Troy local
appointed to Grizzly Bear
Advisory Council
As of Friday, July 26, Robyn King, Executive Director of the Yaak Valley Forest Council, 32-year resident of the Yaak Valley, a founder of the forest council, as well as a member of the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition, has been named to the Montana Grizzly Bear Advisory Council by Governor Steve Bullock. She is now one of the only 18 Montana Citizens to have been named to the council by Governor Bullock.
The council was originally formed as a way for statewide members to discuss long-term grizzly bear management as well as grizzly bear conservation.
In April, Governor Bullock asked for applications for the position in the council from people with diversity in the mind of views and commitments to working together on the future of grizzlies in Montana.
Before making a final decision on who to choose, with more than 150 applicants, Governor Bullock discussed with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on who would be a prime candidate. Bullock selected the council to reflect the diversity of people who have connections to not only grizzly bears but also those who work, live and recreate in and near bear country.
The council, as a whole, are a representative for areas in which grizzlies reside or may be found to reside.
The council’s main focuses don’t only revolve around grizzlies themselves but also the humans who may encounter the grizzlies. The council’s main focuses are as follows:
Maintaining human safety in and around bear country
Creating a healthy and controllable grizzly population
Improving responses to grizzly related conflicts i.e. effectiveness and timely reaction
Engaging all partners in grizzly-related outreach and conflict prevention; and
Improving intergovernmental, interagency and tribal coordination.
By Dawn Manchester
Libby
Asbestos
Superfund Oversight Committee to hold meetings
The Libby Asbestos Superfund Oversight Committee will hold conference call meetings Friday, Aug. 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 12, 1-2 p.m.
Both meetings will be held in the Ponderosa Room of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Cedar Street building at 1225 Cedar St., in Helena. Attendees also may participate remotely by phone and online.
The Committee will hold its next regular quarterly meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, in Libby, 6-8 p.m., at the Lincoln County Courthouse, 512 California Ave.
The August meetings were scheduled to allow the Committee to expediently address action items identified in its June quarterly meeting, including the drafting of a Committee position letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on how remaining Libby Remedial Action Funds will be used.
The Committee was established by the 2017 Legislature to enhance communication among Libby Asbestos Superfund cleanup stakeholders. In addition, the Committee advises DEQ on administration of the Libby Asbestos Cleanup Trust Fund and operation and maintenance accounts. As cleanup nears its end in many of the Operable Units of the Libby Asbestos Site, Montana DEQ and EPA are working with the Committee and the community to establish institutional controls and define operations and maintenance activities appropriate to protect the cleanup in Libby.
Information about the currently scheduled meetings, team members and past meetings (including agendas, approved minutes and documents) may be found at: deq.mt.gov/DEQAdmin/dir/libby/SATeam
Submitted by Karen Ogden
Follow up on toddler’s body found in West Fisher Creek area
On August 1 The Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office received conformation of the identity of toddler found in West Fisher Creek area.
The toddle has been positively identified as 2-year-old Aiden Salcido. Cause of death has been determined to be from gunshot wound to the head. This continues to be an ongoing investigation.
Faded
hunting and fishing
licenses can be
replaced for free at FWP
offices
Hunters and anglers with licenses that are displaying faded text making them difficult to read can have those licenses replaced at no cost at their regional Fish, Wildlife & Parks office. Another option is to go to fwp.mt.gov, login to MyFWP and request a digital version of your license to print at home or download to a smart phone. Digital licenses are good for everything but a carcass tag.
Replacement at an FWP office for faded licenses do not count against the number of replacements an individual is allowed. Local license providers are unable to offer free replacements; the cost is $5 for each license replaced.