Montana Meth Project's claims under scrutiny
BILLINGS - Supporters of the Montana Meth Project have loudly proclaimed the success of its multimillion-dollar advertising campaign.

Are echoes of the Freemen ringing in Eureka?
EUREKA - A petition to recall Lincoln County's sheriff has been rejected, but concerns are mounting that the ouster effort could signal the return of organized anti-government movements to Montana.

Petitioners vow they will make another recall attempt against Lincoln County sheriff
EUREKA - Lincoln County officials have rejected an effort to recall the sheriff there, but petitioners say they will regroup and try again.

Ovando group wary of cell tower proposal
OVANDO - As cellular phone companies expand coverage to rural communities and motorists who demand reliable service along remote stretches of highway, western Montana's mountainscape is bristling with monolythic towers.

Fourth with fervor: America's birthday has special meaning for Missoula woman
“God Bless America” is an expression Susan Campbell Reneau uses the way most people say “Hello” or “Have a good day.”

Governor floats free-flowing Clark Fork
MILLTOWN - It was a fish story for the ages: On Friday afternoon, the first person in more than 120 years to legally float past the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers and through the channel previously occupied by the Milltown Dam caught an 18-inch cutthroat trout right where the two rivers merge.

Schedule of Independence Day events
Happy Independence Day, western Montana! Here's a look - provided by our readers - at some of the fun on the agenda this weekend. All events are today, Saturday, July 4, unless otherwise noted.

1 couple, 2 winners, $20,000
Last year, Rodney and Martha Cluphf entered their names to win a $10,000 prize at a Missoula Osprey baseball game. To win, though, one of their names had to be picked - AND the Osprey had to make a rare triple play during the first inning.

Charges possible in hit-and-runs
Missoula police have referred a fatal hit-and-run case to the county attorney's office for potential charges, while additional charges are forthcoming in a separate hit-and-run fatality near Seeley Lake, according to authorities.

Marathon mementos: Missoula business creates custom bags using personal memorabilia
So you've run the race, finished the marathon, and you're heading home with your race T-shirt, bib number and all the other stuff you got when you registered and completed the event.

Glacier Park chief wants wilderness made official
WEST GLACIER - Glacier National Park is known as one of America's last great wilderness areas, which is ironic, because that's exactly what it is not.

Tester mum, advocates hopeful on wilderness legislation
HELENA - Wilderness advocates and key officials say Sen. Jon Tester's office has plans to bring Montana its first new wilderness designation since the 1980s.

Sport of running takes off; 2,000 marathon racers expected
It's crunch time for organizers of the Missoula Marathon.

Counselors mobilize for rural veterans
HELENA - Military veterans in rural Montana who cannot travel for counseling will find the service coming to them once the vet centers in Missoula and Billings hire staff for two new mobile treatment units.

FWP aims to buy 70 acres along Flathead Lake
BIGFORK - The state of Montana is looking to buy 70 untamed acres along the northern shore of Flathead Lake, in a move designed to protect fish and wildlife habitat.

Missoula City Council
When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Multiple units snuff fire up Deep Creek
No day is a good day for setting off fireworks in the forest, but Saturday was especially dangerous.

Live from Arlee - and they do mean live - Morin family creates exhibit on history of sheep and cattle industries
ARLEE - The Arlee/Jocko Valley Historical Museum's newest exhibit, “Woolies and Whinnies of Charlie Russell's Day,” will be unveiled for Independence Day, so Alvaretta Morin was busy Friday putting the finishing touches on everything.

Kids helping kids: Lemonade stands will benefit Watson shelter
The idea came to Amanda Krieg after her 5-year-old daughter, Amelia, declared that she wanted a lemonade stand.

Western Montana Getaways: Big fun on the mountain
WHITEFISH - High atop Big Mountain are lions and eagles and bears, wolves and ermine and mountain goats - and you're guaranteed to see them all.

Veterans mill levy on ballot
HAMILTON - The Ravalli County Commission approved a request this week from the Valley Veterans Service for a one-mill levy on the June 2010 ballot.

Power line project gets down to details
HELENA - A Canadian energy company and an arm of the U.S. Energy Department are working on a deal to complete financing for a proposed Montana-Alberta power line that would span 214 miles and carry power from the region's emerging wind industry, officials said Tuesday.

Man will serve time for assault with ax
KALISPELL - A Lakeside man accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend with an ax has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with 10 years suspended.

Potluck Thursday for Pastors for Peace
The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center will hold a potluck reception for the Pastors for Peace Caravan when it arrives in Missoula on Thursday.

Would-be thief faces felony charge
BUTTE - A 27-year-old man faces a felony charge stemming from the botched robbery of a fast food restaurant in Butte.

Man pleads guilty in apartment fire
KALISPELL - A Kalispell man has pleaded guilty to negligent arson for a fire that destroyed several units in an apartment building.

All Montana Lyme disease cases appear to stem from outside state
BILLINGS - Doctors have reported 15 cases of Lyme disease in Montana this year - a sharp spike from prior years. But health officials say most appear to be recently diagnosed older illnesses and that all likely originated outside the state.

Bozeman man pleads guilty in cocaine case
BOZEMAN - A Bozeman man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Missoula for his role in a Gallatin County drug ring.

Child porn convict faces new sex charges
KALISPELL - A Bigfork man, who already faces 110 years in federal prison for sex crimes, has pleaded guilty to molesting two young sisters in Flathead County.

Male body recovered from Missouri River
GREAT FALLS - Searchers late Friday afternoon recovered the body of a 24-year-old man from the Missouri River between Cascade and Dearborn.