Montana's responsible budgeting has given the state a surplus. It has prepared us for "floods, fires, zombies and the current federal government shutdown.

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One of the largest real estate deals in history of Gallatin and Madison counties is now official. The sale of Moonlight Basin marks the merger between CrossHarbor Capital and Boyne.

CrossHarbor Capital and Boyne, in partnership, are in a purchase and sale agreement with a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers.

The deal closed on October 1st and things are changing beginning with one mountain, undivided with Liberty and Headwaters for all. The single ski mountain would outdo Vail by about 400 acres.

Starting October 7th, Season Pass upgrades to all 5750 acres go from as low as $199 for Big Sky Resort passholders.

Moonlight Passholders can upgrade for as low as $549. Those who have already purchased both passes, get taken care of too.

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The federal government shutdown and winter weather have forced the closure of all roads connecting Cooke City to the rest of the world and turned the gateway town into a literal tourist trap. Snowstorms have caused the National Park Service to keep the Beartooth Pass closed since Sept. 24, said Al Nash, Yellowstone National Park spokesman. The most recent storm dropped between 10 and 14 inches of snow, preventing road travel to the Chief Joseph Highway, which can be used as an alternate route out of Cooke City. And Yellowstone closed Tuesday because of a congressional budget impasse that caused the federal government to shut down. Locals can travel through along the still-plowed roads of the park to Gardiner with special stickers they apply for from the park. Tourists, however, are unable to traverse the stretch, barring a medical emergency.

 MORE>>> Bozeman Daily Chronicle

The federal government shutdown has shuttered the gates at Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, and while that's means disappointment for many, there's still plenty to see and do under the Big Sky.

Tourism officials say that the closures may also mark the beginning of new adventures for tourists and residents looking for a local vacation.

The government shutdown can effect travel significantly in Montana especially in regards to the states two biggest tourism drivers - Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park - but state experts say it's not the worst time for a government shutdown.

"The advantage of having it now is that it's not the height of the summer season, because that's when people are actually coming, so while there will be an impact to Montana, the impact isn't going to be as big as it would be if we were in July, which is the biggest month in which non-residents come here," Director of the Institution of Tourism and Recreation Research Norma Nickerson explained.

She added that there are still plenty of things to do around the Treasure State.

"If you look at it from a different perspective, it's a fun challenge to them to find things that they wouldn't have done, but now they're going to do."

Montana still offers numerous outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing - and even skiing in the next few weeks.

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A Montana man who painstakingly gathered and reassembled parts of five $100 bills eaten by his golden retriever has been reimbursed by the U.S. Treasury for the “mutt-ilated” currency.

“It was great to get the check after all the crap I went through,” Klinkel, a graphic artist at the newspaper, joked.

His 12-year-old dog, Sundance, downed all but half of one of the bills in December. Sundance, a rescue from a Wyoming animal shelter, snacked on the cash left in the family vehicle while Klinkel and his wife ate at a restaurant, but left a $1 bill untouched. They were on a road trip to visit their daughter in Colorado.

Klinkel carefully picked through the dog’s droppings over the next few days to recover parts of the bills and his daughter recovered more when the snow melted in the spring.

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Bob Danley doesn’t need an auditorium or a soft, padded seat to enjoy the art of synchronized dance.

Instead, this time of year, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge’s outdoor recreation planner just keeps his eyes peeled toward the large ponds near the refuge headquarters.

When he spots a flock of large white birds bobbing on those waters, Danley picks up his binoculars to watch a bit of nature’s own ballet.

“Their synchronized feeding has just been awesome to watch,” he said. “They all dip their bills down into the water at the same time. It’s like watching ballet.”

The annual arrival of American white pelicans at the refuge north of Stevensville is a harbinger of fall.

“Right now, we have about 20 pelicans here on the refuge,” he said. “With their eight-foot wingspan and bills that can hold two gallons of water, these birds are just fantastic.”

MORE>>>The Missoulian

Game animals -- officially defined as antelope, deer, elk or moose -- which are killed on the road by vehicles can be legally salvaged and used for meat in Montana under a new law which goes into effect on October 1, 2013. Alaska, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, Florida, and West Virginia have already enacted similar laws.

House Bill 247, introduced by Rep. Steve Lavin, was passed by the Montana Legislature in February and signed into law by Governor Steve Bullock in April. It allows law-enforcement officers to issue permits to individuals to salvage game animals. Anyone issued a permit must remove the carcass of the entire animal.

The Montana Department of Transportation reports more than 1,900 wild animal were killed in vehicle crashes in 2011, and nearly 7,000 carcasses were collected from the side of roads, according to the Huffington Post.

Rep. Lavin introduced the law because he thought people were missing out on a potential food source. That “seems like a waste,” he said.

The original draft of the bill allowed generic “game animals, fur-bearing animals, migratory game birds and upland game birds” to be salvaged, but that raised concerns with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials, who warned that although some animals, such as Bighorn sheep, are frequently killed by vehicles in the Thompson Falls area, and allowing them to be legally salvaged could cause their potentially valuable carcasses to become the focus of profiteering.

MORE>>>Opposing View

Folks can head out to Glacier National Park on Saturday and see the sights for free.

Entrance fees are being waived on Sept. 28 as part of National Public Lands Day, and visitors are being encouraged to pay a visit and experience Fall in the park.

National Public Lands Day is an annual event intended to improve the health of public lands and encourage shared stewardship through volunteer service.

Ranger-led activities will be available in the Lake McDonald Valley area on Saturday, including John's Lake Loop Hike, an easy three mile walk through cedar-hemlock forest, quiet lakes, and roaring cascades.

Visitors are reminded to come prepared for changing weather conditions by layering clothing and having the appropriate footwear for planned activities. The park is also home to black and grizzly bears, and visitors should always be "bear aware."

Outdoor enthusiasts should always communicate activity plans and time of return to someone.

KPAX