Good morning; today is the anniversary of the Challenger shuttle disaster.
It’s a frigid morning in the Flathead with blizzard conditions – stick with the Beacon for updates on school closures and the latest weather reports. In other news, Myers Reece reports on the North Valley Food Bank, which makes the most of roadkill by butchering large game killed on the highways to feed valley residents in need. Columbia Falls speech and debate team members won their tenth Class A state speech and debate championship this weekend. The Lakeside/Somers Boys and Girls Club is working on decorations to hang in the village of Bigfork to brighten things up after the post-holiday blahs.
The Missoulian reports that several western Montana counties stand to suffer substantial funding losses with the expiration of the federal Secure Rural Schools Act – with Flathead County looking at a potential $1.9 million loss. Helena reporter Chuck Johnson rails against the Legislature’s consideration tomorrow of restricting reporter access to lawmakers in certain areas of the Capitol. And despite cold temps, Flathead Lake still refuses to freeze. The education group that spearheaded the 2004 lawsuit against the state over funding is returning to court, asserting that the level of school resources remains inadequate. John McCain has somewhat abruptly replaced Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger as his state campaign chairman with former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns.
And finally, in honor of today being the 50th anniversary of the Lego brick, I located Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video – as performed by Lego people, running through a scary Lego forest. Have a great day – drive safely out there.