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Having largely recovered
from his burns and three surgeries, Squirt, the
cat previously called Toasty by his rescuers, is
home enjoying one of his favorite toys, a piece
of string. Squirt had to have one leg, a toe and
his tail amputated due to the injuries sustained
from being thrown into a bonfire.
Photo by Steve Allison |
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