Updated at 12:27pm 02/22/12
Avalanche warnings issued for west central, SW MT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Avalanche warnings are in effect for the Bridger Range in southwestern Montana and the mountains of west central Montana after heavy, wet snow fell on a weaker layer of colder, lighter snow.
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche warning for all slopes in the Bridger Range, saying natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.
The West Central Montana Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for the mountains of west central Montana above 5,000 feet. High winds and heavy snowfall were forecast for Wednesday.
The center also extended its avalanche warning for the northern mountains in the Rattlesnake, southern Swans and southern Mission Mountains near Seeley Lake.
The center says the new snow, warmer temperatures and wind have formed a dangerous slab of snow in most locations.
High court rules for power company over Mont. dams
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with a power company in a dispute with Montana over who owns the riverbeds beneath 10 dams on three Montana rivers.
In a case that reached back to the travels of Lewis and Clark more than 200 years ago, the court voted unanimously to throw out a state court ruling that could have cost PPL Montana more than $50 million.
The power company had appealed a Montana Supreme Court ruling that the state owns the submerged land beneath the dams on the Missouri, Clark Fork and Madison rivers, and that PPL owes back rent and interest.
The justices said the Montana court was wrong to conclude that the state owns the riverbeds and ordered the state court to take another look at the case.
Madison Cnty commissioners want Ennis school audit
BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — Madison County commissioners say they're going to strongly encourage the Ennis school board have its finances audited after the attorney general determined the school improperly used taxes levied for adult education and transportation to help pay for a new elementary school.
Commissioner Dave Schulz tells The Montana Standard the commissioners want the third-party audit done, but agree the school district should pay it. Schulz says commissioners are going to suggest the school use a different auditor than they have used in the past.
Board Chairman Marc Glines did not return a telephone call from the newspaper seeking comment Tuesday.
Ennis recently completed a $10 million grade school that was primarily funded with taxes that were levied without being voted on.
Lawsuit filed over Lake County sheriff's dispute
POLSON, Mont. (AP) — Five current or former members of the Lake County Sheriff's Office have filed a lawsuit against the current sheriff, undersheriff, a detective and a deputy claiming they were retaliated against over efforts to expose corruption.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Missoula. The workers claim some members of the department illegally shot and killed big-game animals and one had illegally altered a firearm from a rifle to a machine gun.
The workers say they have been reprimanded, suffered demotions, been denied promotions and subjected to a hostile work environment because of their efforts to expose what they say is law-breaking and corruption within the sheriff's office.
Sheriff Jay Doyle told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the officers have not been retaliated against.
Man withdraws guilty plea for arson fire
BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — A 32-year-old man who had pleaded guilty to arson by accountability for an August 2010 fire at a Butte apartment building has withdrawn his plea after the judge rejected the plea agreement.
The Montana Standard reports Jeffrey R. Mizerski was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in District Court for felony arson by accountability for the fire at the National Hotel building, but withdrew his guilty plea after District Judge Brad Newman rejected an agreement that called for a seven-year sentence with the Department of Corrections.
Newman set a trial date for May 29.
Mizerski and 37-year-old Billy Brasher were charged with intentionally setting a fire in their second-floor apartment that caused so much damage the building had to be demolished.
Brasher has pleaded not guilty to arson.
Sterling Savings Bank cutting workforce
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The parent company of Sterling Savings Bank is laying off 6 percent of its employees in an effort to cut costs.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sterling Financial Corp. said it expected to complete the 150-job reduction in the first three months of 2012. The move is projected to save $15 million a year, and will cost $3 million in severance pay.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Seibly says the challenging interest rate environment and uncertain economic outlook led to the cuts.
Sterling spokeswoman Cara Coon says the layoffs affected many divisions with the exception of positions such as customer service.
Sterling Savings Bank has 2,500 employees and operates 175 branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Montana.
The bank is changing its name to Sterling Bank in a $3.5 million rebranding.
Billings to consider medical marijuana ordinance
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Billings City Council has voted 10-0 to consider a six-month emergency ordinance that could prevent new medical marijuana shops from opening in the city.
Billings has issued 70 business licenses for medical marijuana providers.
The ordinance discussed Monday could ban new medical marijuana businesses throughout the city or push them into certain areas. Existing marijuana businesses would not be affected by the proposed moratorium, which will be considered May 10.
Several cities across the state have placed a moratorium on medical marijuana businesses while leaders decide zoning issues.
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Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com
HATCHERY CLEANUP
Monsanto to pay $5M for PCB cleanup
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — Biotech company Monsanto has agreed to pay $5 million toward the cost of cleaning up PCB contamination in Big Spring Creek near Lewistown.
The state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks was seeking $10.5 million to clean up paint chips containing PCBs that washed out of the raceways at the Big Spring Creek fish hatchery.
A trial seeking damages started last week in District Court in Fergus County. Torger Oaas, attorney for the state and landowners, says the $5 million settlement was reached Monday morning.
Monsanto Co. was once a leading U.S. manufacturer of PCBs, which were banned in 1979 due to their toxicity.
In 2008, Monsanto reached a nearly $5 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by landowners over loss of property value due to the contamination.
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Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com
BORDER CROSSING
$5.8M awarded to rebuild Del Bonita border post
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana construction company has a $5.8 million contract to rebuild the Port of Del Bonita checkpoint at the Canadian border.
Sen. Jon Tester's office announced the contract with Browning-based Willow Creek Construction on Monday, saying the project would create between 40 and 50 jobs.
The border crossing is north of Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Details of the rebuilding project were not immediately available.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials did not immediately return a call Monday.
The federal government announced in August it was handing out some $720 million for border upgrades, including $77 million to rebuild or repair five Montana ports of entry.
SHERIFF-NO CONFIDENCE
Flathead deputies vote "no confidence" in sheriff
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — The Flathead County Sheriff's Deputies Union has passed a "no confidence" vote in Sheriff Mike Meehan.
Union president Dave Kauffman said Friday that 74 percent of the union's members said they had "no confidence" in Meehan's leadership.
Kauffman says the union wants its decision to send a message to Flathead County voters as the primary election approaches.
The union says its most serious concerns about Meehan focus on the use of money for overtime and training, discipline issues and what the union says is a lack of leadership.
Meehan says leadership means making decisions that are not always popular, but he says he will continue to run his office taxpayers being his main consideration.
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Information from: KCFW-TV, http://www.kcfw.com
BOZEMAN SHOOTING
Manhattan man accused of shooting at woman
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A 57-year-old Manhattan man is being held on $100,000 bail for allegedly shooting at a woman outside his home with a six-shot .22-caliber revolver, missing her by only inches.
David E. Rasmussen was arrested Sunday evening after a neighbor called 911.
Court records say Rasmussen and the woman were arguing on the front porch when, after he jabbed her in the chin with his index and middle fingers, the woman went and sat on a log about 35 feet away.
Rasmussen is accused of shooting at the woman at least twice and telling her that if she called police, "she would be the first to die." Authorities say they found one bullet about 8 inches away from where the woman was sitting.
She says in court documents that she knew Rasmussen "was a good shot and felt that if he truly intended to shoot her, he would not have missed."
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Information from: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com
SEELEY LAKE FATAL-CHARGES
Man charged in bicycle fatality near Seeley Lake
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 23-year-old Seeley Lake man faces charges for a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist last summer on Highway 83 near Seeley Lake.
Cody Bartlett faces felony charges of failing to stop at the scene where a person was killed or seriously injured and tampering with physical evidence, along with misdemeanor charges of careless driving, failure to quickly notify law enforcement of an accident and obstructing a peace officer.
Bartlett is charged in the June 25, 2009 death of 18-year-old Rodney "Jake" Loudon of Seeley Lake.
Court records say Bartlett had consumed two beers and two rum and Cokes and was driving near the center line trying to adjust his radio when he struck what he says he thought was a deer.
Loudon's body was found on the side of the road the next day.
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Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com
DUI COURSES
Montana alters DUI courses
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Training has begun on a new program meant to reduce drunken driving in Montana by reducing offenders' risky behaviors.
The curriculum called PRIME for Life will change the courses offenders go through and will lengthen the duration of their court-appointed treatment.
Those convicted of DUI currently must attend eight hours of courses. The new program will increase that time to at least 12 hours and possibly up 20 hours for repeat offenders.
It also is meant to be a therapeutic program that helps offenders understand what has led them to drug and alcohol abuse and works on understanding the risks that come with that misuse. The classes in place now try to reinforce an understanding of the consequences of a DUI conviction and to interrupt offenders' cycles of driving while impaired.
The state Department of Public Health and Human Services wants to implement the change by September.