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Thirty-five years ago...

Thursday June 1, 1989

Montana Senators seek compensation for forest fire losses

Montana Senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns are seeking $10 million in compensation for property losses from wildfires originating in Yellowstone National Park or National Forests in Montana and Wyoming.

In a letter sent recently by Baucus, Burns and Wyoming Senators Malcome Wallop and Alan Simpson to Senator Robert Byrd, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Department of the Interior, the senators proposed that the 1990 fiscal year appropriations act authorized the Forest Service, "to negotiate, not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, settlement of claims, for lost and damaged property against the United States resulting from the Mink Fire (Bridger-Teton N.F. and YNP), Clover-Mist Fire (YNP and Shoshone N.F.), Storm Creek Fire (YNP and Gallatin-Custer N.F.s) and the Canyon Fire (Lolo, Helena and Lewis & Clark N.F.'s), which were originally classified as prescribed fires, but subsequently became wildfires."

The letter continues to state, "Not all the parties damaged have completed filing their claims, but it is estimated that the total of 120 to 130 claims for lost and damaged property will be approximately $10 million."

"While three of the four fires listed originated on lands administered by the National Park Service, they all burned across National Forest lands before reaching the private property. Thus, all the claims have been filed with the Forest Service."

The letter concluded that due to delays in processing of the claims by the Department of Agriculture, "people have waited long enough for action. Therefore, we request your help in including this provision in the FY-1990 appropriations act."

Read this and more at: https://www.seeleylake.com/home/customer_files/article_documents/1989-06-01.pdf

Twenty years ago...

Thursday June 3, 2004

An Eagle Scout in our midst

On the evening of November 20, 2003, the examiner rose to shake Michael Biggins hand, and to tell him he was Mullin Trail District's newest Eagle Scout. At the same time he became the first Eagle Scout from Troop 1919 and from the Seeley Lake area. The evening was the completion of a journey for this 15-year-old boy.

Troop 1919 held an Eagle Court of Honor for Biggins to celebrate his becoming an Eagle Scout last November.

Biggins's journey in Boy Scouting began in November 1999 when he joined Troop 1919 as an 11-year-old boy. Since that time he has met the requirements for Boy Scouting's seven different rank badges, and 24 merit badges from camping to wood carvings. He accumulated 77 nights of camping over that time, 140 miles of hiking and 60 hours of service project work.

Biggins has received Boy Scout training at both the troop level and the council level in Junior Leadership Training, and BSA Snorkeling. He served on the staff of Takachscin, the Montana Council's Junior Leadership training course in 2003.

Special Awards:

Special Awards he has received during his scouting career are: Arrow of Light award, 100 Frost Points award for four consecutive years, Silver medal in the Melita Island Knot typing contest in the spring of 2002, second highest popcorn salesman in the district in 2003. He and his patrol members took first place in the 2004 Seeley Lake Invitational scout craft competitions, and the Totin Chip award in 2000.

Leadership Positions:

He is currently the Senior Patrol Leader of the Troop and served as the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader in the past. Biggins was elected by his troop for entry into the Order of the Arrow in 2003 and he has reached the Ordeal Level.

Scouting has been a wonderful experience for Biggins. He has slept on the plains of central Montana, backpacked to the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and has snowboarded the Rocky Mountains. He's camped in all four seasons sessions of the year, slept in snow caves, tents and under the stars of the Big Sky, and has been to summer camp on an island on Flathead Lake.

Besides the fun side of scouting, Biggins has learned to work cooperatively with troop members to accomplish tasks and projects. He's learned lessons of being a leader and of being a follower. He's participated in citizenship by contributing many hours to his fellow citizens through various service project activities. He has grown in character and in moral strength.

Approximately 4% of boys who enter scouting reach the level of Eagle. To reach the level of Eagle Scout is truly rare.Congratulation are due to Biggins.

Read this and more at: https://www.seeleylake.com/home/customer_files/article_documents/2004-06-03.pdf