Missoula Red Tape

These files from Missoula County chief deputy clerk and recorder Debbe Merseal. You can see the spike in foreclosure notices filed last year and the previous year.

File No. 1.

File No. 2.

– Keila Szpaller

February 8th, 2010 | Tags: Missoula housing, Szpaller | Category: Housing | Comments (3)

Smurfit-Stone Container top dogs are getting a whole wodge of wonga. Business reporter Betsy Cohen passed on the news of 2009 bonuses from a company apparently doing a fine job pulling out of bankruptcy.

All of such awards will be paid to the named executive officers in accordance with the terms of the 2009 MIP.  Total awards earned under the 2009 MIP for the second semi-annual and full-year performance periods amounted to approximately $50.4 million, with approximately $8.1  million of such amount being awarded to executive officers.

According to the filing, chief executive officer Patrick Moore earned more than $1.5 million in bonus pay in 2009, a little more than the value of his salary.

Wonder how much it’ll cost Governor Brian Schweitzer to get a meeting with him. Remember this letter Schweitzer wrote to Moore?

“It is more than unfortunate that my efforts to establish direct communication with you about the future of Smurfit’s Missoula plant have been unsuccessful.”

A bankruptcy judge last month said Smurfit-Stone officials gotta talk turkey with Montana, and a conference call took place Monday. As of noon today, though, a meeting with the guv hadn’t been scheduled, according to his press office.

– Keila Szpaller

February 4th, 2010 | Tags: Betsy Cohen, Governor Brian Schweitzer, Smurfit-Stone Container, Szpaller | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (3)

Civil discourse isn’t dead up after all. At least up Miller Creek it isn’t.

Read this treasure of a letter to the editor for evidence. Beth Kennedy starts her gentle note like this:

OK, let me confess to all of you: I’m the person who drives down Miller Creek somewhere between 20 to 30 mph on snowy or icy days.

Yes, I am definitely a wimp, but I grew up in Texas, so what do you expect? The only ice we had was in our tea.

– Keila Szpaller

February 4th, 2010 | Tags: Beth Kennedy, Miller Creek, Szpaller | Category: Miller Creek Road | Comments (1)

Mercy had to be put down Wednesday after doctors found her spine was broken.

“Her spine was just smashed,” said Animal Control shelter attendant Barb Parker. “It only showed up on high resolution, but the vertebrae were just squished. He stomped her good and really hurt her back, so there was nothing to do.”

Poor Mercy. Poor Parker, too, who cared for the kitten so well. Head to this Missoulian.com story for details.

A number of people have talked about trying to nail the single suspect. Guys, didn’t you ever watch The People’s Court? “Don’t take the law into your own hands. You take ‘em to court.” (Music here.)

Charges haven’t been filed yet but it sure sounds like there’s an ubberly thorough investigation going on. So call off the lynch mobs and let off steam by volunteering at one of the animal shelters, OK? Otherwise you’re going to end up sideways with Johnny Law too. And he’s tied up investigating the cat case.

If you do head to Missoula County Animal Control, please give James my regards. He’s the chatty tuxedo cat. What a pair of pipes.

– Keila Szpaller

February 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Missoula County Animal Control | Category: Animal Control | Comments (24)

A wounded kitty named Mercy has elicited an outpouring of support for Missoula County Animal Control. Many folks are offering to adopt. For potential adopters, remember the Humane Society of Western Montana also has a long list of cats and kitties wanting homes. And, um, a cute rat named Veronica. This picture and note from the Humane Society: “Yes folks, you read it right! HSWM now has the sweetest little rat available for adoption.”

Likes? Snuggling in blankets.

Dislikes? None listed but presumably cats.

– Keila Szpaller

February 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Humane Society of Western Montana, Missoula County Animal Control | Category: Animal Control | Comments (1)

Mercy is headed to a veterinary hospital in Pullman, Wash. More here.

Crime reporter Tristan Scott said police tried to talk with the suspect last night but couldn’t find him.

Seems everyone wants to adopt Mercy, the hurt kitten. Consider instead some of the other kittens waiting for homes. Animal Control alone has three or four just Mercy’s age, said officer Mary Johnson.

– Keila Szpaller

February 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Missoula County Animal Control, Szpaller, Tristan Scott | Category: Animal Control | Comments (9)

It was the annual Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Mayor John Engen offered the state of the city. Commissioner Michele Landquist talked on the state of the county.

Read ‘em for yourself. Engen’s speech is here and Landquist’s here.

The state of the blogs? It sounds like the boss is happy, and that’s a good thing.

State of affairs at this desk? Still a tad messy and can’t quite tell ’cause the state of stomach is empty.

State of mind among animal lovers who read the story about Mercy the smashed up kitten? In the mood to mob. Copy editor Cory Walsh figures they’ll look something like this:

– Keila Szpaller

February 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Commissioner Michele Landquist, Cory Walsh, John Engen, Mayor John Engen, Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce, Szpaller | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Reporter Tristan Scott, a hooky-bobbing expert, helped out with the acronym DRE. Drug. Recognition. Expert.

So it’s not the other DRE mentioned here. But maybe the digital (cough) exam might be a more effective deterrent for drunk driving … ?

– Keila Szpaller

February 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Szpaller, Tristan Scott | Category: police | Leave a comment

There’s nothing like a kitten story to fill up the voice-mail box. And there’s nothing like animal cruelty to rally people. Check out the comments from folks, who mostly want the culprit’s pelvis smashed.

“He needs to be flushed,” said one man.

First of all, a lot of people are offering to adopt Mercy. Animal Control shelter attendant Barb Parker said the kitty needs to get surgery and heal up before she’ll be up for adoption. Once she’s recovered, they’ll know if she has special needs, like being an indoor cat.

Many people want to know why the suspect isn’t in jail. Missoula police detective J.C. Denton said the officers wanted to do a thorough investigation. So that’s in Denton’s hands.

“It’s kind of an awful case. People around our department are appalled,” he said.

He said Gary Bassett is the only suspect in the case. Denton will see if he’s willing to talk and cooperate this week. In any case, the detective is hoping to visit with the county attorney this week and have charges filed.

The case is emotionally charged. Still, Denton said police are taking the case seriously, as they would any other criminal case: “We look at all the facts and we try not to jump to conclusions.”

As for Mercy, Parker said Tuesday she’s getting better. She’s out of the incubator and holding her temperature, crucial for the kinds of injuries she has.

“She’s peeing and pooping today, so that’s a huge thing,” Parker said.

Her head injury is healing up. Parker said once it looks like it’s in good shape, she’ll be able to have surgery. Mercy is at Pruyn Veterinary Hospital, and Parker said the veterinarian thinks the kitty is bouncing back.

“He really is much more optimistic today,” Parker said.

The surgery is expensive, $800 or $900, and you can help pay. Make checks payable to Friends of the Shelter. Mail to: Missoula Animal Control, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT 59808.

Here’s what the law says about animal cruelty. Montana Code Annotated 45-8-217 deals with “aggravated animal cruelty.”

Plenty of people want the kitten beater to pay for the veterinary bill. Here’s 45-8-211 about that:

(3) In addition to the sentence provided in subsection (2), the court:
(a) shall require the defendant to pay all reasonable costs incurred in providing necessary veterinary attention and treatment for any animal affected, including reasonable costs of care incurred by a public or private animal control agency or humane animal treatment shelter;
(b) may require the defendant to pay all reasonable costs of necessary care of the affected animal that are incurred by a public or private animal control agency or humane animal treatment shelter.

– Keila Szpaller

February 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Animal Control, Mercy, Missoula Police Department, Szpaller | Category: Animal Control, Uncategorized, police | Comments (15)