Page 12 - Flathead Beacon // 11.25.15

NEWS
Massive Windstorm Cripples Paci c Northwest Power outages a ect over 5,100 households in Flathead Valley, over 380,000 in the region
BY BEACON STAFF
A massive windstorm hit the Paci c Northwest last week, knocking out power for hundreds of people for two days in the Flathead Valley and leaving thou- sands more in the Spokane Valley with- out electricity.
The Nov. 17 storm ripped through the region, knocking over trees and power poles in Northwest Montana and beyond. Over 5,100 homes and businesses in the Flathead Valley lost power, including more than 1,400 people who did not regain electricity for over 48 hours before crews from Flathead Electric Coopera- tive could x the problem.
Gusts reached up to 52 miles per hour in Kalispell and more than 50 miles an hour around Columbia Falls and White sh, according to the National Weather Service. The summit of White sh Mountain Resort had gusts up to 59 mph. Wind gusts around
Flathead Lake and up the North Fork hit 60 and nearly 70 miles per hour.
Wendy Ostrom Price, spokesperson for the cooperative, said the storm cre- ated a challenging scenario for crews that were spread thin and forced to work long hours scrambling to restore energy.
On Nov. 18, Flathead Electric received 1,621 calls, more than twice as many the previous high for a single day, she said.
The same windstorm wreaked havoc on the Paci c Northwest before making it to Montana, killing at least three peo- ple with falling trees and knocking out the power for at least 380,000 people. Schools in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene were closed for several days last week.
The National Weather Service is pre- dicting a brief winter storm will start making its way into western Montana this week, with moderate snow expected in west-central and southwest Montana.
news@ atheadbeacon.com
A tree fell on Montana Community Management in Bigfork during the wind storm on Nov. 17. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Blackfeet Councilwoman Removed for Harboring Wanted Man Cheryl Little Dog charged with obstructing justice and expelled from tribal council
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
A Blackfeet Tribal Business Council member was removed from o ce after police found that she was har- boring an accused child molester last month.
On Nov. 19, the tribal council voted 7-2 to remove Councilwoman Cheryl Little Dog for violating her oath of o ce and partaking in “misconduct re ecting on the dignity of the Tribe or the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.”
Chairman Harry Barnes said the decision to expel Little Dog came following the arrest of a South Dakota man at her home in East Glacier Park last month.
According to court documents, Frank Gallardo, 38, was wanted for allegedly molesting an 8-year-old girl in March. Federal agents tracked Gallardo to Little Dog’s home in East Glacier Park and he was arrested on Oct.
16. Gallardo has since been extradited to South Dakota where he faces a federal charge of abusive sexual con- tact of a minor.
Little Dog allegedly interfered with o cers during the arrest and she has been charged with obstructing justice and threatening a public o cial in Blackfeet Tribal Court. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is expected to go to trial in March.
On Nov. 19, Barnes told the Beacon that the council had not yet decided if it would appoint someone to ll Little Dog’s seat. Little Dog represents the Old Agency District, which includes East Glacier Park and the sur- rounding area.
“The entire council regrets having to take this action, but to take no action would be irresponsible,” Barnes said. “As elected leaders we are held to a higher stan- dard and as such fall under much more scrutiny. We are
responsible to the Tribal members for our actions.” Barnes said that many in the public demanded “quicker and more decisive” action, but noted that the Council needed to gather all of the facts and follow the
letter of the law.
The Beacon reached out to Little Dog but she declined
to comment, instead directing interview requests to her attorney, Roberta Cross Guns. Cross Guns said that she appreciated the fact that the council took its time in gathering information but in the end she believes it made the wrong choice in expelling Little Dog.
“They made a mistake here,” Cross Guns said. “We are processing what has happened and are looking at what our next steps are.”
Cross Guns said Little Dog plans on running for tribal
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NOVEMBER 25, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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