September 2017

Migratory birds shooed away by drone, fireworks, lasers

BUTTE (AP) — Montana Resources and Atlantic Richfield Company's growing arsenal of migratory bird tools were recently put to use to scare about 1,100 birds off of the Berkeley Pit.

The Montana Standard reports that the migratory birds landed on Friday and were scared off by a battery powered drone, fireworks, cannons and lasers.

The company scared off the birds in an effort to prevent another tragedy like the snow geese die-off of 2016.

Dorothy Eck, who helped write Montana's Constitution, dies

 

BOZEMAN (AP) — Dorothy Eck, who helped draft Montana's Constitution 45 years ago and later served in the state Senate for two decades, has died in Bozeman. She was 93.

Daughter Diana Eck told the Montana Democratic Party that her mother died Saturday.

"Dorothy Eck fought the good fight until the very end. She proudly embraced being labeled a liberal," said Nancy Keenan, executive director of the state Democratic Party. "We mourn Dorothy's passing but celebrate the incalculable contribution she made to our Montana."

Wielding both ignorance and malice, Trump further divides the country

WASHINGTON -- It is often difficult to determine if Donald Trump's offenses against national unity and presidential dignity are motivated by ignorance or malice. His current crusade against sideline activism at professional football games features both.

Equifax CEO retires in the wake of damaging data breach

NEW YORK — Equifax CEO Richard Smith is retiring effective immediately as the credit reporting agency tries to clean up the mess left by a damaging data breach that exposed highly sensitive information about 143 million Americans.

The shake-up announced Tuesday comes after Equifax disclosed that hackers exploited a software flaw that the company didn't fix to heist Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data that provide the keys to identify theft.

Fears of Bali volcano eruption spark exodus of 75,000

BALI, Indonesia — Warnings that a volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali will erupt have sparked an exodus of more than 75,000 people that is likely to continue to swell, the country's disaster agency said Tuesday.

Authorities have ordered the evacuation of villagers living within a high danger zone that in places extends 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Mount Agung's crater. But people further away are also leaving, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

Police: Five handguns stolen during break-in

Police have made an arrest in connection with the burglary of Yellowstone Gifts & Sports that took place Thursday.

JOHN F. McDERMOTT III

 

Expect daytime closures on Ibex Road in Shields

There will be closures on Ibex Road #2510 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2-6. However, the road will be open for travel overnight.  

Ibex Road, located east of Wilsall, provides access to the Ibex Cabin. Crews will be replacing culverts along the roadway.   

“We thank the public for their cooperation and patience while we complete this essential construction and maintenance that will help to preserve our investment in safe travel,” Marna Daley, acting district ranger, said of the road closure.

Park County Commission agenda for Sept. 26

Among items on the Park County Commission agenda for its regularly scheduled 9 a.m.  Tuesday meeting at the City-County Building is the following:

• Discussion/decision on renewing the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) federal assistance program for 2017-18. The grant amount from the federal government is $40,728. No matching funds are required.

In other meetings Tuesday:

• Noon: Commissioner Clint Tinsley will attend the Airport Board meeting at Mission Field.

Informal association plans fun activities for downtown Livingston

A local business owner has created an informal group to organize fun activities for Livingston’s downtown.

Cassandra Weisgerber, co-owner of Livingston’s Bob N Lu’s Thrift, said she formed the Downtown Association after looking up the mission statements of various Livingston organizations and realizing that none of them focused solely on putting together fun events and activities for the downtown.

Not Saving Is the American Way

Smart people living in harm's way of hurricanes know to fortify their homes before the storm hits. In a similar vein, the prudent will shore up their financial position before the next recession bears down -- and one surely will. We're all in harm's way of an economic downturn.

How prepared are Americans to weather a financial crisis? The answer is that most are not, to a shocking extent.

Some 46 percent of Americans say they could not scratch up $400 in ready cash to meet an emergency. That percentage would be hard to believe had it not come from the Federal Reserve.