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Two new methamphetamine treatment facilities are in the works for Lewistown and Boulder, a step corrections officials believe will make a significant difference in the backlog of inmates awaiting treatment for addictions.

An 80-bed men’s treatment center will be constructed in Lewistown in February, and a 40-bed women’s center will follow in Boulder one month later. The two centers will admit inmates who are convicted of multiple offenses for meth possession. With Montana facing a rising meth problem, the number of beds are three times the number originally suggested by the Legislature for the project.
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New Tourism

The mountains, rivers and abundant wildlife in Montana’s national parks draw thousands of tourists to the Big Sky state every summer. But a less organic feature will soon bring a different kind of visitor: thousands of square feet of cement. By June, parks of a very different nature will be luring visitors.

By the time Yellowstone and Glacier are crowded with throngs of sightseers, western Montana will be home to six world-class skateparks, constructed by the best skatepark builders in the world. Local skateboarders believe the series of parks, in towns from Butte to Whitefish, will put Montana on the map for more than 9 million skateboarders across the country.
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Film

Local filmmakers Doug Hawes-Davis and Dru Carr, creators of the award-winning documentary, “Libby, Montana,” have been awarded the first annual True/West Visionary Award for their unique contributions to the world of documentary filmmaking.

Hawes-Davis and Carr were chosen for the award because of the great effect the pair has had on documentary filmmaking in the West, said Michael Falter, director of the True/False West Film Festival.

The award will be presented at the first annual True/False West Film Festival in Bellingham, Wash. on April 23. The film festival is an offshoot of the True/False Film Festival held annually in Columbia, Mo. The festival is a yearly highlight for the town of Columbus, and has become a destination for documentary filmmakers eager to screen their work. Organizers hope that the Western addition will be a highlight for the Bellingham area, Falter said. [more]

Money and Space

The investigation into a former University of Montana vice president’s involvement with a non-profit organization that received $3 million in NASA grants is on track to finish by early June, Montana's legislative auditor said Thursday. The investigation is in the preliminary stages and will require combing the financial records for not only the university and the INSA, but could also delve into the employment records of two of Montana’s biggest politicians: Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Monday’s unexpected resignation the Board of Regents Chairman John Mercer won't affect the progress of the investigation, said Scott Seacat, the state's legislative auditor. Seacat said Commissioner of Higher Education Shelia Sterns will keep the investigation going. “The commissioner isn’t going to let this leave her sights,” Seacat said. [more]

Political Dynamite

John Mercer, the now former chairman of the Montana Board of Regents, cited a strained relationship with Gov. Brian Schweitzer, and a desire to spend more time at home after more than fifteen years of public service as his reasons for resigning his post. But the barbs against the governor in Mercer's resignation letter have raised speculation as to whether politics might be at play as well.

In a letter to the governor submitted this morning, Mercer wrote: "I am writing to gently point out your truancy, suggest a homework assignment, issue a challenge and advise you of my imminent departure from the Board of Regents." He also suggested the governor is too concerned with a public image to do the hard work to bolster the university system.

“It is not my intent to criticize your enthusiasm for national self promotion, synfuels, or the calculated sound bite of the day, but rather to simply ask that you consider making a similar commitment to the students, faculty and staff of the Montana University System,” Mercer wrote. [more]

Politics and Academics

Despite a mission statement as a non-profit company working to stimulate private business in the aerospace industry for Montana, an aerospace company with ties to the University of Montana has little proof that significant work is being done. As a result, the chairman of the Montana Board of Regents wants to know what happened to more than $3 million in NASA grants the Inland Northwest Space Alliance has received since its creation in 2003.

According to its records, the center has promoted some educational outreach programs for schoolchildren, held a benefit golf tournament, begun fundraising for a multi-million dollar children's space camp and little else. Regents also believe the center was created without their knowledge or approval, casting doubt on the University of Montana's process for such projects and the practices of the university's top administrators.

But Dan Dwyer, vice president of research and development at UM, says despite the spotlight on the investigation into the INSA, the university is not in jeopardy of losing out on other federal grants. "We have lots and lots of projects that are being run by the books," Dwyer said. "This is just one." [more]

Dirt Flies

Champagne mingled with dirt on Friday morning, as skateboarders broke ground on a long awaited skatepark near downtown Missoula.

As the ceremonial first bucketful of dirt was dug and a champagne toast was made, Ross Peterson of the Missoula Skatepark Association addressed the crowd of skateboarders.

“We don’t have much to say, other than we did it!” Peterson said.

The new 15,000-square-foot park sits on the Orange Street edge of McCormick Park, just feet from the River Trail System. The first phase of the park contains the bowls and transition sections, and is projected to be open by June. [more]

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

Montana's premier documentary film festival wrapped up Wednesday night with record attendance numbers and praise from visiting directors. Festival organizers were encouraged by the high turnout of Missoulians that came to see the more than 90 films that screened over the course of a week at the Wilma Theatre in downtown Missoula.

"Every year this just gets better and better," said Doug Hawes-Davis, festival programmer. The festival has come a long way since this was just a hobby for the organizers, he said.

This year, the festival saw a 50 percent increase in ticket sales from last year. More than 7,500 people made it out to the historic Wilma theatre over the week, despite a cold snap that slowed attendance for a few days. hand-screened by the event's coordinators. [more]

Paddling

Brennan's Wave is quickly taking shape below the Higgins Avenue Bridge in the Clark Fork River, to be completed by late February. By March, the cranes and earth-movers will crawl out of the waters and leave behind a series of waves, whitewater bumps and rolls to be enjoyed by tubers, rafters and kayakers -- as well as by the native trout.

Missoula's paddling community has been chomping at the bit lately in anticipation of completion of the water park, and the rumor mill has been alight with tales of pre-completion runs and the prospect of one half of the project being completed by the weekend.

"I've thought about actually going down there with a shovel," says Peter Coyle, who sells kayaks at Edge of the World in downtown Missoula. "I'm pretty much speechless. I'm going Sunday, that's all I can say." [more]

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