Caught My Eye…

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Happy Friday! Here are the topics that caught my eye for today’s column:

  • WTF406/Jasmine Taylor
  • Montana Army National Guard
  • No Hate Crime?
  • Painting the Wall
  • One More Thing

WTF406/JASMINE TAYLOR:

Over at the WTF406 blog, Helena Lovick writes about Great Falls Mayoral candidate Jasmine Taylor, the attacks on her from the MAGA folks, and why she would make a great mayor for Great Falls. 

There’s also a quote from yours truly in the article. 

As I mentioned this week, the current commission has been taking advantage of us for a long time with rate increases, as well as tax increases. They don’t care about us. That’s the reason why current City Commissioner Joe McKenney and the current Mayor, Cory Reeves, won’t be getting my vote for their reelection. 

Check out the WTF406 article HERE. 

MONTANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD:

It took me a few days, but I finally found out what happened to the three Montana National Guard members who are accused of landing a blackhawk helicopter on private property to collect elk antlers. They were supposed to have a hearing on July 24. 

Nothing.

The Livingston Enterprise reported on July 30 that the hearing was reset from July 24 to Sept. 18, pursuant to an order for continuance.

The Enterprise identified those accused as Michael Vincent Bray, 30; a business owner from Helena; Perry Wray Woodland, 30, a Montana Highway Patrolman from Great Falls; and Deni Lynn Draper, 36, from Clancy. 

I wonder if anything is happening with their careers in the Guard or their civilian jobs as a result of this embarrassing situation.  

NO HATE CRIME?

Several years ago, I wrote about my disagreement with a Cascade County District Court Judge and the sentence he handed down for a drunk driver killing three people when he drove through a bar.  I was contacted by the judge via email and asked if I wanted to meet and discuss the case. I did. We agreed to disagree. 

This week, I read an article in the Montana Free Press (MTFP) about this:

John P. Carr was sentenced to probation on Thursday for running his truck into a woman after drinking at a Great Falls bar in 2023. He drove away from the scene, leaving the victim with serious injuries. Shortly before the incident, Carr asked the victim if she was transgender and continued to yell at her about being trans, according to court documents. But throughout the case, which spanned 2.5 years, both the defense attorney and the prosecutor maintained that there was no ideological motive in the case and that alcohol and a faulty pickup were the main factors.

As part of a plea agreement, Carr pleaded no contest to felony criminal endangerment earlier this year. On Thursday, Cascade County District Court Judge John Parker followed the recommended sentence of five years, all of which are suspended.

The victim, Carlin Meyer, was in attendance but did not testify at the hearing. She suffered a fractured pelvis and a puncture wound in her thigh during the incident.

Shame on Judge Parker. What a cowardly sentence. 

It was reported that Carr had at least one DUI and other “alcohol-related offenses” on his record. Some of the information revealed in the pre-sentence investigation found that “he might again harm someone based on his beliefs and assumptions.”

I advise everyone to read the excellent reporting on this case from the MTFP.  Check it out HERE. You may need to read it a few times because it is so incredibly ridiculous what Judge Parker and the prosecutor agreed to that allowed Carr to skate on what to me is a hate crime. 

PAINTING THE WALL:

In case you missed it, President Donald Trump wants to paint the southern border wall black because it will get hotter in the sunlight and deter people from climbing it. (Source) (Source) (Source)

So, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was seen using a small brush to paint the wall (and to get some publicity). 

Since the color back is known for its “slimming effect,” does that mean the wall will look smaller? 

ONE MORE THING: 

The only thing that travels faster than light is weekends…

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##

2 thoughts on “Caught My Eye…”

  1. Our population in 1970 was 60,091, our population now is 60,013. But they say we have expanded our footprint and need more money. Judging by all the new office space our leaders need I’d say we expanded our ass print.

  2. Whether or not there was a hate crime, a suspended sentence for a guy who already had a DUI and other alcohol offenses on his record and who had been allegedly overserved at Cowboys but got in his “faulty” vehicle anyway and caused serious bodily injury to another human being pretty much says it all about why Montana continues to have such a serious drinking and driving problem. There’s little disincentive. Hopefully probation at least includes alcohol monitoring.

    Not sure if this was entirely the doing of the judge and prosecution, either. They are constrained by state law which tends to be pretty lax on the subject of alcohol and driving. Because sentencing someone to actual jail would mean jail/prison space has to be available and that requires tax money which might limit the number and amount of income cuts the governor and our legislators can give themselves. And jail space needs to be reserved for undocumented immigrants with no criminal record who get picked up from jobsites.

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