KLTZ/MIX-93 OCTOBER 2000 NEWS


OCTOBER OBITUARIES

KIWANIS MEETING (10/31)

LOCAL DISTRICT JUDGE PRESIDES OVER TRIAL (10/30)

HATCHERY BILL GOES TO CLINTON TO SIGN (10/30)

NATIONAL GUARD UPDATE (10/29)

FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS NEWS (10/28)

HATCHERY PASSES COMMITTEE (10/25)

BNSF INCOME: (10-25)

UPDATED POPULATION STATS (10/25)

FORMER DOCTOR CONVICTED OF KILLING WIFE (10/25)

WOLF POINT MAN KILLED (10/25)

COMMISSIONERS MEET WITH LONG RUN TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS (10/24)

FSF LOANS AVAILABLE (10/24)

MUSEUM FUNDRAISER BEGINS OCTOBER 28TH (10/23)

LONG RUN FIRE NEWS (10/23)

UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/23)

GOVERNOR'S CUP OPEN (10/22)

HATCHERY UPDATE (10/22)

HATCHERY FAILS TO PASS HOUSE UNDER WATER RESOURCES BILL (10/19)

EARLY THURSDAY MORNING FIRE IN OSWEGO (10/19)

COMMISSIONERS MEET WITH LONG RUN ON BOND ISSUE (10/19)

VALLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLE (10/18)

FREEZE DAMAGE NEGATES BEET CONTRACTS (10/17)

RANGE MONITOR FOR THE COUNTY? (10/17)

ONE-VEHICLE CRASH CLAIMS LIFE (10/16)

EIGHT INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES AWARDED FIRST TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX CREDITS (10/13)

TRIBE, WATER USERS THANK BURNS FOR FORT PECK & DRY PRAIRIE RURAL WATER BILL ON ITS WAY TO PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE INTO LAW (10/13)

SENATE REJECTS MEASURE TO INCREASE RESERVOIR RELEASES (10/13)

BURNS SECURES $500K FOR FORT PECK ROAD CROOKED CREEK ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WILL IMPROVE RECREATION ACCESS TO RESERVOIR (10/12)

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR HATCHERY BILL (10/12)

FEMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER VISITS GLASGOW (10/11)

FSA ANNOUNCES SIGNUP FOR THE WOOL AND MOHAIR MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAMLAP) (10/11)

ZERBE BROTHERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (10/11)

UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/10)

BAUCUS REVISES CABIN OWNERSHIP PROPOSAL (10/9)

SECOND VICTIM OF DITCH CAVE-IN IDENTIFIED (10/9)

FORT PECK RURAL COUNTY WATER DISTRICT GROUND BREAKING(10/6/00)

CMR FOSSILS HEADED TO MUSEUM OF ROCKIES (10/6)

UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/5)

SENATE PASSES FINAL INTERIOR FUNDS OVER $35 MILLION INCLUDED FOR CONSERVATION, HIGH-TECH PROJECTS IN MONTANA (10/5)

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES AWARDS (10/5)

AREA CITIES WORK TOWARD GETTING TRANSPORTATION FUNDS (10/4)

UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/3)

ELECTION NOTES (10/1)

AUGUST UNEMPLOYMENT STATS RELEASED (10/1)

CORPS SPILLWAY TEST MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY IN GLASGOW (10/1)

TWO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CEREMONIES SET FOR WEDNESDAY (10/1)


KIWANIS MEETING (10/31)

Kiwanis is alive and well in Glasgow! Kiwanians recently met, under the guidance of Delvin Hackwith, to review and renew their community projects goals. Activities involving members volunteering their services to benefit the community include caroling at Valley View Nursing Home; Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army under the administration of the Ministerial Association; serving the meal at the health fair held at Nemont Manor; assisting in financing and serving the community barbecue at Valley View Home; and providing snacks and manpower for the Red Cross Blood Draws. In line with Kiwanis International's motto, "Serving the Children of the World", activities aimed specifically at benefiting youth will include continued sponsorship of the Science Fair and BUG programs in Glasgow schools, support of the Kiwanis Swim Team, and volunteering for the Jeff Jurgens Memorial Tournament as well as providing assistance or recognition for youth organizations such as 4-H, HOBY, Close-up, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and others.

Internal activities which involve Kiwanians and their families are a golf fun night at Sunnyside Golf Course, a family picnic at Kiwanis Park in Fort Peck, and a sweetheart dinner at Cottonwood Inn.

Several fund raisers are sponsored by Kiwanis each year, with proceeds used to support local activities. No funds raised in the community are used for administrative expenses; all funds are kept in the area to support approved projects. Major fund raising activities sponsored each year by Kiwanis are peanut sales, sponsorship of the Montana Repertory Theatre, and the annual pancake breakfast.

Glasgow Key Club, sponsored by Kiwanis Club and under the guidance of advisor Sam Kitzenberg, is a very active youth community service organization at Glasgow High School. Not only do these students volunteer their time and talent to help others, they participate in many Kiwanis activities and send representatives to the weekly Kiwanis noon luncheon meetings.

Officers for the upcoming year are Shirley Kirkland of Glasgow Broadcasting Company, President; Delvin Hackwith of Edward Jones Investments, First Vice President; Gregg Pehlke of Pehlke Furniture, Treasurer; and Charles Wilson, D.D.S., Secretary. Officers and members of the board of directors are requesting from the public any ideas for worthwhile service projects. You may contact any Kiwanian with your suggestions, or call Shirley at 228-9336, or Delvin at 228-2428. If you would like membership information or would like to be a guest at a Wednesday noon luncheon meeting at the Elks, please contact Lila at 228-4346 or Bill at 228-9225.


LOCAL DISTRICT JUDGE PRESIDES OVER TRIAL (10/30)

(Polson-AP) -- District Judge John McKeon, of Glasgow, will preside over the second negligent homicide trial of Ronan lawyer Greg Ingraham (ING'-grum). McKeon was appointed to the case by the Montana Supreme Court. He'll be the fourth district judge on the case. The charges against Ingraham stem from a fatal collision five years ago, in which he was involved. It happened on U-S 93 near St. Ignatius. Ingraham was convicted of negligent homicide and felony criminal endangerment, along with misdemeanor criminal property trespass. But the state's high court overturned the conviction on grounds of judicial error.


HATCHERY BILL GOES TO CLINTON TO SIGN (10/30)

(Fort Peck-AP) -- A bill with money to build a fish hatchery at Fort Peck Reservoir is headed for President Clinton's desk. The funding's attached to a measure for restoration of the Florida Everglades. An earlier appropriation for the 20 (m) million dollar hatchery cleared the Senate, but failed in the House. The bill being sent to Clinton for his signature was then negotiated. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


NATIONAL GUARD UPDATE (10/29)

Specialist Flickinger, promoted to Sergeant.
Specialist Jason Baker being awarded the Army Achievement medal.


HATCHERY PASSES COMMITTEE (10/25)

U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced on Friday that he has negotiated an agreement that will ensure final passage of a bill that will create a new warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake, swap a series of cabin sites at Fort Peck for lands important for hunting and fishing, and help cleanup polluted streams in Montana. They provisions had been included in the original Water Resources Development Act, but were dropped last week. President Clinton has indicated he will sign the bill.

The $20 million Fort Peck Fish Hatchery will support native fish recover and warm-water fish such as walleye and small-mouth bass, as well as other species that have been hit by heavy fishing pressure in recent years. The hatchery will be located on 100 acres of federal land south of the Dredge Cuts area near Fort Peck and will be staffed by 2 to 3 employees.

"The fish hatchery will be a tremendous shot in the arm for the economies of the folks in Sidney, Malta, Lewistown, Billings, and of course, Glasgow, all across Montana," said Baucus after concluding the negotiations. "Fort Peck Lake is one of the greatest resources that exists in our state. It is an increasingly important center for recreation and a big part of the local economies."

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

Under the cabin site bill, families that lease the 392 cabin sites at Fort Peck Lake would be given an option to purchase their cabin site at a fair market value. The proceeds from these purchases would then be placed in the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust and be available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase land at the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge with higher values to the public. The cabin sites are currently owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This bill is a common sense win-win solution. We let cabin owners buy their cabin sites, and then use the money to purchase wildlife habitat for the refuge," said Baucus. "This will reduce the cost to the government of managing these cabin sites, and will provide us with new hunting and fishing opportunities in northeast Montana."

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust was established by Baucus as part of similar legislation at Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Under that bill, passed in 1998, cabin owners at Canyon Ferry were given an option to purchase the 265 cabin sites at that Bureau of Reclamation reservoir. Proceeds from the Canyon Ferry bill are being deposited in the Trust for use across Montana to improve access to public lands and for land important for hunting and fishing.

The Fort Peck Cabin Site bill is estimated to generate between $5 and $8 million in revenue for purchasing land important for hunting and fishing. When fully implemented, the Canyon Ferry bill is expected to generate between $12 and $18 million to improve access to public lands and to benefit fish and wildlife.

Now that the committee has reached agreement on the Water Resources Development Act, the bill will be presented to the House and the Senate for its expected final passage; from there the bill will be sent to the President.

"Nothing is certain until the ink dries from the President's signature," said Baucus, "but this agreement makes it highly likely these bills will become law within a week."


BNSF INCOME:

(Fort Worth, Texas-AP) -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation says higher fuel costs helped push the railroad company's third-quarter net income down, 16 percent from a year ago. The company says fuel costs rose 61 (M) million dollars, or 36 percent. B-N-S-F reports earning 272 (m) million dollars, compared to 325 (m) million in last year's third quarter. That's 68 cents per share, compared to 70 cents in the same quarter a year ago. The railroad says shipments of agricultural commodities were down 14 percent, and coal shipments also declined. But intermodal shipments gained about five percent, and automotive shipments also rose. Along with its the reduced profits, Burlington Northern also called off its proposed merger with Canadian National Railway. That six (b) billion dollar deal ran into trouble, when regulators imposed a moratorium on rail mergers.


UPDATED POPULATION STATS (10/25)
Valley County is ranked #27 in population in Montana, according to the latest estimates from census statistics. Valley County had a total of 8,239 people in 1990. That's a loss of 1.3%. Yellowstone County is rated #1 in the state, with a population of 127,258. Sheridan County had the biggest drop over the past 10 years, a 13.4% loss. Ravalli County saw the biggest increase in percentage, 43.2%.

Glasgow currently is estimated to have a population of 3,781 which is down from 3,784 in 1990. Glasgow was rated as the 22nd biggest city in the state.

For all county and city estimates, head to: http://commerce.state.mt.us/ceic/demog/estimate/pop/


FORMER DOCTOR CONVICTED OF KILLING WIFE (10/25)

(New York-AP) -- A former North Dakota doctor has been convicted of killing his wife and dropping her body in the ocean from a plane. A New York jury brought in the verdict against Doctor Robert Bierenbaum Tuesday morning. He was convicted of second-degree murder.

The 44-year-old Bierenbaum practiced in Minot and Grand Forks, and was a visiting specialist in Glasgow, before he was charged with his wife's death.

He lowered his head when the verdict was read. He faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced November 20th.

The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence in presenting the case of the 15-year-old murder. The body of Gail Katz-Bierrenbaum was never recovered. Prosecutors say her husband rented a plane and flew over the Atlantic Ocean around the time his wife was reported missing.

The defense argued that the woman was having extra marital affairs and using cocaine, and that she could have been killed by others. Doctor Bierenbaum later remarried and moved to North Dakota.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
WOLF POINT MAN KILLED (10/25)
(Wolf Point-AP) - A 76-year-old Wolf Point man was killed Wednesday when a pickup truck and his hay wagon collided as he entered U-S two from a side road five miles west of Wolf Point.

Officials are withholding his name until relatives are notified. The Highway Patrol says the hay wagon failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by a pickup truck driven by a 68-year-old Wolf Point woman. She received minor injuries.

The Wolf Point man was thrown from his vehicle on impact and died at the scene.

The death raises Montana's traffic toll for the year to 201, compared with 178 on this date last year. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
COMMISSIONERS MEET WITH LONG RUN TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS (10/24)
The Valley County Commissioners met yesterday with members of the Valley County Long Run Fire Department to discuss possible solutions to several problems facing the department.

The commissioners made a decision to allow the department to go out and price a truck and water tank and then bring back their options for the commissioners to decide how to pay for the truck and tank. The commissioners gave no firm dollar amount to the department but decided not to go forward with a loan from an area bank to help pay for the truck and tank. The department had proposed taking a loan out and having the county pay $8000 over a five year period. The commissioners have discussed the possibility of paying for the truck with vehicle option tax money that the county has remaining in this fiscal year. This water tanker will replace one that had been on loan from the Valley County Road Department but has since broke down.

Also discussed at the meeting was future funding for the fire department. Valley County voters had approved a one mill levy increase for the department in 1998 but the commissioners this budget year took that mill of the tax rolls citing the fact that voters had approved the mill increase for just two years. The Long Run fire department currently receives one mill in funding each fiscal year from Valley County taxpayers. The commissioners and the department discussed the possibility of a fire service fee area for the rural areas of Valley County. This funding would provide taxpayer money for the department to fight structure fires in the rural areas while the one mill would provide revenue to fight wild fires. The commissioners also stated they would consider allowing the voters of Valley County to vote on an additional mill for the fire department in the June, 2002 primary election.
FSF LOANS AVAILABLE (10/24)
Farm Storage Facility Loans provide low cost financing for producers to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities. These loans are 7-year loans for new facilities, grain handling/drying equipment, or modifications of existing structures to increase their storage capacity. (Portable, temporary, and commercial structures are not eligible.)

Some of the eligibility requirements include a need for new or additional farm grain storage or handling capacity, a satisfactory credit rating, no delinquent non-tax Federal debt, produce loan commodities, proof of crop insurance, and show the ability to repay the loan debt.

The FSFL down payment requirement has been reduced from 25% to 15%. The reduction in the down payment will be reflected in the percent of the net cost. The principal amount of any FSFL shall be 85% or less of the net cost of the applicant’s needed storage or handling equipment, not to exceed $100,000.

The FSFL Program is expanded to include structures designed to store silage.

The interest rate for the month of October is 6.0%. If you have any questions, please contact your local FSA Office.

MUSEUM FUNDRAISER BEGINS OCTOBER 28TH (10/23)
Once again friends of the Pioneer Museum is doing its annual mailing. The fundraiser and a chance to touch base with our many friends all over the country. We are looking for many helping hands on the morning of October 28, 2000 at the Elks Club Lodge Room. We will begin at 8:30 A.M. We have always had a fun time doing this project. It gives everyone a chance to visit, have a little coffee and a cookie while doing something that is so worthwhile to everyone.

The Pioneer Museum has benefited greatly from the generosity of people who are reached by this mailing all over the country and in some foreign countries. So please join us. The more helping hands the faster the job gets done. Thank you for you help in the past and we hope that you will continue to participate and bring a friend.

LONG RUN FIRE NEWS (10/23)
The Valley County Long Run Fire Department was called to the Sunnyside Golf Course Friday night at 8:00 to extinguish a fire in a pile of leaves and grass. Three trucks and 9 firefighters responded.

The Valley County Long Run Fire Dept. was called to a house fire in Frazer Saturday morning at 1:30 am. Four trucks and 8 firefighters from Long Run, 1 truck and 3 firefighters from Roosevelt County, one truck and two firefighters from BIA in Poplar, one truck and one firefighter from Frazer and the Wolf Point Ambulance responded. Long Run units returned to Glasgow around 6:00am.

Long Run was again called to Frazer for a house fire on Sunday. The call came in at 8:21pm. 3 trucks and 6 firefighters responded to assist the Frazer Fire Department. Long Run's trucks were back in town at 11:00pm. No injuries were reported at any of the weekend fires.

Remember to change your batteries in your smoke detectors this weekend when you set your clocks back on Sunday morning.


UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/23)

L. Scanlan Contractor continues to work on the underpass pump replacement project. Removal of the very wet soil continues with a clamshell bucket on the end of the Scanlan crane. Today they reported about three more feet of digging then the start of pouring concrete footings the floor then the walls of the storage area and pump building.

 


 

GOVERNOR'S CUP OPEN (10/22)

The 2001 Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament applications went out in September. If you need an application, contact the chamber at 406-228-2222 or write them at Box 832, Glasgow, Montana, 59230.

This premier walleye fishing tournament will be held July 13-14, 2001, on Fort Peck Lake. There is a 200 team limit with a guaranteed 1st place prize of $10,000. Entry fees are $300 per team, with $100 due with the application and $200 due on June 1, 2001.


HATCHERY UPDATE (10/22)
(Helena-AP) -- A U-S Senate bill no longer has 20 million dollars, for construction of a fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake. The House of Representatives removed the money Thursday, then passed the bill.

It now goes to a committee that will work to produce a version acceptable to both the House and Senate.

Representative Rick Hill says he voted against removing the hatchery money.

The Montana Republican says he's been assured there will be efforts to restore the funding, in the final bill.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


HATCHERY FAILS TO PASS HOUSE UNDER WATER RESOURCES BILL (10/19)

(corrects earlier story)
(Helena-AP) -- Representative Rick Hill says he voted against the House version of the water resources bill today because it did not include the 20 (m) million dollars for a proposed warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck.

The Senate version contained that provision.

Hill's vote was in vain, though, because the measure passed by the lopsided margin of 394-to-14.

Hill says there are many beneficial aspects of the bill but he was upset about the fishery measure being knocked out and is trying to assure it gets put back in.

The water bill now moves to a conference committee between the House and the Senate to work out differences in the legislation. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


EARLY THURSDAY MORNING TRAILER FIRE IN OSWEGO (10/19)
Valley County Long Run Fire Dept.was called to a Trailer House fire Thursday morning at 4:14 am. in Oswego.

Three fire units from the Roosevelt County Rural Fire District, two trucks from BIA in Poplar, three trucks from Valley County Long Run, the Wolf Point Ambulance and one Fort Peck Tribal Police Officer responded.

The trailer house was completely engulfed when units arrived from Wolf Point. Approximately 8250 gallons of water were used to cool down the fire. This fire is under investigation by the Valley County Long Run Fire Department.


COMMISSIONERS MEET WITH LONG RUN ON BOND ISSUE (10/19)
An estimated 50 people turned out Wednesday evening at the Valley County Courthouse for a meeting concering the Valley County Long Run Fire Department. The meeting was held to air the departments concerns about their current budget and the possibility of purchasing a water tanker truck.

The Valley County Commissioners in the current budget removed a one mill tax on Valley County voters that provided an estimated $42,000 in extra tax money for the fire department over the past two years. Valley County voters approved the tax increase in 1998 but the commissioners have stated that the tax increase was for only two years and decided to remove the tax because it was inappropriate to continue without the peoples okay.

The Long Run Fire Department countered that they didn't realize that the commissioners were going to be taking away the extra revenue and were caught unaware. But the commissioners told the group that they knew all along that the extra revenue was for just two years and would not be continued without voter approval. If the commissioners did decide to let the people vote on an extra mill it could not go on the ballot again until June of 2002. The Montana Legislature also approved legislation in 1999 that allowed the commissioners to continue the tax without voter approval but they have insisted all along they would not continue the tax without a vote of the people. Several ranchers were at the meeting Wednesday night and voiced their support of the fire department saying they needed top notch fire protection to protect their rangeland.

Commissioner Eleanor Pratt told Kltz/Klan news that the commissioners believe that the extra mill providing funding for the fire department is not the answer and another solution must be found. At last nights meeting the commissioners and the fire department agreed that a fire district or a fire service area would do the job but much legwork would be needed to complete such a solution.

Another issue highlighted at the meeting was the lack of a water tanker truck for the fire department. They had been using a tanker truck on loan from the Valley County Road Department but the road department is now taking the truck back leaving the fire department without a viable source of filling their trucks during a fire. The commissioners agreed to take up this problem at their Monday meeting. The fire department has proposed that commissioners provide $30,000 over the next five years to purchase a used tanker truck. The commissioners will also take up the matter of coming up with extra dollars in the budget for the department in the coming years. Both of these matters will be discussed Monday at 3:30 pm at the regular commissioner meeting in the commissioners office in the Valley County Courthouse.


VALLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLE (10/18)
Nearly $5,000 in grants will be awarded in January by the Valley County Community Foundation, announces Cindy Markle of Glasgow, chair of the Foundation’s board. Applications are available now and they must be completed by Nov. 20.

“There are $4,874.00 in earnings from the endowment that will be given to worthy projects in Valley County,” she said. “Current projects in arts and culture, basic human needs, education, economic development and natural resources and conservation are eligible for grants. Organizations that have non-profit status, or 501(c) 3 status may apply.”

Applications are available from Board member Sam Waters at First Community Bank in Glasgow.

To be considered for a grant, the project or program must be for charitable purposes and serve the people of Valley County and not discriminate on the bases of race, religion, sex, age or natural origin when employing staff or providing services.

The board discourages funding for annual or capital campaign, grants to endowment funds, debt retirement or religiouspurposes.

The Foundation awarded its first grants in January 2000. The first grants went to the Hinsdale High School for improvements in the Hinsdale Park and to the Lustre Christian High School for banquet tables that are used by the community. Those grants were valued at $550 each.

Exact dollar amounts on this year’s grants have not been determined. Grants will be evaluated based on need, and the number of grant applications submitted.

The Valley County Community Foundation is steward of the community’s savings account through which donations are invested to meet the challenges of contemporary life. Income from the permanent endowment is used to help fund high quality projects in Valley County. Part of the endowment is invested locally. The Foundation is affiliated with the statewide Montana Community Foundation as well. The balance on the endowment is $107,900.

The board considers grant applications annually in the fall. For more information, contact Waters at 228-8231 or Markle at 228-8090.


FREEZE DAMAGE NEGATES BEET CONTRACTS (10/17)
(Billings-AP) - Holy Sugar Company has negated its contracts with northeastern Montana beet farmers because of damage to the crop from four nights of sub-freezing temperatures two weeks ago. About one-third of the area's one (M) million-ton crop was harvested before the freeze.

About 630-thousand tons was affected by the cold. The unprecedented early freeze damaged more than half of this year's crop that's under contract to Holly.

Growers in the Sidney area are processing their own crop.

Don Gorsek, district manager for the Holly Sugar plant in Sidney, says the damage is the worst he has ever seen. Don Steinbeisser, president of the Montana-Dakota Beet Growers Association, says such a freeze has never happened in the area before. He says snow has covered the crop before, but the snow insulated them from the frost. This time the beets were exposed on bare ground.


RANGE MONITOR FOR THE COUNTY? (10/17)
(Bozeman-SAP) - Forty-three families and several state and federal agencies are taking a close look at half a (M) million acres of the Badlands Grazing District in Valley County. That's the Bureau of Land Management portion of the district, and nearly all the B-L-M permittees are involved. The whole district covers 846-thousand acres.

The monitoring is aimed at deciding the overall condition of the range, with special attention to whether plants change and whether a stream is widening with erosion or deepening as improvements are made. That information will help when it's time for management decision.

The groups received a ten-thousand-dollar grant from the U-S Department of Agriculture, and they were taught quick, reasonable techniques for estimating range condition. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


ONE-VEHICLE CRASH CLAIMS LIFE (10/16)
(Dodson-AP) -- A single-vehicle crash near Dodson over the weekend killed a 47-year-old man.

The Highway Patrol says he was southbound on Secondary
204 Saturday night when his Chevrolet Suburban went out of control on a curve on the gravel road. It overturned several times, and the driver, the only occupant,was thrown out.

Officials are still withholding his name. The death raises Montana's traffic toll for the year to 190, compared with 174 on this date last year. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

EIGHT INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIES AWARDED FIRST TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX CREDITS (10/13)
Expanded Telecommunications Access Across Montana


Helena, MT -- October 13, 2000 -- The Advanced Telecommunications Infrastructure Committee has awarded $204,221 of telecommunications tax credits for calendar year 2000 to eight independent Montana telephone companies located throughout the state. The goal of the tax credits is to accelerate the expansion of Montana's high-speed telecommunications infrastructure.

The total cost of the projects is $1,777,237. The Telecommunications Act (SB172) introduced by Senator Mignon Waterman, on behalf of the Select Committee on Jobs and Income, authorizes a 20% telephone company license tax credit based on estimated project cost and not in excess of the company's tax liability.

Members of the Advanced Telecommunication Infrastructure Committee are: Peter Blouke, Director, Department of Commerce; Bob Rowe, Commissioner, Public Service Commission; Gordon Morris, Executive Director, Montana Association of Counties; Alec Hanson, Executive Director, Montana League of Cities and Towns; and Andy Poole, Deputy Director, Department of Commerce.

"These initial awards will give greater access to broadband Internet service to Montana residents and businesses as well as for education," said Peter Blouke, Director, Department of Commerce. "With these awards we move one step closer to having a world-class telecommunications infrastructure, essential to the vitality of our existing communities and businesses, and to attracting new technology-based businesses."

"Montana's small telecommunications providers are doing great work as they continue to deploy more advanced service in rural areas," said Bob Rowe, Commissioner, Public Service Commission. "We need to extend and support that work over the coming years. From what I've seen around the country, the small Montana providers are doing as good a job as anyone in meeting rural needs. " Calling the legislative action a 'specific and focused effort', Rowe noted that the Montana legislation was drawing attention from other states. Rowe is also President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners and is active on national telecommunications issues.

The following companies met all the application requirements and will receive tax credits:

* Cable & Communications Corporation for cable modem service infrastructure to the Fairview, Glendive, Sidney area: Project Cost - $106,850: Allowable tax credit - $21,370.

* Central Montana Communications Inc. for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line to provide broadband internet service to all subscribers in the Fort Benton - Harlem area: Project Cost - $48,960; Allowable tax credit - $9,792.

* Clark Fork Telecommunications Inc. for a Digital Subscriber Line to allow residents in the area of Thompson Falls, Superior and Philipsburg access to affordable broadband services: Project Cost -$1,166,129; Allowable tax credit - $82,000.

* Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. for Digital Subscriber Line to provide broadband service to residential and business customers in the Baker, Circle, Jordan, Roundup and Terry area: Project Cost - $103,285; Allowable tax credit - $20,657.

* Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. for Interactive Television Services to provide distance learning capabilities to schools in the Fairview School District: Project Cost - $6,700; Allowable tax credit - $1,340.

* Nemont Telephone Cooperative for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line to provide access to high speed data transfer while maintaining voice communications in the Scobey exchange: Project Cost - $24,505; Allowable tax credit - $4,901.

* Project Telephone Company for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line to provide access to high speed data transfer while maintaining voice communications in the Crow Agency exchange: Project Cost - $21,000; Allowable tax credit - $4,200.

* Triangle Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc. for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line to provide broadband Internet service in Havre, Big Timber and Chinook: Project Cost - $95,482; Allowable tax credit - $19,096.

* Valley Telecommunications, Inc. for Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line to provide access to high speed data transfer while maintaining voice communications in the Wolf Point, Poplar, Plentywood, and Glasgow area: Project Cost - $204,326; tax credit - $40,865.


The Fifty-sixth Legislative Session enacted SB172, which provides for a total of $2 million each year in telecommunications tax credits for all Montana telecommunications services providers in a consecutive 12-month period. The Act expires on July 1, 2004.

TRIBE, WATER USERS THANK BURNS FOR FORT PECK FORT PECK & DRY PRAIRIE RURAL WATER BILL ON ITS WAY TO PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE INTO LAW (10/13)
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Fort Peck Tribes and water users in northeastern Montana today thanked Montana Senator Conrad Burns after the Senate unanimously passed the final version of his bill authorizing the construction and operation of a rural water system on and around the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

"I appreciate the effort and leadership Conrad Burns has shown in shepherding this bill through Congress," said Arlen Headdress, chairman of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation. "The people of the Fort Peck tribes have been living without clean water for generations, so this is historic for us."

"Groundwater sources in this area are poor and deteriorating," said Clint Jacobs, coordinator of the Dry Prairie Rural Water Project, the portion of the system that lies outside the borders of the reservation. "This bill has the potential to address the problems, and it also could lead to economic development in the area as well as strengthen our community. The value of tribal and non-tribal entities working together to raise the quality of life in the area cannot be overstated."

Burns' legislation authorizes $175 million to be spent over ten years on the development of a water system, providing water for over 24,000 people on and near the reservation.

Burns also worked to include $435,000 in next year's Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for planning of the Dry Prairie Rural Water System. Even though President Clinton recently vetoed the legislation over environmental concerns, Burns said he believes the funding will remain in the final version of the bill.

Burns is a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees rural water issues. He is also a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which will fund the project in the future.

Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is a co-sponsor of Burns' Fort Peck & Dry Prairie Rural Water bill.

SENATE REJECTS MEASURE TO INCREASE RESERVOIR RELEASES (10/13)
(Billings-AP) Senator Max Baucus says Fort Peck-area residents and businesses scored a victory when the Senate defeated an amendment that would have led to additional summer releases from Fort Peck Lake.

The measure was pulled from a spending bill the Senate approved yesterday. It would have forced the Army Corps of Engineers to continue releasing water from Fort Peck Lake to keep even flows downstream on the Missouri River.

Baucus said it isn't fair for downstream states to take Montana's water to float their barges. He said that would have hurt the state's economy and the fish populations in the lake.

The amendment was sponsored by senators from downstream states and was led by Senator Chris Bond, a Missouri Republican.

Last week, President Clinton vetoed the initial version of the measure because it contained G-O-P language blocking the administration from increasing spring flows on the Missouri. (Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


BURNS SECURES $500K FOR FORT PECK ROAD CROOKED CREEK ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WILL IMPROVE RECREATION ACCESS TO RESERVOIR (10/12)

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Montana Senator Conrad Burns has secured $500,000 for improvements to Crooked Creek Road, which provides access to the western-most boat landing on Fort Peck Reservoir.

Tom Pugrud, a Petroleum County commissioner and chairman of the Six County Fort Peck Road Group, said that the road is vital for recreation in the area. He said that sportsmen's groups around the state, local businesses, and other local interests have all thrown their support behind improving access to the reservoir. Pugrud provided Burns with a notebook full of project endorsements from Walleyes Unlimited of Montana, the Malta Area Chamber of Commerce, the manager of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, and others.

Pugrud also noted that the costs associated with improving the road are high, largely due to the scarcity of gravel in the area. As a result, the federal funding is necessary to continue work on Crooked Creek Road that started last year, when Burns secured $1 million for the project.

"Last year, it cost $85,000 per mile to work on the road," Pugrud said. "The use of the road is growing by leaps and bounds, so we need all the help we can get."

Burns said that the six counties bordering Fort Peck Reservoir span over 16 percent of the state and contain a substantial amount of government-owned lands. He said that the federal government has an obligation to assist these counties improve their infrastructure.

"Recreation is vital to northeastern Montana, especially fishing in the area," Burns said. "Recreation provides jobs in everything from service industries to retail, and improving access to that recreation is going to mean more jobs. Right now, parts of the Crooked Creek Road are in rough shape, but we're making a lot of headway."

The Six County Fort Peck Road Group is made up of the county commissioners from Fergus, Phillips, Valley, McCone, Garfield, and Petroleum Counties.


TIME RUNNING OUT FOR HATCHERY BILL (10/12)
Time is running out in Washington D.C. on the legislation that includes the authorization for the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery and legislation that would allow cabin owners to purchase the land where the cabins are located instead of leasing the land around Fort Peck Lake.

According to a spokesman for Senator Max Baucus the Water Resources Development Act has passed the Senate and is now awaiting action by the House of Representatives. But Congress is expected to complete their work on Saturday and time is running out on this particular legislation.Senator Baucus remains optimistic that the legislation will be passed and hopes to help steer the bill through the House of Representatives and have it signed by President Clinton. Currently House and Senate negotiators are working on the budget and anything can happen in the closing days of a Congressional session

FEMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER VISITS GLASGOW (10/11)

Frank Blake Public Affairs Officer with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) from Gassaway, West Virginia was in Glasgow on Tuesday October 10, 2000 to update our area on what FEMA has been doing in Montana since the Federal Disaster Declaration for Montana was signed. Blake spoke to Valley County officials, and representatives from local media. Blake said FEMA works as partners with local communities as well as with state officials when a Federal Disaster is declared. If you know anyone who may have been impacted by the wildfires have them call this number for information for possible federal/state disaster assistance. This number will be in operation until October 30, 2000.1-800-745-0243.


FSA ANNOUNCES SIGNUP FOR THE WOOL AND MOHAIR MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAMLAP) (10/11)

WAMLAP is available to wool or mohair producers who produced and sheared wool or mohair from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999. Farm stored wool is eligible and the producer can certify the quantity. There will be no payment on unshorn lambs. Payment will be $0.20 per pound for wool and $0.40 per pound for mohair.

The signup period is from October 10, 2000 through December 29, 2000. Producers may apply at the FSA Office, by fax, by telephone, or by mail. A multi-county wool and mohair producer should apply for WAMLAP benefits in the county where their headquarters is located.

All applications must be submitted to the applicable County Office by COB December 29, 2000. Late-filed provisions do not apply to this program.

Contact: Valley County FSA Office 54062 US Hwy 2 Suite 1 Glasgow, MT 59230 Phone: (406) 228-4321


ZERBE BROTHERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (10/11)

Hundreds of people attended the Zerbe Brothers 50th Anniversary celebration on Tuesday. Click on any of the small images for a larger view.

Valley County Cowbells served up lunch. Greg Hunter (center) made the most of his 50's attire. Galen Zerbe with Northern Ag Network's Weatherman John Pulasky.
 
Don Lebsak receiving recognition for his 22 years service. Don is planning to retire this December.   Todd Wagner presents the Zerbe family with the Chamber Award.

 


Underpass Update (10/10)

L.Scanlan Contractor crews continue to drive Cofferdam sheets into the ground at the site of the new underpass pump building. The sheets of steel will act as a safety barrier during construction of the new pump building.


BAUCUS REVISES CABIN OWNERSHIP PROPOSAL (10/9)
(Billings-AP) - Senator Max Baucus is revising his proposal to let 391 cabin owners in the C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge buy their sites instead of leasing them.

The second look is in response to concerns raised by several environmental groups last summer.

Janet Ellis, of the Montana Audubon Society, says the group wants to make sure a sale will benefit the refuge and its wildlife purposes, not just the cabin owners.

A spokesman for Baucus, Barrett Kaiser, says the senator worked out a similar agreement about cabins at Canyon Ferry Lake near Helena. Two years ago, President Clinton signed legislation that allowed 265 cabin owners at Canyon Ferry and others to bid on federal land the residences occupy. The Bureau of Reclamation leased the land to cabin owners.

The legislation specified that a trust fund be established with proceeds of the property sale to benefit Montana sportsmen, outdoor recreationists and wildlife. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SECOND VICTIM OF DITCH CAVE-IN IDENTIFIED (10/9)
(AP)The second man who died when a ditch caved in near Glasgow on Friday has been identified as 49-year-old Walter Turner of Glasgow.

Valley County Sheriff Dick Wessler had withheld Turner's name until relatives could be notified.

Turner and 51-year-old Larry Baumgartner, also of Glasgow, were buried when a 12-foot-deep ditch collapsed on them.

Wessler said one of the men apparently was in the ditch when it began to collapse, and the other went down to help him. Wessler said the men apparently were working as independent contractors and did not have safety equipment with them.

Funeral services for Turner are scheduled for Wednesday morning in Glasgow.

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


Fort peck Rural County Water District Ground breaking ceremonies(10/6/00)

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Left to right-
Debra Irving, Kip Hentges,
Joe Yeoman, David L Irving, Larry Dubeau,
Ron Miller, Gene Alsberg 

David L Irving

Irving, Ewen and sam Kitzenberg,
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Karen Fagg, President HKM

 Eleanor Pratt

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Roy Snyder

Ron Miller

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CMR FOSSILS HEADED TO MUSEUM OF ROCKIES (10/6)
(Bozeman-AP) -- Paleontologist Jack Horner and fellow dinosaur hunters found five Tyrannosaurus rex fossils over the summer in eastern Montana badlands. Horner says the finds were astonishing and nobody else has ever found five T-rexes all at once. Only about 20 of the dinosaurs have been found previously.

One of the five appears to be the largest T-rex ever discovered and is named after his wife, Celeste, who spotted it. Horner says that means the Museum of the Rockies will have the biggest T-rex on record. The museum is on the Bozeman campus of Montana State University.

The largest fossil may be ten percent larger than Sue, a T-rex fossil found in South Dakota. It was auctioned in 1997 for 8-point-36 (m) million dollars to Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History and is advertised as the world's largest, most complete and best preserved T-rex.

The new, 66-million-year-old fossils were found on federal land and all belong to the people of the United States.

They were discovered in Garfield County on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, a vast area bordering Fort Peck Lake.

Underpass Update 10/5/00
L. Scanlan Contractor has finished removing the old pump building. The new pump building will be much larger and will have a deeper storage pit than the old one did. Les Scanlan told KLTZ/KLAN that the new pump pit will be about 30 feet deep (30 feet from the curb edge). The pit will hold more water which means the pumps won’t have to cycle as often. This will save wear and tear on the new sump pumps.
 


SENATE PASSES FINAL INTERIOR FUNDS OVER $35 MILLION INCLUDED FOR CONSERVATION, HIGH-TECH PROJECTS IN MONTANA (10/5)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns today announced that the Senate has approved by a vote of 83-13 the final Interior Appropriations Bill, which includes over $35 million for various Burns-requested projects in Montana. The bill also includes $1.78 billion in fire-related emergency funding, including $125 million Burns requested above and beyond the president's original request.

In addition, the bill includes a significant increase in conservation funding after Burns helped broker a compromise on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, or CARA.

"This bill includes everything from high-tech funds to money to improve our public lands," Burns said. "This funding means jobs and it means maintaining our high quality of life in Montana. I am very happy that I could play a role in getting this done."

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

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

ab$5.077 million for sewer upgrades in Yellowstone National Park.

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

ab$2.8 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for continued work on the Rye Creek land exchange near Darby.

ab$2 million for land purchases related to the Lewis and Clark Trail and Bicentennial.

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

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

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

ab$1.5 million for management initiatives along the Upper Missouri, including $500,000 for the Undaunted Stewardship program (a joint Montana State University-Bureau of Land Management effort) and $1 million for Lewis and Clark Bicentennial preparations.

ab$1 million for distance learning and telemedicine programs on the Fort Peck Reservation and others. This is a joint project between Rocky Mountain College, Deaconess Billings Clinic and the respective tribal colleges and health care facilities.

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

ab$1 million for construction of a "raceway enclosure" at the fish hatchery in Ennis.

ab$750,000 for the implementation of a Coldwater Habitat Conservation and Restoration Plans for native trout in Montana. (This is part of a larger $1.5 million Montana/Idaho project.)

ab$650,000 for the Montana Cadastral Mapping Project, which will use satellites to provide digital maps of public and private land ownership.

ab$600,000 for the Montana National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis at the University of Montana in Missoula. The center will use satellites and other technologies to research catastrophic forest fires in order to combat them more effectively.

ab$500,000 for a Montana Tech (Butte)-Bureau of Land Management environmental impact study to examine the impact of coal bed methane development in the Powder River Basin.

ab$500,000 for the purchase and preservation of the Lewis and Clark camp site at Traveler's Rest near Lolo.

ab$500,000 for noxious weed research at Montana State University-Bozeman. ab$450,000 for construction of a dam at the Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife Refuge near Havre.

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

ab$250,000 for the INPSYCH program at the University of Montana in Missoula. The program is designed to get more Indian students involved in undergraduate and graduate psychology programs. ab$200,000 for the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center for ecological and genetic research in Bozeman.

ab$150,000 for a Montana State University-Billings/U.S. Geological Survey cooperative program that will be part of the National Biological Initiative, an effort to track the nation's ecological resources.

ab$100,000 for the Grizzly Citizen's Management program, which gives local people a voice in the grizzly reintroduction efforts in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. In addition, grizzlies cannot be reintroduced prior to the completion of a habitat study. Burns served as one of the Senate negotiators who helped put together final version of the bill. The Congress will now send the bill to the president for his final approval.


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES AWARDS (10/5)
Two top officials with the National Weather Service were in Glasgow on Wednesday to present Stan and Shirle Wiggins, of Flatwillow, Montana, with one of the nations highest awards for their dedication to observing and reporting weather for 40 years. In ceremonies Wednesday at the Cottonwood Inn they were presented the "Thomas Jefferson Award" by officials with the National Weather Service.

Jack Kelly the Director of the NWS from Silver Spring, MD and Western Region Director, Vickie Nadolski from Salt Lake City presented the award to the Wiggins.

Stan and Shirle Wiggins for the past 40 years have volunteered as cooperative weather observers and have not missed submitting a report during the 40 years of reporting the extremes. They have maintained a record of daily temperatures and precipitation from their weather station since 1961. This continued a tratdition of service to the NWS and their community which was begun by Stan's father in 1915.

The same officials from the NWS also designated Valley County as "Storm Ready" during a special ceremony at the Valley County Courthouse on Wednesday.

Glasgow is the 42nd location across the nation to achieve the "Storm Ready" designation since the program began last year. The NWS presented a recognition letter and special Storm Ready road signs to county officials. The signs will be placed at entrances to the community.

"Storm Ready" is a new national program that gives communities the skills and education needed to survive winter weather-before and during the event. The program encourages communities to take a new pro-active approach.

The City of Glasgow is the third Montana location to be recognized for its disaster preparedeness and severe weather educational activities.

AREA CITIES WORK TOWARD GETTING TRANSPORTATION FUNDS (10/4)

The City of Glasgow is administrating a program which would bring funds from the Community Transportation Enhancement Program to Nashua, Glasgow and Fort Peck.

According to Jon Bengochea, the Public Works Director for Glasgow, small towns such as Nashua and Fort Peck usually can't take advantage of money from the CTEP programs because the town has to assume the engineering costs of any project that they aspire to complete. Bengochea said by combining the engineering costs of the projects from Nashua, Fort Peck and Glasgow, all three communities can now afford to complete the projects.

The CTEP is a cost sharing program and Nashua and Fort Peck will have to provide $3800 each to get $25,000 in state funding for their projects. If the projects are approved Nashua and Fort Peck will each have $28,875 to complete the projects.

The City of Glasgow has to provide $11,274 to get $72,740 in state funding for a total of $83,930.

The Town of Nashua will use their funds for a new drinking fountain in the city park plus five new picnic tables and 470 square yards of new sidewalk. The Town of Fort Peck will use their funds for 570 square yards of new sidewalk in the town.

Glagow will be putting in 69 new handicap ramps at city intersections along with new sidewalks.

These projects still have to be reviewed by the Montana Department of Transportation and final word on the projects should be heard sometime this month, with construction to begin approximately in July of 2001.

The City of Glasgow has used CTEP money in the past, back in 1998 the city used CTEP funds to complete the pedestrian and bike trail on Highland Drive and Cemetary Road.


UNDERPASS UPDATE (10/03)

Today the demolition of the old pump building on the south side of the underpass was completed. One of the old sump pumps has been set up if it is needed to pump out water from the underpass during the construction of the new building and installation of the new sump pumps.

Samples of the concrete that was poured on last Friday have been sent to Helena for testing. When the results come back the date will be announced for the opening of the underpass for normal traffic. KLTZ-KLAN News will pass that information on as soon as it becomes available.


ELECTION NOTES (10/1)
Valley County Clerk and Recorder Lynn Nyquist told KLTZ/MIX-93 news that absentee ballots for the November General Election are now available through November 6th at noon. Ballots may be obtained by calling or stopping by the Clerk and Recorders Office at the Valley County Courthouse.

Also, October 10th is the final day to register to vote in the November 7th General Election. You have until 5pm that day to register to vote and you can register at the Clerk and Recorders office.

One other election note, Edith Scott has filed for election to the post of Valley County Superintendent of Schools. Scott filed for the position on August 14th as a Democrat. She was appointed to the position earlier this year to replace Donna Kloker who resigned. Scott will be the only name on the ballot as the Republican Party failed to nominate a person for the position of Valley County Superintendent of Schools.


AUGUST UNEMPLOYMENT STATS RELEASED (10/1)

County statistics have been released for Montana counties for the month of August. Valley County had a rate of 3.5%, compared to 3.2% in August 1999. The state rate is at 4.2%. For full county breakdowns, go to: http://rad.dli.state.mt.us/other/aug-sib/0008lf.htm


CORPS SPILLWAY TEST MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY IN GLASGOW (10/1)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a series of public meetings to explain and discuss the upcoming Fort Peck Flow Modification tests in 2001 and 2002.

According to Omaha District Commander Col. Mark E. Tillotson, the underlying purpose of the Fort Peck Flow Modification Tests are to gain information on the relationship between discharge volume, resulting river temperatures and pallid sturgeon spawing behavior. These tests may determine if operational changes could benefit pallid sturgeon.

"The reason behind the public workshops is to determine if there any public concerns," says Tillotson. "We will answer questions and we hope to gain information for use in writing an Environmental Asessment for each test. Every member of the public will have an opportunity to offer comments and voice concerns."

The first test - a mini-test - will take place during a four-week period between May 1, and July 1, 2001. One week of a partial spillway release of normal discharges may occur in July or August.

(The mini-test is in formulation phase and is subject to revision.)

The full test will be conducted in a four-week period between May 1 and July 1, 2002. Partial spillway discharges of normal volume may occur through August 2002. (The full test is in the formulation stage and subject to revision.)

The public meetings will be held:

Tuesday, October 3rd at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow from 7-9pm
Wednesday, October 4th at the First Community Bank in Culbertson from 12:30-2:30pm
Wednesday, October 4th at the Sherman Inn, Wolf Point, from 7-9pm.


In order to initiate compliance with the National Enviromental Policy Act, the Corps will met with state and federal agencies in Helena prior to the public meetings. The Corps began formal tribal consultation with the Fort Peck Tribe in August and will continue consultation throughout the testing process, according to Tillotson.

For more information contact the Corps Project Manager, William Miller, at 402-221-4022, or the Corps' National Environmental Polica Act coordinator, Becky Latka, at 402-221-4602.

TWO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CEREMONIES SET FOR WEDNESDAY (10/1)
The National Weather Service will present two recognitions in Glasgow on Wednesday, October 4th. At 1pm at the Cottonwood Inn, the Jefferson Award will be given to Stan and Shirle Wiggens of Flat Willow, Montana, for their dedication to observing and weather reporting for almost 40 years.

At 1:30 on Wednesday, National Weather Service officials will attend a special ceremony to recognize the community of Glasgow as "Storm Ready." The designation will be given at the Valley County Courthouse. Retired Air Force Breigadier General Jack Kelly, director of the National Weather Service, and Vickie Nadolski, director of the National Weather Service Western Region, will join area National Weather Service officials, Mayor Willie Zeller and Valley County Commissioners at the ceremonies.

THELMA PEGGY BOYCE CZYZESKI

Thelma Peggy Boyce Czyzeski, 94, died at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow on October 29th. Services will be at 10:00 AM on November 6th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Glasgow. Internment will be in the Malta Cemetery following the service. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.


Howard "Tiny" Cornwell

Funeral services will be held for Howard "Tiny" Cornwell age 76, Tuesday October 17,2000 at St. Albert's Catholic Church in Hinsdale at 10:00 am. Rosary will be held Monday October 16th at Tiny Cornwell's home at 7:00 pm A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday October 17th at 11:00 am at the Hinsdale Legion Hall. Burial will follow at the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale. Rev. Thad Kozikowski will officiate. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Howard "Tiny" Kenneth Cornwell was born in a log house on the Cornwell Ranch north of Tampico, MT on November 13,1923 to Lee and Ida Roub Cornwell and spent his entire life there. He went to grade school at the Buggy Creek and Highland Schools. Graduated from Glasgow High School and attended Northern Montana College in Havre.

Tiny married Peggy Rutter in 1959. He served three terms as Valley County Commissioner and was president of the Valley Ridgerunners Saddle Club. He was a member of the St. Albert's Parish, Knights of Columbus and the Montana Stock Growers Assoc. He served on the Buggy Creek & North Valley Grazing district boards and PCA. He was an honorary FFAmember of the Hinsdale FFA chapter and an avid supporter of Montana 4-H.

Tiny is survived by his wife Peggy and four daughters: LaMae (Steve) Lacock and their children (Jesse, Boyce, Greg and Bethany); Roub (Jeff) Younkin and their children (Chisholm, Chateau, Chadaya and Chaykota); Rene (Mitch) Burgess and their children (Grant, Brady and Burke). His twin brother Bill and his children; twins Lee and Lynn, and Clay and their families; a sister Myrtle Nyquist and numerous nieces, nephews and families.

 


JAMES STEVENS

Funeral services for James LeRoy Stevens, age 70, will be held Saturday October 14th, 2000 at 11:00am at the Bell Chapel in Glasgow. Rev. Evert Gustafson will officiate with burial to follow in the Holy Family Cemetery in Glentana, MT at 2:30pm.

James was born July 4,1930, to William M. and Ida Catherine Goheen Stevens in Opheim, MT. From the age of 14 until 22 years of age he spent in Whitefish and Opheim. In 1952 at the age of 24 he entered the Army and was discharged in 1954. From 1954 until 1980 he farmed and drove school bus in Opheim. Jim also did custom Harvesting. In 1980 until September of 2000 he had worked for the Valley County Road Department.

He enjoyed having coffee with his friends at Johnnie’s Café and he loved collecting antique cars.

Survivors include, his sister Eileen Honrud of Glasgow, MT, his brother Pat Stevens of San Jose, CA. 11 nephews including David Honrud of Glasgow, 4 nieces including Cathy Wagenhals of Glasgow and Sharon Dewit of Opheim, MT. Special friends, Larry, Eloise, and Robin Geiser and Jacquelyn Chouinard.


Samuel L. Rapos

Funeral services for Samuel L. Rapos, age 69, will be held Friday October 13, 2000 at the Evangelical Church in Glasgow at 2:00 pm. Rev. Jay Ashbaucher will officiate. Burial will follow at the Nickels Family Cemetery.

Samuel was born January 21,1931 to Samuel and Sadie (Bakos) Rapos in Terry MT.

Samuel passed away Monday October 9th in Glasgow; MT. Samuel graduated from Terry High School and attended Miles Community College for two years. He served in the Air Force for four years. After his discharge he attended Montana State College of Engineering in Bozeman, Graduating in 1958.

On February 21,1959 he married Shirley Holt in Riverdale, ND. They moved to Fort Peck in September of that year. He worked for the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and WAPA for 32 years.

Sam enjoyed boating, water skiing, exploring, camping, horseback riding and reading but most of all he loved the Lord.

Survivors are his wife Shirley Of Glasgow, son Paul and friend Judy of Everett, WA. Paul’s son Brent of Spring Valley, MN, daughter Sharon and son-in-law Steve Nickels and their children, Luke, Jeannie, and Jeremy- who live South West of Nashua, sister Millie Noel of Sonoma CA and 12 nieces and nephews.

His parents, two brothers and his grandson T.J. Nickels preceded Samuel in death.


Walter W. Turner

Funeral services for 49 year old Walter W. Turner of Glasgow will be held on Wednesday October 11, 2000 at 10:00am at St. Raphael’s gym. Reverend Dave Rogness will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.Walt died in an accident on Friday October 6, 2000 in Glasgow.

Walt was born November 25,1950 in Glasgow to Kermit W. Turner and Della Ruth Daley Turner.

Walt married Sherri R. White in Glasgow on August 20, 1983.

Walt worked numerous places in Glasgow. He was the Maintenance Manager at the Cottonwood Inn, Landfill manager at the Valley County Landfill, operated heavy equipment, most recently for Fossum Ready Mix. He took extreme pride in every job he worked.

In 1983 Walt and Sherri purchased the Kolstad Mobile Home Park in Glasgow. In 1987 they began building what is now the Shady Rest R.V. Park. Together they worked hard to establish a top-rated campground.

Walt was an avid stock car driver in the 70’s. He was the past president of the Glasgow Jaycees, which he was involved in for many years. He wholeheartedly supported the Jaycees” Block of Bucks” during the holiday season for children less fortunate. He served on the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He served with the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years retiring in 1994. He volunteered with the Valley County Long Run Fire Department for several years.

Walt’s latest joy was ice fishing especially with friends Clay and Andy. He was so proud of the 22.22lb northern pike he speared last winter. He and Sherri together enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, snow skiing and just being together.

Walt was always working in his shop, whether it be woodworking, welding, painting or helping a friend. Nobody had a shop like Walter. Walt always had a smile for everyone. He touched so many people’s lives.

I loved my dogs, old Chevy’s hunting, ice fishin’
Snowmobiles, and one-liners on life,
But most of all I loved Sherri, my wife.
Toothpick in cheek, thoughts on what really matters…
Meet me at the shop for a drink of “the water”
Leaving a little sooner than my notes reminded,
But ,I’ll see you all in the spring,
If you make it through the mattress.

Survivors include his wife Sherri Turner of Glasgow, sisters; Elsie Bacon of Great Falls, Donna Burback of Seattle, WA, Norma Ebling of Tonapah, Nevada, Della Beck of Mystic, Connecticut. Brothers, Milo Turner of Burnsville, Minnesota, Arthur Turner of Nashua, MT, John Turner of Nashua MT, Paul Turner of Glasgow, MT. and 26 nieces and nephews.

Larry Baumgartner

Larry Baumgartner, 51, long-time Glasgow resident, died Friday in an accident in Glasgow.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10:00am at St. Raphael’s Church in Glasgow. Rev Thad Kozikowski and Pastor Martin Mock will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Larry was born June 5, 1949 in Lewistown, Montana, to William and Virgie (Senst) Baumgartner. He attended Lewistown grade schools, St. Leo’s High School and Glasgow High School his senior year graduating in 1968. During that year he lived with the Hallocks and worked at Earls Body Shop.

He was a member of the Malta unit of the Montana National Guard from 1968 to 1975, where he honed the cooking skills he had learned during his high school years from his father.

On September 6, 1971, Larry married Shirley Pattison of Glasgow, the couple settled in Lewistown where he managed Courtesy Body Shop. They latter moved to Missoula, Larry managed Ron’s Auto Refinishers and supported Shirley throughout Pharmacy School.
The family returned to Glasgow in 1982, where Larry farmed with his father-in-law, Lyman Pattison. He loved farming and was particularly proud of his “millennium year” crop.
Larry possessed a keen mechanical mind and was capable of designing and building everything from motorcycles to solar –heated swimming pools. He was meticulous craftsman and generously lent his time and expertise to any friend who needed help with any project. He actively supported youth athletics in the community, and his children and their friends could always count on him to help organize and run events. He served as a Computer Technician for the Valley County Election Board for over 15 years, transporting and maintaining voting machines throughout the county. An avid pilot, Larry especially enjoyed flying his biplane.

Survivors include his wife Shirley of Glasgow, his daughter, Mary, a freshman at MSU- Bozeman, his son, Derek, a freshman at GHS, his mother, Virgie Baumgartner of Lewistown; his sister, Regina Folda of Lewistown; his mother-in-law Mary Pattison of Glasgow; his sister-in-law Patt Etchart, her husband Joe of Glasgow, his brother-in-law, Ron of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and nine nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bill; his brothers, Mark and Danny; his father-in-law Lyman Pattison; and his niece, Tessa Robertson.

Pallbearers are: Dana Wagenhals, Milt Hallock, Dennis Baadsgaard, Don Elletson, Don Fast Wayne Jennings, Tim Volk, Marc Swanson, Kari Knierim, and Marcia McEachron. Honorary pallbearers are: Kirk Eastman, Alvie Hallock, Jim Plovanic, Vic Ellis, and Larry Miers.

Memorials are suggested to the Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team.


Mary Ann Roberts

Mary Ann Roberts, 53, died of an aneurism on Friday, October 6th. Services will be Tuesday, October 10th at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Glasgow with Reverend Martin Mock officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

She was born in Glasgow in 1947 to Thomas Mullen and Amanda Hopstad Mullen. She was raised and attended schools in Glasgow and then attended Eastern Montana College in Billings. In 1964 she married Sherril Brooks White in Glasgow. Later South Dakota married Mike Roberts of Glasgow, in 1971. She was Director of the Gateway House in Billings for 13 years. She was the Victim Witness Liaison for Phillips and Valley County for 13 years.

On August 3rd she had an aneurism and died of complications from it.

She loved reading, old movies and playing with her grand-daughter. She received the Degree of Honor, was a member of the Lutheran Church, Womens Resource Center, and was on the board of the Friends of the Pioneer Museum.

Survivors include her mother, Amanda Mullen of Glasgow; 1 son: Jim White of San Jose, California; 1 daughter: Jane Brooks of Sun Valley, California; 1 grand-daughter: Bodhi Rose Brooks; 4 sisters: Sue Herson, Patsy Wilson and Karen Hanvold, all of Glasgow, and Yvonne Cole of Houston, Texas; 2 brothers: Richard Mullen of Glasgow and Michael Mullen of Minneapolis, Minnesota.


Leland Smelser

Leland Smelser, 69, died of cancer at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow on October 7th. Services will be Wednesday, October 11th at 2 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Glasgow with Reverend George Draper officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1930 and was raised and lived in the area and later in Bremerton, Washington, before moving to Miles City where he graduated from high school. He went to work with his dad at the Pacific Hide & Fur company in Sidney. He married Lucille Entzel in 1952 in Sidney. They moved to Great Falls where he worked for Pacific Hide & Fur in Great Falls from 1954-59. They then moved to Glasgow where Leland managed Pacific Hide & Fur until retiring in 1986.

He was a member and Past President of the Faith Lutheran Church and Board of Elders, served on the District Missouri Board of the Missouri Synod and the Extension Fund Board, served as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, on the Valley View Nursing Home Board of Directors for 9 years, 6 years as Chairman, and on the Pacific Hide & Fur Board of Directors for 18 years. He was also a charter member and past president of the Glasgow Wranglers Kiwanis Club and received Boss of the Year from the Glasgow Chamber in 1978. He also was very proud to be a recovered alcoholic for over 40 years.

Survivors include his wife, Lucile Smelser of Glasgow; 1 son: Paul Smelser and his wife Joann of Glendive; 2 daughters: Tamara Larson and her husband Michael of Billings, and Theresa Smelser McDaid of Billings; 6 grandchildren: Megan Smelser, Nathan Smelser, Vanessa Larson, Christopher Larson, Brittany Larson and Morgan McDaid; 3 sisters: Beverly Becker of Polson, Montana; Frankie Morrison of Laurel, Montana; Anna Mindt and her husband Delton of Polson, Montana; 2 brothers: Jim Smelser and his wife Shirley of Power, Montana; and William Smelser and his wife Sharon of Sidney, Montana.


Alfred Olai Akre

Alfred Olai Akre, 90, died on October 4th of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. Services were Monday, October 9th, at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow with Reverend Martin Mock officiating and with burial in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Alfred was born in Montrail County, North Dakota, in 1910. He lived in Plaza, North Dakota, and moved to Dooley, Montana. There he worked on farms. Alfred came to Fort Peck to work on the dam construction. He worked on the dredge Maddison, and later worked on the power house construction. He married Gladys Esther Carlson at Wolf Point in 1936. In 1940 they bought their first half section west of Fort Peck. They farmed until retiring in 1982 at age 72. They stayed on the farm until 1994. Alfred moved in to Nemont Manor in 1995 and has lived at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow since 1997.

Alfred served on the board of directors of the Valley Electric Cooperative for 18 years. He also served on the school board for many years. He enjoyed hunting and puttering in the shop and loved to play pinochle.

Survivors include: 2 sons: Richard Akre and his wife Ilse of Federal Way, Washington, and Gerald Akre of Lewistown; 2 daughters: Judy Carr of Graham, Washington, and Janil Hofman of Hampton, Virginia; 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, 1 sister: Mabel Jorgensen of Kenosha, Wisconsin; 1 brother: Helmer Akra of Billings. He was preceded in death by his wife Gladys in 1984, 4 sisters and 1 brother.


June Hillman Cook

June Hillman Cook, 81, died October 3rd at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow of natural causes. Memorial services will be held during the 2001 Milk River Days in Hinsdale this coming summer. Cremation has taken place. Adams Funeral Home & Crematory of Malta is in charge of arrangements.

June was born in 1919 in Modina, Minnesota, and came with her parents to Hinsdale in 1927 and graduated from Hinsdale High in 1936. For several years she worked for her dad at the Fisrt National Bank of Hinsdale until 1956, then moving to California and working for the Crocker Angleo Bank in Fremont, where she became the first female officer of the Crocker Banks and later became the first manager. June was the first president and charter member of the American Business Women's Association in Fremont.

She married Clifford Blockhus in 1942; they divorced in 1960. She married Edward Ned Cook in 1962 in Reno, Nevada; he died in 1979.

She was a member of the Riverview Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Hinsdale and was the Past Worthy Matron. She enjoyed traveling, photography and flowers.

Survivors include 2 sons: Curtis Blockhus of Copporopolis, California, and Jon Blockhus of Hinsdale; 2 brothers: R.E. Bud Hillman of Hinsdale and Orval Hillman of Jamestown, California; 1 sister, Rosanne Cox of Canada; 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.