The history of timber in Montana is one theme of a new city park that will come together along the Clark Fork River.Silver Park is slated to be a 14.5-acre stretch of greenery, art, trails and timber frame shelters in a district called the Old Sawmill District, at the old Champion Mill site.At an upcoming City Club Missoula meeting, city leaders and a member of the Timber Framers Guild will present plans for the park and the shelters, which will cover benches. City Club hosts the informational lunch forum on Friday, Feb. 15, at the DoubleTree Edgewater.

Viewer Comments On Snowmobiling Safety

I think that the same laws for drunk driving in a registered vehicle for road use should be the same for a snowmobile/ATV's/Jet skis, any of the "toys". I feel that ANYTHING operated by a motor, one of the above mentioned or even a ride on lawn mower, should have the same regulations as the vehicles used on the road ways(have you seen "cops"?). For goodness sake, you can be fined and ticketed for operating a boat impaired. Why? Is it just because it needs to be registered and licensed with the state like road use vehicles. Well if that's the case, then any motor driven "vehicle" should have the same regulations. It should be regulatory, as with motorcycles, to wear helmets on snowmobiles. Even though having one alcoholic drink doesn't put most people over the legal limit, it does impair you.

Literary arts: Solid foundation laid

For anyone desirous of a single volume for the study of Emancipation in Jamaican history, there is currently no better book. Thirteen 'heavyweight' intellectuals tackle the subject and yet there is no significant overlap. Indeed, every contribution enriches the reader.

Emancipation is the watershed experience of Jamaica as a slave society for centuries. Political independence is secondary because freedom is first for fulfilment of meaningfulness in life. What 1962 meant in essence was that the achieving of meaningful living became ours to decide and shape and achieve.

Rupert Lewis says this beautifully as he concludes his excellent exposition of Garvey's words immortalised lyrically by Marley: 'Emancipate yourself from mental slavery'. Lewis makes it clear that "issues of justice and economic opportunities for our people ...

China can build things. Why can't India?

India's top science and technology official is in China, making excuses about why his country's infrastructure is so shoddy. Shanghai has brilliant new skyscrapers and museums and parks and trains – and Bombay can't manage to have a decent airport. According to Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, it's all because of democracy. “There is a different model of growth in our country," Sibal told reporters in Beijing, according to this report from wire service PTI carried on Indian portal Rediff.com. “We can't, for example, build a Pudong overnight."

Well, neither did the Chinese. Pudong today is the result of more than a decade's worth of work and planning and investment. The place is hardly paradise; Pudong can feel overwhelming, especially along the district's broad boulevard.

Blunt's insurance plan suffers setback

Though he promised to work with legislators to retool Insure Missouri, what they pass is likely to be far different from his original blueprint. As a lame duck — he announced last month that he won't seek re-election — Blunt has lost some of his clout.

"The governor just took a beating from the House that he couldn't overcome," said Jorgen Schleimeier, a lobbyist whose clients include medical provider groups.

Blunt unveiled his program with much fanfare at a community health center in St. Louis in September. Long derided for kicking 100,000 adults off Medicaid in 2005, the governor drew praise from activists who represent low-income Missouri residents.

Initially, Blunt's plan would have covered custodial parents below the poverty line — for example, those earning less than $20,650 for a family of four.

Investigation of Nova Scotia girl's killing continues as two suspects ...

Many others flocked to the makeshift tribute, adding to a growing number of bouquets of flowers, dozens of stuffed animals and candles that flickered in the snow as tearful passersby stopped to pay their respects.

"I can remember the first time she walked into the playground," she said.

Dan Castellaneta cycles away from Homer

Meeting Dan Castellaneta was always going to be weird. When the hotel door opens and the man who plays Homer Simpson appears, it’s clearly impossible for him to look like Homer, talk like Homer or be washing down doughnuts with endless cans of beer – but hope springs eternal. Face to face with Castellaneta, however, that hope is softly dashed. It’s like telling a child there’s no Father Christmas, or realising your date won’t be calling back. The real Mr C is a slight, gently spoken man with fine, angular features. Like Clark Kent to Superman, he is mild-mannered, dapper and polite. Indeed, all he shares with his cartoon alter ego is a smattering of male-pattern baldness. When I spill some water, he doesn’t even say "Doh!" He reaches for a napkin and helps me mop it up while we make polite small talk.