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News Archive January, 2005
 

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January Obituaries

Cold Weather Tips (Posted Tuesday, January 11, 2005 05:03 PM)

Arctic Blast To Hit Area On Wednesday (Posted Monday, January 10, 2005 01:14 PM

Valley County Government Investigated By The Montana Department Of Justice

Hatchery Production Expected B Fall 2005 (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 10:03 AM)

Kitzenberg Quits Teaching Position, Stays In Legislature (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 09:50 AM)

Record Cold Weather Possible Next Week (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 09:48 AM)

Gambling Still Big In The Area (Posted Thursday, January 6, 2005 09:53 AM)

City Sued Over Union Insurance (Posted Thursday, January 6, 2005 09:51 AM)

Power Outage Makes For Cold Night (Posted Wednesday, January 5, 2005 09:21 AM)

Treasurer's Office Hours Expanded (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 11:57 AM)

Commissioners Still Mulling Over Appeal Decision (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 11:07 AM)

2004 weather summary for Glasgow (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 10:41 AM)

Legislative Links (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 07:20 AM)

Montana Highway Patrol Investigating Head-On Collision Near Frazer (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 06:38 AM)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks Seeking Comments On 2005 Fishing Contests (Posted Thursday, January 27, 2005 11:03 AM)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment through Feb. 18 on fishing contests proposed for the open water season of 2005. On Fort Peck Reservoir 12 contests have been proposed, the most on a single body of water. Other popular sites for proposed contests are Noxon Rapids Reservoir and Flathead Lake.

Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing and participants in these contests may not keep any fish.

Applications for contests may be approved, denied or approved with conditions. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts or require additional access site maintenance when needed. Information on the proposed contests can be found on the FWP web site at www.fwp.mt.gov on the Fishing page under Hot Topics, or call 406-444-2449.

The public may comment on the proposed contests through Feb. 18 before FWP acts on the applications. Comments may be sent to FWP Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620 or emailed to npodolinsky@mt.gov .

Here is a list of the proposed summer fishing contests for 2005:
Region 6
Fort Peck Reservoir
April 30 (7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) - Tough Guy Tournament
June 4- 5 (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) - Rock Creek Walleye Tournament
June 11-12 (safelight-4 p.m.) - B.A.S.S. Federation Qualifier
June 25-26 (7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. -1 p.m.) - 5th Annual Pikemasters Tournament
July 7-9 (8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 7 a.m.-3 p.m.) - Montana Governor's Cup
July 23 (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) - Ladies Walleye Tournament
July 30-31 (7 a.m.-4 p.m.) - Hell Creek Walleye Tournament
Aug. 4-6 (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) - 3rd Annual Fish for a Cure
Aug. 13-14 (6 a.m.-2 p.m. and 7-3 p.m.) - Fall Classic
Aug. 20 (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) - Walleyes Unlimited Women's Walleye Tournament
Aug. 27 (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) - Salmon Derby
Sept. 17-18 (safelight-4 p.m.) - B.A.S.S. Federation Qualifier
Fresno Reservoir
May 21-22 (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) - Fresno Walleye Challenge
Milk River
June 4 (5 p.m.-12 a.m.) - Milk River Catfish Classic

Proposed Wind Farm Progressing (Posted Thursday, January 27, 2005 07:04 AM)

The proposed wind farm for Valley County is progressing with an application submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to construct transmission lines and a substation for the wind farm.

Jon Chafin, owner and manager of Wind Hunter based in Grapevine, Texas, told the Great Falls Tribune that they are in the midst of the environmental impact study and they hope to have the first phase of the project up an running by the end of 2006. Chafin said the project could generate 300 to 500 megawatts of power and it has the potential of being the largest project in Montana. The project would be located on leased state, federal and private land northwest of Glasgow on 10,000 acres.

Chafin said that Wind Hunter is working closely with the Valley County Commissioners and Two Rivers Economic Development to use wind energy as a clean, renewable source of energy to attract industry.

Two Positions Open On Glasgow School Board (Posted Tuesday, January 25, 2005 05:43 PM)

Two positions are open on the Glasgow School Board with the election set for May 3rd. Mark Falcon and Jennie Hallock are both up for re-election but neither has filed for another three-year term on the board.

The filing deadline for the Glasgow School Board is March 24th. Those interested in serving on the school board can pick up the necessary information at the administration building before March 24th.

Most Montana Schools Meet No Child Left Behind Act (Posted Thursday, January 20, 2005 01:14 PM)

A new report shows more than 80 percent of Montana schools are meeting new federal education standards. But an increasing number face sanctions, for repeatedly falling short. It is the second assessment of schools under the federal "No Child Left Behind" act. The law requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Among Montana's 857 public schools, 85 percent, or 732 schools, met the federal standards; and 15 percent, or 125 schools, did not. Failing to meet the standards in two or more consecutive years results in a school being required to spend money, on such things as teacher training and tutoring services -- or face loss of federal aid.

For information on how schools and school districts in Valley County were graded on the No Child Left Behind Act, you can access these web pages.

All Montana Public Schools: This file provides a list of the status of all Montana schools meeting the "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act:
http://www.opi.mt.gov/PDF/AYP/2004/2004AYPSchoolWeb.pdf

All Montana Public School Districts: This file provides a list of the status of all Montana school districts in meeting the "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act:
http://www.opi.mt.us/PDF/AYP/2004/2004AYPDistrictWeb.pdf

Schweitzer Proposes Selling Bonds To Help Repair St. Mary Canal (Posted Wednesday, January 19, 2005 05:28 PM)

(AP) - Governor Schweitzer is proposing the state issue ten (m) million dollars in bonds, to help pay for repairs to the Hi-Line's main water distribution system, the St. Mary Canal. The governor's chief policy adviser -- Hal Harper -- says the money could help leverage millions in federal dollars, needed to prevent the 88-year-old canal system from failing.

The St. Mary Canal starts on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It delivers water to 121-thousand acres of Hi-Line farmland, 14-thousand municipal water-users, wildlife habitat and recreation areas. Engineers say serious structural problems could lead to a catastrophic failure.

An agreement with the federal government requires local irrigators to pay for system upkeep, but the canal's maintenance bills far exceed the farmers' ability to pay. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Commissioners Await Court Transcripts (Posted Wednesday, January 19, 2005 05:27 PM)

The Valley County Commissioners are awaiting court transcripts from District Court before making a decision on whether to appeal a summary judgment from Judge David Cybulski.

In December, Cybulski ruled in favor of Valley County Attorney Ken Oster in his lawsuit against Valley County. Cybulski ordered Valley County to pay back wages, a 110% penalty, and attorney fees as the result of the summary judgment. The bill for those items is just over $16,100. Valley County must also pay for their own attorney, Max Davis, and his bill to the county through an invoice on January 4th was $6559.94. If Valley County were to not appeal the District Court decision the bill for this lawsuit would be $22,659.94.

The Commissioners are awaiting for the transcripts of the hearing and hope to have a decision on the appeal before the end of the month.

January 2005 First Two Weeks Summary and Warmer Weather Ahead! (Posted Tuesday, January 18, 2005 05:47 PM)
Written by forecaster and assistant climate focal point: Corey Bogel 

The coldest start to January in over 50 years at Glasgow. The month began under the grips of an arctic air mass that dropped in from Canada at the end of December and dropped the temperature to 31 below zero on the morning of the 5th. The cold coincided with a power outage that affected 3100 customers in the Glasgow area from about 2:30 am until 5:00 am.

Temperatures briefly moderated a bit at the start of the second week of January, but an even stronger cold front which originated across Siberia crossed the area during the morning of January 12th. Although the front only produced an inch of snow in Glasgow, it was accompanied by northwest wind of 30 to 40 mph with higher gusts that produced considerable blowing and drifting snow. Although conditions were not too bad in town, there were reports of white-out conditions across Valley County. The temperature in Glasgow plummeted to 29 below zero by the morning of the 13th, and the wind chill dropped to 49 degree below zero.

The cold weather lasted into the 3rd weekend of January with low temperatures of 32 below zero on the 14th and 15th, and 30 below on the 16th. The wind combined with the frigid temperatures to produce wind chills as low as 55 below zero at 3 am on the morning of the 14th.

Through the first half of January the average temperature at Glasgow was 11.2 degrees below zero, which was 21.4 degrees below the 30-year average. It has been the coldest start to the month of January since 1950. Only 1950 and 1916 had a colder start to the month of January. The all-time low temperature for the month of January is 56 below zero, which was set on January 12, 1916. The all-time low temperature record at Glasgow is 59 degrees below zero, which was set on February 15, 1936.

The coldest temperatures observed across northeast Montana during our recent arctic outbreak:

Culbertson: -42F, 1/14

Jordan: -39F, 1/14

Scobey 4NW: -39F, 1/14

Nashua: -38F, 1/14 & 1/15

Whitewater: -38F, 1/15

Plentywood: -37F, 1/14 & 1/16

Wolf Point: -37F, 1/14

Malta: -35F, 1/15 & 1/16

Glasgow (Downtown): -35F, 1/14 & 1/15

Winnett: -35F, 1/15

Glendive: -33F, 1/14

Glasgow (Airport): -32F, 1/14 & 1/15

Medicine Lake: -30F, 1/16

Sidney: -29, 1/14

The coldest wind chills observed across northeast Montana during our recent arctic outbreak:

Glasgow: -55F, 1/14

Opheim: -54F, 1/13

Wolf Point: -54F, 1/14

Scobey: -50F, 1/13

Plentywood: -48F, 1/14

Glendive: -46F, 1/15

During the first half of January the lowest observed temperature in the contiguous 48 states was observed in northeast Montana on 8 days:

1/2: -29F, Plentywood

1/4: -29F, Wolf Point

1/5: -41F, Culbertson

1/11: -23F, Wolf Point

1/12: -19F, Nashua

1/13: -29F, Port of Morgan

1/14: -42F, Culbertson

1/15: -38F, Nashua

So, what caused the unusually cold weather? The jet stream. The jet stream is an area of relatively strong winds concentrated within a narrow stream in the atmosphere (above 20,000 feet which steer storms). The jet stream was unusually far north across the eastern Pacific and took a dip unusually far south across northeast Montana, and allowed very cold air masses from Canada and Siberia to drop south into northeast Montana.

It looks like the second half of January will not be nearly as cold. The weather pattern is changing this week with the jet stream retreating north into Canada allowing milder air to build across eastern Montana. As of the time this article is being sent out at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, the temperature in Glasgow is already at 40 degrees, with 48 degrees in Winnett, 45 degrees in Sidney, and 41 degrees in Glendive. 

Annual Paleontology Dinner Set For January 25 (Posted Tuesday, January 18, 2005 05:45 PM)

Fort Peck Paleontology, the Dinosaur Field Station at Fort Peck, will hold it's Annual Dinner/Meeting on Tuesday evening, January 25, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn at Glasgow. There will be a program that includes a report and picture presentation of recent digs, collections and the on-going projects and preparation that is happening at the Field Station.

Also, the raffle drawing for the PECK'S REX? full-size skull replica will be held. There is still time to get tickets on this great raffle! This Annual Dinner/Meeting, with a no-host $9.00 per plate roast beef dinner, is open to the public. You are all invited out for the evening for a great program and dinner. Please RSVP (for the dinner) to the Field Station at 526-3539 by Monday, January 24.

Home Run Pond Ice-Fishing Festival Scheduled For February 5 (Posted Tuesday, January 18, 2005 05:43 PM)

Young anglers and their parents are invited to ice fish on Glasgow’s Home Run Pond and enjoy a hot lunch on Saturday, Feb. 5, courtesy of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Walleyes Unlimited.

The outing will begin at 10 a.m. and continue through 2 p.m. All anglers aged 14 and younger are welcome to come fish and no fishing or conservation licenses are required for the session. The pond is located in Sullivan Park, about a mile east of Glasgow on the Fort Peck Highway.

Participants can bring their own fishing gear, or use tackle and bait provided by Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Walleyes Unlimited and FWP volunteers will drill holes in the ice and heated ice shelters will be available if the weather is inclement. Walleyes Unlimited volunteers will provide lunch to participants.

The session is the second annual ice-fishing event on Home Run Pond. Similar to last year’s outing, the day is intended to be entertaining and educational, but it is not a competition. Because of safety concerns, Home Run Pond is closed to winter fishing except for organized events such as the one next month.

The main catch should be rainbow trout, according to Bill Wiedenheft, FWP’s regional fisheries manager.

“We planted several hundred rainbows in the fall, and I expect we’ll see some good winter survival of those fish,” he says. “When planted they ranged in size from 7 inches up to about 11 inches. There should also be some holdover yellow perch in the pond, and we planted several hundred small channel catfish last spring. I doubt winter anglers will catch catfish, because they become dormant in cold water, but fishing should be good for the trout.”

Parents are encouraged to remain with children. The fishing event will end at 2 p.m., and Home Run Pond will be closed to fishing until spring, when the ice breaks up and the open-water angling season can begin.

Contact Fish, Wildlife & Parks at 228-3700 or a member of the Glasgow chapter of Walleyes Unlimited for more information on the Feb. 5 event.

Missouri River Reservoirs At All-Time Low (Posted Tuesday, January 18, 2005 02:15 AM)

(AP) - The US Army Corps of Engineers says storage in Missouri River reservoirs ended 2004 at an all-time low of 35-point-2 (m) million acre feet, after prolonged drought in the basin.

Runoff in 2004 was just 66 percent of the long-term average, the fifth consecutive year of below-normal runoff. The corps says it expects to shorten the downstream navigation season this year anywhere from 33 to 61 days.

As of January first, mountain snowcap was 70 percent of normal above Fort Peck Dam in Montana, and 77 percent of normal between Fort Peck and Garrison Dam in North Dakota. Officials say that even if there is normal precipitation, runoff would still be well below normal because of the dry soil conditions. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Cold Start To 2005, But Most Records Unbroken (Posted Monday, January 17, 2005 07:00 AM)

The recent arctic cold front that hit northeast Montana hard didn't leave many record breaking cold temperatures but it has made January one of the coldest months in history.

The National Weather Service is reporting that through January 15th it has been the coldest start to the month since 1950. It has also been the 3rd coldest start to the month since records began in 1893. Only 1916 and 1950 have been colder during the month of January. The average temperature has been minus 11.2 degrees which is 21.4 degrees below average.

Through January 15th there had been a total of 16 consecutive days with a low temperature below zero.

The most consecutive days with a low temperature below zero was 46 days which occurred in 1915 and 1936.

The coldest temperatures across northeast Montana during the cold snap:
Culbertson- minus 42 degrees on January 14th
Jordan- minus 39 degrees on January 14th
Nashua- minus 38 degrees set on January 14th
Plentywood- minus 37 degrees on January 14th

South Dakota Governor Calls For Missouri River Summit (Posted Saturday, January 15, 2005 07:22 AM)

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds wants a summit meeting of governors from Missouri River states, to discuss options for managing the drought-stricken river. He says if the other governors agree -- he would like to hold a summit on February Seventh in Sioux Falls.

Rounds says the annual operating plan recently announced by the U-S Army Corps of Engineers should be modified to help both upstream and downstream states. He says the current plan would release too much water from upstream dams this year -- which might increase the harm next year to upstream fishing, irrigation systems, drinking water systems, and downstream power plants. He says if officials start looking at some alternatives, all states might be better off.

Rounds says he believes the corps would consider operating changes if all states that border the river reach an agreement. (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Cold Weather Tips (Posted Tuesday, January 11, 2005 05:03 PM)

The state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) warned Tuesday that Montanans should take precautions to protect their health and safety if an anticipated arctic cold front plunges temperatures to well below zero.

"A lot of Montanans take pride in being unfazed by a little frigid weather," said Dr. Robert Wynia, director of DPHHS. "But they should keep in mind that exposure to extreme cold can put their health and safety at risk. That's especially true for infants and the elderly."

Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia, he noted. Overexertion during cold snaps puts a greater burden on the heart and can precipitate a heart attack. Even staying indoors has its risks.

"If you use a fireplace or space heater to stay warm, there's a greater risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning," Wynia said.

He suggested that Montanans check in daily during extremely cold weather on elderly friends, family, or neighbors who live alone. He also recommended taking the following precautions:

Prepare your home

A key to weathering an extreme cold snap is to plan for it. When forecasters predict bitter weather, make sure you have plenty of: * food that does not require cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers, peanut butter, canned food and fruit (in case of power outages);
* bottled water or tap water stored in clean containers (in case pipes freeze and break);
* medications you require (in case travel is restricted);
* batteries for flashlights, lamps, and radios;
* matches for lighting candles;
* warm clothing, including hats and gloves; and
* extra blankets or sleeping bags.

It's also a good idea to have an alternate way to heat your home during a power failure, such as a fireplace, wood stove, kerosene heater, or electric space heater. Make sure you have an adequate supply of fuel.

Prepare your car

If you must travel during the cold spell, equip your car with a winter survival kit that includes:
* a flashlight and extra batteries;
* a windshield scraper;
* a first aid kit;
* a tool kit;
* paper towels;
* extra clothes;
* matches and candles;
* booster cables;
* a compass;
* road maps;
* sand or cat litter;
* tire chains;
* a collapsible shovel;
* blankets;
* a container of drinking water; and
* high-calorie, nonperishable food.

Keep your gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Never warm up your car by letting it idle in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, like a closed garage.

Heat your home safely

If you must use an alternate heating system, be extremely careful. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember these safety tips:
* Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home;
* Use fireplace, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they're properly vented to the outside;
* Make sure you have adequate ventilation if you must use a kerosene heater;
* Use only the type of fuel your heater is designed to use-don't substitute;
* Don't place a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch on fire, and never cover a space heater;
* Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water;
* Never leave children or pets unattended near a space heater;
* Avoid using extension cords to plug in a space heater; and
* Store a multipurpose dry-chemical fire extinguisher near the area you're trying to heat.

Light and cook safely

If there's a power failure:
* Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles whenever possible;
* Never leave lighted candles unattended;
* Never use a portable camping stove or a charcoal or gas grill indoors, because the fumes are deadly;
* Never use an electric generator indoors, in the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; and
* Don't store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.

If you don't already have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, install them as soon as possible. And don't forget to check the batteries regularly.

Conserve heat

While indoors, try to keep at least one room heated to 70 degrees. This is especially important for the elderly and small children, to prevent hypothermia.

Infants lose body heat more easily than adults and can't warm themselves by shivering. Older adults often produce less body heat because their metabolism has slowed and they engage in less physical activity. People over age 65 also are less able to feel changes in temperature, so they should check an indoor thermometer often.

You can also conserve heat by avoiding alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature. Eating hot well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer, too.

When venturing outdoors, wear layered clothing for better protection from the cold. Wear a hat to avoid rapid heat loss from an uncovered head, and cover exposed skin to avoid frostbite.

Avoid exertion

Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart, because your body is already working harder to keep warm. If you are elderly or have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold.

If you must do outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Don't smoke, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages, or eat a heavy meal before shoveling.

Heart attacks are not always sudden and intense. Warning signs include discomfort or pain in the center of the chest; discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; and/or breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadness. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Minutes matter!

Avoid ice

Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand can also help reduce the risk of slipping.

Wear boots with deep lug soles. For extra stability, try wearing traction cleats that attach to the bottoms of your boots much like tire chains. If you do fall, and you strike your head, don't assume you're fine just because you see no blood or fracture. Even if the skull is not fractured, the brain can bang against the inside of the skull and be bruised, causing a concussion. The head may look fine, but complications could result from bleeding inside the skull. Signs of a head injury may develop slowly over several hours. For a mild head injury, no specific treatment may be needed. However, closely monitor whether any symptoms develop over the next 24 hours. Get medical help immediately if you:
* Becomes unusually drowsy;
* Develop a severe headache or stiff neck;
* Vomit more than once;
* Lose consciousness, even briefly; or
* Notice your behavior is abnormal. Prevent hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Because a body temperature that is too low affects the brain, many victims are unable to think clearly and may not realize what is happening. Other symptoms include slurred speech, memory lapses, stumbling and decreased coordination, uncontrollable shivering, and drowsiness.

The elderly and infants are among those at greatest risk of hypothermia. In infants, the condition causes bright red, cold skin and a very low energy level.

If you notice any of these signs, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, get medical help immediately. If you can't get medical care, get the person into a warm room or shelter and do the following:
* Remove any wet clothing;
* Warm the head and trunk of the body first using an electric blanket or skin-to-skin contact;
* Provide warm nonalcoholic beverages if the person is conscious;
* After the body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in warm blankets, including the head and neck; and
* Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Prevent frostbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin becomes cold enough to actually freeze. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. It can cause permanent damage and may even lead to amputation.

Those most vulnerable to frostbite include people with poor blood circulation and those who don't dress properly for extreme cold. Signs are numbness, a whitish or grayish-yellow skin area, and skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

If you see signs of frostbite, seek medical care. Also, check for symptoms of hypothermia, a more serious medical condition requiring emergency medical assistance. If there is frostbite but no hypothermia and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:
* Get the victim into a warm room as soon as possible;
* Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes unless absolutely necessary;
* Immerse the affected area in warm-not hot-water, or warm the area using body heat;
* Do not massage the frostbitten area or rub it with snow; and
* Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. It is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns, and gas ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. If you think you may have CO poisoning, get away from the source of the gas and consult a health care professional right away.

You can find these tips on the DPHHS Web site at www.dphhs.mt.gov. For additional information, visit the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/

Arctic Blast To Hit Area On Wednesday (Posted Monday, January 10, 2005 01:14 PM)

(From Tanya Fransen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service) We have another arctic front coming through the region on Wednesday between 6 a.m and 6 p.m. This system is colder than the one that hit us last week, in which Scobey hit -44 below, and Glasgow hit -32 below. (Scobey was the coldest spot in the USA for 4 days in a row last week.)

As the front moves through, winds will be from the northwest and increase into the 20 to 35 mph range, which means the wind chill will drop to 25 to 40 below with the Whitewater, Opheim and Scobey areas hitting wind chills of 50 below. Also, these strong winds will cause blowing snow with visibilities quickly dropping to near zero in locations along highways that are favorable for drifting.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings will all be extremely cold. The big issue will be if the wind does not go calm and the skies don't clear out. When we lose cloud cover, it's like taking a blanket off, and the temperatures will really plummet. The winds help to keep the temperature warmer at night as well (they keep the cold air from sinking into the valleys). At this time, we have winds in the 6-13 mph range Thursday through Saturday, and when you take into account the wind chill, we'll see readings in the 35 to 55 below range occasionally throughout the three days. It only takes 5 minutes for your flesh to start freezing in this range.

Quick look significant weather forecast for NE Montana (a map of our forecast area, in white, is attached for location reference):
Wednesday: Winds becoming NW 25 to 40 mph. Chance of snow 30-40%, Blowing snow all afternoon. Highs -5 NW to 10 above SE

Wednesday night: Temps -17 south, to -30 along Canadian border. Wind Chill to 50 below if wind is above 10 mph.

Thursday: Highs around 0 in S Wibaux County to -25 below in Opheim.

Thursday night: Lows -21 south to -40 north.

Friday: Highs -1 Winnett to -16 in Glasgow.

Friday Night: Lows -15 south to -40 north.

Saturday: Highs 12 above in Petroleum County to 8 below in Plentywood.

Some safety tips:
-Only travel if absolutely necessary. If you do travel, let someone know when you are leaving, the route you are taking and your expected arrival time. Check in with them when you reach your destination.

-Only travel if you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Carry a snowsuit, extra gloves, a sleeping bag, dried foods, water, a tin can or two, candles, basic tool kit, flashlight, battery operated radio, cell phone, first aide kit with medications that may be needed, folding shovel, cat litter or gravel, and a signaling device.

-Make sure that the elderly and children are properly dressed, in several loose fitting cotten layers before going outdoors. The only body part you should be able to see is the eyes.

-Stock up on items such as bread, milk, and water. Also, diapers and formula if you have an infant at home. Make sure prescriptions are filled with enough advance to carry you through a cold spell.

Valley County Government Investigated By The Montana Department Of Justice

The Montana Department of Justice's Investigation Bureau is investigating possible criminal issues in Valley County government according to the Montana Department of Justice. The Chief of the Division of Criminal Investigation, John Strandell, told Kltz/Klan that an investigator was in Glasgow this week at the request of Valley County Attorney Ken Oster and Sheriff Glenn Meier investigating the possible criminal issues.

Strandell said that the investigator finished his work in Glasgow on Thursday and is expected to have his report ready for review by next week. Strandell then said that he and the investigator will review the report and make a decision on whether to turn the case over to the Valley County Attorney for possible prosecution.

Strandell also said that he was not at liberty to discuss the nature of the investigation or what it involved.

Hatchery Prouction Expected By Fall 2005 (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 10:03 AM)

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has announced that the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery is taking form and production from the hatchery is expected to begin in the fall of 2005.
FWP told Kltz/Klan that the hatchery is expected to be completed in August of 2005 and the hatchery is funded through completion at a cost of $22.5 million dollars.

The construction of the hatchery is ahead of schedule when it comes to the building of the ponds but is behind schedule with the actual hatchery building because of manufactured parts being delayed from suppliers.

A hatchery manager has already been hired and is currently in Miles City working at the warm water hatchery located there. Additional staff will be hired this summer to start in the fall. Thee other employees will be hired as fish culturists.

Kitzenberg Quits Teaching Position, Stays In Legislature (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 09:50 AM)

State Senator Sam Kitzenberg surprised many in the Glasgow area by announcing that he has resigned his teaching position with the Glasgow School District effective December 31st.

Kitzenberg, who currently is in Helena serving in the Montana Senate told Kltz/Klan on Thursday of the resignation. He has spent the past 15 years as an English teacher at the Glasgow High School.

Kitzenberg said that he has no job lined up when he gets back from the legislative session in April. He said that he and his wife Ronnie will both be looking for work when the legislative session ends. He also said that he is not planning to leave the area and will keep his Senate seat through the end of the term which is in 2008.

Kitzenberg gave no apparent reason for the resignation except saying that it was time for a change and he looks forward to the challenges ahead in his life. He said he will miss the students and his colleagues at the Glasgow High School.

Record Cold Weather Possible Next Week (Posted Friday, January 7, 2005 09:48 AM)

The National Weather Service is projecting that Montana could be hit with a heavy dose of frigid weather starting January 13th.

Tanja Fransen of the National Weather Service told Kltz/Klan that frigid air could hit the Glasgow area late next week and the possibility exists that it could bring record breaking low temperatures.

The current all-time record low is -59 degrees set on February 15th of 1936. Fransen said that some forecasters have commented that they have never seen an arctic air mass like the one that could hit Montana next week.

The National Weather Service will have a better idea of the scope of the frigid air by January 10th and will inform the public whether they should prepare for temperatures that could reach -60 degrees.

Glasgow is already off to a cold start in January with the average temperature at -12.9 degrees which is 23.4 degrees below average. It's also the coldest start to the month of January since 1982.

Gambling Still Big In The Area (Posted Thursday, January 6, 2005 09:53 AM)

Gambling continues to be popular for residents of the Glasgow area and the tax revenue from the gambling machines continues to help fund local governments. A new report from the Montana Gambling Control Division shows that in fiscal year 2004, gambling increased almost 8 percent. People in Montana bet $868.3 million on legal gambling activities in fiscal year 2004.

Video gambling machines paid $50.1 million in taxes to the state and local government in fiscal year 2004, up 9 percent from the previous year.

Locally, here are statistics detailing the amount of taxes paid to local governments from gaming.
Fiscal Year 2004-4th quarter
Valley County- $28,045
City of Glasgow- $41,301
Town of Nashua- $1569
Town of Opheim- $592
Fiscal Year 2005-1st quarter
Valley County- $33,255
City of Glasgow- $43,648
Town of Nashua- $1424
Town of Opheim- $1030

City Sued Over Union Insurance (Posted Thursday, January 6, 2005 09:51 AM)

The city of Glasgow is being sued by the Montana Teamsters Employers Trust alleging that the city has abridged its collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters Local Union No. 2.
Glasgow Mayor Willie Zeller and the Glasgow City Council discussed the lawsuit during the council meeting this week.

The union conducted an audit of city employees and found that some of them were not participating in the Teamsters health insurance program. In October the Teamsters sent a letter to the city requesting payment of $68,203.94 for premiums, penalties, interest and audit fees. The lawsuit was filed on December 10th.

Mayor Zeller in November had written the Teamsters that the city never had any indication that they were out of compliance.

Zeller had asked the Teamsters to provide the city with a copy of any agreement requiring every city employee to be enrolled in the Teamsters health insurance program. No documentation was ever supplied to the city and Zeller wrote that the city disputes the Teamster audit results, which demand payment for employees who have never received any insurance coverage from the Teamsters Trust. Zeller asked the Teamsters to waive the charges assessed against the city.

The lawsuit was then filed against the city in December and asks for contributions supposedly owed to the trust, for attorney fees, for costs of the audit, and for liquidated damages and interest.
The lawsuit has been turned over the city's insurance company.

Power Outage Makes For Cold Night (Posted Wednesday, January 5, 2005 09:21 AM)

Over 3100 customers were hit with a power outage this morning in the Glasgow area according to Northwestern Energy. The outage was caused by a transmission line problem and began at 2:30am. Northwestern officials told Kltz/Klan that power was restored to all customers just after 5:00am. All of Glasgow and the surrounding area was affected by the power outage. The outage occurred during bitterly cold temperatures in the Glasgow area with temperatures in the 25 degree below zero range during the power outage.

Treasurer's Office Hours Expanded (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 11:57 AM)

The office hours for the Valley County Treasurers office have been expanded to better serve the public according to Jenny Reinhardt. She told Kltz/Klan that the new office hours effective January 10th will be 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Reinhardt explained that this will give customers of the Treasurers office an option to complete their business before they go to work early in the morning or they can still do their business during the noon hour.

She also explained that the expansion of office hours will not cost the county extra money because employees of the office are staggering their office hours to staff the office from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Commissioners Still Mulling Over Appeal Decision (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 11:07 AM)

The Valley County Commissioners are still mulling a decision on whether or not to appeal a District Court decision involving Valley County Attorney Ken Oster. Last month Judge David Cybulski ruled in favor of Oster in a lawsuit involving unpaid wages and ordered the county to pay back wages, a 110% penalty and attorney fees in the case. The bill including fees paid to the attorney representing Valley County have totaled over $21,000.

Valley County Commissioner Dave Pippin told Kltz/Klan on Tuesday that the commissioners held a conference call with their attorney last week and will soon decide whether to appeal the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court. Pippin said the commissioners have 30 days from the signing of the summary judgment by Judge Cybulski to make the decision.

In a related story, there soon could be legislation in the Montana Legislature that would increase the salary for the county attorney's in Montana. The Montana Association of Counties has formed a committee to look at proposals that would increase the attorneys salaries. The current Valley County Attorney Ken Oster has a yearly salary of $67,112.

One of the proposals floating around the legislature would increase the county attorneys salary to $80,000 per year.

2004 weather summary for Glasgow (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 10:41 AM)

(from the National Weather Service) January was colder than normal with much above normal precipitation. It was the snowiest January ever, with 32.9 inches of snow, breaking the previous record of 28.8 set in 1916. 2 feet of snow fell in just the last 8 days...and by late in the month the all-time season snowfall record of 60.9 inches set in 1951-52 had already been broken. Snow depths reached a near-record 26 inches.

February started very cold...but the rest of the month had close to normal temperatures with no sub-zero readings. Snowfall was near normal...and brought depths to an all-time record 29 inches. This occurred with the 54 mph blizzard winds on the 10th. The month was unusually foggy...with dense fog reported on 12 dates.

March was warmer and drier than normal. The only snowfall and significant cold was in the first week. The record snow depths slowly but steadily melted...the ground going bare by the 25th. The last 2 days of the month had record highs in the 70s.

April was also warmer and drier than normal. Ironically during the record snowy winter...april had only a trace of snowfall which has happened only 7 times in since 1893. Only 6 nights during the month were below freezing. may was cooler and wetter than normal. Another unusually late season snowfall of 3 inches on the 11-12th ended the record seasons snowfall with a total of 70.7 inches.

June was the coolest in 35 years...3rd coolest ever. It continued the pattern of cool Junes in recent years...the 7th June in a row to be cooler than normal. Most rainfall was in the first half of the month...including 1.3 inches on the 10th. A record low of 37 occurred on the 24th.

July was slightly cooler and wetter than normal. the first hot spell of the year occurred on from the 14th to 20th. The first 90 degree day of the year occurred on the 14th...which was 6 weeks later than normal and just 2 days from the record latest ever. The 4th of July was very cool and wet...with 1.1 inches of rain and a high of only 61... which was the 10th coolest high ever observed in the month of July.

August was much cooler than normal...coolest august since 1993. Only the last day of the month reached 90 degrees. only 1 night had a low in the 60s. The 3 month summer period of June through august turned out to be the 3rd coolest on record...especially interesting in that it followed one of the hottest summers the previous year. A severe thunderstorm on the first produced 71 mph winds.

September ended the 4 month cool spell with temperatures a little above normal...including a record 97 on the first. it was also drier than normal with only 4 days of measurable rainfall. The first freeze occurred on the 21st which is about normal.

October was also drier than normal and a little cooler than normal. the first snowfall was on the 16th...but was only a dusting. during this time 4 days in a row had highs only in the 30s.

November was the 4th straight month to be drier than normal. It was considerably warmer than normal...but turned cool the last week. a 30 day spell without any measurable precipitation ended on the 19th. It was the 2nd longest dry spell in the past 30 years. The first significant snowfall of the season occurred the day after Thanksgiving.

December was much warmer than normal with above average Precipitation. The month got off to the warmest start since 1959 During the first 20 days of the month. It turned much colder late In The month. The first sub-zero temperature occurred on the 21st...which was almost a month later than normal. A storm on the 30th produced a period of freezing rain and sleet followed by Over 6 Inches of snow. The snow combined with strong winds to produce Considerable blowing and drifting snow to close out the month. By The end of the month a total of 10.3 inches of snow fell...which aside from last December made it the snowiest December since 1998.

Legislative Links (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 07:20 AM)

The Montana Legislature is off and running and Kltz/Klan will strive to keep you updated on the issues that will have an impact on the daily lives of those living in northeastern Montana.

For those of you interested in keeping tabs on the Legislature the easiest way is to use the Montana Legislative Website. Through this website you can access all the legislation that has been introduced, voting records, hearing times and status of all legislation. Here is the internet address for the Montana Legislature:
http://laws.leg.state.mt.us/pls/laws05/LAW0200W$.startup

You can also keep updated on the legislation introduced by area legislators:

Senator Sam Kitzenberg:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=166

Representative Wayne Stahl:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=3846

Representative Margaret Campbell:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=3845

Representative Jonathan Windy Boy:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=2634

Senator Frank Smith:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=194

Representative Karl Waitschies:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=88&LAWSID=1415

Montana Highway Patrol Investigating Head-On Collision Near Frazer (Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2005 06:38 AM)

The Montana Highway Patrol continues an investigation into a head-on collision that occurred the evening of January 1st. The accident occurred at 6:40pm on U.S. Highway #2 just east of the town of Frazer.

According to Officer Mitch Willett of the Montana Highway Patrol, a 2001 Saturn driven by 18-year old Tyler Ackerman of Frazer was westbound when it crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a Ford Taurus driven by 53-year old Shelley Rodenberg of Wolf Point. Willett told Kltz/Klan that the vehicle driven by Ackerman included two passengers, a 19-year old male from Frazer and a 17-year old female from Poplar. Rodenberg was alone in the vehicle she was driving.

All people involved in the accident were transported to the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital with Rodenberg then being flown to Billings for additional treatment. Alcohol was a factor in the incident.
Two ambulances from Glasgow and an ambulance from Wolf Point responded to the accident to help transport the victims. The accident also closed U.S. Highway #2 for almost an hour as emergency personnel had to remove two of the individuals from the vehicles with the Jaws of Life.

Officer Willett told Kltz/Klan that the weather conditions were bitterly cold with temperatures near 25 degrees below zero. He thanked all the emergency personnel for their hard work in the chilly conditions. He mentioned that all agencies worked extremely well together in very adverse conditions. Those agencies involved in the incident included the Valley County Sheriffs Department, Fort Peck Tribes, Valley County Long Run Fire Department, Wolf Point Fire Department and emergency personnel from Roosevelt County and Valley County.

Willett closed by saying that the incident is still under investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved since the accident involved Native Americans on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

JANUARY OBITUARIES

Don Junior Burke

NAME: Don Junior Burke
AGE: 82 years
DATELINE: Glasgow, Montana
DATE OF DEATH: Thursday - January 27, 2005
CAUSE OF DEATH: natural causes
PLACE OF DEATH: at his family home on the ranch in south Valley County
SERVICE: Monday - January 31, 2005 at 11:00 A.M.
PLACE OF SERVICE: First United Methodist Church in Glasgow, MT
OFFICIATING: Rev. Dave Hodsdon
BELL MORTUARY of Glasgow in charge of arrangements.

BORN: March 10, 1923 in Malta, Montana
PARENTS: Junior Burke and Myrtle Burke
Don was born in Malta and attended the Lone Pine School in South Valley County.

He attended two years of high school in Malta and then graduated from Glasgow High School. He has been a life-long rancher and stockman.

Don married Julie Burke on July 14, 1971 in Kalispell, Montana. They have resided on the family ranch in South Valley County.

He was a member of the Montana Stockgrowers, Montana Hereford Association, National Rifle Association, Elks Lodge, Fort Peck Game Range Committee, Will JamesSociety, the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bit making, rawhide working, leather working, gardening and coin collecting.

SURVIVORS:
Wife: Julie Burke of the ranch south of Glasgow, MT
Sons: Keith and (Alexandra) Burke of Glasgow, MT
Kelly and Tami Burke of Glasgow and their
3 children Zach, Haley, and Nichole, all of Glasgow
Casey Burke of Whitefish, Montana
Sister: Gwen Williams of Mission Viejo, California

Elsie Paulina Wagner Beck

NAME: Elsie Paulina Wagner Beck
AGE: 90
DATELINE: Glasgow, Montana
DATE OF DEATH: Wednesday ˆ January 26, 2005
CAUSE OF DEATH: Natural Causes
PLACE OF DEATH: Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT
SERVICE: Tuesday- February 1, 2005 at 11:00 A.M
PLACE OF SERVICE: Bell Chapel in Glasgow, Montana
OFFICIATING: Pastor K. Troy Ley
INTERMENT: Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, Montana
MORTUARY IN CHARGE: Bell Mortuary of Glasgow, MT

BORN: February 22, 1914 in Golden Valley, North Dakota
PARENTS: Alexander Wagner and Gottliebe (Gust) Wagner

Elsie married Jack Beck on November 28, 1958 in Hazen, North Dakota. She then moved with Jack to Glasgow, taking along her father Alex and caring for him until his passing.

Elsie was an excellent homemaker, a member of the First Lutheran Church and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She was a seamstress and enjoyed needlework. She did charity work through the First Lutheran Church whenever she could.

Her husband Jack passed away on November 28, 1997. Elsie spent her last few years at the Nemont Manor and Valley View Home in Glasgow. She loved having her old and new friends around, especially her dearest and long time friend Adeline Mitchell. The family wants to extend a very special thank you to Bonnie Kemp, Elsie's "adopted" daughter and care-giver until the end, and to the staff at Valley View.

SURVIVORS:
Daughter: Joyce Anast and husband George of Salt Lake City, Utah
Grandchildren: Denise Wayman and Ray of Salt Lake City, Utah
Chris Anast and Renae of Eagle Mountain, Utah
Connie Anast of Salt Lake City, Utah
Great granddaughter: Sarah Anast of Eagle Mountain, Utah
Brother: Art Wagner of Harvey, North Dakota
Preceded in death by parents and siblings.

Ardice Marie Bowles Stellflug

Ardice Marie Bowles Stellflug was born June 4, 1953 to Leon W. and Rita E. (Beauchman) Bowles. She passed away at home on January 23, 2005. She was raised in Glasgow, MT but spent many summers with her Grandparents, Florence and Doc Copen in Lewistown. She was the oldest of four children. She had two sisters, Renee Bowles, Nancy (Bowles) Dale, and a brother Hal Bowles. She attended St. Raphael's Catholic Grade School and then graduated from Glasgow High School in 1971. She attended Eastern Montana College in Billings, MT and Montana State University in Bozeman, MT where she studied photography, which was a passion of hers.

In 1968 she met and fell in love with Richard Stellflug. They were married at St. Raphael's Catholic Church July 22, 1972 and honeymooned in Yellowstone National Park. They lived and worked at the family's Tiger Butte Angus Ranch between Glasgow and Nashua. In 1975 they had their first child, a daughter, Stacy Marie. In 1977 they were blessed with a second child, a son, Justin Lynn. In 1977 after her parents and sister Renee were killed they moved back to Glasgow to live with her brother Hal and sister Nancy.

They continued to reside in Glasgow seeing both of their children graduate from Glasgow High School after which Stacy went to college and Justin joined the Air Force. In 1991 she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a rare autoimmune disorder that frequently robbed her of her energy but didn't stop her from doing the things she loved.

Mom thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family and being involved in many activities in the community. One of her most cherished past-times was planning, organizing, and spending time being involved with the Northeast Montana Quarter Horse Association and the 4-H Horse Shows. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, tending to her flowers and houseplants. She also enjoyed having coffee and lunch with her good friends. Another favorite pastime of Mom's was checking out the countryside with Dad.

Mom was a kind and generous person always willing to help others. She knew just when to tell you to buck up and when to give you a shoulder to cry on. Even when she didn't feel well she had time to talk to a mend or family member about whatever was on their mind. One of her best buddies and constant companions was her Yorkshire Terrier, Paddy. Paddy came into mom's life on Mother's Day as a gift trom us. Paddy and mom were inseparable. One of mom's happiest days was finding out that she was actually going to be a grandmother with her first grandbaby to be born this April. She found out that her second grandbaby was to be born in August and couldn't believe that she finally would have grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Rick of Glasgow; children, Stacy and her husband Mike Handley of Billings, MT and Justin and his wife Michelle currently stationed in Germany, brother Hal and wife Nancy Bowles of Hulett, WY and their daughters Megan and Mariah, and sister Nancy and husband Mike Dale of Glasgow, MT and their children Melissa and Nathan. She is aIso survived by in-laws including her mother-in-law Thelma Stellflug, sisters-in-law Shirley and Dick Hordern, Dorothy and Glenn AuIt, brother-in-law John and Cheryl Stellflug, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leon and Rita Bowles, her sister Renee Bowles, and her father-in-law John Stellflug.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 27, 2005, at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Glasgow with Father Michael Schneider presiding. Interment will be at the HigWand Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Ardice Stellflug Memorial Horse Show fund care of First Community Bank, Attention: Danielle Anderson; P.O. Box 191, Glasgow, MT 59230.

LaVerne Rushton Rahlf
Laverne Rushton Rahlf died January 22, 2005, in Billings, Montana. She had suffered many years with heart disease and diabetes. She was born in Hawbush, Utah, to Mabel Lydia Leavitt and Frederick John Rushton on August 31, 1921. She attended schools with her sixteen brothers and sisters in Delta, Utah; Simms, Montana; and Glasgow, Montana. She married Verl May Tippetts, a marriage solemnized in the Latter-day Saint temple in Cardston, Alberta. She was widowed by his death in an automobile accident in 1943 near Tacoma, Washington. She later married Robert Alexander, a marriage that ended in divorce but resulted in two talented daughters. She married Frank Robert Rahlf in 1951 in Great Falls, Montana, a marriage later solemnized in the temple in Cardston, Alberta. They settled in Glasgow, Montana, where Frank worked for the U.S. Postal Service. They had many happy and productive years together. She is preceded in death by her beloved Frank and a treasured daughter, Paula Jo Rahlf.

LaVerne's life was filled to the brim with her extended family; her brothers and sisters were a lifeline to her during hard times and a delight in good times. Her life was also filled with joy in her own 10 children, in her gardens, and in the creation of beauty through her artistry with sewing and quilts. There are hundreds of close and distant friends in Montana and elsewhere who own a "LaVerne Rahlf quilt" and who treasure it as representative of her generosity and friendship. She also donated quilts for mothers and their newborns to the WIC program for many years. When LaVerne's arms became too weak to quilt she embroidered hundreds of tea towels in her last years and took great pleasure in giving them away to whomever happened to drop by her room. She gave a lifetime of service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding many capacities including Relief Society President and Gospel Doctrine Teacher.

Although she experienced much heartache in her early life with the loss of the husband of her youth, she never allowed adversity to dampen her native optimism. To her older children, who lived through those times with her, she was heroic in the care she gave. She had a great capacity for friendship and carried the ability to find common ground with almost everyone she met. Her laughter wove through thousands of heart-to-heart conversations, and her bright personality enlivened any room she entered. She cultivated hundreds of long-lasting friendships through the years. She was a hard-working, take-charge person who could manage any public affair and organize any group to get the job at hand done in quick-time--and make it fun besides.

In 1957 LaVerne and Frank purchased their farm east of Glasgow, fulfilling a lifetime dream. They operated the farm as a commercial garden, supplying fresh vegetables to Valley County and commercial customers as far away as Great Falls and Canada. "Rahlf's Gardens" became a unique place for Valley County residents, and many a potential customer came to buy produce and found themselves on a tour of a luxuriant garden spot. They usually left with arm-loads of vegetables and new friends as a bonus. LaVerne and Frank sold the farm after 30 years and retired in Glasgow in 1987.

Laverne is survived by eight brothers and sisters. She has nine living children: Janeanne Tippetts Snow (Gary); David Verl Tippetts (Sherry); Susanne Tippetts Sherwood (Joseph); Roberta Lee Rahlf; Mae Rahlf Hudson (Leon); George Rushton Rahlf (Lori); Edie Rahlf Tlahuel (Arturo); Willie Frank Rahlf (Rona); and Fred Woodin (Kathrine), a foster child. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, including Abigail who was born on the day LaVerne died.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 28, in the Glasgow Ward Latter-day Saints Chapel at 11:00 am. Viewing will be held at the Bell Mortuary on Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The family wishes to thank the Aspen Meadows Care Center in Billings for their care and compassion during our mother's residence there.

Freda Sailer

Freda Sailer, 85, died of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow on Tuesday, January 25, 2005. Services will be announced at a later date. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Freda was born on May 16, 1919 in Eureka, South Dakota to Christ and Eva (Plienes) Kuszmaul. She spent her younger days in the Circle and Fort Peck areas. She married Albert Herbert Sailer on November 4, 1936 in
Glasgow, MT. Albert worked on the Fort Peck Dam and was an engineer for the Great Northern Railroad while
Freda was a homemaker that loved to cook, sew, knit, play cards, and do gardening. She was a very good hostess and everyone was always welcome at her door. Freda’s coffee pot was always on and her cookie plate was always full.

Survivors Include:
Two Daughters: Betty Fuhrmann and her husband Gary of Glasgow, MT
Marlene Charette of Glasgow, MT

One Son: Robert Sailer of Glendale, Arizona

1 Sister-in-law: Frances Kuszmaul of Havre, MT

4 Grandchildren
5 Great Grandchildren
2 Great-Great Grandchildren
And numerous nieces and nephews.

Freda was preceded in death by her parents, husband Albert on May 20, 1987, 3 brothers Adolph, Eugene, and
Rueben Kuszmaul and one sister Gertrude Taylor.

Dale G. Dunning

Dale G. Dunning of Nashua, 75, died of cancer on Thursday, January 13, 2005, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. Services will be announced at a later date. Interment will be in the Nashua City Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

BORN: April 27, 1929 in Fargo, North Dakota
PARENTS: Glenn Dunning and Helen (Doeden) Dunning

Dale was raised in Fosston, Minnesota and attended schools there. He drove truck until 1978 when he started farming. Dale also raised sheep.

On April 3, 1969 Dale married Mary Houle in Nashua, Montana.

SURVIVORS:
Wife: Mary Dunning of Nashua, Montana

Daughters: Bonnie Dunning of Nashua and her husband Jim Gladeau of Nashua and two grandchildren;
Joseph and Dylan.

Three other daughters who live elsewhere: Joyce Dunning, Diana Skolrud, and Janet Teak,
all of Montana

Preceded in death by a son Joseph Eldridge Dunning in 1986.

Dr. David Gregory

David Gregory died the evening of January 15, 2005 of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his family at home in Glasgow.

He was born in Macon, Georgia May 31, 1920 to David A. Gregory, MD, and Mary Williams Gregory. He was raised in northeastern South Dakota, graduating from Milbank High School in 1937, and the University of South Dakota in 1941. He then graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, interned at Wesley Memorial Hospital, and married Patricia Elizabeth Tisdale of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in Evanston, Ill on Sept 18, 1942 Service in the Philippines (1945-1946) as an orthopedic surgeon in the US Army Medical Corps was followed by obstetrical training at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, then further study in physiology at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Gregory stepped off the train in Glasgow in the spring of 1948 and lived there the rest of his life, raising his family and caring for his community. He was of a vanished breed of family doctor, performing surgery, delivering babies, fixing broken bones, and counseling generations of northeastern Montanans. Caring for the children of babies he had delivered was among his greatest joys.

He served his profession well as president of the Montana Medical Association, president of the Western Conference of Pre-Paid Medical Plans, and member of the board of national Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. He also gave his energies to the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge, Elk's Lodge, and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Until he retired in 1988, Dr. Gregory traveled to rural Honduras with Christian medical missions regularly.

After he decided to give up his beloved Cessna Skymaster, his abiding fascination with creatures larger than himself led him off chasing blue and grey whales through southern seas. When fossil remains of fantastic creatures were found close to home, he channeled his still abundant energies into the creation of the Ft. Peck Dam Museum and Interpretive center, especially the paleontology field station. Still an adventurer at age 80, he helped dig fossils in southern China.. Dr. Gregory was always an ardent supporter of Valley County, savoring news of economic development plans until just days before his death. .

David Gregory is survived by his wife, Patricia of Glasgow: his sons David (Marge) of Green River, WY, John (Mary Beth) of Billings MT, and James (Nancy) of Greensboro, NC;, and his daughter Patty of Portland, OR, his devoted caregiver in the final weeks of his life. He was preceded in death by his youngest children, Mary Margaret in 1972 and Thomas George in 2000. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Montana Community Foundation, c/o Ft. Peck Dam Interpretive Center Account, 101 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT, 59601, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 315 Sixth Street South, Glasgow, MT, 59230, or a memorial of one's choice.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Montana.

LaRue Jeanette Freund
Former Glasgow resident LaRue Jeanette Freund, 68, of Bozeman, passed away suddenly from natural causes Jan. 5, 2005. 

She was born Nov. 13, 1936, in Laurel, to Henry and Olga (Kober) Ostwalt.
LaRue was raised and educated in Laurel. She graduated from Laurel High in 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, Dan Freund, in 1955 and they lived in Billings while Dan was attending Rocky Mountain College. Their first child, Kim was born in Billings in 1956. They moved to Glasgow in 1957, where they had three more children, Dana, Beau, and Staci. They moved to Helena in 1976 and to Bozeman in 1998.

LaRue was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and she will be remembered for the heartfelt care she provided her family and friends. She always put them before herself; even when she wasn’t feeling well, she was cheerful and concerned for others.

One of her favorite jobs outside the home was working at the New Enterprise Men’s Clothing Store in Helena; she even outfitted then Governor Schwinden. She had a reputation for making things beautiful. Her home was always meticulous and well presented just as she was. She was the ultimate gift giver. Her children and grandchildren always looked forward to Christmas because “Grandma always gave the best gifts.” She lived her life for her family, supporting them in everything from sporting events to graduations. LaRue loved spending time with her family at the cabin south of Big Timber, and playing cribbage and other fun games with her grandchildren. She had traveled all over the country; she especially loved her visits to Hawaii and had a collection of sand from every beach she had ever visited. LaRue was extremely knowledgeable on a breadth of issues and current affairs because of her love for reading.

LaRue is survived by her husband Dan Freund of Bozeman; mother, Olga Ostwalt of Havre; children, Kim (Jim) Fadrhonc of Great Falls, Dana (Steve) Johnson of Bozeman, Beau (Susan) Freund of Mendon, Mass., and Staci (Jim) Sanborn of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Heather, Kacey (Mike), Karie, Trever, Craig, Dena, Danelle, Shaye, Adam, Christopher, Madison, Shania, Harley Daniel and Hope; great-grandchildren, Tori and Daniel Michael; sister Sally (Howard) Miller of Havre; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Bill) Twilling of Billings, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and grandson Samuel.

Memorials may be made in her name to Special Olympics Montana, c/o Mike Alvord, 24 Annette Park Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715, Tsunami Relief c/o Red Cross, 5 Rivers Division of Montana, 300 N. Willson, suite 105-A, Bozeman, MT 59715 (please note on check “Tsunami Relief”) or the children’s charity of your choice.

Leon R. "Sting" Stingley

Leon R. "Sting" Stingley of Fort Peck died of natural causes on Wednesday, January 12, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow at age 72. Services will be at Bell Chapel in Glasgow at 11 a.m. with Reverend Dave Rogenes officiating. Interment will be in the Fort Peck Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.


Leon was born on September 9, 1932 in Creighton, Nebraska, toTroy Stingley and Emma (Carson) Stingley. He lived in Nebraska until entering the service. Leon served in the US Air Force from 1952 to 1962.

Leon married Ardella Kruckenberg on September 15, 1961 in Dickinson, North Dakota.

He lived in Ft. Randell, South Dakota, Kalispell, Lewistown, Yellowtail Dam, and in 1972 moved to Fort Peck, Montana. He was one of the first power plant operators at Yellowtail Dam. Sting was a power plant operator at the Fort Peck Dam until retiring in 1990. He was also a dispatcher for WAPA at Fort Peck. Sting was an active member of the NRA, and was well known for making custom hunting knives. He enjoyed hunting and working on guns.

SURVIVORS:
Wife: Ardella Stingley of Glasgow, MT
Sons: Jeffrey Stingley of Alma, Wisconsin and wife Linda
Kyle Stingley of Glasgow, MT
Lauren Stingley of Dover, Delaware and wife Sharon
Michael Stingley of Glasgow, MT
Robert Stingley of Libby, MT and wife Carol
Daughters: Joy DeTienne of Glasgow, MT and husband Mike
Lisa Wiltfong of Glasgow, MT and husband Jon
Sisters: Mary Lou of Nebraska and Myrna of South Dakota.
He was preceded in death by a brother Lyle Stingley and a sister Margie Ewert

 

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