Page 25 - Flathead Beacon // 6.3.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS JUNE 3, 2015 | 25 Off the Blogs
A weekly look at the best from the Beacon blogs
3rd Annual
Kootenai Wildland FireFighter Challenge
& Fire Safe Expo 2015
SATURDAY JUNE 6TH, 2015
J Neils Memorial Park, Libby MT 1 Mile North of Libby on Hwy 37
This event is a fundraiser to benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides support to the families of Wildland Firefighters that die or are severely injured in the line of duty.
• 10:00 am - Challenge Begins
• 10:00 am - Expo Opens
• 12:30 pm - Helicopter Exhibits
• 2:00 pm - Challenge Finals-Arena • 4:00 pm - Expo Closes
• 6:00 pm - Dinner & Live Auction
• 8:00 pm - Music – Back Adit
ON SALE NOW: Rifle Raffle Tickets: $5.00 each (only 500 for sale!) Dinner Tickets: $15.00 For information call: Terry 293-8099
Family FUN! • Food • Games • Silent Auction & Prizes!
FREE
Open To The Public
MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE
FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS START OPENING
Flathead National Forest camp- grounds are opening throughout the valley.
The sites include Holland Lake, Swan Lake, Emery Bay, Murray Bay, Devil Creek, Lid Creek, Lost Johnny Camp, Doris Point Camp and Boat, Riv- erside, Big Creek, and Tally Lake Camp- grounds are open.
Lost Johnny Point will be open Aug. 1. It is closed for comprehensive hazard tree removal.
These campgrounds and recreation areas are operated by the forest conces- sionaire Flathead Valley Campgrounds. The one change this year that recre- ationists will want to be aware of is that Holland Lake Campground has a day use fee of five dollars per vehicle, consistent with day use fees across the forest. This fee also applies to the boat launch at the Holland Site. Season long day use passes are available at all campgrounds operat- ed by Flathead Valley Campground, the cost is $30.
The Spotted Bear Campground is op- erated by the Forest Service and is open for camping. Water and other services will be available May 22. In addition to campgrounds, boat launches and day- use areas, the forest also has 14 rental cabins. To rent a cabin or to reserve se- lect campground sites, visit here.
Many non-fee campgrounds can be found on the forest as well, such as Lind- berg Lake Campground on Swan Lake Ranger District, Beaver Creek Camp- ground at Spotted Bear Ranger District, Upper Stillwater Lake on Tally Lake Ranger District, and Lake View Camp- ground on Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District.
The stay limit has been extended from 14 to 16 days on most forests in the region.
For the latest information on condi- tions and openings contact your local Forest Service office.
PUBLIC INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN WILDLIFE, PLANT RESEARCH IN GLACIER PARK
The Crown of the Continent Re- search Learning Center at Glacier Na- tional Park will continue its Citizen Sci- ence Program this summer, offering free research and learning opportunities for the public.
The program trains individuals to identify, observe and record informa- tion on mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas, aquatic insects, loons, and in-
vasive plants in Glacier National Park. These species have been targeted be- cause of their sensitivity to changes in habitat, human disturbances and, in the case of invasive plants, their threat to native biodiversity.
Participants are asked to attend a one-day training session before collect- ing data for a project.
Participants are asked to attend a one-day training session before collect- ing data for a project.
Contact the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at 406-888- 7986 to register for training or for more information, or visit http://www.crown- science.org/getinvolved/citizen-science.
CONTINENTAL DIVIDES
PROMINENT OPPONENTS NAMED TO MEDICAID EXPANSION PANEL
Two of the biggest opponents of Med- icaid expansion in Montana are going to be members of the panel that oversees it.
Gov. Steve Bullock and legislative leaders released last week their picks for a nine-member Medicaid expansion committee.
GOP leaders picked two vocifer- ous opponents of the measure, Boze- man Rep. Art Wittich and Bigfork Sen. Bob Keenan, to represent the conserva- tive caucus. “We won’t be sitting in the committee meetings with pom-poms,” Keenan said.
Democrats chose Ramsay Rep. Pat Noonan and Helena Sen. Mary Caferro.
Bullock appointed Benefis Health System CEO John Goodnow; North- ern Rockies Medical Center CEO Che- rie Taylor; deputy state auditor Jesse Laslovich; Tara Veazey, Bullock’s health and families policy adviser; and David Mark, a primary care physician.
Bullock also gave the sponsor of the new law, Sen. Ed Buttrey, one of four non-voting seats at the table. “Our lead- ership in the Senate is farther right than I guess they think I am,” Buttrey said.
The moderate Republican from Great Falls was sidelined by Senate President Debby Barrett, who instead chose Keenan, a finance specialist expe- rienced in public health and human ser- vices.
“I think Mr. Buttrey has a caucus within our caucus, and that’s who he re- ports to and keeps informed,” Barrett said. “The majority caucus needs to be aware and kept in contact, too.”
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jon Sesso said he fleetingly considered ap- pointing Buttrey to the committee, but he knew it was more important to choose someone from his own party.
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