Page 6 - Flathead Beacon // 3.25.15

6 | MARCH 25, 2015
NEWS
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
W•O•R•D•S of the Week
AN INDEX OF RECENT NEWSMAKERS
BUDGET BATTLE
The Republican-led House passed a $10 billion budget bill just hours after Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock threatened to veto it for failing to fund critical services such as protecting children from abuse. The House rejected Democratic efforts to restore about $1 billion in funding and programs. Bullock said the Senate and his administration must work together on a budget that lives within the state’s means and meets the needs of Montanans.
WHITEFISH HIGH SCHOOL
Gov. Steve Bullock attended the formal dedication ceremony of the newly renovated Whitefish High School last week, celebrating the facility’s state- of-the-art remodel that was completed in the fall.
MARCH MADNESS
Alas, the University of Montana Lady Griz fell to Notre Dame in the opening round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament last week.
PLOWS
Starting April 1, the snowplows will roar to life in Glacier National Park and begin the long, arduous process of clearing the roads throughout the park. According to SNOTEL sites, the total snowpack in Glacier is one of the lowest on record.
Tester Meets with Columbia Falls Business Leaders About Economic Future
Despite a proposed Superfund site in their backyard, civic leaders remain optimistic about community’s growth
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
COLUMBIA FALLS – With the Co- lumbia Falls Aluminum Company’s deci- sion to permanently close its plant and the Environmental Protection Agency taking steps to list the contaminated property as a Superfund site, it’s no surprise that busi- ness and civic leaders are concerned about the community’s economic future.
But a suite of new and innovative busi- nesses are emerging, and as plans for con- tinued economic growth get underway there’s an air of optimism about the city’s potential to capitalize on a groundswell of development.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, met with community and business leaders March 20 to address concerns about the proposed Superfund listing, which EPA officials announced earlier this month fol- lowing news that the company was perma- nently closing.
CFAC’s owner, Glencore, the largest commodities trading group in the world, closed the plant in 2009, citing high elec- tricity rates and poor aluminum market conditions. For the past six years, only a handful of employees have remained on
site to maintain the mothballed 800-acre facility, which sits on a 2,500-acre prop- erty.
Tester worked for years to help broker a deal to reopen the aluminum-reduction plant and expressed frustration with the waffling commitment of company officials, whose about-faces he said stymied plans to resume operations at every turn.
Despite those negotiations breaking down, the senator from Big Sandy now sees the property as “a diamond in the rough,” and says listing on the National Priorities List and a subsequent Superfund cleanup could result in local jobs and, eventually, a repurposing of the site for development.
See Columbia Falls PAGE 22
Sen. Jon Tester visits with Columbia Falls officials and community members regarding the CFAC site.
GREG LINDSTROM FLATHEAD BEACON
REPLAY SPORTS
SALE
PRE-SEASON WHITEWATER
ALL BOATS
& ACCESSORIES ON SALE!
406-752-5005
2593 Hwy 2 East, Kalispell CORNER OF HWY. 2 E. & E. RESERVE
Sale ends March 31st
WWW.REPLAYSPORTSMT.COM