Good morning and happy birthday Vice President-elect Joe Biden.
On the Beacon this morning, hunting harvest numbers are lagging so far, due mainly to the mild temperatures and lack of snow. The economic downturn is making it tougher for developers on Kalispell’s north side to lock down commercial retail tenants. Two men died in separate crashes near Kalispell yesterday. The Lake McDonald Lodge coffee shop is being added to the National Register of Historic Places. In Whitefish, the North Valley Music School is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a “playathon” at the Mountain Mall. And columnist Wild Bill Schneider argues that its time to codify Clinton’s “Roadless Rule” into law.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer has requested help for laid off Stillwater Mine workers from a coal mine near Roundup, which will hold a job fair for the newly unemployed workers. A federal judge denied eligibility for the death penalty to a drug dealer charged with murdering three women at a Florence hair salon in 2001. Ed Kemmick of the Billings Gazette writes about the widespread effects depressed oil prices could have on natural resource development in Montana. Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger said he’s looking forward to a second term.
And a woman was conned by a thief posing as a water company worker made her hold her toilet handle down while he ransacked her house. Have a great day.