Volume XXI, Number 15

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Above: Aerial photo shows rescue boats maneuvering through the floodwaters of a New Orleans neighborhood.

Right: David Bonham and team check a house in a flooded area of New Orleans.

Photos courtesy of David Bonham.

Refuge employees assist in hurricane relief efforts

Two employees of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge have been in New Orleans recently helping with the hurricane relief effort.

On September 10, David Bonham, refuge law enforcement officer at Lee Metcalf NWR, traveled to New Orleans along with nine other National Wildlife Refuge law enforcement officers from the Montana. Their mission was to lend boat and force support for the initial Search and Rescue effort. They were gone 10 days and came back only because the water level was dropping so rapidly that it was too difficult to maneuver the boats around the buildings. They were able to witness the devastation first hand and were able to come to the rescue of a local resident by helping him remove his furniture from his water-soaked home. More...

Election Results

According to unofficial ballot results released by the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder and Election Administrator Nedra Taylor, the Ravalli County Sheriff's Levy was defeated at the polls on November 8. On the other hand, every cemetery and park district and associated levy on the ballot was approved by the voters living within each district. More...

Christmas Share Tree tradition continues

By Michael Howell

The Stevensville Christmas Share Tree program, traditionally conducted by Pantry Partners, will, starting in the 2005 holiday season, be conducted by Acts of Kindness, a local non-profit organization which provides help for individuals and families in need. The intent of the Christmas Share Tree program is to provide children of families with financial needs with clothing items such as socks and underwear, shirt and pants, or some other special items. More...

Stevi Council shoots down PUD proposal

By Michael Howell

At Monday's Stevensville Town Council meeting, using a transcript from a tape recording of the Council's previous meeting, Councilman Gene Mim Mack amended the minutes to show that the Planned Unit Development proposed by former mayor Pat Groninger was not approved at that meeting. The motion was simply to limit the conditions being considered for approval of the PUD to the nine that had been under discussion, postponing any adoption of conditions until the next council meeting. More...