Drought's hold on state is less, but it's not gone

HELENA - Drought's grip on Montana may have loosened a little this year thanks to some well-timed spring rains, but no one should presume years of arid conditions are gone for good, members of the state Drought Advisory Committee concluded Thursday.

A resurgence of persistent hot, dry, windy weather would sap much of the moisture from the ground, lower streams and rivers, and turn green fields brown again, they learned.

''Anywhere in Montana, we're only five days away from a drought,'' said Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs, committee chairman. ''We're headed in the right direction, but it's pretty iffy right...