Good morning; today is the 7th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
On the Beacon this morning, firefighters in Evergreen say their station is so dilapidated and they have become so busy a new fire station is a necessity. A new coffeehouse and cafe opening this month plans to bring a taste of Polebridge to downtown Kalispell. On the east side of Glacier Park, it’s prime time for viewing grizzlies. Also in the park, ridership on the Going-to-the-Sun road shuttle system declined slightly this summer. And Beacon columnist Wild Bill Schneider writes about some of the good samaritans around the valley he encountered on an unlucky bicycle trip.
In state news, Gov. Brian Schweitzer is under fire and has apologized for remarks he made in which he bragged that he had tampered with the 2006 U.S. Senate election in Montana. That story has eclipsed another, which reports that Schweitzer continues to outpace Republican opponent Roy Brown in fundraising. A Missoula federal judge set a trial date for two men accused of a 2001 triple homicide in Florence. There’s a lot of energy news in the papers this morning. A Public Service Commission hearing is underway to determine whether Northwestern should allow its customers to buy a share of Colstrip-generated power, and whether it would save consumers money. Experts differ starkly on the pros and cons of the multi-million dollar deal. Sixteen oil and gas tracts under and along the Boulder and Yellowstone Rivers also sold for high prices in deals with the state.
And here’s a bizarre meal I came across on a blog, a terrifying amalgamation of meat and dessert known as the hot beef sundae. Have a great day.