Welcome to “Thursday Numbers” – and welcome to May! Thanks for stopping by!

If you are a first-time visitor, “Thursday Numbers” is the column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes spiked with a little sarcasm) just to make you smile or to make you shake your head.

This week I write about the sage grouse, Malmstrom AFB, unemployment, the “anchor tenant,” Mission Accomplished, my Twitter followers, Paul McCartney, Josh Huestis, Jameis Winston, the anniversary, KFC, Taco Bell’s beef, minimum wage, most visited stores in the USA, Ryan Zinke bus tour, Jon Tester, John Walsh, Steve Daines, B-1 bomber, and much more!

236,000,000

That’s how much ($236 million) the Federal government paid “to landowners in 11 states to preserve sage grouse habitat…” (Source)

Great googly moogly…for a bird?

3,860,000

The Great Falls Tribune reported Wednesday, “Malmstrom Air Force Base has received $2.86 million for upgrades identified through the Force Improvement Program launched by the Air Force as a result of the cheating investigation at Malmstrom.

They also reported, “An additional $1 million for quality-of-life improvements has also been distribute [sic] to each of the three missile wings, including Malmstrom.”

Ok, ok, who wants to be the first to say, “It pays to cheat.”

344,000

That’s how many new claims for unemployment were filed last week according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It was an increase of 14,000 from the week before.

The job situation in this country is still not that great…

189,453

That’s the size, (189,453-square-foot building) for the unknown “anchor tenant” that will be building on east side of Great Falls (MT). (Source)

I’m thinking it’s an expansion for the Adam & Eve superstore that is currently located in downtown Great Falls. Either that or a big casino…

2003

On this date (May 1) in 2003, President George W. Bush landed in a jet on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast and, in a speech to the nation, declared major combat in Iraq over. (Source)

All most people remember is the “Mission Accomplished” banner in the background.

639

That’s how many followers I have on Twitter. I need/should have many more! So if you want to gain some knowledge, know things before your friends/co-workers/local media, and most importantly, be amused, follow me @TheWesternWord (Psst – tell your friends).

I tweet about politics, sports, the media, and current events…

250

Paul McCartney will be playing in Missoula (MT) this August at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Tickets range in price from $49.50 to $250.00. (Source)

The tour is called the “Out There” tour. Those high end ticket prices are “out there” unless, of course, it’s REO Speedwagon playing…

34

That number was worn by former CM Russell (CMR) high school and Stanford University basketball player Josh Huestis. The number was retired by CMR Wednesday night. (Source)

Huestis has set a great example during his time in the spotlight.

32.72

That’s the value of the crawfish and crab legs that Florida State’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston is accused of shoplifting. (Source)

I like crab legs…

32

Happy 32nd Anniversary to my sweetie! Marrying you was the best thing that ever happened to me…

13

According to a story from UPI, “A Manchester, England, KFC refused to serve a 13-year-old because they claimed he was ‘too young’ and would ‘mess about’ if they gave him food.”

That story made me sad, not because the boy wasn’t served, but because we don’t have a KFC in Great Falls (MT) currently (for various reasons). I’m thinking Great Falls (MT) and North Korea might be the only places that don’t currently have a KFC…

12

Taco Bell claims their beef is 88% beef, so people wondered what the other 12% was. Now Taco Bell has listed the eight items that make up the other 12%. (Source)

I hope someone shares this information with Senator Jon Tester, as he was concerned about Taco Bell’s beef…

10.10

According to several sources including Roll Call, “GOP senators blocked a Democrat-led effort to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour on Wednesday…”

Members of Congress, many whom are millionaires, just don’t understand how that little raise could help so many. Republicans should have at least compromised on this, as it is now a campaign issue.

10

Check out the 10 most popular (most visited) stores in America HERE.

There are some surprises…

9

Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke is hitting the road on the first leg of a nine-day bus tour which starts on May 2 and ends on May 10. (*Source)

I wonder if Rick Hill and Ken Miller will greet Zinke when he arrives in their respective towns…

*I received this information via a press release from the Zinke campaign. Candidates & staffers: Please add Western_Word@Yahoo.com to your press list!

1

B-1 bombers are practicing approaches and other maneuvers at the Billings Logan International Airport. (Source)

OMG – I hope nobody tells Senators Jon Tester, John Walsh, and Congressman Steve Daines about this, because they don’t like military planes using Montana’s airspace…

 

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