Good morning; on this date in 1962 the first Wal-Mart opened in Rogers, Arkansas.
On the Beacon this morning, increased oil prices have effectively forced the county to curtail any road improvements for the coming year. A retired major general in Bigfork met to discuss national security strategy with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Two controversial ballot measured launched in Northwest Montana failed to gain enough signatures to qualify. The chair of the Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee pleaded with the county commission yesterday to take back control of the parts of the lake in the county, because the city of Whitefish was not prosecuting violators.
In state news, Obama confirms he is visiting Butte for July 4, and expanding his staff within the state. Fire commanders are backing away from managing large fires, ever since a wildfire chief was held liable for the deaths of four firefighters on his watch. The Missoulian’s Vince Devlin has a killer story about a Yellow Bay woman who survived for 15 hours after severely injuring herself on a hike. The only Primal Quest team with Montanans competing, the Team Big Sky/Flathead Beacon, was forced to drop out of the race yesterday. U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., will try a third time to pass legislation to improve Medicare payments to doctors after Republicans have blocked the bill twice. And the state will hold three hearings on gray wolf management.
And finally, the women of the Texas polygamist sect raided in April are cashing in on their newfound fame, with a Web site selling FLDS fashions to folks who love the look. So look for these clothes on the runway of the next Academy Awards. Have a great day – stay dry.