Hit and run leaves Lincoln horse fatally injured

LINCOLN — A horse named Harley was struck by a vehicle on Stonewall Creek Road and managed to make his way back to the Youderian Ranch shop by the following afternoon with a compound fracture and six inches of bone sticking out of his lower leg, an injury that meant he had to be put down.

Tracks indicated someone slid, overshot the corner, went off the road and apparently hit the horse with the bumper while backing around to get back on the road, at about 9:30-10:30 Saturday, Nov. 24.

"It's sickening that someone could leave an animal like that," the horse owner's daughter-in-law Julie Zarske told the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch.

About those bears ...

A recent poll of alternative Montana tourism slogans submitted by readers produced an overwhelming favorite in Richard Matoon's "Montana: We're pretty sure the grizzly thing is under control." – Richard Matoon (27%)

Matoon's slogan got 27 percent of the votes in the readers' poll.

The next most popular, with 12 percent of the vote each, were "Montana: Land of Remote Possibilities" from Peter Briant of Stockett, "Worst Petting Zoo Ever" from John McGrew of Missoula and "Get Lost in Montana (Our bears need to eat)" from Mark Mathison.

More:Big, beautiful and bear-y full of tourists: Readers suggest slogans for Montana

Doing the Roosevelt shuffle

GREAT FALLS — On Jan. 2, 2019, Longfellow Elementary students will start attending school at Roosevelt Elementary. 

Roosevelt has been empty since the new Giant Springs Elementary opened in August. Longfellow will be demolished and a new school built on the same site. To accommodate busing schedules, regular school day will be 8:55 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., the school district reported.

Glacier County can't spike protested taxes

CUT BANK — District Court Judge Gregory G. Pinski ruled that Interim Glacier County Treasurer Don Wilson must accept tax payments with the designation "protested."

Pinksi ordered the county to give notice to taxpayers who tried to pay their taxes under protest and were denied that their tax protest will be accepted and tell all county taxpayers that if they wish to pay taxes under protest they have 30 days from the postmark of the notice to do so.

On Dec. 20, the judge will hear objections to his order, the Cut Bank Pioneer Press reported.

Animal shelter strained by sudden influx after Havre shelter reaches capacity

FORT BENTON — With the Havre Animal Shelter at capacity, Dedman Foundation Animal Shelter has been stepping up to help with Hill County rescues.

The foundation also spent hours rescuing a dog and eight puppies from under an abandoned house in Rocky Boy. The shelter went from four dogs in early October to 21 dogs, plus dozens of cats and kittens, by the shelter's Black Friday adoption special.

"We want them to be home for the holidays. We have amazing animals," director Stacia Fuzesy told the River Press.

Whitefish starts skiing Thursday

WHITEFISH — This year's ski season starts Dec. 6 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The resort needs more snow, however. The summit has received 47 inches of snow this winter for a settled base of 33 inches. The lower mountain has only gotten 9 inches to date. Check conditions at skiwhitefish.com.

Christmas tree shining in Chester

CHESTER — The Liberty County Chamber Christmas Committee is bringing back a Christmas tree to downtown Chester.

Next year the committee hopes to expand the town's Christmas decorations on Main Street and 1st Street East, the Liberty County Times reported.