By TOM DIDDEL
Wildlife officials look for cause of the death of 100 deer
The death of 100 dear in such a small area, just west of Missoula around the Clark Fork River, has led Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials to speculate that the cause was a disease that has yet to be seen on the western side of the Continental Divide. While FWP officials are still waiting on lab results, they believe the deer perished from Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. The disease is transmitted by a biting midge and usually occurs during warm weather typically present in late summer and fall. (read more) other links: Rueters
Firefighters thanked for tremendous effort by Lolo community
With last month’s fire just north of the Lolo up highway 12, and this week’s lightening caused fire on the other side of the Bitterroot River, the small town has seen enough of 2014’s forest fire season. However, the community knows things could have been a lot worse if not for the efforts of wildland firefighters, rural fire departments, local law enforcement, and other organizations that battled the blazes and kept the flames from reaching even more homes than they did. So, Tuesday evening the Lolo Community Council put on an event at Lolo School in order to give the community a chance to thank everyone who worked on the fires. (read more) other links: Show of thanks
Butte copper king heiress trial over will begins jury selection
The trial over the will left by the heiress to a Butte Copper King, Huguette Clark Gower, began Thursday in a New York courtroom. Clark, the heiress to a 300 million dollar estate left to her by her late father, wrote two wills in 2005. The first will left the majority of the vast estate to distant relatives of the 104 year old childless millionaire. The second will, signed within six months of the first, split the inheritance between arts charities, a hospital, a nurse, and a granddaughter, cutting most of the distant family named in the first document out of the inheritance. Huguette Clark Gower’s father, U.S. Senator William A. Clark was one of the richest men in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Senator Clark made his fortune in the Butte copper mines and later established a Nevada town named Las Vegas. (read more) other links: Jury
Montana judge faces more pressure as groups petition for his termination
Judge Todd Baugh made national news as outcry over his handling of a rapist’s sentencing and controversial comments regarding the victim became known. UltraViolet, a group advocating against sexism and women’s rights, has stated that, “Judge Baugh has shown that he doesn’t understand the meaning of rape or Montana law.” The group is asking the Montana Judicial Standards Commission to remove the Montana judge from the bench. The complaint stems from the sentence handed down by Baugh to a Billings teacher convicted of raping a 14-year old former student of his after he violated his parole. The Teacher, Stacy Rambold, was given a 30 day jail sentence for his parole violation, while the victim committed suicide. (read more)
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Tom Diddel has lived in Missoula on and off for nearly thirty-eight years. He enjoys skiing, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Montana and is currently working as a Freelance Writer and a Para-Educator.
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