The Billings Gazette from Billings, Montana • 23

State OCAL Section Thursday, February 16, 2006 The Source umber's a sctoo top Sell geraa Jobs, energy, Governor offers details on plans .1 2004 campaign. One of Schweitzer's few new initiatives was a vow to urge county attorneys and courts to enforce the laws guaranteeing anglers, hunters and hikers access to streams and public lands. Too often, he said, out-of-staters are buying large ranches and homes and denying Montanans their legal right to access. Schweitzer also said he would sponsor a school readiness summit in June so the state can build a better early childhood statewide system. Although one solution might be full-day kindergarten, Schweitzer said he wasn't ready yet to make a financial commitment He and first lady Nancy Schweitzer, both with science backgrounds, will launch an initiative to help spark K-12 students' interest in science and math.

It will begin with signs along the 2006 proposals are nothing new, some observers say By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Gazette State Bureau HELENA Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday outlined his 2006 agenda that again emphasizes job creation, energy projects, expanded access to education and affordable health care. The Democratic governor also plugged his proposed ethics ballot measure to prevent state elected officials and their staffs from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office. His hourlong speech to his Cabinet and staff in the ornate governor's reception room was largely a recap of the priorities Schweitzer has pushed since taking office in January 2005 and, for the most part, advocated in his noted that as many as one-fifth of Montanans about 180,000 people are without it But when asked whether the state should pursue health coverage for all, Schweitzer said no.

"Universal health care, if and when it comes, will have to be nationwide," he said. The governor said that if Montana created a health-coverage plan that covered all its residents, people would flock to the state for coverage and the state would be bankrupted. A couple of states have debated universal health care plans in recent years, but none has yet to adopt anything. Schweitzer said if better for Please see Details, 11C By MIKE DENNISON Gazette State Bureau HELENA Gov. Brian Schweitzer offered few new ideas Wednesday while reviewing his plans for 2006.

But under questioning by reporters, he shed a bit more light on his thoughts regarding universal health care, full-day kindergarten, utility prices and other subjects. Here's a closer look at what the governor said on selected topics Universal health care Schweitzer touted two programs in progress that could help 4,000 to 7,000 people get government-subsidized health insurance in the coming months, and he 1 JON EBELTlndependent Record Gov. Brian Schweitzer holds up a vial of canola during Wednesday's speech at the Capitol outlln- Please see Agenda, 11C Ing the administration's priorities for 2006. Ideas offered at review of superintendent Better communication, more visibility within community suggested By LAURA TODE Of The Gazette Suff Greybull aircraft company bought Hawkins Powers successor company to keep employees By RUFFIN PREVOST IGazette Wyoming Bureau The Billings School District 2 Board of Trustees wants better communication between the board and administrators and asked district Superintendent Rod Svee to take a more active role in community advocacy. The suggestions came during the superintendent's evaluation at an open meeting Wednesday in which trustees offered praise and criticism.

The board applauded the superintendent for his experience and quiet leadership style, which has provided healing after the teachers' strike. "Usually, when superintendents are evaluated, they ask for a closed meeting for reasons of privacy, and he's never asked to do that," board Chairwoman Kathy Kelker said. 3 percent raise sought Svee requested a three-year contract with a 3 percent raise in the first year, which would bump his annual salary from $123,000 to about $127,000. In the second and third years of the contract, he would receive the same percentage pay increases as district teaching staff. Trustees will decide whether to grant the request Monday during their regular board meeting.

To broaden the scope of the evaluation, the board veered from the traditional superintendent evaluation. Trustees opted it to include central office staff and building administrators in the process. Respondents were asked to provide answers to some 40 questions based on Svec's job description. Of the 54 evaluation forms issued, 41 were returned. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest, Svee received an overall score of 7.7, scoring lowest in the areas of decisive billings 0 gazette.com To see results of the superintendent's evaluation and comments from office staff and administrators, see the link in this story.

GREYBULL, Wyo. After months of uncertainty that saw financial straits, management changes and rounds of layoffs, the former aerial firefighting firm of Hawkins Powers has found a buyer. In an agreement expected to be signed Friday, Industries of Thermopolis has reached a deal to acquire the Hawkins Powers name, interests and remaining assets, said principals invo' 'ed in the transfer. New name The new company, to be known as Industries, will continue to operate from the Big Horn County Airport near Greybull, and will retain all 21 employees, said Paul Galovich, co-owner of Industries. "We're all very excited," Galovich said.

"There are some big challenges here, without question. But we believe we can make this happen." Hawkins Powers President Jim Taggart called the deal "a very good fit for the employees, as well as for the creditors and owners. It's really a win-win situation, and I wish them well" The deal included an agreement between and asset liquidator Great American to acquire the hangar, tools and other fixed assets necessary for continued operations, Galovich said. Last fall, Great American bought the hangar, tools and dozens of aircraft parts and other assets from Hawkins Powers, which made the deal to pay down $14 million in debt Contracts puBed Hawkins Powers had previously lost Its core business, aerial firefighting, after the federal government ceased contracting for the services following crashes of two of its airplanes in 2002. Hawkins Powers employees had recently met with Galovich and his partner, Karl Bertagnolc, and Taggart said he believed all of the employees liad decided to stay on with the new company.

"We're all just so thrilled that things arc working out," Tapgart said. "The employees worked really hard and stuck to it in hopes there would be a successor company. There were lots of sleepless nights for everyone." Tapgart said Hawkins Powers employees would finish work on a GD0 military cargo plane, which would be their last job for the company. Ploas Aircraft, 11C Heroes Breakfast award recipient Mike Kraft holds his sleeping daughter, Taylor, during a ceremony at the Billings Sheraton Wednesday morning. Kroft Is a Billings firefighter.

Breakfast spotlights area heroes leadership and advocacy for school programs and activities in the community. In both those areas he received an average score of 6.8. Svee scored highest In the area of ethics, receiving a 9.L In the area of media relations, he was given a 76. Several of the trustees praised his years of experience in education but saw him as somewhat reluctant to embrace change, specifically in the new approach to budget development "We're all outside our comfort zone, but it's one where wc have to move forward and we have to do some things differently," Trustee Sandy Moss man said, Kroft, left, and Anthony Strobbe pose for a picture for family members at the Billings Sheraton Wednesday morning. Story By TOM HOWARD Photos By LARRY MAYER Of The Gazette Staff When All Starr came upon a serious accident south of Laurel last May, she encountered an off-duty Billings firefighter, Mike Kroft, performing CPR on an unconscious teenager.

"He said, 'If anybody knows how to pray, this kid needs a Starr said. Starr said she laid her hands on Kroft and began praying, all the time speaking the name of the victim, 17-year-old Anthony Strobbe of Jolict "I kept saying everything was going to be all right," Starr said Wednesday. Strobbc's heart began pumping after emergency crews arrived and administered two shocks with a defibrillator. He was rushed to the hospital and spent 30 days In a coma. Miraculously, he has made a full recovery.

Kroft said he had been administering CPR for about 10 minutes before emergency workers managed to restart Strobbe heart. Strobbe and Starr were both on hand during the eighth annual Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday morning. Kroft was among 11 pco- Behind the scenes Svee agreed and told trustees he wasn't against the changes. He said he is doing his part behind the scenes and allowing rrwmlcrs of his administrative team to take the lead in their own area of expertise. I le contends that his management style doesn't lend itself to much visibility, but he said effective decisions arc bring made in the best interest of the cliildren In the district "I don't lead by getting wit In front of everybody so tltcy can sec the decisions be nude," he said.

The decisions are being made. I'm just not out there pounding on my chest. I htst wont do lliat." Trustee Karen Moses said she believed Svee was not providing the board with frequent enough updates that would allow trustees to respond effectively. Along those lines. Trusters Please Rovlow, 11C utes," Kroft sail "Many petiple had a hand in his recovery" Kroft said Starr's calming prayers provided hope at a critical time.

Pitas see Heroes, 11C pie recognized for heroism, leadership, courage or humanitarian efforts. Kroft credited emergency responders, doctors and Starr for helping save Strobbc's life. "I was only Involved for 15 min.