Brian Schweitzer got his wish. The Montana governor today finalized the state's $15.2 million purchase of some 27,000 acres northeast of Deer Lodge from the Rock Creek Cattle Company, putting an end to weeks of debate surrounding the Spotted Dog land acquisition. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now seeking volunteers to staff a planning committee for the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area, a highly coveted spread housing a sizable elk herd and numerous other species of concern.

"The 12-15 member committee will provide advice and local perspective to FWP over the next few years as FWP works to refine a management plan for the WMA," FWP's release reads. "Prospective committee members should include area landowners, hunters, anglers and others that are interested in working on a collaborative planning effort for the property."

The Black Crowes concert at Ryan Creek Meadows hit a snag last night when both the headlining band and the opener, Jackie Greene, failed to take the stage. Keli Hansen, who operates the venue with her husband Toby, says she's still waiting for an answer from the band's promoter as to why the concert fell through. She confirms the Black Crowes did arrive at the venue and that their equipment was set up, but speculates intermittent bad weather caused them to cancel at the last moment. Others who were at the show have expressed similar sentiments on Ryan Creek Meadows' Facebook page that rain and wind were contributing factors to the cancellation. The band's Twitter feed hints at the same problem.

Hansen says she's was contacted by Rockin Rudy's this morning about ticket refunds, but doesn't know yet how the refunding process will work. She encourages anyone with a Black Crowes ticket to check the venue's blog, which she will update with information once the promoter contacts her with details. Camping fees can be refunded, and Ryan Creek Meadows plans to offer anyone who paid the $5 parking fee and can produce a valid concert ticket a free parking voucher for a future event.

This hasn't been the smoothest week for the Hansens or Ryan Creek Meadows.

Find Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology online, every Wednesday, one day before it hits the Indy's printed pages.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In an old comedy sketch called “One Leg Too Few,” a one-legged man comes in to a casting agent’s office to audition for the part of Tarzan in an upcoming show. The agent is as diplomatic as he can be given the fact that the role would best be played by a strapping young man with exceptional running and leaping skills. “It’s possible that no two-legged men will apply,” the agent tells the applicant, “in which case you could get the part.” Don’t be like the one-legged man in this story, Aries. While I usually encourage you to think big and dream of accomplishing amazing feats, this is one time when you should respect your limitations.

The Missoula Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously today to provide $20,400 in community building grants to the Poverello Center. The money will help transform the basement of the existing Ryman Street homeless shelter into a daytime drop-in center.

If you're looking to place a bet on President Dennison's replacement, you may want to keep an eye on UM Provost Royce Engstrom.

• Royce Engstrom

In a cleverly worded release from UM this afternoon, Clayton Christian, who chairs the state Board of Regents and the presidential search advisory committee, announced Engstrom was among three finalists recommended by the committee, and would interview at all four UM campuses in mid-September. So, who are the other candidates?

Well, first you had to read the title of the release: "Provost named finalist for UM presidency." Then the first line: "University of Montana Provost Royce Engstrom has been named a finalist for the UM presidency..." Then the brief bio on Engstrom: "Engstrom, who was born in Michigan and raised in Nebraska, has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at UM since 2007. He came to Montana after a national search from a similar position at the University of South Dakota."

Then, you had to read Christian's quote, which talks about a thorough national search and the committee recommending three "superbly qualified individuals as potential finalists." Yeah, yeah, yeah — but who else is in the running?

Christian said one of the individuals identified as a potential finalist accepted a position at another prestigious university and the other elected to withdraw.

Oh.

It's far from a done deal, but Engstrom would appear to be the leader in the clubhouse. And he's a little lonely in there.

Here's the full release:

In this installment: toilet pride, unacceptable french fries and disappointingly milquetoast orangutans.

Curses, Foiled Again
People noticed Dennis Hawkins, 48, when he showed up at a shopping center supermarket wearing a woman’s blonde wig, a sweater with fake breasts under it and clown pants. Police in Swissvale, Pa., said Hawkins proceeded to a Kmart store, where surveillance cameras caught him shoplifting a BB gun. He then went to a nearby bank, showed a teller the gun and demanded money. Bank cameras recorded him stopping behind the bank to open the money envelope as a dye pack explodes, causing him to drop some of the money. He ran to a nearby service station, hopped into the parked car of a woman and asked for a ride. The woman got out, taking her keys with her, and called police, who arrested Hawkins while he waited in her car, covered with red dye, the wig stuffed in his clown pants and still wearing the fake breasts. “He’d be my candidate for America’s dumbest criminal,” police Chief Greg Geppert said.

Authorities in Greene County, Ind., arrested Justin S. Johnson, 21, after a bank reported he was trying to cash a check for $1 million at the drive-through window. Sheriff’s Lt. Bryan Woodall said Johnson left without any money, but he had presented identification to prove he was the payee, and the teller photocopied his driver’s license before informing him the check wasn’t valid.

TGIF, right? Whether you want to prop yourself up at the bar with a cool beverage or get up on the dance floor country style, we've got an idea for you. Time to visit—or revisit—an old haunt with a new makeover, that's off the beaten path from downtown. Electric slide, anyone?

The scoop: When Tom Reed, the owner of The Other Side, passed away in May 2009 he was in the middle of selling the bar to Kammy and Rick Zavarelli. Over the last year, the couple took out the old club’s big back stage, put in a new front door, built a small stage and created an outdoor beer garden friendly to smokers. The transformation to the Sunrise Saloon turned the joint from a rock and metal venue to the kind of bar that will have you humming, “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

Motto: “Where the sidewalk ends and the West begins.”

Atmosphere: In the afternoon, the Zavarellis spend time chit-chatting with patrons at the bar. When the bands hit the stage in the evening, the huge wooden floor fills with dancers. On the walls around the bar: Rusty horseshoes, signed dollar bills, wagon wheels and old leather saddles.

What you’re listening to: “Not everyone likes hip hop,” says Rick Zavarelli, “but you can get everyone to listen to country western.” A stretch? Maybe, but it’s true the range of country music at the Sunrise could draw a diverse crowd. If you show up Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, you can catch free live sets from bands like Cash For Junkers, County Line, The Cold Hard Cash Show and Whiskey Rebellion, among others. Show up on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and you get country western and line dancing lessons for an easy $5.

What you’re drinking: The saloon has no set Happy Hour yet, but there are drink specials like Pabst pounders on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

How to find it: On the corner of Regent and Strand near the Fairway Shopping Center.

Happiest Hour celebrates western Montana watering holes. To recommend a bar, bartender or beverage for Happiest Hour, e-mail editor@missoulanews.com.

This week marks the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. You'll be relived to know that, as the city continues to rebuild, former FEMA head Michael Brown — aka "Brownie" from President Bush's infamous, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" quote — is still doing a heck of a job, thank you very much.

The alt weekly paper in Denver, Westword, sat down with the now radio talk-show host to get his reflections on the disaster five years after he was largely blamed for the government's embarrassingly slow/inadequate/insulting response (see video below). Here's what Brown had to say about the Katrina criticism he still receives: "Okay, whatever."

It's an interview worth a read.

Garden City Harvest is betting that pork lovers will fork out big money for a locally-raised hog. The non-profit has posted a PEAS Farm pig on eBay.

Find Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology online, every Wednesday, one day before it hits the Indy's printed pages.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Why should you work harder than everyone else? Why is it up to you to pick up the slack when others are suffering from outbreaks of laziness and incompetence? And why should you be the fearless leader who is focused on fixing the glitches and smoothing over the rough patches when no one else seems to care whether things fall apart? I’ll tell you why, Aries: because it’s the Karmic Correction phase of your long-term cycle—a time when you can atone for past mistakes, pay off old debts, and make up for less-than-conscientious moves you got away with once upon a time.