News briefs, May 27

Plum Creek to fund teachers' projects

COLUMBIA FALLS - A new program announced by Plum Creek will help educators in western Montana pay for projects, tools or experiences that are not typically included in a school budget, but are projects that, if funded, would make the classroom and the learning experience greater.

A new grants program, the Plum Creek Foundation's "Montana Great Classroom Awards," will help K-12 public classroom teachers expand beyond the core curriculum by providing funding for innovative teaching tools and out-of-classroom experiences.

The company will distribute up to $200,000 each year. Most grant awards will be in the $2,000 to $5,000 range, with a maximum of $10,000.

Classroom teachers from the following western Montana counties are encouraged to apply: Flathead, Granite, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders.

The first cycle of grants will be awarded in September. Applications are due by July 1. Grants will be awarded twice a year. The next deadline for applications this year will be December 1.

A committee of Plum Creek employees and community members will review the applications.

To obtain more information or to apply for a Great Classroom grant, please visit www.plumcreek.com/CommunityInvolvement. Additional questions may be directed to: Louise Cox, 892-6202, louise.cox@plumcreek.com.

-Courtesy of Betsy Weltner

Native American artist symposium accepts applications

The American Indian Artists Symposium, a project fiscally sponsored and hosted by the Montana Artists Refuge in Basin, Montana, was recently awarded a generous $4,000 grant from Humanities Montana.

The Symposium will take place September 11 to 12. Additionally, there will be an optional pre-session workshop focused on grant writing for Native American artists. This pre-session will be provided and sponsored by the Potlatch Foundation.

For more information or to apply for the American Indian Artists Residency Program, visit www.montanaartistsrefuge.org, e-mail Melissa Bangs at melissa@montanaartistsrefuge.org or call 405-225-3500. Artist applications are due no later than June 15.

-Courtesy of Melissa Bangs

FWP requests comments

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is requesting public comment on: proposed 2010 wolf seasons and quota alternatives; a proposed 2010 non game check off work plan; a proposed 2010 HB 454 hunting access agreement and proposed 2010 fall upland game bird limits. The above were tentatively adopted by the FWP Commission at its May 13 meeting in Helena.

The proposed wolf season includes three different quota alternatives. Those quotas would be divided into 14 wolf management units (WMUs) with two sub-quota areas proposed. Also proposed is an archery season for all WMUs beginning September 4 that would run until 20 percent of the WMU quota or sub-quotas are met but ending no later than October 17.

Non game check off efforts proposed for fiscal year 2011 include $20,000 to prioritize habitat for conservation including identifying the most critical habitat needs for non game or endangered species and identifying and monitoring threats to these critical habitats. An additional $20,000 is proposed for inventorying and monitoring species of concern. Species to be monitored will likely be bald eagles, mountain plovers, burrowing owls and common loons.

The proposed 2010 fall upland game bird limits would be similar to 2009 limits. A change of note is a proposal to reduce the fall Region 7 limit from two to one either sex turkey.

To submit comments electronically, individuals may do so online by going to fwp.mt.gov click on For Hunters. Written comments can be sent to: FWP Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59601-0701. The deadline for public comment is 5 p.m., Monday, June 14. Final adoptions are scheduled to take place at the July 8 FWP Commission meeting in Helena.

-Courtesy of Joleen Tadej

Fifth Annual scouting online auction

GREAT FALLS - The Fifth Annual Scouting Legacy Online Auction began May 24, and Montana Scouting units will benefit from the proceeds of the auction.

The proceeds from the auction will have a direct impact on units from the Silver Tip District covering Sanders and Lake County. Currently there are Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Venture Crews in Ronan, St. Ignatius, Polson, Charlo, and Plains.

The auction got underway May 24 and runs through June 6. The auction can be accessed through www.montanabsa.org. Sponsored by WalMart of Montana, the auction has hundreds of items from outdoor gear and Scouting memorabilia to gift certificates and golf outings.

-Courtesy of JP Pendleton

Boys and Girls Club offers lunches

The Polson and Ronan units of the local Boys & Girls Club will be able to take advantage of the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). USDA and the State of Montana, Linderman School, School District # 30 and the Boys & Girls Club will all be participating.

Food sites through SFSP must allow all children 18 years and under can get a free lunch during the program period.

This will be the first time the Polson unit of the Boys & Girls Club will be participating The summer program begins on June 14 and ends August 20. Hours are from noon until 6 p.m.

All Ronan club members will be able to attend the Ronan Middle School program from June 14 through June 30 for free lunch. After that the Boys & Girls Club will become the food site and food will be brought to the club. Any child 18 and under is eligible for the free lunch during that time and from July 1 through Aug 20 at the Ronan club site.

Summer program begins on June 14 in Ronan. Hours will be from noon until 6 p.m. For more information about the club and summer programs please call 676-5437 or e-mail hope@ronan.net or log on to www.bgclynx.org. Programming is still in progress and the website will be updated accordingly.

-Courtesy of John Schnase

Morgan sentenced

POLSON - An Idaho man that led police on a wild, high-speed chase on Jan. 19 was sentenced last Thursday to 30 years in prison.

As part of a plea agreement, Dustin Morgan, 27, of American Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty to criminal possession with intent to distribute, Count II, and tampering with evidence, Count III, both felonies. Under the deal, four other felony charges were dropped: criminal possession of dangerous drugs, accountability (tampering with evidence), criminal endangerment and accountability (criminal endangerment).

"I'd like to say I'm sorry for endangering all those lives in the community," Morgan said before District Court Judge Kim Christopher pronounced his sentence.

On Count II, Morgan was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 10 years suspended. He received 15 years in prison with 10 suspended on his Count III conviction. The two five-year sentences will run concurrent to each other.

The charges stem from a high-speed chase through the southern part of Lake County. Speeds reached more than 120-miles-per-hour as a Cadillac driven by Morgan repeatedly eluded police. The chase ended just south of Charlo when spike strips in the roadway disabled the vehicle. Officers found methamphetamine, 9mm handgun ammunition and plastic baggies in the vehicle after they stopped. Morgan's accomplice, Stephen Leischner, 23, pleaded guilty to the same charges, and received a similar sentence. Both Leischner and Morgan have remained in custody since the incident.

Both men face charges in Idaho as well, and possess extensive criminal records.

-Reporter Sasha Goldstein