Montana News Roundup: Rash of Flight Accidents in the Flathead

Four people have now died in aviation accidents in the Flathead in less than a month, marking one of the deadliest stretches that part of the state has seen in several years.

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino says the latest death happened yesterday afternoon, when a small plane crashed at Ryan Field in West Glacier. The sheriff says the plane flipped at the end of the runway, killing the pilot, who was the only one on board.

That crash came just a little over 24 hours after a single-engine turboprop crashed at the Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon. The Daily Interlake reports that federal investigators have initially indicated the Socata developed engine problems on final approach, veering across the runway and smashing into parked planes, which subsequently caught fire. The pilot and three passengers had only minor injuries.

Federal officials are investigating what caused another crash, also at Ryan Field on July 26th, that killed two Washington men.

      The fourth accident didn't directly involve an aircraft, but a skydiver killed when colliding with another jumper over Lost Horse Prairie.

Will Missoula's new property approach make a difference?

Other cities are expected to be watching as Missoula leaders try a new effort to sell city properties, with one of the key goals to attract developers interested in helping with the city's housing crunch.

The City Lands Redevelopment Initiative announced last week has identified several properties, 45 acres in all, where the city is committed to being more flexible in approving a deal, especially if it helps housing.

"Not all 45 acres are going to go forward at the same moment," explains Mayor Andrea Davis. "And I think it's exactly that. It's looking at over the course of the next several years, what makes more sense to put energy into in order to meet more community goals".

City Councilman Mike Nugent says the idea is to try a new approach.

"Where we might not immediately solve a housing issue because we sell a piece of property that the city owns, but that might help us unlock a different thing, or a step on the ladder, or a partnership with somebody that helps us achieve a goal. Or maybe selling property helps us, you know, do something like improve services at the city or improve the location that we're in or something like that."

     The policy could come into play soon, with indications that at least properties may be close to a deal with developers, one near Southgate Mall, and the other in the Old Library Block, plus the new hotel on the Riverfront Triangle.

Outfitter facing charges in grizzly shooting

A change of plea hearing is now set for early September for an outfitter who's facing federal charges for shooting a grizzly bear in the Highwood Mountains in late May.

Prosecutors have accused Bryant Mikkelson of Timber Mountain Outfitters of failing to report shooting a grizzly while he was hunting for black bears. But they've also offered him a plea agreement.

Judge closes Flathead embezzling case

A Kalispell woman accused of stealing almost half a million dollars from a family-owned business will spend 14 months in prison.

59-year-old Rita Ann Pierce pled guilty to wire fraud in March and was sentenced last week.

Prosecutors say Pierce, the bookkeeper for Pierce Manufacturing, was caught because the owners couldn't figure out why they were losing money, gradually stealing the cash over a 4-year period.