Montana News Roundup: Search Continues for Anaconda Bar Killer

UPDATE: Monday 2 pm

Authorities are continuing to express optimism that they're on the track of the man accused of killing four people at an Anaconda bar, even as the manhunt extends through a 4th day.

Michael Brown vanished after killing the server and three patrons at the Owl Bar, next door to where he lived, on Friday morning. Law enforcement still believes he fled into the mountains west of Anaconda.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen tells us the task force of local, state, and federal officers continues search efforts on the ground, with air support, leading to a "couple" of credible sightings yesterday.

Original post:

The search for the man who gunned down four people in an Anaconda bar will move into its 4th day this morning, as a massive task force continues efforts to find Michael Brown.

Brown has been on the run since the killings on Friday morning at the Owl Bar. Sunday, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced the identities of the victims. He named them as the server, 64-year-old Nancy Kelly, and the customers, 74-year-old Tony Palm, 70-year-old David Leach, and 59-year-old Daniel Baille.

Knudsen has said there's been "tremendous cooperation" from federal agencies like the FBI and the U.S. Marshall Service in the manhunt for Brown, with a total of 250 officers involved in the dragnet over the weekend.

"We want to find this guy. This is a dangerous individual who has committed an absolutely heinous crime against this community and these victims."- Montana AG Austin Knudsen

He expects the focus of the effort will begin to shift now, with some of those local responders returning to their own areas, with the feds taking over the case with a continued fugitive search.

An interim award of $7500 dollars is being offered for information leading to Brown's arrest. And a federal tip line has been set up at 1-877-WANTED2.

Blackfoot finally gets fishing restrictions

One of the most famous trout rivers in Montana is finally joining the long list of waterways shut down because of low water, with the Blackfoot River going under "hoot owl" restrictions over the weekend.

The order from Montana FWP took effect Saturday, and limits fishing for the entire length of the river after 2 pm in order to all fish a chance to stay in colder, deeper polls. The Blackfoot was among the last to go under restrictions.

     Almost all other rivers in the western half of the state are restricted right now because of the higher water temperatures and low streamflows this summer.

READ MORE: "Hoot Owl" Hitting the Economy

Brace for big healthcare increases

If you thought healthcare was expensive before, what's coming in Montana could be even more shocking, with two key providers looking for increases of 25% or more.

The Montana Free Press checked the preliminary proposals released by federal officials Friday and found that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana is asking for a 28% bump, with Montana Health Cooperative requesting 25% more. The actual rates will vary according to the plan you have.

      By comparison, last year's changes were in the single digits.

Slower wildfire starts

The pace of wildfire starts eased somewhat yesterday, after nearly two dozen additional fire starts from the last round of thunderstorms Friday and Saturday. The major fires remain in Western Montana, although some fires have been burning just east of the Divide, and in Eastern Montana as well.

The largest fire on the state's list, the Pryor Dump Fire, is 70% contained at 955 acres. The Budda Ranch fire in the Mission Valley was completely contained over the weekend. The Observation Point Fire south of Hamilton is also 100% contained.

Train hits truck

A close call for a truck driver near Wordon. Montana Highway Patrol is reporting that a grain truck was hit by a train late Sunday afternoon in a collision on Highway 312. Grain was spilled, but no one was hurt.

Billings strike continues

Union attention will continue to be focused on Billings this week, where 20 employees of Boise Cascade walked out last week, complaining management at Boise Cascade wasn't offering a "fair contract." Teamsters Local 190 is calling for the company to return to the bargaining table.