SPORTS: Carroll title in game NAIA VALLEY: Nativity Collector scenes inspired by A6 4. Page B5 SUNDAY Low Cold High 15 23 INTER LAKE December 4, 2005. SERVING THE FLATHEAD SINCE 1889 www.dailyinterlake.com $1.50 AND YOGO sapphire enthusiast Dr. David Baker shows off a one: carat yogo sapphire at a jewerly store in. Great Falls on Nov.
16 Associated Key al-Qaida leader killed in Pakistan Hamza Rabia, said to be: one of group's top five leaders, dies in rocket attack ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) One of al-Qaida's top five leaders, said to be. responsible for planning overseas strikes," was killed by Pakistani security forces in a rocket attack near the Afghan border with U.S. help, American and Pakistani officials said Saturday. Hamza Rabia, a key associate of alQaida No: 2 Ayman al-Zawahri, died Thursday in an explosion in the North Waziristan tribal area, and his remains were identified in DNA tests, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Two U.S. counterterrorism officials, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity, confirmed Rabia's death but would not elaborate on the circ*mstances.
The officials said Rabia was believed to be an Egyptian and head of al-Qaida's foreign operations, possibly as senior as the: No. 3 official in the terrorist group. That A would put him in a tier just below Osama bin Laden and al-Zawahri. "He was al-Qaida's No. 5 and this is what we know," Ahmed told The Associated Press.
Press. Rabia filled the vacuum created this year by the capture of the previous operations chief, Abu Faraj al-Libbi, the two U.S. officials said. As head of operations, Rabia would have been responsible for training, recruiting, networking and, most importantly, planning international terrorist activities outside the Afghan-Pakistan region. See AL-QAIDA on Page A3 Lobbyist helped draft Harkin letters to Interior WASHINGTON (AP) As Sen.
Tom Harkin drafted letters to the Bush administration on behalf of an Iowa tribe, he had no shortage of ideas for wording: A tribal lobbyist who donated to the Democrat's campaign suggested language for him to use. Harkin wrote at least three letters in 2003 pressing the government to release federal money to help the Fox tribe in his state cope with the temporary closing of casino due to a tribal dispute, according to Interior Department See LOBBYIST on Page A4 Rare find: Yogos a jewel in a haystack World's only active mine closed this year GREAT FALLS (AP) Formed only one place on earth, deep beneath the foothills of the Little Belt Mountains, yogo sapphires are the crown jewel of the Treasure State. Their crisp, blue fire, kindled. at the bottom of the earth's crust, winks from earrings, necklaces and wedding bands. Uniquely Montanan, they are as precious as the sapphires of Burma or Madagascar treasured by the kings and queens of Europe.
"They're beautiful blue. They're rare. They're not treated," said Missoula jeweler Jim Adair. "There's not a sapphire in the world that can hold a candle to it." And yogos are becoming rarer. The world's only active yogo holding fairly steady.
mine, Yogo Creek Mining LLC But the race is on. 80 miles southeast of Great Falls, Phyllis Gunther, who co-owns closed earlier this year. Already, the Yogo Sapphire Jewelry Co. in prices for large stones are up by Great Falls with husband Stanas much as 30 percent. ley, traveled to Salt Lake City to Husbands looking to put some: buy yogos from a private collecromance under the Christmas tor.
tree needn't worry: A number of "What I have right now is what in stores their still vaults. have caches of yogos I have, and when they're gone, And prices for small stones, those a half carat or less, are See RARE on Page A3 How much does it take to get by? 4 four years at the restaurant, placing her just below Flathead Valley's "living WE i 1: Chris Inter Lake VANESSA BROWN, a 19-year-old manager in training, works the lunch shift at the McDonald's in Kalispell. Brown earns $8.25 an hour after four years at the restaurant, placing her just below Flathead Valley's "living of $8.62 an hour. A 'living wage A single Flathead County resident with no children needed to earn $8.62 an hour to make ends meet in 2004 Russia says weapon sales MOSCOW (AP) Russia's was selling Iran advanced missiles weapons sales to Iran are purely and other systems, but the Foreign for defensive purposes, a govern- Ministry spokesman, Mikhail ment spokesman said Saturday, Kamynin, did not comment on spein response to reports that Rus- cifics, saying in a statement sia was selling $1 billion worth of that they were "exclusively defenweapons to Iran. sive weapons." The news reports said Russian Kamynin said the sales fully Rent Sales Rent to own Instant Storage New and used durable steel containers Sizes now 6', 8', 10', 20', 24', 40' Wind, Water, Pest and Fire Resistant Your Lot Or Ours As Low As $50.00 Month Delivery and Pickup Charges to your lot not included COLUMBIA CONTAINERS 885-3456 892-3456 Toll Free in Montana 888-890-3456 By JOHN STANG The Daily Inter Lake 'anessa Brown earns close nomic to what advocacy an eco- coalition considers a "living wage" for Flathead County.
After four years at the Kalispell McDonald's restaurant, the 19-year-old manager-in-training earns $8.25 an hour with a raise expected in a few months after her anticipated promotion. "It can be hard live on that but I can't complain," she said. "I live very comfortably." A single Flathead County resi-: dent with no children needed to earn $8.62 an hour to make a living wage in 2004, compared to, of $8.62 an hour. Montana's minimum hourly wage of $5.15, according to a recently released study by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, an economic issues advocacy coalition covering Montana, Washington, Oregon and A living wage covers basic: needs with some ability to deal with emergencies, the coalition contends. A living wage covers food, housing, utilities, health care, child care, clothes, taxes and a few hundred dollars in savings each year.
"We wanted to create a picture: of the costs to raise a family and to support its basic needs in the Northwest. It's important for See WAGE on Page A3 to Iran are for defense A complied with nonproliferation send up to 30 Tor-M1 missile syscommitments and Russian tems to Iran over. the next two The statement appeared timed years. to head off the heated The Interfax news agency said expected from the United States the Tor-M1 system could identify after Russian media reported up to 48 targets and fire at two Friday that officials had signed targets simultaneously at a height contracts in November that would of up to 20,000 feet. FRONT CENTER Dec.
1- Snow began falling last Friday 100 night intervals and ever has since. continued There to is come something at short YEARS over a foot on the level over the valley but AGO back toward the hills and the mountain it is much deeper. The snow came with no frost in the ground and if it remains as it is expected to do it will keep the ground in fine condition for next spring. The Inter Lake, 1905 FOR HOME DELIVERY CALL 755-7018 MONDAY MADNESS PRICE PIZZA ALL DAY! Stageline LOCATION KALISPELL ONLY 756-3331 'YOUR FREE DELIVERY PIZZA INSIDE: a 4 8 36118 000 00011 1.
