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News:
Flag Desecration (posted 8/31/10)
Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
Between 3:30 Sunday afternoon and 10am Monday, August 30th, someone placed pieces of an American Flag in the gas filler tubes of at least two vehicles and lit them on fire. The incident took place at the former red auction barn next to the Antlers Restaurant on Highway Two. If you are missing an American flag from your home or business, or if you have any information that may assist the investigation, contact the Libby Police or Libby Fire Department, 406-293-3343.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
Fire claims two victims in Libby (posted 8/31/10)
Ted and Swanie Hardgrove found in suspicious fire
A Saturday morning fire leveled the home of Ted and Swanie Hardgrove. The fire, at about 11am Saturday morning, was reported by neighbors in the Bobtail area of Libby. Two bodies were found in the fire. They were sent to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for identification.
The Sheriff's office confirmed the two bodies found in the fire to be those of Ted and Swanie Hardgrove, both 81, of Libby.
The fire is being investigated as suspicious circumstances.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
View from Carney Pass. Photo by Bob Hosea.
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Geiger lakes, Carney Peak and Lost Buck Pass hike (posted 8/23/10)
Bob Hosea
Bob Hosea took another trip to Geiger Lakes in the Cabinet Mountains recently. Even though he did this hike earlier in the year, he wanted to go back up to redo the photos from Lost Buck Pass. "Last September when I was at Lost Buck Pass there was a lot of smoke in the area from fires and the pictures were very hazy. " He also wanted to climb up on Carney Peak so he could get pictures of the lake from a different angle.
Bob usually takes his video camera along and posts a video of each hike on YouTube. His camera decided to take a swim in Fish Lakes on one of his earlier hikes, so he has been trying to get that working again. He took a video of this hike anyway, apologizing for some spots that appear under certain lighting conditions, and it is posted at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcVV0M2MQbs
Bob welcomes comments and questions from people about area hikes. He can be reached by e-mail at: hiking@thebobfactor.com
Here is Bob’s August Geiger Lake hike trail report:
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To get to the trailhead for Geiger lakes #656, turn onto the West Fisher Creek road #231 from Highway #2, which is about 26 miles east of Libby. Drive about 6 miles and then turn left onto the Lake Creek campground road, and then go about 1/2 mile and turn left onto the Geiger Lakes trail road.
The trail is in great shape from start to finish. There are many people using this trail and I saw a total of 8 people during my hike. There were a lot of bugs out, but I didn't have any problems with biting flies or mosquitoes.
Near the lakes there were still many huckleberries and I did see one adult bear near the upper lake that was feeding on the berries. The bear was two-toned brown in color. I also saw many Spruce grouse going in and coming out. I can see why the Spruce grouse has the nickname "fool hen"; because you almost end up stepping on them trying to get past them. They don't have any fear of humans.
I saw many wildflowers along the trail which included Indian Paintbrushes, Pearly Everlasting, Alpine Harebell, Purple Aster, Bird's Foot Trefoils, Cow-Parsnip, Dogbane, St. John's-wort and pink Spirea.
Seeing Geiger lakes is well worth the trip all by itself. The upper lake is just a little over 3 miles, in trail distance, with a 1700 foot elevation gain. From the upper lake you have a great view of Carney Peak and Lost Buck Pass. And, if you go the extra mile to Lost Buck Pass, you will be given the awesome view of Swamp Creek drainage, Buck lake, Wanless lake and Engle Peak. Something that's well worth the extra mile.
Related Links:
Hike to Northwest Peak Lookout – July 28, 2010 (36 photos)
Little Spar Lake hike - July 16, 2010 (30 photos)
Granite Lake hike - June 27, 2010 (37 photos)
Bramlet Lake hike - June 16, 2010 (22 photos)
Cedar Lakes hike - June 9, 2010 (25 photos)
Rock Lake hike - May 17, 2010 (18 pictures)
Lower Geiger Lake hike - May 9, 2010 (14 pictures)
Leigh Lake hike - April 28, 2010 (7 photos)
Rock and Leigh Lake Trek - August 31, 2009 (11 pictures)
The Bob Factor- Bob's website
For the 2nd year in a row, Team North West Community Health Center took the coveted best-decorated cart award for their construction cart topped with a giant hard hat.
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‘Playing for Fundsies’ Golf Tournament raises funds for new Libby hospital (posted 8/23/10)
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital
LIBBY - Even with the eminent rain and a wet playing field, golfers showed up in full force for the 18th Annual St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation’s Playing For Fundsies Golf Tournament held at Cabinet View Country Club on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Once again, the tournament raised nearly $26,000 for the New Hospital Building Project.
"Since the country club was under construction this year, we held a 9-hole tournament. The foundation board decided to play off of the on-going construction, so this years’ theme was Fundsies "under construction," commented KC Hoyer, Executive Director of the SJLH Foundation. "It was a great theme, and we had a several players show up in their construction garb with hard hats and tool belts to boot."
One hundred and four golfers spent most of the day enjoying a variety of fun activities on and off the course. After the tournament, golfers enjoyed an awards luncheon and ceremony at the Libby Elks Club.
The 2010 tournament winners were Team First Montana Bank—Jackson Garrison, Wayne Haines, Deb Bertelson, and Keven Bertelson. Taking second was Team Tungsten Holdings—Jay Dinning, Rick Dinning, Stan Pruitt, and Dillon Hill. Third place went to Team Johnson Control/Lincoln County Radiology—John Miller, Jim Germany, Dr. Steve Becker, and Keith Howard.
Other winners at the event where Dr. William Highfill, men’s long drive; Ruth Fenn, women’s long drive; Steve McNally, men’s long putt; and Faye Schocknecht, women’s long putt. Dan Dedman and Faye Schoknecht took home men’s and women’s closest to the pin awards.
For the 2nd year in a row, Team North West Community Health Center took the coveted best-decorated cart award for their construction cart topped with a giant hard hat. And the always exciting best dressed awards went to Leo Beck and Darby Whitmarsh. Taking home a new award this year for the Best St. John’s Spirit was Dean and Lyn Thompson and Tony and Amy Fantozzi for their original Bob the Builder SJLH New Hospital T-Shirts.
"The enthusiasm and creativity of the players at Fundsies never ceases to amaze me," added Hoyer. "These folks aren’t in this tournament to win big prizes. They are here to support their community hospital, and have some fun doing it. Every year they show their appreciation for local quality healthcare by supporting this event, and every year they continue to raise the bar. We’re looking forward to entertaining them again in 2011 when we return to an 18-hole tournament."
Related Links:
www.sjlh.org St. John’s Lutheran Hospital
Vote to support Libby tennis court project (posted 8/23/10)
U Serve Libby
Voting for the $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant for the Libby Community Tennis Courts is heading into its final week. The ranking has consistently moved in the right direction through the first three weeks and now all eyes will be on the numbers as the final votes are tallied. If you haven’t yet voted for this project, it’s not too late to start. Your votes are needed to get Libby into the top ten. You can vote online by going to www.refresheverything.com/libbytenniscourts where you’ll sign in and click on VOTE FOR THIS IDEA. You can also vote by texting 101307 to Pepsi (73774). You can text one vote and vote online once a day. You’ll see the project’s current ranking on the website when you vote.
Voting daily through the end of the month and spreading the word to friends and family outside the Libby area is important to the success of this effort. Any U.S. resident at least 13 years old can vote.
Facebook, My Space and Twitter are all useful networking tools. U Serve Libby, Inc. has a Facebook page and anyone on Facebook can become a fan. Updates and announcements will be posted there.
If the grant is awarded, it will be used for the surfacing of the remaining three tennis courts, paving blocks in the central viewing area, court benches and an information kiosk, all at the Libby Community Tennis Courts on East Spruce Street. Call Laurie Mari at 406-293-8260 if you have any questions or are having difficulty voting.
Related Links
U Serve Libby, Inc.
Fishing Regulations changes proposed for Northwest Montana (posted 8/23/10)
30 days public comment period through September 6th
Fishing regulations are set every 4 years; the next major overhaul will be in 2012. However, regulations can be changed in interim years for clarification or conservation purposes. The following regulations were tentatively adopted by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission for northwest Montana and are out for 30 days public comment through September 6.
Flathead Lake - increase the lake trout daily limit from 50 fish to 100 fish under 30", leave the 30"-36" slot limit in place. This change follows the Flathead Co-Management Fisheries Plan to reduce small lake trout to help native fish. During the 2010 Spring Mack Days 118 anglers met the 50 fish limit.
North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River - remove the 1 over 14" size restriction for rainbow trout under the Combined Trout Limit. This brings the North Fork and non-wilderness portion of the Middle Fork into compliance with rainbow trout regulations for the main Flathead River and Glacier National Park. Harvest of rainbow trout reduces hybridization and competition with native cutthroat trout.
Rogers Lake– remove the one grayling only restriction from the Combined Trout Limit. Rogers Lake grayling were being managed for a genetic reserve. The genetics of the population are no longer suitable for that purpose.
Lake Koocanusa– reduce the bull trout limit from 2 fish to 1 fish annually. Restrict anglers to one line only. Lake Koocanusa is one of two waters in Montana with an experimental bull trout fishery. Bull trout are listed as threatened under ESA. The Lake Koocanusa bull trout have declined and managers are trying to stabilize the population. Harvest is already fairly conservative. The 1 line restriction is designed to reduce catch and release mortality.
Anglers can comment through September 6 by calling Don Skaar, Fisheries Management Section Chief at 406-444-7409 or by emailing fwpfishing@mt.gov. Contact: Jim Vashro, 406-751-4550.
Two transplanted griz decide to go back home! (posted 8/20/10)
Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
LIBBY - Remember the song, "I Wanta' go Home"? That is exactly what two, not one, but two grizzlies transplanted to the Cabinets have done, singing that song all the way.
The four-year-old female released on July 25, 2010 in Silver Butte Creek was more interested in returning home than staying in the Cabinet Mountains. On August 5, 2010 she was located back in the Whitefish Range very near her original capture location.
While locating that bear, the signal from the 2009 augmentation bear was located about five miles northeast of Big Mountain ski area in Whitefish, the same area where she was captured in 2009, before being transplanted to the Cabinet Mountains on September 18. She denned in the West Cabinet Mountains during the winter of 2009-2010 and emerged in late April. US Fish and Wildlife lost her radio signal in early May of 2010 and had not found her until now, back home!
The tracking collar data shows the locations and approximate route of both bears moving across Highway 2 south of Libby and then later crossing Highway 93 north of Whitefish before entering the Whitefish Range.
One crossed Highway 2 on May 10 and crossed Highway 93 on May 17. The other crossed Highway 2 on July 28, 2010 and crossed Highway 93 on August 3. Locations are generally about five hours apart. Both bears appeared to take relatively direct routes in their return to the Whitefish Range covering the 73 miles between the highways in 7 days and the 60 miles in six days respectively.
Can you just hear these grizzlies saying to themselves: "The Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, nice place to visit, but I don't want to live there."
Certainly these movements out of the Cabinet Mountains were not the intent of the augmentation program, but does provide some interesting insights into the ability of bears to return to their capture location in a surprisingly direct manner.
US Fish and Wildlife does not plan to try to recapture either one of these grizzlies for the purpose of moving them back to the Cabinet Mountains.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net
Hunter Education classes scheduled for Trego and Eureka (posted 8/20/10)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
EUREKA - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be offering Hunter Education classes in Trego and Eureka during September. In order to take Hunter Education, students should be 12 years old or older. Children 11 years old may take the class if they turn 12 during the upcoming hunting season. All classes run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Trego: Hunter Education Classes will begin on Monday, September 13, at 7:00 PM at Trego School. The first night will be registration and class; a parent or guardian is asked to accompany each child for registration. All classes, including registration, are from 7-9 PM each evening. Students are asked to bring a pen or pencil. All other materials will be provided. Parents are also encouraged to take this class as well, if they haven’t already.
In order to take Hunter Education, students should be 12 years old or older. Children 11 years old may take the class if they turn 12 during the upcoming hunting season.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday, Sept. 13, 7 – 9 PM, Registration/Class
Monday, Sept. 20, 7 – 9 PM, Class
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 7 – 9 PM, Class
Thursday, Sept. 23, 7 – 9 PM, Class
Saturday, Sept. 25, Morning, Field Course (Time to be determined)
Monday, Sept. 27, 7 – 9 PM, Class
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7 – 9 PM, Class
Thursday, Sept. 30, 7 – 9 PM, Class and Test
For further information, please call Tim Thier at 406-882-4697.
Eureka: Eureka's Hunter Education class will start on Tuesday September 7th at the Eureka Middle School Library. Registration will take place on the first night of class. Remaining classes will take place on September 13, 14, 16, 20, 21 and 23. All classes run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Our field day will be on Saturday September 18.
Call Ron Hvizdak for more information, 406-889-3791.
Libby
lies in the northwest corner of Montana and is nestled in a valley carved by the
Kootenai River on the flank of the majestic Cabinet Mountain Range and Wilderness
Area. Today
about 2,800 people live within Libby proper. The main industries are lumber and
wood products, mining, tourism and recreation. The movies "The River Wild" and
"Always" were filmed here. Contact the Libby
Chamber of Commerce for brochures, info on lodging and events, general area
information, and contact information for local businesses and services.
SUMMER
When the weather warms and the mountain
snows melt away, the Kootenai National Forest comes alive with over 2.2
million acres of public land as a playground. Mountain trails and lakes
open up, beautiful wildflowers come in bloom, and wildlife have their young.
Libby is the basecamp for the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area, 90-mile
long Lake Koocanusa, the Northwest Peaks Scenic Area, and the Ten Lakes
Scenic Area. There is good access to most of the Forest and plenty of room
to get away from it all!
WINTER
Winter in Montana means snow, and lots
of it! For those who love to play in the deep powder, the Libby area offers tremendous
winter fun. Turner Mountain Ski Area, located
just 22 miles from Libby, offers challenging downhill skiing with a beautiful
view. Their slogan is "steep, deep and cheap", and Turner definitely
lives up to that. It's still fairly undiscovered, so you can escape the crowds
and get the cheapest lift tickets around. For those who love snowmobiling,
there are hundreds of miles of backcountry roads to sled on in the Kootenai National
Forest. Cross-country skiers and ice fishermen also can find solitude on a lake
and miles of quiet forest trails to enjoy the outdoors. Those who are a bit on
the wild and crazy side will love the antics of the Libby Polar Bear Club.
Members take winter-time "swims" in frigid Libby Creek every Sunday
from October to April. Plungers have ranged in age from 3 to 61. As long as the
ice can be broken on the creek, if it has formed, the group will take their plunge,
no matter the temperature.
These people must be
craaaazzzzzy!
Libby
Polar Bear Club
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