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From the Flathead Beacon

Dr. Jack Stanford recalls when a short fishing trip on Flathead Lake rendered a bucketful of kokanee salmon. On some days, he could look out his window and see the shores lined with dead fish, casualties of the spawn. 

Today, the salmon are virtually gone and bull trout are considered threatened, a dual decline that has illuminated tensions between the public and wildlife officials, and shaped fish management on the lake for decades. And perhaps nobody has studied the repercussions of this dramatic environmental alteration as closely as Stanford and his wife Dr. Bonnie Ellis.

The introduction of mysis shrimp into Northwest Montana waters in the 1960s led to the well-known – and much-maligned in some circles – rise of lake trout in Flathead Lake in the 1980s, but Stanford said wildlife officials can’t be blamed for using the science of the day. 

From the Flathead Beacon

When he retires from Plum Creek Timber Co. at the end of the month, Hank Ricklefs will feel much better about stepping down from his position as vice president of northern resources and manufacturing than he would have a year ago at this time.

“It was absolute turmoil,” he said of 2009. “No one had a solid feeling for where the bottom was.”

From the Flathead Beacon

The Montana University System is staring down the barrel of a 5 percent cut in state funding as part of a statewide effort to battle a dwindling budget. With many campuses seeing significant recession-induced population increases, however, a budget cut may mean have to do more with less.

The Board of Regents, the single authority for university spending, agreed in January that $7.65 million in cuts might be possible for fiscal year 2011 if the budget problem still persists.

And while the major universities and colleges are taking the brunt of the cuts, community colleges may also feel some of the sting. 

Assessing the Court’s campaign finance ruling on Montana

Among the more memorable moments from President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address was his direct criticism of a Supreme Court decision the previous week relaxing restrictions on political spending by corporations and unions. Rebuking Supreme Court justices for a decision face-to-face is a highly unusual move for a president, but Obama’s reaction underscores just how polarizing and momentous the ruling has the potential to be.

The Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision overturns court precedent on corporate spending in politics, and potentially makes bans on such spending in states throughout the country, unconstitutional. In Montana, that ban has stood in place for nearly a century and its future now appears uncertain.

Supporters of the decision, praising the conservative majority, saw it as a victory that protects free speech rights under the First Amendment. Critics of the ruling, broadly comprised of those on the left, lamented how it confers upon corporations rights given to people, and predicted it would only worsen the problem of special interest money in American politics.

Montana Recession Forecast

Though they wanted to give a lighter forecast, the presenters at the eighth annual Economic Future of the Flathead breakfast delivered a grim outlook for the valley this year.

The event, sponsored by Montana West Economic Development and Flathead Valley Community College, sought to summarize the changes in the 2009 real estate market and economy.

Jim Kelley of Kelley Appraisal wasted no time getting to the point of his real estate analysis.

“The long and short of it is obviously last year we had a really tough year and in all likelihood next year is going to be a really tough year,” Kelley told a packed house at the FVCC Arts and Technology building.

From the Flathead Beacon

Moving from Virginia to Northwest Montana can be a shock to the system any time of the year, but as the Hockaday Museum of Art’s new director found out, starting during the coldest week of the winter is downright shocking.

Elizabeth Moss, who prefers to be called Liz, realized just how chilly the Flathead could get after she drove for five days to get here for her first day of work on Dec. 1.

“It’s so cold,” Moss said last week in the comfort of her new office. “That first week was tough on me.”

In Montana, “Freedom Action Rally” group studying the issue

The idea of changing state law, or the state Constitution, to allow citizens to convene grand juries in their counties appears to be gathering steam in some conservative circles of Western Montana. The concept would allow citizens to summon juries comprised of members of the public to investigate alleged crimes – not just judges, as is the case currently.

With a Bitterroot man crafting language for a proposed ballot initiative and a Hungry Horse man forming a group to work on draft legislation, a measure allowing for citizen grand juries, in one form or another, seems poised for broader consideration in the coming year – by either the public or, possibly, lawmakers.

Flathead Condo Developers Lose

The state Supreme Court upheld a Flathead District Court ruling declaring that three Lakeside condominium projects are subject to the county subdivision review process, a ruling called both commonsense and baffling by those involved.

“It’s a decision that provides land use guidance when dealing with whether condominium projects can evade subdivision review and public participation and input,” said Flathead County Planning Director Jeff Harris.

The ruling affirmed District Judge Ted Lympus’ January decision to reject the claim that unzoned property does not have applicable building regulations.

Economy

Brian Sipe recalls when the noted rifle barrel maker Les Bauska told him: “If you want to starve to death, become a gunsmith.” So, naturally, Sipe became a gunsmith.

Then in 1990, he parlayed his skills into the rifle barrel business, starting Montana Rifleman with “about $200” to his name. But one by one, the rifle barrels began pouring out of his shop and that $200 grew some fat. Nearly 20 years later, Sipe’s barrels can be found across the world, on rifles with household names like Remington and Bushmaster.

And this year, prompted by concern over how the Obama administration will affect federal gun laws, business has gone through the roof. People are stocking up on firearms, Sipe said. Montana Rifleman, located on Montana Highway 35 outside of Kalispell, has already churned out more than 100,000 rifle barrels this year. In past years, the total was closer to 70,000-80,000, Sipe said.

“We’re not a hobby barrel maker anymore,” Sipe said.

The Flathead Valley, and Montana for that matter, has a rich history of barrel and gun manufacturing, boasting names like the Bauska family, the Sipe family and, more recently, the Sonju family. The Sonjus have formed a sister company to their Sonju Industrial, which manufactures aerospace parts.

Breaking News

Three felony charges were filed against Kalispell state Sen. Greg Barkus Wednesday after his alleged driving of a boat under the influence of alcohol led to an Aug. 27 crash on the shore of Flathead Lake that injured him, his wife, Congressman Denny Rehberg and two of his staff members.

Charging documents revealed a blood test taken one hour and 45 minutes after the accident by Kalispell Regional Medical Center showed Barkus had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.16, twice the legal limit. Four hours after the accident, a test administered by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks revealed Barkus’ BAC at 0.12.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan charged Barkus with felony criminal endangerment for knowingly engaging in “conduct that created a substantial risk to of death or serious bodily injury to others,” referring to the passengers on the boat. The charge carries a maximum term in state prison of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of $50,000.

Check back with the Flathead Beacon for updates.