Missoulian back issues from February 2009:
Health care community speaks in favor of clinic bill
Feb 01, 2009; ... HELENA - From Philipsburg to Kalispell, health officials came out last week in support of a measure to help finance more community health centers in Montana, saying they're a vital source of care for the uninsured. "We're really just asking to continue a good idea that began in 2007," ...
The color of profit
Feb 01, 2009; ... The partnering of Missoula businessman Bill Clawson, a self-described capitalist, and Missoula writer Peter Stark, who admits to tree-hugging tendencies, makes for an unusual alliance. Yet it is because of their different life perspectives that these men can offer a unique window on the ...
Rural, federal interests at odds
Feb 01, 2009; ... One big cloud of confusion in Montana's economic crystal ball concerns its transportation sector. Yes, roads and bridges are expected to be a big part of the federal stimulus package, perhaps $300 billion of its $800 billion total. And Montana's got lots of roads and bridges - 70,000 ...
Beer on the minds of lawmakers
Feb 01, 2009; ... Montana legislators are poised to consider a bill that could raise the legal alcohol level in beer sold in the state from 7 percent to 14 percent. For Vinnie Pavlish and Mark Lancaster, a couple of University of Montana law school students and beer connoisseurs, passage of the bill would ...
Flagship campuses face hike in tuition
Feb 02, 2009; ... For most of the past decade, it's been cheaper for Montana residents to attend Montana State University than the University of Montana. Today, it's the other way around -- albeit not by much. Tuition will go up for students at the state's flagship campuses next fall. No one yet ...
Efficiency On A Budget
Feb 02, 2009; ... Lauren Caldwell was worried she had jumped into homeownership at the wrong time. With all the economic horror stories emerging each day, why chance taking on significant personal debt? Even more worrisome to the-26-year-old, the $168,000 Missoula fixer-upper she could afford ...
In-home care at heart of two bills
Feb 02, 2009; ... HELENA -- As lawmakers sift through the state's massive public health budget, they'll be eyeballing two new programs to boost in-home care, which would allow more elderly and disabled Montanans to get day-to-day care without going to a nursing home or institution. One proposal is a $10 ...
Jenda Hemphill leaves MCPS Board of Trustees
Feb 03, 2009; ... Jenda Hemphill's dozen years on the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees has come to an end. Hemphill, first elected to the board in 1995, recently stepped down, citing health concerns. "I'm just feeling like I can't really give the job the energy that it deserves, ...
Poor Forecasters
Feb 03, 2009; ... STEVENSVILLE - Those of us who rely on rodents for our weather reports deserve the service we pay for. Bitterroot Bill provided secondary confirmation of Punxsutawney Phil's call that a shadow was seen on Groundhog Day, and winter will continue for another six weeks. The ...
Take a book around
Feb 03, 2009; ... The Missoula Public Library isn't just for bookworms anymore. Although, bookworms showered praise on its new checkout stations. "I love it because it's extremely convenient." said Pat Stewart, holding a bag full of paperbacks. "It's simple enough for this 74-year-old mind to ...
Plant developers switching from coal to natural gas
Feb 03, 2009; ... BILLINGS - Blaming delays from regulators and environmental lawsuits, developers of the Highwood Generating Station near Great Falls are halting work on their planned coal-fired generating plant and are going to build one powered by natural gas instead. In a unanimous vote Friday, five ...
Highway 35 truck ban off table for now
Feb 03, 2009; ... POLSON - Some steps have been taken and more are being considered to improve traffic safety along the east shore of Flathead Lake between Polson and Bigfork - but banning trucks from the stretch of road will not be one of them at this time. Aside from re-routing extra-wide loads whose ...
Mountains need more snowpack
Feb 06, 2009; ... More mountain snowstorms in the coming weeks would make for a better summer down the road, according to snowpack data released Thursday by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. There are decent snow water content numbers for the Upper Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers, but less so ...
St. Joseph CEO to retire
Feb 06, 2009; ... POLSON - The only person to run St. Joseph Medical Center since it was purchased by Sisters of Providence 19 years ago is retiring. John Glueckert, president and CEO of the Poison hospital, is stepping down on Feb. 27. "He was responsible for stabilizing an institution that was ...
Museum, UM work on Fort
Feb 04, 2009; ... The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and the University of Montana are joining forces to preserve, study and interpret the site of the former Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp, which operated in the early 1940s. The Historical Museum, which is owned by Missoula County, is in the ...
Program helps future farmers find land
Feb 04, 2009; ... Think of it as an agricultural dating service. Still productive, older farm acreage seeks young, vigorous farmer for tong-or short-term relationship. Must enjoy outdoors, dirty fingernails and fresh food. That's the hope for Land Link Montana, a new service connecting landowners ...
Group, resident mull appeal of air permit
Feb 04, 2009; ... THOMPSON FALLS - A power plant with a lousy history is gearing up for a fresh start under new ownership in this community. At least one wary neighbor and a conservation group in Missoula are considering whether to fight the decision by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to ...
Minimum wage measure on tips rejected in Senate
Feb 04, 2009; ... HELENA - The state Senate Tuesday killed a bill that would have allowed Montana businesses to count part of an employee's tips toward meeting the minimum wage. Six Republicans joined all 23 Senate Democrats to defeat the measure on a 29-21 vote. "I was pleased to see that the ...
Breast health center holds ceremony
Feb 06, 2009; ... Community Medical Center christened its new breast health center Thursday morning in a short ceremony marked by tears. The new center, which isn't quite ready to open, will be dedicated to breast health, and its dedication was marked by a group of breast cancer survivors who included ...
Location, location, location
Feb 06, 2009; ... When the Missoula City Council approved Linda Vista Estates, it did so with two notable exceptions. Ward 3 Councilwoman Stacy Rye and Ward 6 Councilwoman Marilyn Marler don't make a habit out of opposing developments, but last month they cast the only votes against the 340-home plan on ...
A sign of the times
Feb 06, 2009; ... The nation's most recent dose of grim economic news - a higher-than-expected jump in people seeking jobless benefits - was mirrored throughout Montana, including Missoula, which saw "an awful lunge" of newly unemployed citizens last month. At the Missoula Job Service office on Third ...
County backs off on FOIA request
Feb 09, 2009; ... Missoula County won't hold the Forest Service's feet to the FOIA fire any longer. Last spring, the county requested, through the Freedom of Information Act, hundreds of thousands of files documenting private negotiations between the U.S. Forest Service and Plum Creek Timber Co. over ...
'Get ready' for stimulus projects
Feb 10, 2009; ... HELENA - As much as $350 million in building projects could be in the pipeline for Montana in the economic stimulus package before Congress, but the state will need the help and patience - of the building industry to get things rolling, the Schweitzer administration said Monday. David ...
An uncertain Top Hat
Feb 11, 2009; ... The Top Hat has always been a place of many faces. To some, the bar on Front Street has been a low-key daytime hangout, a place where the conversation flows like slowly poured beer and where you're perfectly welcome to light up a cigarette if you so please. Later at night, it's been a place ...
Hip Strip Stalwart Crystal Video Shutting its doors for good
Feb 07, 2009; ... Missoula's Hip Strip is being stripped of one of its institutions with the closure of Crystal Video, upon which a devoted clientele has relied for rentals of independent films for more than 20 years. On Monday, owner Tim Huffman will put up for sale around 12,000 films in the store's ...
Regents told no funds for projects
Feb 07, 2009; ... Gov. Brian Schweitzer's budget director told the Montana Board of Regents on Friday to get in line with the governor's budget because there's no excess spending money. The comments by David Ewer came the same day that Rep. Dave McAlpin, D-Missoula, introduced a $66 million bill for seven ...
FILE 11 FOR HOPE
Feb 08, 2009; ... Lonnie Wallace looks out his office window at Jim Palmer Trucking near the Wye and sees Smoke rising from the towering stacks at Smurfit-Stone Container Co. He knows the worry that consumes the employees and his business associates who work at the struggling linerboard plant in ...