Good morning and happy birthday to the longest reigning monarch in the world, Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The new Beacons are on the stands, and packed with new features, including an ongoing weekly column by the godfather of ski filmmakers, Warren Miller. For his premier column in the Beacon, he lambastes Al Gore for bleak ski season predictions. We’ve also got a preview of the 2008 real estate market in Northwest Montana. Keriann Lynch spends some time in Sykes’ to see what has made this restaurant such a success for decades. And business columnist Mark Riffey offers some tips on efficient hiring.
The state GOP has invited Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, a Republican under Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, to attend its winter meeting. Unfortunately Bohlinger can’t make it; he’ll be on his honeymoon. Several environmental groups filed a motion requesting that the state Department of Environmental Quality adhere to a 2002 ruling to fill in a Whitehall mine with rocks. NorthWestern Energy is acquiring a larger share of a coal-fired power plant in Colstrip. In Livingston, the trial of a former pastor ended yesterday with his conviction for four felony sex crimes. And in Butte, the family of late daredevil Evel Knieval announced its plans for his funeral. The Standard has a pic of his tombstone, etched with an image of Knieval soaring through the air on his bike.
Apparently not everyone is sharing in the holiday spirit. In Tyler, Texas, police are still baffled in their search for a 42-foot tall inflatable snowman stolen from a Christmas tree lot. One Tyler resident likened the crime to stealing the Statue of Liberty. Have a happy Hump day.