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 Tea Partiers from around Montana gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday for the first-ever “Cut the Budget Tea Party.” The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., coincided with the Legislative Finance Committee's training day for legislators.
Tea Party speakers will include “Cut the Budget” organizer Tom Burnett of Bozeman, Carl Graham from the Montana Policy Institute, Henry Kriegel, director of the Bozeman Tea Party, and others. Legislators scheduled to address the group during their lunch break are Rep. Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, and Sen. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman.
Tea Party organizers plan to raffle off pork cuts and demonstrate cuts on a log with chainsaws and a crosscut saw. The group says these cuts will show what portion of the budget needs to be cut to return to pre-Schweitzer levels of spending, adding that participants are urged to bring their own cutting implements for show.
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A coalition of Montana consumer groups is backing a voter initiative to cap interest rates for payday and title loans at 36 percent.
Announcing their plans at a press conference Tuesday at the Great Northern Hotel, representatives of senior, low-income, women’s and religious groups said that in these tough economic times, interest rates of 400 percent or more amounted to a “debt trap” for the most vulnerable.
Bob Bartholomew, executive director for AARP Montana in Helena, said that people who borrow $300 from a payday lender can end up paying $800 once fees and time extensions are added on.
“This drives people into bankruptcy,” he said.
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Sled dogs do their thing on Sunday at the start of the 25th annual Race to the Sky near Lincoln. (Photo by Rudy Whitney)
The winner of the 350-mile race was Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, who crossed the finish line near Lincoln at 1:03 p.m. Tuesday with his team of 12 dogs.
Second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers were still uncertain at press time, although Jarle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colo., looked like he might take second with his 10-dog team. Closely following him was Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Wash., and Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee.
The final day of the race progressed slowly Tuesday as temperatures reached 42 degrees near Seeley Lake. Mushers prefer the cooler running temperatures in the evening, which are easier on their dogs.
The awards ceremony is open to the public and will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Lincoln Community Hall in Lincoln. For further details, call (406) 881-DOGS or visit www.racetothesky.org.
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Dan Predmore flies down a hill up Davis Gulch this past Saturday. He was up there taking part in a chili feed and family sledding party while there’s still enough snow on the ground. (Photo by Thomas Champion)
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This mallard was recently caught in action taking off from the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds pond. Since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Tuesday (yet again), we will allegedly have another six weeks of winter. Go figure. (Photo by Wendy Grove)
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Average retail gasoline prices in Montana have risen more than three cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.723 per gallon as of Tuesday. This compares with the national average, which has fallen 2.9 cents per gallon in the past week to $2.714 per gallon, according to the gasoline price Web site at MontanaGasPrices.com.
In Helena, the lowest regular gas price as of Tuesday was $2.64 per gallon at all local retail outlets listed on that site.
Including the rise in gas prices in Montana during the past week, prices are now $1.21 per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and 17.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.4 cents per gallon during the past month and stands at 87.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.
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Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who was appointed to the position by the county commissioners in September 2008 after Cheryl Liedle retired, has announced his candidacy as a Democrat for the position this November.
Dutton and his wife, Luci, and a crowd of supporters appeared at his announcement in the City-County Building on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The crowd included Helena Police Chief Troy McGee, Lewis and Clark County Undersheriff Dave Rau, Cascade County Sheriff David Castle, and Jerry Dullum of East Helena whose son, Darrel, has been the subject of an extensive search since he disappeared after leaving a bar on Dec. 5, 2009.
Dutton emphasized the team of people he’s put together in the sheriff’s office and said that they provide good services to county residents. “These are people of honor who respect each individual regardless of who they are,” he said of his staff.
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Winner of this past weekend’s Flathead Sled Dog Days was Kate St. Onge of Millville, Utah, while second-place finisher was John Barron of Boulder. The 33 mushers competed for a $4,500 purse, and trail conditions were reportedly perfect for the 40-mile race.
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The St. Helena Cathedral was looking pretty wintery Tuesday morning as snow continued to fall around the capital city. More is forecast for the next few days, along with a major mercury plunge on Wednesday before a slow warming trend by the weekend. (Photo by Thom Champion)
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Helena’s recent snowfall has tapered off over the past couple of days, and the temperature has climbed out of Frigidville. The latest forecast is for highs in the low- to mid-30s over the next week or so with occasional snow. (Photo by Cathy Siegner)
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