Within the past few days firefighters have responded to three small wildfires in western Montana. The fires on the Montana Department of Natural Resources’ Missoula and Clearwater Units are thought to have been caused by abandoned warming fires. Officials caution forests are still extremely dry and recent rain and high elevation snow isn’t enough yet to minimize the fire danger. Hunters and recreationalists are urged to be extremely careful with their fires this fall. To date this year Missoula and Powell counties have experienced 171 wildfires nearly 70-percent human caused.
Montana voters moved the Treasure State another step to the right of the political spectrum with Tuesday’s election. Republican candidates won every federal and statewide race as well as all three seats on the Public Service Commission. All but seven of the state’s counties followed that trend and the seven ones that inched to the left still voted for President-elect Donald Trump by more than 50 points. Montana Democrats gained some ground in the Legislature mostly due to redistricting but remain in the minority.
The Montana Department of Commerce has launched a survey to better understand the need for affordable housing in Montana hoping to gather information on how inflation the limited supply of rental housing increased demand high cost of labor and increases in property insurance rates have driven up the cost of housing throughout the state. Montana renters will receive a letter in the mail this week that will have survey instructions and a code to get started. Responses are voluntary and confidential.
The Montana Legislature has permanently extended the Montana Medical Care Savings Account Act and account holders may deposit up to $4,500 annually to use for eligible medical expenses. Montanans currently without one still have time to open a medical care savings account to reduce their state income taxes for 2024. Any interest earned is not subject to Montana income tax and the balance at the end of the year rolls over for future use.
The United States Canada and Mexico have signed a letter of intent to continue to collaborate on bison conservation noting they once roamed from Alaska to Mexico. The agreement was formalized during the Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management held in San Diego. The Letter of Intent outlines the various ways that the three North American nations will work together.
The general deer and elk hunting season is underway in Montana and game check station results are outpacing last year for harvested deer across northwest Montana. More than 3,700 hunters have stopped at Region 1 regional game check stations on the first two weekends of the season. Check stations are open on weekends during general season from 10 in the morning to approximately 1.5 hours past sunset.
In Great Falls the Children’s Museum of Montana which has been leasing its current space from the city since 1999 will close Sunday and will move into a new permanent home at the end of the month. Its board of directors has determined the most cost-efficient way forward is to move.
Montana veterans and their service dogs celebrated a special graduation ceremony Wednesday hosted by Dog Tag Buddies at the end of a two-year training program designed to aid veterans in their recovery and improve their social mobility. The program provides them with essential support to manage the hidden wounds of war. It connects veterans with service dogs trained to perform various tasks such as recognizing and alerting others if their owner is having a panic attack waking up their owner during nightmares and retrieving medical bags.
The Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area on the Montana-Idaho state line will be open Friday and over the weekend before closing Monday through Thursday next week. Lookout operates on Pacific Time Great Divide on Mountain Time leveraging the difference to claim the title of the first ski area in Montana to open in fall ’22 by 75 minutes over Lookout.
Clarence Robert “C.R.” Morrison has been inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Great Falls. The 82-yearold painter sculptor horse trainer and pistol shooting champion was already a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and National Reining Horse Association in Oklahoma.
