Volume XX, Number 23

Wednesday, January 5, 2005

It was not in time for Christmas, but the snow finally came to the Bitterroot Valley floor just in time to usher in the new year. Along with the snow some very chilly temperatures have settled in over the valley. Nightime lows have descended to the single digits and dipped on a few recent nights to below zero. The forecast is for much of the same over the next four days with lows ranging from 6 to 1 degree. The daily highs are forecast to range from 18 on Wednesday to 22 on Thursday, 13 on Friday and only a 9 degree high on Saturday. 2004 saw an above average amount of precipitation in the valley with a total of 15.17 inches measured for the year. The average yearly precipitation is estimated to be 13.8 inches. So far this winter we have received a total of 10.3 inches of snow with the current snow level at about 4 inches. Michael Howell photo.

A Review of Ravalli County Subdivision Reviews

By Michael Howell

Of all the administrative acts conducted by the Ravalli County Commissioners, the Subdivision Review Process is probably the most controversial. While we are all very much aware that Ravalli County is growing at a rapid rate, the fastest population growth in the state in fact, it is worth reviewing some actual statistics if we want to get an accurate appraisal of the impact this growth is having on our county administrators. More...

City of Hamilton receives award

By Michael Howell

The City of Hamilton has received an award of Special Recognition in Water Quality from the Montana Contractor's Association. The first place award is being given for the one million gallon Hamilton Reservoir Project. More...

FWP responds to concerns about malformations in deer

By Michael Howell

In response to concerns raised over several years by local wildlife rehabilitator Judy Hoy suggesting that pesticide use may be causing deformities in male deer genitalia in the Bitterroot Valley, Neil Anderson, a Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist at the Department's Wildlife Research Laboratory in Bozeman, published a paper in November recommending against an agency sponsored study of the problem in the Bitterroot. More...

Bitterroot Producers Co-op meeting planned

Sustainable Living Systems (SLS), a local non-profit whose mission in part is to connect local producers and consumers, is spearheading an effort to start the Bitterroot Producers Co-op. SLS has enlisted Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC) to provide technical assistance for the proposed cooperative. More...

Daly Hospital welcomes first baby of 2005

She arrived a little later than expected, but welcomed she was. And slept quietly in her bassinet at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, relatively unimpressed on Monday afternoon that she was the first baby born in Ravalli County in 2005 until awakened for her debut photo session. Madeline Nadine arrived at 1:37 a.m. on January 3, 2005. She joins her parents, Jessica and Luke Rowland, also recent arrivals in the Bitterroot Valley. Madeline weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 inches long. More...