KLTZ/MIX-93 January 2001 News

Obituaries

Long Run Responds To Dumpster Fire (1/31)

Crop Disaster Program Underway (1/30)

Stahl Wins Auctioneer Award (1/31)

Kitzenberg Looking For Support For Four-Lane Highway (1/30)

Train Derailment In Havre (1/30)

Sage Grouse Numbers Falling; Some Call For Federal Protection (1/29)

Highway Deaths Rising Again (1/29)

Fort Peck/Dry Water System Meeting Set For Monday Night In Glasgow (1/27)

EPAC To Sponsor Legislative Reception Tuesday (1/27)

Fair Board Receives Award (1/26)

Out-of-state Residents Rush To State For Special Deer Hunts (1/25)

DEQ Seeking More Money For Zortman-Landusky Mine Cleanup (1/25)

Kitzenberg Says Promoting Tax Credits Will Benefit The State (1/25)

Bicyclists Protest Bill That Would Require Riders To Face Traffic (1/25)

Chamber Banquet Set For Friday Night (1/24)

Bus Trip To Legislature Set To Encourage Education Fund Increase (1/24)

City Council Looks At Smoke-Free Proposal; New Police Car Arrives (1/24)

Five Area Projects Receive Valley County Community Foundation Funds (1/23)

Kitzenberg Highway Bill To Have Hearing February 1 (1/23)

FWP Warns Of Thin Ice Conditions (1/22)

Meeting on Highway 2 Project Set For February 1 (1/22)

Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament Full (1/19)

Legislative Update (1/17)

Senator, State Officials Clash Over $1.1 Billion Highway (1/16)

Valley Public Television board To Hold First Meeting On Tuesday (1/15)

Two Rivers Growth Meeting Set For January 22 (1/15)

Christmas Cash Program Grows in 2000 (1/15)

Chamber Banquet Set (1/15)

Governor's Cup Entries Filling Up; Management Planning Continues (1/10)

Four Lane Hearing Postponed (1/9)

British Columbia Man Still Not Found (1/8)

Change in License Use and End Date for Emergency Hunt in HD 640 & 641 (1/5)

Meeting On Highway 2 Improvements Set (1/5)

Legislative Update (1/4)

Kitzenberg Four Lane Garners Support (1/3)

Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks Region 6 News (1/2)

2001 Big Game Hunting Seasons To Be Discussed (1/2)

County Officials Sworn In (1/2)

Eleanor Pratt Retires From Valley County Commission (1/2)

Long Run Responds To Dumpster Fire (1/30)

Valley County Long Run Fire Department was called to a Dumpster fire Sunday night at the Valley County Landfill. The possible cause of this fire is hot ashes from a wood stove being dumped into the dumpster. Long Run responded with three trucks and 5 firefighters at 9.20 p.m. Long Run was called again the following morning for a flare up. The photo shows the hot contents after being dumped out of the container in the pit at the landfill. The department asks that you please put ashes in the proper place and only dump cold ashes.

The Farm Service Agency would like to remind producers that signup for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) began January 18, 2001 with a deadline to be announced at a later date. Producers are eligible for compensation for 2000 crop losses directly attributed to adverse weather and related conditions. All crops are eligible with the exception of grazing.

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

The following yields reflect the NASS county average yields that would be used for Valley County. These do not reflect the 35% loss calculation.

If you suffered a weather related loss on any other crop not listed here, or if you would like to sign up for the Crop Disaster Program, please contact your local Farm Service Agency at 228-4321.

Stahl Wins Auctioneer Award (1/31)

The Montana Auctioneers Association held its convention in Scobey this past Friday and Saturday. Sixty-Five Auctioneers attended. Special guests included the Current Past President of the National Auctioneer Association, John Roebuck from Memphis, Tennessee, and Past National President & Director Bob Penfield. Northern Ag Network’s Rick Haines was also a guest speaker.

On Friday night the Montana State Bid Calling Championship was held in the Old Scobey Gym. The first place Buckle went to Rick Stahl of Opheim. Rick is the Current Auctioneer for Glasgow Stockyards in Glasgow. Second place went to 21 year old Zane Burns of Manhattan, Montana. Third place went to Mike Heitman of Cut Bank. Items had been donated by area businesses for the bid calling championship benefit auction. Over $6,000 was raised to be divided by the Beacon Community Foundation and the Scobey Alumni Foundation.

The Montana Auctioneers Association promotes the auction method of marketing they provide continuing education to its members and promotes professionalism.

This is the second time the state convention has been held in Scobey in the last 4 years.

Rod Tande of Scobey is the President of the M. A. A. Current board members are Bob Miller of Helena, Shelby Nash Of Kalispell, Merton Musser of Billings, Shane Ophus of Big Sandy, Jason Slaobe of Lewistown and Mickey Lapp of Kalispell.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow is asking for support from Montana’s Hi-Line for SB 3. This bill would make US#2 a four lane highway across Montana’s Hi-Line.

Senator Kitzenberg told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that the plans to run a bus from Scobey down and across Highway #2, then to Helena have been scratched.

Senator Kitzenberg is asking supporters for "4 for 2" to drive to Helena on Thursday, February 1st and attend the hearing in room 317 at the state capitol. The hearing starts at 3:00 p.m. For more on the issue, visit Kitzenberg's website.

Train Derailment In Havre (1/30)

(Havre-AP) -- The main east-west rail line across northern Montana is blocked today, and some Amtrak passengers will travel by bus, after an early morning derailment at the B-N Santa Fe rail yard in Havre.

Fourteen rail cars, loaded with corn, went off the track just before 2 a-m.

Nobody was hurt; and what caused the derailment was not immediately known.

BN-S-F spokesman Gus Melonas, in Seattle, says the derailment damaged and blocked both of the main east-west tracks. The railroad was forced to detour other train traffic.

And the rail passenger service, Amtrak, will bus passengers between Malta and Shelby. Amtrak's "Empire Builder" uses the B-N-S-F tracks across the Hi-Line.

Melonas says crews are repairing and clearing the tracks, and hope to have at least one line open by early this evening.

The train, with four locomotives and 108 loaded grain cars, was leaving the west end of the Havre yard when the cars derailed.

(AP) Sage grouse numbers are falling across the West. The popular game bird does not have federal protection, but some people already refer to it as "the spotted owl of the prairie."

Mark Salvo is a lawyer for the American Lands Alliance. He says there are probably about 140-thousand birds left in the eleven Western states that support them, and most of those birds are in the sagebrush basins and flats of Montana and Wyoming. Salvo says 200 years ago, there were two (m) million sage grouse.

Chris Smith, of Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, is urging hunters, environmentalists and ranchers to work with government, to preserve the sage grouse and fend off listing.

Smith says granting federal protections won't necessarily protect any more birds; and it angers lawmakers, and shifts money from biologists in the field to lawyers in the courtroom.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Great Falls-AP) Despite dry weather, a full year with a numerical speed limit and improved roads, the number of people dying on Montana's roads went up in the year 2000. Two-hundred-thirty-five people were killed in car crashes. That's 15 more than the previous year, and Montana's third-highest number of fatalities in 16 years.

Former state senator Daryl Toews of Lustre says, with respect to limiting highway deaths, the numerical speed limit is an utter failure.

The chief of the Montana Highway Patrol -- Colonel Bert Obert -- disagrees.

Obert says it's too early to tell whether the speed limit is effective in reducing highway deaths. The patrol commander says an increase of 15 deaths is a lot, but it's not enough to identify a trend or to raise concern.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Dry Prairie Water Authority, Bureau of Reclamation, and State of Montana are sponsoring public meetings to describe the proposed Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water System and to solicit public concerns and questions about the project. These meetings are being held to satisfy public participation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Montana Environmental Policy Act. Information from these meetings will be used to determine issues that need to be addressed in the Environmental Assessment being prepared for the project. The Environmental Assessment will be available for public review in the summer of 2001.

Public meetings will be held in:
Culbertson on January 24th, 7pm at Town Hall
Poplar on January 25th, 2pm at the Spotted Bull Treatment Center and at 6pm in the Tribal Council Chambers
Glasgow on Monday, January 29th, at 7pm at the Valley County Courthouse
Plentywood on Tuesday, January 30th, 7pm at the City Hall
Scobey on Wednesday, January 31st, 7pm at the Daniels County Courthouse.

A legislative reception will be hosted in Helena on Tuesday evening by Ethanol Producers and Consumers. The reception will be held at the Colonial Inn, beginning at 5:30 and will feature a light buffet. In addition, foods made with distillers grains, a valuable coproduct in the ethanol process, will be presented. EPAC is a non-profit organization with members involved in education about ethanol production and use.

Two flexible fueled vehicles will be on display at the reception, including EPAC's ethanol powered Ford Taurus and former Governor Tim Babcock's Ford Ranger pickup. The Flexible Fueled Vehicles can run on a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gas, or lesser blends, down to straight gas if the blended fuel is not available. The vehicles and the E-85 fuel qualify as alternatives in the laws created by the Clean Air Act and the Energy Policy Act.

The reception is sponsored by EPAC, Agri Technology, Minnesota Corn Processors, Capital Motors, and Ford Motor Company.

There will be a quarterly meeting of tee EPAC Board of Directors on Tuesday afternoon, beginning at 1pm in the room of the Colonial Inn. Speaker at the meeting will be Jim Evanoff, of the National Park Service, who will update the EPAC members about the use of ethanol in Yellowstone Park. Ethanol, blended at 10% with gasoline, is used in Park snowmobiles and vehicles, and in the spring the park will offer the ethanol blended fueled in service stations in the park. The fuel, sometimes known as gasohol or E-10, is fully warranted by all automobile manufacturers and has been for many years. EPAC will work with Evanoff and the park to publicize the fuel's environmental benefits to customers by hosting open house events in June at service stations in the park.

EPAC Board of Directors include Shirley Ball, Nashua, President; Tim Babcock, Helena, Vice President; Gary Schaff, Sidney, Second Vice President; Linda Neilsen, Nashua, Secretary/Treasurer; Tom Kryzer, Billings; Wanda Zuroff, Richey; Ada Weeding, Jordan; Mike Allen, Helena; Stan Ozark, Glasgow; Steve Boise, Emigrant; Jim Glancey, Boise, Idaho; Mark Luitjens, Aberdeen, South Dakota; Dan Thompson, Marshall, Minnesota. For further info, please call EPAC at 406-785-3722, or visit their website at http://www.ethanolmt.org.

The Glasgow Rodeo Committee received an award for improvements to the rodeo arena at the Valley County Fairgrounds. The Northeast Montana Fair and Rodeo received the most improved ground for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit. The presentation was January 13 at the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals, Great Falls, Montana.

Out-of-state Residents Rush To State For Special Deer Hunts (1/25)
(Powderville-AP)

Drawn by an abundance of low-priced permits, hunters from across the nation have flocked to the eastern Montana prairie over the past month, for late-season deer hunts. The "damage" hunts were established by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to thin whitetail and mule deer herds, depleting haystacks on farms and ranches.

The agency issued two-thousand permits for damage hunts, on a number of ranches in two districts along the North Dakota border.

The price for a permit was cut from 75 to 15 dollars, to encourage more non-residents. The state wildlife commission also allowed out-of-state hunters more than one tag each. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

DEQ Seeking More Money For Zortman-Landusky Mine Cleanup (1/25)

(Helena-AP) -- State environmental officials are asking for one-point-two (m) million dollars in state grants, to help clean up the defunct Zortman-Landusky gold mine, south of Malta. And they might need at least another one-and-a-half (m) million in the coming years, to finance a water-treatment system at the mine site.

A legislative budget panel may act on the request today -- but not before asking federal land agencies whether they plan to help pay for the cleanup.

When the mine's owner went bankrupt in 1998, the company forfeited 30 (m) million dollars in reclamation bonds.

The state grants would pay mostly for work over and above the cleanup, that's being bankrolled by that 30 (m) million. The U-S Bureau of Land Management has been helping pay the cost overruns for the past couple of years, but a state official says the agency might not have the funds to keep doing that. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Helena-AP) -- A Glasgow lawmaker says tax breaks for businesses who buy new equipment will be a boon to Montana's economy.

Republican Senator Sam Kitzenberg is sponsoring Senate Bill 43, which is patterned after an Idaho law. The measure would allow businesses and individuals to claim a tax credit of three percent of their investment in business machinery or equipment. The credit would be available for new and existing businesses.

A governor's budget office estimate says his bill would cost the state over 17 (m) million a year in revenue.

But Kitzenberg says the taxes from jobs spawned by the bill would recoup any money lost by the tax credit. He says the bill creates a rippling effect. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Helena-AP) -- Bicyclists attended a legislative committee Wednesday to protest a bill that would require them to ride against traffic when outside city limits.

Republican Representative Jeff Pattison of Glasgow is sponsoring House Bill 212. He says the traffic death of a cyclist friend motivated him to sponsor the measure.

Phil Smith is the coordinator of the city bicycle-pedestrian program in Missoula. He opposes the bill, saying it creates a high-hazard mess that no one would really like. Smith says the bill presents a host of dangers, including the risk that cyclists would enter the paths of oncoming cars.

Critics also say the bill would invite questions about city boundaries, and that interstate cyclists would be confused by Montana's unique rule.

The committee did not act on the bill. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Chamber Banquet Set For Friday Night (1/24)

The Glasgow Chamber will be hosting their Annual Banquet and Casino Night this Friday evening at the Cottonwood Inn. A no-host social begins at 6pm and dinner will be served at 7pm.

The Chamber will also be hosting a casino night from 8:30pm until 10:pm as a fundraiser for chamber activities.

The Chamber will also be honoring past directors and giving awards for the Presidents Choice Award, the Del Strommen Ag Person of the Year Award and Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award will be given by the Valley County Conservation District.

Tickets are $15 per person and may be obtained at the Chamber office.

Bus Trip To Legislature Set To Encourage Education Fund Increase (1/24)

The Glasgow School Board plans to take a bus to Helena on February 9th to attend a legislative forum in Helena. This forum will encourage the Montana Legislature to increase funding for education in the state. Glasgow is one of many school districts in the state that are struggling with declining enrollments and declining budgets.

The school has 41 fewer students this year which translates into $161,000 less in state funding for next year.

District Superintendent Glen Monson is hoping for alot of people from area schools to attend the legislative forum on February 9th.

The bus will make the trip in one day.

City Council Looks At Smoke-Free Proposal; New Police Car Arrives (1/24)

The Glasgow City Council has agreed to consider the possibility of making the Glasgow Civic Center smoke free.

A delegation representing the Valley County Tobacco Prevention Coalition appeared before the council and asked that the council agree to a smoke free facility. Bob Farrell, the spokesman for the group, noted that the post office, schools, courthouse and hospital are all smoke free at this time. Farrell asked if not the whole facility, at least the council chambers be made smoke free. There are two fans in the room but they exhaust into the gym, not outside.

The council agreed to take up the matter at a later date.

Police Chief Lynn Erickson told the council that the new police car has arrived. This car will replace the car that was damaged in an automobile accident November 14th of last year. The car is a used vehicle purchased from Weber County, Utah and money for the vehicle came from the city capital projects fund.

The council also accepted the resignation of Mary Skordinsky from the recreation board because she will be moving. Her term ends April 18, 2001.

Five Area Projects Receive Valley County Community Foundation Funds (1/23)

Five projects in Valley County received funding assistance from the Valley County Community Foundation, announced Sam Waters of Glasgow, chairperson of the organization's grants committee. Recipients were honored during an information reception hosted January 15 at the Parish Center of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Glasgow. The total amount of the gifts was $4,874.00.

In presenting the awards, Waters commended the organizations for the positive impact of their efforts. "Your work touches many lives and we're happy to help with funding," he said.

The following projects received gifts:
· Valley County 4-H: $985.00 for use in support of a weeklong summer day camp based on the Lewis & Clark era. Scheduled this June, the camp is open to all Valley County youth in grades five, six and seven.
· Glasgow Ministerial Association: $1,000.00 to help purchase food for the Helping Hands Soup Kitchen, which provides a hot meal once a week to Valley County residents.
· Head Start/Action for Eastern Montana: $1,000.00 to help restructure and remodel the playground and to purchase items for the classroom.
· Valley County Transit: $1,000.00 to assist with purchase of a new, 21-passenger, wheelchair accessible bus.
· Long Run Fire Department/Valley County Commissioners pledged $889.00 toward purchase of a tanker truck to transport water to fires.

The Valley County Community Foundation is the community's savings account, Waters explained. The endowment is invested in perpetuity. Annual earnings are used to fund worthy projects in Valley County in five areas of life: arts and culture, basic human needs, economic development, education and natural resources and conservation.

The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization, entrusted with investments held locally, and those with the statewide Montana Community Foundation. Grants are awarded annually in the fall, and applications are available each summer. For more information, contact Waters at 228-8231.

	Grants from the Valley County Community Foundation will help the people of Valley County by purchasing food and a wheelchair accessible bus. Grants of $1,000.00 each were awarded to the Helping Hands Soup Kitchen/Glasgow Ministerial Association, represented by Patty and Jim Lambert, and Valley County Transit , represented by Colleen Pankratz. Foundation representatives pictured in the back are, Chairwoman Cynthia Markle, Treasurer Jim Smrcka, and Director Jim Rector, all of Glasgow.
	Earnings from the Valley County Community Foundation endowment were awarded in the form of grants on Jan. 15. Accepting grants were, from left, Jake Newton, and Josh and Janice Dix, 4-H summer camp on Lewis & Clark; Valley County Commissioner Marlene Erickson, seated center, $889 pledged for the Long Run Fire Department tanker truck; and Colleen Thompson of Head Start, $1,000.00 for playground renovation and classroom supplies. Sam Waters of Glasgow and Jean Dreikosen of Hinsdale, back center and right, are directors for the Valley County Community Foundation. Waters chairs the grants committee.
	Early in January, the Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum, Inc. received a check for $994 from the Montana Community Foundation. Cynthia Markle, left, presents the check to Interpretive Center board members Amy Heikens, David Gregory and Larry Mires. It will be used for routine operations of the field station in Fort Peck. Funding for the grant came from the regional development fund of the Missouri River Region. Markle is a regional representative with MCF. The presentation was made during a meeting with Bill Pratt and Marilyn Daumiller, who work with the MCF in Helena. Many local foundations affiliated with MCF were on hand for the meeting. The agenda included updates on legislative needs and information on grant opportunities and procedures.

Kitzenberg Highway Bill To Have Hearing February 1 (1/23)

SB 3 (4 for US 2) will be heard before the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee on Thursday, February 1, 2001, in the Capitol, Room 317A, at 3:00pm.

Kitzenberg's bill would order the Montana Highway Commission to construct a four-lane highway along the route of U.S. Highway #2 from the North Dakota border to the Idaho border in order to increase tourism and to bring economic development to Montana. The bill asks the commission to complete the project in phases over the next 20-30 years. According to Kitzenberg the Montana Department of Transportation seems opposed suggesting the need for highway money is greater elsewhere, and the population on the hi-line doesn't warrant a 4 lane highway.

If you would like to offer support for the bill, e-mail Kitzenberg at sam@kitzenberg.net

Kitzenberg has also released his latest Legislative newsletter, available at http://www.kitzenberg.net

FWP Warns Of Thin Ice Conditions (1/22)

(Helena-AP) -- State wildlife officials say Montanans should pay attention to ice conditions on state reservoirs.

Officials say Fort Peck Reservoir and Lake Francis near Valier have already swallowed a couple of pickup trucks this winter.

F-W-P Warden Jim Conner says Fort Peck Reservoir can be particularly dangerous because of currents, which can create unexpected thin spots.

Conner says although there's a lot of thick ice, there are still some thin areas and people have to be careful.

Officials say ice thickness depends on currents, inflows from streams, water depth, weather, springs and other factors.

F-W-P authorities suggest checking ice thickness with a spud bar before walking onto a frozen lake.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Montana Department of Transportation is conducting a public meeting to discuss reconstruction of a portion of U.S. Highway 2 in Valley County. The proposed project is located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, beginning approximately 17.4 miles west of Wolf Point, proceeding east approximately 8 miles to the Valley County/Roosevelt County line.

The meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday, February 1st, at the Sherman Inn, 200 East Main Street in Wolf Point. The proposed reconstruction will include widening an resurfacing the roadway, some straightening of curves, buildingn left turn lanes and possibly a right turn lane at the Oswego intersection, and new signing and striping. There will also be new approach guardrails on both sides of the Oswego Street Bridge, and installation of rumble strips along the shoulder throughout the entire project. Some new right-of-way will be required.

For more information or to comment on this proposal, contact Bill McChesney, District Administrator, P.O. Box 890, Glendive, Montana, 59330-0890, or phone 406-377-5296 or 888-689-5296.

Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament Full (1/19)

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture announced Wednesday the 14th annual Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament is now full at 200 teams. This is the earliest date that the tournament has been filled.

A waiting list has now been started and if you would like to be on that list call the Chamber at 228-2222.

The Governors Cup is set for July 12th, 13th and 14th on Fort Peck Lake.

Legislative Update (1/17)

While most attention has been given to State Senator Sam Kitzenberg and the legislation that he is sponsoring at the Montana Legislature, Northeast Montanas other legislators are putting forth legislation as well.

State Representative Jeff Pattison has introduced House Bill 212 which would require bicyclists to ride against the flow of traffic when riding outside the limits of an incorporated or unincorporated city or town.

A hearing on this bill is set for January 24th at 3pm in front of the House Transportation Committee.

Meanwhile Senator Kitzenberg's bill that would provide an investment tax credit for Montana businesses is set for a hearing on January 24th in front of the Senate Taxation committee. This bill is similar to a bill that is in effect in Idaho and it provides a 3 percent tax credit for new investments made in the state. Kitzenberg has introduced this bill that past three legislative sessions without sucesss. Also, you can access Kitzenberg's second newsletter of the session at his website: http://www.kitzenberg.net

Senator, State Officials Clash Over $1.1 Billion Highway (1/16)

(AP) State Senator Sam Kitzenberg gets angry, when state transportation officials tell him there is no need to make U-S Two a four-lane highway across the Montana Hi-Line.

Transportation officials cite the lack of population, and lack of traffic, saying it's impossible to justify Kitzenberg's project, which would cost about one-point-one (b) billion dollars over 20 years.

For Kitzenberg, and his supporters, the notion of a bigger, better 700-mile thoroughfare across Montana's northern tier is a highway of hope. They see the project -- stretching from the North Dakota border to the Idaho state line -- as a first step toward reviving an economically depressed area.

There's also the notion of fairness. Kitzenberg says people who drive the Hi-Line are just as deserving of a safe road as others. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Valley Public Television board will have its first program scheduling meeting on January 16, 2001, at 6 pm at the Glasgow High School. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

There are currently six board positions: one position each from the Glasgow, Nashua and Hinsdale High Schools, one position that covers all of the students of Valley County and two positions that represent the remainder of Valley County.

This first meeting will be important in shaping the identity and future of this powerful educational and community support system.

The volunteer members of Two Rivers Growth, your local economic development nonprofit organization, encourage you to attend the annual meeting.

It will be held on January 22, 2001.

The meeting will start with lunch at 12 noon at the Elks Club. We need your input and support to continue to work on the projects and issues important to the growth and well-being of our community.

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture had a successful Christmas Cash Promotion this past holiday season. According to figures released by the Chamber, the five local banks loaned out $164,247 during the Christmas shopping season. This is an increase of $20,869 from 1999.

The Christmas Cash program allows local shoppers to borrow up to $1000 from local lending institutions for their holiday shopping but the money must be spent locally.

The Annual Chamber Banquet and Casino Night is set for Friday, January 26th at the Cottonwood Inn. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the Chamber office. The social hour begins at 6pm with the dinner at 7pm and the Casino Night begins at 8:30pm.

Governor's Cup Entries Filling Up; Management Planning Continues (1/10)

It's seven months away but the 14th annual Montana Governors Cup Walleye Tournament is nearing capacity, as 175 entries have been accepted as of Tuesday. Last year the Montana Governors Cup was full as of February 1st, so it looks to be another record-setting pace as far as getting entrants into the 200 limit tournament.

The tournament takes place on Fort Peck Reservoir July 12, 13, 14. Applications for the tournament are available at the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture or by calling the Chamber at 406-228-2222.

In a related fishing note...work continues on the Fort Peck Lake management plan being put together by the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks. Fisheries Head Bill Wiedenheft told Kltz/Mix 93 News, that the scoping meetings are now complete and work is being done on a draft plan. Written comments will still be accepted through the end of this week for the draft plan.

Wiedenheft said the main concern at the scoping meetings was tournament fishing on the lake. Last year controversy brewed during the Professional Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck when many thought the mortality rate was too high when the fisherman had to bring their walleye into the marina to be weighed and then they were released.

Wiedenheft said that this will be addressed in the new managment plan as will the number of tournaments on the lake. The draft plan should be released within the next couple of months with the final plan ready by September.

Four Lane Hearing Postponed (1/9)

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg's bill that would force the Montana Highway Department to make U.S. Highway #2 a four lane highway was scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday but the hearing was cancelled and will be held at a later date.

Kitzenberg's bill would order the Montana Highway Commission to construct a four-lane highway along the route of U.S. Highway #2 from the North Dakota border to the Idaho border in order to increase tourism and to bring economic development to Montana. The bill asks the commission to complete the project in phases over the next 20-30 years. According to Kitzenberg the Montana Department of Transportation seems opposed suggesting the need for highway money is greater elsewhere, and the population on the hi-line doesn't warrant a 4 lane highway.

According to a fiscal note put together by Legislative Services states that an environmental impact statement would have to be completed before construction could begin and a conservative estimate on an EIS would be $3 million dollars over a three year period. The fiscal note also estimates that the state would spend $1.13 billion dollars to construct the highway over the life of the project. A maintenance startup program would cost $5,390,857 and the total annual cost, for the maintenance program would be approximately $3.5 million per year.

BRITISH COLUMBIA MAN STILL NOT FOUND (1/8)

Searchers have found no trace of 61-year-old Philip Pugliese, a British Columbia man who was last seen on December 29th in Malta.

Canadian and Montana law enforcement agencies say there have been no reported sightings of him or his car, a 1995 teal-colored Saturn. Pugliese was headed home to Kelowna, British Columbia, after delivering a vehicle at a Malta car dealership.

On Friday, two people reported seeing two men driving a teal Saturn in Browning, but the license plates were covered with mud, so the car couldn't be confirmed as Pugliese's. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Change in License Use and End Date for Emergency Hunt in HD 640 & 641 (1/5)

Emergency game damage white-tailed deer hunt in hunting districts 640 and 641 has been extended until January 28, 2001. Also, any remaining surplus licenses purchased can be used in either district. This means if you have a surplus license for 640 you may use it in 641 and vice versa.

The department has issued a total of 2,000 tags for these two districts and feels the problem has improved. License agents have a list of landowners that have experienced game damage and the district they reside in. Please contact these ranches before venturing out.

Meeting On Highway 2 Improvements Set (1/5)

The Montana Department of Transportation is conducting a public meeting to discuss reconstruction of a portion of U.S. Highway 2 in Glasgow. The meeting will take place in the Community Room of the Valley County Courthouse at 7pm on Wednesday, January 31.

The proposed project will replace the existing surface of the highway beginning just north of the intersection with 13th Avenue North and ending just east of the intersection with Montana Highway 24. The total length of the project will be 3.16 miles.

This section has experienced severe rutting and distortion, which causes poor water drainage and affects driver safety. Proposed improvements will be to replace the existing surface beginning east of Seventh Street and ending past the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and Sixth Street with Portland Cement Concrete Pavement.

This section has experienced the worst rutting despite repeated maintenance treatments. The remainder of the project will be paved with asphalt. Damaged curb and gutters will also be replaced as necessary, and accessible curb ramps for pedestrians will be installed at all intersections. Existing ramps will be evaluated for compliance and may be left in place. No new Right-of-way will be required.

For more information or to comment on this proposal, please contact Bill McChesney, District Administrator, P.O. Box 809, Glendive, Montana, 59330-0890 or telephone 406-377-5296 or 888-689-5296. To arrange special accomodations for persons with disabilities, call the MDT at 888-689-5296 or TTY at 800-335-7592.

Legislative Update (1/4)

The Montana Legislature began their 90 day session yesterday but most of the heavy lifting won't begin until next week.

Because of term limits northeast Montana has several new members of the Montana Legislature but it seems most of them have very good committee assignments.

Freshman Representative Karl Waitchies will serve on the Taxation, Transportation, and Agriculture Committees. Waitchies has yet to introduce any legislation to be considered by the Legislature.

Freshman Representative Jeff Pattison will serve on the important Appropriations Committee and has introduced two pieces of legislation. One bill would require bicyclists to ride against traffic when riding outside city limits and the other bill would eliminate the state fuel tax on ethanol.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg is a veteran of the Montana Legislature but will be a newcomer to the State Senate and will serve on the Highways and Transportation, Business and Labor and Education and Cultural Resources Committees.
Kitzenberg has introduced several pieces of legislation including requiring the state to build a 4 lane highway from the North Dakota border to Troy, Montana. He has also introduced bills that would implement a statewide teaching salary schedule and another bill that would offer loan repayment assistance for teachers teaching in Montana.

Kitzenberg Four Lane Garners Support (1/3)

(Williston, North Dakota-AP) A Montana state senator is introducing legislation, to expand U-S Highway Two to four lanes. And city commissioners in Williston, North Dakota -- also on Highway Two -- are sending a letter of support for Senator Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow.

Williston officials say a four-lane highway would make the road safer, and would help bring in more jobs.

Kitzenberg says the project is long overdue in Montana. He estimates the cost at about 733 (m) million-dollars, over a 700-mile stretch of road.

Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks Region 6 News (1/2)

WILDLIFE DIVISION
Region 6
Data obtained for this year’s big game season at the Havre check station has suggested a quality year for Region 6. With cooler temperatures and some early snow cover, hunter success and harvest was up from last year.

The total number of mule deer passing through suggested a 22% increase from last year. Hunter numbers were relatively the same as 1999, but hunter success increased 60%. Hunters out looking for a trophy buck were more successful this year and most reported seeing more total mule deer as well as a larger number of bucks throughout most of Region 6. Negative comments were expressed in hunting district 652 as they felt they had seen very few trophy deer.

The number of hunters searching for white-tailed deer increased 17% from 1999. But the total number of white-tailed deer harvested increased 77%, probably from the large numbers of antlerless licenses available. The harvest of antlerless white-tailed deer more than doubled from last year. Most hunters reported observing large numbers of whitetails with good numbers of large bucks.

Antelope harvest for 2000 increased by only 8% from the previous year. Antelope hunters increased 16% from increased permits issued this year. An overall success rate of 77% was reported on the harvest of antelope for 2000.

Region 6 – Havre Check Station 2000 Totals
YEAR # OF HUNTERS # OF BUCKS # OF DOE/FAWN TOTAL

MULE DEER
1999 502 204 46 250
2000 514 252 53 305

WHITE-TAILED DEER
1999 281 78 73 151
2000 325 110 157 267

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE
1999 438 288 75 363

2000 508 295 97 392
Glasgow
On December 11th a meeting was held with the North Valley Elk Working Group. Discussed was the Hunting District 670 Elk Management Plan. The goal for this hunting district is for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, area landowners and hunters to cooperatively manage the elk herd in this hunting district to minimize negative impacts to private property.

Of the 25 hunters receiving permits for elk this season, 15 harvested elk were recorded. Thirteen of the 15 hunters successfully harvested bulls. Hunters in the area reported no problems with obtaining access or conflicts with other hunters. In the meeting it was decided that the one-year experimental season would be continued next season. Also, the number of either sex tags will increase from 25 to 35 for the upcoming 2001 season.

Malta
Region 6 has an active private lands habitat program. In the past FWP has worked on a variety of projects including constructing and repairing reservoirs, restoring drained wetlands, establishing rest-rotation grazing systems, and purchasing conservation easements. The common goal of all these projects is to enhance or protect wildlife habitat while also benefiting the landowner. For instance, our grazing systems are developed using funds from the Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement program.

This program pays for water developments, fencing, and many other improvements necessary for establishing rest rotation grazing. A variety of wildlife benefits by improving range condition and productivity, improving nesting and winter cover, and keeping the grasslands intact. The landowners also benefit by receiving improvements on their property, and improved range management that can eventually result in increased stocking rates and higher shipping weights. This program can be especially helpful to those interested in converting their expired CRP acres into grazing land. If you are interested in improving your range or any other habitat development projects, please call the Glasgow FWP office and they can direct who to call in your area.
Hinsdale

Trapping of swift fox began in mid November north of Havre. The operation is moving east, trapping selected townships between the Canadian border and the Milk River. Six live traps are set per township and checked for three nights. To date, twelve townships have been completed. Traps were set at five additional townships for two nights before the weather became too cold. If the temperature drops below 0 F, trapping ceases as the fox will begin take cover. So far twelve different swift fox have been trapped. One adult male had been previously marked and its history is unknown. The rest of the trapped fox were born in the wild. The foxes were all trapped north of Chinook. The purpose of the trapping is to get a handle on the population of swift fox in our area. The swift fox was believed to be very limited until new populations were introduced in Canada and have since moved back into the area. The swift fox is a furbear, but has no open season. If anyone accidentally possesses a swift fox, you are asked to call or bring it into the nearest Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office.

FISHERIES DIVISION
Glasgow

The Fort Peck Fisheries Management Plan is currently being revised. Public scoping meetings were held in Wolf Point, Havre, Glasgow, Glendive, Miles City and Billings. The purpose of the open meetings is to get input from the public on issues covered by the management plan on Fort Peck Lake.

The turnout for most of the meetings was small, except for the Billings and Glasgow meetings. Interested fishermen provided numerous comments that were thoroughly discussed and recorded. The main concern seems to be the format of tournaments held on the lake. The advisory committee will review all comments in January and decide how they will be addressed in the new management plan. The goal is to have a new management plan adopted by September of next year. If you were unable to attend any of the meetings and would like to comment, it’s not too late. Address your concern by written letter to: Bill Wiedenheft, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Rt. 1-4210, Glasgow, Montana, 59230 or e-mailed to anjohnson@state.mt.us.

Havre
FWP and the BLM teamed up this winter on a cooperative project to "resurrect" nine marginal fish reservoirs and develop sustainable fisheries previously limited by low dissolved winter oxygen levels. The project involved the installation of wind powered aeration pumps. The windmills were purchased and installed using cost share funds from the BLM and Future Fisheries Improvement Program dollars from FWP. The reservoirs are located in Blaine and Phillips Counties and will be stocked with fish in the spring of 2001. Oxygen levels and fish survival will be monitored over the next few years to evaluate the success of this endeavor. Updates will be available in a year.

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
Glasgow

Now that the traditional final day of big game season has come and gone, hunters in the region are cleaning rifles and storing them for the winter. Not so fast! Put down those Christmas lights and head for the northeast corner of the region. On December 6th, a late season damage hunt for antlerless white-tailed deer in hunting districts 640 and 641 began. This special hunt will continue until January 14th. Region Six wardens will no doubt be busy in the area assisting hunters as well as landowners with the problems associated with game damage.
We experienced some problems near the end of the season with a few “people” I refuse to call sportsmen. These “people” were shooting deer from the road and leaving them to rot. Anyone who has information concerning this behavior is encouraged to call out TIP-MONT hot line. You are eligible for a cash reward and may remain anonymous. Just think, turn in a poacher, get Christmas cash, buy yourself a new rifle, and help us remove an undesirable element from our sport.

Ice fishing is getting off to a great start this year, with some excellent fish being taken locally. Be careful with the ice conditions! Colder weather creates good ice, but there is no replacement for good judgement.

Applications for floating the Smith River have arrived and are available at either the Glasgow or Harve Area Office.

DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT

Glasgow

Check at R6 Headquarters in Glasgow for availability of Surplus Tundra Swan permits - season goes through Jan 4, 2001.

Other items of interest available over our counter are county fishing maps, which include reservoir locations and fish species planted or status, for Valley, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Sheridan, Daniels, Roosevelt and Richland Counties. Just in time for ice fishing season!

Items for sale over our counter includes: Greeting cards - Sun River Challenge greeting cards by Larry Zabel, 10 for $10, these would work to send as Christmas cards both to or from elk enthusiasts; and the just published, Montana Big Game Trophy Book, 12th edition, priced at only $5.00.

We invite you to stop out for a browse in our lobby and check out the numerous brochures about Montana and its recreational opportunities. Also check out our various mounted wildlife and fish displays!

REGION 6 SUPERVISOR

Glasgow
Interviewing will begin at the end of this month for a parks manager and a pallid sturgeon biologist position. The parks manager position is a new position for Region 6. This new employee will began exploring locations for state parks in the region, be involved in pending fishing access sites, and assume duties for other operations that Region 4 and 7 were contributing to our region.

The pallid sturgeon biologist position is open due to the retirement of Jim Liebelt. The biologist position will be stationed at Fort Peck and will continue research on the pallid sturgeon below the dam. New employees will be on staff by late January or early February.

The emergency game damage hunt in the hunting districts 640 and 641 could cause a redirection of effort from all divisions if the weather in the area does not provide any relief. Problems still exist with wildlife and landowners in the area. Hunting districts 640 and 641 are located in the north east corner of Montana.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Glasgow

The proposed youth fishing pond to be located at Sullivan Park in Glasgow is progressing. The approximately _ acre pond has been tentatively staked east of Bill Connors Field. A group of community members applied for a $10,000 CTAP grant in December to help with projects to be built in coordination with the pond. The pond will provide an excellent opportunity for youth to catch fish and the MFWP to conduct fishing clinics. Volunteer angler education instructors will be needed to conduct the educational clinics. Please consider becoming a volunteer instructor as it will be necessary for the success of the program. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer angler education instructor, please contact the Glasgow office at 228-3700.

Students from Opheim, Hinsdale, and Glasgow are learning about prairie mule deer. Fifty mule deer in the Bitter Creek Area have been collared and are being tracked during the four-year study by wildlife biologist Pat Gunderson. A curriculum was drawn up to involve the students in coordinating locations of the deer in that area. The Bitter Creek area is flown twice a month during the winter months and once during the summer months. Deer are located by GPS coordinates and recorded. Each student has the responsibility of one deer and its location during the school year. Students learned of mule deer biology this month and continued to track it deer on their maps. The program will visit each school approximately every month to educate students on mule deer in our area. January’s visit will focus on how the trapping of the deer took place and their summer habitat. We would like to thank the BLM for donating maps for the school project that are being used by all the students.

Don’t forget about the Eastern Montana Sportsman Report airing on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. on KLTZ. Stan Ozark presents a variety of programs relative to activities in the region. Previous programs included: Fort Peck Fish Hatchery, Big Game Season, 2000 Walleye Fingerling and Fry Plants, Tip-Mont, and Black-Footed Ferret Recovery. Upcoming shows include: Game Damage, Nelson Reservoir, Fresno Reservoir, Status of the Cisco on Fort Peck, Forage Fish on Fort Peck, and Region 6 Park Manager.

Many hunter education and bow hunter education classes were offered this fall with great success. Volunteer instructors throughout the region teach the classes. Their time and commitment is very appreciated. A regional hunter education workshop is set for March 24, 2000. Current hunter education instructors will be contacted when the specifics are finalized. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer instructor, please call the Glasgow office at 228-3700.

A survey to license agents in the region was distributed to see if improvements could be made to help them with license sales and communication with the department. The results of the survey suggested a good overall evaluation of the department with areas that need improvement. The department will address the areas of concern and work to improve them. Also, bulletin boards will be distributed to agents within the region that suggested a need for them. The bulletin boards, made of oak with the MFWP symbol, will provide a location to post news releases for customers to review.

We will see you all next year. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

2001 Big Game Hunting Seasons To Be Discussed (1/2)

Public meetings regarding the 2001 Big Game Tentative Regulations in Region 6 will be held in three communities in northeastern Montana. You can obtain a copy to review at the Glasgow and Havre area offices later this week. Copies of the 2001 Big Game Tentative Regulations will also be available at the meeting sites.

If you are unable to attend any of the meetings and have a concern, direct it to the regional office. Written comments may be sent to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Attention: Big Game Tentative Regulations, Rt. 1-4210, Glasgow, MT 59230. All written comments must be received by January 20,2001

The meetings are set at the following locations:
City Date Location Time
Glasgow January 16 Cottonwoood Inn 6 – 9 p.m.
Malta January 17 First Interstate Bank 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Havre January 18 Duck Inn 7 – 9 p.m.

County Officials Sworn In (1/2)
District Court Judge John Mckeon swore in the newly elected office holders for Valley County on Tuesday morning at the Valley County Courthouse. Sworn in were Ron Gilbertson who will be replacing Eleanor Pratt as a new Valley County Commissioner, Pat Hill who was re-elected as Valley County Clerk of Court and Edith Scott the new Valley County Superintendent of Schools/Assessor.

Eleanor Pratt Retires From Valley County Commission (1/2)

Eleanor Pratt officially retired from the position of Valley County Commissioner on Friday in a ceremony at the Valley County Courthouse. Pratt served 12 years as a commissioner before deciding not to run for another six year term earlier this year.

Pratt who has served as the chairman of the commission for the past two years handed over the keys to the courthouse to the new chairman Marlene Erickson and also received a gift of a painting of the courthouse as a retirement gift.

Ron Gilbertson, the incoming commissioner will be sworn in at a ceremony on Tuesday morning at 9:30am.

Ruth Johnson, 90, died of natural causes on Friday, January 26th at Valley
View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Monday, January 29th at 9am
at the Evangelical Church in Glasgow with Reverend Jay Ashbaucher
officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge
of arrangements.

She was born in 1910 in Springfield, Illinois. Ruth began taking piano
lessons at age 7 and by age 11 was playing for church services. She was also
an accomplished classical pianist. It was through a mutual interest in music
that she met her future husband, Paul Johnson, as they both participated in
church orchestra. They were married in 1932 and for over 27 years they
served the Lord traveling throughout the United States and Canada as musical
evangelists. Paul was a tenor soloist and violinist. He also played the
accordion, guitar and saxophone. Along with piano, Ruth played the organ,
accordion and vibraharp.

In 1974 they moved to Glasgow where their daughter and family lived. They
continued to be active in music at the Evangelical Church and elsewhere. In
1995 Ruth moved to Nemont Manor in Glasgow and continued to play piano at
various functions at the manor as well as her church. She was preceded in
death by her parents and husband Paul, in 1993.

Survivors include 1 daughter, Marilyn Schmitt and her husband Erwin of
Glasgow; 1 grand daughter, Krista, and 1 great grand daughter, Savannah, of
Billings; 1 brother in law and 1 sister in law in Louisiana, and nieces and
nephews. Memorials may be sent to Gideons International and KXEI radio in
Havre, Montana.

V.C. "Bill" Jackson

V.C. Bill Jackson, 91, died of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow on January 24th. Services will be held on Monday, January 29th at 11am at Bell Chapel, with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

V.C. Was born in a small town in Oklahoma in 1901. He was raised in Wyoming and married Genevieve Searles in Wheatland, Wyoming, in 1929. He worked in flour mills in Wyoming and Colorado and was an essential worker in flourmills during World War II. In 1949 he moved to Glasgow to work in the flour mill and his family followed later. After the mill closed, he was employed by Great Northern Railroad in the roundhouse and later at First Community Bank as a janitor. In the early 1960's, he built his cabin at Fort Peck Lake, where he resided and was a self-employed contractor and jack-of-all trades. Due to ill health, he moved to his home in Glasgow in 1994. V.C. Loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He also enjoyed woodworking and was known for his birdhouse condos. His most favorite pastime was visiting and telling detailed stories to his many friends and anyone else who would listen.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jenny Jackson; his sons, Melvin ad his wife Marlene of Glasgow, Bob and his wife Kay of Glasgow; his daughter, Barb Cotes of Arkansas; 1 brother, Marvin Jackson and his wife Ethel of Florida; 7 grandchildren, including "his girls" Dee Dee Franzen and Jill Sanders of Glasgow; 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one brother, 2 grandsons and 1 great granddaughter.

Charles Carpenter

Charles Carpenter of Hinsdale died of natural causes at age 80 on January
23rd, at Billings Deaconess Hospital. Services will be Thursday, February 1
at 10am, at the Hinsdale Legion Hall with Reverend Dave Hodsdon and Howard
Pippin officiating. There will be a private burial in Hinsdale. Bell
Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Charles was born in Hinsdale in 1920 to Earl Carpenter and Sarah Gartside
Carpenter. He was born on the Black Ranch north of Hinsdale, attended the
Pippin School on Larb Creek, south of Hinsdale. He worked for the Etchart
Ranch, Frank Jensen Construction, Valley County Road Department for 12
years, and for the Hinsdale Livestock and Land Company.

In December 1958, he married Betty Butts of Circle. He loved to rodeo and
keep up with the old boys. He enjoyed cards, farming, was a great mechanic
and loved his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Betty of Hinsdale, 2 sons: Ray and his wife
Bonnie of Omaha, Nebraska, and Brad and his wife Joan of Green River,
Wyoming; 1 daughter, Sarah Lynne Carpenter of Hinsdale; 6 grandchildren:
Tamara Sears and Tara Carpenter of Omaha, Jennifer Shepherd of Odgen, Utah,
Shannon Carpenter of Green River, Wyoming, Charles Elliot Carpenter of
Hinsdale and Max Carpenter of Hinsdale; 1 great grand-daughter, Kaylee
Carpenter Sears of Omaha; 4 sisters: Florence Nutt of Mora, Minnesota,
Lillian Ward of Olivia, Minnesota, Pearl Butterfield of Lake Havasu City,
Arizona, and Hazel Johnson of Clearwater, Minnesota; 1 brother, Donald
Carpenter of Mora, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers and an
infant daughter.

Bernice was born in 1912 in Giltner, Nebraska, to Lawrence and Francis Mihm,
and moved here as an infant and was raised at Tampico. She attended school
in Tampico. Bernice married David J. Rice in 1931 in Glasgow. They lived in
Fort Peck during the building of the Fort Peck Dam and then moved to Ogalla,
Nebraska, during the building of the Kingsley Dam. During World War II they
lived on the west coast where her husband was a dredge operator. They moved
back to Glasgow in 1944 where they farmed for many years west of Glasgow.

She was active in the Farmers Union, serving as youth leader for many years,
the United Methodist Church, serving as secretary under Reverend Fred Crowe,
and completed all the chairs in the Laura Rebekah Lodge.

Survivors include 1 daughter, Lois Wesen and her husband Maurice of Glasgow;
1 son-in-law, Walt Riggin of Glasgow; 2 sisters: Evelyn Dorr of Glasgow, Vi
Ryder of California; 1 brother, Orville Mihm of Seattle, 5 grandchildren, 11
great grandchildren and 8 great, great grandchildren. She was preceded in
death by her husband David in 1987 and daughter Barbara Riggin in 1995, and
a brother, Vernon Mihm.

Tillie N. Thomas, 77 of Wolf Point died on January 23,2001, at the Francis Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow.

Tillie was born on September 16, 1923 on the family homestead in Lustre, MT the daughter of George and Tina Rahn. She grew up on the family farm, attended and was a member of the Lustre Bethel Mennonite Church. After her father died and her mother remarried Peter Dyck, Tillie went to Salem, OR in 1945 seeking employment.

On April 20, 1946 Tillie married Bruce Thomas in Salem OR. They moved back to the Frazer area until 1962 when they moved to Wolf Point where she lived ever since.

Tillie enjoyed crocheting, gardening, yard work and making things for her grand kids. She also enjoyed reading.

She was preceded in death by her parents, seven brothers and sisters her son Robert James and one granddaughter.

Survivors include her husband Bruce of Wolf Point: a son Ken (Eileen) Thomas of Jacksonville, FL; two daughters, Darlene (Arden) Unrau and Diane (Loren) Unrau all of Lustre; a brother, Abe Dyck of Harrisburg, NC; two sisters, Bertha Funk of Lustre and Martha Huebert of Glasgow; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitations will be held on Thursday. Jan. 25, from 9:00a.m. To 8:00 p.m. at the Clayton Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday Jan. 26, at the Gospel Fellowship Church in Wolf Point with Pastor J. Epp of Lustre, Pastor John Skillman of Lustre and Pastor Bruce Bogar of Wolf Point all officiating. Interment will be in the Bethel Lustre Cemetery. Clayton Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

SACO- Ruth Agnes (Watson) Donoho, 89 years, died Sunday, January 14, 2001 at her home in Saco of natural causes. Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. January 19, 2001 at the Saco Lutheran Church with burial in the Grandview Cemetery at Saco. The family requested that memorials be made to the Saco High School P.O. Box 298, Saco, MT 59261 or charity of choice. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth was born March 22, 1911 at Bronson, Kansas the daughter of David E. and Eva (Markle) Watson. She graduated from the Bronson High School and attended college to get a teachers certificate. She married William M. Donoho on November 5,1930 at Ft. Scott, Kansas, he died November 23, 1980. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936. She attended Pratt Whitney Tech School and was certified for tool and Die and worked in that during World War II. She also worked for Estes Mfg. Co. They moved to Saco in 1952 where she and her husband owned the International Harvester and Hardware Store. This was sold in 1973.

She was a school sub, a bartender and an agent for the Montana State Liquor Board for 91/2 years. She also served on the Phillips County Senior Board for 15 years and was a Notary from 1957 until her death.

Ruth enjoyed basketball and bowling and while in her 80's was named Bowler of the year by the State MBA. She also enjoyed playing cards, arts and crafts. She was a member of the Rebecca Lodge, Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors.

Survivors include her nephew, Ronald Watson of Glasgow and other nephews, nieces and numerous friends.

John "Jack" LaBonty

John "Jack" LaBonty, 79, died of natural causes on Saturday, December 23rd at Brendan House in kalispell. Memorial services were set for 3pm on Thursday, December 28th. Johnson Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

He was born in 1921 in Munising, Michigan, and served in the Navy for 6 years. He worked for General Sheet Metal for many years, then went to work for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office in 1966 as a deputy sheriff. He retired from the sheriff's office in 1984 as a captain.
John married Viola Olson in Kalispell in 1956; she died in 1997. John was a member of the Kalispell Elks Club 725 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Music was his first love and he played drums in many combos, including the Company Brass, Big Mountain Dixie Land Band, Hungry Four and the Bus Foys Jazz Band, throughout the Flathead Valley. He was a regular performer at the Elks Club in Kalispell until 2 months ago.

Survivors include 2 sons: John LaBony of Glasgow and Dennis LaBonty of Logan, Utah; 1 daughter, Linda LaBonty-Snyder of St. Iganatius; a stepdaughter, Shirley Miller of Kalispelll; 4 sisters, 1 brother and 11 grandchildren.