Good morning and happy Independence Day to our Zambian readers.
It’s a cold, dark, rainy Monday morning in the Valley – a perfect opportunity to spend an hour or so reading the Flathead Beacon. For sports fans, check out our Sports Buffet, a roundup of the top stats and scores from weekend games. Myers Reece has a number of good football stories as well. He wraps up the Whitefish-Columbia Falls clash from Friday night, and spends some time with the Glacier Knights, a semi-pro team out of C-Falls comprised of regular dudes who simply love the game. Bigfork contributor Katrin Frye reports on the efforts to produce a neighborhood plan there.
The AP reports on the completion of a study of the Grizzly population estimated to be in the Glacier Park area: 240 according to the U.S. geological survey. The Missoulian’s Michael Jamison reports on the move by the Bonneville Power Administration to increase its share of wind power. And Lee’s Jennifer McKee previews the court hearing, underway right now in Helena, to determine whether utility companies are obligated to pay rent to the state for hydroelectric dams built on streambeds – which are state trust lands.
And, finally, in what is one of the oddest exclusive interviews scored by a Montana newspaper in a long time, the Great Falls Tribune has an enlightening story on Nikki Sixx, bass player for 80s glam-rockers, Motley Crue. Sixx has a new memoir out about the worst year of his drug addiction and his struggle to overcome the problems. Sixx actually grew up in Jerome, Idaho, near the Montana border and he weighs in on why meth has afflicted small towns in the Rocky Mountain West. It’s a strangely inspiring read and made me want to pick up the book. Don’t let this nasty Monday morning bring you down.