Big Sky Blog

With all the attention that Montana has been receiving lately re: the 2008 Presidential campaign, some people might think that it is normal for candidates to hold multiple rallies in many Montana communities and for a presumptive candidate to spend Independence Day in Butte…but 2008 is not a typical election year. According to Montana: A Contemporary Profile by Michael Malone back in 1996:

The state has only three electoral votes…not surprisingly, Montana sees few presidential campaigners; for, as The Almanac of American Politics rather dubiously puts it: “Only Alaska, Idaho, Utah, and North Dakota are farther out of the national political jetlanes.” The state does have a presidential primary, but weather conditions force it to be late. It parallels the much bigger New Jersey primary in June, and thus it attracts little attention. Most observers agree that a regional primary in the Rockies, like that in the South, is probably our best hope in that regard.

Maybe this election year, with demographics and primaries not behaving as predictably as in years past, will shake up the political landscape just enough to keep presidential nominees on their toes in future campaigns, and not take Montana - even with only three electoral votes - for granted.

By the way: most of the above concerns the Democratic party nominees…um…John McCain, do you even KNOW where Montana is? You’ve probably got my vote, as a semi-Republican, but it sure would be nice if you would acknowledge our statehood.

Attention, residents of the Magic City! There is a new community blog devoted to all things BILLINGS called the Billings Free Press.

This is a blog dedicated to the greatest city in Montana. Some would say the only city in Montana but I’m not one of them…I’ll be the first to admit that Billings may not be perfect but it IS the best city in the best state in the greatest country in the world. A little jingoism never hurts. Does it?

Nope - nothing wrong with civic pride! The Billings Free Press is just getting started, with entries about movies filmed in/around Billings and Pictograph State Park. The creator of the site is none other than SFO Randy, one of the true grey-beard veterans of the Big Sky Blogosphere. If you’re interested in contributing, check out the About Page. Keep an eye on this new blog — I predict very good things!

The Billings Gazette has a great article about day trips around Billings which you can enjoy and get there on one tank of gas.

The Montana Wilderness Society has a site listing more than 100 hikes around the state. Other suggestions in the article of things to do and/or visit are the Bair Family Museum, Bighorn Canyon, Yellowtail Dam, the Spa Hot Springs in White Sulphur Springs, dinosaurs in Harlowtown, a powwow in Ashland, birding in Red Lodge and Miles City, fishing, prairie dogs, the Rosebud and Little Big Horn Battlefields, the Madison Buffalo Jump, Chief Plenty Coups State Park and Museum (a vastly underrated museum IMHO), Crow Fair, driving through Sunlight Basin, and exploring the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark.

Check out the Gazette article for the details and if you folks know of any “one tank of gas trips” in your area let us know the what and where of those gems.

Only you can prevent forest fires.

To help us prevent forest/wildfires several fire management organizations have created a public website called firerestrictions.org to keep us abreast of where and how severe the fire dangers are around the country. Montana is part of the Northern Rockies Region which is composed of Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and northwest South Dakota.

From The Billings Gazette:

The public can access the most current information on fire restrictions and what areas may be closed. The Web site is a cooperative effort between the Northern Rockies Coordination Group and the National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis at the University of Montana.

Wildland fire restrictions are implemented in two stages, stage I and stage II, in Montana, Idaho and northwest South Dakota. North Dakota refers to restrictions as very high and extreme. Weather, moisture in the vegetation, number of human-caused and natural fire starts, firefighting resource availability and other factors are considered to determine if wildland fire restrictions are needed.

When you go out and about this summer have fun but let’s also remember the admonition of Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, “Let’s be careful out there.”

It’s been confirmed that Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama will be visiting Butte, America on the 4th of July, aka Independence Day. A former Butte resident ponders the excitement, and Big Sky Cairn notes the possible consequences of the ensuing media circus:

…I’m not sure how to feel about Obama’s decision to come to Butte for the 4th. On the one hand, it’s kind of cool. But…there is the real possibility that his presence will ruin the very idyllicism that his campaign is trying to harness. Police officers who would have had the Fourth off, will now be working security. Thousands of out-of-towners will invade the parade route. And journalists of all sizes and stripes will be working Harrison Avenue for B-roll and man on the street interviews. Yes, it is going to be Mansfield-Metcalf part deux.

But the best part of Obama visiting Butte - again! - is summed up by a commenter over at Left In The West: “I’ll bet the butt cheeks of all those liberals in Missoula are clenching, big time.”

County #1 in Montana, according to our license plates, is Butte-Silver Bow. There are about 35,000 people in the 715 square miles, most of them concentrated in the historic mining town of Butte, also known affectionately as “Butte, America.” Butte has a large Irish population, as evidenced by the world-class St Patrick’s Day celebration. Butte is also famous as the birthplace of the greatest American daredevil: Evel Knievel. Also of note is the Berkeley Pit, which functions as both an environmental cause and a tourist attraction. And if there’s a movie with the words “Psycho Sheep” in the title, well…you know it just has to be “Psycho Sheep Of Butte!”

Don’t forget to check out the Google Map of Butte!

The roster of all of the Big Sky Bloggers! Please let me know of anyone that I have missed, and keep me posted of new bloggers. If you ever run out of blogs to read, come on over here and just start clicking!

The 2008 Montana H.O.G. Rally will be held in and around Great Falls on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week (June 26-28). H.O.G. stands for “Harley Owners Group,” by the way. This year, the H.O.G. is going for a pirate theme:

Arrrr matey - Hoist anchor and set sail to join us in Great Falls, Montana on June 26-28, 2008, for a few days of swashbuckling merriment. This will be the time to show off your gleaming galleons as the “Chromed Armada” passes through the heart of the city.
We’ll party at pirate’s cove and venture out to the “Barbary Coast” for evenings filled with grub, grog, lively chanteys, and the fellowship of your comrades.
Test your wit in the pirate’s quest or decode the clues for a chance at the treasure chest. We might even make you walk the plank.
Sift through the shifting sands to find buried gems or eat like a king at the Captain’s Feast.
You won’t want to miss this - Montana’s gathering of buccaneers, cutthroats, & wenches.

Events scheduled for the 3-day party include Poker Runs, Treasure Hunts, Parade of the Chromed Armada, and more. Even if you’re not a registered participant, it should be fun to see the HOGs out & about Great Falls!

Got an e-mail from Cynthia, a soon-to-be-nurse who wants to relocate to Montana and is looking for information:

Hey there from Delaware!!! I am planning a move to Montana next spring/summer after I complete my Nursing degree!!! So I will be coming with skills!!! (Second Career) I would like to get some feedback regarding your opinions about the hospitals/med centers. I am thinking of Kalispell, Great Falls, Missoula. Any feedback would really be appreciated! I have read your comments about all the “out of stater’s” and really do understand! That is what has happened here and not for the better!! I don’t want to move to Montana to change it or increase anyone’s expenses, I NEED elbow room!!! We are packed in here like sardines!!!! Any feed back on the hospitals would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!

Of course, I’m biased towards Great Falls, which serves as the medical hub for a huge swatch of north and central Montana (and southern Alberta!). We have the largest single hospital in Montana, Benefis, and also the Great Falls Clinic, in addition to many smaller ambulatory care, residential, and specialized facilities. And Benefis is expanding, so will likely need more nurses soon. You can also check out the listing of MT Health Jobs - pretty good search function. So…anyone else want to offer advice on the medical community in the other towns? ALSO: check out the other Moving To Montana threads (more, more)!

We have a new Miss Montana: Jennifer Hepner, a student at UM in Missoula, was crowned Saturday night!

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Miss Hepner; she’s a good kid. She represented Great Falls at the 2007 pageant and the 2006 pageant.

Related: Miss Montana 2007; Miss Montana 2006; and Miss Montana 2005.