LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Pfizer vaccine gets FDA approval

EBS STAFF

WASHINGTON D.C. – On Aug. 23, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. This approves the vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older, but the vaccine will still be available under emergency use authorization for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

Following this announcement from the FDA, Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines issued statements.

“This is a huge achievement,” said Daines in a press release. “While millions of people have already received safe COVID-19 vaccines, I’m hopeful that the news today will help instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. I encourage all Montanans to talk to their doctor about getting a free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.”

“With the dangerous Delta variant causing COVID-19 cases to spike all across our state, full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine is welcome news and more proof that these vaccines are both incredibly safe and extremely effective,” said Tester in a press release. “These shots have undergone extensive scientific testing, and I encourage every eligible Montanan to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their community so we can finally beat this pandemic and get Montana’s economy back on the right track once and for all.”

As of Monday, Aug. 25, 458,497 Montanans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Yellowstone fire danger lowered

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MAMMOTH, WY – Yellowstone National Park fire danger was lowered to “high,” and stage 1 fire restrictions lifted on Aug. 23 due to widespread rain in the park.

Yellowstone National Park lowered the parkwide fire danger from “very high” to “high” due to an average of two inches of rain that fell across the park the week of Aug. 16.

Stage 1 fire restrictions (put in place July 1) are no longer in effect. The park will evaluate the need for restrictions for the remainder of the fire season.

Campfires are allowed within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites.

Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel and repeat until cold.

Visitors are reminded that negligently starting a wildfire may result in fines and/or imprisonment.

Currently there are no active wildfires in the park. Stay informed about Yellowstone’s fire activity.

Public meeting on Missouri Headwaters State Park

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS

THREE FORKS – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is developing a master plan for Missouri Headwaters State Park and is seeking public input on current and future usage and needs for the park.

Staff from Missouri Headwaters State Park and WWC Engineering will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 1, to discuss the goals of the master plan and answer questions from the public. They will also discuss current conditions at the park and introduce a survey where people can provide input on the planning effort.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the annex of the United Methodist Church, 124 2nd Ave. E, in Three Forks. The annex is just west of the main church building. Those who are unable to attend or wish to attend virtually can do so over Zoom. A link to the meeting can be found at https://go.usa. gov/xF62W.

The master planning effort for the park includes several goals: • Guide the development and use of park facilities. • Provide guidelines for the protection and management of important natural, cultural and scenic resources. • Provide visitors with a wide range of experiences. • Provide for public health and safety. • Address short-term and long-term needs, while making the least impact on the landscape and cultural resources. • Broaden visitors’ knowledge and appreciation of the area. • Accommodate crowds while still allowing for areas of solitude.

Those wishing to provide input on issues considered in the master planning process can do so through an online survey available at surveymonkey. com/r/9HFZDKQ. For more information about the project, please visitwwcengineering.com/portfolio/headwaters-state-park-master-plan.

Missouri Headwaters State Park is about 5 miles north of Three Forks on Trident Road. For more information about the park, please visit fwp.mt.gov/ stateparks/missouri-headwaters or call 406-285-3610.

State Parks sees visitation increase

EBS STAFF

HELENA – Like many neighboring recreation sites and national parks, Montana State Parks saw an influx of visitors this year as residents and visitors to the Treasure State sought the outdoors. State Parks reported 1.5 million visitors from January to June of this year—an 11.1 percent increase from last year and 44.1 percent increase from 2019.

“For the second straight year, the state parks system has experienced significant visitation growth for the first half of the year,” said Beth Shumate, state parks division administrator in a news release. “Our staff, volunteers, and partner organizations have done an excellent job of providing a safe and inviting place for people to experience some of the most outstanding historical, cultural, and recreational opportunities that Montana has to offer.”

The top five most visited parks between January and June of this year were: Giant Springs State Park, Great Falls – 212,329 visits Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena – 152,515 visits Flathead Lake State Park (all units), Flathead Lake – 147,003 visits Cooney Reservoir State Park, Roberts – 124,834 visits Lake Elmo State Park, Billings – 106,754 visits