Scott Shannon/KYSS

Even though it’s signal only covers a parking lot and half a city block on South Reserve Street, this is a pretty spicy little radio station!

I was craving something spicy for lunch today so went up the road to Taco Johns.  While waiting in the drive-thru line I noticed some funny call letters on a sign perched on top of a garbage next to me.  KGAS…haha!

So I tuned my radio to 99.3 FM to check it out and what do you know, Mexican Fiesta music!  Those kind of tunes are not something I’m into unless a vacation takes me down to Cabo, and then only after a few cervezas.   But I’ll tell ya what, I found myself enjoying it while sitting there in the parking lot getting my grub on with something called a “Grilled Taco.”

I don’t know if this is the only restaurant in town with it’s own radio station, but good on Taco Johns for offering customers a unique experience in the drive-thru!

Hmm…do you think they take requests?

DougDillard.net / Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Today was a sad day for the music world. One country music inspiration and legendary banjo player passed at the age of 75. Fans also learned of the death of the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer. And while Summer’s death was less directly related to the country music world, it was no less a reason to mourn — especially for Dolly Parton. Get those stories and more in today’s Taste of Country Daily Roundup.

Each day, we tie up the day’s news in a handy little list so you can get up to date at the click of your mouse. Also included in our Roundup, find out what big contribution Taylor Swift made to music plus other stories from around the web — like Donna Summer’s best videos and an impromptu concert on a plane. Oh, and be sure to check out who bought Ellen DeGeneres’ $39M estate.

Today on Taste of Country:

Doug Dillard, Legendary Banjo Player, Dead at 75
Donna Summer Dead: Country Artists Share Thoughts About Queen of Disco
Dolly Parton Reflects on the Passing of ‘Wonderful Singer’ Donna Summer
Taylor Swift Is the Most Powerful Country Artist, According to Forbes’ Celebrity 100
Alan Jackson Reveals Track Listing for ‘Thirty Miles West’
Gloriana Set to Perform in Upcoming ‘The Bachelorette’ Episode
Lady Antebellum Raise $285K to Help Rebuild Henryville
Most Anticipated Summer Tour – Readers Poll
Rascal Flatts’ ‘Changed’ Goes Gold
Edens Edge Reveal Track Listing for Self-Titled Debut Album
Win a Pair of Justin Boots Autographed by Stoney LaRue
Taylor Swift Donates $4M to Country Music Hall of Fame for Music Education

Taste of Country Also Recommends:

Disco Diva Donna Summer Dead at 63 – Watch Her Best Videos
Ryan Seacrest Buys Ellen DeGeneres’ Estate
Ronnie Wood Indicates Rolling Stones Will Tour in October 2012
Band’s Impromptu Concert Makes Delayed Flight Much Better
Facebook IPO Set to Help Bono Become World’s Richest Rock Star

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Donna Summer died on Thursday, and though she may be best known as the Queen of Disco, the ‘Last Summer’ singer’s passing and an outpouring of support from country music artists proves the influence of an icon can transcend any genre.

“So sad to hear of Donna Summer passing,” Sara Evans tweeted Thursday after learning of her sudden death. “I absolutely love her music! Had her albums as a child and memorized them! She’ll be missed!” Billy Ray Cyrus also took to his official Twitter page to mourn Summer’s passing. “RIP #Donna Summer LEGEND !!! Your music will live forever,” tweeted the singer.

Even in the wake of what most would consider a tragic loss, Jimmy Wayne chose to keep things positive, focusing on the contributions Summers made in the music world. “Did you know that #DonnaSummer was the producer & conductor on ‘We are the World,’” Wayne posted, referring to the massively successful charity single.

Born LaDonna Gaines in Boston in 1948, Summer first charted with ‘Sally Go ‘Round the Roses’ in 1971 under the name Donna Gaines. The singer soon changed her stage name and overhauled her sound before scoring a No. 2 single on the Hot 100 chart  in 1975 with the overtly sexual, ‘Love to Love You Baby.’ Summer earned an additional 13 Top 10 singles spanning 14 years, including the No. 1 hits ‘MacArthur Park,’ ‘Hot Stuff,’ ‘Bad Girls’ and ‘No More Tears (Enough is Enough),’ a duet with Barbra Streisand.

Summer also had connections to country music — at least as a songwriter. The one-time Nashville resident penned the song ‘Starting Over Again’ with her husband, and the track later became a chart-topped for both Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. According to the Boot, Summer was even a Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum board member.

A statement issued on behalf of her family reads, ”Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith. While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.”

“Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time,” writes her family.

Donna Summer died at the age of 63 after a battle with lung and breast cancer. She is survived by her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, as well as her daughter Mimi from her previous marriage.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

If you’re a Verizon Wireless customer who was grandfathered in with an unlimited data plan after the company eliminated the option for new customers, enjoy it while it lasts — the company will be moving you to a tiered plan soon.

Speaking at the JP Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom conference on Wednesday, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said customers with unlimited 3G data access will be required to switch to a data-share plan after transitioning to the company’s 4G LTE service.

“LTE is our anchor point for data share. So, as you come through an upgrade cycle and you upgrade in the future, you will have to go on to the data share plan,” Shammo said. “Everyone will be on [it]. A lot of our 3G base is on unlimited… [and] when they migrate off 3G they will have to go to data share.”

So when will that happen and how much will it cost? The data share plan is scheduled to launch in mid-summer, but pricing details have yet to be announced.

[Fierce Wireless]

KW Thank You (Photo cortesy NickKC/7CBF/Flickr)

Two days ago KYSS FM listener Craig Petersen set a new record. He had more people wish him well on his birthday than we’ve ever seen before. It all started with his friends Hollie, Lyle, and Ronda’s family, and Ray & Cindy Francis. Quickly followed by cousins Carrie and the Bishops. His brother vacationing in “Jamaica mon” Rob  and family celebrated “another year of your continued journey of growing up.”  The kids sure do love their Dad. Jessica and Ann got in on the fun.  And last but hardly least his wife Windy, “Happy Birthday to my hero, my husband.”

The Craig & Al Morning show went back into the World Class Jukebox and found a song for Craig Petersen.

The boats ready for a day on the lake (Photo courtesy Shawnotron/Flickr)

Fishing season opens this weekend in Montana. The major rivers around here are open, with restrictions, year around but as of Saturday all the smaller streams and lakes will be open. The major rivers are pretty well “blown-out” with high water, so the lakes may prove to be your best bet. It’s always wise to check regulations and make sure you have a license.

The local sporting goods stores and fly shops all have up to date fishing information boards you can check before you head out. You can also get some info online.

Abbey Hendrixson/Flickr

Ok, so here’s the deal…

I’m moving my family here to Missoula from Spokane next month when the kids get out of school.  So I’m simply looking for a half way decent house we can rent.  Pretty simple, right?  Don’t answer too quickly!

Yes, there are a lot of places listed on Missoula property management company websites and Craigslist.  Even though the large majority of available homes on Craigslist are posted by property management companies and not private individuals, there’s no shortage of choices.

I plan for my wife to come over on a weekend so we could look at a couple of promising potential new homes together.  Then the entire bottom falls out of that plan as I try to arrange times with a few property management companies around town.  In just about every instance I was chuckled at and told in a somewhat demeaning tone, “we don’t work on weekends!”

Really??  What do you mean you don’t show rental homes on weekends?  A time when most people who work during the week can get out and do it.  A time when someone like my wife, looking to move to Missoula, can join me here to look at properties YOU are managing?

Granted, I’ve been a home owner for close to 20 years and speaking with a company managing rental properties is something new for me.  But I’m having real hard time wrapping my head around this.

To make matters even worse, I asked one of the people I spoke to if anyone ever calls and asks to see rental houses on the weekend.  She said, “no there isn’t”.

Are you kidding me?!?!  I call complete and utter you-know-what on that answer!  Missoula isn’t so small that the sidewalks roll up on the weekends.

Seeing no other option, I decide to make a weekday appointment to look at a rental.  On a Tuesday afternoon I take two hours off work and go without my wife.  When I arrive at the scheduled time so do fifteen other people.  The walk through was self guided and uncomfortable.  No one from the property management company was there.  The current tenant was totally caught off guard by the “cattle call” they had arranged.

Is there a rather large customer service issue here?

Has this happened to you?

Do you work for a property management company and can shed some light on this?

Am I missing something?

What do you think?

Please leave your comments below and I’ll post them in the near future.

Photo courtesy of Wagner's Home Furnishings.

He’ll be 60 years old next May, but is celebrating with a little facelift this year. No he’s not some Hollywood big shot, but he is somewhat of a Missoula celebrity. No, it’s not the mayor. In fact, it’s not a person at all. It is a well-known, and well-respected, local company. Wagner’s Home Furnishings is undergoing what you might call a face lift. They are getting a brand spanking new storefront.
In order to make this change, they took the entire front of their store off and built a brand new one. This renovation gives the store a more residential and homey feel, instead of a big box store feel. The new design reflects the arts and crafts design that Wagner’s has been known for.
They also want to make Wagner’s Home Furnishings the nicest place you ever shop. The goal for Wagner’s renovation was to reinvest in Missoula by using only local businesses, craftsmen and products. In all, Wagner’s employed 24 different local businesses to aid in the renovation. First Security Bank, Quality Construction and Gavin-Hanks Architects are just a few of the local companies they employed.
Wagner’s has been proudly serving Western Montana and Missoula by offering “quality home furnishings and excellent customer service since 1953.” They have “a sincere desire to help you make your home the nicest place you ever go.”
Wagner’s will be holding an open house to celebrate the completion of their new store front from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 17, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.

Dan Barbus/Flickr

What’s online is becoming more important than what’s on your resume!  You might be surprised to learn how many prospective employers search for you online after you’ve made the initial contact.

It’s funny how, in the radio industry at least, this time of year yields many new job opportunities.  If the same is true in other areas of the job market here in Missoula and you are in search of work, consider some online “house cleaning” before making contact with an employer.

What you’ll see in the video below is an revealing eye-opener!

Jason Merritt, Getty Images/Twitter

If it’s possible to become addicted to adopting animals, Miranda Lambert definitely has an addiction — and she might need rehab for the kind-hearted. According to the sassy songstress’ Twitter feed, she has welcomed yet another stray pup into the Shelton household.

Apparently, the furry black and white pup she rescued from the streets just a month ago wasn’t enough to fill the ‘Over You’ singer’s heart. On Tuesday, the singer shared the photo of this adorable black dog that she found, which she appropriately named after one of country music’s most legendary females.

“New puppy I found last week. Loretta! She will go to a new good home soon I hope. : ) or maybe she is already. Hehe,” Lambert tweeted. Although dozens of her 953,280 Twitter followers replied that they would take the sweet girl off of the country star’s hands, Lambert hasn’t mentioned finding a home (other than her own) for the latest canine addition.

Of course, people are starting to wonder how Lambert ends up with all of these strays. She answered the question that’s been burning up all of our minds when she conversed with Pistol Annies bandmate Ashley Monroe. Apparently, it’s because she’s magnetic — pups just come to her.

“@ashleymonroe said I have “dogdar”. They find me,” Lambert told Monroe. “And I hope I never see the people that dump them. For [their] sake. It won’t be pretty,” she added.

Let that be a lesson to any of you who have been tempted to abandon an animal: If you’re near Miranda Lambert, she’ll probably make the castoff her newest furry friend. And if she finds you, you better watch out!

[button href="http://tasteofcountry.com/hillary-scott-cute-pets/" title="See the Cutest Pets in Country Music" align="center"]

Source: TasteofCountry.com

booleansplit, Flickr

When you’re buying sunscreen, do you look for words like ‘waterproof,’ ‘sweatproof’ and ‘sunblock?’ If so, don’t bother — they may not be as bulletproof as they seem.

Last year, the FDA mandated that sunscreen manufacturers had to stop using the above descriptions because no product is truly waterproof or sweatproof, and even the best sunscreens don’t completely block harmful rays. And although the ban was supposed to be in place this summer, makers now have until this winter to comply.

Products claiming to be ‘waterproof’ or ‘sweatproof’ will have to prove it with standard testing and state exactly how long a product will stay on the skin after being exposed to water or perspiration.

In addition, terms like ‘sunblock’ will be replaced with ‘broad spectrum’ as long as a product has an SPF rating of at least 15 and protects the user from both UVA rays (associated with skin cancer) and UVB rays (which can cause sunburn).

That said, sunscreens on the shelves are still effective and the FDA encourages their use, saying, “The ingredients in FDA-approved sunscreens marketed today have been used for many years, and FDA has no reason to believe these products are not safe.”

[Time]

Best Wishes on Your Birthday from The Birthday Bunny (Photo courtesy YouTube)

Five KYSS Listeners have birthdays today;

• Ruth Odlin
• Tim Wilkinson
• Rich Hoffman
• Roger Harberts
• Bill Wall

Northern Flicker (Photo courtesy cbtx/Flickr)

It’s that time of years…bees are buzzing, and birds are building nests. We’ve got a pair of crows nesting in the top of a pine tree in the backyard and robins in the apple tree. Several years ago we had a pair of flickers nesting in the area. The male staking out his territory had our dog terrified. This bird would perch on the aluminum roof vent of our gas furnace and peck away. The sound would resonate down into the house, the dog was sure it was thunder and he couldn’t get to the basement fast enough. As the season progressed the pecking slowed down and the dog could relax.

Whether seeking a mate, marking their territory or just communicating with others, woodpeckers will drum on a hard surface, making as loud a noise as possible. Sometimes that hard surface is on a house, like the metal flashing around a chimney. Because of the construction of the bird’s skull it doesn’t get a headache from the pounding.

Because flickers and woodpeckers are protected by law there are few options available to a homeowner: curse at them (doesn’t really work), fix the hole in the side of the house after the nesting season (leave a hole all summer? don’t think so), or build a house for them hoping to lure them away (interesting).

There is a good book on the subject, “Woodworking for Wildlife,” by Carroll Henderson, published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It’s on the Internet as are the dimensions to the flicker house.

Thanks to Bruce Auchly of Montana Fish,Wildlife and Parks for this information.

Photo courtesy of My Tudut/Flickr

Did you know that honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. A mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Today’s scientists accept honey as a ‘Ram Ban’ (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases and can be used without side effects for any of these diseases. Today’s science also says that although honey is sweet, when taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not even harm diabetic patients.

HEART DISEASES: Eating a paste of honey and cinnamon powder and spreading it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eating it regularly for breakfast, reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and helps reduce the risk of heart attack. Regularly eating this paste can also help to strengthen the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients with this paste and found that it helps to revitalize the arteries and the veins that lose their flexibility and get clogged with age.

ARTHRITIS: In a recent research study conducted at Copenhagen University, it was found that when doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon honey and a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder before breakfast, within a week, (out of the 200 people or so treated) almost 73 patients were totally relieved of pain.

CHOLESTEROL: A mixture of two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder can strengthen the immune system and protects the body from many bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey contains various vitamins and iron in large amounts. The consistent use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained), which helps to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten can relieve acidity and help in the digestion of heavy meals.

WEIGHT LOSS: Every day a half hour before breakfast, and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. It is said to reduce the weight of even the most obese person when taken regularly.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is helpful in strengthening the body. Senior citizens who have taken honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts appear to be more alert and flexible.

These are just a few of the many ailments that honey and cinnamon are claimed to cure. For a more complete list go to http://fatalfacts.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F1308-facts-on-honey-and-cinnamon-it-is-found-that-a-mixture-of-honey-and-cinnamon-cures-most-diseases%2F.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.

SELF

If you aren’t a fan of Miranda Lambert, try reading her latest interview in Self Magazine. The bold country songstress lets loose with her interviewer, dishing about her body issues (or lack therof), her marriage to Blake Shelton and what it’s like to live on the road. This one is a must-read not just for country music fans, but for anyone who has struggled with their self image in the past.

Lambert is on the cover of the issue, and inside, dishes on everything from healthy eating, to exercise, to her ideal body size in a list dubbed 15 Things I’ll Never Apologize For.

“I don’t care about being stick-thin. I don’t want stuff to jiggle. Really skinny actresses make me hungry,” Lambert admits. “I see them and think, Honey, you need to eat! I’m lucky I don’t have to live like that. I feel my best when I’m a toned, not flabby, size 8. Women come up to me and say, ‘You’re beautiful and confident,’ and that makes me feel I can be, too.”

Of course, the ‘White Liar’ hitmaker isn’t only getting an ego boost from her fans. In the past, Lambert has been at the mercy of media scrutiny involving her sometimes fluctuating weight. When looking at old pictures of herself, Lambert probed her husband for answers about her body. “I asked Blake, ‘Dude, why didn’t you tell me I got fat?’” she spills. “He said, ‘That would go over like a lead balloon. It’s not my job to tell you you’re fat. It’s my job to tell you’re beautiful.’”

Like many people, Lambert says she “absolutely hates exercise,” but that she does it anyway to appease her trainer. “I love it afterward, of course,” she reveals. “But my trainer is so nice, I want to do push-ups to please him!”

Because she’s on stage night after night, she does get a pretty good workout rocking her guitar and prancing around the arena — but Mrs. Shelton watches what she eats, too, and has a chicken salad waiting for her after her action-packed shows. All that rocking out is bound to make a body tired, but the country songstress doesn’t give into the temptation to eat a greasy burger and fries.

“I always scarf down food after a show. But now, instead of eating a burger, I’ll have a grilled-chicken salad waiting for me,” she says. “And except for almonds and bananas, I don’t keep snacks on the bus. I don’t want Cheetos anywhere around me.”

But while the singer does what she can to stay fit, she’s not about to give up the things she truly loves in life. “I won’t give up what I enjoy to look perfect. I want to find a happy medium between feeling good about my body and still having a beer and some barbecue.”

She adds, “I drink Bacardi. My trainer, Bill, approves. I mean, he’d rather me not drink, but that’s not an option.”

So what’s Lambert’s favorite part of her body? Her butt. “I don’t mind having a big butt,” she says. “I actually like that about myself.” We can’t help but wonder if Blake agrees!

The new issue of Self is on newsstands now.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Photo courtesy of kapital/Flickr

Even with all of the sun, flowers and barbecues that we’ve been enjoying thanks to the warm weather we’ve had in Missoula recently, it didn’t truly feel like summer until I picked up my first Big Sky Brewing Co. Summer Honey six pack the other day.

I know some of you would probably disagree with me if I said it was the best summer microbrew in Missoula, but I don’t care. It’s the best summer microbrew in Missoula.

Add a cold glass of smooth, crisp Honey — with a twist of lemon, of course — to any summertime activity, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.

Its cool, refreshing taste conjures up memories of backyard cookouts, lazy days on the river and warm summer evenings dining on the decks and patios of my favorite Missoula restaurants.

Even if you’re not that into beer, I recommend giving it a try, especially if you need a change of pace from your standby summertime cocktail. Tasty as they may be, mojitos and margaritas just can’t compare to the versatility of this local favorite.

Since I consider myself somewhat of a Summer Honey connoisseur, I will give you my suggestions on how to enjoy this delicious seasonal brew.

Step One: Remove chilled pint glass from freezer.

Step Two: Pour cold beer into glass tipped at a 45-degree angle.

Step Three: Slice lemon; squeeze juice into beer and drop wedge into glass.

Step Four: Lift glass to lips.

Step Five: Drink and enjoy.

Brooke is a 2010 graduate of The University of Montana, where she ran track and cross country for the Grizzlies. She is currently working as a writer and editor in Missoula.