New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky
New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky
New Year's Eve Bash - Explore Big Sky
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montana<br />
report: Montana rural areas “exporting” workers<br />
By deB CourSon Smith<br />
big sky ConneCtion<br />
Rural Montana is missing something in<br />
the middle, according to a new analysis<br />
of U.S. Census numbers. The Center<br />
For Rural Affairs report finds a downward<br />
trend of residents in their 20s, 30s<br />
and 40s, while the numbers of young<br />
people and seniors are holding steady.<br />
Report author Jon Bailey, the center's<br />
research director, explains that working-age<br />
Montanans leave because they<br />
need good-paying jobs that tend to be<br />
scarce outside of cities and towns.<br />
"So, you're left with these 'bookend<br />
generations' that require, generally,<br />
a lot more human services than the<br />
middle, working-age population."<br />
The research demonstrates the need to<br />
focus on new and innovative ways to<br />
new Montana state librarian named<br />
Jennie Stapp, the current digital<br />
library director and chief information<br />
officer at the Montana State<br />
Library, was named the new montana<br />
state librarian after an extensive national<br />
search. Stapp replaces Darlene<br />
Staffeldt.<br />
Stapp has held various positions at<br />
the state library, worked in other<br />
libraries, and served in the Peace<br />
Corps. She holds a Master's of Library<br />
Science from the University of Arizona.<br />
With a budget of $9.7 million and<br />
46 employees, the Montana State<br />
FwP wire serviCes<br />
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is<br />
requesting comments on two proposed<br />
rule changes, one that would<br />
allow nonresident falconers to capture<br />
raptors in Montana, and another<br />
to align regulation of raptor propagation<br />
with new federal rules.<br />
Montana was one of only a few states<br />
that forbid nonresident falconers<br />
from capturing birds until the<br />
Montana Legislature eliminated the<br />
restriction in 2011. FWP has proposed<br />
a quota of three raptors and a<br />
$200 capture fee.<br />
Library meets information needs<br />
of Montana government agency<br />
management and staff and ensures<br />
citizens have access to government<br />
information.<br />
The Montana Library Association, a<br />
private nonprofit membership organization<br />
that lobbies on behalf of all<br />
Montana libraries and library patrons,<br />
will hold its 2012 annual conference<br />
in <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong>, April 11-14. The <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong><br />
Community Library is assisting in<br />
planning efforts for the event. Hundreds<br />
of people from around the state<br />
attend, including Stapp.<br />
new raptor regulations proposed<br />
Nearly 97,000 businesses filed<br />
their annual reports online in 2011,<br />
a record number, according to the<br />
Secretary of State’s office.<br />
Improvements in that office’s online<br />
services have significantly reduced<br />
In revising regulations to comply<br />
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife<br />
Service, FWP would increase the<br />
licensing period for raptor propagators.<br />
Having captive bred birds<br />
available for falconry reduces the take<br />
of wild raptors for the sport. Today,<br />
15 people have the state and federal<br />
licenses necessary to breed and raise<br />
raptors in Montana.<br />
Comments due by Dec. 30. Email to:<br />
bmoe@mt.gov or by mail to: Falconry,<br />
P.O. Box 200701, Helena, M.T,<br />
59620-0701.<br />
Record online filings for 2011 annual reports<br />
oFFiCe oF the seCretary oF state<br />
create rural economic opportunities,<br />
Bailey says. Renewable energy, broadband<br />
expansion and ecotourism are recommended<br />
in the report as investments<br />
that could help grow working-age<br />
populations, and in turn, better support<br />
the younger and older generations.<br />
"This affects what we do policy-wise<br />
and what type of services have to be<br />
provided in rural places, and how that<br />
gets funded."<br />
Rural areas depend on the taxes paid<br />
by working-age folks to fund education<br />
and health care, Bailey says, so<br />
it hurts the whole community when<br />
they leave. The trend isn't unique<br />
to Montana; the report shows the<br />
same story throughout the Great<br />
Plains. The report, "Age Distribution<br />
on the Great Plains," is online at files.<br />
cfra.org.<br />
office spending by $1.3 million in<br />
the first year, and made doing business<br />
with the state more convenient.<br />
Montana law requires foreign and<br />
domestic corporations and limited<br />
liability companies to file annual<br />
financial reports. Businesses that<br />
don’t file the report can’t legally<br />
operate in Montana.<br />
explorebigsky.com<br />
explorebigsky.com<br />
<strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> Weekly<br />
THE WEST MAY BE WILD,<br />
but it’s not uncivilized<br />
The restaurant at Rainbow Ranch is now open<br />
for the season and featuring a delicious new winter<br />
menu with -RR specialties and culinary delights.<br />
Open Daily:<br />
Happy Hour 4:30pm - 6pm • Dinner 5:30pm - 9:30pm<br />
Call 1.800.937.4132 for reservations<br />
A Sparkling Celebration<br />
Ring in the new year in signature -RR style!<br />
Enjoy a four-course dinner for two and a midnight<br />
toast and sparkler party on the deck. Start 2012 by<br />
waking up in our luxurious Anichini Italian Linens.<br />
Visit EscapeToRainbowRanch.com<br />
to see all our packages and specials!<br />
escapetorainbowranch.com • 1.800.937.4132<br />
Five miles south of <strong>Big</strong> <strong>Sky</strong> entrance on Hwy 191<br />
december 16, 2011 15
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