Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve!
On the Beacon this morning, Columbia Falls Aluminum Company announced Tuesday it was shutting down operations and laying off 200 workers. With major domestic automakers seeking federal aid and a deep national recession, the Flathead’s auto dealers are getting real creative to move cars off their lots. In Polson, officials have hit a number of bumps in their search for a new city manager. New York City recording artist Annette Strean and her husband Kirk Cornelius are performing a special concert in Whitefish on Saturday, Jan. 3 under the name Anniversary Party. The roads are going to be treacherous this holiday season so travelers need to slow down. A Vaughn man has been charged with criminal endangerment after leaving his 4-year-old daughter asleep in his car for two hours in subzero temperatures. And the supporters of presidential candidates Barack Obama and Ron Paul plan to lobby the upcoming state Legislature.
And finally, for eager kids and adults looking for Santa tonight, NORAD has teamed up with Google to track Santa as he travels the globe tonight. As of this writing, he’s in Perth, Australia! Have a great holiday and please be safe if you’re traveling.