25 million to $35 million nationally for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2000.

Under Baucus‚ plan, Montana schools would receive an estimated $2,171,041 for school construction -- up from last year's allocation of $1,550,657. "This is more than $620,000 than what we received last year," Baucus said.

"It's only fair that we get this increase because so many of Montana‚s schools are affected by the federal government. And if we're going to compete economically and create good-paying jobs in our state, we've got to make sure that our kids get a world-class education."

Baucus said the total funds for school construction allocated under the Impact Aid provision last year totaled $5 million.

During final negotiations on the spending measure for labor and education in the Senate, Baucus increased the figure from $25 million to $35 million for school construction at federally impacted schools, including Montana's Indian reservations and Malmstrom Air Force Base. For 50 years, Congress has provided financial assistance to school districts impacted by a federal presence. Baucus noted that 12,000 children in Montana are classified as federally impacted. Boosting funding for education is part of Baucus' comprehensive education agenda that calls for a federal, state and local partnership to increase the quality of education in Montana. Baucus said he will continue to push for the increased funds as the measure is considered by a joint committee of House and Senate members.

EFFECT OF BAUCUS AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN MONTANA SENATE BILL BAUCUS AMENDMENT
$25 million $35 million
Name of School
Box Elder Elementary S.D. $ 55,437 $ 77,612
Box Elder High Sch. Dist. $ 19,107 $ 26,750
Brockton School District $ 30,107 $ 42,273
Brockton High Sch. Dist. $ 9,435 $ 13,209
Browning Elem. Sch. Dist $317,087 $443,922
Browning High Sch. Dist. $101,400 $141,960
Camas Prairie Sch. Dist. $ 1,652 $ 2,324
Dixon Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 9,435 $ 13,209
Dodson Elem Sch. Dist. $ 9,200 $ 12,880
Frazer Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 21,230 $ 29,722
Frazer High Sch. Dist. $ 6,370 $ 8,918
Harlem Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 84,217 $117,908
Harlem High Sch. Dist. $ 31,140 $ 42,596
Hays Lodge Pole Sch. Dist. $ 66,997 $ 93,794
Heart Butte High Sch. Dist. $ 21,230 $ 29,722
Heart Butte Sch. Dist. $ 54,730 $ 76,622
Lame Deer High Sch. Dist. $ 27,365 $ 38,309
Lame Deer Sch. Dist. $ 86,812 $121,536
Lodge Grass Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 80,915 $113,280
Lodge Grass High Sch. Dist. $ 44,750 $ 62,650
Plenty Coups High Sch. Dist. $ 16,512 $ 23,128
Poplar Elem. Sch. District $163,480 $228,872
Poplar High Sch. Dist. $ 45,530 $ 63,742
Pryor Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 11,560 $ 16,184
Rocky Boy Elem. Sch. Dist. $104,270 $145,978
Wolf Point Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 90,822 $127,120
Wyola Elem. Sch. Dist. $ 15,332 $ 21,465
TOTALS $1,550,657 $2,171,041 (+ 40 percent)

The figures above are estimates as provided by the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools and are based on FY 1999 data provided by the U.S. Department of Education and assume little shift of student numbers in those schools eligible for funding under Section 8007. Increases or decreases in federal student enrollment in eligible districts would impact the dollar allocation per student. The above estimates are based on a dollar allocation of $200 per student using the $25 million appropriation and $280 per student using the $35 million allocation.

Drought skips Valley County (7/6/00)
(Glasgow-AP) -- The drought that's shriveling crops in most of Montana has skipped Valley County, where fields are lush with spring wheat and alfalfa. A snowless winter hasn't hurt crops in the area because rain has fallen steadily since May. Precipitation for the year totals nine-point-six-three inches. That's more than three-and-a-half inches above normal. Glasgow has had five inches of rain since June first. Normal is less than half of that. An official with the Soil Conservation Service in Glasgow -- Mike Lackner -- says the area could see 50 bushels to the acre of spring wheat. The county average is 21 to 23 bushels. But an M-S-U Extension Agent there -- Verlin Koenig -- says hail from thunderstorms remains a threat until harvest time. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

BOTH SENATORS TO APPEAR IN GLASGOW THIS WEEKEND (7/5)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns will be visiting Glasgow this Friday and will also stop by the KLTZ/MIX-93 studios.

Burns is scheduled to attend a breakfast meeting with the Fort Peck Tribal Council at 8am at the Cottonwood Inn. At 10am Burns will be meeting with Glasgow area irrigators and the Glasgow Irrigation office at the Cottonwood. Burns will provide an update on irrigation issues and will also hold a question and answer session.

Burns is scheduled to appear at the KLTZ/MIX-93 studios at 9:15am to tape a radio interview

Montana Senator Max Baucus will also be in the Glasgow area on Friday when he will be at the Montana Governors Cup Walleye Tournament, visit the proposed site of the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery, tour the Dinosaur Storage Area for the Fort Peck Interpretive Center and hold a public meeting on the fish hatchery at 12:30pm.

STORM UPDATE (7/5)
In those severe thunderstorms reported on Monday night, a double-wide trailer was completely destroyed north of Glasgow on the Cut Across Road. The Dallas & Kay Fuller home was ripped apart by the winds that blew through northeast Montana on Monday evening.

Mrs. Fuller told news that she and her 2 children were at home when the storm hit. The front window that faced west started to shake and then blew in. She and her children along with the family dog too shelter in the bathroom. When it was all over, the bathroom and part of another wall were the only parts standing. The family crawled out a window and ran for the shop building. None of them was injured.

A pickup topper just 50 yards away went untouched.

There has not been confirmation of a tornado with the incident, but straight winds were reported at 82mph at the Glasgow Airport, which was a record for winds there. The old record high speed of winds at the airport was 76 miles per hour in 1997. The National Weather Service is still working on complete confirmation of a tornado that radar detected south of Glasgow on Monday evening.

Mrs. Fuller stated that friends and family have helped out by taking wet clothes and washing & drying them. The family was busy Wednesday morning trying to gather their belongings.If you'd like to help or have a 3 bedroom home to rent, call the Fullers at 263-7087, 367-5441 or 228-2293.

We've got some pictures of the damage at the fuller home below, and even more from around the area on our storm page. Click on the small pictures for a larger view.


Part of the roof that blew off to the field next door.	The family gathered the left-over pieces into a pile and burned them.	A closer look at the wreckage.

GOVERNOR'S CUP SET FOR JULY 6-8
The 13th annual tournament takes place Thursday - Saturday, July 6-8, 2000, at the Fort Peck Marina Bay. For full coverage, check our Governor's Cup page.
The planned event schedule is:
WEDNESDAY:
6pm Social, Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow $5
7pm Fishing Seminar with Pro Fisherman & tournament Master of Ceremonies Ron Boggs
THURSDAY:
8am Gals & Guys Tourney $15, Fort Peck Marina
4pm Governor's Cup Registration, Fort Peck Theatre
5pm Governor's Cup Rules Meeting, Fort Peck Theatre
6pm Barbecue, Kiwanis Park
FRIDAY:
6:45am Opening Ceremony, Fort Peck Marina
7am Tournament Begins
3pm Scores Posted
5pm Fish Fry, Kiwanis Park $7.50 Adults, $5 kids 12 & under
7pm Calcutta, Kiwanis Park
SATURDAY:
6:45am Opening Ceremony, Fort Peck Marina
8am Youth Fishing Tournament, Kiwanis Park
3pm Weigh-In, Winners announced & prizes awarded at Fort Peck Marina

YOUTH TOURNAMENT:
Registration begins at 8a.m. & stations begin at 8:30a.m. Kids up to age 10 can fish at Kiwanis Park & kids ages 11-18 will move to Flat Lake after stations. Parents are responsible for transportation. Bring you own fishing poles, some bait will be available. Kids 12 or older need a conservation license & kids 15 & up need a Mt. Fishing license & warm water stamp. Each participant receives a T-shirt & prizes will be awarded.

MAY UNEMPLOYMENT STATS RELEASED (7/4)
The unemployment statistics for Montana have been released for May. The numbers below include:
County, Population, Labor Force, Labor Force Employed, Labor Force Unemployed, May 2000 percentage, May 1999 percentage.
Garfield 1,420 1,183 1,137 46 3.9% 2.2%
McCone 1,924 1,233 1,201 32 2.6% 3.6%
Phillips 4,692 2,349 2,262 87 3.7% 5.8%
Richland 10,053 5,759 5,354 405 7.0% 8.8%
Roosevelt 10,912 4,388 3,981 407 9.3% 7.9%
Sheridan 4,100 2,144 2,050 94 4.4% 5.7%
Valley 8,132 4,447 4,312 135 3.0% 3.4%

REUNION A BIG HIT (7/4)
Over 1600 alumni and their families attended the Glasgow All Class Reunion last weekend, enjoying class get togethers, the parade, fireworks and reiminiscing. The parade was delayed by about 20 minutes by an Amtrak train, and spectators were cooled a bit on a hot, steamy day by a nice rain shower. There were 55 antique cars registered for the parade and a total of about 100 entries. The VFW float won the Chamber award.

In the pie baking contest, Eleanor Pratt took home first and second place in the single pie crust with pecan and French apple pie. Jenny Reinhardt finished 3rd with Kaluka pecan fudge pie. Irene Allie won the double pie crust division with rubarb pie.

We've got the 5K rsults and pictures up and we should have some mile results later this week.

We've got a ton of pictures from the reunion weekend on our Reunion page, and are offering a CD-ROM of all pictures for $10 including shipping and handling, which you can order here.

SEVERE WEATHER HITS ON INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND (7/4)
Severe weather rolled through northeast Montana on both Sunday and Monday nights, possibly unleashing 2 tornados in the area. Doppler radar picked up one tornado in McCone and Valley County on Sunday night, but there was no confirmed sighting. Radar again picked up a tornado on Monday night, tracking a tornado from near Duck Creek toward the Nashua area. However, that was unconfirmed as well.

Straight winds of 82 miles per hour were recorded at the Glasgow airport on Monday night. Glasgow received rain on Monday night at the rate of 2 inches per hour for a time, but we got only about an inch of rain. The rain fell so hard in Lewistown it popped manhole covers into the air.

There were no reports of injuries with either night's storms in eastern Montana, but on Monday the winds did destroy a home north of Glasgow. It also blew down a lot of branches, covering a boat on Angus Drive, rolling over lots of the big, black garbage cans and knocking down a couple road signs. The storm even had enough wallop to rip off my garage walk-in door.

On Sunday night the winds blew so hard at Fort Peck that a car alarm was activated. A pickup pulling a camper was blown over as it crossed the face of Fort Peck Dam, but again no injuries were reported.

More severe weather was forecast for Tuesday night in both McCone and Garfield counties, with the National Weather Service activating tornado warnings for those counties.

BAUCUS BRINGS TOP ARMY CORPS OFFICIALS TO MONTANA JULY 6, 7 TO DISCUSS YELLOWSTONE RIVER, FORT PECK HATCHERY (7/4)

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) will bring Joe Westphal, the assistant secretary of civil works for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, to Montana July 6 and 7 to discuss the future of the upper Yellowstone River and tour the proposed site for a fish hatchery and interpretive museum at Fort Peck Lake.
With Westphal, Baucus will hold public meetings in Livingston and Billings on Thursday, July 6 to discuss a cumulative impact study on the Yellowstone River. Last year, Baucus helped pass legislation that authorized a cumulative impact study of the 670 miles of the Yellowstone. The president's budget request for fiscal year 2001 includes $500,000 to begin the study.

"This visit will give us the opportunity to showcase the shared vision that we have for the Yellowstone River, a healthy riparian system that can sustain the needs of Montana citizens and communities," Baucus said.
On Friday, July 7, Baucus and Westphal will attend the boat release for the Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Lake. They also will tour the proposed site of the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery and Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center that will boost recreation and create jobs in northeastern Montana. Baucus and Westphal also will hold public meetings in Fort Peck.

"I always like to bring top Washington officials to Montana to our state to see what impact their decisions have on people who live here," Baucus said.

"Joe Westphal is no exception. He will be able to listen to MontanansÐ concerns about what impacts the CorpsÐ decisions have on our environment, jobs and economy. I'm urging Montanans to attend these meetings and get involved."

Last week, Baucus included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a bill that approves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects across the country, an authorization to spend $20-million to help build the fish hatchery at Fort Peck. The project will establish a hatchery for native fish recovery and for warm-water fish such as walleye and small-mouth bass, as well as other species that have been hit by heavy fishing pressure in recent years. The hatchery will be located on 100 acres of federal land south of the Dredge Cuts area in Fort Peck and will be staffed by two to three employees, Baucus said.

Baucus said the hatchery proposal has the support of local community leaders, economic development groups, and sportsmen associations, and will be a partnership between the Army Corp of Engineers and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

"The hatchery is going to a be a great boon to the economy of the Fort Peck area and will enhance our natural resources and recreation," Baucus said.

"I've invited Dr. Westphal to Montana so he can see first-hand how important this project is."
In 1997, Baucus successfully included the Fort Peck Interpretive Center in the federal highway funding bill that passed through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, of which Baucus is the top Democrat.

BAUCUS-WESTPHAL AGENDA
Thursday, July 6
11 a.m. Livingston, Tour MayorÐs Landing site
11:30 a.m. Public Meeting, Livingston City-County Complex
3 p.m. Public Meeting, Billings BLM office,
Friday, July 7
7 a.m. Fort Peck Lake, Opening of Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament
11:15 a.m. Tour Dinosaur Storage Area, Fort Peck
12:30 p.m. Public Meeting, Kiwanis Park, Shelter #1, Town of Fort Peck

Ralph Edward Bemis

Ralph Edward Bemis, 72, of St. Marie, died on July 31st. Services will be
held at St. Marie Chapel at 11am Wednesday, August 2nd. Burial will be in
the Green Acres Cemetery in Bellingham, Washington. Bell Mortuary is in
charge of arrangements.

Ralph was born in Helena in 1927 and lived in Bellingham, Washington,
spending his career in the military service. He served in the U.S. Army,
with varied military assignments while making his career in the military.
Ralph married Nona Sooter in 1977 in Bellingham. They lived in Bellingham,
Washington, Idaho and then at St. Marie. He was a U.S. Army truck driver and
a custodian. He was a 60 year member of the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Nona Bemis of St. Marie; 4 daughters: Crystal
Bemis of St. Marie, Deborah Bemis of Bellingham, Marsha Doyle of Gig Harbor,
Washington, and Tammie Treese of St. Marie; 1 step-son, Robert Sooter of
Bellingham; 1 step-daughter, Tammy Vevag of Bellingham; 15 grandchildren, 3
great grandchildren, 1 sister: Barbara B. Riehl of Concrete, Washington; 2
brothers: Norman Bemis of Independence, Oregon, and James Bemis of
Bremerton, Washington; he was preceded in death by his parents and 1 sister,
Marjorie.

Esther Adeline Lawrence

Esther Adeline Lawrence, 95, died Sunday, July 30th, of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Wednesday, August 2nd at 10am at the Opheim Lutheran Church with Reverend mark Koonz officiating and with burial in Lawndale Cemetery in Opheim. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in 1905 in Cummings, North Dakota, and was raised and attended schools there. She married Arthur J. Lawrence in 1922 in Hillsboro, North Dakota. After marriage, they moved to Portland, Oregon, where Arthur worked in the brick yards and Adeline worked as a stenographer. They moved back to Richland in 1929 where he farmed with his brothers, and they survived the hard times on the farm. Her husband passed away in 1986. Adeline moved to Nemont Manor in 1988 and has resided in Glasgow since. She was a member of the Richland Lutheran Church, the Glasgow Lutheran Church, and was a 58 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Glentana Homemakers Club. She loved horses and loved to bake & cook.

Survivors include 2 sons: Art Lawrence and his wife Lois of Glasgow, and Bill Lawrence and his wife Dolly of Glentana; 1 daughter, Martha Floyd and her husband Bob of Opheim; 1 sister, Kathryn Floyd of Hillsboro, North Dakota; 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

John Maag

GLASGOW – John Maag, 54, died Saturday, July 22nd, at the Valley View Nursing Home from complications of a stroke.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Bell Chapel. Interment will take place in the Maag Family Cemetery. Jim Holter will be officiating and Bell Mortuary is in charge.

John was born in Glasgow in 1946 to Boyd and Doris Maag, and was raised and attended schools in Glasgow. He attended 2 years of college in Tacoma, Washington, and later graduated from a School of Cosmetology in Ellensburg, Washington. He worked as a hairstylist in Hawaii, Arizona and Alabama. He later returned to Glasgow, operating the Backstage Beauty Salon. He owned the Roosevelt Hotel at the time of his death. John was first married to Rose Cain of Miles City and later to the former Donna Doke of Glasgow.

Survivors include his parents, Boyd and Doris of Glasgow, 2 sisters: Lynette Cox and her husband Dean of Missoula and Lisa Miller and her husband James of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada; 1 niece and 2 nephews, several aunts & uncles including a special aunt, Lynn Logslett of Tacoma (with whom he lived for 3 years) and many cousins, including a number in the Glasgow area.

Ethel F. Moore Pittenger

Ethel F. Moore Pittenger, 88, died of natural causes on July 16th, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. No services will be held, at her request. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ethel was born in Glasgow in 1911 to Earl Wayne Moore and Carrie Jarstad Moore, one of seven children. She was a life-long resident of Glasgow and lived for 61 years at 605 6th Avenue South. She was a daughter of an original homesteading family on the North Bench.

Ethel graduated in 1929 and taught school for 2 years at Accord and Rose Hill Schools. She married Robert Pittenger in 1930. Ethel and Bob were members of the Methodist Church, Degree of Honor, Saddle Club, B.P.O.E., and had a wide family that included all the children of Glasgow. Bob died in 1987.

Survivors include: 1 son and 3 daughters: Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Eugene W. & Lory Pittenger of Nashua, New Hampshire; Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Dean E. and Rita Huntley of San Antonio, Texas, Tsgt. (Ret.) James L. and Barbara Reynolds Sr. of Sacramento, California; Carl C. and Charlene Clark of Billings. Ethel's first daughter Grace Marie died in 1932. She has one surviving sister, May Mikkelsen of Turlock, California. Ethel is survived by 8 grandchildren: Dee Medina of Glasgow; Lee Huntley of Castle Rock, Washington; Susan Davis & James L. Reynolds, Junior of Sacramento, California; Becky Repnack of Kalispell; Brenda Growe of St. Paul, Minnesota; Robert C. Pittenger of Feeding Hills, Maryland; and Brian H. Pittenger of Groton, Maryland; 14 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

At her request there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be used to honor Ethel and Bob with a plaque at the Glasgow Pioneer Museum.

"When Mama left us, Dad came to take her waltzing on a moonbeam, and we celebrate and honor her long and loving life as our Mother, Grandmother, Great and Great-Great Grandmother, praying that their waltz goes on together until Eternity in our hearts."

Russel Boller

Russell Boller, 85, died on Thursday, July 13th of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Wednesday, July 19th, at 10am at Bell Chapel with Reverend Martin Mock officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Russell was born in Glendive and served in the U.S. Army, serving in Guam. He was a First Seargent and a Drill Inspector. After the war, he farmed in Poplar. He later lived east of Nashua and in Billings. In 1994 he moved to Glasgow where he has lived since. In 1978 he married Hattie Begs His Own in Glasgow. He enjoyed fishing, playing pool, and he was most happy when a bunch of ladies were around.

Survivors include his wife Hattie Parker of Glasgow, 3 step-children: Annette Bilger of Glasgow, David Parker of Wolf Point and Robin Begs His Own of Phoenix; 1 sister, Beatrice Mason of California and 1 brother, John Boller of California as well as 10 grandchildren.

Amelia McLeod

Amelia McLeod, 86, died of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow on July 7th. Services will be on Wednesday, July 12th at 1pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Glasgow, with burial in Plentywood Cemetery at 11am Thursday. Pastor George Draper is officiating and Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Amelia was born in 1914 in Philadelphia, moving to Plentywood in 1919, then to Reserve, Montana, in 1919. She grew up and went to school there. She married Ross Stewart McLeod in 1931 in Scobey. They lived in Plentywood until 1936 when they moved to Fort Peck to work on the dam. They lived there until 1941, moving to Reserve. They farmed in Reserve for 30 years. In 1971 they sold the farm and returned to Plentywood. They moved to Nampa, Idaho, in 1978. Ross died in 1984 and Millie lived in Nampa until 1992, moving to Lewistown in 1993 and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. In 1995 she moved to Glasgow.
In 1954 she became a member of the Wanso Lutheran Church in Reserve, and in 1971 she was a member of the Plentywood Lutheran Church; in 1978 she was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Nampa and in 1993 she became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lewistown. In 1999 she became a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Glasgow.

Survivors include 1 daughter, Janet Damman and her husband Don of Edmonton, Alberta; 1 sister, Ann Adams and husband Vern of Salt Lake City; 2 brothers: Joe Walikonis and his wife Mabel of Williston, North Dakota, and Albert Walikonis and his wife Jeannie of Reserve; 3 grandchildren: Linda Volkerink and husband Roger of Edmonton, Diane Kasten and husband Tod of Glasgow, and Lori Murray and husband Mike of Vancouver; 3 great grandchildren: Kelsey, Loren and Ryan Kasten of Glasgow; 2 sister in laws: Evelyn Crouse and Mary Shafer of Nampa Idaho, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Manson Bailey Jr.

Manson Bailey Jr., 80, died of heart failure at his home in Glasgow on Wednesday, July 5th. Services were Monday, July 10th, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Bishop Darrell Detrick officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

He was born in Billings in 1920. His principal education was from Glasgow High School, where he graduated in 1938. He served with the U.S. Army from 1942-46, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 83rd Infantry Division in the Field Artillery, and serving in the European and Middle Eastern Zones.

His principal occupational activities and interests included a small farm ranch operation. He was employed by the Montana Highway Department in the surveying and construction of highways; in 1956, he worked on the engineering layout of the central heating distribution system at the Glasgow Air Force Base; as a contractor's construction engineer and safety engineer and safety engineer in the building of the Power House Number 2 at Fort Peck Dam; he was architectural inspector for the construction of the large B-52 hangars at the Air Force Base. From 1963-68, Mr. Bailey engaged in insurance and investments. He has been Executive Director of the Valley County Development Council from 1969 until 2000, involved with the area re-development program following the closure of the Glasgow Air Force Base.

Professional affiliations include County Delegate to the Economic Development Association of Eastern Montana from 1970 to date, which involves 18 counties; a past member of the Society of American Military Engineers; Secretary of the Upper Missouri Post; past member of the National Association of Security Dealers; member, Montana Water Development Association; Valley Stockmans Association; and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Bailey's participation in civic affairs included appointments to the Board of Trustees of the State of Montana Historical Society, Museum Association of Montana, serving as President in 1975 and 1976; Valley County Historical Society Board of Directors 1969 to-date; Curator of the Valley County Pioneer Museum, 1972 to-date; since 1956 he has been active in the Boy Scouts, serving as Scoutmaster and member of the Executive Board of the Yellowstone Valley Council, now the Montana Council, since 1965; Chairman of the Buffalo Plains District Boy Scouts of America, 1976 and 1977; President of the Valley County United Fund, 1973; and other community organizations.

He has served three terms as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1962-68; a member of the Legislative Interim Committee on proposed Montana water law changes, 1967-68; member of Glasgow City-County Planning Board, 1963-75; an appointed member of the Montana Fish and Game Commission, 1952-56, serving as Chairman in 1955. Soil Conservation activities include member County Board, 1951-57, Chairman 1953-56; President Northeast Montana Association, 1955; member Montana Association Board of Directors 1955.

Mr. Bailey is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving twice as local president Branch President; and eleven years as a counselor to the District President.

He has received an honorary Future Farmer Award, Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, Good Year Awards, for conservation achievements; Presidents Award Montana Wildlife Federation, Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award.

Biographical reference publications in which he is listed are: Who's Who in American Politics; the National Register of Prominent Americans and Personalities of the West and Midwest.

Survivors include: his wife, Betty Jean Hansen; 4 children: Mari Vawn Tinney of Lehi, Utah, Tana Jean Bailey of Riverton, Utah, Kim Bailey Baldwin of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Manson H. Bailey III of Glasgow; 4 sisters: Barbara Moore of Powell, Wyoming, Evelyn Smith of Northbrook, Illinois, Beth Anne Bailey of Tacoma, Washington, and Betty Jean Fuzesy of Harlem.

Paul Bernard Kamp

Paul Bernard Kamp, 92, of Wolf Point, died late Monday evening, July 3, 2000, at the Valley View Home in Glasgow, MT.

He was born April 28, 1908, at Nessen Valley, south of Ray, North Dakota, the son of Nels and Rosa (Dalsted) Kamp. He attended rural schools in the Ray area and later attended business college in Williston, ND, and the University of Minnesota where he studied electronics.

Paul married Marjorie Ellingson of Williston on January 24, 1943, in Minneapolis. They moved to California where Paul served in the US Army. Following his discharge after W.W. II, they moved to Wolf Point where Paul was in partnership in the Marshall Wells Hardware (later Our Own Hardware) for 28 years. After retiring from the hardware store, he was employed part time at the Sherman Motor Inn for nearly 10 years as a handyman. He knew many people in the area and was known as a fix-it man.

He enjoyed his wife, children and grandchildren. He also looked forward to being with friends, fishing, hunting, playing golf, metal detecting, and making agate jewelry.

He is survived by his wife, Marge of 57 years, one son Gene (Nola) of Billings; one daughter Holly (Rich) Furber of Pryor; and four grandchildren, Matt Furber and Jake Bummer both of Billings, Rose Furber and Luke Furber both of Red Lodge; and a sister Beatrice Nelson of Hamilton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and one sister.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 10, at the First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point with Rev. Timothy Whiteman officiating. Internment will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donors choice.

Clayton Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Roy DeDobbeleer

Roy DeDobbeleer, 93, died of natural causes on July 3rd at Valley View
Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Thursday, July 6, at 2pm at Bell
Chapel with Ed Frueh officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell
Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Roy was born in Angus, Iowa, in 1907, attending grade school there. He moved
with his family to Glasgow in May of 1917. They purchased land and lived
just north of Glasgow near where the airport is now located. He attended
schools in Glasgow and graduated from GHS in 1925. After graduation, he
farmed with his dad, rented farmland (the old Coleman Place), and attended
an agricultural course in Bozeman. In 1930 he married Helen Czyzeski in
Glasgow. He worked for Chicago Steel and Bridge in Glasgow, Great Falls, and
Toppenish, Washington. They moved back to Glasgow in the spring of 1932 and
rented land on the Jensen Trail (Charles Rice place). In November of 1933,
he went to work on the Fort Peck Dam Construction, clearing brush and
running machinery until the summer of 1940. For a year Roy, John Unfred and
Steve Figmaka ran a garage in Wheeler. From 1941-45 he worked for Truman
Bowen doing mechanical work in Indiana, Wisconsin, on the Pan American
Highway in Costa Rica, and Alaska, Phoenix and Mexico. He returned to
Glasgow in the fall of 1945 and began farming north and south of Glasgow
until Roy retired in 1981. After retirement, Roy and Helen enjoyed traveling
to California, Mexico, Iowa, Washington and Canada. They resided in Glasgow
54 years, living in Nemont Manor in Glasgow for 2 years before moving to
Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow in 1998. He was a member of the Montana
Farmers Union, Cherry Creek Local, served on the Farmers Union Oil Board for
19 years, FHA Board for 3 years, Democratic Party, Frances Mahon Deaconess
Hospital Board for 6 years, the ASCS County Committee and the Teamsters and
Operating Engineers Union in Indiana. He enjoyed farming, mechanical work,
and repairing things. He also enjoyed pinochle, whist and cribbage.

Survivors include: 1 daughter, Delores Luckman of Sunnyvale, California; 3
sons: James "Bus" DeDobbeleer of Fort Peck, Don of Fort Peck and Barry of
Seattle; 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Mildred Theresa Askgiv

Mildred Theresa Askgiv of Glasgow, 83, died of natural causes at Billings Deaconess Hospital. Services will be Thursday, July 6th at 10am, at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Glasgow, with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in Max, North Dakota, in 1917 and raised there. After her marriage to Alfred Ulrich in 1937, they resided in Underwood, North Dakota, until 1958, when they moved to Glasgow. Alfred passed away in 1963. She married Howard Haynes in 1965. They moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, for several years before moving back to Glasgow. Howard passed away in 1976. She married Jerry Askvig in 1981. Jerry preceded Mildred in death in 1994.
She worked as a clerk for many years and was employed as a Teacher's Aide when she resided in Nebraska. She loved crocheting, fishing, puzzling and being with family and friends.

Survivors include 1 son, Alfred Dennis Ulrich and his wife Barbara of Salinas, California; 2 daughters: Vicky Stumvoll and husband Arnold of Glasgow, and Lucy Kostelecky and husband Don of Dickinson, North Dakota; 4 step children: Walt, Gene and Arlis Haynes and Larry Askvig; 2 sisters: Josephine Scott and Forence Wakefield of Underwood, North Dakota; 1 brother, Dennis Ulrich of Underwood. She was also preceded in death by 1 brother and 1 sister.

Radio Shack is back (7/17)

Radio Shack has returned to Glasgow . The store is located across from Insty Prints. The new Radio Shack will be open from 9 to 5:30 Monday - Saturday and from noon til 3:00 on Sunday.