Good morning; on the Beacon today, Chuck Curry will be the next sheriff of Flathead County, defeating incumbent Mike Meehan by more than 1,500 votes in Tuesday’s Republican primary election, 6,133 to 4,176. For these and other results from Tuesday night’s primary, check out our rundown of all races in the Flathead and statewide. Around the country, seasonal jobs traditionally occupied by high schoolers or college students on summer break are now fielding piles of applications, many from folks with extensive work experience. After a year of stagnancy in Kalispell’s residential housing sector, building permits through May show that construction activity is outpacing 2009 but lagging behind 2008.
Rep. Denny Rehberg staved off an opponent’s attempt to capitalize on a national surge in conservatism and voter anger toward incumbents, easily winning the Republican primary Tuesday in his bid for a sixth term as Montana’s sole congressman. Former state Democratic Chairman Dennis McDonald fended off a late surge by newcomer Tyler Gernant on Tuesday to win the party’s nomination for U.S. House. All three candidates who appeared on the primary ballot for two Montana Supreme Court seats will advance to the general election. Former Secretary of State Brad Johnson was locked in a tight Republican primary for a Public Service Commission seat despite suspending his campaign when he was charged with drunk driving. Lake County Elections Office employee Ann Smith Brower has won a four-way race in the Republican primary for Lake County commissioner. The latest effort to save North America’s largest freshwater fish from extinction begins this week when water is spilled over Montana’s Libby Dam to encourage the ancient fish to spawn for the first time in more than three decades.