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officer. Lewis has served as an adminis- trative officer at the NPS Midwest Arche- ological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska since 2008. She previously worked in other administrative roles at the Midwest Archeological Center and also served as a Human Resource Specialist for the Natu- ral Resources Conservation Service.
Wysong has been working with the National Park Service Concessions Management program since 1996, first at Denali National Park and Preserve and then Mount Rainier National Park. Wysong has managed a variety of com- mercial visitor service operations includ- ing historic lodges, food service, thematic retail, interpretive bus tours, mountain- eering guides, backcountry guides and outfitters. Wysong has been an instructor for the NPS Commercial Services Eval- uations and Pricing Training since 2009 and has been part of a number of service wide workgroups focused on concessions issues. Before working for NPS, Wysong worked in the tourism industry and for concessioners at parks in Alaska, Utah, and Wyoming.
POLSON
4. Tribes Won’t Help Offset Loss of Tax Revenue from Kerr Dam
Officials with the Confederated Sal- ish and Kootenai Tribes say they will not help to offset the loss of about $1 million in tax money from the former Kerr Dam.
The tribes have acquired ownership of the dam, which they renamed the Salish Kootenai Dam.
Tribes do not have to pay property taxes on the land.
In a written statement, the tribes spoke of a need for caution in their new business venture.
The tribal council says the decision comes after careful consideration, and while there will be no payment at this time, there may be future contributions.
Lake County Commission Chairman Gale Decker says he’s disappointed but not surprised by the decision.
MISSOULA
5. County Investigating Blowgun Dart Shootings of Pets
The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into multi- ple reports of pets being struck by blow- gun darts in the Lolo area.
The Missoulian reports that Missoula Animal Control, as of last week, had col- lected six 4-inch-long, steel-tipped darts from the necks and faces of cats and dogs.
Animal Control’s supervisor, Jeff Dar- rah, says his office posted a message on Facebook warning people to be on alert and has since received several reports from owners who found their animals with darts lodged into their bodies.
All of the animals affected by the shootings have survived so far, but some people have reported their cats missing.
Anonymous donors have offered $400 as a reward for information leading to an arrest.
HELENA
6. Montana Republican Party Executive Director Resigns
The executive director of the Montana Republican Party has resigned after less than a year in the position.
Chris Shipp said his last day with the party was Sept. 30.
Shipp says he previously decided to leave before the 2016 election season, but he stayed until now to help new party Chairman Jeff Essmann create a transi- tion plan.
Shipp became GOP executive director in December. He was the party’s commu- nications director in the 2012 and 2014 elections, and he says he didn’t want to go through a third cycle.
Party spokesman Shane Scanlon declined to answer questions about Shipp’s resignation.
Instead, Scanlon forwarded a state- ment from party Chairman Jeff Essmann saying he is grateful for Shipp’s service and the resignation opens an opportu- nity for another “bright and energetic Republican.”
GREAT FALLS
7. Student Arrested for Gun Threat
A 17-year-old Great Falls High School student faces a felony intimidation charge after he reportedly threatened to carry out a school shooting.
The boy made an initial appearance in Juvenile Court Oct. 9, the Great Falls Tribune reported. He did not enter a plea.
School resource officer Cory Reeves testified that he arrested the boy after receiving information about a text conver- sation between the boy and a fellow stu- dent in which he said he planned a shoot- ing at Great Falls High on Nov. 2, the Mon- day after the crosstown football game.
The other student and her father reported the exchange to Great Falls Police at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officers took three guns and ammuni- tion from the boy’s bedroom.
He told police he sent the texts, but that he did not intend to harm anyone.
Court records detailed the text exchange between the boy and another student in which he said he hated people in general and asked if the other student wanted to do a school shooting. The other student questioned his seriousness sev- eral times and the boy insisted he was, and “I’ve been planning it for a while,” for the Monday after the crosstown foot- ball game. He assured the other student she would survive the shooting. He also sent her a picture of a rifle leaning against a wall with the caption, “I hide my gun from my family,” court records said.
Reeves said the boy does not have a criminal history, but was accused of chopping a teacher in the throat with his hand in May 2014. The teacher decided not to pursue charges.
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