by Beverly Dupree

The Great Burn Study Group's final summer volunteer project will take place at beautiful Heart Lake on August 27-28. We are looking for ten volunteers to help place a pit toilet near the lake, as well as doing some light trail work, such as cleaning water bars.

(Washington, D.C.) Montana's Congressional delegation--Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Representative Denny Rehberg---released statements in response to Judge Donald Molloy’s decision to re-list the gray wolf on the endangered species list. Rehberg challenger Dennis McDonald also expressed disappointment in the decision.

We asked Rehberg to help, and he did nothing

by Jim Brown

As a legal matter, the Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) is not surprised by Judge Donald Molloy decision to reinstate Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection to the Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf population.

by Ron Aasheim

Montana wildlife officials decried today’s federal court decision that placed the recovered Rocky Mountain gray wolf back on to the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

“We believe we made arguments to the judge that he could have relied on to uphold the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to delist the wolf,” said Joe Maurier, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. “We will carefully examine the ruling to determine what options remain open to Montana’s wildlife managers.”

Senator pushes agency to use Montana workers, resources in cleanup of former mining community

by Andrea Helling and Aaron Murphy

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester is pushing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to partner with local Montanans in the agency’s cleanup of Superior.

Superior was declared a federal Superfund site in September after high levels of lead and arsenic were found leftover in the town’s soil from the now-defunct Iron Mountain Mine and Mill. The declaration opened up federal resources for the community’s cleanup.

After learning the EPA is contracting and using resources from outside of Montana, Tester urged the agency to make the local Montana labor force a “true partner” in the cleanup efforts.

STOP AT THE REPUBLICAN TENT DURING THE MINERAL COUNTY FAIR.

MEET YOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2010

by Vivaca Crowser

Free hunter education courses are set to begin in September in Frenchtown and Missoula, and students can register now.

Frenchtown classes begin on Thursday, Sept. 9 with an orientation session from 7-8 p.m. at the Frenchtown Fire Hall, 16873 Marion Street. Classes will be held at the fire hall on Monday, Sept. 27, Friday, Oct. 1 and Monday, Oct. 4 from 6-9 p.m. each evening with a morning field course on Saturday, Oct. 2. Interested students can register online now at fwp.mt.gov.

Classes are free, and a student must be at least 11 years old to receive certification. Any person born after January 1, 1985 must present a Hunter Education Certificate in order to purchase a hunting license in Montana.

by Vivaca Crowser

The Big Sky Upland Bird Association (BSUBA) will host an introduction to upland bird hunting workshop for youth on Saturday, Aug. 21 beginning at 10am at the Missoula Trap and Skeet Club.

by Gayle Shirley

The state Environmental Quality Council is seeking public comment through Aug. 25 on two proposals related to the use of biomass for energy production.

The bipartisan council, made up of legislators and representatives of the Governor's Office and the public, has been studying biomass for more than a year. It was directed to do the study by the 2009 Legislature through the enactment of House Joint Resolution 1.

by Joyce Doyle

The Big Read is coming to Missoula. What's the big deal about the Big Read?

This is a chance for everybody in the area to read the same book at the same time. Big Read programs have been popular all around the country, bringing together residents in a common experience - one that encourages reading, community involvement, and is a lot of fun besides.