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was on track to hit 300 million in 2015, besting last year’s all-time high of nearly 293 million. Glacier Park has broken its annual visitation mark two years in a row, surpassing 2.35 million people.
The in ux of people could mean park o cials have to adjust for the crowds. Glacier Park is preparing to unveil this spring a new study of its congested Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor. The agency could propose several changes that could impact how visitors travel throughout Glacier. The list of options includes expanded parking, a larger eet of free shuttles, an added emphasis on biking opportunities and controlled vehi- cle entry through a reservation system.
Flathead County’s Jail Crowding Problem
When the Flathead County Detention Center was built in 1985, it could hold 63 inmates. Now the jail located near down- town Kalispell holds more than 100 peo- ple on most nights, leading the sheri ’s o ce to shu e around inmates and release others to make room for those deemed more dangerous. Sheri Chuck Curry said traditionally the jail would house a mixture of people accused of or convicted of misdemeanor and felony crimes. But at one point last fall, 106 of the 108 inmates were charged with felo- nies. The county is searching for a prop- erty where a new jail could be established, but there does not appear to be any solu- tions in the near future, creating a worri- some scenario for law enforcement.
America’s Tumultuous Energy Sector
A year ago, crude oil was nearly $100 a barrel. Now it’s less than $40 a barrel, an 11-year low. One of the top storylines in 2015 was the dramatic drop in oil prices. For American consumers, it was welcome news as gas prices fell to $2 per gallon on average. Economists say this has also helped people pay down debt and increase savings, while also leading to a boost for retail sales. But the drop- ping commodity has also led to dramatic ripple e ects, including severe impacts on oil-exporting states, such as North Dakota, and nations, such as Canada.
What will happen in 2016? It still appears to be a guessing game. Some ana- lysts are predicting a price recovery for oil prices while traders appear to be pre- dicting a stagnant market. The invento- ries of crude oil in the U.S. are the highest in eight decades.
Falling oil prices are one facet of the tumultuous American energy sector. Nat- ural gas prices are also down sharply and the future for coal looks bleak, as mines across the country, including Montana, lay o employees and cut production.
Canada’s Loonie Letdown
Closely tied to the fall in crude oil prices, Canada’s economy closed out 2015 in rough shape while the U.S. dollar has improved substantially. The country’s oil-sensitive loonie has fallen to 72 cents U.S. Last year saw the second-biggest decline on record against the U.S. dollar, and this upcoming year could see even more challenges up north.
For Americans, this can be consid- ered good news — $100 in U.S. currency is worth $138 in Canada. However, in the Flathead Valley, where retailers and real estate agents have depended heavily on Canadian visitors and part-time resi- dents, the dropping loonie is considered worrisome and could cut back on rev- enues. Analysts predict the loonie will remain around 71 U.S. cents during the rst quarter before slowly rising.
Lingering Drought
Pray for snow. Not only will skiers bene t from a good winter, but so will the region’s agriculture producers, who su ered through last year’s historic dry spell. Last winter was less than bountiful in Northwest Montana and the region is in desperate need of water after the driest spring and warmest summer on record. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vil- sack designated 15 Montana counties as primary natural disaster areas due to last year’s drought, including Flathead County. This also led to a severe wild re season and hurt ranchers and farmers who are part of the state’s largest indus- try, agriculture.
The Completion of Kalispell’s Bypass
Crews are busy completing the long- awaited U.S. 93 Alternate Route, which will drastically change Kalispell’s trans- portation grid. How will it change? Well, for starters, drivers will now have a quicker route from the south end of town to the north end, without having to travel through the bustling heart of
town. This could also reduce congestion in downtown and divert semitrucks to the bypass. City o cials are considering changes to Main Street that could alter the number of lanes and parking layout, potentially reducing the thoroughfare from four lanes to three. This dramatic shift arrives at the same time Kalispell is preparing to revitalize its core area with the removal of the railroad tracks in downtown and the reconnecting of city streets, both changes that could lead to economic redevelopment in the area.
The Impacts of the Plum Creek Timber Merger
The news that Plum Creek Timber Company was merging with Weyerhae- user was startling in Northwest Mon- tana. When it o cially purchases Plum Creek in the coming months, Weyerhae- user will hold more than 13 million acres of timberland across the U.S., including a vast swath in Montana. Plum Creek oper- ates mills in Columbia Falls and Ever- green and has more than 700 employees in Flathead County. Weyerhaeuser o - cials have been mum about any potential changes in Montana, including alter- ing Plum Creek’s public access policy that allows hunters and others to recre- ate for free. But just as concerning is the unknown fate of Plum Creek’s employ- ees. Weyerhaeuser has said it plans to save $100 million annually, but the com- pany has declined to provide details of how that savings will come about.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
JANUARY 6, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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