Thursday Buffet: Whitefish-County Legal Battle, Rove in Missoula, Rattlesnake Vodka

By Dan Testa, 3-27-08

Good morning and happy Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day.

Our top story this morning reports on the City of Whitefish and Flathead County hunkering down for a prolonged legal battle with each other – and how they're going to pay for it. While plans have been scaled back for the proposed Glacier Performing Arts Center in Kalispell, backers of the project still believe it's going to happen. Whitefish native and standout University of Montana basketball player Johanna Closson's impressive college career draws to a close. And Beacon columnist Wild Bill Schneider weighs in on the debate over gun restrictions in national parks.

In statewide news, Karl Rove spoke to Republicans in Missoula yesterday, but he did not speak to the press. After crashing his plane south of Billings, a flight student spent the night in the wilderness before hiking through waist-deep snow to meet rescuers. Democrats in Missoula are hopeful presidential candidate Barack Obama will make an appearance in early April. And there could be some more bathroom stops available on Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Finally, in Texas, rattlesnake rancher Bayou Bob has been arrested after selling liquor without a license, by sticking a rattler inside a bottle of vodka and calling it an ancient Asian elixir. Have a great day. [End of article]