Jergeson To Seek Public Service Commission Seat (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Photos Released Of Plane Crash (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Public Invited To Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks Dinner (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Glasgow City Council To Vote On Dry Prairie Next Monday (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Tribal, County Officials At Odds Over Redistricting Plan (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Fair Board Meeting Tonight (Thu, Jan 31, 2002)

Poplar Man Sentenced In Child Suffocation Case (Wed, Jan 30, 2002 )

Bainville Man Hospitalized In North Dakota Stabbing (Tue, Jan 29, 2002)

Basin Group Seeks Compromise In Flow Plan For Missouri (Tue, Jan 29, 2002)

City To Decide On Dry Prairie Project On February 4th (Tue, Jan 29, 2002)

Crop Insurance Workshops Begin February 11 (Tue, Jan 29, 2002)

Montana Department Of Transportation Receives Extension (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

Updated Valley County Filings (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

Montana Department Of Transportation To Announce Study Decision Friday (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

Montana Department Of Labor Releases Top Private Employers (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

December Unemployment Stats Released (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

Auctioneers Talk Things Over At Convention In Fort Benton (Mon, Jan 28, 2002)

Inland Empire Carnival Won't Appear At Northeast Montana Fair (Fri, Jan 25, 2002)

Lustre Man Files For Commissioner Seat (Thu, Jan 24, 2002)

Glasgow Man Sentenced In Sex Assault Case (Wed, Jan 23, 2002)

KUSM To Feature Area Quilts (Tue, Jan 22, 2002)

Montana Public Service Commission Chair To Hold Glasgow Meeting (Tue, Jan 22, 2002)

Plane Crash Details Still Sketchy (Mon, Jan 21, 2002)

Filing Season Starts Today In Montana (Mon, Jan 21, 2002)

Historic Scobey Mansion Destroyed By Fire (Sun, Jan 20, 2002)

Hearing Set For Canadian Famers (Sun, Jan 20, 2002)

Plane Reportedly Crashes At Glasgow Airport (Sun, Jan 20, 2002)

Declining Population Means One Less Legislative Seat In Northeast Montana (Sat, Jan 19, 2002)

Train Derailment In Minot (Fri, Jan 18, 2002)

Former Glasgow Resident Charged (Fri, Jan 18, 2002)

Commission To Meet In Glasgow Today On Redistricting (Thu, Jan 17, 2002 )

Missouri Runoff Starts Year Below Normal (Thu, Jan 17, 2002)

Work Continues On Tearing Down South Side School (Wed, Jan 16, 2002)

Commissioners Vote To Put Long Run Fire Department Funding Increase On Ballot (Wed, Jan 16, 2002)

January 22nd Starts Filing Season (Wed, Jan 16, 2002)

Tribal Court Can't Order School To Allow Player On Team (Wed, Jan 16, 2002)

Montana Air National Guard To Decide On Bombing Range Soon (Wed, Jan 16, 2002)

Commission Asks For Public Input (Tue, Jan 15, 2002)

City Council Approves Drug Task Force Money (Sun, Jan 13, 2002)

Nashua School District Struggles With Funding (Sun, Jan 13, 2002)

DNRC Loan and Grant Programs Accepting Applications (Sat, Jan 12, 2002)

Frazer Man Sentenced For Involvement In 1999 Cash (Sat, Jan 12, 2002)

Sheriff Wessler To Retire (Fri, Jan 11, 2002)

Amtrak Would Lose Ownership Of Tracks And Stations Under Panel's Plans (Fri, Jan 11, 2002)

Survey Finds Seven Of 20 Ferrets Released Last Fall (Thu, Jan 10, 2002)

Hatchery Could Be Operational Within 3 Years (Thu, Jan 10, 2002)

Commissioners Vote To Combine Superintendant of Schools & Clerk And Recorder Positions (Thu, Jan 10, 2002)

Missouri River Said To Be In Danger Without Return To Natural Flows (Thu, Jan 10, 2002)

Next Year Could Be Even Worse, Forecasters Say (Tue, Jan 8, 2002)

Commissioners To Decide Consolidation Issue On Wednesday (Tue, Jan 8, 2002)

Nashua School Work Session Tonight (Tue, Jan 8, 2002)

Demolition Starts On Southside School (Mon, Jan 7, 2002)

Oil, Gas Lease Sale Scheduled (Sun, Jan 6, 2002)

Montana Drought Continues (Fri, Jan 4, 2002)

Poplar Man Pleads Innocent In Murder Case (Fri, Jan 4, 2002)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks Proposing 2002 Walleye Tournament Dates (Thu, Jan 3, 2002)

Public Hearing On Consolidation Set For January 8th (Wed, Jan 2, 2002)

Commissioners To Put County Land For Sale In January (Wed, Jan 2, 2002)

Foggy Start To New Year (Tue, Jan 1, 2002)

Red Cross Blood Drawings Set For January in Glasgow (Tue, Jan 1, 2002)

State Senator Greg Jergeson, D-Chinook, has announced his intention to seek election to the Montana Public Service Commission from PSC District #1.  The five member Public Service Commission has a number of responsibilities related to utility services provided to the public.    In his announcement, Jergeson stated, “Throughout my years of service in the Montana Senate, I have always tried to adhere to the insight contained in the 4-H pledge I learned as a youth: ~       to practice clarity of thought; ~       to remain loyal to the constituents who have entrusted me with public office; ~       to devote my energy and effort to sort through the complex issues that face us; and ~       to exercise the discipline necessary to contribute to the economic health and well being of our communities.  That is the same commitment I would make as Public Service Commissioner for PSC District 1.”

Photos have been released of the plane crash involving Glasgow resident Tom Klotz that occurred January 20th. The accident took place on take-off; Klotz ended up walking away from the crash with cuts and a broken arm. (Please click on the images below for a larger view.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to extend an open invitation for the public to attend a buffet dinner on February 25th at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director, Jeff Hagener, is scheduled to appear. Local staff will also be in attendance for the program. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the FWP.

Following dinner will be a brief update on the progress regarding the department’s 6-year plan. In addition, the director will also address the crowd. A question and answer session will conclude the program. Please reserve your attendance by calling 228-3700. The deadline for a reservation is February 15th.

The Glasgow City Council is set to decide on February 4th whether or not they will join the Dry Prairie Water Project. Glasgow Public Works Director Jon Bengochea has some concerns about the city joining Dry Prairie.

Bengochea outlined these concerns in a radio interview on Wednesday. He stated that the base rate for a Glasgow resident using water and sewer would jump from the current $32.98 per hookup to $66.26 if Glasgow joined with Dry Prairie. That would be an increase of 100%.
Bengochea also has concerns with Dry Prairie's ability to supply enough water to Glasgow residents. He said that Dry Prairie would provide 2.07 million gallons per day for Glasgow over a 24 hour period. The city currently has the capability to produce 2.9 gallons over a 23 hour period. Bengochea told Kltz/Klan that Glasgow currently has the capacity to supply 30% more water if need, whereas Dry Prairie could not.

Therefore; in the even the city realized some growth, our current system could provide the extra water.

Bengochea also stated that the city currently has ultimate control making as much water as it needs every day; at any rate they need; for as long as they need. The cities water rates are controlled by a local council comprised of people who live in the city. This luxury enjoyed now would not be the case if the city were to join Dry Prairie.

Bengochea has outlined these concerns to the city council and they will be making their final decision on Dry Prairie at their regular meeting on February 4th.

(AP) Fort Peck Reservation tribal leaders are squaring off with county officials, over how best to redraw Montana's legislative districts.

Tribal officials favor a plan creating an Indian-majority Senate District from the North Dakota border to north-central Montana, south of Havre. The district would unite the Fort Peck, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's reservations. But five northeastern counties argue that the plan creates districts that are too large, and awkwardly divide close-knit rural communities.

In Malta, a petition is circulating in support of a different proposal, that supporters say would set more logical boundaries.

The chairman of the Fort Peck Tribal Council -- Arlyn Headdress -- says it's just another effort by the non-Indian communities to keep Indians out of elected office. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Northeast Montana Fair Board will have a special meeting at the courthouse tonight (Thursday) at 7p.m. to consider the options open to replacing the Inland Empire Carnival.

Fair Manager Sharon Labonty was informed last week by the Inland Empire Carnival that they won't be performing at this years fair because of a scheduling conflict. The carnival makes a swing through Montana which includes stops in Lewistown, Glasgow, Dodson, Kalispell and Missoula. The fair in Lewistown this year is expanding by a day and the carnival would have to be at the Glasgow fair for just two day. The carnival officials don't believe that it's economically feasible to be in Glasgow for just two day. They have also cancelled their appearance at the Phillips County Fair in Dodson.

The fair board has contacted another carnival from Wyoming but their only available date on the calendar is July 18-21st.

This year's Northeast Montana Fair is currently set for July 28-31st.

The fair board will consider all options at their meeting on tonight at 7pm at the courthouse community room. The public is welcome to attend.

(AP) A Poplar man who had been drinking heavily when he passed out on his eight-week-old son and suffocated him to death last summer has been convicted in Great Falls of involuntary manslaughter.

Thirty-four-year-old Elmer Red Eagle Junior was returned to his Cascade County cell yesterday following conclusion of his trial in U-S District Court. He faces up to six years in prison and a 250-thousand-dollar fine. A sentencing date hasn't been set.

Last June, police rushed to a home near Poplar after a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report the child wasn't breathing, but they couldn't revive the child. Red Eagle reportedly told police he drank 30 to 40 beers the evening and night before the incident. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) Prosecutors in Bismarck, North Dakota say a suspect in the stabbing of a Montana, man has been charged with attempted murder.

The prosecutor says five others have been charged with hindering the investigation into the stabbing last weekend at a Bismarck hotel.

The victim was 18-year-old Cody J. LaCounte of Bainville, Montana. He's in intensive care in a Bismarck hospital, recovering from five stab wounds.

Authorities say Ron Yellow Junior, believed to be of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was charged with attempted murder. He is being held on 50-thousand dollars bail.

Police say LaCounte was stabbed after an argument spun out of control. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) A meeting in Denver on Thursday might help determine how much water will flow through one of the country's three largest rivers.

A group representing eight Missouri River Basin states wants federal officials to allow more natural river flows, sought by environmentalists. The ten-year experimental plan, suggested by the Missouri River Basin Association, would allow time to see what impact the changes will have on the recovery of endangered species. It would also allow states to gauge the economic impact, without making the changes permanent.

The proposal is a compromise between the position taken by Nebraska and Iowa, which oppose any change in flows; and upper basin states, including Montana, that advocate more natural flows. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Glasgow City Council will decide on February 4th to join the Dry Prairie Rural Water Project.

The council has been in a holding pattern the last year trying to decide whether or not to become part of the $68 million dollar water project. At Monday's meeting the council decided to make a final decision at their regular meeting on February 4th.

Dry Prairie Rural Water is a project that would bring Missouri River Water to an area of northeast Montana stretching from the North Dakota border to the Glasgow and Opheim areas. The project would be part of the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System. The Fort Peck Indian Reservation would be covered by the on-reservation portion of the project and the cost of that portion would be $125 million. The cost of the off-reservation project would be $68 million with 76 % federally funded and the remaining costs would include 12% to the state and 12% local.

Dry Prairie towns that have signed agreements to use the projects water include Scobey, Plentywood, Culbertson, Froid, Medicine Lake, Flaxville, Westby, St. Marie, Nashua, Antelope and Outlook.

Glasgow is one of three communities that have not yet signed on to the Dry Prairie Project. Glasgow is the largest municipality in the Dry Prairie area with 1560 water users.

If you have any questions about Dry Prairie and it's effect on the city of Glasgow you urged to contact your city council member of Glasgow Public Works Director Jon Bengochea before the decision is made on February 4th.

Montana MarketManager, in cooperation with Montana State University Extension Service, is offering three crop insurance workshops to focus on the changing face of crop insurance options in Montana. The free workshops will be offered via interactive video broadcast to 12 sites across Montana.

All workshops are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to noon and are broadcast from Montana State University—Bozeman. The first workshop on Monday, February 11 features the fundamentals of crop insurance by Dr. Gary Brester. Topics of discussion include actual production histories, a summary of the features of insurance products available to Montana producers, and lays groundwork for the rest of the series.

The Monday, February 18 workshop focuses on the background of income protection products including crop revenue coverages (CRC). This workshop, taught by Dr. Vince Smith, will include a discussion of products best suited to various cropping situations while determining the most cost-effective solution for your operation.

The final workshop on Monday, February 25 is taught by Dr. Jim Johnson and concentrates on specialty crop insurance products. Dr. Johnson will guide producers through the process of requesting actuarial change and understanding the workings of specialty insurance products.

Cities receiving broadcasts are Billings, Bozeman, Culbertson, Dillon, Glasgow, Great Falls, Havre, Sidney, Helena, Lewistown, Miles City and Shelby. To register or to find broadcast locations in your city, contact Alex Offerdahl at 406-761-4596 or go online at www.montanamarketmanager.org under the education and reference tab, workshop section. The deadline to register is Wednesday, February 6.

The Montana Department of Transportation announced today that the Federal Highway Administration had granted an extension until 5:00 p.m., February 13th, to continue exploring options regarding the expenditure of funds for the improvement of Highway 2. The funds are earmarked in the FY 2002 federal appropriations bill. The request for extension was made by MDT Director Dave Galt, on behalf of Bob Sivertsen, President of the Highway 2 Association following a public meeting on the alternatives held last
Saturday in Havre.

The two-week extension provides additional time to discuss alternatives and options for the expenditure of the earmarked funds on the Highway 2 corridor. "The extension will allow a delegation from the Highway 2 Association to travel to Helena and meet with MDT staff so a decision can be reached regarding this expenditure," said Sivertsen.

Once a decision is reached, MDT staff will prepare a formal proposal for review and approval by the Federal Highway Administration.

There will be a contested primary in June for the Democratic nomination for Valley County Sheriff/Coroner and Valley County Commissioner.

Dave Pippin has filed as Democrat for Valley County Commissioner. The Glasgow resident will face off against Gene Hartsock for the Democratic nomination in the June primary. There could be more candidates as well because the filing deadline doesn't end until March 21st.
The will be another contested primary contest for the Democrats in the race for Sheriff/Coroner. Former Glasgow police officer Dave Watson has filed for the position and will be facing competition from current Undersherrif Vern Buerkle.

In other filings, incumbent Valley County Attorney Ken Oster has filed for another term. He was first elected to the position in 1994.

As of Monday January 28th here are the political filings for Valley County.

Valley County Commissioner:
Republican: Ron Reddig
Democrat: Dave Pippin and Gene Hartsock

Valley County Clerk and Recorder:
Democrat: Lynn Nyquist and Edith Scott

Valley County Sheriff:
Republican: Glenn Meier
Democrat: Dave Watson and Vernon Buerkle

Valley County Public Administrator:
Democrat: Stan Ozark

Valley County Attorney:
Republican: Ken Oster

Valley County Treasurer:
Democrat: Jenny Reinhardt

The Montana Department of Transportation will announce Friday whether it will begin an environmental impact study on a portion of Highway 2.

The other question they will answer is whether consultants will begin the study with 40 miles of the road or 10.
Representatives from the department and the Federal Highway Administration met with more than 40 supporters of the "4 for 2" project in Havre on Saturday.

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg has been rallying support for the "4 for 2" project for more than a year. Proponents want a wider Highway 2 for safety purposes and to breathe life into the Hi-Line.

Mick Johnson, Great Falls district administrator for the MDT, said the best place to start an environmental impact study is the 40-mile stretch of Highway 2 from Havre to Harlem.

And designation of one portion of Highway 2 as a four-lane highway would increase the chances that the rest of Highway 2 would be widened.

If the department of transportation decides to go ahead with the study between Havre and Harlem, residents still would have a long wait ahead of them.

Johnson said it would take four or five months to get started on the study and the entire study would take about three years.

Dave Galt, MDT director, said his office will make a decision about the study on Friday.

The Montana Department of Labor has released a list of the top ten private employers in Glasgow. This list contains ONLY private industry employers subject to Unemployment Insurance. Railroads and city, county, state and federal government agencies (including public school districts and universities) are excluded. Here is the list in alphabetical order:

• Albertson's
• Cottonwood Inn
• First Community Bank
• Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital
• Glasgow Clinic
• Gordon's Warehouse
• Hi-Line Home Programs
• Milk River Inc.
• Pamida
• Valley View Nursing Home

The December 2001 unemployment statistics have been released for Montana. Below is the breakdown of Valley County and the surrounding area.

(AP) Montana auctioneers took a break from selling last weekend -- but not from talking, as they attend the Montana Auctioneers Association Convention in Fort Benton. Forty auctioneers gathered at the Grand Union Hotel to discuss the state of their industry.

Association president Rod Tande of Scobey says business is as strong as ever, despite the popularity of Internet auction companies. He says competition has helped them update the way they do business, but hasn't lessened the appeal of the real thing.

Tande says Internet auctions can't compare with one-on-one auctions. He says his business isn't like dealing with a stranger, who could be anywhere in the world.

The highlight of the convention is when the fast talking really gets going -- at the Championship Bid Call Contest. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Would the Northeast Montana Fair survive without a carnival? That's a question that will have to be answered by the fair board at a special meeting on January 31st.

Fair Manager Sharon Labonty was informed by the Inland Empire Carnival that they won't be performing at this years fair because of a scheduling conflict. The carnival makes a swing through Montana which includes stops in Lewistown, Glasgow, Dodson, Kalispell and Missoula. The fair in Lewistown this year is expanding by a day and the carnival would have to be at the Glasgow fair for just two day. The carnival officials don't believe that it's economically feasible to be in Glasgow for just two day. They have also cancelled their appearance at the Phillips County Fair in Dodson.

The fair board has contacted another carnival from Wyoming but their only available date on the calendar is July 18-21st.

This years Northeast Montana Fair is set for July 28-31st.

The fair board will consider all options at their meeting on January 31st and the public is welcome to attend.

Filings continue for political office in Valley County as a second person has officially filed for Valley County Commissioner.

Lustre resident Ron Reddig filed Thursday with the Clerk and Recorders Office as a Republican candidate for Valley County Commissioner. Reddig joins Democrat Gene Hartsock as the two candidates for the commission.

The incumbent commissioner Marlene Erickson has announced she is retiring at the end of her term.

District Court Judge John McKeon Tuesday sentenced 32 year old Glasgow resident Terrance Yecovenko to 20 years in the Montana State Prison.

In November of 2001 a district court jury in Glasgow found Yecovenko guilty of two counts of felony sex assault and two counts of felony sex abuse of children. The sex assault charges stemmed from allegations Yecovenko sexually assaulted a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old girl with whom he was living with in Glasgow, between March and June 2000. The felony sexual abuse of children charges were a result of allegations Yecovenko possessed and distributed child pornography via computer.

District Court Judge John McKeon said the offenses were vile and disgusting and that Yecovenko had pattern of offenses with young children and he needed to spend time in a restricted and controlled environment such as the Montana State Prison. Judge McKeon also ordered Yecovenko to pay a fine of $5000 once he is released from custody and this money will be used to reimburse Valley County for $8354.85 in medical costs incurred by Yecovenko while incarcerated in the Valley County Jail.

Valley County Attorney Ken Oster called the crimes hideous and despicable because they involved young children. Oster said that Yecovenko could be eligible for parole after five years.

Yecovenko through his attorney protested the convictions saying that he was innocent of all charges.

Montana's PBS station, KUSM-TV, will feature quilters from around the state including Wolf Point's Almira Jackson. The Plaid Square in Glasgow will also have quilts featured on the show. The program will air at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night, January 26th, and again on Monday, January 28th at 1:30 p.m. The show was produced and directed by Michelle McConnaha.

Montana Public Service Commission Chairman Gary Feland will hold a public meeting to discuss two cases that are crucial to Montana electric and gas customers. The meeting will be held today (Tue, Jan 22, 2002) in the City Council Chambers in the Civic Center in Glasgow.

The 2 cases concern the proposed sale of Montana Power Company's gas and electric distribution system to Northwestern Corporation, and the remaining "stranded costs" claimed by MPC under Montana's electric competition law.

According to Feland, "Whether you're a Montana Power customer or you get your power from a co-op, every Montanan is affected by the sale of Montana Power to Northwestern Company. This is the public's chance to have their say, straight and unfiltered."

Glasgow resident Tom Klotz was involved in a airplane accident Saturday afternoon at the Glasgow International Airport.

Information is sketchy at this point but sources have told Kltz/Klan that the accident occured Saturday at 3:30pm. Klotz suffered injuries and was taken to the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital and was kept overnight. He was released on Sunday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected on the scene later this week to investigate the crash. In the meantime the crashed airplane remains at the Glasgow Airport awaiting the inspection from the FAA.

Filing starts today for elected positions in Valley County and across the state of Montana.

Several positions are available on the county level including the position of county commissioner. Marlene Erickson has served since 1994 and is uncertain about running for another six year term. Erickson told Kltz/Klan that she just hasn't made up her mind but expects to make a decision shortly.

Valley County Sheriff/Coroner Dick Wessler has already announced that he won't be running for another four year term and will be retiring at the end of this year. Wessler was elected in 1998.

Lynn Nyquist has announced that she will run for another term as Valley County Clerk and Recorder. She was elected to that position in 1998.
Jenny Reinhardt who was appointed to the position of Valley County Treasurer in 2000 will be running for a full 4 year term this year. Reinhardt will be running as a Democrat.

Valley County Attorney Ken Oster has told Kltz/Klan news that he hasn't made up his mind on running for another term. Oster who is a Republican was first elected in 1994.

The closing date for filing for public office is March 21st with the primary election set for June 4th.

(AP) Fire has destroyed a house outside Scobey that was on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 23-room mansion was built in 1912 by Mansfield Daniels, for whom Daniels County was named. It sat on a hill overlooking the Poplar River a mile and a half southwest of Scobey, and although it was built 90 years ago it was modern throughout.

The construction cost in 1912 was 20-thousand dollars - about 356-thousand dollars in today's money. All the materials had to be freighted 60 miles overland to Poplar.

Investigators blame the fire, which began about nine o'clock Wednesday night, on the furnace. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) An appeal hearing, for a group of Canadian farmers convicted of exporting grain without a license, will be held in March in Regina, Saskatchewan.

About two dozen farmers were in court last week, appealing a two-year-old conviction on the charge.

The farmers hauled grain across the U-S border, to protest the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on export sales. Members of the "Farmers for Justice" movement were involved in a series of cross-border excursions, and wrangles with Customs and the legal system, in the mid-1990's.

Sources have told Kltz/Klan news that a private airplane crash occured on the runway at the Glasgow airport on Saturday at 3:30pm.

Injuries were reported but no deaths occured as the result of the crash.

Kltz/Klan hopes to get more information on this accident as authorities become available on Monday.

The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission met in Glasgow on Thursday to hear comments on a redistricting plan for northeast Montana.

Currently Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt counties have four representatives serving in the Montana Legislature. But because of declining population those four counties will see the elimination of one legislative seat.

The purpose of the hearing was to present the different plans that have been established to redistrict northeast Montana. The commission outlined four different redestricting plans for the area and solicited public comment.

A majority of the public seemed to be in favor of plan 200 which would put the city of Glasgow in the same legislative district as Malta. This district would also include Hinsdale and Opheim in Valley County. The plan would put Nashua, Fort Peck, St. Marie and Lustre in the same legislative district as Scobey, Plentywood, Medicine Lake and Froid. Frazer would be in the same district as Wolf Point, Brockton and Poplar. This plan would split Valley County into three legislative districts.

The 200 plan received favorable comments from the Valley County Commissioners along with the Mayor of Glasgow and the Valley County Republican Central Committee.

The Apportionment Committee will take public comment on the proposed plans for the next three weeks.

(AP) Minot residents are being told to stay in their homes and turn down their furnaces as a cloud of anhydrous ammonia moves through the city. The ammonia, used as a farm fertilizer, leaked after five cars of a Canadian Pacific Railway train derailed about two a-m.

Minot's Trinity Hospital says 27 people were brought to the emergency room and three were admitted early this morning. Spokesman Randy Schwan says he has no word on the conditions of the three who were admitted, but they don't appear to be life-threatening. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) In Havre, a former county nurse has been charged with burglary and possession of dangerous drugs.

Forty-nine-year-old Cheryl Sather, a former Glasgow resident, is accused of trying to steal prescription drugs from someone's home. Sather was arrested last week in the bathroom of that home. A neighbor had seen her enter the house, and telephoned the owner, who was visiting another home nearby. The owner went home, found Sather inside, and called police.

According to the criminal complaint, she had on her person three bottles of prescription drugs, a bag of coffee and a handful of quarters, all belonging to the homeowners. In September 2000, Sather was hired as a registered nurse with the Hill County Health Department. A county commissioner says Sather was fired about two weeks ago. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) The commission that will re-draw Montana's legislative districts will be in Glasgow today at 1pm at the Valley County Courthouse.

The Hi-line meetings are part of a series of public comment sessions the Commission is holding around the state. Boundaries of the state House and Senate districts are re-drawn every ten years, after the national Census. Montana's 900-thousand people must be divided into 50 roughly equal Senate districts, each of which contains two House districts.

The commission will present tentative proposals to the Legislature for review and a state-wide public hearing before the commission makes a final decision. The new districts will become law in 2003, in time for the 2004 election cycle. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) -- The Army Corps of Engineers says runoff in the upper Missouri River basin was 89 percent of normal last year, and the mountain snowpack is still below normal.

As of last week, the mountain snowpack was 77 percent of normal in the area above Montana's Fort Peck Dam and 72 percent of normal from Fort Peck to North Dakota's Garrison Dam.

The corps says it's still preparing for a normal eight-month navigation season on the Missouri, beginning April 1st near St. Louis. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Fossum Ready-Mix Crews continued to work hard this week to finish tearing down the old South Side School to make way for the Prairie Ridge Assisted and Independent Living complex.

The Valley County Commissioners have voted to put a levy election to the voters that would increase funding for the Valley County Long Run Fire Department.

The election will be held on June 4th and would affect Valley County residents who don't live in an incorporated area. Taxpayers in Glasgow, Fort Peck, Nashua and Opheim would not be affected by the possible tax increase and will not vote on the issue.

Currently the Long Run Fire Department is funded by one mill which provides $22,754. If approved by the voters, the fire department would be funded by 3 mills which would provide $68,262. According to the commissioners, this money would be used for purchase and maintenance of equipment and would be used to maintain current equipment. They also noted that with good fire protection for rural areas residents could possibly see fire insurance rates go down for Valley County.

If the levy increase goes into effect a person owning a home valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $10.38 in taxes while a homeowner with a home valued at $50,000 would see an increase of $5.19.

Valley County voters approved a levy increase for the Long Run Fire Department back in 1999 and that tax increase was in effect for two years.
In other news from Valley County, the commissioners have agreed to trade 640 acres of county owned grazing land with the Bureau of Land Management. The county would receive a building located across from Markles Warehouse Furniture and Appliance. The building will be used by the Valley County Transit.

The commissioners have also agreed to sell an estimated 2328 acres of county grazing land. This land will go to public auction at a later date. More paperwork needs to be completed by the commissioners before the public auction is held.

January 22nd is the start date for those interested in filing for elective office for the 2002 election year.

On the local level most county offices are up for election this year. The primary election is set for June 4th and the general election will be in November.

Here is a list of the county offices that are available this year.
Valley County Commissioner-
Valley County Clerk and Recorder
Valley County Treasurer
Valley County Sheriff/Coroner
Valley County Attorney
Public Administrator

The closing date for filing for these offices is March 21st. For more information you can contact the Valley County Clerk and Recorders office in the Valley County Courthouse.

(AP) A federal judge says a tribal court cannot order Wolf Point High School to allow an academically ineligible player on its basketball team.

District Judge Richard Cebull has issued a permanent injunction against the Fort Peck Tribal Court. It replaces a temporary restraining order, that Cebull issued earlier this month when the school district appealed. The ruling prevents the tribal court from interfering with school district policy on who is eligible for extracurricular activities.

Lawyers say the plaintiff -- Ryan Michaelson -- is now passing all his subjects, and will be eligible to play next season. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Montana Air National Guard has pushed back its deadline for a decision on the location of tis new practice bombing range. The decision was due in December but according to MANG spokesman Major Tim Lincoln, :September 11th set a number of things back."

The Air National Guard is choosing between three sites on the Hi-Line for a place to drop dummy bombs close to home. Locations include one 20 miles southeast of Malta, another 14 miles south of Dodson and a third a few mikles east of the Fort Belknap Reservation in Blaine County.

The range would create 6 to 12 new jobs and would be approximately 15 square miles with two buildings and an air traffic control tower.

Lincoln said the decision likely will be announced by the end of January or early February. For more information, visit: www.cubicdata.com/montanarange-eis/main/main.asp

(AP) The commission that will re-draw Montana's legislative districts heads to the Hi-Line this week in search of comment from the public. The Montana Districting Apportionment Commission, as it's formally called, will be in Havre on Wednesday and Glasgow on Thursday

The Hi-line meetings are part of a series of public comment sessions the Commission is holding around the state. It was in Great Falls and Browning in November, and meetings are scheduled in Miles City and Lewistown next month. Boundaries of the state House and Senate districts are re-drawn every ten years, after the national Census. Montana's 900-thousand people must be divided into 50 roughly equal Senate districts, each of which contains two House districts.

The commission will present tentative proposals to the Legislature for review and a state-wide public hearing before the commission makes a final decision. The new districts will become law in 2003, in time for the 2004 election cycle. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Glasgow City Council has approved spending $2100 for the Glasgow Police Department to join the Big Muddy Drug Task Force.

Glasgow Police Chief Lynn Erickson requested the money because he believes that Glasgow has a drug problem and that the department can't effectively tackle the problem alone.

The Big Muddy Drug Task Force is composed of several law enforcement agencies in northeastern Montana that work together to combat the drug trade in the northeastern corner of the state. The Valley County Sheriffs Department is currently a member of the task force.

The Glasgow Police Department won't officialy become part of the task force until July 1st.

The Nashua School District is struggling with a declining enrollment and questions on how to continue to fund the Nashua Elementary and High School.

The Nashua School Board held a public meeting on January 8th to gather input from district taxpayers.

Nashua Superintendent Bruce Peterson told the gathering that enrollment is down from 146 last year to just 125 students this year. The school budget for this year is $1 million but next year because of declining enrollment will be down to $925,000. Peterson said that the school has some choices on how to handle the declining budget. State law does allow the school district to raise taxes to keep the budget the same as this year. If the school board decided to run a mill levy increase they could ask the taxpayers to increase taxes by the entire $75,000 or in fact any amount from $0 to $75,000. Or they could decide to not raise taxes and cut the $75,000 out of the budget. Peterson also said there could be a combination of budget cuts and tax increases to make up the $75,000. Peterson also pointed out that even if taxes are raised the school district would not be increasing spending above what they are budgeted for this year.

He handed out a non-binding survey for the people attending asking them how they felt about the possible tax increases and budget cuts.

Of the 27 people who filled the survey out, 25 said they would be in favor of some budget cuts or tax increases while 2 people said they favored no tax increases and wanted to see $75,000 cut out of the Nashua school budget. 13 of the 25 also said that they favored a tax levy of $75,000 and no budget cuts.

The decision is now in the hand of the Nashua School Board and they have until February to pass a resolution on whether they want to put a tax levy on the ballot this years election.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) announced today that it is now accepting applications for grants and loans through two programs designed to promote the conservation, development, management, preservation and reclamation of natural resources in Montana.

The Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) offers grants of up to $300,000 for projects that repair, reclaim or mitigate the effects of past mineral development and promote natural resource projects that benefit Montana citizens. Examples of projects funded in the past include mine reclamation, stream restoration, oil and gas reclamation, hazardous waste cleanup and reclamation research.

The Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program (RRGL) offers grants of up to $100,000 and low-interest loans up to the amount a community has the ability to repay. The program funds projects for the conservation, development, management or preservation of renewable resources. Projects funded through this program include irrigation efficiency improvements, watershed planning and restoration, range and timber improvements and projects to reduce the use of agricultural chemicals. This program also funds community infrastructure projects for water, wastewater and solid waste.
Both programs also fund reclamation and renewable resource projects for research, demonstration, and planning.

Any division of state, county, city, tribal government or other local political subdivision is eligible to apply. The application deadline is May 15, 2002. All grant and loan requests must receive authorization by the 2003 Montana Legislature.

For further information or applications contact Greg Mills for RDGP and Pam Smith or Bob Fischer for RRGL at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Resource Development Bureau, P.O. Box 201601, Helena, MT 59620-1601 or calling (406) 444-6668. Applications are also available on the Department’s Web page at: http://www.dnrc.state.mt.us/cardd/cardd.html

A 43 year old Frazer man has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for his involvement in a two-vehicle crash near Wolf Point in December of 1999.

Stanley Ackerman was convicted in federal court in Great Falls in September on two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Angela Redstone and her father, Norman Redstone.

Ackerman and the Redstones were eastbound on Highway 2 four miles west of Wolf Point when the vehicle collided with a flatbed trailer being pulled by a pickup. The Redstones died at the scene; Ackerman was seriously injured and the pickup driver was unhurt.

Ackerman said because of his head injuries, he doesn't remember if he or Angela Redstone was driving, however, officers testified that when they arrived at the scene, he was in the drivers seat. His blood alcohol content was 0.21.

Valley County Sheriff Dick Wessler has announced he will retire when his term ends on December 31st of this year. Wessler was elected as Sheriff/Coroner in 1998 after serving 5 years as Undersheriff. When his term ends he will have spent 25 years with the Valley County Sheriffs Department.

Even though the filing for political offices doesn't open until January 22nd there have been two announcements for people looking to replace Wessler as Sheriff.

Glenn Meier has announced he is running as a Republican and Vernon Buerkle has announced as a Democrat.

(AP) A federal panel studying financially strapped Amtrak will meet today, to finalize recommendations it will deliver to Congress next month.

The Amtrak Reform Council is considering proposals that would force the train operator to give up ownership of tracks and stations, bridges and tunnels. There are three proposals under consideration. They differ in how fast they would open Amtrak's monopoly to competition from private companies.

The new owner would likely be one or more new subsidiaries of the National Rail Passenger Corporation. Amtrak would act only as an operating company. Eventually, the stations and tracks could be transferred to states or cities.

In Montana, Amtrak trains run on tracks owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) The federal Bureau of Land Management says a follow-up survey spotted seven of the 20 black-footed ferrets, that were released in November in north-central Montana.

The B-L-M and the Fish and Wildlife Service released the ferrets on federal land in southern Phillips County, as part of national efforts to recover North America's most endangered mammal.

The release was the B-L-M's first in Montana. Ferrets have also been released by other tribal and federal agencies in Montana. Those sites include the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery could be operational by 2005 according to officials with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

At a meeting on Wednesday the officials said that a survey crew should be out on the proposed hatchery site this month completing the survey work. The design of the hatchery is still in the preliminary stages but actual construction on the project could begin as early as this summer. FWP said at the meeting that they hope to have a component of the hatchery such as a water intake structure completed this year. The timetable has the hatchery up and running in 2005. FWP and the Army Corps of Engineers will ask Congress for $12 million in funding in FY 2003 and $6 million in FY 2004. Congress has authorized $20 million for construction of the hatchery and this year appropriated $1.5 million for design work and initial construction.

The hatchery will include 49 rearing ponds that will fill the entire 90 acre site. The hatchery will be located next to the dredge cuts area at Fort Peck.

The Valley County Commissioners in a unanimous vote have decided to combine the offices of County Superintendent of Schools and Clerk and Recorder.

The Commissioners hope to save an estimated $10,000 a year with the consolidation. The change will take affect in January of 2003. Edith Scott is the current County Superintendent and her elected term ends on December 31st of 2002. Because of the added duties the County Clerk and Recorder will receive a pay raise which is scheduled to be 15 percent of the current salary of the County Superintendent.

Twenty other counties have combined the Superintendent position with another elected office.

(AP) The National Research Council says the Missouri River is in trouble. The Washington, D-C-based council says a two-year study showed the river's ecosystem will suffer irreversible damage without a return to a more natural ebb and flow. But the council also says that could cause flooding, and entail moving entire communities.

The Missouri River flows from Montana through Missouri. The council says the nation's longest river has lost so much natural habitat, and so many fish, birds and other animals over the past century, that it faces extinction of species. The council says degradation of the Missouri's ecosystem will continue without returning in some measure to the flow of water and sediment that once came naturally -- a view favored by Montana and other upstream states.

The report comes as the U-S Army Corps of Engineers considers new management practices for the river. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(AP) The Montana snowpack is ahead of this time last year, but unless it gets better, Montana rivers and streams may be even lower this summer than last year.

Roy Kaiser is a water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He says stream base flows are way down, and there's a large soil moisture deficit to make up -- the cumulative effect of years of drought.

Many rivers and streams were at near-record lows last year. The lower Yellowstone at Billings set records low levels for weeks. The Musselshell ran dry.

This year, streamflows between April and July are expected to average from 53 to 65 percent of normal.

Snowpack is stronger west of the Continental Divide, where forecasts predict streamflows between 60 and 74 percent of average. But east of the Divide, smaller snowfalls indicate streamflows of 46 to 60 percent of average. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Valley County Commissioners held a hearing on Tuesday regarding the possible consolidation of the Superintendent of Schools position with the Clerk and Recorders office.

An estimated 20 people turned out for the hearing to voice their opinions on the possible consolidation. Most in attendance were against the consolidation saying that they don't want to lose an advocate for education in Valley County.

Edith Scott is the current County Superintendent and as a elected official her current term is set to end December 31st of 2002. The position is currently 20 hours a week with a salary and benefits package of $18,200 per year. The Valley County Commissioners have proposed combining the post with Lynn Nyquist the Valley County Clerk and Recorder. Nyquist would see her pay increase by $5937 with the added duties of Superintendent of Schools. Nyquist has told the Commissioners that she might have to work extra but all the work could be done. The Commissioners estimate that they would see a savings of almost $10,000 with the consolidation.

One of the duties of the County Superintendent is to oversee the Lustre Elementary School District and those duties need to be covered by a certified teacher. Since Nyquist is not a certified teacher the Commissioners would need to contract out those services. Commissioner Marlene Erickson said at the hearing that they estimate the costs of the contracted services would be an estimated $1500 to $2000.

The Valley County Commissioners started the process of consolidating the County Superintendent position back in May of 2000 when Commissioners Marlene Erickson, Dave Reinhardt and Eleanor Pratt passed a resolution indicating a desire to combine the position with another elected position in Valley County. Then on December 24th the Commissioners made a decision to go ahead with a public hearing on the matter.

Twenty other counties in Montana have combined the County Superintendent position with another elected position.

The Commissioners expect to make a decision on the matter on Wedenesday.

The Nashua School Board of Trustees are inviting district patrons to join them in a work session Tues. Jan. 8th, this is concerning next year's budget. The Board wants & needs input. State legislators Sam Kitzenberg, Karl Waitsches & Jeff Pattison have been invited to attend & give views from the state perspective. The board will be hosting a potluck that will begin at 6p.m. an informal discussion will start at about 6:30p.m. & the monthly formal meeting will be at 8p.m. This will all be at the Nashua School.

Demoliton Starts On Former Southside School (Mon, Jan 7, 2002)
Please click on the above small pictures for a larger view.

Demolition started today on the former South Side Elementary School building with the demolition work being done by Fossum Ready-Mix.

The Prairie Ridge Assisted and Independent Living complex will be located on the former school property. Demolition is expected to last 3 to 4 weeks depending on weather conditions and preparation work for the actual construction is expected to take place this winter with actual construction expected to start this spring. Construction is expected to last up to 10 months with the complex ready for residents in 2003. The cost of the assisted and independent living complex is expected to be over 3 million dollars.

The Prairie Ridge Group is composed of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital and the Valley View Home.

The quarterly oil and gas lease sale conducted by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is scheduled for March 5 in Helena.

DNRC is preparing an environmental assessment, said DNRC Minerals Management Bureau Chief Monte Mason. The only action proposed at this time is issuing leases for possible future exploration and production.

“Before any activity occurs, DNRC will prepare a site-specific environmental review,” Mason said.
The state Board of Oil and Gas Conservation also must review and issue a permit before any activity can occur.

The March sale includes tracts in Carbon, Daniels, Dawson, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Lewis and Clark, McCone, Petroleum, Richland, Sheridan and Valley counties.

A map and detailed list of tracts being considered by DNRC may be obtained by calling Mason in Helena at 406-444-2074. The information also is available on the agency’s website at: www.dnrc.state.mt.us/trust/mmb.htm

Comments regarding the tracts should be submitted in writing to Mason by Jan. 25 at DNRC, P.O. Box 201601, 1625 Eleventh Avenue, Helena, Mont. 59620-1601.

U-S-D-A's Joint Ag-Weather Facility says downslope winds are returning to drought-affected winter wheat areas in Montana. The agency says those winds are eroding an already limited snow cover, and causing additional concerns about winterkill and soil erosion.

And if you want a concrete example of drought conditions, here's a telling statistic. The Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, near Malta, in north-central Montana, has been keeping weather records since 1905. Since that time, there have been three instances in which less than nine inches of precipitation was recorded in back-to-back years: 1935 and '36; 1960 and '61; and 2000-2001.

Richard Melbourne, 35, pleaded innocent in a Great Falls Federal Court on Thursday. He is accused of strangling 41 year old James Dean Shy Face on the Fort Peck Reservation in September. Shy Face was found dead near the Missouri River about seven miles southeast of town.

Melbourne was arrested on December 27th and is being held without bail at the Cascade County jail on charges of second-degree murder. He faces up to life in prison.

(Associated Press)The state wildlife agency has proposed a number of dates for the 2002 walleye tournament.

Fish Wildlife and Parks has tentatively scheduled dates for the tournament beginning on April 27th, for the Tough Guy Tournament on Fort Peck at Hell Creek. The tournament continues through the summer -- concluding with the Bighorn Canyon Walleye Challenge on Bighorn Lake. That event is tentatively scheduled for September Eighth and Ninth.

F-W-P is taking comment on the dates until January 25th. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Valley County Commissioners have given notice of a public hearing to discuss the possible consolidation of the County Superintendent of Schools and Assessor position with the County Clerk and Recorder position. The possible consolidation is an attempt to save the county money. The hearing is scheduled for January 8th at 10a.m. in the Commissioner's office. The purpose of the hearing is to allow any registered taxpayer to present evidence and testimony for or against the consolidation of these offices.
Further action will take place in mid-January after the public hearing.

The Valley County Commissioners have 3,966 acres of land slated to be pulled out of leases and sold in 2002. Six hundred forty of those acres will be traded with the Bureau of Land Management, but the Commissioners will still have approximately 4,000 acres to sell. The tracts of land, located around Valley County, will be advertised for sale in January.

Foggy Start To New Year (Tue, Jan 1, 2002)
	The new year started foggy and frosty in Glasgow, with dense fog settling in for most of the afternoon. Wednesday looks to be foggy again.   Current Forecast

The American Red Cross will have two blood drawings in Glasgow in January. On Tuesday, January 22nd at the Glasgow VFW Hall from 11am - 5:30 pm and on Wednesday, January 23rd at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital Conference Room from 10am - 2pm. For more information, contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-448-3543.

Carl C. "Swede" Fahlgren

Angeline “Angie” Golimowski

Veta Wood

Gwynetha Swenson

Mae Dellabaugh

Fern Lorene Lacy Karcher

Stephania "Styvie" Domaradska

Lillian Irene Crossen

Carl C. "Swede" Fahlgren died on Friday, January 25th at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings. He was 78. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29th at the Malta Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.

Angeline “Angie” Golimowski, 89, died of natural causes on January 18th at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Tuesday, January 22nd at 2p.m. at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with Reverend Dave Hodsdon officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in Poland to Valentine and Anna Przywara and moved with her family to Buffalo, New York. She was raised and attended schools in Buffalo. She worked many years as a supervisor of a laundry department of a Buffalo hospital, retiring in 1977. Angie moved to the Nemont Manor in Glasgow in 1989 to be with her family and resided there until December last year, when she moved to the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. She was an avid Buffalo Bills football fan and enjoyed professional wrestling. She also enjoyed knitting afghans, bingo, cards (especially rummy) and her grandchildren.

Survivors include 2 sons: Robert J. Golimowski and his wife Dianna of Glasgow, Frank J. Golimowski and his wife Barbara of San Antonio, Texas; 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 5 brothers.

Veta Wood, 82, died of natural causes on January 15th at the Good Samaritan Center in Malta. Services will be Tuesday, January 22nd at 10a.m. at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Veta was born in Dodson in 1919 to William and Eunice Edwards. She attended schools and graduated from Turner High School. Veta married Clayton Forrest Wood in 1947 in Dodson. She cooked for the Etchart Ranch for many years in Tampico. She was an active housewife who enjoyed art and sewing for her family, making quilts, and attending rodeos. Her husband preceded her in death in 1973.

Survivors include one son: Larry Clinton (Beaver) Wood of Wolf Point; 1 daughter: Faye Wood of Helena; 1 sister: Ellan Wilson of Malta; and grandchildren.

Gwynetha Swenson, 88, died of natural causes at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital on January 9th. Services will be Sunday, January 20th at the Glasgow Evangelical Church with burial in Twin Falls, Idaho. Delvin Hackwith will be officiating. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gwynetha was born in Twin Falls, Idaho to William and Georgiann Beckley. She grew up in Twin Falls and later married Lawrence Swenson in 1928. Gwynetha and Lawrence farmed outside of Jerome, Idaho, until his death in 1982. She then moved to Jerome, Idaho, until 1993 when she moved to Bozeman. She has lived in Glasgow since October 2001. She was a farm-wife and enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing and fishing.

Survivors include 2 granddaughters: Cammy Hackwith of Glasgow and Connie Swenson of Minneapolis and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence, and 2 sons: Arthur and Laurence Swenson.

Mae Dellabaugh, 82, died of natural causes on January 10th at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital. Services will be Monday, January 14th at 10 a.m. at Bell Chapel with services held in Great Falls at a later date. Burial will also be in Great Falls. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mae was born in Great Falls in 1919 and attended grades four through twelve there at St. Mary's School. She moved with her family to Fort Peck in January, 1941. She began work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the main office of the Fort Peck Dam in March of 1942, where she worked for over 43 years until her retirement in 1985. She owned her home and lived in Fort Peck until she moved to the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow in the summer of 1996.

Mae was a devout Catholic and attended mass and communion daily. She enjoyed working in her garden, loved her flowers and spending time with her cat. Mae was very loving and caring to her family, friends and relatives.

Mae was preceded in death by a twin sister Francis, and brother James, in addition to her father and mother. She is survived by her longtime friends Albert and Delcie Schartner and several cousins in Great Falls.

Fern Lorene Lacy Karcher, 84, died of natural causes on January 7th at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Friday, January 11th at 1 p.m. at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with Reverend Martin Mock officiating and with burial in the Nashua City Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Fern was born in Nashua in 1917 to Harry and Elsie Lindsey Lacy. She was born and homesteaded north of Nashua. She attended schools in Frazer and Nashua where she graduated from high school. In 1936 Fern married George Pug Karcher in Glasgow. They lived in Nashua, Vancouver, Washington, during the war, and returned to the Nashua and Fort Peck area to raise their family.

She was a member of the Gem and Mineral Club, Good Sams and Nashua and Glasgow Senior Citizens Associations. She enjoyed playing Bingo, crafts of all sorts, bowling, traveling, camping, fishing and hunting. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1993, a son-in-law, James Buchholz, and 4 sisters and 2 brothers.

Survivors include 1 brother: Cleatis Lacy and his wife Betty of Grand Coulee, Washington; 4 daughters: Janice Masters and her husband Arthur of West Yellowstone, Montana, Patricia Catt and her husband Donald of Kennewick, Washington, Joan Buchholz of Merced, California, and Karen Kuebler and her husband Dick of Nashua; 12 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

Stephania "Styvie" Domaradska of Glasgow died on Tuesday, January 1st of natural causes at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital. She was 81. Services were Monday, January 7th at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow with burial in Highland Cemetery. Reverend Thad Kozikowski officiated. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in 1920 in Aoj Kielce, Budristaw, Poland. At age 17 she was taken by the Nazis and placed in forced labor. For the remainder of WW II she did heavy work on a farm in Germany. She remembers always being hungry and cold. Her clothes were never dry from working in the rain and her feet were often cold because she did not have good shoes, wearing wooden shoes. Although the farm was productive, the best food was sent away; the farm workers were not allowed to have any. She recalls one day when one of the boys drank some of the good milk and was later beat up by the police as punishment. In addition, she has told of the workers making soup from grass for nourishment.

The farm belonged to a German family consisting of a father, who was killed in the war, a mother, a boy and a baby boy. Styvie had a hard time leaving the baby but not the farm. As the farms were liberated, she recalled the Allied soldiers telling the workers to take anything they wanted from the farm. She declined, and set out to make a new life for herself. Throughout the ordeal, and to the end of her life, Styvie remained a devout Catholic.

In May of 1945, Styvie went to a displaced persons camp and immigrated to the United States with the help of the Catholic Church. She arrived in New Orleans on a ship carrying 4,000 people on the day after Thanksgiving in 1950. She then traveled to Glasgow by train and resided here, working for Jack & Jean Baker at the Roosevelt Hotel and in their home for many years. She later worked at the Campbell Lodge for Mel and Gloria Fuhrman. In later years, she enjoyed cleaning in private homes, and through this, became a treasured part of many families.

Styvie realized a goal on June 24, 1985, when she became a citizen of the United States and counted this as one of the best days of her life. She took the oath before Judge Paul Hatfield in Federal Court in Great Falls, one of 23 people who became citizens that day. She was honored by her many friends during a reception the next day at St. Raphael's. To remember the event, she received four flags, including one from U.S. Representative Ron Marlenee that was flown in her honor in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1985.

She was devoted to her faith and was an active member of St. Raphael's Catholic Church, serving in St. Cecelia's Circle. In her later years, Styvie enjoyed the fellowship of friends at Nemont Manor, where she had lived since the late 90's.

Styvie is survived by many friends in the community who appreciated her courage and learned from her faith. Her friend, Harvey Weinmeister, died in 1996.

Lillian Irene Crossen, 79, died of natural causes on January 2nd at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services will be Tuesday, January 8th at 2p.m. at Bell Chapel in Glasgow with Reverend Martin Mock officiating. There will be a service in Saco at a later date. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery in Saco. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Lillian was born in Saco to William and Minnie Scheele. She attended school in Saco, graduating from Saco High School. She married Lawrence Crossen in Seattle in 1942. She lived both in California and Washington before returning to Montana in 1973. She has been a resident of Valley View since 1976.

Survivors include one son: Dwight Crossen of Campbell, California; 2 sisters: Evelyn Rusten of Seattle and Darlene Keil of Glasgow; 2 brothers: Leonard Scheele of Fort Benton and Don Scheele of Saco, and one grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister.