Wednesday: Centennial Success, Obama Economic Plan, Tea Party Rehberg

Good morning; on the Beacon today, we measure the success of Glacier National Park’s Centennial celebration. The Flathead County Fair Board announced the new fairgrounds operation manager on Tuesday: Mark Campbell. And Mark Riffey writes about the pleasant surprise of taking the train.

President Barack Obama is voicing unwavering opposition to extending Bush-era tax breaks for the nation’s wealthiest families even for a year or two, drawing a sharp contrast with Republicans eight weeks before the November elections. House Republican Leader John Boehner on Wednesday proposed a two-year freeze on all tax rates and a cut in government spending to the levels of 2008, before a deep recession took hold of the economy. Disgruntled voters, a sluggish economy and vanishing enthusiasm for President Barack Obama have put 75 seats or more in the House — the vast majority held by Democrats — at risk of changing hands and putting Republicans in charge. Sen. Jon Tester says he doesn’t see any choice but to close a Montana-Saskatchewan border crossing now in the middle of an $8.5 million upgrade if Canada makes good on its promise to shutter its side in April. Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., through a spokesman Tuesday expressed support for the Big Sky Tea Party Association dismissing its president. Members of the Big Sky Tea Party Association strongly defended former president Tim Ravndal at the group’s meeting Tuesday night following what many called his unfair and hasty ejection from the group over a casual conversation on Facebook that appeared to treat violence against gays lightly. Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock is releasing two new public service announcements hoping to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse in Montana. A Red Lodge Republican candidate for state Legislature, Jason Priest, is apologizing for sexual remarks posted on Facebook.