Ready for dinner and drama
Bob Rase and Sande Maggiacomo were two of the dozens of people that showed up to the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Elks on Saturday night. The dinner theatre was a fundraiser for the Cottonwood Commons Transition Home and a local troupe of actors put on the place “Last Will and Testament” challenging the audience to solve the murder mystery on stage.
Bob Rase and Sande Maggiacomo were two of the dozens of people that showed up to the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Elks on Saturday night. The dinner theatre was a fundraiser for the Cottonwood Commons Transition Home and a local troupe of actors put on the place “Last Will and Testament” challenging the audience to solve the murder mystery on stage.
Charter choice
by Michael Stafford
Soon, the voters of Deer Lodge will decide whether they would like to adopt a charter form of government, allowing the city more options in the ways it operates. As a result of the work from the government study commission, which was voted into place in 2014 by the residents of the city, a charter has been created which ultimately keeps the current form of a council -mayor government in place, but allows for the city to have self-governing powers.
In the general election, that will be on the ballot.
“There is no downside,” said Dan Clark.
Clark is the Director of the Local Government Center at Montana State University and on Wednesday night gave a presentation at the Powell County Senior Center. He explained the different forms of government available in Montana and the difference between a general powers government which relies on Helena and legislature to give them direction and a self-governing form which allows municipalities or counties to govern themselves as long as they are not in violation of state law.
In addition, Clark answered any questions that people had. Though public attendance to the meeting was light, many members of the city council, the mayor and those on the study commission were there.
Clark spoke to those in attendance and started out by explaining how the government review process came into existence and the history of it. Its origin was based in the 1972 Montana Constitution.
see Proposed page eight
Soon, the voters of Deer Lodge will decide whether they would like to adopt a charter form of government, allowing the city more options in the ways it operates. As a result of the work from the government study commission, which was voted into place in 2014 by the residents of the city, a charter has been created which ultimately keeps the current form of a council -mayor government in place, but allows for the city to have self-governing powers.
In the general election, that will be on the ballot.
“There is no downside,” said Dan Clark.
Clark is the Director of the Local Government Center at Montana State University and on Wednesday night gave a presentation at the Powell County Senior Center. He explained the different forms of government available in Montana and the difference between a general powers government which relies on Helena and legislature to give them direction and a self-governing form which allows municipalities or counties to govern themselves as long as they are not in violation of state law.
In addition, Clark answered any questions that people had. Though public attendance to the meeting was light, many members of the city council, the mayor and those on the study commission were there.
Clark spoke to those in attendance and started out by explaining how the government review process came into existence and the history of it. Its origin was based in the 1972 Montana Constitution.
see Proposed page eight
$16 million option proposed for clean upby Michael Stafford
The Montana Army National Guard knows which alternative it would like to use for cleaning up the munitions debris and explosives of concern left by training exercises years ago on the Montana State Prison Ranch and Forest Service Property. That alternative would involve sweeping the area periodically, educating the public on the dangers of possible explosives in the area and help reduce the hazards that currently exist. On Sept. 22 a public meeting was held in Deer Lodge to tell the public about the plan, the preferred alternative and to gather public comment. Major Adel Johnson, Environmental Program Manager with the Montana Army National Guard explained to the Silver State Post a little bit about where the process is at and what that alternative would entail. “Right now, we’re at the proposed plan phase,” she said, “that is presenting the four different alternatives for cleanup.” The area, located about five miles west of Deer Lodge along the eastern base of the Flint Mountain Range, was used from the mid-1950s to 1970 by the National Guard as a target range for live-fire training. That training left much munitions debris and explosives of concern in three concentrated locations. see Project page seven |
City street to become one-wayby Michael Stafford
St. Mary’s Avenue from Dixon Street to Fifth Street will be turned into a one-way street westbound. At the Sept. 19 meeting of the city council, Mayor Zane Cozby announced the change and said that it had come about due to the potential danger of a collision between vehicles and children headed towards the elementary school. “It’s almost like playing Frogger up there,” he said. Cozby pointed out that driving eastbound on that section of the street is a hazard due to the rising sun. “What we’re going to do is make from Dixon to Fifth Street just a one way going westbound,” he said, “so when you’re pulling up, dropping off your kids, everybody’s headed the same direction and the kids can have a safer crossing.” Cozby noted he has spoken with Deer Lodge Elementary Schools Superintendent Rod Simpson who was also in agreement of making the road in that area one way for the increased safety of the children. see Section page eight |
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