Idaho vet wins $1 million raffle

Idaho Lottery officials say a World War II and Korean War veteran is the winner of a special $1 million raffle held on New Year’s Eve.

Bob Chester, a 79-year-old retired U.S. Marine, bought the winning ticket Nov. 11, 2007 – Veterans Day.

Chester said he bought some tickets and then went fishing. On Dec. 31, the day of the drawing, he checked the lottery Web site around midnight to learn that his ticket, No. 002655, was the winner.

Chester served two tours of duty in the Marine Corps, the first during the end of World War II and the second during the Korean War. After taxes, he wins $672,000.

Kalispell

Kicking moose may be killed

A cow moose that kicked two snowmobiles north of Columbia Falls and later refused to budge for a trail groomer will be killed if it exhibits further aggressive behavior, state wildlife officials said.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman John Fraley said tranquilizing moose doesn’t work well, so moving it isn’t a likely option.

Fraley said a snowmobiler came upon a cow moose in the Canyon Creek area Saturday and the moose kicked the sled and put its hoof through the hood.

The moose kicked the side of another sled before running off.

“This isn’t typical behavior of a moose,” Fraley said. “Even with a calf they wouldn’t typically attack a snowmobile.”

A groomer smoothing trails in the same area reported that he came upon a moose that refused to budge, despite the noise of the machine.

Fraley said if Fish, Wildlife and Parks receives additional reports of similar aggressive behavior, the agency will try to find the moose and kill it.

KETCHUM, Idaho

Cell tower sought near Galena

The U.S. Forest Service could decide by February whether to allow a 90-foot-tall cell phone tower to be built within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Galena Summit, offering cell phone coverage to a popular region in central Idaho.

Sara Baldwin, a ranger with the recreation area, said Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor Jane Kollmeyer is expected to make the decision next month. The decision would be followed by a 45-day appeal period.

State Route 75 climbs to 8,701-foot Galena Summit and is a favored route for tourists. The area is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

The proposed cell tower would be designed to look like an evergreen tree and would be built just north of Route 75. A 968-square-foot equipment building would also be part of the site, to be enclosed with a fence.

BOZEMAN

Wolves shot for killing calves

Federal trappers shot three wolves on New Year’s Eve, after three calves were killed by wolves on private property in the Big Hole Valley northwest of Wisdom.

USDA Wildlife Services confirmed the calves were killed by wolves on December 29th.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wolf management specialist Liz Bradley said it appears the Mussigbrod pack was involved in the depredations.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks authorized federal trappers to kill three wolves. They were shot Dec. 31 on the property near the site where the calves were killed.

Three wolves remain in the Mussigbrod pack.