Montana
Gov. Gianforte seeks drought disaster declaration
![Gov. Gianforte seeks drought disaster declaration](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27b4cf9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1284x674%200%2022/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http://ewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/d4/a8/ba3a1718424e9576b9b81e1a6dc4/screenshot-2023-07-12-at-5-06-04-pm.png)
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte is asking the federal government to declare a drought disaster area in 11 Montana counties due to severe conditions.
Many of those counties are in Western Montana, including Missoula, Lake, Flathead, Lincoln, Sanders, Mineral, and Ravalli.
By designating these counties as primary natural disaster areas, the communities can access funds to help with drought relief, whether through conservation or livestock assistance programs.
Gov. Gianforte specifically mentioned the Flathead River and Flathead Lake, and the devastating impacts these drought conditions are having on the agriculture industry.
Read Gov. Ginaforte’s letter here.
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Montana
National park tourist dies after being swept over waterfall: officials
![National park tourist dies after being swept over waterfall: officials](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/GLACIER-NATIONAL-PARK-MONTANA-1.png)
A young woman from Pennsylvania died at Glacier National Park after she was swept over a waterfall, park officials say.
The 26-year-old fell into the water near St. Mary Falls at around 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, according to officials. The waterfall, which is located in Glacier County, Montana, is around 35 feet tall.
After falling, the woman was washed over the waterfall and was trapped underwater for several minutes.
Bystanders at the park quickly assisted and brought the woman out of the water before first responders arrived. Bystanders also administered CPR on the woman before park rangers and ambulance personnel took over.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK EMPLOYEE TARGETED IN BRUTAL RAPE INCIDENT: OFFICIALS
A young woman from Pennsylvania died after falling into a creek near St. Mary Falls in Montana. (iStock)
The Pennsylvania resident was declared dead at around 7 p.m. that night. Glacier National Park says that the woman’s death is being investigated.
“The park extends their deepest condolences to family and friends of the woman and asks that the public respect their privacy,” the park’s statement added.
YELLOWSTONE TOURIST SENTENCED TO 7 DAYS IN JAIL OVER ‘DANGEROUS’ CAUGHT-ON-CAMERA INCIDENT
![St Mary Falls at Glacier National Park](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/GLACIER-NATIONAL-PARK-MONTANA-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
St. Mary Falls, located in Glacier National Park, has a height of around 35 feet. (iStock)
Drowning and falls are top causes of death at Glacier National Park. Last year, a 28-year-old woman from Kansas died after falling into one of the park’s creeks.
In 2017, a visitor taking photos fell into a creek at the park and was swept off a steep cliff. The 26-year-old man, who fell around 100 feet, was pronounced dead.
![Glacier National Park sign](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/07/1200/675/Glacier-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Glacier National Park is located in Montana. (Getty Images)
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Authorities are actively investigating the incident. There is no additional information at this time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Montana
Montana SupCo Affirms Decision to Shutter Whistle Stop Retreat – Flathead Beacon
![Montana SupCo Affirms Decision to Shutter Whistle Stop Retreat – Flathead Beacon](https://flatheadbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/20200529_LAKE_FIVE_018.jpg)
The Montana Supreme Court in a decision earlier this month upheld a Flathead County District Court ruling that shuttered a property on the west shore of Lake Five, known as the Whistle Stop Retreat, in 2022.
The latest decision in the lawsuit, first filed in 2020, affirmed the district court’s ruling that Flathead County erroneously granted a Major Land-Use Permit for a guest cabin development off Grizzly Spur Road in West Glacier.
“The County abused its discretion by failing to consider the restrictive easements on Grizzly Spur Road as required,” according to the opinion.
The 23.1-acre lakeshore property, owned by Susan Dietz and operated as G&M Trust, has several buildings spread across two tracts of land, including a single-family home, three guest cabins, a replica train caboose and fire watchtower. The retreat was operated as a short-term rental business, with several buildings listed on AirBnB.
Dietz requested the permit to construct a barn with living quarters, a pavilion and several additional guest rental cabins. Despite the Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee recommendation that the permit be denied due to concerns over legal access to the property, the Flathead County planning board and county commission approved the application.
A nonprofit group, Friends of Lake Five Inc. (FLFI), sued the county in district court alleging the permit was in violation of Montana Administrative Procedure Act, the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act, the Montana Lakeshore Protection Act and the Montana Constitution. The neighborhood group noted that several buildings on the property had already been constructed or renovated without proper permitting, and easement restrictions on the access road prevented commercial use of the land.
A primary point of contention with the permit revolved around whether Grizzly Spur Road provided legal access for nonresidents to use the property. Under the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System (CALURS), which regulates land use near West Glacier, the County Commission must consider whether developments comply with all access and road standards. Grizzly Spur Road is subject to several private easements dating back to the 1990s which limit access to residential use.
Dietz argued, however, that a 2019 amendment to CALURS redefined “residential use” to include short-term rentals, therefore allowing her to continue to operate Whistle Stop Retreat. The district court disagreed, stating “G&M provides no evidence or argument that would indicate that the drafters of the 1997 easement agreements understood the term “residential” to include short-term rentals,” and that under CALURS, “the provision setting the greater restriction or higher standard shall apply.”
District Court Judge Amy Eddy revoked the permit in a March 2022 ruling, which Dietz subsequently appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.
In addition to revoking the permit, Eddy granted a permanent injunction preventing any future construction or expansion of the property, any commercial use including overnight resort accommodations without “obtaining legal access and compliance” with state and local regulation, and required Dietz to restore the property to its “previous unaltered condition.”
In their opinion, the Montana Supreme Court affirmed Eddy’s order revoking the permit, granting the permanent injunction and awarding attorneys’ fees. However, the court reversed the requirement that G&M Trust restore the property to its previous unaltered condition.
“Although the District Court was correct in its determination that the G&M Property may not be used for commercial purposes, the authority upon which the District Court relied for ordering restoration of the property to its original condition is not readily apparent … Accordingly, we hold that the District Court erred,” according to the opinion.
The attorneys’ fees and general costs Dietz owes FLFI amount to $43,053 and $1,878, respectively, according to court filings. Flathead County settled with FLFI over attorneys fees in May 2022, paying the group $47,000.
Montana
Bozeman's Duncan Hamilton surges to sixth-place finish in 3,000-meter steeplechase at U.S. Olympic Trials
![Bozeman's Duncan Hamilton surges to sixth-place finish in 3,000-meter steeplechase at U.S. Olympic Trials](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6f666e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5616x2948+0+268/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fa8%2Fc292c2714d65b09676b3848637dc%2Fap23190111458536.jpg)
EUGENE, Ore. — Bozeman’s Duncan Hamilton surged over the final 1,000 meters Sunday to run to a sixth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase finals at the U.S. Olympic Team Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field.
Hamilton, a Montana State alum now with the Nike/Bowerman Track Club, finished the race in 8:29.20 to finish just outside the top five.
He stayed near the back of a tight pack throughout much of the race and entered the final 1,000 meters in 13th place. But he was one of only four racers — joining winner Kenneth Rooks, second-place Matthew Wilkinson and third-place James Corrigan — to run the final 1,000 meters in less than 2:40. Hamilton ran the final 1,000 meters in 2:39.06 to climb seven places.
Rooks, running for Nike, pulled away on the final lap to win in 8:21.92, running the final 1,000 meters in 2:33.63. Wilkinson, an Under Armour/Dark Sky Distance runner, was second at 8:23.00, and Corrigan, who just completed his sophomore year at BYU, was third at 8:26.78.
Hamilton qualified for the steeplechase finals by placing eighth in his heat and 13th overall in Friday’s prelims.
Here is a schedule of events still remaining for Montana athletes (* indicates athletes must qualify):
Monday, June 24
Men’s 110-meter hurdles, first round, 6:05 p.m. — Derrick Olsen, Helena (Montana State)
Thursday, June 27
*Men’s 110-meter hurdles, semifinals, 6:01 p.m. — Derrick Olsen, Helena (Montana State)
Women’s 1,500-meter run, first round, 6:23 p.m. — Dani Aragon, Billings (Notre Dame), and Christina Aragon, Billings (Stanford)
Men’s 400-meter hurdles, first round, 7:20 p.m. — Drake Schneider, Eau Claire, Wis. (Montana State)
Friday, June 28
Women’s javelin, quarterfinals, 5 p.m. — Alysa Keller, Billings (BYU)
*Women’s 1,500-meter run, semifinals, 6:58 p.m. — Dani Aragon, Billings (Notre Dame), and Christina Aragon, Billings (Stanford)
*Men’s 400-meter hurdles, semifinals, 7:21 p.m. — Drake Schneider, Eau Claire, Wis. (Montana State)
*Men’s 110-meter hurdles, finals, 8:50 p.m. — Derrick Olsen, Helena (Montana State)
Sunday, June 30
*Women’s javelin, finals, 5:10 p.m. — Alysa Keller, Billings (BYU)
*Women’s 1,500-meter run, finals, 6:09 p.m. — Dani Aragon, Billings (Notre Dame), and Christina Aragon, Billings (Stanford)
*Men’s 400-meter hurdles, finals, 6:20 p.m. — Drake Schneider, Eau Claire, Wis. (Montana State)
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