The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 1

BONNER'S YOUNG HISTORIANS MONTANA Softball bats heat up in Frenchtown SPORTS missoulian.com INCH I.UUI II (o)flil ZLL SATURDAY, April 27, 2013 Copyright 2013 $1 a. 1 A (5 MISSOULA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS of the Officials draft full gray wolf delisting 3 Stihl Timbersports, UM's Forestry Days bring pro lumberjacks to town By MATTHEW BROWN and JOHN FLESHER Associated Press BILLINGS Federal wildlife officials have drafted plans to lift protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states, a move that could end a decades -long recovery effort that has restored the animals but only in parts of their historic range. The draft U.S. Department of Interior rule obtained by the Associated Press contends the roughly 6,000 wolves now living in the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes are enough to See WOLVES, PageA5 I By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian Inside an ice -free hockey rink, under the glare of TV studio lights, contestants squat and shimmy like bull riders before stepping on the stage. Welcome to the Stihl Timbersports pro lumberjack competition at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.

Don't even try to touch the axes they're sharp enough to shave whiskers. "We're 28 years young," boasted Brad Sorgen, Timbersports producer, as he readied a nervous-looking group of collegiate forestry students for their moment in the spotlight. "We're the longest-running show on ESPN, other than Piggybacking on the University of Montana's Forestry Days celebration, Friday's TV competition displayed student and Watch: Virlen ill! professional logging sports teams in the traditional skills of chopping, sawing and springboard climbing. Although at this from Friday's lumberjack competition can be found online with this story on Missoulian.com MISSOULA Sept. 1 1 survivor to speak May 1 Insurance executive: Make a difference after Boston bombings level, a single blow from an ax produces a wood chip the size of a roof shingle.

"It's all form and technique," explained UM alum and professional forester Eric Hoberg, who was coaching the College of Forestry and Conservation team. "That's why guys my size can compete with the bigger guys you see behind me." Little things like swinging the ax straight over your head instead of across your shoulder, placing your feet just so and leading from your hips like a baseball batter make the difference in competitive ax work. Those tips proved devastatingly effective when the show's six professional contestants opened with the springboard competition. See FORESTRY, PageA9 By JENNA CEDERBERG of the Missoulian The news that two bombs had exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon reached Joe Dittmar's phone during a morning work meeting on April 15. He read the alert and excused himself from the meeting.

"It was like deja vu," Dittmar said. A flood of memories from the See SURVIVOR, PageAlO KURT WILSON Missoulian David Moses, a professional lumberjack competitor for more than 20 years, swings his ax at the top log in the springboard climbing contest Friday afternoon during the final qualifying competition of the Stihl Timbersports 2013 season at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. Winners from the qualifying rounds advance to the U.S. championships in Pigeon Forge, in June. 7JT Baucus says there's still work to do -J7 Photo aallerv: Tn vifiw Senate since 1979, said he'll be working hard on issues like reforming the U.S.

tax code and making sure the Affordable Care Act, which he helped write, is properly implemented. "The tax code has not been brought up to date since 1986 and the world has changed dramatically," he said. "We have to make our American companies more competitive. "The goal should be to By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau HELENA Sen. Max Baucus, surrounded by family and friends at his son's home in Helena, said Friday that coming home to Montana is "what my decision to not seek re-election is all about" but that there's still work to do in Washington, D.C.

"I'm not turning out to pasture," said the 71-year-old Democratic senator, who Max Baucus' career in the U.S. Senate in images, go to this story on Missoulian.com. announced Tuesday he won't run for re-election in 2014. "Our country and our state face enormous challenges." Baucus, who's been in Congress since 1975 and the i 4' See BAUCUS, Page A 9 U.S. Sen.

Max Baucus embraces his wife Melodee Hanes after a news conference Friday in Helena. DYLAN BROWN: Independent Record RECEIVE A $100 COUPON GOOD TfiWARn tutor Mr; cnp nw STATE HEADLINES INSIDE Classified Puzzles 1 Comics A8 Religion B6 Markets 7M 1 Sports Montana B1 TV listings B4 Obituanes B3 Wheels C1 TODAY'S FORECAST Warm. High 73 Low 41 Page B8 Bitterroot River: Painted Rocks Dam maintenance to affect West Fork. Page B1 Burglary. Missoula man faces charges for stealing drugs.

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