Montana/Region

Prairie dogs to be removed from Buffalo Jump state park

Published on Mon, 01/02/2017 - 4:31pm

GREAT FALLS (AP) — Officials plan to reduce the number of prairie dogs at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park because they say the animals are threatening artifacts.

The Great Falls Tribune reports that the park plans to try to capture and relocate the prairie dogs first but killing the animals is also an option. Park manager Rick Thompson says it all depends on how many landowners or agencies are willing to accept the animals.

US considers mining limits in West to save sage grouse

Published on Thu, 12/29/2016 - 4:35pm

After slow start, snow is catching up in Western mountains

Published on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 4:18pm
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By DAN ELLIOTT, Associated Press
 
DENVER — After a dry autumn, snowfall is rebounding to normal levels at Western ski areas and in the mountains that feed the vital Colorado River.
 
Snow totals were encouraging across most of the region Wednesday, especially in Oregon, eastern Nevada and Utah, where it stood as high as 176 percent of average.
 

FBI not actively seeking suspects in woman's car trunk death

Published on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 4:11pm
HELENA, Mont.  — The FBI is not actively seeking any suspects in the case of a Montana woman who was found dead in the trunk of her car in Spokane, Washington after telling her family she had been abducted from a rest stop north of Helena, the agency said Wednesday.
 
While the investigation into the Sept. 6 death of Rita Maze of Great Falls is not complete, investigators so far have not uncovered any evidence to indicate anyone else was involved. Some lab tests are pending.  Maze, 47, had been shot to death, a medical examiner said.
 

State wants input on plan to limit motorized watercraft use

Published on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 4:09pm
HELENA, Mont. — A series of public hearings will begin next week on a proposal to limit motorized watercraft use on nearly 50 western Montana river and stream segments.
 
The Independent Record reports that the proposal comes from the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers' Quiet Waters. The group cites advancements of motorized technology for bringing the initiative forward.
 
Under the proposal, there would be several seasonal and horsepower restrictions on motorized watercraft use as well as the closure of several small tributaries.

Search continues for missing snowboarder

Published on Wed, 12/28/2016 - 2:08pm
JACKSON, Wyo. — A winter storm and increased avalanche danger are hampering the search for a Grand Targhee Resort worker who failed to return from snowboarding last Friday.
 
Teton County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Carr tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide (bit.ly/2iEksUO) that efforts to find 34-year-old Lee Kidd are focused on the back side of Targhee. However, crews may not be able to safely search the area on Wednesday.
 

Winter storm weakens but thousands still without power

Published on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 4:01pm
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CHICAGO (AP) — The furious winter storm that swept into the northern Great Plains on Christmas Day weakened Tuesday, but thousands remained without power in the Dakotas and Michigan.
 
High winds and drifting snow continued to make travel hazardous in the Dakotas, even as vast stretches of highways that had been closed reopened to traffic. The no-travel warnings issued Christmas Day for much of North Dakota had largely expired by Tuesday, although the National Weather Service warned that drifting snow still blocked some roads.

Broken pipes lead to unusable water on Rocky Boy's

Published on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 3:53pm
HAVRE, Mont. — About half the residents of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation are receiving bottled water after several water pipes broke last week.
 
The Havre Daily News reports (bit.ly/2hqxcRe) that as of Tuesday morning, the pipes had been repaired and pressure was being restored to the system. However, interim director of Tribal Water Resources Dustin White said it could be another two weeks or more before the 1,500 to 2,000 residents affected will be able to drink water from their faucets.
 
The pipes broke on Dec. 22.

Great Falls lawmaker to resign after daughter had triplets

Published on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 3:52pm
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Great Falls lawmaker says she plans to resign from the legislature in late January to help her daughter care for her infant triplets.
 
The Great Falls Tribune (gftrib.com/2iBltNi) reports Sen. Mary Sheehy-Moe wrote a letter to her constituents saying she plans to resign from the legislature in late January, shortly before the Cascade County Democratic Central Committee is scheduled to meet. The committee will forward the names of three candidates to the Cascade County Commission, which will choose Sheehy-Moe's replacement.

Billings man sentenced for raping 2-year-old

Published on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 3:50pm
Billings man sentenced for raping 2-year-old
 
BILLINGS, Mont. — A 28-year-old Billings man who pleaded guilty to raping a 2-year-old girl he was babysitting has been given a 40-year sentence with the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
 
The Billings Gazette reports District Judge Russell Fagg sentenced Daniel Joseph Degele to 100 years with 60 suspended and ordered him to begin serving his sentence at the Montana State Hospital. A psychologist testified that Degele has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.