Page 25 - Flathead Beacon // 8.26.15

GREAT FALLS
4. MHP: Drugs Found at Scene of Crash that Killed 3
The Montana Highway Patrol says drugs were found at the scene of a central Montana rollover crash that killed three teens and injured a fourth.
Trooper Joe DeJong told the Great Falls Tribune that speed also was a factor in the crash early Aug. 19 on U.S. Highway 87 between Windham and Moccasin.
Judith Basin County Deputy Coro- ner Dick Brown said two 14-year-old girls from Roundup — Krissy Oset and Cora Meckel — died at the scene, while 16-year-old Brandon Jordon of Billings died in the hours after the crash. DeJong says Jordon was driving.
DeJong says a 15-year-old boy from Geyser remained hospitalized Thursday with a severe back injury. His name has not been released.
The patrol says the SUV went off the road, hit an approach and rolled several times. All four occupants were ejected.
HELENA
5. Montana’s Unemployment Rate Up Slightly to 4 percent in July
Montana’s seasonally-adjusted unem- ployment rate rose slightly in July to 4 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage points over the previous month.
Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy says with the unemployment rate at around 4 percent, workers should expect to see wages grow.
Total employment was 503,841 in July while 21,124 were unemployed.
Overall, 11,311 jobs have been added in the past 12 months. Total employment estimates include payroll employment, along with agricultural and self-em- ployed workers. Payroll employment added 700 jobs in July and has added 2,600 since Jan. 1.
HELENA
6. State Officials, Most Commenters Confident in Medicaid Plan
Montana health officials are hearing from people in public meetings about the state’s plan to expand Medicaid.
State Medicaid Director Mary Dalton said after a meeting in Helena last week she’s confident the state will be able to offer health insurance to tens of thou- sands more low-income Montanans in time for the new year.
Roughly 60 people were at the meet- ing, and 70 went to a Billings meeting the day before. Sixty more participated online.
AARP Montana President Joy Bruck was among a few people who echoed con- cerns from President Barack Obama’s administration over cost-sharing aspects of the Republican-sponsored plan.
The state has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to accept the state’s plan by Nov. 1 and pro- vide benefits by Jan. 1.
Public comment will be accepted on the Medicaid plan through Sept. 7.
HELENA
7. Grizzly Bears Kill More Montana Livestock Than In All 2014
Growing numbers of grizzly bears venturing further east from the Rocky Mountains are attacking more Montana cattle and sheep.
The state’s livestock loss program has reimbursed ranchers for 42 animals killed by grizzlies so far this year — eight more than in all of 2014.
George Edwards of the Livestock Loss Board said last week that one report came from as far east as Floweree, about 100 miles northeast of Helena.
Montana’s Northern Rockies Wildlife Manager Graham Taylor says the num- ber of animals killed this year amounts to a spike in an overall downward trend of grizzly attacks on livestock.
Taylor says measures taken over the last few years to electrify fences and for- tify food storage have reduced the num- ber of bear-livestock conflicts despite the growing number of grizzlies.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
8. Authorities Identify Men Killed in Plane Crash
Officials in Broadwater County have released the names of the two men killed in an airplane crash northeast of Helena.
Sheriff Brenda Ludwig tells KFBB-TV that 59-year-old Johnny Gluhm and 86-year-old William Findley died in the crash the night of Aug. 19 in the Big Belt Mountains. Both men are from White Sulphur Springs.
Lewis and Clark County officials have said the plane left the Helena airport at 10 p.m. headed for White Sulphur Springs.
The Federal Aviation Administration registry indicates Gluhm owned the sin- gle-engine Cessna 172.
BOZEMAN
9. Gianforte Files for Exploratory Governor Campaign
Technology entrepreneur Greg Gian- forte has filed paperwork that says he is exploring a run for Montana governor in 2016.
The 53-year-old Republican founder of RightNow Technologies in Bozeman has previously said he was consider- ing challenging Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock.
Last week, he filed a candidate state- ment with the Commissioner of Political Practices for an exploratory campaign. It is not a declaration of candidacy, but the filing will allow him to start raising money.
Spokeswoman Amy Lunde provided a statement from Gianforte that says he looks forward to hearing ideas from Montanans about how to make the state better.
Montana Democratic Party spokes- woman Nancy Keenan says voters will reject Gianforte once they see his record of supporting policies that discrimi- nate, hurt employment and protect dark money.
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AUGUST 26, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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