VOLUME 99
ISSUE 6
TIMES
FALLON County
BAKER, MONTANA 59313
fctimes@midrivers.com 406-778-3344 $1.00
SMART receives donation
Mona Madler, SMART Executive Director, receives a donation from Bud Anderson, TransCanada Corporation, Keystone Projects representative, Photo by Darlene Hornung for the Baker Lake Tributary Project.
Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team (SMART) is pleased to announce that TransCanada Corporation, Keystone Projects will be helping with the revitalization of a well-known creek channel in the city of Baker. The company has donated $6,500 to support the Baker Lake Tributary Project. The Baker Lake Tributary Project will restore the creek channel through the city of Baker to a free-flowing stream free of silt and overgrown vegetation. Mitigation will return the tributary to a recreational and picturesque asset in the community that will be enjoyed by many. Fallon County, City of Baker, and state and federal agencies will collaborate to complete this project which is expected to kick off this spring and take approximately six months to a year to complete. With more than 60 years’ experience, TransCanada is a leader in the safe, reliable, and responsible operation of North American energy infrastructure. Giving back to communities where they operate is part of TransCanada’s every day culture. Whether it’s partnering with community groups or employee engagement and giving, TransCanada is committed to supporting healthy, safe and vibrant communities across North America by focusing on programs that build stronger communities, enhance public safety and conserve the environment.
Baker first place winners at Class B State Speech & Drama
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Original Oratory
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015
Community invited to celebrate Americanism By Lori Kesinger Community members are invited to join in what has become a tradition for celebrating being an American with a free family-friendly program in Baker. The 51st annual Americanism Program will be celebrated with the theme “America-Land of Civil Rights and Religious Freedom”, Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Longfellow Gym. After 50 years, the host baton is being passed from the Sandstone Lodge #84 Masons and the Charity Chapter #60 Eastern Star to the Knights of Columbus. “We really appreciate their 50 years of carrying on this program,” said Steve Zachmann, Knights of Columbus member. The American Legion and Auxiliary will present the flags with the assistance of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. The Baker High School band and choir and O’Fallon Men’s Community Choir will be performing. The 60th anniversary of a historic amendment to the Pledge of Allegiance will be featured during the program. The Knights of Columbus had a pivotal role in the addition of the “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut to protect the financial futures of Catholic families and to engage in charitable activity. Their principles are Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Members of the Knights of Columbus are 1.8 million, organized in 15,000 councils around the world. They are a strong charitable force within their communities, donating more than $167.5 million and 70 million hours to charitable causes last year alone. There are approximately 5,000 Knights in 50 councils in Montana. While there have been members of the Knights of Columbus in Baker since the 1950s, the local Knights of Columbus, Matthew Gappa Council 6294, was formed in 1972 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. It consists of members from St. John’s, St. Anthony Parish in Plevna, and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Ekalaka. They each provide service to their respective parishes and communities. “They have provided scholarships to youth in the three communities, sponsor a Free Throw Contest in area schools, support Ultrasound Initiatives in Miles City and Sidney, Special Olympics, Catholic schools in Miles City and Livingston, Coats for Kids, food drives, and local charitable causes. This year, the Knights of Columbus are adding the Americanism Program to their sponsorship,” Zachmann noted. Refreshments will be served following the program.
Keystone pipeline bill passes without airspace amendment By Lori Kesinger The US Senate concluded a month of Keystone pipeline debate on Jan. 29 by voting 62 to 36 to approve construction of the project. A proposed amendment to the bill made by Montana’s Senators to restrict the Air Force expansion plans over southeastern Montana was dropped. The Air Force recently approved an expansion of the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) military operating area (MOA) from 8,300 square miles to about 23,000 miles across four states including Montana. The proposed amendment would have blocked low-level flights between 500 feet above ground level up to 12,000 feet in the airspace above the Baker area. The PRTC still requires approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which has about 45 days to make their decision, March 1. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester, along with Representative Ryan Zinke, sent FAA Administrator Michael Huerta a letter earlier in January to reiterate that Montanans’ concerns had not been mitigated in the final Air Force Record of Decision on the expansion. The Senators met with Huerta on Jan. 29 calling on the FAA to re-evaluate the plan in light of increased economic activity
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and air traffic in southeastern Montana. They also urged Huerta to consider removing low-level flights in the area and provide the area with the necessary radar capabilities to ensure general aviation safety. “The Air Force’s plan fails to take into account current and future needs of southeastern Montana, which has recently experienced a growth in air traffic and greater economic activity,” Daines stated. “It is imperative that the FAA takes concrete steps to address Montanans’ concerns and ensure that much-needed safety measures are in place to protect local pilots and area residents.” Aerial monitoring of area pipelines increased from 500 flight hours in 2013 to more than 2500 hours projected for 2015. The intended route for the Keystone XL pipeline, including a proposed loading terminal for oil near Baker, runs directly through the training expansion and would require further aerial inspections. “The FAA must listen to folks on the ground in Montana. I
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have. And I’ve heard time and time again that the proposed airspace expansion will put general aviation pilots at risk and jeopardize the safety of residents in the area,” Tester said. “It’s my hope that the FAA gives this expansion thoughtful consideration.” Montana Senators applauded the Senate passage of legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone bill will now go to the House, which already approved a separate version, and will take up the Senate’s version with its amendments. Once approved in the House, the bill will go to President Obama’s desk.
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