http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/ The Flathead Beacon delivers thought-provoking news and commentary to Western Montana's greater Flathead Valley. en webmaster@flatheadbeacon.com Copyright 2008 Fri, 09 May 2008 13:46:00 MDT Fri, 09 May 2008 13:46:00 MDT Katrin Frye http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/strumming_heartstrings_and_tickling_funny_bones/3397/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/strumming_heartstrings_and_tickling_funny_bones/3397/ Front PageFeatureArts & Entertainment Fri, 09 May 2008 13:46:00 MDT A 5-foot-something man with blond hair and a big grin strums his guitar for a cheering crowd. He wears a Rastafarian-style hat fitted with dreadlocks. “I’m too white to sing reggae,” John Dunnigan croons. “I’m too white to sing blues. I’m too white to sing anything but Barry Manilow tunes!” Bob Brown http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/obamas_appeal_to_young_montana_voters/3399/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/obamas_appeal_to_young_montana_voters/3399/ PoliticsCommentary Fri, 09 May 2008 13:45:00 MDT Half the soldiers killed in Vietnam weren’t old enough to vote. The monumental injustice of that triggered the adoption of the 26th amendment in 1971, which lowered the voting age to 18. Montana Sen. Mike Mansfield noted that his leadership role in lowering the voting age was perhaps his proudest achievement in his long life of public service. In guiding the legislation through the U.S. Senate, Mansfield said, “At 18, 19 and 20 young people fight our wars. I think they have earned the right to vote.” Matt Gouras, Associated Press http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/schweitzer_wants_democratic_primary_to_continue/3432/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/schweitzer_wants_democratic_primary_to_continue/3432/ Front PagePolitics Fri, 09 May 2008 11:20:01 MDT HELENA – Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he would like to see the race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama continue to Montana's June 3 primary, the last contest in the nation. Clinton has been under increased pressure in recent days to bow out and hand the Democratic presidential nomination to Obama. Although the race is close, Obama has a clear edge in pledged delegates and appears to hold the momentum among the key superdelegates who can vote for whomever they like at the Democratic national convention in August. Associated Press http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/four_kalispell_men_charged_with_felony_poaching/3431/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/four_kalispell_men_charged_with_felony_poaching/3431/ Front PageSports & OutdoorsKalispell Fri, 09 May 2008 09:07:00 MDT Four Kalispell men face felony poaching charges for allegedly killing six big-game animals, including a bull moose, near Helmville. Benjamin Bolt, 21; his brother, Nicholas Bolt, 20; Benjamin Woodson, 24; and Brandon Mitchell, 22, were charged with possession of unlawfully taken wildlife, tampering with physical evidence and burglary, according to records from Powell County Justice Court. Keriann Lynch http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/weekend_buffet_avalanche_control_wolf_lawsuit_and_blind_bowler/3433/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/weekend_buffet_avalanche_control_wolf_lawsuit_and_blind_bowler/3433/ News Buffet Fri, 09 May 2008 08:58:00 MDT Good morning and happy Lost Sock Memorial Day. A conservation group files a request for documents regarding avalanche control along railroad tracks in Glacier National Park. A former University of Montana football player pleaded guilty Thursday to two charges related to a violent home invasion. A federal judge in Montana has rejected a request by the government to delay a lawsuit seeking to place the gray wolf back on the endangered-species list. In Des Moines, Iowa, a 78-year-old blind man scored a perfect 300 game at the Century Lanes bowling alley. Becky Lomax http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/rocking_the_schoolhouse/3428/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/rocking_the_schoolhouse/3428/ Arts & EntertainmentWhitefish Thu, 08 May 2008 21:02:00 MDT Starting Friday night, kids plan on rocking the schoolhouse when Whitefish Theatre Company presents their annual kids musical. In a take off of the Emmy Award winning 1970s educational cartoon, kids do a hip romp through school subjects, singing about math, grammar, history, and biology. In the last rehearsal before opening night, 31 antsy cast members walk through the finale for School House Rock Live! Junior. They take their places as Director April Dawn Vogel adjusts the look of the scene. Four boys on spotlights practice focusing beams on the cast, and the actors learn to bow before hitting the dressing rooms to put on costumes for the full show—a preview for families. Dan Testa http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/conservation_group_probes_avalanche_prevention_plan/3391/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/conservation_group_probes_avalanche_prevention_plan/3391/ Front PageFeaturePoliticsBusiness Thu, 08 May 2008 16:26:01 MDT A conservation group has filed a request for documents relating to the release of an upcoming decision by Glacier National Park regarding avalanche control on the railroad tracks that skirt the park’s southern border, out of concern that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway executives may have influenced the decision after the public comment period had closed. Christie Burns http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/police_blotter_wal_mart_freakout_and_missing_yellow_hose/3424/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/police_blotter_wal_mart_freakout_and_missing_yellow_hose/3424/ Police Blotter Thu, 08 May 2008 16:20:00 MDT 12:53 p.m. A Kalispell resident called in to talk about his yellow garden hose that he likes to keep behind his shed. The hose, however, has gone missing. He has reason to believe his neighbor has stolen it. His neighbor, reportedly, now has a pretty yellow hose in the back of his truck. 6:34 p.m. A call was made from Wal-Mart about a man who was standing outside his car yelling obscenities because his wife had been in the store shopping for too long. 6:53 p.m. A man drove his car into the lake between Somers and Lakeside. Associated Press http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/missoula_commissioners_press_for_info_related_to_plum_creek_talks/3422/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/missoula_commissioners_press_for_info_related_to_plum_creek_talks/3422/ PoliticsBusiness Thu, 08 May 2008 15:44:00 MDT HELENA – Missoula County commissioners concerned about potential development of private timberlands sent Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey a letter Wednesday, telling him he needs to be forthcoming with information. The commissioners say they want documents related to talks between Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, and Plum Creek Timber Co., which owns vast timberlands in Montana and has been selling some of those holdings for development. Warren Miller http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/warrens_world_crowded_resorts_contribute_to_death_on_the_slopes/3401/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/warrens_world_crowded_resorts_contribute_to_death_on_the_slopes/3401/ CommentarySports & Outdoors Thu, 08 May 2008 13:30:00 MDT There is a major crisis in the ski and snowboard world that very few people are aware of and no one is doing anything about. In Colorado last winter 17 skiers or snowboarders were killed by running into each other or trees. At Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen broke his ribs, wrist and collar bone when he collided with a small boy. That, after skiing for 75 years.