2, SECTION GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE WWW.GREATFALLSTRIBUNE.COM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 Three members still want to leave co-op By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer A federal bankruptcy case involving a Billings-based electric co-op continued Tuesday, with three of the co-op's six member systems still straining to leave. Southern Montana Electric Generation Transmission Cooperative filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October. Its six members include five rural electric coops Yellowstone Valley, Tongue River, Beartooth, Fergus and Mid-Yellowstone and the city of Great Falls' electric utility arm, Electric City Power. Half of Southern Montana's members still want to leave the umbrella cooperative, even though an independent trustee, Lee Freeman of Livingston, is now running it. "Everyone's trying a different particular angle," Great Falls City Commissioner Bob Jones said after the Tuesday afternoon hearing in 1 Billings before federal Bankruptcy Judge Ralph B.
Kirscher. On Tuesday, Kirscher took under advisem*nt a request by Yellowstone Valley Electric to resume its lawsuit against Southern Montana, which was halted by the bankruptcy filing. The co-op argued that it should be able to resume the trial in its quest to leave Southern Montana for good. Freeman argued against allowing Yellowstone Valley, which buys more than onethird of Southern Montana's power, to pursue legal issues in state court. Freeman and his attorney, John Parks, have urged co-op members to be patient while the trustee whips up a plan to keep Southern Montana going for long term.
"Freeman admitted buying electricity now for $10 (a megawatt hour)," said Jones, who attended Tuesday afternoon's hearing with Great Falls Mayor Michael Winters and City Attorney James Santoro. Jones added that Yellowstone Valley wanted out of Southern Montana first because it opposed construction of a proposed coal-fired power plant. The Beartooth co-op filed a motion earlier this month to have its contract with Southern Montana invalidated by Kirscher, based, in part, on regulation of some of its customers by the Wyoming Public Service Commission. Great Falls wants out in part because the coal plant was never built, Jones added. Instead, Southern Montana built a natural gas-powered plant east of the city.
The plant's first 40-megawatt phase is completed, but the plant rarely runs amid a glut of power in the Pacific Northwest. Santoro said he was pleased that while Freeman was on the stand Tuesday he conceded that PPL, which previously supplied Southern Montana with power, had picked off some of Electric City Power's customers. Santoro said those customers included Great Falls Public Schools, Benefis Health System and Barretts Minerals of Dillon. Santoro added that another group, called Independent Electricity Supply Service, which was formed by officials connected with Southern Montana, also swiped city customers, including Montana Refining General Mills and some members of a small electric customer pilot program the city eliminated. Santoro said such information should help squelch "this perception that the city of Great Falls gave away customers." Great Falls has lost $7 million on its energy venture, and may eventually lose as much as $10 million total, city officials have said.
Gov. Schweitzer to appear on Letterman tonight In the wake of a new direct flight to Montana from the New York City area, Gov. Brian Schweitzer is in the Big Apple, promoting Big Sky Country on big rigs and speaking about the Treasure State on late-night TV. According to a news release, Schweitzer is in New York City promoting Montana as a premier vacation destination for this summer's upcoming travel season. His visit to the Big Apple coincides with a soon-tobegin direct United flight every Saturday from Newark Liberty International Airport to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
The flights leave New Jersey at 8:25 a.m. and arrive in Bozeman at 11 a.m. every Saturday from June 9 through Sept. 1. Semi-trucks wrapped in picturesque natural landscapes and iconic Montana wildlife will begin traveling through New York's boroughs next week to help coax potential travelers to Montana, according to the release.
To kick-off the promotion, Schweitzer spent Tuesday in Times Square in one of the big rigs, handing out free promotional items from Montana such as beef and bison jerky, and huckleberry jam. "Who will be able to resist the lure of Montana when they see it pass by them on 48-foot moving billboards? With this new direct flight, we're giving oter friends from the New York area convenient access to the most spectacular places and experiences they'll encounter in the lower 48 states," Schweitzer said in the release. "And we'll deliver it with our customary western hospitality." The promotion includes 11 vinyl-wrapped truck trailers with compelling Montana images traveling across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Islands, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Montana for a minimum of three years. Additionally, Schweitzer also will appear on the "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight on CBS to talk about what Montana has to offer tourists. Hyslop trial: Opening arguments today neys for the prosecution and defense questioning potential jurors about their attitudes and opinions about the criminal justice system in general.
Hyslop's main defense attorney, Larry LaFountain, ended the day' in the middle of his line of questioning to a couple dozen potential jurors at about 5 p.m. Most of the jurors confirmed that it would not be right to convict the wrong person in the case, when LaFountain posed that question. He also asked what they thought justice for October Perez would look like. One juror said the best outcome would be for the right person to be found guilty. "It's hard for me to wrap my mind around a 2-yearold deserving that," one STATISTICS BIRTHS BROWN Son born Tuesday to Kendrea and William Brown of Great Falls.
JOHANNES Son born Tuesday to Karie and Eric Johannes of Great Falls. RAWSON Son born Monday to Ali and Kevin Rawson of Great Falls. potential juror said in contemplating the nature of Perez's death. The girl died of massive injuries to her head. Earlier Tuesday, Deputy Cascade County Attorney Susan Weber informed the juror pool that Hyslop had a constitutional right not to testify in the trial and asked if any of the potential jurors would hold it against him if he chose not to testify.
No one indicated that they would. District Judge Julie Macek stopped LaFountain in the middle of his questioning once the hearing reached 5 p.m. LaFountain said he would continue asking questions for about an hour this morning. Macek said the court would move quickly to seat a final jury for the case so that opening arguments PUBLIC RECORDS Son born Tuesday to Nicole Smith and Marcus Taylor of Great Falls. LOTTERY To check current winning numbers in Montana Lottery games, call 406- 444-5825 or go online to www.montanalottery.com.
OBITUARIES could begin sometime this morning. The jury will be made up, of 12 regular jurors and three alternates who will sit in on the case but only deliberate a verdict if one of the 12 regular jurors is unable to continue. According to court documents, the prosecution has identified close to 70 potential witnesses it may call during the course of the trial. The defense reserves the right to cross-examine all of those witnesses, and may even call them again while presenting its case. Hyslop's attorneys identified 54 potential expert witnesses in its own filings, though it is unlikely that the attorneys will call all of those witnesses.
The trial is scheduled to last all this week, and also is scheduled for all next week on Macek's calendar. SHELTER SPOTLIGHT MISSY Gray and white domestic short hair Pet ID: 120246 Great Falls Animal Shelter 406-454-2276 Elks, Methodist church, Shrine member dies Leon H. Shelton By Tribune Staff Continued from 1M BILLINGS Leon H. Shelton, 100, formerly of the Stanton and Denton area, died of natural causes Saturday, April 21, at Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings. Shelton Shelton The family is planning a celebration of his life in Denton on June 30, 2013.
He was born Feb. 19, 1912, at the family home in Stanford to John Henry and Anice Lucinda Cady Shelton. Leon grew up on the family homestead north of Denton. He attended Coyote Bench and Smart elementary schools, and Stanford and Denton high schools. On May 25, 1934, he married Eva Ruth Kitchell in Coffee Creek.
Together they raised (g OBITUARIES Robert D. Vischer Robert Vischer, 97, died of natural causes Wednesday, March 28, at his home. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Saturday in Carter Cemetery, with a recepVischer tion to follow at Carter Community Hall. Benton Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Robert was born Nov. 4, 1914, in Great Falls to Edna S. Vischer and Arthur J. Vischer. He was raised on the family homestead at Floweree.
He attended grade school in Floweree and later high school in Fort Benton until the 11th grade. He worked miscellaneous farm-related jobs in the Carter and Floweree areas until the mid-1930s when he, with other relatives, started the Carter Toonerville Station at the site of the current Carter Tavern. During these depressed times, he also hunted coyotes extensively in winters with his father-in-law, Bill Moiser, for extra income. began working for the Greely elevator company in the mid-1930s. He married Monzola Mosier in 1935.
He became manager of the Greeley Elevator in the '40s, had two children, Karen and Willie. In the late 1940s, the family moved to his present home site, just outside of Carter, and began farming with his father-in-law, Bill Mosier. He loved farming and, in his spare time, hunted and fished with area friends and relatives. He supported his daughter Karen in her high school rodeo participation, and during that time became involved in cow-cutting competition. They had their third child, Bobbie Sue, in 1958.
In 1965, he started a Ski-Doo snowmobile dealership, which he operated into the late 1970s. During this time, he sold snowmobiles to area residents, took many snowmobile trips to the mountains with friends, and competed in many state snowmobile racing events with his family. He continued farming until his semi -retirement in 1979, at which time he began restoring antique vehicles, wagons and furniture. He continued to help out on the family farm by occasionally operating farm equipment into his mid-80s, and worked with antiques until his early 90s. He was active in the formation of the early Carter Rifle Club and Carter Volunteer Fire Department, was a member of the Carter School Board, assisted locally in the early March of Dimes efforts, and was a member of the Chouteau County Sheriff Posse, Elks, Shriners and Masons.
Survivors include daughters Karen Mitchell of Great Falls; Bobbie (Richard) Rossignol of Lolo; son William A. (Mary Ellen) Vischer of Carter; sister Betty Meyer of Fort Benton; brother William D. Vischer of Great Falls; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Monzola Vischer. Memorials are suggested to Carter Volunteer Fire Department, Fort Benton Memorial Ambulance Service or hospice.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries. John F. Zentner John F. Zentner, 85, of Great Falls, a U.S. Army veteran, retired school teacher and ranch hand in Montana and Canada, died of natural causes Saturday, April 21, at Peace Hospice.
At John's request, no services are planned. Cremation has taken place. Schnider Funeral Home handled arrangements. FUNERAL HOME An opportunity to laugh, to cry and to of the person who has passed away is what a MT-0000269832 O'Connor Funeral www.oconnorfuneralhome.com Serving Great Falls Mary Laird Mary (Nemec) Laird, 94, of Bozeman and formerly of Great Falls, died of natural causes Sunday, April 22, at a Bozeman care facility. A memorial service is Laird 10 a.m.
Saturday at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements. She is survived by son John Laird of Billings; daughters Meg Laird of Billings and Kathy Pollard of Belgrade; sister Margaret Manfred; two grandsons and two greatgrandsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, John (Jack) Laird. Sidney Longfellow ULM Sidney Longfellow, 61, of Ulm, died of natural causes Friday, April 20, in the Veterans Administration hospital in Seattle.
At his request, no funeral services are Longfellow planned. A military honors memorial service will be held at a later date. He is survived by his wife, Delores Longfellow; children Jeff and Megan Longfellow; siblings Lee and Al Longfellow; and six grandchildren. Annette Armstrong BABB Annette Arm- strong, 85, community health representative for the Blackfeet Tribe, died of natural causes Monday, April 23, at in Great Falls. Rosary services are 7 p.m.
Thursday at Armstrong Armstrong Ranch, weather permitting; otherwise, Rosary services will be in Babb Catholic Church. Funeral Mass is 4 p.m. Friday at the church, with burial to follow in Fisher Cemetery in St. Mary. Pondera Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Earl Armstrong daughter LeeAnn Armstrong Fox of Babb; sons Earl Jr. and David Armstrong of Babb; sister Burna Arnoux of Wapata, 11 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sons, Dale and Darrel Armstrong. Dorothy Eleanor Patterson Dorothy Eleanor Patterson, 83, a homemaker of Great Falls and formerly of Geraldine and the Fort Benton area, died of bladder cancer Tuesday, April 24, at Patterson her home. A memori- Patterson al service will be held at a later date.
Benton Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, William Patterson; daughter Julia Ann Patterson of Lafayette, sons James E. Patterson of Saratoga, Jack T. Patterson of Seattle, Jon W. Patterson of Belgrade, Jerald L.
Patterson of Great Falls and Joseph D. Patterson of West Palm Beach, 12 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. Robin G. Green Robin G. (Easton) Green, 46, of Great Falls, died of breast cancer Monday, April 23, in Great Falls.
Arrangements are pending at Schnider Funeral Home. celebrate the specialness funeral service is all about. families for generation 453-7257 Iola Katzenberger Iola (Young) Katzenberger, 86, of Great Falls, died of natural causes Sunday, April 22, at a local health care facility. A memorial service is 3 p.m. Saturday at O'ConKatzenberger nor Memorial Chapel.
Iola is survived by sons Russell Burg of Billings, and Stephen and Gerald Burg of Great Falls; stepsons Ray Katzenberger of Missoula and Kevin Katzenberger of Billings; stepdaughter Dalene Bartle of Taylorsville, N.C.; brothers John Young of Wenatchee, Lawrence Young of Apache Junction, Lloyd Young of Tacoma, and Lee Young of Florida; 17 grandchildren; and 31 She was preceded in death by her husbands, Eugene Burg and Robert "Bob" Katzenberger. George Gilbert Skaer George Gilbert Skaer, 70, of Great Falls, chose to end his own life Monday, April 23, in Great Falls. Arrangements are pending at Schnider Funeral Home. SIGN ONLINE GUESTBOOKS Visit www.greatfallstribune.com to read tributes and share your thoughts about the deceased. FUNERAL SERVICES Te DAY BREMER A funeral service for Phyllis I.
Bremer, 90, of Fairfield will be held TODAY at 11:00 AM at St John's Lutheran Church, 5300 9th Ave South, Fairfield, with Pastor Gerald Paul officiating and burial to follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Condolences to the family may be left at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com. Croxford Funeral Home MEDVEC A funeral liturgy for William A. "Bill" Medvec, 87, of Great Falls, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday (TODAY), April 25, 2012, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Dick Schlosser presiding.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.schniderfuneralhome.com. Schnider Funeral Home four children, farming in the Stanford and Denton area, and operating Leon's Lockers in Denton. They moved to Billings in 1972, where he worked at the Conoco Refinery for a number of years before retiring. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Billings, Al Bedoo Shrine, Masonic Lodge No. 104, the Elks Lodge and the Moose Lodge.
He loved hunting and fishing, and had a lifelong interest in music playing the harmonica and fiddle and dancing every chance he had. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva (Billie); daughter Bobbie Fekete; his parents; brother Jim; and sisters Lola Klaue and Loretta LeMire. His is survived by son Mike Shelton of Billings; daughters Candace Nelson of Plymouth, and Wendy Sire of Great Falls; 15 grandchildren; and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren. He loved life and lived each day to the fullest. He celebrated his 100th birthday, attended the Shrine Circus and rode a horse, all just weeks before his death.
The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful people at Eagle Cliff Manor for their kind and loving care. They became part of his family. Memorials can be designated to Denton United Methodist Church. Thank You to the Rainbow Retirement Home for the Fundraiser for Larry on Friday, April 13, 2012 We truly appreciate all the food, cards, donations by all the residents, employees and guests. We really had a good time this event will always be remembered A Special to Tina the Administrator.
Thank you, Teresa, Larry and the family MT-0000870040.
