Good morning and happy birthday to the late Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
It’s another bleak, cold, rainy summer day in the Flathead. A good time to curl up with the latest edition of the Flathead Beacon and wait for the sun to come out. Our top story looks at the rising costs and competition to provide elderly housing, and the financial crunch hitting established homes like the Friendship House. A rash of anti-sprawl vandalism is targeting developments around the valley. Jim Dupont’s margin of victory over Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall surprised both candidates. The U.S. House last week defeated the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which provides funding to rural counties hurt by cutbacks in logging. Flathead National Forest managers may employ a “let it burn” policy for certain lightning caused fires this summer. And business columnist Mark Riffey offers advice on when to send a client off to your competitors.
Well if the weather’s got you down, hang in there. Warmer temps are on the way. Two Republicans who lost the recent U.S. Senate primary are contemplating running as independents to represent the GOP. The rancher who recently discovered brucellosis in one of his heifers may slaughter the entire herd. The damage to Montana’s cattle industry will be in the millions. Another lawsuit was filed to block the copper mine beneath the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. And in the U.S. Senate, Republicans yesterday blocked an attempt by Democrats to tax the windfall profits of so-called “Big Oil” companies.
And finally, a Kansas man didn’t realize he had a large nail driven into his skull until his buddy saw it sticking into his hat. The doctor pulled it out with a clawhammer. Have a great day.