THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS Montana’s Oldest Publishing Weekly Newspaper. Established 1873 75¢ | Volume 142, Issue 36 www.madisoniannews.com Thursday, July 3, 2014 Fireworks OK in county, some towns warned in recent news releases public lands may be charged fireworks are present. ing fireworks, Schenk said. No pyrotechnic celebrations are that fireworks are prohib- with a misdemeanor and face While sparklers and small “However, if we start getting ited on those public lands. a fine of up to $500 per in- firecrackers are popular with a bunch of calls about people allowed on state or federal lands These agencies, as well as cident, according to FWP. the kids and “generally safe,” he making too much noise late local law enforcement of- “It’s been wet enough this said, “they all can be danger- at night, we will enforce our By Lori Newman or state-managed lands, of- ficials, are concerned that year that I don’t think there ous, depending on how people noise ordinances,” he said. The Madisonian ficials are warning you to despite Southwest Montana’s with be a problem (with fires) treat them. You don’t want to All four of Madison Coun- [email protected] leave the fireworks at home. recent wet weather, there’s in the county,” said Madison hold a firecracker in your hand ty’s incorporated towns have Montana Fish, Wildlife always the possibility that County Sheriff Dave Schenk. because even the smallest ones ordinances against excessive If you’re planning to spend & Parks, the National For- wildland fires could get started He cautions everyone to be can really damage your hands.” noise after 10 p.m., Schenk said. any part of the long Fourth est Service and the Bureau and be hard to control. careful, however, and to keep The county has no prohi- of July weekend on federal of Land Management have Anyone using fireworks on an eye on children while bitions this year against us- Turn to FIREWORKS on pg. 2 Commissioners agree to night dispatch pay PREPARING FOR DISASTER differential By Lori Newman The Madisonian [email protected] Despite the best efforts of department heads to get more pay for their people, the county cannot afford to add significant wage increases to its 2015 bud- get, according to the Madison County Commissioners. After a long discussion Mon- day with Sheriff Dave Schenk and E-911 communications coordinator Steve DiGiovanna, however, the commission- ers reluctantly agreed to add a Turn to DISPATCH on pg. 2 Warning issued about home-repair scams No complaints in Madison County, The Madisonian/Abigail Dennis but homeowners Severe weather conditions are one of Madison County’s high-hazard potential disasters. should be aware County to update pre-disaster mitigation plan By Lori Newman The Madisonian By Abigail Dennis Commissioners during their June “The pre-disaster mitigation The PDM plan prioritizes [email protected] The Madisonian 23 board meeting to request a letter plan designates (actions for) all the high, moderate and low hazards [email protected] committing matching county funds hazards that afflict us in Madison in the county based on the prob- Summertime is home- to accompany that application. County,” Mumme explained. “It’s ability they will happen and the improvement time. Some Madison County’s pre-disaster The total project cost is $78,133.34. like a road map for the local emer- potential impacts on the county. residents may even be mitigation (PDM) plan was last updated The grant will cover $58,600 and gency planning committee to look at High hazards are wildfires, floods, thinking about finally pav- in 2009, and the plan really needs to the remaining how to mitigate future disasters.” severe thunder and windstorms and ing their dirt driveways. be revised every five years to take $19,533.34 will Mumme heads up the local emer- earthquakes. Next, winter weather, com- But if someone contacts changing conditions into account, said be split between gency planning committee, but he said municable diseases, structure collapse, you and says something like, Chris Mumme, the county’s direc- Madison and Bea- any interested members of the public hazardous materials and drought make “We’re doing a driveway (or tor of emergency management. verhead counties, can participate in committee meetings. up the moderate hazards in Madison parking lot) nearby and we “In April 2015, it will be time for since the two share “There are fire chiefs, mayors, County. Low hazards include terrorism, have some left-over asphalt, an update,” Mumme explained. a PDM, Mumme city council members, really who- civil unrest, transportation accidents, so we can give you a good Mumme is applying for a Fed- Chris Mumme said. The com- ever wants to come,” Mumme said. volcanoes, landslides and avalanches. deal on paving your driveway eral Emergency Management Agency missioners agreed “Many department heads from FEMA-registered contrac- tomorrow,” don’t fall for it grant to help pay for that update. to commit $9,766,67 either in di- hospitals and people who have a unless you know the company. He approached the Madison County rect funds or in-kind work. stake in the county participate.” Turn to PRE-DISASTER on pg. 11 Turn to SCAMS on pg. 11 County library hosts pre-bid walk-through around seven years ago, when will be opened on July 10, and Construction bids for new the library board at the time board member Janet Doorn- realized they needed more bos said the board will most addition will be opened July 10 space to grow the collection, likely accept one at that time. a climate-controlled room “Construction will be- By Abigail Dennis entire county, library direc- for archives and a commu- gin immediately, though The Madisonian tor Jack Albrecht said, the nity room, Albrecht said. a timeline will depend [email protected] collection should be ex- Seven years of planning on whoever we choose to panded to 35,000 volumes. and work culminated in a do it,” Doornbos said. The Thompson-Hickman To do that, the library pre-construction bid meet- The original idea was to County Library in Virginia must have more room. ing last Thursday, where fund the addition through City currently holds 10,000 The idea for a library approximately 10 interested fundraising and grant- volumes, but to service the expansion first originated contractors participated in a writing rather than going walkthrough of the library to the taxpayers, Doornbos The Madisonian/Abigail Dennis building and asked questions said. When that didn’t work From left: Library Director Jack Albrecht, Commissioner Dan Happel about the project. The bids out, the board turned to the discuss the building plans for the new Thompson-Hickman Library addition with the project’s architect. Turn to LIBRARY on pg. 2 annual customer TABLE OF CONTENTS Local News----------------A3 Comics/Games----------- B4 appreciation picnic Opinion--------------------A4 Columns-------------------B6 Obituaries-----------------A5 Public Notices/ Member Thursday, July 17 • 5 pm-7 pm Lifestyle--------------------B1 Classifieds-------------B7-B8 FDIC RIVERSIDE PARK Health & Wellness ----B2-3 Calendar-----------------B12 P.O. Box 417 • Twin Bridges, MT P.O. Box 587 • Sheridan, MT (Madison County Fairgrounds) 59754 59749 Visit us online at (406) 684-5678 (406) 842-5411 Lobbies in both banks will close at 4 pm on July 17 www.madisoniannews.com Drive Thru and walk up open until 5 pm A2 Thursday, July 3, 2014 FIREWORKS from pg. 1 man candles, torpedoes, or according to a town ordinance. according to the town code. Conforming Mortgage Fixed Rates any substance of an explosive • Sheridan – Fireworks In Twin Bridges, which Except for Twin Bridges, nature within the town limits are prohibited in town ex- has no fireworks ordinance, 30 Years - .000% Points the towns also have ordi- on any day of the year” unless cept on July 4, between residents are allowed to set nances or codes concern- Rate APR a special permit is obtained noon and midnight. fireworks off during the 4.125% 4.264% ing fireworks as follows: from the town commission “for • Virginia City – Selling and holiday – July 3-5, as long • Ennis – It’s illegal “to the use of fireworks in connec- displaying fireworks is pro- as they quiet down after ignite, explode, or fire off any 15 Years - .000% Points tion with celebrations or other hibited at all times “within the 10 p.m., says Twin Bridges rockets, firecrackers, Ro- occasions of public interest,” outside boundaries of the town,” Mayor Thomas Hyndman. 3.125% Rate 3.365% APR Rates subject to change without notice, APR calculation is based on a $200,000.00 loan amount DISPATCH from pg. 1 “We only have seven and DiGiovanna pointed out. “We’ve got to be con- with a 1% loan origination fee, $975.00 underwriting fee, $295.00 document processing fee, Mers fee (dispatchers). If one walks While so many people are sistent; no question about $11.95, $15.00 flood determination fee, $4.00 transcript fee, 15 days of prepaid interest and *discount $1-an-hour “shift differential” to point fee as stated above. away, we’re in a world of enjoying their summer vacation that,” Happel said. the wages of dispatchers work- hurt,” DiGiovanna said. time in Madison County, the “If you give it to the ing between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sheriff Schenk said he wants county’s emergency dispatchers people (working) at night, The total cost will come to to do whatever is possible to are busier than ever, Schenk said. the day people will say ‘We AUTO LOANS around $3,600 for the year, and prevent turnover among such “We have about 8,000 people work just as hard,’” Commis- AS the money is already in place valuable employees – and that here in the winter, and 20,000 in sioner Dave Schulz said.