Montana
Navy vet who lost jaw in grizzly bear attack eager to return to Montana for ‘round two’
The Navy veteran whose jaw was ripped off by a grizzly bear last month is already prepared to return to the Montana backcountry where he faced off against the beast — so he can win “round two.”
Survivor Rudy Noorlander, 61, is headed back home after undergoing a complete jaw reconstruction, an arduous feat that was accomplished with three major surgeries during his five-week stay at the University of Utah Health.
“That first root beer float is going to be amazing,” Rudy wrote on a whiteboard at a Friday press conference.
“Soon I’m going to be a free-range chicken and won’t be hooked up to anything.”
He was flown into the Salt Lake City Hospital after his initial emergency surgery to overcome the devastating injuries.
Noorlander came face-to-face with the bear while hunting for deer inside the Custer Gallatin National Forest, just outside Big Sky on Sept. 8.
The animal left scratches on Noorlander’s chest, as well as bites on his arms and legs, though the most traumatic injury was what Noorlander described as “the most disgusting French kiss of his life” that left him without his lower jaw.
Dr. Hilary McCrary, a surgeon and head and neck specialist, was able to reconstruct Noorlander’s jaw by using a portion of his fibula bone.
His recovery has been slow — Noorlander is still unable to eat solid foods and finds it too painful to speak, so he has been relying on his daughters and his handy dry-erase board to communicate until he is able to use his new jaw.
The limited ability to use his new mouth has left him fearful that will choke on his own blood and spit, his daughter said.
His positive outlook on life, however, has not faltered despite surviving a terrifying near-death experience and distressing medical journey.
“The things that give me hope and have given me motivation to get through this are my family,” Noorlander wrote on a dry-erase board.
“My job proves that most people are good, and I can’t wait to get back to it. I will win round two.”
His daughter KateLynn quickly rejected the idea: “I would like for him to not do that … The fact that we’ve healed enough to get to today, is pretty remarkable.”
Noorlander told a crowd of reporters he hopes to get back into the Montana backcountry as soon as December — and that he’s not afraid of encountering any grizzlies.
The experienced outdoorsmen had been adequately prepared in the moments before the attack, carrying bear spray and a gun, but it wasn’t enough to ward off the 10-foot bear.
He tried to scare off the beast with the weapon, but misfired and was forced to use his hands.
The hunters he was with managed to scare off the bears and quickly called for a helicopter rescue, but was made to wait fully conscious for two hours before help arrived.
“The first thing that was incredible to watch was how positive Rudy was. Even after being attacked by a grizzly bear, he was very adamant that he was going to get through it… That was very heartwarming as a physician,” McCrary commended Noorlander.
The veteran shared his admirable insights with the crowd: “Even when there seems to be no hope, keep on fighting.”
Montana
Daines, Gianforte tour Montana coal mine, criticize federal policies
COLSTRIP — Sen. Steve Daines and Gov. Greg Gianforte traveled to Colstrip Tuesday, where they toured a coal mine and heard from workers and administrators concerned about Biden administration policies.
“This Colstrip operation is keeping the lights on in Montana, and, in fact, the whole Northwest,” Gianforte said. “We need reliable power to power our economy, and there just really isn’t an alternative.”
The two leaders took a tour of the Rosebud Mine, a 25,000-acre site that produced almost 7 million tons of coal in 2022. They visited a coal deposit, got a look at the multimillion-pound dragline excavators used in mining and saw areas that operator Westmoreland Mining has restored after extracting coal.
Company leaders said the Rosebud Mine is ideal because of the quality of the coal seam and its accessibility.
“It’s just right,” said Westmoreland CEO Martin Purvis. “This is the Goldilocks of coal mines.”
When the coal is processed, it’s carried on a four-mile conveyor belt directly to the Colstrip power plant’s Units 3 and 4.
After their tour of the mine, Daines and Gianforte held a roundtable discussion with mine and utility administrators and community leaders. Their focus was on what they describe as a series of federal policies that threaten Colstrip’s viability.
“EPA’s new rules are a one-two punch combination that’s really just intended to knock Colstrip out permanently and force the plant to prematurely retire,” said Dale Lebsack, chief fossil officer for Talen Energy, which operates the Colstrip power plant.
The most recent policies they’re concerned about include the EPA’s proposed Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, or MATS, regulations, as well as a proposal to end to new coal leases on public lands in southeastern Montana and Wyoming.
Leaders said the MATS changes would require the Colstrip plant, specifically, to make extensive investments to comply with tighter emission standards.
“You always have cycles in pricing in energy – you have ups and downs, whether you’re oil, natural gas or coal,” said Daines. “The problem we have is that the Biden administration is trying to kill this industry, to end it permanently.”
Purvis argued there hasn’t been a solid plan from the federal government for replacing the baseload energy that comes from fuels like coal. He compared Colstrip to military equipment that remains in use while the transition to newer systems is going on.
“You don’t want gaps in national security – and I’ll tell you what, you don’t want gaps in national energy for sure, as well,” he said.
NorthWestern Energy president and CEO Brian Bird said his company is counting on the reliability of power from sources like Colstrip. The utility announced last year that it was expanding its ownership interest in the Colstrip plant, starting in January 2026.
Montana
2024 Montana spring sport champions
The Manhattan Tigers won their first state softball title May 25, 2024 in Billings by defeating Shepherd and in honor of former teammate Delaney Doherty.
“Everyone heard us say it, but we proved that that’s what we did for the entire season,” senior pitcher Emma Kabalin said. “We proved it to everyone that we were playing for D the whole time. We did the whole thing for her.”
After the tournament was condensed to two days due to heavy rains on Thursday, Manhattan had to win five loser-out games after falling to Shepherd 12-0 in the second round on Friday afternoon. The Tigers won one elimination game on Friday and four on Saturday, the final two against Shepherd. They came through with an 11-8 win in the first championship contest to force a winner-take-all game in the double-elimination tournament. They prevailed again, winning 6-1 for the championship.
The Tigers put together a 25-6 record this season while playing their home games on what is now dubbed the Delaney Doherty Diamond. Doherty, who died in a car accident before the year, would have been a senior on the team.
The second-place state trophy is the first of any kind for Shepherd since it placed third in 2022. Florence (19-9) also earned its first state trophy since 2022, when it won the crown, by taking third.
Montana
Job Seekers: University of Montana Hosting Career Fair Tuesday
Even if you’re not seeking employment, you might want to check out one of the awesome new facilities on campus!
But for those of you looking for the right job, over 50 positions are available to qualified applicants. So here’s a great opportunity to explore what’s in store for those interested in being part of the University of Montana team. Positions in dining, athletics, facility services, housing and more will be represented.
CAMPUS-WIDE HIRING EVENT
UM News Service tells us that the University of Montana is inviting all job seekers to campus for a career fair, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Tuesday, June 4. The fair will he held outside UM’s new Dining Center on the west end of the Oval. Representatives from UM Human Resource Services will provide guidance on the recruitment process and answer any questions about job openings currently listed.
And yes, UM Campus Dining is among those seeking qualified applicants. Here is what Kacey Gardipee with Residential Dining loves about the facility and personnel:
“UM Campus Dining provides an inclusive culture, great work-life balance and wonderful co-workers. Working for UM Campus Dining gives you and your family the best benefits in Missoula! Looking to further your culinary career? The new dining center offers seven micro-concepts showcasing cuisines from around the country and world.”
In anticipation of the grand opening this summer, UM Campus Dining, the event sponsor, is looking to fill over 24 positions across campus. Tours of the new dining center, which will open to students and visitors in August, will be provided every hour.
OTHER POSITIONS WORTH EXPLORING
In addition to dining positions, the campus-wide hiring event will feature over 50 career opportunities, including in UM Athletics, Housing, Facility Services and others.
BENEFITS ABOUND FOR EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS
Employment at UM comes with numerous benefits, including extensive health coverage, free shift meals for Campus Dining employees, partial tuition waivers for employees or their immediate family members, opportunities for advancement, retirement plans and a high standard of professionalism.
The University of Montana is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
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