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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
New owners of Idaho ski area to hold town hall meeting tonight in Fairfield
The new owners of Soldier Mountain Ski Area will hold a town hall meeting in Fairfield tonight to talk about their plans for Idaho ski area.
Twin Falls Times-News; Oct. 11

Tribes
Navajo farm enterprise considers drone to monitor N.M. crops
The Navajo Agricultural Products Industry plans to buy an unmanned drone to monitor crops on its 72,000 acres of farmland in New Mexico.
Farmington Daily Times; Oct. 11

Environment
Montana makes great strides in cleaning up Soda Butte Creek
Soda Butte Creek was considered the most polluted stream that flowed into Yellowstone National Park, but this year's dry summer in Montana allowed that state's Department of Environmental Quality to make great strides in cleaning up the stream, with the $20-million project now a year ahead of schedule.
Billings Gazette; Oct. 11

Elk hunters in Idaho's Panhandle can hunt only bulls
Idaho's elk and deer hunting season began across most of the state on Wednesday, but in the Panhandle, elk hunters will be limited to hunting only bull elk as the state deals with a sharp decline in cow-calf ratios.
Coeur d'Alene Press; Oct. 11

Wyoming Fish & Game hosts statewide meeting on funding
At a meeting that will be webcast around the state tonight, Wyoming Fish and Game officials will lay out five proposed options to deal with a multimillion-dollar budget gap that could force a 20 percent reduction in programs.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 11

High winds ground air support on Colorado wildfire
The wildfire burning in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado grew on Wednesday, pushed by high winds that kept air tankers on the ground.
Denver Post; Oct. 11

Politics
Colorado congressional candidates trade jabs at debate
At the fourth, and perhaps final, debate between Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton and his Democratic challenger Sal Pace on Wednesday night, the two men argued about negative campaigning and their accomplishments.
Durango Herald; Oct. 11

Thousands line up to hear first lady speak at Colorado college
First lady Michelle Obama is in Colorado, and on Wednesday, an estimated 3,700 people turned out to see her at Fort Lewis College in Durango.
Durango Herald; Oct. 11

Idaho business groups push for nonprofit health insurance exchange
While Idaho struggles with creating its own state-run health insurance exchange or accepting one run by the federal government, a third option has emerged: an exchange run by a nonprofit, and several business owners have indicated their support for that model.
Idaho Statesman; Oct. 11

Sponsor of Idaho school reform ads declines to disclose donors
The deadline by which the sponsor of ads supporting education reform measures on Idaho's ballot to identify itself and its donors was Wednesday, but no information was disclosed.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; Oct. 11

Gubernatorial candidates disagree about Montana's economic health
At Wednesday's debate between Montana gubernatorial candidates Republican Rick Hill and Democrat Steve Bullock, Hill said he'd work to change the state's business tax structure to get the economy out of a rut, while Bullock said Montana's tax structure needs no changes and he'd focus on the positive things already occurring.
Missoulian; Oct. 11

Utah resort owner warns employees of consequences of Obama re-election
David Siegel, who owns resorts in eight states, including the Westgate Park City Resort and Spa in Park City, Utah, sent a letter to his 7,000 employees that said if the current administration wins the election and raises taxes as promised, their jobs are in danger.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 11

Legislature
Utah legislator drafts bill to require notice of pesticide application
After a North Salt Lake family's healthy dog died after being exposed to pesticide applied to a neighbor's lawn, Utah state Rep. Gene Davis said he's working on a bill that would require notification of neighbors about such applications.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 11

Panel drafts education benchmarks for Wyoming legislators
One provision of the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act passed last session required the creation of education benchmarks to be used to rank schools in the Cowboy State, and on Wednesday, the board appointed to develop those benchmarks delivered them to legislators.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 11

Economy
Study: Colorado's microbreweries pump $446M into state's economy
The three-day Great American Beer Festival begins today in Denver, and Colorado is hoisting a mug to the $446 million in annual economic activity craft brewers pour into the state.
Denver Post; Oct. 11

Idaho health, cleaning products company plans expansion
A new patent is propelling Melaleuca, which direct markets health and cleaning products, to expand its operations in southeastern Idaho, where a new facility is planned that will employ hundreds of workers.
Idaho Statesman (Idaho Falls Post-Register); Oct. 11





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"E verybody's gung-ho to go kill a wolf but nobody realizes how hard it's going to be. I'll bet you a steak dinner your quota won't be met."

Bud Martin, a Montana-based hunting guide who shot a wolf two years ago in Idaho, about wolf hunts scheduled to begin in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- Seattle Times (AP)

On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux gives readers a preview of books to be released this fall

6/12/2013

Mountain West Voices
Hear weekly stories from the Rocky Mountain West as gathered by Clay Scott

6/12/2013:  An Afternoon Cigar
5/29/2013:  Like A Small Family
5/22/2013:  This Little Journey
5/15/2013:  A Long Way
5/8/2013:  Making Roots


Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West



at the

The University of Montana