News Briefs
July 16
Volunteer fire chief arrested for DUI, pot
FINLEY POINT — The chief of the Finley Point-Yellow Bay Volunteer Fire Department is facing charges of driving under the influence, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia after he was arrested following a motorcycle accident on July 4.
Chris Ricciardi, 52, was returning from the Highway to Hell AC/DC tribute concert in Ronan in the early morning hours of July 4 when he reportedly took a wide turn on his Harley at Fulkerson’s Corner, south of Finley Point on Montana Hwy 35, catching on some gravel and going into a slide off the highway. Ricciardi reportedly sustained no serious injuries in the accident.
According to court documents, the fire chief was cited for the three misdemeanor offenses at 1:30 a.m. on July 4. A justice court hearing has not yet been set in this case.
- Reporter Ty Hampton
Cornerstone hearing on Tuesday
POLSON — The first hearing to begin sorting through one aspect of two Polson men’s involvement in a securities scheme will take place in Helena on Tuesday.
Keith Kovick and Robert Congdon, partner/owners of Cornerstone Financial Corporation, which operated out of Polson beginning in 2000, have been named in state legal action for their alleged involvement in committing a securities fraud in the form of a Ponzi scheme that included at least 100 investors with investments totaling more than $14.4 million in 181 unregistered securities.
The original hearing was set for June 9, but was postponed by a judge’s order days before it took place.
This hearing will focus on Cornerstone’s involvement in a $3 million deal with D and D Property Management out of Belgrade.
Montana State Auditor office’s released information of the investigation into these dealings in early March, when the pair was handed a temporary restraining order by a District Court judge out of Helena for their involvement in the deal now in default.
The order alleges Cornerstone put up the money as collateral on four 160-acre tracts of land in Gallatin County, and that the promissory notes were securitized by misrepresented features of the land and inflated land values. Investors say none of the promised upgrades have been made to the land.
The original restraining order, which prevents the defendants from selling assets and property, includes D and D owners Dan Klemann and Dan Wolsky.
The proceedings next week will look to progress the temporary restraining order to an injunction.
-Reporter Jenna Cederberg
Polson BOE meets briefly
POLSON — With a skeleton board, the Polson School District trustees suspended business pertaining to the high school and moved quickly through a short agenda on Monday for it’s monthly meeting.
Superintendent David Whitesell spoke about several goals he had outlined in his time with the district. He said he believed setting goals like reviewing policy and setting distinct communication guidelines will help direct the school year and provide a way for assessment. Among his suggested goals were gaining an authentic assessment of all staff and surveying all staff with for perceptions of district strengths, limitations and challenges.
He also said the district should continue to look to discover alternative sources of funding and keep on top of ways to best take advantage of and use the stimulus money.
In his facilities update, Whitesell said that as he’s toured the schools he’s noticed “issues the district is going to have to address,” such as the roofing. Whitesell reiterated he brought up issue like to maintain open lines of communication with the board.
Summer projects are also fully in swing. Whitesell highlighted several at each school, including a redone parking lot at Cherry Valley and a new gym floor at Linderman Elementary. He said the installations of restrooms at the soccer fields is set to begin this week with money from the amended budget.
Also included in the amended budget purchases was instructional materials for the 2009/10 school year.
Two new vans, a mule and portable bleachers were other items purchased with excess funds and included in the amended budget.
Representatives from McKinstry, a building energy consulting firm, are close to completing sub-contractor selections. Work to upgrade the schools’ lighting to include more energy efficient systems will begin soon.
School district No. 23 received the largest chunk of the more than $3.4 million from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Quick Start program. Sixteen other Montana schools received portions of the money.
The $480,000 project is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 30.
- Reporter Jenna Cederberg