essential (e sen sh l) adj. ... 3 absolutely necessary; indispensable; requisite ... - Webster's New World College Dictionary The federal law that makes air service possible for seven smaller Montana cities is called 'Essential Air Service,' and the dictionary definition of the word would suggest that the service must be provided. But since March 8 when Big Sky Airlines folded its tent, Havre, Glasgow, Lewistown, Wolf Point, Glendive, Sidney and Miles City have been without air service. Mercifully, Great Lakes Airlines has signed up to take over the routes, which would link residents of those cities with Billings and beyond. Unfortunately, the federal EAS contract - paying an annual $8.2 million for providing the service - is specific about the types of planes that must be used on the routes, and Great Lakes has so far been unable to line them up. The carrier says that it hopes to start flights from Lewistown and Sidney to Denver in August, but that service to the other five towns probably would have to wait until November - more than eight months with no flights. We sympathize with the Wyoming-based airline, but we sympathize even more with the affected communities. Without air scheduled commercial air service they are stuck with ground transportation or expensive charters. That makes things like economic development - which involves recruiting businesses and personnel - difficult. It also creates hardship for folks in need of medical attention beyo
From The K-B-L-G News Center... BILLINGS SENIOR QUARTERBACK A.J. PAINE THREW FOR A PAIR OF 4TH QUARTER TOUCHDOWNS, INCLUDING ONE TO TEAMMATE SAM GRATTON AND THE MONTANA DEFENSE INTERCEPTED FOUR PASSES AS THE ...
