Quiet Watercraft Proposal / Skin Cancer

Missoulian: Hearings set on initiative to limit motorized watercraft use in Montana

Quiet Waters Proposed Rules
“A petition, known as the Quiet Water’s Initiative, was submitted to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission this past spring by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The petition states Montana has experienced advanced motorized technology on its waterways, which has potentially opened up waters previously thought to be unusable by motorized water craft. At its regular May meeting, the Commission initiated rulemaking on the petition, stating, in part, the Commission should consider being proactive instead of reactive to the changes in recreation on Montana’s waterways to avoid conflicts and protect traditional and safe recreational uses. Public hearings will be held to obtain public comment.

•             Jan. 3 at the FWP Region 1 office, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell at 6 p.m.

•             Jan. 4 at the FWP Region 2 office, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula at 6 p.m.

•             Jan. 5 at the FWP Region 3 office, 1400 S. 19th Ave., Bozemen at 6 p.m.

•             Jan. 9 at the FWP Region 5 office, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings at 6 p.m.

•             Jan. 11 at the FWP Region 4 office, 4600 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls at 6 p.m.

•             Jan. 11 at the FWP headquarters office, 1420 E. 6th Ave., Helena at 6 p.m.”

Missoulian: Skin cancer drop in Northeast bucks rising rates elsewhere

“The 2016 Skin Cancer Prevention Progress Report[PDF-3.7MB] summarizes recent prevention efforts and highlights new data, developments, and success stories following the Call to Action. By updating this report annually, we will monitor progress, celebrate and learn from successes, recognize areas that need improvement, and identify opportunities to work with partners in government, health care, education, business, and the community.”

Farm Loans

Missoulian: Congress' budget patch averts national farm loan crisis

USDA Farm Service Agency

“Providing "a financial safety net for America's farmers and ranchers to sustain economically viable agricultural production" is the number goal in FSA's Strategic Plan for 2016-2018 (PDF, 5.08 MB).  And provide a financial safety net the Agency did!  Fiscal Year 2016 was amazing!  The Farm Service Agency made and guaranteed a total of 39,650 loans.”

NORAD Santa Tracker

NORAD Santa Tracker

NORAD's Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport

"This Christmas Eve people all over the world will log on to the official Santa Tracker to follow his progress through U.S. military radar. This all started in 1955, with a misprint in a Colorado Springs newspaper and a call to Col. Harry Shoup's secret hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command, now known as NORAD."

State River Land Swap

Missoulian: State board OKs controversial Jefferson River land exchange

Scoping Notice Land Exchange: SRI River Holdings, LLC
Checklist Environmental Assessment
Regular Meeting of the Board of Land Commissioners

Questionable Montana Laws / Montana v. Wyoming

Missoulian: Questionable Montana laws

1. Simulated animal abuse
Title 45. Chapter 5. Part 6: Ritual Abuse Of Minor
“actually or by simulation tortures, mutilates, or sacrifices an animal or person in the presence of the minor;”

2. It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone.

If this was a law it was repealed.

3. Billings Ordinances Sec. 4-304. - Raising rats.
“It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, harbor, raise or give away rats as pets, toys, premiums, novelties, or for any other purpose except…”

4. Squirrel worrying
Excelsior Springs Ordinances- this law was repealed, and this wasn’t from Montana. Excelsior Springs is in Missouri, not Montana.

5. Kalispell pool tables
Kalispell Municipal Code. 19-30 Screens in Pool Rooms.

“It shall be unlawful for any person or the agent of employee of any person owning or conducting any place of business wherein is kept any pool table, billiard table or bagatelle table to place in front of the room or across the inside of the room, wherein is kept any such pool table, billiard table or bagatelle table for hire or gain, any screen, blind, curtain, shutter, painted, colored or ground glass or any article of furniture or any obstruction that would prohibit the view of such pool table, billiard table or bagatelle table from the street in front of such room or place of business wherein is kept any of the tables above described.”

Missoulian: Ruling backs Montana's right to Wyoming water for reservoir

Montana v. Wyoming Information

Opinion no. 137

American History for Dec. 20th

Not much to connect with in the news today, so here is some history.

Happy Dec. 20^th!

In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase was completed.
Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase
“The Louisiana Purchase is a landmark event in American history, one that had a lasting impact not only on the size of the United States, but also on its economic, cultural, and political makeup. Before President Thomas Jefferson's administration purchased the territory in 1803, parts or all of the territory had been under the control of various Native American nations.  From the 16th century onwards the Spanish and later the French controlled the territory.”

In 1941 The Flying Tigers engaged in their First Battle.

Image of a crew working on Flying Tiger plane from the Library of Congress 

Flying Tigers of WWII
“The Flying Tigers were officially called the American Volunteer Group, and were known for their planes with iconic shark faces on them.  They were equipped and recruited in the spring and summer of 1941, with the express purposed of aiding the Chinese in theater against the Japanese. The group trained at a Royal Air Force airfield in Burma that fall, but it was not until after the Pearl Harbor attack on 07 December 1941 that the group went into combat.  They were led by Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault (September 6, 1893 – July 27, 1958).”

Image of Jimmy Stewart from Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Hollywood CA, from the Library of Congress

In 1946 It’s A Wonderful Life was released in New York. The film was added to the National Film Registry in 1990.

Investment Fraud / Kennewick Man

Missoulian: Feds: Fund execs lied after oil rig blast hurt investments

Platinum Partners’ Founder And Chief Investment Officer Among Five Indicted In A $1 Billion Investment Fraud

“As alleged, Nordlicht and his cohorts engaged in one of the largest and most brazen investment frauds perpetrated on the investing public, earning Platinum more than $100 million in fees during the charged conspiracy.  Platinum Partners purported to be a standard bearer in the hedge fund industry, reporting annual average returns of more than 17 percent since inception in 2003.  In reality, their returns were the result of the overvaluation of their largest assets, which eventually led to Nordlicht and his co-conspirators operating Platinum like a Ponzi scheme, where they used loans and new investor funds to pay off existing investors,” stated United States Attorney Capers. 

Missoulian: Ancient skeleton to return to Native Americans for reburial

Over 9,000 Years Later, Kennewick Man Will Be Given a Native American Burial

Army Core of Engineers: Kennewick Man