Indy Blog, Missoula News

Green Investment Group tries to fend off Superfund designation at Frenchtown mill

Matthew Frank — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:30:00 -0600

In late April, Ray Stillwell, president of Green Investment Group, Inc., which in 2011 acquired the former Smurfit-Stone pulp mill near Frenchtown, penned a letter to Montana Gov. Steve Bullock imploring him to reconsider his administration’s support for the proposed federal Superfund designation. Stillwell said he “very strongly” prefers state oversight, citing the “uncertainty associated with lengthy processes” required by the Environmental Protection Agency, and noted his company’s “proven track record of completing successful voluntary remediation of other sites.”

Attached to the letter was a packet of materials intended to support Stillwell’s case.…

Rockies Today, June 18

Mountain West News — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:29:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Groups urge BLM to delay decision on 198M-ton coal lease in Montana
Cloud Peak Energy has applied to expand its Spring Creek Mine in southeast Montana by 1,600 acres, and on Wednesday, federal and state officials will take up that application, but environmental groups said the hearing should be delayed, given the recent report that questioned the BLM's pricing of such leases.
Flathead Beacon (AP); June 18

Mine developer to make presentation tonight in Montana
The Russell Country Sportsmen's Association has invited representatives of Tintina Resources, the company that wants to develop copper resources on private land near White Sulphur Springs to make a presentation on the Montana project at its monthly meeting tonight at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' headquarters on Giant Springs Road in Great Falls.
Great Falls Tribune; June 18

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Happiest Hour: The Journalist

Skylar Browning — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:20:00 -0600

Background: Reputation would lead you to believe that journalists only drink cheap whiskey from the bottle and the blood of corrupt politicians, but those are unfair stereotypes. We much prefer to sip the tears of fallen stars willing to spill their story in an exclusive.…

Rockies Today, June 17

Mountain West News — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:30:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Federal judge in Montana dismisses oil, gas leasing challenge
Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Montana Environmental Information Center, WildEarth Guardians and Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project that sought to block gas and oil leases on 800,000 acres in Montana in a bid to force actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Great Falls Tribune (AP); June 15

Montana tribe's coal future tied up in export fight
As domestic demand for coal in the United States declines, companies are tapping export markets in Asia and elsewhere, but U.S. port capacity must expand in order to fill international orders, a move that has sparked fierce opposition.
New York Times; June 15

Public comment period on Yellowstone Park's winter-use plan closes today
If you haven't yet commented on the latest winter-use plan for Yellowstone National Park, you have until midnight June 17 to do so.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); June 15

The New York Times tracks wild-horse management in the U.S.
The Retro Report provides a retrospective on the history of wild horses in the United States and the Bureau of Land Management's policies riding herd on those animals.
New York Times; June 17

Geldings begin their semi-wild life on a Montana ranch
The 710 young geldings released on the Spanish Q Ranch in Montana have spent all of their lives in Bureau of Land Management holding corrals, making the young horses wary of exploring their new range.
Billings Gazette (AP); June 15

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How some cops are policing their own (and more from In Other News)

Roland Sweet — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Curses, Foiled Again
A police officer stopped a car for a traffic violation in Clayton, Mo., and asked driver Joseph Meacham, 39, to step out. Meacham obliged but then shoved the officer and fled on foot.…

Sen. Tester's on a roll with MSNBC

Alex Sakariassen — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:17:00 -0600

Sen. Jon Tester has all but said "I told you so" through the national media in the wake of a damning Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court leak earlier this month. The revelation that government officials secured massive amounts of data on calls made by Verizon customers has renewed the debate about sacrificing liberties to chase down potential terrorists.…

Rockies Today, June 14

Mountain West News — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:22:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Appeals court orders BLM to study range of grazing options in Montana
Western Watersheds Project, which filed the lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management over its grazing plan for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and, in particular, the Woodhawk allotment, claimed victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision rendered that said the BLM must study a range of options for grazing permits, but the BLM said the decision upheld its general grazing plan for the Montana monument and only found fault with its plan for the Woodhawk allotment.
Great Falls Tribune; June 14

Grocer group accuses potato-grower association of price fixing
In a lawsuit that is now in federal court of Idaho, Associated Wholesale Grocers has accused United Potato Growers of America, which represents growers in 15 states, including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, as well as 24 other defendants, of intentionally limiting planting and destroying harvested potatoes to keep prices of the popular tuber high.
Idaho Statesman (AP); June 14

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Our favorite wildfire and weather apps

Jonathan Thompson — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:33:00 -0600

It's springtime in the West, that time of year when brooks babble abundantly with snowmelt, cute baby wildlife prance around verdant meadows, blossoms cover tree branches like virgin snow, and it all goes up in flames. Hoping to keep as close an eye on the burning West as I do on my runs and bike rides, I scoured the Intertubes for the appropriate apps.…

Rockies Today, June 13

Mountain West News — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:52:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Arkansas company begins drilling for rare-earth minerals in Montana
U.S. Rare Earths began exploratory drilling for rare earth minerals along a 60-mile stretch of Lemhi Pass on the Montana side of the border with Idaho, and the Arkansas company has also applied for permits from Idaho for such drilling.
Billings Gazette; June 13

Black Forest fire burns its way into Colorado record books with 360 homes lost
The El Paso County Sheriff expanded the evacuation zone for the Black Forest Fire in Colorado as high winds and high temperatures were forecast for today, and on Thursday morning, the sheriff confirmed that 360 homes had been destroyed by the fire so far, breaking the record of 347 homes burned in the state set by the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire.
Denver Post; June 13

Wildfire in Colorado's Royal Gorge destroys tram car, buildings
The Royal Gorge Fire, which has destroyed structures at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, was reported to be 3,000 acres in size on Wednesday afternoon, and due to limited firefighting resources, the Fremont County Commission voted to immediately impose Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in the Colorado county.
Denver Post (Canon City Daily Record); June 13

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Your future, a little early

Rob Brezsny — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0600

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): Irish poet Richard Brinsley Sheridan didn't confine his lyrical wit to well-crafted poems on the printed page.…

Happiest Hour: Moscow Mondays

Alex Sakariassen — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:50:00 -0600

It should come as no surprise that we love lifting a glass, regardless what day of the week it is. And with Missoula being so big on the whole giving thing, we never have to look far for a good cause to lift our glasses to...

This week: Moscow Mondays at Montgomery Distillery

Why you’re here: About three months back, Montgomery Distillery became the latest local watering hole to enter the world of boozy philanthropy.…

Why it's always a good idea to use the parking brake (and more from In Other News)

Roland Sweet — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Curses, Foiled Again
Federal agents tracking a man who claimed he was selling 700,000 stolen identities identified Nathaniel Troy Maye, 44, as their suspect after a witness informed them he received a flash drive containing 50 identities from a man named “Maye” during dinner at a Morton’s steak house. Using data on the flash drive, agents found a profile for “TROYMAYE” on Instagram social media website, where Maye had posted “a photo of a steak and macaroni and cheese meal” at Morton’s at the time the witness said Maye gave him the flash drive.…

Missoula river access site delayed

Jamie Rogers — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:45:00 -0600

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists on its website 17 river access sites on the Clark Fork between Drummond and St. Regis. There are boat ramps at Schwarz Creek, Kelly Island, Tarkio and Forest Grove.…

Your future, a little early

Rob Brezsny — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0600

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): The longest natural arch in the world is the Fairy Bridge in Guangxi Province, China.…

Rockies Today, June 4

Mountain West News — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:47:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Flooding in northcentral Montana prompts calls for assistance
For the third time in four years, flooding has washed out bridges and roads in northcentral Montana, and local governments are seeking assistance to deal with the infrastructure damage.
Great Falls Tribune; June 4

Debate on new national monument in Idaho focuses on size, management
The protection of a portion of the 500,000-acre roadless area in the Boulder and White Cloud mountains in central Idaho has been a goal of U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson for decades, and now that the proposal to designate some of the area as a national monument, the debate has turned to how much of it should be designated as such and who should manage the new national monument.
Idaho Statesman; June 4

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Rockies Today, June 3

Mountain West News — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:59:00 -0600

Top news links, courtesy of Mountain West News.

Montana mulls loaning Ambre Energy $10 million for coal development
The Montana Board of Investments is considering a $10-million loan request from Ambre Energy, the Australian company that is seeking to gain control of the Decker coal mine near the Wyoming-Montana border.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); June 3

Dairy, tourism foundation of Idaho valley's economy
The Magic Valley's economy is improving, due in part to the expansion of dairy-related businesses, as well as increased tourism in the Idaho valley, but local officials said there's still much work to be done to build on those industries.
Twin Falls Times-News; June 3

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Why feds use waffles to gauge natural disasters (and more from In Other News)

Roland Sweet — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Curses, Foiled Again
Looking to steal copper wiring to sell as scrap, Dalton Newhouse and Charles Raymond Norris, both 22, used rifles to shoot down high-tension power lines in West Virginia’s Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Newhouse was electrocuted when he touched a live cable on the ground, according to Fayette County deputies and National Park Service rangers, who found his body entangled in downed lines.…

Happiest Hour: Travel bottles at Grizzly Liquor

Erika Fredrickson — Fri, 31 May 2013 17:04:09 -0600

Though the weather is predictably unpredictable, summer is just around the corner. You might be heading home from college or planning your vacation to the California beach (or, let's just say, to the Clark Fork).…

More information surfaces about the Barry Beach case

Jessica Mayrer — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:22:00 -0600

Barry Beach served nearly 29 years behind bars for a murder that he has maintained for decades that he didn’t commit. In 2011, a Montana district judge freed him after finding that new evidence discovered by his legal team could alter his original 1984 conviction.…

Your future, a little early

Rob Brezsny — Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 -0600

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): Back in the 1920s, the governor of Texas was determined to forbid the teaching of foreign languages in public schools.…

Missoula swim coach mired in national sexual abuse case

Skylar Browning — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:15:00 -0600

A dark chapter for USA Swimming appeared to come to an end May 23 when a Hall of Fame coach was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to child sexual abuse in a case that stretches back three decades. But the victim in that case, Kelley Davies Currin, who says Rick Curl first sexually abused her when she was 13 years old and continued doing so for five years during the 1980s, used last week’s sentencing to call for more changes at the national organization, including the resignation of three top officials who she says have known about Curl’s misconduct and failed to act.…

Going off grid is easy!

High Country News — Tue, 28 May 2013 09:04:00 -0600

I’ve been immersed in reams of reports and data regarding the electrical grid for months (resulting story coming very soon), and let me tell you this: The grid is big, it’s important, it creeps into every aspect of our modern lives, and it’s fragile. If your science fiction story is in need of a modern-Frankenstein-like human-made monster that turns on us, you could do worse than the grid.…

How not to rob a drive-through (and more from In Other News)

Roland Sweet — Mon, 27 May 2013 10:40:00 -0600

Curses, Foiled Again
A 24-year-old Australian man tried to rob a chicken carryout in Rosebery, New South Wales, by smashing the cash register on the floor. An employee “responded with a bucket of chili flakes over his face,” according to police Inspector Paul Thornton, who reported that police treated the suspect for minor burns before charging him.…

Hangriest Hour: Deep fryer genius at Double Front Cafe

Jamie Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:30:00 -0600

There is regular “comfort food” and then there is food of such sublime unctuousness that a different term is necessary: let’s just call it “fried.” Two offerings at Missoula’s Double Front Cafe fall into this elevated category, and they aren’t chicken.

Offering #1: Kids love macaroni and cheese. Grownups also love mac and cheese but pretend to love it less when their kids love it way too much (or the appropriate amount, depending).…

Highway Technologies run off the road; estimated 80 jobs lost

Jamie Rogers — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:05:00 -0600

On May 20, Steve Zetterberg leaned back in a chair and propped his boots on what used to be the receptionist’s desk at Highway Technologies’ Missoula branch office. Nearby, the office manager paced as he talked on a cellphone, while another group of employees stood idly in a group, speaking quietly.…