KXLF

Posted 09/07/2010 4:56 PM by Reporting by Adam Bell

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A helicopter dropped geologists and engineers on top of a cliff near the Madison Dam on Tuesday to inspect the cliff and determine if it is safe for crews repairing the dam.

The handful of engineers and geologists are from NTL in Great Falls. Along with PPL officials, they are inspecting the rocks to determine if they need to be anchored to prevent a boulder from falling on the dam again in the future. While a final decision isn't expected until later today, based on what they have s… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 4:55 PM by Laurel Staples

Senator Max Baucus is reminding folks to register for the Montana Economic Development Summit to ensure a spot.

The summit will be held in Butte on Sept. 13 and 14. So far, more than 1,800 people have registered.

Montana Press Secretary for Senator Max Baucus says they are working together with Montana Tech to accommodate as many folks as possible.

Click here to register.

Tho… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 4:04 PM by Mark Holyoak - KPAX Missoula

OGDEN, UT - The Big Sky Conference announced that Cal Poly and the University of California-Davis accepted invitations to join the league as affiliate members in football.

They will continue to participate as members of the Big West Conference for the majority of other sports. A timeline to officially join the conference is not yet set, but some Big Sky schools do have openings in their 2011 schedules.

"The addition of two great institutions like Cal Poly and UC Davis gives … Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 6:12 PM by Dan Boyce

(This story follows last week's coverage on Montana banks receiving enforcement orders)

Add American Bank to the list of statewide banks under regulatory actions from a federal agency, a list that is likely to grow even larger.

The Montana based institution with six statewide branches is under a 'Written Agreement' with the Federal Reserve. Bank Presiden… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 6:58 PM by KXLF News

A man known as the Mother Lode and Orphan Girl theatres' number one volunteer has died.

LeRoy Cottom passed away over the weekend in Butte. He was 79.

Cottom greeted theater goers always with a warm smile and dressed in a tuxedo and top hat. He was born in Idaho and graduated from Idaho State University in 1954.

In Butte, he worked as an architect and artist for Walter Hinick & Associates for 46 years. He also volunteered his time, energy and talent for the visu… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 3:43 PM by Laurel Staples

A preliminary investigation indicates that a Butte man who authorities believe shot and killed himself during a Monday traffic stop did die of a self inflicted gunshot wound, according to Butte-Silver Bow Police Captain Doug Conway.

The man has not yet been identified, but Coroner Lee LaBreche did describe the man as a 77-year-old man was from Butte.

The shooting took place about one mile south of the Nissler Junction in the northbound lanes on Interstate 15, Conway said. Poli… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 3:30 PM by Laurel Staples

The sentencing date has been rescheduled for a Butte man who pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from a high-speed crash near Anaconda that killed a Missoula prosecutor.

David Bugni, 26, was slated to be sentenced this week on Thursday. But, according to the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Attorney's office, the sentencing will now take place on Friday, Sept. 17. The change was requested by Bugni's attorney.

Bugni has admitted to driving at a high rate of speed on Interstat… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 3:11 PM by Associated Press

CLARK, Wyo. (AP) - Trash, including dead livestock and meat processing waste, has been luring grizzly bears into a small landfill in northwest Wyoming.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has trapped two grizzlies this year at the landfill in Clark, a community near the Montana line.

The bears aren't likely to return. Game and Fish moved the animals far away.

Even so, landfill policies haven't changed. A short wire fence stands between the landfill and any gr… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 2:47 PM by KRTV News (Great Falls)

One person is dead after a Tuesday morning accident at Rainbow Dam, PPL Montana has confirmed.

Initial reports shortly after 8 a.m. indicated that one worker, who has only been identified as a sub-contractor, was trapped underneath a truck.

It is not yet known how the accident occurred. The victim's name has not yet been released.

The dam is in the midst of a renovation project. It is not yet known if the worker was involved in the project.

Rainbow Dam… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 2:39 PM by Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the protection of the Montana arctic grayling is warranted, but it won't be listed as an endangered or threatened species because other species take priority.

In an advance notice of the Federal Register, the agency says the Montana grayling population will be added to the candidate species list for protection.

The decision to review the grayling was part of a U.S. District Court-approved settlement of a lawsui… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 2:33 PM by Associated Press

The woman accused of helping three inmates escape from the state prison in Kingman has pleaded not guilty to drug charges.

Casslyn Welch entered her plea Tuesday in Mohave County Superior Court. She faces six counts of narcotics violations for the drugs she's accused of bringing to the medium-security prison in June. Authorities say a random search of Welch and her vehicle turned up marijuana, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Welch was visiting John McCluskey, her cousin and fia… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 10:32 AM by Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Stillwater Mining Co. is buying Marathon PGM Corp. for $118 million to gain control of the Canadian company's Ontario precious metals reserve and other properties.

Stillwater said Tuesday the acquisition of Marathon would allow it to increase its platinum and palladium production by about 40 percent within three years.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of November pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Columbus-base… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 9:35 AM by KXLF Media Center

The following are the results from Dillon's Jaycee Labor Day Parade:

Best Use of Theme:

1st State Bank

2nd Stockman Bank

3rd Beaverhead County 4-H

Youth Organization Division:

1st Beaverhead 4-H

2nd Shine Studio

3rd Hillary's School of Dance

Comic or Novelty Division

1st Bannack Shrine Klowns

2nd Bagdad Burikka Patrol

Posted 09/07/2010 9:07 AM by Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Big Sky Tea Party Association's board of directors has removed Tim Ravndal as the organization's president for an exchange on his Facebook page that appeared to condone violence against homosexuals.
(Photo from Tea Party rally in Bozeman earlier this year)

Former president and current board member Roger Nummerdor says Ravndal also has been kicked out of the organization.

The board's vote on Sunday came after members learned of … Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 9:04 AM by Associated Press

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Authorities say a University of Wyoming football player is dead and three teammates injured after the pickup they were in drifted off a Colorado highway and crashed.

The Colorado State Patrol says 19-year-old Ruben Narcisse of Miami was killed in the early Monday crash.

Nineteen-year-old Trey Fox of Glenwood Springs, Colo., 18-year-old Christian Morgan of Aurora, Colo., and 19-year-old J.J. Quinlan of Everett, Wash., were injured.

Troopers say Mor… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 9:02 AM by Associated Press

DENVER - Authorities say a wind-driven wildfire in the rugged Colorado foothills has spread across 5 1/2 square miles, destroyed an unknown number of homes and triggered evacuations of 1,000 others.

No injuries have been reported.

Laura McConnell, a spokeswoman for the fire management team, couldn't say how many structures have burned down, but she says at least some of them were houses.

McConnell says the homes of four firefighters were among those destroyed.

… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 8:56 AM by Laurel Staples

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What's known as "Montana's Biggest Weekend" was celebrated in Dillon with a rodeo and fair over Labor Day weekend.

On Monday the community honored Labor Day with a parade. Hundreds of people lined the streets to take in the sights and sounds of the parade organized by the Dillon Jaycees. Forty to 50 entries made up this year's parade, featuring an impressive line-up of fire engines and emergency vehicles including the Beaverhead Search and Rescue Incident Command Center. That line-up … Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 8:57 AM by Laurel Staples

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Parades and picnics were held across southwest Montana in observance of Labor Day, a day that pays tribute to working men and women.

In Butte dozens of people attended the annual Labor Day picnic sponsored by the Southwestern Montana Central Labor Council. Friends, family, community leaders and several local politicians attended the free picnic. Many brought lawn chairs to enjoy the nice weather, good food and conversation.

This year U.S. Senator Jon Tester stopped by the a… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 8:13 AM by Breanna Roy - Montana's News Station

MISSOULA - A man died after losing control of the red Subaru DL that he was driving along Interstate 90 Monday evening.

The driver was headed west on the interstate near mile marker 100 around 5:30 p.m. when witnesses saw him fishtail before losing control, crossing the median and rolling across the eastbound lanes, Montana Highway Patrol trooper Chad Dever said. The Subaru then went airborne over the guardrail and came to a rest against a sign.

No other vehicles were involved… Click to Read More

Posted 09/07/2010 8:09 AM by U.S. Marshals Service

Name: Gary James Lamere

Sex: Male
Race: Native American
Age: 62
Height: 6'03"
Weight: 240
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Other: Missing left finger

Lamere is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service's Montana Violent Offender Task Force based on a felony warrant charging him with Criminal Endangerment.

Lamere of Great Falls has several convictions out of Butte-Silver Bow County, including weapons and theft charges. (Click to Read More