My Page: Matthew Frank
$400k for cleanups
Missoula Granted More Brownfield Revitalization Funds
Missoula has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to replenish its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, a fund established in 2004 through the EPA to help clean up and revitalize contaminated properties in Missoula. An open application process will likely begin toward the end of the year.
The bulk of Missoula's original $1.2 million Revolving Loan Fund was awarded to the Millsite Redevelopment Project, the development team working to transform the blighted Champion Sawmill site in the center of town into the mixed-use Old Sawmill District. That project has had "quite a bit of good momentum in the last month and half or so," says Chris Cerquone, an environmental consultant. An update after the jump.
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Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road won't open for several weeks, officials say.
This year's late spring snow -- as much as two feet fell on the road's alpine sections last week -- has slowed plowing and progress on the road's rehabilitation, but crews are taking the unpredictable weather in stride.
"The weather definitely drives the schedule for work," said Amy Vanderbilt, outreach manager for the Going-to-the-Sun Road project. "Work occurs when weather allows."
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From The New West Blog
Montana’s New Unreal ID
Montana's new driver's license was unveiled this week. Is that an elephant in the lower right corner?
Kellyn Brown over at the Flathead Beacon writes: "...the license is so ghastly that no one could ever replicate it. There is so much happening on the new Montana driver’s license, I reckon fake ID production in the state will slow considerably once the new ones are issued."
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From The New West Blog
Montana Wolf Hunt: Quota of 75 Proposed
Hunters in Montana could kill up to 75 wolves this fall under a tentative quota unanimously approved Thursday by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, the Helena IR reports.
The public has until July 18 to comment on the quota, as well as the commission’s decision to reclassify wolves as a species in need of management, instead of an endangered species. A final quota adoption is set for August 5.
But, 11 environmental groups are seeking an injunction to halt the wolf delisting -- and thus the hunt -- in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy is expected to rule on the lawsuit within the next week or so. As Fish, Wildlife and Parks wolf coordinator Carolyn Sime told the AP, "At any time there's any injunction, we will abide by it."
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grand opening
Missoula Community Co-op Throwing a Party Saturday
As the Missoula Community Co-op grows, so grow the benefits for local producers and local buyers, including lower costs and healthier food. And this Saturday, June 14, the Co-op will celebrate.
“The whole thing is going to be like a county fair,” says Maxine Jacobson, a member of the Co-op’s board of directors. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. at the Co-op (1500 Burns Street) and will include a cake walk and photo contest as well as local food and a producer fair. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Rattlesnake Ramblers and Tom and the Tomatoes will play music during a barbecue.
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from the new west blog
Missoula’s homeWORD to Host Foreclosure Prevention Clinic
homeWORD in Missoula will conduct a foreclosure prevention clinic for families in trouble with their mortgage payments Tuesday, June 24 in the basement at Missoula’a Public Library from 6 to 8 p.m. The foreclosure clinic will feature presentations on how to work with lenders, loan programs available, budgeting and options for selling a home that is no longer affordable.
Kathy Huber, coordinator of the homeWORD’s Homeownership Center, said that anyone is welcome to attend the free foreclosure clinic. "We are hoping that families in danger of losing their homes, even if they have not yet missed a payment, will attend the clinic so they can understand the steps to a foreclosure and all of the options for them to keep their home and preserve their equity."
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politics
Obama Campaign Announces Rally in Great Falls, Montana
The Obama campaign announced today that Senator Barack Obama will return to Montana on Friday, May 30th, for a rally in Great Falls, Montana, his third trip to the state this year. The rally will take place at 5:45 p.m. at The Four Seasons Arena. Doors open at 4:00 p.m.The event is free and open to the public. [more]
from the new west blog
Bill Clinton Returns to Montana SundayFormer President Bill Clinton will return to Montana to stump for his wife Hillary yet again. It's his fifth trip this year. (He visited just once in 1992 when running for president.)
On Sunday, June 1, Clinton will campaign in Stevensville, Anaconda, Great Falls and Helena. Time and locations have not been announced. We'll have more details as they become available.
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from the new west news blog
New Study Examines the Impacts of Growth in the Teton Region
The Sonoran Institute released a study this week titled Growth Impacts in the Teton Region of Wyoming and Idaho and it "tells the story of how rapid growth in one Western place ripples out to impact communities for miles around."
"The spillover of Jackson workers into neighboring communities" -- nearly one-third of Teton County, Idaho's labor force works in Wyoming -- "is creating both opportunities and potential crises," according to the study. "The growing population has fueled the construction industry and spurred commercial development in these 'spillover' communities. But it is also straining critical services such as water, sewer and trash-disposal systems in communities without a long-term way to pay for their expansion."
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civic duty
Missoula County: Vote Early
This note from the Missoula County Elections Office just came in:
"There are only four days left avoid the rush and cast an absentee ballot. Otherwise, you’ll need to visit your polling place on Primary Election Day, June 3rd. To accommodate as many voters as possible Vickie Zeier, Missoula County Elections Administrator has extended the elections’ office hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through the end of this week. Next Monday, June 2nd, you can cast an absentee ballot from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Zeier expects record turnout for this year’s primary, which means polling places will be busy.
Contact the Missoula County Elections office at 258-4751 to learn more about voting absentee."
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