Montana News Roundup: Search Expands for Anaconda Killer

The task force searching for wanted killer Michael Brown is starting to modify their week-long search in Anaconda. Police Chief Bill Sather says that includes expanding the search perimeter to include the West Valley area, even into Anaconda itself. Sather says officers will be more visible and may be conducting interviews.

The chief says there's no change in the security risk. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen says officers are keeping up their guard, though, saying Brown is still dangerous.

"We absolutely have to assume that he's armed and extremely dangerous. This is clearly an unstable individual," Knudsen said Tuesday. "He's had access to numerous firearms in his home, and he used a firearm to commit this heinous series of crimes."

"We don't have specific information, but look, he was able to escape and get up in the mountains. We are absolutely operating under the assumption that he is armed and extremely dangerous." -Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen

     Sather asks people to call 9-1-1 or the tip line if they see anything suspicious. Tips can be called in using 9-1-1 or 1-877-WANTED2.

Community is doing its best during search

Anaconda residents are doing their best to carry on during this tense week. But as Tom O'Neill reports, the search means changes…

In light of last Friday's shooting in Anaconda and subsequent manhunt, the town's annual Smelterman's Day celebration, which had included a brewfest, a road race series, a social, swimming, and live music at many different venues this weekend, has been cancelled.  Community leaders at Discover Anaconda and elsewhere, along with local officials, state that the time is not right for a citywide celebration as an active manhunt continues and a community starts the healing process.

Skydiving accident latest in series of fatal mishaps

Flathead County authorities are continuing to investigate the latest fatal accident at the Lost Prairie skydiving center west of Kalispell. As we reported earlier, one diver was killed after colliding with another skydiver as multiple people were in free fall during a jump at the annual "Lost Prairie Boogie."

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino says the first skydiver made it to the ground with a deployed chute, but the victim died, even though their automatic chute system deployed. The diver was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity hasn't been released.

The accident is the latest in a series of fatalities at the annual event over the years. 3 skydivers were killed in falls between 2010 and 2019. And 5 people died when a plane crashed in May 2007.

Surplus land and tax ideas in Missoula today

It's a busy day for Missoula government leaders. This morning, Mayor Andrea Davis will brief reporters on new task force recommendations for the city to "strategically dispose of or redevelop City-owned properties to meet community needs", specifically improving options for housing.

This afternoon, Missoula County commissioners will hear what the public thinks about a proposal to ask voters to approve a nearly $2-million levy to help the county catch up on infrastructure projects, specifically replacing aging bridges and rebuilding roads. 

Can the Flathead Lake level problem be "fixed"?

Earlier this week, we reported that a 300% percent increase in rain through July means Flathead Lake will remain within a foot of "full pool" through August.

But the ongoing concerns over water levels in the past two seasons are prompting Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy to write a letter to the Department of the Interior. They thank the agency for temporarily waiving water release targets for the river below the Séliš Ksanka Qlispé Project, but say a permanent solution is needed.