Good morning. Happy Birthday to late automobile manufacturer Henry Ford.
It’s Wednesday, so the new Beacons are hitting the stands around town – check them out. Our lead story is a question and answer piece with Plum Creek CEO Rick Holley and Henry Ricklets, Plum Creek’s vice president Northern Resources and Manufacturing. The company is emphasizing a need for transparency. BNSF Railway told Gov. Brian Schweitzer Tuesday that it took a $175 million earnings hit this month in order to prepare for environmental lawsuits in Montana. And the Flathead Lakers are celebrating their 50th anniversary.
In other news, the Cascade Fire has grown to around 6,000 acres and officials say residents of nearby Red Lodge should be preparing to evacuate. Insurance officials are coming out against lowering the state’s drinking age. And Helena garners a 5th-place ranking on a a list of small towns that offer the country’s best quality of life without the hassles of city living.
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California yesterday. The quake even shook up the usually unruffled Judge Judy when it interrupted the taping of her show. Have a happy Wednesday.