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Missoula Events

Starting tomorrow, over 100 Lewis and Clark and Native American activities, presentations and performances will begin spreading throughout five Western Montana valleys in more than 25 locations for 19 days.

The Lewis and Clark in the Rockies Bicentennial Festival commemorates the 200-year anniversary of Lewis and Clark's return journey through Western Montana through a multiday extravaganza of activities, exhibits, reenactments, entertainment, outdoor experiences and Native American programs from June 21 to July 9 in the Missoula, Bitterroot, Lolo, Blackfoot and Mission valleys. [more]

Growth and Transportation

With gas prices on the rise and steadily climbing, growth overcoming the city and urban developments expanding, Missoula citizens are looking to the option of a commuter rail system to decrease the escalating transportation problems of traffic congestion, air pollution and costly vehicles. And, after last week, that discussion is officially serious.

During last Thursday's symposium titled, "A Discussion on the Feasibility of Commuter Rail Service in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys: An Option to High Gas Prices," experts explained the benefits of a passenger rail system to a crowd of about 100 people, and answered their questions about the potential implicated costs, an issue that topped the list of concerns for several attendees. [more]

Growth and Transportation

Experts on the possiblity of a commuter rail system concluded in a meeting on Thursday that the next step along the path to start a passenger rail system in Missoula is to find a way to get people excited about the option, create a strong progress plan for the project and decide if a commuter rail is the best solution for air pollution, traffic congestion and high gas prices for Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley. [more]

Growth and Transportation

Residents and travelers of Mullan Road in Missoula are again dissatisfied with the construction proposed for an intersection at George Elmer Flynn Lane. At a meeting held last week at the WGM Group Inc. building, the potential engineers of the project presented their latest design for the street's reconstruction, and were met with more comments from the community on why this design still doesn't work.

The developers say the road is crucial to alleviating stress on Mullan and Reserve and connecting new development in the Wye-Mullan area to the rest of Missoula. But, neighbors say the plan at this point is too intrusive for the neighborhood and is being developed at the behest of the developers who want more access to the area, so they can develop more land. Community members are suggesting the engineers go back to the drawing board. [more]

Growth and Transportation

The main subject during Tuesday night's open house on transportation planning quickly turned to plans for Missoula's Western bypass.

The open house, put on by Amber Blake, Transportation Information Specialist for the Office of Planning and Grants, was designed to educate community members on the transportation planning process. She explained the various groups that take part in planning and making decisions within transportation, who comprises the groups and how and why they arrive at the end result.

But, it was the Western bypass, and the current proposal on the table to fund a feasibility study on the idea that got the most attention. The amendment to the Unified Planning Work Program that calls for $5,000 in federal funds to conduct the feasibility workshop will either be passed or vetoed on June 20 at the next Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee meeting. [more]

Growth and Transportation

The topic of a commuter rail service in Missoula will be discussed in two public meetings this week.

As the Missoulian covered earlier this week, proponents of a rail service in Missoula and the Bitterroot valleys will be in Missoula this week to conduct symposiums on the feasibility of the system. [more]

Growth and Transportation

After years of behind-the-scenes planning and informal conversations, the idea of a bypass through the West side of Missoula is finally coming up for public discussion.

But, there's a lot that has to happen before that discussion can even start. First, the committee charged with transportation planning in and around Missoula must amend its annual plan to hire a Montana Department of Transportation consultant to conduct workshops and a feasibility study on a bypass near Reserve Street and Fort Missoula. Then, if the study finds the bypass is feasible, the city, county and state can start talking about using federal money for more planning on the project. If the study finds it is not feasible, then the agencies have to figure out how to go forward without federal money. [more]

Election

State Senate President Jon Tester scored a remarkable 76 percent of the vote among Missoula County voters in the Democratic Senate primary, versus just 22 percent for State Auditor John Morrison - numbers that have a lot to do with what looks like a big statewide Tester victory. Tester said to a crowd amassed at the Holiday Inn Parkside "I just want to thank the folks of Missoula a lot. They've been really great from the get-go."

Missoula voters also handily approved three ballot questions that will impose new mill levys for search and rescue, libraries, and elder care in the county.

In other results, incumbent Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech easily won a non-partisan primary, and Sheriff Mike McMeekin beat back several Democratic primary challengers.

Click 'more' for all the details on the Missoula County vote. [more]

Final Stretch

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester spoke to a crowd of about 50 Missoula residents at the Missoula County Courthouse Monday afternoon. Citizens showed up to rally for Tester before the primary election tomorrow. "Get out and vote tomorrow," Tester said. "I think this primary is going to make a lot of difference on who represents Montana's values in Washington, D.C." Tester said he is the best candidate to vote for because he "can go head to head with Conrad Burns on a number of issues but particularly ethics, and we can win... "I'll be representing Montanans and Montana interests when I'm back in Washington, D.C." Tester thanked the people of Missoula, saying, "It's because of you that I'm here today and it's because of you that we're going to win tomorrow."

Photo by Chris Lombardi

Trekking and Touring with Brenna

Last Wednesday, my friends and I decided to take a little camping trip to Blodgett Camp and go for a day hike to the waterfalls in Blodgett Canyon. I took the opportunity as the perfect trip to launch the first entry of my summer travel column. So I packed my sleeping bag, a mat, a change of clothes, my fold up chair and some food to munch on after the hike and put it all in my friend's car. I had never done this hike before, but before I launch into my own experience, I would like to preface by saying that if you are looking for a leisurely, short hike that only takes a couple of hours out of your day, this hike is not for you. But, if a gorgeous but challenging day hike is what you're after, then head on up to Blodgett Canyon. The hiking distance is about 3.5 miles each way, making it a 7-mile round trip hike. The trail is well maintained, the elevation isn't too strenuous and the scenery is magnificent. My group did the hike in about five hours, but we traveled beyond the first waterfall to the second, which added about 30 or 40 minutes to the hike. [more]

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