Residents within the Missoula Rural Fire District will have the opportunity to vote for or against a mill levy increase. Absentee ballots will be mailed on April 21st to voters who have signed up for them. Voting at polling places will be on May 6th.
     •    The amount of the proposed mill levy increase is 10.04 mills
     •    If passed, the property tax for the owner of a $100,000 home would increase $13.14 annually; for a $200,000 home $26.29 annually
     •    If passed, the mill levy would retain 6 career firefighters whose pay is now funded by a grant that will expire in September
     •    The additional manpower now provided by the 6 firefighters as well as voluntary work week increases by all other MRFD firefighters ensure that at least 2 firefighters will respond to each emergency within the peak call period of 7AM to 7PM
     •    The increased response capability has enabled an increase in fire protection rating that has lowered homeowner insurance policy premiums for most providers (check with yours)
     •    If the mill levy does not pass, career firefighter staffing at each of the MRFD stations will be reduced
Your vote is important!!
-Bonner Milltown Community Council

An INVITATION to an "Earth Day Weekend" Matinee of "BEARS"
 
Come to a special afternoon showing of the Disney movie "Bears"  (documentary, non-animated) Saturday, April 19, 4:00 pm at the Carmike 12, 3640 Mullan Road (Reserve St.) Tickets are $5.75; buy your tickets at the door or online through fandango.com 
 
First 30 "Bears" ticketholders get a special bear-related door prize (one per family). Pick up at the table in the lobby.
 
Bear experts will introduce the movie and answer questions afterwards.  Bear safety information will be available. More info at  http://bearapple.org
 
Sponsored by the Rattlesnake Creek Watershed Group, Friends of 2 Rivers, Grant Creek, Defenders of Wildlife, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Ninemile Wildlife Workgroup, and the Bear Aware Campaign.

The frigid temperatures and deep snow we "enjoyed" in the communities of the confluence in the winter of 2013-14 created a common experience shared with Lt. John Mullan and his expedition at Cantonment Wright in the winter of 1860-61. Located about where Harold's Club now stands, the site provided perfect access for building a bridge across the Big Blackfoot River. It also provided perfect exposure to cruelly cold Blacfoot winds.

We all drive on the Mullan Road and see the statue regularly, but few know "the rest of the story." That can change May 2-4 as the Mullan Road Conference 2014 comes to Missoula. The program features sites along the Mullan Road in the Clark Fork valley east of the Confluence. Find out about the talks and tour and register at Mullan Road Conference 2014.