A team of Montana State University researchers has received $100,000 from NASA to test a promising new computing technology that could soon be used in spacecraft and satellites.
 
The funding will allow the team to launch an advanced prototype, housed in a satellite the size of a loaf of bread, into orbit from the International Space Station, likely in March 2018. The ensuing year-long experiment will mark the culmination of a decade of developing the technology.
 
“This demonstration will test the technology in the most extreme environment yet,” said project leader Brock LaMeres, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in MSU’s College of Engineering.

The computer technology, called RadPC, takes a new approach to handling the intense radiation found in outer space.
 
On Earth, the atmosphere and the magnetic field generated by the planet's molten metal core shields computers and other digital devices against high-energy charged particles emitted by the Sun and other celestial bodies. In outer space, however, the particles can interfere with the functioning of tiny, sensitive transistors, the building blocks of modern computers.

Traditionally, space computers have used oversized transistors made of specialized materials to fortify against the radiation. But that makes the computers slow and expensive, and they still sometimes crash, according to LaMeres.
 
The MSU team’s RadPC instead uses multiple inexpensive processors like those found in personal computers. The processors are programmed to operate in parallel, and when a radiation particle disrupts one of the processors, the others recognize the fault, continue the computation and re-program any damaged computer memory.

 
“Our approach is to accept the fact that computers will crash, and to use elegant ways to recover from the crash,” LaMeres said.
 
LaMeres was central to conceiving the innovation, which has so far been tested in a particle accelerator, aboard high-altitude balloons and on small rockets that reach the outer limits of Earth’s atmosphere. Since December, a prototype of the technology has been operating aboard the International Space Station.

 
To build the satellite that will be used for the upcoming test, LaMeres’ team partnered with MSU’s Space Science and Engineering Laboratory, an interdisciplinary facility housed in the Department of Physics in MSU’s College of Letters and Science.
 
Undergraduate and graduate students at SSEL designed and built the radio transmission and solar power systems that will allow the satellite to communicate with the MSU researchers during its year in orbit.
 
“Our students have been helping to design and build this satellite, and now it’s going to go into orbit. It’s exciting,” said Todd Kaiser, head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
 
“Research is a process,” he added. “You start with an idea and work toward a goal. With this one we’re getting to the point where we’re near the end of the mission.”
 
Launching the satellite from the space station is considerably cheaper than propelling it into orbit with a rocket, LaMeres said. To conduct the launch, his team has partnered with NanoRacks, a company that contracts with NASA to deliver scientific equipment to the space station.
 
The prototype will be sent to the space station in a spring-loaded box developed by NanoRacks during a routine delivery of food, water and other supplies. The space station’s robotic arm will aim the box, and when a hatch is opened, the spring will launch the satellite into orbit.
 
As it circles the Earth, the computer “is going to get an extreme bombardment of radiation,” LaMeres said. It will pass through areas over the Earth’s poles where the planet’s magnetic field actually concentrates the barrage of high-energy particles.
 
The computer will perform a routine of calculations and transmit the data to the MSU campus when it passes overhead. If the computer functions continuously and can recover from the anticipated crashes, it would mean that the technology would be ready to be used in other satellites and in spacecraft.
 
“Once we prove it at this level, we’d like to license it to large aerospace companies or startups,” LaMeres said.
 
The $100,000 grant, which came from NASA’s Established Program to Simulate Competitive Research, called EPSCoR, marks the 10th award LaMeres has received from NASA to develop the technology.
 
According to LaMeres, the roughly $1.5 million from those grants, over a 10-year period, has supported hands-on research for more than 50 MSU students, mostly undergraduates in the College of Engineering.

BOZEMAN, MT (September 11, 2017) – The City of Bozeman has narrowed the search for the next City Manager to six highly qualified candidates.

According to Mayor Carson Taylor, “Finding the ideal City Manager for Bozeman is a top priority for the City Commission, and we have been fortunate to receive a remarkable number of highly qualified applicants.” Taylor added, “Bozeman’s success as a thriving community is due to our engaged community and dedicated city staff, so finding a person who views servant leadership and service to the community as guiding principles is important.”

The City selected Strategic Government Resources (SGR), to assist in conducting the extensive search that resulted in an impressive candidate pool. SGR is an executive recruitment firm based in Keller, Texas, specializing in recruiting, assessing, and developing, innovative, collaborative, and authentic leaders for local governments.  SGR’s proprietary recruitment and vetting process produced an incredibly strong field of candidates. The City received 82 applications from candidates in 33 states, as well as Washington, D.C.

The finalists:

Dave Buckingham has seven years of city management experience and a 26-year career in the United States Army. Buckingham most recently served as the City Manager Morro Bay, California. During his military career, he served as Director of Army Environmental Programs at the Pentagon, City Manager of the Military Community in Vicenza, Italy, and Chief Executive and Operations Director, at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. Buckingham holds a Master of Arts, International Relations from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, a Master of Arts, National Strategic Studies from Salve Regina University, and a Bachelor of Science, Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Dan Chandler has more than 25 years of governmental experience and currently serves as Assistant County Administrator for Clackamas County, Oregon, where he also served as Senior Assistant County Counsel from 2008-2011. A practicing attorney since 1992, Chandler has been associated with Chandler Law Offices, Portland, Oregon; Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Vancouver Washington; Ramis Crew Corrigan & Bachrach, Portland, Oregon; Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, Helena, Montana. Chandler holds a Juris Doctor Degree from Harvard Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western Washington University.

Rachael Fuller currently serves as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Gresham, Oregon, where she also served as Senior Operations Manager. Fuller has 16 years of local government experience and previously served the Town of Jackson, Wyoming as Special Project Coordinator from 2006 to 2011, and Program Manager from 2004 to 2006. Fuller holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wyoming, and a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College.

Shawn Kessel has more than 17 years of local government experience and currently serves as the City Administrator for the City of Dickinson, North Dakota a position he has held since 2009. He previously served as City Administrator for the City of Wahpeton, North Dakota from 2000 to 2009. An ICMA Credentialed Manager, Kessel holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mary and a Bachelor of Social Work from Moorhead State University.

J.J. Murphy has more than 13 years of local government experience and currently serves as the City Manager of Hobbs, New Mexico. He previously served the City of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2010 as City Administrator and Deputy City Administrator. He also served as President/CEO of Goals Consulting, LLC in Wilkes-Barre. Murphy is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he continues to serve as a Watch Supervisor, Controller Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. An ICMA Credentialed Manager, Murphy holds a Master of Public Administration from Marywood University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from King’s College.

Andrea Surratt is an ICMA Credentialed Manager with more than 26 years of municipal government experience and has served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Hickory, North Carolina since 2007. Surratt previously served as Planning and Community Development Director for Moore County, North Carolina and as Town Manager and Director of Planning for the Town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. She held the positions of Planning and Development Manager and Senior Planner for the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Municipal Planner for the City of Nixa, Missouri. Surratt holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Clemson University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Guilford College.

A local woman was mauled by a grizzly bear on a private ranch in the Tom Miner area north of Gardiner early Saturday.

The female victim and two companions were near the carcass of a domestic cow when the incident occurred.

When the bear made contact, the victim laid on her stomach to protect her vital organs. She was bitten on her legs and back.

Her companions used bear spray to scare off the bear and stop the attack.
The victim is being treated for her injuries.

This is the second mauling in southwest Montana in a little over a week. On Monday, Sept. 5, an archery hunter was mauled by a grizzly in the south end of the Gravelly Range.

While these incidents were relatively far from each other, both involved bears feeding on carcasses. In both cases, bear spray played an important role.

These events should serve as a stark reminder that Montana is bear country. Hunters and others working and playing in bear country should be especially alert for grizzlies, carry bear spray, and know how to use it.
 

Windhorse Equine Learning is pleased to announce their 1st Annual Art Raffle to support youth programs. Four fine equine paintings have been donated to the cause by talented regional artists; Edd Enders, Ann Justin, Mary Roberson, and Steven Roebuck.

Windhorse Equine Learning serves youth ages 8-17 in Montana’s Gallatin and Park Counties as the only nonprofit organization in our community to offer equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs to able-bodied and at-risk youth. EAL is a relatively new modality which facilitates learning and personal growth through experiential interactions with horses. By teaching horsemanship, leadership, partnership, responsibility, communication, empathy and other skills, we strive to build confidence and self-esteem, reduce anxiety and stress, and give our students tools to navigate the challenges they face at school, among their peers, and in their family relationships. Funds are needed to provide scholarships so that every child with financial need can benefit from Windhorse programs.

The paintings in Windhorse’s 1st Annual Art Raffle will be exhibited locally; raffle tickets are available at eight regional businesses and can be purchased online. Buyers need not be present to win, and the painting can be mailed to the winner. Tickets are $40 and the odds of winning are great with only 150 tickets being sold. The winner chooses their favorite painting and the remaining three pieces will be auctioned off on November 9 at the Equine & Wine Lady’s Night at Four Corners Saddlery & Boutique. The drawing is at 7:00 pm, followed by live auction for remaining art at 7:30 pm.

See the artwork at: The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company, 111 East Main Street in Bozeman through October 6 then at Four Corners Saddlery & Boutique, 81770 Gallatin Rd, through November 9.  Raffle tickets also available (cash and checks only) at Montana Cup, Spur Line, and the Livingston Art & Culture Center in Livingston and in Bozeman at Head West, Bridger Animal Nutrition (North 7th location), The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company, Rosauer’s, and Four Corners Saddlery & Boutique. Learn more or buy raffle tickets online at: windhorseequinelearning.org/1st-annual-art-raffle/

 Thank for helping raise funds for programs that change kids' lives. Learn more about Windhorse at https://windhorseequinelearning.org/about-us/

An archery hunter survived a grizzly bear attack in the southern Gravelly Mountains Monday morning.
 
The incident occurred when two archery hunters surprised a grizzly feeding on a carcass. The hunters yelled at the bear which immediately attacked. Both hunters had bear spray, one deployed it while the other did not. The bear went after the hunter who did not use his bear spray.
 
The hunter with bear spray deployed his can on the bear as it mauled his partner. The bear then retreated. The attacked hunter sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his head, shoulder, arms and thigh. He was treated at the Madison Valley Medical Center in Ennis.
 
Grizzly bears are common in the Gravelly Mountains, which are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
                                                                 painting by Sept 2017 Cover Artist Casey Norris
Archery hunters should take every possible precaution when hunting in bear country. Bear country means anywhere in the western half of the state. All hunters should:
 
·         carry bear spray AND be ready to use it at a second’s notice;
·         hunt with a partner, leave detailed plans with someone and check-in periodically;
    •    pay attention to fresh bear sign. Look for bear tracks, scat, and concentrations of natural foods;
    •    use caution when hunting areas that have evidence of bear activity or areas with scavenging birds such as magpies, ravens, or crows;
    •    get harvested big game out of the woods quickly;
    •    upon returning to a site where harvested game is left unattended, study the site at a distance for any movement or changes and signal your approach by making plenty of noise;
    •    never attempt to frighten or haze a bear from a carcass;
    •    contact FWP if a bear has consumed a carcass or covered it with debris rendering it unsalvageable.
 
Most grizzly bears will typically leave an area if they sense human presence. Hunters who observe a grizzly bear or suspect a bear is nearby should leave the area.
 
If you encounter a grizzly, stay calm, don't run, and assess the situation by trying to determine if the bear is actually aware of you. Is it, for instance, threatening or fleeing? Always keep the bear in sight as you back away, and leave the area.
 
For more on bears, visit FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov; then click Be Bear Aware. Bear resistant products are described on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee's website at www.igbconline.org.  A “How to Hunt Safely in Grizzly Country” brochure is also available at FWP regional offices.

People are asking about how the dry conditions and fire danger will affect hunting seasons.  FWP is not recommending that the Fish and Wildlife Commission close hunting seasons.  “Because of widely variable conditions and different types of hunting scenarios across the state, that is a decision rightly left to an individual landowner, a block management cooperator, or a land manager.  If a private landowner or a land management agency such as the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management makes the decision to restrict or postpone hunting or other activity on their property, that is a decision we respect and accept,” said FWP Director Martha Williams.

Williams continued, “It is critical to be careful, and be safe.  Hunters have to take personal responsibility to prevent wildfires and keep themselves and the property and lives of others safe.  In conditions like these, hunters should only drive on pavement or gravel roads.” Due to fire danger, currently more than 80 block management areas (BMAs) are restricted or closed at the request of landowners.

FWP asks hunters to be safe by following these fire safety precautions:
·         Park your vehicle on bare ground or ground completely void of vegetation.
·         Drive only on paved and well graveled roads.
·         After you leave an area, wait for few minutes to make sure that a fire has not started where your vehicle was parked.
·         Bring along a fire extinguisher or water-filled weed sprayer, shovel or axe.
·         Camp only in designated camping areas.
·         Smoke only inside buildings or vehicles.
·         Check on any fire restrictions in place in the area where you are hunting.
·         Consider limiting activity until fire danger lessens.

MORE INFO:
The most current list of closed BMAs can be found on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/blockman/.  Those who do not have access to the internet can check in with their FWP regional office.  Closure signs are also posted onsite at BMAs.

For FWP lands, hunters and recreationists should check updates on fire-related restrictions and closures at state parks, fishing access sites or other FWP properties online at fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions.

In Montana, fire restrictions are often coordinated with land management agencies and the counties. Typically, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks follows the lead of the county where its land is located.  However, fire restrictions can vary from county to county depending on local conditions. A good online resource is https://firerestrictions.us/.  You can search for Montana and find the latest restrictions, by county. To go directly to the Montana page, click https://firerestrictions.us/mt/.

Being knowledgeable about current restrictions and fire safe behavior will help us all prevent more wildfires. Below are resources for more information on fires and restrictions:
Inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/27  is a multiagency website that serves as a clearing house for active fire information across the country. It’s easy to search for Montana and see most of the active fires burning in the state.  Each fire has its own web page with current information, such as area closure maps, fire activity and any evacuation notices.

Be aware that in many instances fire managers will close the area around the fire to ensure public and fire fighter safety. These local closures could include areas people might want to hunt or camp, so checking in here is a good step in making sure you have the latest information.

Another great resource is the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s interactive wildland fire map: gis.dnrc.mt.gov/apps/firemap. This interactive mapping tool shows all of the fires burning in the state and gives the user an idea of recent fire activity. Users can select different layers to view various information and for those folks concerned about specific locations, the base layer provide a high-resolution map or aerials of Montana.

Starting today, Aug 31, 2017, Bozeman-area residents and visitors will be able to order much of their favorite food from local restaurants and have it delivered by UberEATS seven days a week. At launch, UberEATS is offering delivery of full menus from more than 20 favorite Bozeman-area restaurants.

"We're partnering with a bunch of great Bozeman restaurants so customers can get the food they love quickly and conveniently, no matter what they like best," said Kiran Vinta, UberEATS general manager. "UberEATS offers an easy and reliable way for anyone to get their favorite food–no matter what they’re doing, where they are, or what time it is."

The free, standalone UberEATS app is available for both iOS and Android. Notable restaurants participating in Bozeman include Garage, Stuffed Crepes & Waffles, La Parilla and Biankini’s among others. Food prices are set by the restaurants themselves and Uber will add a booking fee of $5.99. Just like with Uber's rides business, customers will always see prices upfront so they know what they'll be paying before they order.

This is UberEATS’ second foray into Montana. UberEATS launched in Missoula on Monday. The UberEATS Bozeman service area will include downtown and the Montana State University Campus.

UberEATS is now offered in 115 cities in 28 countries across the globe, and the number of customers using the platform is growing rapidly. Many restaurant partners have indicated the service has led to a uptick in their level of business, as it gives them access to new customers. A video released by UberEATS last year includes testimony from restaurant owners in Los Angeles and Chicago about the positive effects of using the UberEATS platform.

UberEATS offers food delivery though an app separate from Uber's rideshare service because requesting a ride and ordering a meal are two different experiences. The similarity, however, is that Uber makes both effortless. The same technology company that brought people rides at the touch of a button is now doing the same for food.

UberEATS also offers new economic opportunity for delivery partners in Bozeman. Those interested in delivering meals via UberEATS can visit the delivery partner page at www.uber.com/deliver.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ properties in Park County have moved to Stage 1 fire restrictions. This includes Fishing Access Sites, State Parks, and Wildlife Management areas.
 
Also, effective Saturday, Bannack State Park (Beaverhead County) and Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (Jefferson County) will no longer be exempted from all Stage I fire restrictions (these Parks previously had exemptions to allow for fires within established rings or grills).
 
FWP follows the counties in entering fire restrictions.
 
Following are the list of restrictions under Stage I:
 
In those areas mentioned above, the following acts are prohibited until further notice:
    1    Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire. (Note exemptions below)
    2    Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Exemptions:
    1    Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
    2    Persons using a device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.
    3    Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
    4    Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
    5    All land within a city boundary is exempted.
Individuals may be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned up to 6 months for violating the noted fire restrictions.
 
Also, an exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.
 
For updates on restrictions and closures around the state, go to: http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/droughtDetails.html.