City Desk
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ButteNews.net
August 14, 2023
Investigators have at long last been able to match a face to some gruesome evidence found in Butte-Silver Bow 11 years ago, according to a press release from Sheriff Ed Lester.
Law enforcement, journalists, and citizens have long speculated about the origin of a pair of disembodied legs found near Moulton Reservoir Road north of Butte..
The legs came bagged, wearing socks, and shod with Redwing hiking shoes. One of the legs even had a surgically implanted rod, but despite their best efforts, local, state and, national investigators could not identify the legs’ owner. Officials did believe that whoever the legs belonged to was a white male.
Butte law enforcement then partnered with Montana’s Division of Criminal Investigation to “attempt forensic genetic genealogy” to generate new leads in the cold case, Lester said.
Their effort hit paydirt.
They sent evidence to Othram’s Laboratory in The Woodland’s, Texas. That lab was able to produce a DNA extract that could be tested. Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing was then employed to create a comprehensive DNA profile. An in-house genealogy team at the lab then used the profile to perform genetic genealogy research.
Working together, law enforcement reached out to “possible relatives” of the unknown man, collected reference DNA, and slowly pieced together his probable identity.
Those tests and further investigation suggested that the mostly missing man was Michael Wayne Canada, age 46.
More reference DNA testing was done at the Montana State Crime Lab, and the man’s identity was officially determined by Dr. Willy Kemp, a pathologist with the Montana State Forensic Science Division.
Canada was never reported as a missing person.
He was known to be a drifter, and he had not been in contact with his family for two years prior to his death.
The metal rod was placed in his leg after a serious motorcycle accident. It is believed that he may have been employed at a Safeway store in Butte, Lester's release noted.
Police ask that anyone who had contact with Canada or might know of anyone associated with him to come forward.
Persons with information may call Captain Jeff Williams at (406) 497-1157. Reference the Michael Wayne Canada homicide investigation, case number MC-13-06-07.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2023 - BUTTE-- The Uptown Butte Master Plan was formally adopted May 2022 as part of the Butte-Silver Bow Comprehensive Plan. The plan can be viewed at uptownbuttemasterplan.com. An implementation team has been working hard to move the projects, initiatives, and recommendations in the plan forward.
One of the recommendations was to evaluate and pursue the creation of a Business Improvement District in Uptown. In the State of Montana, a Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographic boundary or area that has chosen to levy an assessment to be used to improve the area within the boundary. These funds cannot be used to replace or duplicate services already provided by the local government. Funds can be used to fund and/or augment existing services to promote the safety, prosperity, security, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the district; are of special benefit to the properties within the district boundary; and assist with tourism, promotion, and marketing of the district.
Examples of how funds are used by other Montana BIDs includes the following: street lighting and wayfinding, accessibility, extra trash and snow removal, landscaping (flowers, weed removal, street trees, tree wells, etc.), festivals and events, programming (sidewalk sales, family nights, pub crawls, art walks, etc.), public art, grants for façade or interior improvements, extra sidewalk power washing, extra bike racks, pedlets, parklets, graffiti removal, outdoor seating, ambassadors, and marketing and promotion.
Goals vary by community but typically include supporting businesses, improving customer and visitor experiences, improving walkability, attracting new businesses and residents, and increasing property values.
In August 2023, we are kicking off a project to evaluate and pursue the creation of a Business Improvement District in Uptown Butte. The Uptown Butte Master Plan Association was awarded a $25,000 grant from Big Sky Trust Fund administered through the Butte Local Development Corporation. The Uptown Butte Master Plan Association is providing $5,000 in donations, and the Butte-Silver Bow Urban Revitalization Agency is contributing $20,000 for a total project cost of $50,000.
Through the Request for Proposal process, Cascadia Management Group of Montana was chosen to assist with each stage in the BID implementation process.
If you have questions, please contact Tracy Worley with Cascadia Management Group at
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PNS - Friday, August 11, 2023 - Some states purge eligible voters from rolls for "inactivity," a strike looms for autoworkers amid a tense talks with automakers, and Ohio activists push to enshrine reproductive rights in the state's constitution.
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PNS - Friday, August 11, 2023 - A new report cites "flawed" voter purges as unfair, the Supreme Court halts an opioid settlement with the Sacklers, and people in Illinois prisons could have new opportunities to further their education.
