Good morning and happy National Clean Off Your Desk Day.
Topping local and statewide news this morning are the two avalanche deaths in the Canyon Creek area north of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Search teams are still working to locate two more skiers, reported to be caught in the slide, but they have not been found as of this writing. Stay tuned to the Beacon for updates. Avalanches in Wyoming killed three snowmobilers and injured a skier over the weekend as well. State wildlife officials are taking 30 bighorn sheep from Wildhorse Island and moving them to augment a herd west of Libby. Jim Bromgard of Kalispell, exonerated after spending 15 years in prison for rape charges, settled for $3.5 million. On Friday, a Kalispell woman died in Badrock Canyon after her vehicle slid into oncoming traffic. And in our guest essay, two scholars and former politicians lament our country’s presidential selection process.
Statewide, the news is off to a slow start this morning. The new Catholic leader of the Great Falls-Billings diocese is to be installed Wednesday. Great Falls has begun looking for a new city manager, and it looks as though Kalispell’s Jim Patrick would have interviewed for the position had he not had to call in sick. And the Montana Standard has a neat feature about a Dillon artist who created a Harley Davidson motorcycle out of glass.
And finally, if you still haven’t gotten rid of your Christmas tree, it’s probably time – just don’t end up like this German man. Have a great Monday.