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December, 2003
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Senator Sam Kitzenberg Web Site

2003 Montana Legislature (Phone # 1-406-444-4800)

E-mail Representative Denny Rehberg

E-mail Senator Max Baucus

Senator Conrad Burns

Representative Jeff Pattison

State of Montana Sexual and Violent Offender Web Site

West Nile Updates

County Reaches Agreement With Employees (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 10:27 AM)

Glasgow Woman Put Under House Arrest (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 10:22 AM)

Stenehjem Asks U-S Supreme Court To Review Missouri River Dispute (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 07:16 AM)

Former Frazer Teacher Reaches Plea Agreement (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 07:13 AM)

The After Christmas Snowstorm (Posted Tuesday, December 30, 2003 10:32 PM)

Record Storm Hits Eastern Montana (Posted Sunday, December 28, 2003 08:03 AM)

Public Meetings Address Tentative 2004 Big-Game Hunting Regulations (Posted Saturday, December 27, 2003 10:10 AM)

Several Arrested On Drug Charges (Posted Saturday, December 27, 2003 09:54 AM)

Block Of Bucks Big Success (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 07:09 AM)

National Weather Service Winter Outlook Released (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 06:44 AM)

Fort Peck Paleontology, Inc. Announces 1st Peck’s Rex™ Cast Skeleton Exhibit Sale (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 06:27 AM)

Block Of Blucks Set For Friday (Posted Thursday, December 18, 2003 07:41 AM)

Speed Reduction Near Nashua Denied (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:16 PM)

Public Land Auction Goes Well For County (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:02 PM)

Three Arrested On South Side (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:01 PM)

Deer damage season approved for portion of Valley, Daniels counties (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 03:59 PM)

Spearing Season For Fort Peck Lake Trout, Salmon Starts March 1 (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 03:50 PM)

Doug Smith Receives FWP’s ‘Outstanding Citizen’ Award (Posted Tuesday, December 16, 2003 07:10 AM)

Scott Thompson Is New Culbertson Fwp Wildlife Biologist (Posted Tuesday, December 16, 2003 07:08 AM)

Glasgow Police Officer Charged With Misdemeanor Family Member Assault (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 09:58 AM)

Bredette Man Receives National Weather Service Award (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 07:03 AM)

Reconstruction Project Planned For Mt 24 South Of Opheim (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 06:57 AM)

Skywarn Recognition Day Held December 5th (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 06:56 AM)

Hi-Line Man Lands 32 Years In Prison For Selling Pot, Meth (Posted Friday, December 12, 2003 08:22 AM)

School Board Notes (Posted Friday, December 12, 2003 07:09 AM)

Wolf Point Man Faces 17 Charges (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 04:12 PM)

Havre Check Station Indicates Above-Average Season (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 07:20 AM)

Three Valley County Officers Graduate From Law Enforcement Academy (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 07:18 AM)

Northrop Grumman Establishes Partnership With A&S Tribal Industries Of Poplar (Posted Saturday, December 6, 2003 01:40 PM)

FWP Will Direct Hunters To Landowners With Game Damage (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:24 AM)

Native Americans Want Expanded Gambling Opportunities (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:18 AM)

Milk River Bridge Reopens (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:16 AM)

Almost All Businesses Pass Selling To Minors Test (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:01 AM)

December Obituaries

 


County Reaches Agreement With Employees (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 10:27 AM)
The Valley County Commissioners have approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Road and Bridge Department employees along with the Valley County Sheriff's Deputies.

Negotiations have been going on for months between the employees and the commissioners with the main sticking points the payment of health insurance premiums. The previous agreement had Valley County paying 100% of the health insurance premiums for the union employees while the rest of the county employees only had a portion of their premiums paid by the county. The new contract has Valley County paying $335 of the premiums which is the same as the county pays for other employees. Road and Bridge employees will also see a pay increase of .15 cents an hour which is retroactive to July 1st. Then on February 1st the pay will increase an extra .40 cents an hour for a total of a .55 cent an hour increase in pay for Road and Bridge employees.

The pay for the Sheriff's Deputies is set as a percentage of the elected officials salary and was not a part of the bargaining agreement.

Glasgow Woman Put Under House Arrest (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 10:22 AM)

Jamie Aliperto appeared in District Court on Monday and was ordered by District Court Judge John McKeon to be put under house arrest for violations conditions of a release that was previously ordered by District Court.

Earlier this year Aliperto was arrested and was charged with a  felony drug charge. She was then  arrested on December 20th in Glasgow and was charged with a misdemeanor open container violation which violated her bail order from Judge McKeon on the drug charges.

Aliperto spent nine days in jail while waiting to make an appearance in District Court. Judge McKeon ordered her to be under house arrest at her home in Glasgow and gave law enforcement authorities the right to check her residence at any time. She is also subject to random drug tests and the only time she will be allowed to leave her home is to go to work or for medical reasons. She is also ordered to not have any contact with her husband.

Stenehjem Asks U-S Supreme Court To Review Missouri River Dispute (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 07:16 AM)

North Dakota's attorney general wants to take the Missouri River dispute to the U-S Supreme Court.

Officials in the state of Missouri say they'll oppose it.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (STEN'-jum) says he wants the high court to review a federal appeals court decision that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to release water from reservoirs in upstream states, to benefit barge traffic downstream. Stenehjem says the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals misinterpreted a 1944 flood control act in giving navigation priority over recreation.

The deputy chief of staff for Missouri's attorney general says a U-S Supreme Court appeal is without merit and Missouri will oppose it. Deputy Paul Wilson says it's an attempt to turn the 1944 flood control act on its head. He says the interests of recreation are relatively minor compared to flood control and navigation interests in the act. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Former Frazer Teacher Reaches Plea Agreement (Posted Wednesday, December 31, 2003 07:13 AM)

Former Frazer school teacher Richard Schurke has reached a plea agreement with the Valley County Attorney regarding felony sex charges that had been filed against him earlier this year.

District Court Judge John McKeon will officially sentence Schurke in March of 2004 and can agree to the plea agreement, make changes or disregard it completely when he does the sentencing.

Schurke was charged originally with 4 felony counts of sexual intercourse without consent and 3 misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children.

As part of the plea agreement, Valley County dismissed 2 of the felony counts and one misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to 2 felony sexual intercourse without consent charges and 2 misdemeanor endangering the welfare of children charges.

The plea agreement sentences Schurke to 6 months in the Valley County Jail with all but 45 days suspended on each of the two misdemeanor charges. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Schurke was sentenced to 8 years in the Montana State Prison on each of the felony charges with all but 30 days suspended. Those two sentences are also to run concurrently.

The charges are the result of several incidents that took place in the Glasgow area between January and May of 2002 when Schurke was employed as an educator with the Frazer school system. The case was investigated by the Glasgow Police Department. The maximum prison sentence on the felony charges was life imprisonment. Schurke currently lives in Idaho and will be back in Glasgow in March for his sentencing.

The After Christmas Snowstorm (Posted Tuesday, December 30, 2003 10:32 PM)
Greg Forrester, Lead Forecaster
National Weather Service Glasgow

Northeast Montana has just endured one of the biggest winter storms in recent memory. Last Friday morning, December 26, snow moved north from the Billings area toward the Glasgow area as deep low pressure system developed in Wyoming. The snow moved into Petroleum, Garfield, and Phillips Counties during the morning and Southwest Valley County during the afternoon. The snow reached the Glasgow area around 6 p.m. Friday evening and spread north to the Canadian Border during the night. Heavy snow fell across Valley, Phillips, Garfield, Petroleum Counties Friday night and Saturday morning while snow overspread the remainder of Northeast Montana. By the time the sun rose Saturday morning there was around a foot of new snow across Central and Southern Valley Counties and up to 2 feet of snow in Southern Phillips County which was hardest hit by the storm.

North winds between 20 and 40 mph created near blizzard conditions and snow drift up to 8 feet high. The low pressure system that was in Wyoming Friday morning, moved northeast to North Dakota by Saturday morning. The snow and wind continued across Eastern Montana all day Saturday leaving most highways as either closed or emergency travel only. As the low pressure system moved into Manitoba Saturday night, the snow and winds gradually diminished across the Glasgow area. However, the north winds remained strong east of Glasgow creating near blizzard conditions along the North Dakota border that lasted through Sunday Morning.

The storm left 13.7 inches of new snow in Glasgow and raised the December snow total to 17.8 inches which is a record for the month of December. The previous record for most snow in December was 16.5 inches in 1929. The storm fell just short of the 24 hour record of 14.1 inches on April 2, 1940. In Valley County, other snow totals included 18 inches at Hinsdale, 15 inches at Fort Peck, 12 inches at the Pine Recreation area and at Nashua, and 7 inches at Baylor. Phillips County totals included 30 inches at Zortman, 18 inches at Malta, and 12 inches at the Port of Morgan. South of Fort Peck Lake, snow totals included 24 inches at Brusett, 14 inches at Flatwillow, 12 inches at Jordan, and 10 inches at Circle. To the east of Valley County, snow totals were between 4 and 10 inches.

Record Storm Hits Eastern Montana (Posted Sunday, December 28, 2003 08:03 AM)

One of the largest winter storms ever hit northeast Montana over the weekend with record amounts of snowfall in Glasgow on December 26th and 27th.

According to the National Weather Service the previous record snowfall for December 26th was 3.6 inches and that was broken this year with 6.5 inches. The previous record for December 27th was 3.4 inches and this year the record was shattered with 7.8 inches.

The National Weather Service is also reporting that Glasgow has already shattered the record for the amount of snow in the month of December. The previous record was 16.5 inches of snow and through December 28th, Glasgow has already received 17.7 inches.

As of Sunday morning road conditions continue to be hazardous with MT Highway #191 north and south of Malta continued  to be closed because of treacherous conditions. Emergency travel only warnings are being issued for many roads throughout eastern Montana. In fact in southern Montana all major roads in the Glendive, Miles City, Baker and Forsyth areas are under emergency travel only warnings from the Montana Department of Transportation.

Here is a local storm report that was issued by the National Weather Service Saturday evening. It shows some of the extraordinary snow amounts received in eastern Montana.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
642 PM MST SAT DEC 27 2003
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION...      
...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. 
...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW MALTA 48.36N 
107.87W
12/27/2003 18.00 INCH PHILLIPS MT LAW 
ENFORCEMENT
5 TO 7 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 NNE WINNETT 47.08N 
108.32W
12/27/2003 12.00 INCH PETROLEUM MT TRAINED 
SPOTTER
4 TO 5 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW BRUSETT 47.43N 
107.27W
12/27/2003 18.00 INCH GARFIELD MT LAW 
ENFORCEMENT
4 TO 5 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW JORDAN 47.32N 
106.91W
12/27/2003 12.00 INCH GARFIELD MT LAW 
ENFORCEMENT
3 TO 4 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW 43 ENE JORDAN 47.56N 
106.06W
12/27/2003 10.00 INCH MCCONE MT CO-OP 
OBSERVER
4 TO 6 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW FORT PECK 48.01N 
106.45W
12/27/2003 15.00 INCH VALLEY MT NWS EMPLOYEE
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW WOLF POINT 48.09N 
105.64W
12/27/2003 6.00 INCH ROOSEVELT MT LAW 
ENFORCEMENT
2 FOOT DRIFTS
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW SIDNEY 47.72N 
104.16W
12/27/2003 4.00 INCH RICHLAND MT CO-OP 
OBSERVER
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW PLENTYWOOD 48.77N 
104.56W
12/27/2003 4.00 INCH SHERIDAN MT CO-OP 
OBSERVER
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW GLENDIVE 47.11N 
104.71W
12/27/2003 3.50 INCH DAWSON MT CO-OP 
OBSERVER
0422 PM HEAVY SNOW GLASGOW 48.20N 
106.64W
12/27/2003 14.00 INCH VALLEY MT NWS EMPLOYEE
3 TO 4 FOOT DRIFTS

Public Meetings Address Tentative 2004 Big-Game Hunting Regulations (Posted Saturday, December 27, 2003 10:10 AM)
Plan to attend one of four public meetings scheduled in January across northeastern and north-central Montana to learn about and comment on proposed hunting regulations for next fall’s big-game seasons.

The meetings will take place in Plentywood on Jan. 5, Glasgow on Jan. 8, Malta on Jan. 13 and Havre on Jan. 14. All meetings will run from 7 to 9 p.m. See specific venues at the end of this release.

These meetings are designed to present tentative big-game season recommendations, approved by the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission in December, then take public comments. Those comments, a critical ingredient of the season-setting process, will be considered as the tentative regulations are finalized. The Commission will finalize the regulations at its Feb. 12 meeting in Helena.

Among the changes proposed to hunting regulations in Region 6 are a limited antlerless mule deer season in hunting districts 620, 621 and 622, a limited doe/fawn antelope season in District 630 and additional archery hunting opportunities for doe/fawn antelope across the region.

In districts 620, 621 and 622, 100 antlerless mule deer B permits are being proposed. The permits would be valid in all three hunting districts and are being recommended because of increasing numbers of mule deer, says Harold Wentland, Region 6 wildlife manager.

“ We’re finally seeing some increases in a population that’s been lagging behind the rest of the region for the last few years,” he says. “We’re getting reports of damage to private land and want to get a handle on the population increase before it become a problem.”

Increasing antelope numbers in District 630 are the reason for the proposal to start a doe/fawn season, with 50 permits.

The general-elk season that was in place during the 2003 big-game season, generally north of U.S. Highway 2, including McCone and Richland counties, is again being proposed for areas of Region 6 that are not managed by special elk permits.

While the number and scope of specific Region 6 quotas is relatively minor, a number of statewide tentative regulations will affect hunters in the region. Among those issues of statewide relevance are:

A proposal to establish a 5-year waiting period for successful applicants of some special elk permits. The waiting period, similar to the 7-year waiting period that’s currently in place for successful moose, sheep and goat permit applicants, is designed to provide a more equitable distribution of limited opportunities for mostly trophy-elk districts. In Region 6, the proposal would apply to rifle-season either-sex elk permits in hunting districts 620-20, 621-20, 622-20, 631-20 and 690-21. Those districts are in the Missouri River Breaks and Bear Paw Mountains.

A proposal to offer up to two doe/fawn antelope licenses (900-30) to license holders of the multi-region either-sex, archery-only antelope license (900-00). The additional opportunity would be valid in regions 5, 6 and 7 and would be available over the counter through FWP’s Automated Licensing System. These additional doe/fawn licenses would be valid only for archery equipment.

A proposal to open the multi-region archery-only antelope season (900-00) on Aug. 15, rather than the current early-September opener, and close the same date as the deer and elk archery season.

A proposal to extend the upland game bird season for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge until Jan. 1. The current season extends through Dec. 15, and the additional two weeks would provide more hunting opportunity over the holidays.

Enforcement proposals of statewide relevance include making the current two-way communication regulation more inclusive; defining shotguns used in weapons restrictions areas as “a shouldered, breech-loaded or muzzle-loaded firearm with a smooth bore, designed to fire shot or rifled slugs”; clarifying a sabot as “any projectile that uses an attached device that acts as a gas check, acts as a friction-reduction device, or allows a smaller caliber projectile to be fired from a larger caliber weapon.

Here are the specific locations for the four Region 6 meetings:
Jan. 5 Plentywood Sheridan County Library’s Jubilee Room
Jan. 8 Glasgow Cottonwood Inn
Jan. 13 Malta 1st State Bank, Community Room
Jan. 14 Havre Duck Inn, Olympic Room

If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can send written comments to: Region 6 Tentative Hunting Regulations, FWP, RR1-4210, Glasgow MT 59230 or email .

Several Arrested On Drug Charges (Posted Saturday, December 27, 2003 09:54 AM)

Law enforcement officials made several drug related arrests the weekend of December 20th.

The evening of December 20th was a busy night as officials arrested 23-year old Jaime Aliperto and charged her with violation of conditions of her release. Aliperto is currently facing felony drug charges in District Court. She was arrested in a Glasgow business parking lot at 8:05 pm and charged with misdemeanor open container. Aliperto is currently being held in the Valley County Jail until an appearance in District Court on December 29th. The arrest was made by the Valley County Sheriff's Department, Glasgow Police Department along with the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force.

Also arrested December 20th was a 17-year old male Glasgow juvenile. He has been charged with felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. He was arrested in the same parking lot at 10:45pm. Officials confiscated his vehicle and searched the vehicle on December 23rd and have filed other misdemeanor charges against the juvenile. He will be charged in District Court and officials look to try him as an adult on the drug charges. He currently is under house arrest and is being monitored electronically.

The same incident also resulted in the arrest of 18-year old Glasgow female Falon Laroche. She has been charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor. She is facing charges in City Court.

That same evening 24-year old Wayne Stiles was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He has pleaded not guilty and as of December 24th was still incarcerated in the Valley County Jail.

It was a busy weekend in the Valley County Jail with 17 males and 6 females incarcerated.

Block Of Bucks Big Success (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 07:09 AM)

The 2004 edition of the Block of Bucks was a huge success with $14,360.00 donated to help needy children in Valley County purchase warm winter clothing.

The annual event which is organized by the Glasgow Soroptomists and the Montana Army National Guard raised over $1000 more than which was raised last year.

On Friday, National Guardsmen manned the two downtown intersections throughout the day collecting money from passing traffic. Then on Saturday the Soroptomists Club organized the huge shopping spree with over 250 children going shopping for winter clothing.

National Weather Service Winter Outlook Released (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 06:44 AM)

In its final winter outlook update the (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/) NOAA Climate Prediction Center is predicting January, February and March will bring above average temperatures to much of the western U. S., as well as the central and northern Plains and much of Alaska, and below average temperatures to the Southeast from eastern Texas through the Carolinas, including much of Florida. Precipitation is likely to be above average in the Pacific Northwest and western and central Texas, and below average over the Southwest, Florida and the Lower Missouri Valley.

When considering the season as a whole, the remaining parts of the nation, including the Northeast, can expect equal chances of above-, below- or near-normal temperatures and precipitation. However, within the three-month period, variable and changing jet stream patterns are likely to continue bringing periods of storminess and swings of temperature extremes, as seen in the Northeast thus far.

NOAA forecasters expect the existing multi-year drought conditions in much of the interior West and parts of the Central Plains to continue, with the best chances for some improvement from the Northern Rockies westward to the Northern Cascades. In many areas, especially Arizona, New Mexico, and the western Great Plains, drought will likely persist and contribute to lingering, long-term water shortages. Persistent rains and saturated ground in parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic raise the concern for flooding potential.



Here’s what you can expect:
The U.S. 2004 winter outlook update for January through March calls for warmer-than-average conditions along the northern tier of the country from Washington eastward to Michigan, throughout the remainder of the West including Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and in the inter-mountain states and central Great Plains to Iowa and Nebraska. Above average temperatures are also anticipated over most of Alaska. Cooler-than-average temperatures are expected across eastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, northern and central Florida, and the Carolinas. For other parts of the nation, January - March will have equal chances of above-, below-, or near-normal temperatures.

Precipitation during January through March is likely to be above average in Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho, as well as in much of western and central Texas. Drier-than-average conditions are favored in Arizona and nearby parts of each surrounding state, as well as in Nebraska, Kansas, eastern Iowa and northwest Missouri, and in Florida and southernmost parts of Georgia through Louisiana. The remainder of the country has equal chances of above-, below-, or near-normal precipitation during the period.

“ December 2003 shows us just how variable winter patterns can be,” said Edward O’Lenic, meteorologist at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. “It is important for people to pay close attention to local, daily weather forecasts so they can prepare for various precipitation types and temperature swings.”

NOAA will issue its spring outlook in March 2004.

Fort Peck Paleontology, Inc. Announces 1st Peck’s Rex™ Cast Skeleton Exhibit Sale (Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003 06:27 AM)

In October 2003, Fort Peck Paleontology, Inc. (FPPI) of Fort Peck, Montana received the final signed contract from the Maryland Science Center (MSC) of Baltimore, Maryland for the sale of a PECK’S REX™ cast skeleton plus several single element cast exhibits from PECK’S REX™. The sale of the exhibit is the first for FPPI, and occurred at a crucial juncture for the organization.

PECK’S REX™ is a Tyrannosaurus rex discovered in the badlands of Northeastern Montana in 1997. Found on Federal property, the fossil was soon excavated and taken to the newly formed dinosaur field station facility at Fort Peck. There it has been prepared, molded and cast, and recreated to it’s former formidable self in skeletal form. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the property at the site of excavation, and has also authorized the use of the large building where the fossil is stored.

FPPI took the first big step in creating the cast replica of PECK’S REX™ in June 2002 when they hired Todd M. Hoelmer, a free lance fossil preparator highly experienced in both fossil preparation and casting. “I was very anxious to see the first cast of the skull from PECK’S REX™ come together,” Todd said; “I was the first to see the skull of PECK’S REX™ the way it would have looked 67 million years ago.”

Since the first skull was finished in May of 2003, progress of the rest of the skeleton preparation has been moving at a rapid pace. The reason for this is the goal to create a full cast skeleton exhibit by May 2004. To help complete this task, FPPI hired Chris M. Morrow in April of 2003. Chris also has had experience in fossil preparation and casting. Both Todd and Chris have taken on the project full force to meet the deadline. They are not alone in this endeavor; several others, some volunteers from Glasgow, Fort Peck and even surrounding counties have jumped on board to help complete the project. This has been a group effort from the beginning. Local support has been tremendous, and is the key source of funding and labor for the preparation of PECK’S REX™.

In May 2003, a visiting MSC employee was given a tour of the Fort Peck Field Station where work on PECK’S REX™ is being conducted. He was very impressed with both the quality of the fossils and the high quality of the replicas being produced. He mentioned that his organization, the Maryland Science Center, was designing a new museum and might be interested in some casts of PECK’S REX™. When he left, there was some enthusiasm in his comments and the signs of a potential partnership. He returned to the MSC and told them about PECK’S REX™ and the project underway at the Fort Peck facility. Based on his initial impression of FPPI’s project, it came to be that MSC negotiated a contract for the purchase of a complete PECK’S REX™ Skeleton Exhibit.

The completion of this contract is a welcome accomplishment for FPPI. The costs of running a preparation facility and adding a molding and casting department are extremely high. “Local support of the Fort Peck Field Station has born the burden of most of the project over the years. With the new goal of FPPI to create a full cast of PECK’S REX™, enthusiasm again is running high and things are full-speed ahead”, says John Rabenberg, President of Fort Peck Paleontology.

With this contract, FPPI will have the funds to see a full cast of PECK’S REX™ come together. Additional staff is being hired to ensure the project deadline will be met.

FPPI has also made available single element casts of PECK’S REX™ to the public for purchase. The casts are made directly from the original fossils, and the result is an excellent reproduction. They make for great hands-on educational materials, and would also make a unique gift for the dinosaur enthusiast. FPPI offers a color catalog of available replicas from their Gift Shop. Email them at fppi@nemontel.net to request a catalog.

The Maryland Science Center is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and renewal. When complete next Spring, the Science Center will be virtually all new with new entryways, expanded food offerings, a new gallery dedicated to traveling exhibits, and a core collection of permanent exhibits including a dinosaur hall, an exhibit focusing on the human body, and a gallery housing the best of hands-on exhibits from across the country. The Science Center will essentially be all new and intends to have something for all visitors from infants to kids, to adults of all ages. The new Science Center will be more than an update of the existing facility—it will be a re-launch as a premier Inner Harbor destination.

To learn more about PECK’S REX™, Fort Peck Paleontology, and the work going on at the Dinosaur Field Station; you can visit them at www.fort peck.com. The website for the Maryland Science Center is www.mdsci.org.

Block Of Blucks Set For Friday (Posted Thursday, December 18, 2003 07:41 AM)

The annual Block of Bucks fundraiser for needy children in the Glasgow area is set for Friday in the two downtown intersections.

The Glasgow Soroptimists and the Montana Army National Guard are again spearheading this years Block of Bucks which is a holiday tradition in Valley County.

Last year over $13,313 was raised and used to buy children's winter clothing during the holiday season. Over 200 children have signed up to take part in this years program and all will go shopping on Saturday in Glasgow businesses.

The Block of Bucks has already gotten a nice start with fundraising with a donation from the Glasgow Middle School and High School Student Councils who have donated $1400 to the program. This money was raised with their Remembrance Tree program.

Speed Reduction Near Nashua Denied (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:16 PM)

The Montana Department of Transportation has denied a request from the Valley County Commissioners to reduce the speed on U.S. Highway #2 at the intersection that leads into the community of Nashua.

The current speed limit is 70 mph and the Commissioners had asked the MDT to either reduce the speed near the intersection or at lease post signs that there is slow incoming traffic into the intersection on Highway #2.

MDT denied the request and in a written letter to Valley County said that reducing the speed limit will not have any measurable effect on traffic speed on Highway #2 near the intersection at Nashua. MDT also noted that their hasn't been any major motor accidents in that intersection in the last three years.

The Nashua School District has approached Valley County about concerns with slow moving school buses that turn onto Highway #2 at the intersection and traffic that is moving at 70mph or faster.

The Commissioners noted that the sight lines are diminished as you turn onto Highway #2 and that an accident is bound to happen with the slow moving traffic into the intersection.

MDT is planning a major construction project on that stretch of highway in 2005 and they have refused to either add either a slower speed limit or a passing lane near the community of Nashua.

The Commissioners plan to send a letter of protest to the District Office of the Montana Department of Transportation.

Public Land Auction Goes Well For County (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:02 PM)

The Valley County Commissioners on Monday in a public auction sold 3680 acres of county owned land to Sterling Carroll for $184,083.

The auction held Monday morning in the lobby of the Valley County Courthouse. The land is currently being leased by Carroll and was sold for just over $50 an acre which the commissioners said was the appraised price.

The commissioners said they were pleased with the sale and said that the land can now go back on the tax rolls. They also said that they will have another land sale next year and hope to continue the sales until all of the county owned land is put back in private hands.

Three Arrested On South Side (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 04:01 PM)

The Glasgow Police Department arrested three individuals early Tuesday morning on Glasgow's south side. Arrested were 22-year Patrick Follet who was detained on a warrant for revocation of probation in District Court. He was still incarcerated at the Valley County Jail on Tuesday afternoon.

Also arrested was 20-year old Robert White who was detained on a warrant from City Court for failure to comply with conditions of a court order in City Court. His bond was set at $295 and he was still in jail as of Tuesday afternoon.

20-year old Lionel White was also arrested on a warrant out of City Court for failure to pay his court fines in a timely manner. His bond was set at $130 and he posted that bond and was released Tuesday morning.

All three were arrested at or near 439 6th Avenue South in Glasgow. During the arrest the Glasgow Police Department also handed out two misdemeanor citations to 18-year old Elissa Stingley and 18-year old Misty Sugg for illegal possession of alcohol under the age of 21.

Deer damage season approved for portion of Valley, Daniels counties (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 03:59 PM)
Fish, Wildlife & Parks has approved a game-damage season to reduce numbers of antlerless white-tailed and mule deer in a portion of northern Valley and Daniels counties in northeastern Montana.

The special season will open on Monday, Dec. 22 and extend through Sunday, Jan. 18 and includes a rectangle of country that has been covered by deep and drifted snow since late October. The season boundaries are State Route 24 on the west, the Canadian border on the north, Route 251 (R-Y Trail) and Route 511 on the east and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation on the south. The area is within Hunting District 640.

Hunters will be able to use any unused Deer A license or Deer B permit that was valid in any hunting district in Montana during the 2003 deer season. An additional 200 damage-hunt B licenses will be sold on a first-come basis starting Monday, Dec. 22 and are available at any FWP regional office or license agent in the state. Each eligible hunter can purchase up to two of these additional licenses, which cost $8 for residents and $75 for non-residents. Only antlerless mule deer and white-tailed deer may be harvested in this season.

Hunters who participate in this damage season are urged to contact landowners who are suffering damage to hay and agricultural crops. A list of landowners who have game damage and who want hunters directed to their properties is available by calling FWP’s Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow at 228-3700 or visiting the office on Highway 2 West in Glasgow.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks is managing three other game-damage seasons in Region 6. Those hunts, which will end 1⁄2 hour after sunset on Dec. 31, are for white-tailed deer in the eastern half of the region and for mule deer and elk in the Bear Paw Mountains south of Havre and Chinook. No additional licenses are available for these hunts.

All hunters who participate in late-season damage hunts must possess a 2003 Conservation License and if they are born after Jan. 1, 1985, must show proof of completion of a hunter education course. All normal big-game regulations apply to this late season, including the requirements to wear hunter orange, obtain landowner permission and properly validate licenses and tag carcasses.

Spearing Season For Fort Peck Lake Trout, Salmon Starts March 1 (Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2003 03:50 PM)
Lake trout and chinook salmon on Fort Peck Lake will be legal targets for winter spear fishermen, but they’ll have to wait until March 1, 2004 to do it.

The 2003 Legislature added lake trout and chinook to the list of species that are legal to spear on Fort Peck. The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approved the rule back in October, but the new opportunity is part of the 2004-2007 fishing regulations, which won’t take effect until March 1.

The spearing provision allows anglers to take chinook salmon and lake trout by spear or gig annually from Dec. 1 through March 31 starting next year.

The issue confused some anglers because the legislation’s effective date is Oct. 1, 2003. However, enabling language in the law requires the FWP Commission to approve the change before it becomes part of the standard fishing regulations, effective March 1. That date is also the beginning of the new license year for Montana anglers and hunters.

Look for copies of the 2004-2007 fishing regulations to be available at license agents sometime in mid February.

 

Doug Smith Receives FWP’s ‘Outstanding Citizen’ Award (Posted Tuesday, December 16, 2003 07:10 AM)

Lifelong Dagmar resident Doug Smith has received Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ “Outstanding Citizen Contributor” award for his work promoting state parks and recreational access in northeastern Montana.

The recognition was granted by FWP’s Parks Division at a meeting in Butte earlier this month. Parks Division administrator Doug Monger presented the award, citing Smith’s tireless efforts to create a state park in Region 6 and find public river access on the Missouri River.

Smith has become a leading advocate in locating and developing public recreation access in northeastern Montana, says Woody Baxter, FWP’s parks manager in Region 6.


Since contacting Baxter in early 2001, Smith has volunteered hundreds of hours and dollars in travel expenses in order to reveal the many impressive and little-known recreation sites in the region. Smith has also acted as a liaison, introducing Baxter to private landowners and public agency personnel who have the similar goal of providing more recreational access to the public.

Smith’s specific achievements and accomplishments that were recognized by FWP include:

Member of the Region 6 State Park Search Committee
Nominated Brush Lake as a potential state park. The site was recommended by the search committee to FWP’s director and Parks Division administrator.

Member of Travel Montana’s Missouri River Country as well as a sub-committee addressing recreational access on the lower Missouri River

Member of the Lower Missouri River Access Committee, a cooperative citizen/government agency committee addressing the acquisition and development of public access sites on the Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam and the North Dakota border

Baxter says Smith has also been instrumental in facilitating communication between a Sheridan County landowner and FWP in the process of negotiating the acquisition of land for the region’s first state park.

“ The deep respect Doug has established with the local community and his easy-going nature has helped build bridges between FWP and folks in the Plentywood area,” says Baxter.

Scott Thompson Is New Culbertson Fwp Wildlife Biologist (Posted Tuesday, December 16, 2003 07:08 AM)

For Scott Thompson, the path to Culbertson led through the Rocky Mountain Front and the prairies of Phillips County.

Thompson is the new Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ wildlife biologist based in Culbertson. He replaces Ray Mule’, who held the post for 18 years before being promoted to Region 5 wildlife manager in Billings.

A native of Butte, Thompson is a recent graduate of Montana State University, where he studied animal and range science. His Master’s degree research was evaluating the impact of browsing animals on vegetation.

While this is Thompson’s first permanent position with FWP, he worked seasonally on projects in conjunction with the department, first helping snag the hair of grizzly bears along the Rocky Mountain Front for a study that will estimate bear populations using DNA analysis. His second position was a brief stint working with sage grouse in southern Phillips County.

From his home office in Culbertson, Thompson will work as management biologist covering all of Sheridan and Roosevelt counties and much of Daniels, McCone and Richland counties. The job includes evaluating wildlife populations and habitat, recommending hunting season revisions and working with landowners to enhance habitat and hunting opportunities and minimize game damage.

Thompson says he’s excited by the diversity of opportunities in his district.

“ The area is unique in that so much of the land is privately owned,” he says. “That puts a real premium on working with landowners, making sure that their concerns are being met. Ray did a great job with that and I’m hoping to continue that relationship.”

The area is one of the “birdiest” in Montana, with abundant pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge in addition to prime prairie-pothole waterfowl habitat. Add white-tailed and mule deer, antelope, occasional elk, furbearers and river-bottom populations of wild turkeys and Thompson expects to stay busy.
An avid hunter, Thompson is married to the former Jill St. John, who grew up in Opheim.

“ The community has been great, really welcoming” says Thompson. “It’s a great place to work.”

Glasgow Police Officer Charged With Misdemeanor Family Member Assault (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 09:58 AM)

A Glasgow Police Officer has been charged with misdemeanor Partner/Family Member Assault after an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of November 27th.

According to the police report, the Glasgow Police Department was called to the home of Patrolman Collin Kemmis after Kemmis's wife called the police department to report an incident that had occurred between her and Kemmis. Glasgow Police Chief Lynn Erickson then interviewed Kemmis's wife and made the decision to bring in an outside investigator to investigate the incident. Former Wolf Point Police Chief Ron Kemp was assigned to the case and interviewed the wife the morning of November 27th. Kemp then recommended that Kemmis be charged with misdemeanor partner/family member assault. Kemmis was arraigned in City Court on November 27th and pleaded not-guilty to the charge on December 3rd.

Kemmis's wife was also granted a temporary restraining order against him that is in effect until December 19th when a hearing will be held to determine if the restraining order should become permanent.

The case is currently pending in City Court and City Attorney Dave Gorton has recused himself from the case and Dan O'Brien a prosecutor from Phillips County has been assigned the case.

Kemmis was hired by the Glasgow Police Department in January of 2003 and graduated from the Montana
Law Enforcement Academy on December 5th and currently is on active duty with the Glasgow Police Department.

Bredette Man Receives National Weather Service Award (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 07:03 AM)

Axel Larsen, of Bredette, Mont., recently received the John Campanius Holm Award, a national honor for his dedication to observing and reporting weather for more than 37 years. The award was presented on Nov. 19, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) at a ceremony at the Sherman Inn in Wolf Point. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Julie Adolphson, meteorologist in charge at the NOAA's National Weather Service office in Glasgow, presented the award to Larsen.

" We are thrilled to recognize Axel Larsen as one of the nations top cooperative weather observers," said Adolphson. "His accurate and timely weather reports have played a critical role in defining the climate and rainfall patterns of northeast Montana. His observations have been important to our forecast process and we appreciate his support of the National Weather Service forecast and warning programs."

Vickie Nadolski, NWS Western Region director, said, "The Cooperative Weather Observer Program is a nationwide network of 11,000 volunteers, who record temperature and precipitation each day. The information collected by Mr. Larson and other weather observers become part of the nation's historical weather and climate archive."

The Holm Award is one of the most prestigious awards presented each year by the NOAA's National Weather Service. Larsen's award was only one of 19 Holm Awards presented nationally this year. "This is a great honor and we salute his years of service to the agency," added Nadolski.

Larsen has dutifully recorded climatic readings on NWS forms since September 1966, continuing a tradition of weather observations that started at the Bredette location in December on 1939. He is a non-paid COOP observer who has been providing an accurate and invaluable service to his local community and his country for 37 years.

Over the years, Larsen has successfully operated his large ranching and farming business on his own, along with his various other community obligations, and still finds time to keep his weather records up to date. Like so many dedicated COOP observers, he takes his weather observations seriously and with the utmost professionalism. When modernization efforts brought electronic temperature equipment to his station, he requested that the old thermometers be left in place as a backup. His observations noted that on occasions in adverse weather conditions when the newer technology was inoperative, he would brave the weather and manually take the maximum and minimum temperature observation using the old backups.

Adolphson said over the years, when Larsen has been asked to take on a new responsibility, the reply has always been "yes." For example, Larsen was asked to send his observation reports to the Glasgow NWS office on a daily basis via a telephone reporting system. He accepted the new challenge with the understanding that
his daily reports were for forecast verification, which would ultimately help to improve services to his community.

" Mr. Larsen's commitment, dedication and professionalism have been proven time and again throughout a long career as a COOP observer. He has unselfishly volunteered his time and dedication to the National Weather Service, to the public, to his neighbors and that service can only be described as outstanding," Adolphson said.

NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the primary source of weather and flood forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The NWS operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Reconstruction Project Planned For Mt 24 South Of Opheim (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 06:57 AM)

The Montana Department of Transportation is planning a reconstruction project on a section of MT 24 beginning at milepost 45.3 and proceeding 0.3 miles to milepost 45.6, approximately 5 miles south of Opheim, Valley County.

The project will include earthwork to cut down a hill north of the county road intersection, new striping, drainage pipe modification and a finished roadway width of 28 feet. The project will improve the sight distance at the county road intersection and enhance the safety for the traveling public. New right of way will be required. T

he department anticipates the work to begin in the 2004 construction season, depending on completion of design and availability of funds. For more information on this project please contact Ray Mengel, District Administrator PO Box 890, Glendive, MT 59330-0890, phone (406) 233-3600 or (888) 689-5296. For TTY (800) 335-7592.

Skywarn Recognition Day Held December 5th (Posted Monday, December 15, 2003 06:56 AM)

Skywarn Recognition Day 2003, occurred on December 5th and started off with a steady stream of contacts for the Valley Amateur Radio Club. A total of 9 ham radio operators and two people interested in becoming ham radio operations, got together at the National Weather Service in Glasgow to participate in the annual event. This is the third year that the club has participated in the 24 hour long event, which started at 5 p.m. on Friday, and finished on Saturday. By 8 p.m. Friday night, they had talked to people as far away as Texas and Arkansas. Things slowed down overnight, giving the group a chance to catch a few winks, but by 7:45 a.m. they had so many contacts, that Sam Moore, K7SAM, didn’t even get a chance to eat breakfast. He spoke to over 54 people within an hour, including those caught in a major winter storm in New Hampshire, and our neighbors to the north in Canada. The freezing rain that hit overnight didn't create any problems on their antenna, but it did keep a few other interested hams from making the trek to Glasgow. 

There were fewer technical difficulties this year, thanks to better equipment (a computer screen went out on them last year) which was donated by the Francis Mahon Deaconess Hospital Foundation.  

Overall, the group made contact with 44 out of approximately 110 other National Weather Service offices, and were contacted by an additional 348 amateur radio operators who were participating from their own homes. That was a 63% increase in individual contacts from the previous year.  

Club President George Asleson, KA7BFU, said that, “Everyone that has worked on this project is pleased with the results, and the contacts we had this year were great. It keeps getting better every year.” The club is a service organization to exchange ideas and to provide emergency communications to local, state and federal agencies. Members include volunteers from Phillips, Valley and Daniels County. The club started after an Amtrak train derailed near Saco in the late 1980's. Communications were a big problem during that event, and the group got together to help agencies in the future in case something similar would ever occur.  

The Skywarn program is a nationwide program that involves tens of thousands of volunteers who report weather conditions to the National Weather Service. The ham radio operators are especially critical to severe weather operations, as they can give the NWS live reports of tornadoes, straight-line wind damage, and devastating floods. They were especially crucial in May of this year when the mid-western states were hit with several tornado outbreaks within a one week period. 

Sam Moore (K7SAM), throws his hands up with trying to get his microphone to work while attempting to contacting the National Hurricane Center. Loren Nichols (AA7MT) works the high band radio frequencies searching for other National Weather Service Offices to contact. The Ham Radio antenna and the NWS WSR-88D radar created an excellent photo op cold, clear day, just hours before a freezing rain event hit northeast Montana. 

 

Hi-Line Man Lands 32 Years In Prison For Selling Pot, Meth (Posted Friday, December 12, 2003 08:22 AM)

(Great Falls-AP) -- Federal prosecutors call him the biggest drug dealer on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. And James Cantrell Senior says he expects to die in prison. He is 63; and yesterday a federal judge sentenced Cantrell to 32 years behind bars.

The Wolf Point man headed a drug ring that is said to have distributed more than 60 pounds

of meth and 135 pounds of marijuana along the Hi-Line for at least the past four years. Cantrell, his wife, Donna Shawl Cantrell, and 18 others from Fort Belknap, Wolf Point and Poplar were arrested in two large busts in March. All were accused of taking part in a network of drug deals masterminded by the Cantrells. The Cantrells were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute meth and various other drug-related charges.

Most others were found guilty, or have changed their pleas to guilty, and await sentencing. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

School Board Notes (Posted Friday, December 12, 2003 07:09 AM)

The Glasgow School Board voted Wednesday evening to purchase two new yellow Blue Bird school buses to replace two aging buses. The buses will be used for regular school routes and should arrive early next year. The school district paid $58,201 for each bus and received a $3500 trade in allowance for the two buses that were traded in.

In other school business the board is set to begin the new Accuscan meal tracker program the first day of school in January. This new program will computerize the school lunch and breakfast program and paper lunch tickets will no longer be used by students.

The board also agreed to alleviate a class size program in the junior high level. Currently some classes most notably the shop classes are overloaded with too many students and the board will take action on this problem.

The good news though is that enrollment continues to climb in the school district. The enrollment count as of December 5th was 795 which compares with 772 last year.

Wolf Point Man Faces 17 Charges (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 04:12 PM)

A Wolf Point man is facing 17 criminal charges in State District Court as the result of several burglaries and acts of vandalism that occurred in October and November of 2002 in north Valley County.

Durand Zoanni is free on $5000 bond after making an initial appearance in Justice Court in Shelby, Montana last month. In October the Valley County Sheriffs Department issued a warrant for Zoanni's arrest but believed that he was living in Canada. After putting the warrant on the law enforcement teletype Canadian authorities contacted the Sheriff's Department and said they would be on the lookout for Zoanni. He was finally detained on November 28th as we was trying to re-enter the United States at the Sweetgrass Border Crossing north of Shelby. He was held in the Toole County Jail until he made his appearance in Justice Court and then posted $5000 bond and was released.

He is set to make an appearance in District Court in Glasgow on December 15th.
Zoanni is facing 6 felony burglary charges, 2 felony aggravated burglary charges, 1 felony criminal mischief charge, 5 misdemeanor criminal mischief charges, 2 misdemeanor theft charges and 1 criminal mischief by accountability charge. The charges are the result of a crime spree that took place in north Valley County on October 10th of 2002 and November 9th of 2002. Zoanni and three juvenile accomplices from the Wolf Point area robbed and vandalized 5 residences and the North Bench Community Hall during this period.

Two of the accomplices were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged incidents but Ronald L. Kemp of Wolf Point was over the age of 18 and is facing 5 felony burglary charges along with 3 criminal mischief charges and a criminal mischief by accountability charge. Kemp will also appear in State District Court in Glasgow on those charges filed by the Valley County Attorney.

Havre Check Station Indicates Above-Average Season (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 07:20 AM)
Despite lower activity than normal the final weekend of the 2003 season, biologists at the Havre game-check station checked about the same number of mule deer and white-tailed deer as last year.

Wildlife biologist Al Rosgaard, who manages the station on U.S. Highway 2 east of Havre, says the number of deer checked from late October through Thanksgiving Day was on pace to exceed last year’s total. But a slow final weekend pushed the total close to last year’s number. Rosgaard and his crew counted 506 mule deer this year, compared to 515 in the 2002 season. The total number of white-tailed deer was 185 this season, compared to 180 last year.

The proportion of bucks in the total was high. Rosgaard says 70 percent of mule deer checked were antlered bucks, and about half of those were 3 years old or older. About 52 percent of the white-tailed deer were bucks.

“ Antler growth was very good this year,” says Rosgaard, “and large racks were abundant. Most hunters were happy with the bucks they harvested.”

Rosgaard isn’t sure why the final weekend of this year’s season was relatively slow. “In the final weekend of the 2002 season, we counted about 150 mule deer. This year we counted 100 mule deer in the last two days of the season,” which ended Sunday, Nov. 30.

Widespread publicity about the detour around the damaged Milk River bridge farther east on Highway 2 may have discouraged some hunters from visiting Region 6. Other factors may have been weather and good hunting conditions elsewhere in the state.

Despite the fairly slow final days of the season, Rosgaard says the 2003 deer season was one of the highest in the last decade.

“ Both last year and this year were highs,” he says. “We’re seeing some pretty consistent increases in deer from lows in the early 1990s.”

The number of antelope checked at the station was more than 10 percent above last year. Rosgaard says 610 antelope were checked in 2003, compared to 547 last year. He credits more antlerless permits as well as good production of fawns this year for the increase.

Three Valley County Officers Graduate From Law Enforcement Academy (Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2003 07:18 AM)

Three law enforcement officers in Valley County graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena on December 5th.

Glasgow Police Officer Collin Kemmis along with Valley County Sheriffs Deputies Mary Jo Anderson and Kevin James took part in the graduation ceremonies on December 5th.

Glasgow Police Chief Lynn Erickson and Valley County Sheriff Glenn Meier were in Helena for the ceremony and Meier was the guest speaker for graduation. Meier graduated from the academy in 1976 as an officer with the Montana Department of Livestock and he spoke on the changes in law enforcement over the past 28 years. He also spoke of the different training techniques currently used at the academy compared to when he graduated in 1976.

All law enforcement officers in Montana have to graduate from the academy to become certified officers and they have to graduate within a year of their employment with their particular agency.

The academy is a 12-week course that is conducted in Helena.

Northrop Grumman Establishes Partnership With A&S Tribal Industries Of Poplar (Posted Saturday, December 6, 2003 01:40 PM)

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Electronic Systems sector and A&S Tribal Industries, Inc. (ASTI) have announced the formation of a new defense electronics manufacturing partnership under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense's Mentor Protege program.

Established in 1975, A&S Tribal Industries is a U.S. government certified small disadvantaged business owned by the Fort Peck Tribes. Located in Poplar, Mont., ASTI has 72 employees engaged in metal parts fabrication, tooling and assembly work.

Northrop Grumman has mentored small companies under the Defense Department's Mentor-Protege program since 1992 and currently has over 20 active mentor-protege agreements across the corporation.

Under this latest agreement, Northrop Grumman will provide engineering, manufacturing and business management training and development support to ASTI, while the two firms work together to identify opportunities to utilize ASTI's manufacturing expertise to support Northrop Grumman's current and future procurement needs.

"We look forward to leveraging ASTI's extensive experience as a Defense Department supplier to become a valued contributor of a wide range of manufactured materials and components for our various defense electronics and systems," said Katie Gray, vice president of Procurement and Materials for the Electronic Systems sector. "Northrop Grumman has a proud history of mentoring small companies, both informally and formally, through programs sponsored by various U.S. government agencies."

In a recent ceremony at Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, officials of Northrop Grumman and ASTI signed a formal mentor-protege agreement, witnessed by Montana Gov. Judy Martz and Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Arlyn Headdress. Katie Gray represented Northrop Grumman and Leonard Smith, chief executive officer, represented ASTI.

Established in 1991, the Department of Defense Mentor-Protege program provides large, prime contractors incentives to assist small disadvantaged businesses in enhancing their capabilities; increase the overall participation of small disadvantaged businesses in the procurement process; and foster long-term business relationships between small disadvantaged businesses and prime contractors.

"This mentor-protege agreement represents a 'win-win-win' for the Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman and A&S Tribal Industries," said Smith. "The U.S. government can be assured of receiving top-value, top-quality products from the partnership forged by Northrop Grumman and ASTI. The benefits to the Montana economy will also be significant in terms of developing and growing high-quality manufacturing jobs as well as increasing business prospects for ASTI and other area companies."

Northrop Grumman officials said they plan to work closely with Fort Peck Community College to develop a training curriculum intended to enhance the skills and capabilities of ASTI employees. Technical training internships at various Electronic Systems sector facilities are also planned for select ASTI personnel.

Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a world leader in the design, development, manufacture and support of defense and commercial electronics and systems including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space systems, marine and naval systems, government systems and logistics services.

FWP Will Direct Hunters To Landowners With Game Damage (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:24 AM)
Landowners who are either suffering damage or anticipate having damage to agricultural crops caused by white-tailed deer are encouraged to call the Glasgow Fish, Wildlife & Parks office and add their names to a list that will direct hunters to their properties.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks authorized a special game-damage hunt for antlerless whitetails in the eastern half of Region 6 from Dec. 1-31, and wants to act as a broker to link interested hunters with landowners who would like deer numbers reduced.

“ We’re more interested in having hunters harvest deer now than issuing kill permits to landowners or having department staff kill deer later in the winter,” says Harold Wentland, regional wildlife manager. “And we’d like to direct hunters to landowners who would like help.”

The damage season extends from roughly Saco eastward to the North Dakota border, north to the Canadian line and south including much of McCone and Richland counties. Specific hunting districts where the damage season is underway are: 670, 630, 631, 632, 640, 641, 650, 651 and 652. Only antlerless whitetails are legal in the season, which ends a half-hour after sunset on Wed., Dec. 31.

Call FWP’s Glasgow office at 228-3700 if you’re a landowner who would like additional hunting. Hunters can also call that number to get a roster of landowners who are looking for antlerless whitetail harvest.

Native Americans Want Expanded Gambling Opportunities (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:18 AM)

(Helena-AP) -- Representatives from six of Montana's seven Indian reservations say they want the expanded gambling opportunities envisioned by federal law. But they say the state refuses to allow them.
Charlene Alden is gaming manager for the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. She says her tribe wants to have more video gambling machines and higher maximum winnings.

Pete Lamere chairs the gaming committee on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. He says, if they want to pay out five-thousand or ten-thousand dollars, that should be left to the tribes.

State law limits maximum payouts of 800-dollars -- although some tribal-state compacts allow twice that amount. State officials say the tribes want games legalized on reservations that are not legal under state law -- such as slot machines and blackjack.

Gambling Control Administrator Gene Huntington says that's a legislative decision, and not subject to negotiations. (Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Milk River Bridge Reopens (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:16 AM)

(Havre-AP) -- The Milk River Bridge on U-S Highway Two, between Havre and Chinook, reopened for traffic today, after emergency repairs.

The bridge collapsed November 18th, during an accident involving two tractor-trailers. A bulldozer being hauled on one of the trailers severed a support beam on the bridge. The temporary repairs involved removing the collapsed western half of the bridge, and replacing it with one supported by a steel foundation and girders.

The bridge deck is wood, covered with asphalt instead of concrete. The contractor -- Tamietti Construction of Great Falls -- worked 20-hour days every day but Thanksgiving to get the new span erected. The temporary span is for use until a new, permanent bridge can be built. The state Transportation Department anticipates that happening next summer. The only restriction on the temporary bridge will be a 45 mile-per-hour speed limit. (Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Almost All Businesses Pass Selling To Minors Test (Posted Friday, December 5, 2003 06:01 AM)

Law enforcement officials throughout Valley County last week conducted a series of undercover operations to check if local businesses were selling alcohol to minors. With assistance from the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force a total of 29 businesses including bars, grocery stores and convenience stores were tested with an undercover agent to see if the employee would sell the alcohol to the minor. Only one business in the county sold the alcohol and that was in Glasgow at the Albertson's store where 36 year old Richard Helmick was charged with unlawful transaction with a minor.

Last November the same check was conducted and there were 11 businesses that were charged with selling alcohol to a minor. Both the Glasgow Police Department and the Valley County Sheriff's Department were very happy with the results this year.

Linda Alley

Linda Alley, age 96, passed away December 23, 2003 of natural causes at the Valley View Home in Glasgow, MT. Funeral services are planned for Monday, December 29 at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow. Burial will be in Highland Cemetary in Glasgow. Bell Mortuary in Glagow is in charge of arrangements.

Linda was born November 12, 1907 in Rugby, North Dakota to Albert and Naphie Dunn. She was second to the oldest of seven children--all are deceased. She wnet to school in Ross and Stanley, ND. She married Charles Alley in Stanley, ND and they moved to Glasgow, MT where they opened a used furniture store on Second Ave. North. When Fort Peck Dam came about, they were told they must move to make room for another business within the month, so they quickly had a building started at the Sam's Supper Club location, moving there before the roof was even on in February with two small childre, Mary Lou and Richard. Linda and Charles operated the furniture store for many years. Linda was a very active lady. She worked in the Methodist Church Ladies Aid in all their projects. She loved belonging to the Rebekah Lodge and Degree of Honor Lodge. She loved to play cards, bingo , and was a great fisherman. She worked as a clerk at the Valley County Fair in the needlework department for close to thirty years. She also did great needlework herself, She led the exercise class at the Senior Citizens until she was 90 years old. Her hearing problem limited her activities. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husband Charles Alley, son Richard Alley and Daughter Mary Lou Wagenhals.

Survivors include grandchildren Gayle Sage of Poplar, MT and Dana Wagenhals of Bilings, MT; 4 great grandchildren, Chad Wagenhals, Britt Beeghly, Jenni Wagenhals, Marissa Sage; many nieces and nephews in the Glasgow and Detroit, MI area.

Margaret Sarah Rees

Margaret Sarah Rees, age 75, passed away December 15, 2003 of natural causes at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. Funeral services are planned for Thursday, December 18th at 11:00am at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nashua. Burial will be at the VFW Cemetery in Circle. Bell Mortuary in in charge of arrangements.

Margaret was born in northern McCone County on June 18, 1928 to Earl and Ruth Lingle. She attended Illmont elementary school in northern McCone County, and then high school in Frazer and Poplar. She had a passion for learning that never seemed to be quenched and passed this love onto her children and grandchildren. Margaret married Harold Rees on March 2, 1946 in Wolf Point. They set up home in Prairie Elk for several years before eventually moving to northern McCone county and settling in at the Rees Ranch in 1956. Margaret had a natural talent for sewing. She owned a fabric shop and did custom sewing for many years. While in Prairie Elk she became a charter member of the Prairie Elk Homemakers Club and was very involved in the local 4-H chapter. She dedicated several years of her life as a leader in range management. She was inducted into the range management and 4-H hall of fame for all her years of hard work and service. Margaret and Harold moved into Nashua in 1985. Margaret cooked at the Home Cafe and later Bergies. She loved visiting with customers and would know their life story before they left. She was dearly loved by friends and will be greatly missed. Margaret touched all she knew with her loving nature and kind words. She often talked about her times at prairie elk and how much she loved it there. She felt that a small part of her heart was always there. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family, crocheting, learning about history, and listening to country music videos in tv. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; Earl and Ruth, a brother Bert; a sister Eleanor; her son Ray; and her husband Harold.

\Survivors in clude two daughters; Bonnie and husband Gary Meyer of Fort Peck; and Donna and her husband John Rorvik of Nashua; a son Randy Rees and wife Carolyn of Fort Peck; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren; four sister; Elise Belzer of Nashua; Jennie Kawasaki of Wolf Point; Ella Curtiss of Circle; and Cecil Loges of Vida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lawrence Barnard "Bill" Kemp

Lawrence Barnard "Bill" Kemp, age 75, passed away of cancer on Thursday, December 11 at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17 at the LDS Church in Glasgow. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery.Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Bill was born February 12, 1928 in Glasgow, the son of Roland and Marie Kemp. He was raised in Glasgow, left for a short period of time and returned to spend his adult life in his hometown. In April of 1946, Bill joined the Army. He was stationed in Japan after World War II. At the end of his tour of duty, he joined the Army Reserve. He was called back to active duty and served in Korea during the Korean War. On October 9, 1948, he married Evelyn Wagner in Circle, MT. They made their home in Glasgow. They have three children. Bill worked for many years at Newton Motors as a body man and painter in their auto body shop. In the early 1950's, he painted houses at Fort Peck and the Glasgow Air Force Base. Later he worked for Avoco and Tumpane at the base. In 1987, he retired from Valley View Home as their maintenance man. Always needing something to do, he became the maintenance man for the LDS churches in Glasgow, Wolf Point and Poplar. He fully retired in 2001. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and his grandchildren. He recently became involved in the raising of buffalo. Bill taught Hunter Safety classes to the majority of youngsters in Glasgow from 1962 until the mid 1980's. He was a very active member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Glasgow. He served as branch president, district president, and high priest leader. His favorite duty was working in the genealogy center at the chruch. Bill was a friend to many and enjoyed helping others. Many people have benefited from his knowledge of the outdoors and his everyday experiences during his lifetime. He was preceded in death by his father, Roland Kemp; mother, Marie Hitt, stepfather, Bob Hitt; one brother and one sister.

Survivors include: His wife, Evelyn Kemp; daughter and son-in-law Howard and Jennifer Reinhardt and their children, Stephanie Hollar and her husband Rett and their children, Tony Reinhardt and wife Alisa and their children, and Nathan Reinhardt; son and daughter-in-law Robert and Bonnie Kemp and their sons, Robert Jr. and Bryon Kemp; son and daughter-in-law Ronald and Margaret Kemp and their children, Michael Kemp and Wife Shelley, Natasha Kemp and son, Jeffery and Ronald Jr. Kemp. He has five great grandchildren.

Fredrick William Leader

Fredrick William Leader, age 77, passed away of natural causes Wednesday, December 3rd, 2003 at the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, MT. Services will be Monday, December 8th at 10a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Reverand Martin Mock officiating. Interment will be at the Nashua City Cemetary. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Fredrick was born September 14, 1926 in Archer, Montana to William & Sophia (Laverdure) Leader. Fred attended a one room school house in Archer and Redstone MT. until the 10th grade. He joined the Service in 1944 and served as an MP in the Pacific Theatre following WWII. He came back to Redstone and worked in the area up until his marriage. Fredrick married Vivian Frances LaFoy of Gray, Saskatchewan, Canada on October 24, 1953 at Big Beaver. They moved to Nashua in the fall of 1957 where they raised four children. Fred worked at the Grain Elevator in Nashua for 30 some years. Fred was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, the American Legion, Sons of Norway, Senior Citizens & the Lions Club. He was an active Justice of the Peace for many years also. Fred enjoyed taking care of his kids, grandkids, gardening and helping others through his carpentry work. He loved dedication his time to the community.

Survivors include: Children, Juanita Scott and Arlin of Oxnard, California; Rick and Doris Leader of Nashua; Julaine and Joey Reynen of Culbertson; Karleen and Scott Fossum of Glasgow; Brother; Leonard Leader of Malta; Sisters; Sami Bedwell of Aberdeen, SD.; Bernice Bensen and Agnes Wilson of Plentywood; 12 Grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; Joe Boyum, Kristine and her son Devin and Angela (Scott) Lopez and her daughter Samantha Lopez, Russell Leader, Curtis Leader, and Nicholas Leader, Jake Reynen, Janae Reynen, and Ashley Fossum, Shelby Fossum, Chase Fossum, and Keely Fossum.

Bernice Marie Nickels

Bernice Marie Nickels, 71, passed away at Billings Deaconess Hospital on December 3rd from natural causes. Services will be Monday, December 8th at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church at 2pm with Pastor Bruce Plummer officiating. Interment will be at the Nashua City Cemetery. Bell Mortuary in Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.

Bernice was born in Golden Valley, North Dakota. She came to the Fort Peck area at the age of 3, her father worked on the Fort Peck Dam Construction. She attended schools in Fort Peck and graduated from Nashua High School. She loved gardening, playing cards, cooking and baking, bowling and was a charter member of the Bad Land Biddies Homemakers Club. Bernice married on March 13, 1951 to Russell Nickels in Wolf Point.

Survivors include: husband, Rusty of Nashua; son, Kenny Nickels of Nashua; daughters, Penny Stephenson of Glasgow, Vicki Nickels of Denver, Terri Harper and Donald of Havre; brothers, Calvin Bunk of Glasgow, Allen Bunk of Nashua and Raymond Bunk of Mt. Vernon, Washington; 7 grandchildren, Mindy, Russell, Beau and Stephanie Stephenson, Travis Rorvik, Chelsea Harper and Sean Harper; numerous nieces and nephews.

 

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