Seeley Lake Library News
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Library Book Club will meet Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. to discuss Blaine Harden’s “Escape from Camp 14.” In this book, Harden presents the true account of Shin Dong-hyuk, a North Korean born in a political prison camp who eventually escapes. One review states that this is a book all adults should read.
The discussion is open to all. Books are available at the checkout desk. For more information call 677-8995.
The Seeley Lake Library is a branch of Missoula Public Library located at Seeley-Swan High School. The library is open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Prescribed Fire Projects Planned on Swan Lake Ranger District
Swan Valley - The Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is planning to conduct fall prescribed fire projects when weather, fuel conditions and air quality becomes favorable. Smoke will be visible from various places in the Flathead Valley and the Swan Valley depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.
Each project follows a Prescribed Fire Burn Plan. The prescribed fire projects are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects, or to escape as a wildland fire. These projects will be in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke to neighbors, cooperators and surrounding communities. The project areas include:
Wild Cramer – This project includes broadcast and under-burning in stands located within the Blacktail Mountain area West of Lakeside. These treatments will use prescribed fire for fuels reduction, vegetation regeneration and wildlife habitat improvement.
Pile Burning – Hand or machine piles are located in several locations within the Swan Valley and Blacktail Mountain as a result of but not limited to: logging, hazardous fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface, hazard tree removal and trail or road construction. These piles are burned to reduce the fuel loads in these areas and are strategically burned based on their location, access and weather conditions.
For additional information about these projects contact the Swan Lake Ranger District in Bigfork at 406-837-7500.
Governor Bullock Announces Montana’s Minimum Wage Increasing
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock announced Montanans earning minimum wage will see the rate increase to $8.30 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
“People who work full time for a living shouldn’t be living in poverty. This modest increase in minimum wage means more Montana workers will have a little extra money in their pockets,” said Governor Bullock. “This economic boost will help hard-working Montana families make ends meet and ensure they aren’t falling behind.”
In 2017, the industry with the largest number of workers earning minimum wage was the accommodations and food industry followed by the retail trade industry. Combined food and preparation workers, waiters, waitresses, cashiers, bartenders and retail salespersons are occupations with large numbers of minimum wage workers.
39-3-409 MCA requires the Department of Labor & Industry to adjust the Montana minimum wage for inflation using the CPI-U. An estimated 3,900 workers, or approximately 0.9 percent of the workforce, receive minimum wage.
The minimum wage is determined by taking the current minimum wage of $8.15 and increasing it by the CPI-U increase from August of 2016 to August 2017. The CPI-U increased by 1.939 percent over the year ending August 2017. To keep the minimum wage at the same purchasing power as the prior year, the wage should increase by $0.158 per hour. The resulting wage is $8.308 and statute specifies that the wage must be rounded to the nearest five cents.
Information relating to Montana’s minimum wage may be downloaded from the Department of Labor & Industry website at erd.dli.mt.gov.
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