1980-06-01 Char-Koosta News

              PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3
NEW MOON OF THE CAMAS
JUNE 1, X980
Good News And Bad News: The Ash Is Gone But Glacial Lake Missoula is on the Horizon
The biggest (and by now the oldest) news in these parts in the past several days has been the violent eruption on May 18 of Mount St. Helen's, a not-as-extinct-as-they-thought volcano in southwestern Washington. The phenomenon of nature, which has killed 30 to possibly 100 people so far, and irreversibly altered a good portion Washington state's topography, blew out so much eastward drifting ash that traces of it had been noted on the east coast by week's end.
DISTRICT MEETINGS: Constitution Postponed, Northern Tier Set Up
The informational district meetings concerning the controversial newest draft of the Tribal Constitution, scheduled for last month, were cancelled as the Flathead Reservation patiently sat out an unexpected invasion of volcanic ash (see above story). The meetings will be rescheduled at a later time.
Another round of special meetings has been set up for this week, though, when the Northern Tier Pipeline Company (NTPC) comes to town to explain the whys and wherefores of their proposed pipeline route across the reservation. Tribal engineers and geologists will be on hand to help NTPC experts answer technical questions. (See related story on page 2). The schedule is: ARLEE: Tuesday, June 3rd at the Salish Seniors Center ST. IGNA TIUS: Wednesday, June 4th at the Community Center
POLSON: Thursday, June 5th at the Turtle Lake Community Center
• All Meetings Will Begin At 7 p.m. •
Here in Montana, the state was effectively shut down for most of three-and-a-half days when an air pollution crisis was declared and all citizens, except those employed by or needing the services of essential businesses (police, hospitals, news media, food and drug stores and restaurants) were all but commanded to stay indoors for health and safety reasons. Major state highways were closed and citations issued to non-essential businesses that opened despite the shutdown order.
On the Flathead Reservation, an eerie silence and brooding haze fell over the valley as the Mission Mountains were obscured for a week ~ first by the gray-brown ash, then by five day's steady rainfall.
Although the prayed-for rain was at first welcomed by valley residents because it served to settle the ash (the rain was indeed caused by the fallout, some say, as the volcanic particles naturally seeded the clouds), insult was added to injury when the wet stuff didn't quit falling, causing three more days of cabin fever. Before the rain dribbled to a seasonal sprinkle, it had washed out uncounted county roads and bridges statewide, and was last seen receeding gently from various homeowners' living rooms into the creeks where it belonged.
(Continued on page 3)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
"Ammo" for NTPC Meetings................Page 2
Mother's Day..............................Page 6
Letters to the Editor........................Page 7
Health Corner.............................Page 9
June Calendar...........................Page 13
Catching Up On Council Business..........Page 16