Good morning; on this date in 1886 the Statue of Liberty was dedicated.
On the Beacon this morning, Myrt Webb has his first day on the job as Kalispell’s interim city manager, after the city council voted unanimously to hire him. The man and woman found dead after this weekend’s Arlee standoff have been identified as Dusty Reed, 36, and Janeal Morris, 48. Columbia Falls and Whitefish football head to the state tournament, taking on Corvallis and Dillon this weekend. Jason Skalsky of Kalispell is in jail, charged with robbing the Gold Dust casino over the weekend.
In state news, new reports show Montana Democrats have raised four times more than Republicans, and hold a $4 million edge in campaign funds heading to Election Day. Gov. Brian Schweitzer is also dwarfing his Republican opponent Roy Brown in fundraising, having collected more from out-of-state donors than Brown has collected in total. Matt Gouras of the Associate Press looks at how Barack Obama’s persistent campaigning in Montana looks to be making a dent in Republican John McCain’s lead here. The Republican National Committee will start running television ads in support of McCain Wednesday in Montana. In a slightly less scientific take on how the presidential candidates are faring in Missoula, Obama Halloween mask sales are surpassing McCain masks at the Party America store in Missoula.
And finally, at the behest of Beacon Publisher and ardent Phillies fan Tom Donnelly, it is my solemn duty to inform you that Taco Bell is giving away free tacos all over the country today from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., as a result of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett stealing second base in the bottom of the 5th inning of Game 1 at the World Series. Have a great day.