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Counterfeit Arrest Mont. man charged with counterfeiting Missoula, Mont. (AP) A 37-year-old St. Ignatius man has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he manufactured fake money and sold explosives.

Donald P. Roberts entered the plea this week in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

An indictment unsealed this week accuses Roberts of importing, manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials without a license.

The seven-count indictment also charges that Roberts manufactured counterfeit $20 and $100 bills and taught others how to make explosive devices Roberts is in custody in Missoula.

A trial date has not been set.

Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com sugar beets Sugar beets shiver in Mont. and Wyo. fields BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Some Montana and Wyoming farmers are getting nervous as cold, wet weather is keeping them from bringing in a record sugar beet crop.

Harvest had just begun in earnest late last week but was slowed or ground to a halt in some places because of the weather.

Much is on the line for sugar growers from Wyoming to extreme northeast Montana who are not only looking at record harvests but also the highest market prices for crystal sugar in 30 years.

With much of the crop still in the ground, the beets can be susceptible to cold temperatures unless protected.

Beets can survive some freeze damage and slightly recover, provided the cold doesn't kill their foliage.

Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com THREATENED GRIZZLY BEARS Feds: bears in more danger on threatened list BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Federal officials say a court ruling that returned Yellowstone grizzly bears to the threatened species list has unexpectedly put the animals at increased risk.

In September, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled that about 600 grizzlies in and around Yellowstone National Park remain in danger of extinction due to climate change, shootings and other factors.

The ruling reversed a 2007 decision to remove grizzlies from the threatened list in parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

But in court documents filed Monday, government attorneys said Molloy inadvertently put bears at greater risk. They said the ruling voided restrictions against new road construction, livestock grazing and development that were enacted after the 2007 decision.

MISSOULA SHOOTING Man faces charge for shooting at police officer MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) Missoula police say a 28-year-old man faces a felony charge after being arrested on suspicion of shooting at a police officer who was investigating a report of suspicious activity.

Timothy J. Hoppe was booked into the Missoula County jail early Thursday on suspicion of felony assault with a weapon, criminal trespass to vehicles, theft and obstructing a peace officer. Sgt.

Bob Bouchee says Hoppe was expected to appear in Justice Court on Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Scott Brodie says a patrol officer had responded to a call at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday and was walking back to his car when he heard a gunshot and heard the bullet strike near him. The officer dropped to the ground and called for assistance. Witnesses reported hearing several shots.

Police and officers with the Missoula County sheriff's department and the Montana Highway Patrol responded. A man was located in the area, but when officers tried to speak with him, he ran. Officers located him a short time later. A weapon has been recovered.

Brodie says three cars in the same area had been broken into.

FOUND LIVESTOCK State has Web site listing found livestock HELENA, Mont. (AP) The state Department of Livestock has a new Web site where it lists found livestock and the dates the animals will be sold if the owner can't be located.

Department officials say the new online system and changes in state law could save the agency $6,000 annually in boarding and advertising costs.

Notices of found livestock, and their descriptions, will be posted on the Web site and published at least once in the county newspaper where the animal was found. The only animal listed on Thursday was a black bull found west of Ronan on Oct. 1 that will be sold on Oct. 15 if the owner is not located.

Before the passage of Senate Bill 104, found animals had to be held for 30 to 60 days and notices had to be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks. With horse abandonment on the increase, the costs of boarding the animals and publishing notices was quickly adding up. The new rules call for animals to be held for 10 to 30 days.

MONTANA JAIL-JOB FAIR Hardin jail job fair delayed BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A spokeswoman for a California company that had been negotiating to take over management of the Hardin jail says a two-day job fair planned for next week has been delayed.

Becky Shay says it makes no sense for American Police Force to hold the event with the jail takeover in limbo.

The 464-bed jail was built as an economic development project, but has not been used since its 2007 completion.

The Two Rivers Authority, the economic development agency that built the jail, initially embraced American Police Force as a savior for the project.

However, the jail takeover was put on hold by Hardin officials this week following revelations that the lead figure of American Police Force, Michael Hilton, has an extensive history of fraud in Southern California. His convictions include two grand theft cases and he has civil judgments totaling more than $1.1 million.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-08-09 1531CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list