Monday, Feb. 8

Winter weather affects Beef Breeders show
By AMANDA BREITBACH RAGSDALE
The 18th annual Cowtown Beef Breeders Show and Ag Trade Show was a success in spite of winter weather that dumped several inches of snow on the area Thursday night.
“I think (the turnout) is really pretty good,” said producer Bernie Buzanowski of the Snowshoe Cattle Company Friday afternoon.
“We were seriously wondering this morning on the way over here.”
Buzanowski and his wife Stacie brought down pen of registered Herefords from Pompey’s Pillar on Friday morning. Ice on the Interstate made travel difficult from Forsyth to Miles City on Friday, they said, slowing progress to 35-40 miles per hour.
“We were really happy. I think we got the people in front of the people they needed to be in front of, in spite of the weather. All in all, I think it was a real positive day for the people that were here,” said John Laney, director of the Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce. Laney said six breeders were unable to make it through the snow for the show on Friday, but Main Street was still full with 34 pens of livestock from 33 breeders.
“A lot of them worked awful hard getting here,” he added.
For those who made the trip, conditions warmed up and cleared off in Miles City on Friday, making a nice day for those displaying livestock as well as those viewing it.
“The weather was actually perfect Friday. It just wasn’t as nice on Thursday,” Laney joked.
John and Kendra Heiken of JC Heiken Angus in Broadview, north of Billings, made their first trip to the Beef Breeders show this year.
John said his brother has worked the Miles City show the last several years but stayed home this year to take care of calving cows.
“I may have the better end of the deal,” he laughed.
In spite of the weather and bad roads for the last 15 or so miles, Kendra said more people stopped by and signed up to request catalogues this year than had at last year’s show.
Results from the livestock judging held in the Steadman’s Ace Hardware parking lot on Friday included winners in four categories:
Junior 4-H Division
5th place - Ryan Haughian Kinsey 4-H
4th place - Amber Taylor PR Trailblazers
3rd place - Haven Meged Custer County 4-H
2nd place - Meghan Brence Custer County 4-H
1st place - Todd Lackman CB&R 4-H
Junior Team 4-H Division
3rd place - Dawson Daisies & Diggers: Tienna Canen, Alexis Canen, Boe Eaton, Max Eaton
2nd place - Kinsey 4-H: Bailey Naylor, Ryan Haughian, Kyle Haughian, Danielle Willson
1st place - Custer County 4-H #2: Megan Brence, Lindsay Brence, Baily Bice, Haven Meged
Senior 4-H & FFA
5th place - Jon Phares Big Timber Livestock Busters
4th place - David Lackman, Hysham FFA (3rd & 4th tie reasons)
3rd place - Anne Indreland Big Timber Livestock Busters
2nd place - Bailey Engle Big Timber Livestock Busters
1st place - Lane Krutzfeldt Custer County 4-H
Senior 4-H & FFA Team
3rd place - Baker FFA: Kinsey Nielson, Crystal Losing, Kalli Post, Chance Mastel
2nd place - Hysham FFA: Shane Lackman, David Lackman, Jess Cunningham, Elliot Salmond
1st place - Big Timber Livestock Busters: Anne Inderland, Bailey Engle, John Phares, Kayla Sargant
Reasons
Junior division - Todd Lackman
Senior division - Anne Indreland
Adult Division
3rd place - John Olson
2nd place - Lindsey Voigt
1st place - Jay Murnion
Walter Rolf, Eric Petersen and Wales Allen were the winners of $300 in “Bull Bucks” from the Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

Friday, Feb. 5

MCC to host Buckaroo Bash Feb. 13
By AMANDA BREITBACH RAGSDALE

Miles Community College will host the 13th annual High Class Buckaroo Bash on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The fun annual event is the largest fund-raiser for the MCC College Rodeo Team scholarship fund.
"Every dollar that's raised goes toward scholarships," said MCC Pioneer Rodeo Coach Wally Badgett.
Last year's event raised over $37,000.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails at the Miles City Eagles Lodge. Silent auction items will be on view on the lobby floor, with bids opening at 6 p.m. and closing at the end of the live auction. Music will be provided by the Pioneer Pickers, whose members include locals Pat and Ty Linger, Lynn Strobel and Jack Larson.
At 7 p.m., attendees will enjoy a hearty rib steak dinner prepared by the Redneck Grill. Following the meal will be the live auction with auctioneer Zane Kittleman.
The silent auction includes "all kinds of things," said Badgett. "There will be something there for everybody."
The 40-plus pieces in the live auction include several bronzes, original paintings, leather and wood work and jewelry, with a good representation of local artists and pieces from all over the U.S.
The President’s Collection, a new program introduced at last year's event, recognizes the corporate and individual support of the one-of-a-kind collectible artwork offered through the Bash and began a permanent art collection for display at MCC. Contact Badgett at 874-6195 for more information about the President’s Collection.
"Tickets are going fast, so don't linger," Badgett advised.
To purchase tickets for the Buckaroo Bash or to make a donation to the MCC College Rodeo Team, contact Brandi Gray at 874-6288 or grayb@milescc.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 4

Nine step up to fill vacant judge post
By Elaine Forman
Nine people have submitted their names for consideration for the vacant City Judge position.
They are: John Caylor, James Dighans, Al Homme, Chuck Richards, Amy Rolandson, Judith Roos, Rob Shipley, Amber Trenka and David Wheeler.
Mayor Joe Whalen said that from this list, an interview panel consisting of City Council President Mark Ahner and himself will select three nominees to present to the City Council. Then the council will vote at the Feb. 9 council meeting on the person who will be appointed.
The person chosen will fill the position for the next two years and will have to run in the next city election in 2011 if he or she wants to remain in office and serve a four-year term.
The position pays about $15,500 a year.
Ralph Dukart ran unopposed in the November election but declined to start his new term beginning in January.
Dukart had been arrested for driving under the influence and for failing to drive on the right side of the road on Sept. 15. Then he was cited for driving with a suspended license on Nov. 27.
He plead guilty to the DUI and driving with a suspended license and has served the two days in jail ordered by the judge (18 additional days were suspended on the condition of compliance with other terms).
He also was fined $785 plus an $85 surcharge, his driver’s license was suspended for six months, he was ordered to complete the ACT program, and he must abstain from alcohol and other drugs.
In Dukart’s absence, Justice of the Peace Don Neese has stepped in to handle the case load.
Neese offered to consider handling the cases from both the Justice and City courts on a permanent basis.
Last week Whalen said that Neese has been “a godsend” for stepping in, but he felt the caseload from both courts was too large for one person to handle for the long term.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

Flood insurance a priority in wake of letter
By Amanda Breitbach Ragsdale
Last week, the City of Miles City received a Letter of Final Determination from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The letter describes the new Flood Insurance Rate Map that must be adopted by the Miles City Council by July 22 in order to remain in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
Copies of the map are posted at the Miles City Public Library, at City Hall, and in the foyer of the Custer County Courthouse.
The new map was created by FEMA based on the best available data, including site visits, aerial photos, old river patterns and vegetation. Compared to the map adopted in 1983, it significantly increases the amount of property within the floodway and the 1 percent risk flood area (formerly called the 100-year floodplain).
Mayor Joe Whalen has urged local property owners to find out whether their homes and businesses lie within the 1 percent risk area and to contact their insurance agents to learn more about available policy options.
Homeowners with mortgages will need to purchase flood insurance by April, Whalen said, adding, “If they don’t make the decision (to buy flood insurance) for themselves, that decision will be made for them by their commercial lender.”
Property owners who were in a low-risk area on the 1983 map and will be within a higher-risk area on the new map will be able to maintain a flood insurance policy at the lower rate, a practice known as “grandfathering.” New policies must take effect at least 30 days prior to the adoption of the new map.
“People who own their own homes are essentially on their own,” Whalen said, noting that property owners without outstanding loans will not be forced to buy coverage.
Local insurance agent Jeff Boggs, who served on the local Flood Abatement Task Force, said the grandfathering practice is important for homeowners whether or not they have an outstanding mortgage.
Some properties which were considered within the 100-year floodplain on the 1983 map will now be considered in the floodway, a designation with higher risk.
Property owners within the floodway particularly will face problems if they choose not to buy a policy soon, Boggs said, because the structures will no longer be eligible for flood insurance once the new map is adopted.
Even if a home or business owner is unconcerned about flood risk, lack of insurance will be an issue if the time comes to sell the property, he added, because buyers will not be able to access federally backed financing for uninsured structures. Even if the current owner buys the most basic policy now, when the time comes to sell a property, the new owner will be able to increase coverage at the grandfathered rate.
“I’ve sold a number of policies in that area just to cover the resale value,” Boggs added.
Property owners can compare flood insurance costs for their property on the NFIP Web site at www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/.
According to figures on the site, a standard-rated policy for a residential property in a low- to moderate-risk area would cost $912 annually for $130,000 coverage on building and contents, $593 for $100,000 on the building only and $354 for $30,000 coverage of contents only. The standard policy for a residential property in a high-risk area with the same amount of coverage would cost $1,086, $794 or $327, an increase of 20-34 percent for coverage including the structure.
For higher-value homes, premiums increase even more substantially with higher flood risk.
The annual fee for $350,000 coverage on building and contents would be $1,484 in a low- to moderate-risk area and $2,647 in a high-risk area, while $250,000 coverage for the building only would increase from $906 to $1,634, up 78-80 percent from the lower rate.
The city has estimated flood insurance premiums could take from $1.7 to $2 million out of the local economy annually. Grandfathered premiums could save from 33 to 50 percent of that outgoing income.
While some residents have questioned why the city has not begun construction of a new dike or other mitigation measures, Whalen said those types of actions cannot begin until local officials can be certain efforts would achieve the goal of removing properties from the risk areas.
“We estimate that the construction of a new dike is going to cost the city $25 to $30 million,” Whalen said. Before the city invests that kind of money in a project, leaders want to be certain that it will accomplish the desired results.
Representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which inspects and certifies levee structures, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources, whose Water Resources Division handles floodplain management in the state, told Whalen there was “no guarantee” a new dike would solve Miles City’s floodplain problems, he said, adding, “Do you want to take a $30 million leap of faith?”
The Corps of Engineers has recommended looking at mitigation options through a general investigation study, Whalen said. While Congress authorized such a study in 2008, it has not yet been funded. Local officials are in constant contact with Sen. Max Baucus to learn of available funds, he added.
“This whole process frustrates everybody because it’s slow, Whalen said. “But we can’t make money appear. It has to be available at the congressional level.”
“Our focus had to be on flood insurance first, then compliance; then we’ll look at local mitigation projects.”
The next step for the City of Miles City will be looking into ways to lessen the burden of flood insurance premiums, Whalen said.
He expects the Miles City Council to begin discussing adoption of the new map by May, before the 2010-2011 budget takes shape.

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Lebanon has much to celebrate
By Erin Cole
EDITOR’S NOTE: Erin Cole, a former Miles Citian, traveled to Lebanon over winter break. She wrote this piece, which originally appeared in the Montana Kaimin. It is reprinted here with her permission. Erin is the daughter of Barb Cole and Mark Cole.
Upon hearing fireworks explode on New Year’s Eve, I wanted to step onto the balcony for a better view. My boyfriend’s mother, however, warned me to stay inside. I then realized the firework detonation was coupled with enthusiastic machine gun fire.
Some Lebanese habits die hard.
Situated on the eastern end of the Mediterranean, Lebanon could fit into Montana 36 times, yet it contains more than four times as many people. From 1975 to 1990, civil war engulfed the country, with most of the fighting concentrated in Beirut. While pock-marked buildings still bear testament to the war, much of the city has put on a fresh coat of paint.
Once known as “the Paris of the Middle East,” Beirut is eager for a renaissance. From outward appearances, this new age has arrived. When looking at the demeanor and appearance of most of the residents, it is hard to imagine the city in the throes of war. Drivers steer luxury cars through crowded streets lined with expensive shops. Signs everywhere indicate a new residential tower is soon to materialize; the new is swallowing the old. Christians and Muslims worship next door to one another.
Heidi Montag would feel at home in Beirut, where plastic surgery is big business. We saw four women with freshly bandaged noses. Ex-patriates often return for bargains on liposuction and breast augmentation. This focus on perfection does come at a cost — my boyfriend’s slender 18-year-old sister thinks she is fat.
Vestiges of the old souks remain, but they are being replaced with modern malls that look and smell American. Western brands flourish and luxury items are coveted. Much like New York’s Canal Street, some store windows are choked with counterfeit goods. I discovered “Made in India” stickers beneath the price tags of some “Lebanese” souvenirs.
In the middle of a geographical region that frowns upon alcohol, Lebanon boasts an ever-expanding array of bars and clubs. Four drinks can easily set you back $100. One can also visit “super night clubs” which are strip clubs. This combination makes Beirut a Las Vegas of the Middle East. Coupled with its beaches and greenery, Lebanon is a popular tourist destination for the region.
Most Lebanese, however, do not appreciate being lumped in with the Middle East. Rather, they view themselves as Mediterranean. The sparkling sea borders the country, lending it a unique history, cuisine and geography.
Lebanon is home to many culinary delights, among them raw meat. At breakfast one morning, I sampled raw liver, while another night at dinner, raw ground lamb was served. Pizza, meanwhile, is served with ketchup packets.
In a city ruled by the French until 1943, Beirut’s second language has become English.  So while the city is easy to linguistically navigate, some culture shock is unavoidable.
Upon our arrival at the airport, I spotted my first UN vehicle. On our way into the city we passed through a soldier checkpoint. The military is everywhere and active tanks watch over the streets.
To foreign eyes, areas of Beirut resemble a mass of haphazardly stacked Jenga blocks. Cats dart through downtown streets, hoping for scraps from outdoor diners.
Traffic queuing is not a Lebanese strength. Four or five lanes of vehicles routinely navigate roads designed to hold three. On one busy street, I watched a car scrape against a new Jaguar, leaving behind a discernible scratch and an angry driver.
My boyfriend and I took some out-of-the ordinary sightseeing trips. We drove into the mountains to visit Ehden, the town where my boyfriend’s mother and sisters lived during the 2006 war with Israel. Later, we made a house call on my boyfriend’s ultra-conservative uncle. I had been told that I would be introduced as my boyfriend’s fiancée. When the time actually came and we were settled in the drawing room with slices of chocolate cake, I was upgraded and introduced as his new wife.
While we were in Lebanon, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab boarded a plane bound from Amsterdam to Detroit, intending to carry out a terrorist attack. Luckily he failed. We were also Detroit bound on our return trip, and Lebanon was placed on a special list for intensified security checks. At a German airport, we were pulled aside on the jetway before our flight to have our checked and carry-on luggage searched by hand. My boyfriend was quizzed at length about his Arabic books, but we were allowed to board.
Perhaps Beirut is ready to snatch its crown back from Dubai. Unlike the United Arab Emirate city-state, Lebanon didn’t need bailing out last year. In fact, thanks to strict banking regulations, the country has largely escaped the global recession. Recent conflict with Israel has simmered to a battle over who can make the biggest vat of hummus.
Tensions haven’t completely dissipated, though. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian refugees make their homes here. Hezbollah remains active, and the government is still trying to find its balance. Yet, as the fireworks and machine gun fire proved on New Year’s Eve, the country has much to celebrate.
erin.cole@umontana.edu