Rural Fire Chief Resigns Amid Allegations of Money Misuse

OLNEY, Mont. (AP) — The fire chief of a small community in northern Montana has resigned amid allegations that the department mishandled tens of thousands of dollars.

The Daily Inter Lake reports (http://bit.ly/2ahxGIC ) that residents of Olney, located north of Whitefish, are calling for an investigation after the Olney Rural Fire District was found to have spent more than $167,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30 — more than $25,000 over budget.

At a meeting Wednesday, officials said some of the spending included $4,272 for a fire-hall freezer, table and chairs; more than $1,200 from Costco and Walmart for a wedding reception and a Christmas party; and over $4,000 in gift cards.

Fire Chief Ken Morehead resigned Wednesday. He says many of the past year's expenses were to retain volunteer emergency responders, not imprudence.