VOLUME 99
ISSUE 8
TIMES
FALLON County
BAKER, MONTANA 59313
fctimes@midrivers.com 406-778-3344 $1.00
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
County Dispatch Center gets much needed upgrade
The handicap accessible fishing pier at South Sandstone Reservoir. The pier is in a great location for anglers. Photos by Lori Kesinger
South Sandstone Reservoir restoration underway By Lori Kesinger was designed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities In a new era with new understanding, problems at South Sandstone Act (ADA) so individuals with disabilities could have the same accessiReservoir, located nine miles southwest of Baker, are being addressed with bility as anyone else. an ambitious restoration project. The restoration is a collaborative effort Pylons on the west shore will also be moved to allow more parking space between Fallon County and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MT FWP). for larger RVs. Cordell Perkins, Region 7 Fishing Access Site Program Manager, presented the restoration concept to Fallon County last summer. “A really big part of all this has been recognizing Sandstone is a destination location for a lot of people across this region and even extending to other states,” Perkins said. “We want to make sure it is here for everybody to enjoy for generations to come.” Vertical shorelines were created by erosion caused by wind and waves. Tons of sediment had been carried out into the reservoir. Collapsing banks also created a danger to anglers wanting to fish from shore. Crews have been hard at work on the project. Part of the restoration has been to recreate the shoreline by pulling sediment out of the reservoir. Riprap, a sustaining wall of stones, will be used to armor the shorelines to guard against future erosion. Shore restoration is visible on east side of South Sandstone Reservoir. Natural rock will Boaters will have more room to park their be used to armor the shoreline to prevent erosion. trailers on the east side. The dilapidated boat ramp has been replaced with a ramp extending further into the water to “FWP wants to continue to build relationships with other entities around prevent damage to boats being launched. More boats will also be able to the state. A good way to do that is to combine efforts to do these types of dock at the access site. projects,” Perkins said. On the west side, a fishing pier has been set over prime fishing water. A Post construction, the goal is to maintain the integrity of the reservoir handicap accessible ramp leads visitors to the pier from the parking area. and to also improve it. The restoration project is expected to be completed The dock will include fishing pole holders and ample room for anglers. It by spring
By Lori Kesinger For years the Fallon County dispatch center was small. The technology was extremely dated. However, those troubles can now be laid aside. A major upgrade to the county’s 911 system is fully functional and online. What many don’t know is that the center dispatches not only for Fallon County but also Prairie, Wibaux, and Carter Counties - approximately 8,000 square miles. Those counties found it more economical to have dispatch services provided to their counties. A new tower outside the center is much more structurally sound and capable of holding all the equipment the 911 center needs to support its radio communications for many years to come. The radio system and 911 call taking equipment was also upgraded. The center has seven dispatchers. At any given time, two to three dispatchers are working 12-hour shifts at the center. Each of the new consoles can be raised or lowered, so dispatchers can break up their shifts by standing. Dispatchers also have new computers and software for the emergency system, which makes it easier to find people using cell phones for emergency calls. It uses databases and cell towers to locate callers. The updated system also does a better job at recording and mapping calls. “Probably 70 percent of calls are now wireless,” said Chuck Lee, Disaster and Emergency Services director. “Nationwide, it is probably 80 percent.” Lee also said the county will be working to bring the text-to-911 system to the county. The text system would be a way for people to text 911 instead of having to call. “I believe we are one of the top five dispatch centers in Montana,” Lee said. “We have policies and procedures in place to do things right and the resources to make it happen. We take it very serious.”
Air Force training expansion hangs in the balance By Lori Kesinger Those for and against expanding military airspace over portions of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming are waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to announce their decision on the proposal. They have about 45 days from the Air Force record of decision to approve or deny the airspace - March 1. The Air Force approved an expansion of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) military operating area (MOA) on Jan. 16, which now requires approval from the FAA. With the FAA approval, the PRTC would become an area of 28,000 square miles, triple the current size, allowing B-1 bomber air crews at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD and B-52 Stratofortress air crews based at Minot Air Force Base, ND to train in. According to the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, the Air Force first proposed the expansion in May 2008, beginning a series of environmental and public reviews which were completed in November 2014. Throughout the process, the Air Force received and incorporated valuable input from local residents, interested organizations, local government offices, Native American tribes, State Historic Preservation Of-
The Biggest And Best Parties Happen At The Corner!
fices, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies. “Currently, we expend a substantial portion of our valuable training time commuting to distant ranges that have suitable training airspace,” said Col. Kevin Kennedy, the 28th Bomb Wing commander. “This lost time doesn’t just limit the amount of training we can accomplish; it also costs us more in fuel and wear and tear on aircraft. Expanding the Powder River Training Complex will significantly improve our air crew’s readiness for the missions they’re performing for national security and provide a premium value for each training dollar provided by the American taxpayer.” “The expanded training airspace … is critical to ensuring our airmen and women receive the training they need to protect and defend our nation abroad,” South Dakota Sen. John Thune said in a statement. “The Air Force has made the safety and security of those living within this training airspace its highest priority.” He also said the expansion could prevent Ellsworth from being shut down under Base Realignment and Closure, a federal cost-cutting program. Montana elected leaders and state aviation officials say the
T r y Yo u r Luck in our Casino!
Simulcast HOrse Racing
3-2-1 Drink Spcials Fri. & Sat.
bombers would disrupt rural communities and livestock productivity as they fly as low as 500 feet above ground level on maneuvers, dropping flares and chaff. “I’m not against military training - we need them, but I don’t understand why they need to put it here,” said John Tronstad, a rancher and pilot located south of Baker. “There are other big areas more suited to it.” Tronstad has flown small aircraft for about 45 years to check cattle and water lines of his own and neighbors’. “I’ve come close to some military aircraft. They are big, fast and hard to see,” he said. Montana Sen. Daines stated the Air Force plan doesn’t address concerns about low-level flights disrupting civilian and commercial flights, including emergency medical flights and others connected to the oil industry. The Air Force acknowledged in a study released Nov. 28 that low-altitude flights and sonic booms could startle residents and livestock in the region. It has not provided any information on costs associated with the expansion, including potential damages to affected landowners and ranchers. SEE EXPANSION, PAGE 8
watch for
CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT Coming In March!
Visit Our Website at www.FallonCountyExtra.com