Monday: Fair Board Shakeup, 9th Circuit Ruling, Horse Racing

By Dan Testa, 2-22-10

Good morning; on the Beacon today, the Flathead County Fair Board chose not to renew veteran Fair Manager Jay Scott’s contract with a 3-1 vote on Feb. 11, a move that prompted one board member to resign over philosophical differences. An appeals court for the third time has upheld a probationary sentence given to a former Eureka man who pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud in 2004, despite arguments from federal prosecutors and a dissenting judge that it wasn't adequate punishment. Take a step back in time while touring the 100th Anniversary Boy Scout Exhibit at The Museum at Central School near downtown Kalispell. The Flathead Economic Summit seeks to spark ideas about how the Flathead’s economy can best benefit from the Glacier National Park centennial. This city is back in the restaurant-liquor business after a recent decision by Polson City commissioners to resume vendor responsibilities at the Polson Golf Course. And Kitchen Guy Jim Gray duplicates Bang Bang Shrimp.

The return of horse racing to Missoula has some enthusiasts cheering the impact it could have on the industry statewide. Officials say there's an 18 month inventory of condos in Missoula rather than a healthy six months' worth. Lee's Jennifer McKee explores whether Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs Bill really was written in secret. A lot of Westerners are watching whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is about to pursue Endangered Species Act protection for the greater sage grouse. Federal wildlife officials say people killed 20 grizzly bears in north-central and western Montana, which is about average. [End of article]