That jibes with Palin's reported speaking fee means the group will lose money, if published reports of her fee are accurate. Politico says Iowa Republicans balked at Palin's $100,000 price late last year. Newsweek tossed water on the Politico report, not disputing the fee but clarifying that Palin demand a fee for what amounted to a campaign event.

In January, Politico again reported the $100,000 fee, but added that it dips to $75,000 for appearances in the West. Fox News confirmed the numbers, but added she donates the money to "campaigns, candidates and issues."

So, how much will Palin receive for coming to Missoula? When Szpaller asked about Palin's speaking fee, Henderson said it was "confidential."

Find Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology online, every Tuesday, two days before it hits the Indy's printed pages.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) was called “the most famous actress the world has ever known.” She did a few films in the early days of the cinema, but most of her work was in the theater. At age 70, she played the role of the 13-year-old Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I commend her on her refusal to act her age, and recommend that you make a comparable effort in the coming weeks. For example, if you’re in your twenties, try something you thought you wouldn’t do until you were at a very ripe age. If you’re over 50, be 25 for a while. It’s an excellent time to do this kind of time-traveling.

Yesterday the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) published (PDF) its latest tally of medical marijuana patients and caregivers in the state. There are now 10,582 patients, about 3,000 of whom were added to the rolls in January and February.

Check this week's installment to learn more about a shooting in a Florida gun safety class and a hermaphrodite drug lord in South Africa.

Curses, Foiled Again
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in College Station, Texas, for trying to pass a counterfeit $5 bill. Officials said the bogus bill had an “overwhelming number of imperfections,” appearing to have been made by gluing two sheets of paper together with images of the front and back of a $5 bill printed on either side. Further evidence that the bill consisted of two pieces of paper cropped and glued together was the observation that the front of the bill was longer than the back.

With all this nice spring weather, we've been itching to get out of the office early and start our weekend. And you know us well enough by now to realize our weekend starts with the first frosty glass of beer. Take our Happiest Hour advice, make it a trip this afternoon. Not all the good bars are in city limits.

This week: Harold's Club

Claim to fame: “I don’t know if it’s the beer on ice or the animal heads in the bubbles,” says bartender Jenny Regan. Or maybe it’s the annual New Year’s Day Ride from the Rhino to Harold’s. According to Regan, local motorcycle club Montana Legends makes the run every year, “snow or rain or shine.”

Atmosphere: A bit loud on a recent midweek afternoon. The regulars are having a spirited conversation about car racing and Discovery Channel’s “Cash Cab.” Larry Lanoue just sips his drink, chatting off and on with Regan. He sums the joint up as clean, “but not white-glove clean.” Regan adds they still enforce the Code of the West. “Whoever orders the drink buys it,” she says.

What you’re drinking: Patrons used to favor Jack Daniels, but today the popular drinks range from Bud Light to Maker’s Mark. One thing’s sure: There’s no such thing as a weak pour here.

Who you’re drinking with: “Local yokels,” Lanoue jokes. Mostly good-natured neighbors from Milltown and Bonner, with a few errant college kids thrown in.

What you’re talking about: Pool tournaments, fiddle jamborees, the 17-year run of Solid Sound Karaoke at Harold’s every Friday night—the average conversation here rambles in that pleasant, homey way. Talk of the area’s best dive bars gives way to talk of the smoking ban gives way to the infractions at the Turah Pines Bar gives way to Lanoue’s stories from the military…

How to find it: Head east through Milltown on Highway 200. Take a right on Owen Street after crossing the Blackfoot River and drive over the railroad tracks.

Few things start a Friday off better than big news for local artisan chocolate experts, Posh Chocolat. The upcoming International Chocolate Salon in San Francisco announced its Grand Award for the 2010 Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America, and Posh "chocolatiers" Ana and Jason Willenbrock made the list.

“It has been a real honor to be recognized as one of the Best Chocolatiers in the Nation. Most of our business has been word of mouth, I really want to thank all of the customers for getting us where we are today.” says Ana Willenbrock.

So, congrats Ana and Jason. And, just because it put us in the mood, here's this:

Members of the Bitterroot group Celebrating Conservatism hosted a roadside rally in Hamilton yesterday opposing restrictive gun control measures in the U.S. Those gathered reportedly carried a variety of guns, including a semi-automatic rifle held by prominent group member Duane Sipe.

Ravalli Republic reporter Sepp Jannotta did a great job of highlighting the fact that there's no grand federal scheme at present to limit Second Amendment rights. The rally coincided with a full-page advertisement in the Republic listing signatures of local residents supporting "Celebration of Right to Bear Arms Week." Jannotta quotes Celebrating Conservatism founder Mona Docteur as saying the message that people are within their rights to resist, even overthrow, unjust government should be understood by everyone.

The rally came just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in McDonald v. Chicago, a case that questions whether the federally granted right to bear arms applies at state and local levels. A Supreme Court majority—the same five justices who two years ago ruled that gun control laws in Washington, D.C. should not inhibit Second Amendment rights—appears ready to incorporate the Second Amendment in state and city governments.

Montanans have been complaining to the state auditor's office about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) raising health insurance premiums this year by as much as 43 percent. BCBSMT says it's a symptom of ever-rising health care costs. Its recent filing with the auditor's office seems to illustrate that point pretty well.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Sunday that one illegal outfitter and 10 non-resident hunters were sentenced on criminal charges for a rash of poaching activity. James "Bert" Twitchell of Wolf Point hosted the 10 hunters—all from North Carolina or Alabama—using an FWP-regulated landowner certification that allows private landowners to host non-residents on their land. But FWP agents in northeastern Montana observed Twitchell's clients trespassing on neighboring private land, as well as federal land owned by the Bureau of Land Management.

Twitchell was fined $170 by McCone County on two misdemeanor counts of non-licensed outfitting activity—a slap on the wrist compared to what FWP has leveled against many illegal outfitters in the state. The hunters he sponsored didn't get off so lucky. All lost hunting, trapping and fishing privileges for at least a year, and must pay thousands of dollars in fines and restitution. The numerous charges included illegally taking white-tail and mule deer, antelope and game birds, hunting without a license and loaning a license to another hunter.

Five non-resident hunters were convicted in late January in a separate case of illegal commercial outfitting. In that case, a Kentucky man was busted for operating an illegal outfitting operation on FWP Block Management Land in northeastern Montana from 2005 to 2007.

Apparently our etc. column last week highlighting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's online auction of forfeited and abandoned animal products backfired. Those ostrich-skin belts we had our eyes on? Well, someone drove the bid up to $40. Getting a bit out of our modest price range.

For anyone who didn't catch the column, profits from the agency's auction go toward education initiatives on the wildlife product trade and global conservation. Some money also goes to the National Eagle Repository in Denver, which supplies Native Americans with eagle parts for religious uses. All for a good cause, right? Just stay away from our damn belts, bidder "butch1." Sheesh.