Big Sky Blog

The link for the Montana Sexual and Violent Offender Registry has been updated. The new URL is: http://svor.doj.state.mt.us

Just to let you know.

Here are some helpful hints regarding what not to do when stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. First, and possibly most obviously: do not de-pants yourself and urinate next to your Suburban while the deputy talks to your kids. Second, try not to threaten the deputy with a tennis racket while insisting that his flashing emergency lights be shut off. Third, do not under any circumstances kick the deputy in his genitals. Finally, as tempting as it may be after having put foot to groin, do not kick out the window of the patrol car. Hope this helps.

Cross posted to A Secular Franciscan Life

James Bischoff, accused of deliberate homicide and drug charges was arraigned in District Court on Monday.

Judge Loren Tucker reduced his bail to $150,000, since Bischoff’s seemingly imaginary inheritance didn’t pan out. (Surprise, surprise.)

I found this interesting:

A Kalispell man was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to board a commercial airplane with a meth lab.
Steven K. Konopatzke, 43, reportedly carried the components for making methamphetamine in carry-on luggage. Security workers reportedly also found sulfuric acid in Konopatzke’s checked luggage. A law officer with the Northwest Drug Task Force said Konopatzke denied that the items were his and said he had picked up the bags from a friend he wouldn’t identify. The officer said gray crystals in Konopatzke’s bag are thought to be iodine. Also found was a substance tested as ephedrine (a component used in making methamphetamine), a white powder analyzed as a diet pill and another white crystalline substance. The officer said Konopatzke also carried coffee filters, pieces of hose, clamps and balloons — all are used to make the illegal stimulant.

108-Year-Old Man Starts Smoking Again

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A 108-year-old man has taken up smoking again, encouraged by gifts of cigars from as far away as London.

He had to quit smoking at 99 years old since he couldn’t afford his cigars anymore. Now remember smoking kills, at 108 it don’t much matter anyway.

Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman – or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle. George Burns

Hope none of you mind too much — I just had the urge to tinker with the design. Temporary insanity, perhaps? The previous design was just a bit *too* much beige/tan/brown. Will this design be OK for a little while?

Sarpy Sam, one of our very own Big Sky Bloggers, has a dryly humourous entry containing snippets of “Cowboy Wisdom.” Here’s a few to get you started, but you’ll have to read the whole thing — and then try to figure out which one is your favorite!

September 26, 1963
President John F. Kennedy visits Great Falls on behalf of the Department of the Interior. The president is also beginning to prepare for the 1964 elections. Crowds estimated at one hundred thousand people jam the streets of downtown Great Falls and Memorial Stadium to catch a glimpse of the president.
On the same day, Great Falls police officers respond to a call and attempt to arrest a shoplifter named Smith who escapes to a rooftop in downtown Great Falls. A gunfight ensues, and two officers are wounded before Smith is finally subdued.
Kennedy conspiracy theorists make no mention of this incident curiously happening on the same day and place as the president’s visit.

From Montana Dateline by Ellis Robert Parry

Looking for a good read about Montana? Jim Heckel, Director, Great Falls Public Library, pulled this list together by asking Montana librarians what they thought should be included. There are essentially two lists, the first is a top-ten list of books for newcomers to Montana, the second a longer list of essential reading about the culture of Montana. Neither list is in any particular order, save alphabetical by title.

Some of the lists Jim Heckel has put together are:

• Essential Reading for Newcomers to Montana
• Essential Reading About the Culture of Montana
• Favorite Books By or About Montana Indians

So if you are looking for something to do this winter and you want to know why Montana is the Last Best Place I recommend checking out some of these titles. Enjoy!

This article sure will open your eyes about agricultural subsidies and the economy in general for the state of Montana.

Fifty percent of the net income in 2003 in Montana was from government subsidies

I am not here to argue the merit to government subsidies for farmers. I personally quit wheat farming a number of years ago because even with the subsidies all I was doing was losing money. The books for the ranch are a whole lot prettier now that I don’t farm wheat.

Just think how that money affects the state of Montana though. The article states that “the average job pays $26,900, the worst wages in the country.” A lot of that money for wages comes from farmers. If the article is right and farm subsidies are cut by 20% how is that going to affect the overall Montana economy since agriculture is one of Montana’s top industries? Not very well.