JSEC ReBoot an event
hosted by Job Service Libby
On Friday, Dec. 17 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. the Libby Job Service will host a JSEC ReBoot event at the Venture Inn’s Fireside Room.
So what is JSEC? The Job Service Employer Committee (JSEC) is comprised of area business leaders and local service providers who offer guidance and direction to our local Job Service. Our goal is to develop and maintain a high-quality workforce system that supports and enhances the economic health of the community. JSEC members serve in an advisory capacity to the Job Service by providing feedback about business and community needs.
The purpose of this “ReBoot” is to welcome new business owners and managers and to re-connect with others. Come share your ideas for more effective use of your tax dollars. Influence how your Job Service works. Tap into high quality educational and training resources. Impact workforce training programs to better match your business needs. Take advantage of this great networking opportunity.
To RSVP please email LibbyJSC@mt.gov. The Libby Job Service is located at 417 Mineral Ave. Suite 4 Libby. You can contact them at (406) 293-6282 or email LibbyJSC@mt.gov.
Courtesy of Job Service, Libby
Montana
environmental regulators sued to
enforce
mining laws
Montana tribes and conservation groups announced a suit against Montana state environmental regulators on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The groups include Earthworks, Montana Environmental Information Center, Rock Creek Alliance, Save Our Cabinets, Clark Fork Coalition, and the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund.
The lawsuit ensued over the State of Montana not upholding the law for the Montanore and Rock Creek mines in the Cabinet Mountains including being delinquent regarding the state Metal Mine Reclamation Act for a lack of enforcing the ‘bad actor’ provisions against Hecla Mining Company’s CEO/Director Phillips S. Baker Jr.
The “bad actor” law mandates any mining company or company leader who failed to follow through with proper cleanup responsibilities previously will be barred from receiving any permits to mine in Montana.
According to the National Mining Association Phillips S. Baker, Jr. was appointed President of Hecla Mining Company in Nov. 2001 and CEO in May 2003. He previously served at Hecla in positions including director, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and vice president. Prior to joining Hecla, Baker served as vice president and chief financial officer of Battle Mountain Gold Company; director of Questar Corporation, a U.S. natural gas-focused exploration and production, interstate pipeline and local distribution company; and director for QEP Resources, Inc., a leading independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company.
Baker was also a chief officer of Pegasus Gold Incorporated from 1994 to 1998. Pegasus Gold operated three mines throughout Montana including the Zortman Landusky Mine near the Fort Belknap Reservation, the Basin Creek Mine near Helena, and the Beal Mountain Mine near Butte. The Pegasus Gold corporation declared bankruptcy in 1998 and did not leave ample monies behind for the proper clean-up of mines resulting in more than $50 million in cleanup costs and decades of pollution.
By McKenzie Williams, The Montanian.
Montana Fish and Wildlife
Commission seeks public
comment on
grizzly bear
relocation
Senate Bill 337, which was passed by the 2021 legislature, requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission to approve all sites where grizzly bears will be relocated by FWP. FWP staff, working with other land management agencies, has assembled a list of potential release sites in each of the Cabinet-Yaak, Northern Continental Divide, and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems. All proposed relocation sites are located within current grizzly bear distribution and occupied habitat and are located both inside and outside of the designated recovery zones.
According to SB337, FWP will not relocate a grizzly bear that is in conflict and captured outside of a designated recovery zone, although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or their agents may. The new statute doesn’t preclude the Fish and Wildlife Service from relocating a bear to any suitable release site. The list proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission is only for FWP grizzly bear relocation efforts.
Grizzly bears may be relocated for a variety of reasons, including to avoid conflict, population augmentation, such as in the Cabinet-Yaak Recovery Zone, or for the purpose of genetic exchange. Many more sites are proposed than will be used. However, it is important to have many alternatives as specific sites may not be available at the time a bear needs to be relocated.
The list of potential sites includes a mix of sites that have been used historically as well as new sites.
For more information, including maps of the proposed sites, and to comment, please visit https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities. Comments can also be submitted in writing to FWP Wildlife Comments, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 and by email to fwpwld@mt.gov.
Comments will be accepted until Monday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. with final adoption at the Dec. 2021 commission meeting.
Courtesy of Montana Fish and Wildlife
City of Troy’s
Annual
Christmas Tree Lighting
Troy’s annual Christmas tree Lighting will be held on Saturday, Nov. 27. This year you can expect bountiful amounts of fun. Enjoy special performance from Morrison Elementary students, cocoa, coffee, and cookies.
- Children’s games will begin at 5 p.m.
- Santa comes to town at 5:55 p.m.
- The tree will be lit at 6 p.m.
- A theatre Christmas service will be held at 7 p.m.
- The Christmas parade will be at 8 p.m.
City of Libby’s Annual
Christmas Tree Lighting
On Saturday, Dec. 4 Libby’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Keep a watchful eye out for Santa and friends as they travel through town making their way to the tree at the end of Mineral Ave.
- Cookies and cocoa will be served
- There will be gift giveaway for children
- Awards will be presented by Libby Area Business Association for decorations
Come on out and enjoy the fun!