Volume XXXIX, Number 35
Volume XXXIX, Number 29
Vote for Stephen Kowal
by Victoria Howell
by Victoria Howell
by Michael Howell
by John Dowd
by Kristin Kruse
Bitter Root Humane Association celebrates new shelter, 50th
by Michael Howell
It’s been a long time coming, but the new Three Mile Community Center is up and running. Located at 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Road, the center is on the east side of Lone Rock Park. The buildshelter. According to Colleen Schmiedeke, who serves on both the park board and the community center board,
and wells. Irrigation will be provided by shares from the Eight Mile Creek Company.
by John Dowd
On Monday, February 26, Dr. Phillip Ramsey, head biologist at MPG Ranch in Florence, gave a presentation in partnership with the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association (RCFWA), on the Sheep Creek Mine proposal. According to Mark Oswald, president of the RCFWA, the event space filled up so fast they had to open the presentation into other rooms and people were lined up out the door. Oswald heard Ramsey’s presentation in Darby and contacted him, asking if he could do one with the
Bitterroot Health held a groundbreaking last Wednesday for its new medical complex that will be built just north of Stevensville at the corner of Kootenai Creek Road and Hwy 93.
The Ravalli County Commissioners gave conditional approval last week to the Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision, a 33-lot development on a 49.22-acre parcel of formerly agricultural land near the intersection of Eight Mile Creek Road and Upper Woodchuck Road east of Florence. The land is being developed by Laura Watson of Watson Homes LLC who was represented by the engineering company Professional Consultants Inc. (PCI).
Historic trap club faces closure
Three Mile Community Center open
Sapphire Valley subdivision approved
Mine talk draws hundreds
terroot Health CEO, said that Marcus Daly Hospital had
by John Dowd
gle-family residential use with individual septic systems
The Hamilton Trap Club has been a fixture in the Bitterroot Valley since 1947. A place for trap enthusiasts and hunting sport shooters to gather, socialize, compete and hone their skills, the club also functions as a 501c3 non-pro community by providing youth programs such as The Bitter root Blasters. According to club members, hundreds of kids have participated in that program over the years. Along with their own programs, the club supports charities and has raised over $165,000 for the Shriners and The Montana Hope Project. The club is utilized by local schools, Teller Wildlife Refuge, Boy Scouts and Triple Creek Ranch, among others.
Humane Association participated for the al “slumber party” event. The Bitterroot shelter branded their event the “Slumber Pawty,” which opened the shelter to community members who participated to stay the night with the animals, among other fun activities. Between 12 noon Saturday and 12 noon Sunday, participants stayed overnight with the shelter animals, wore pajamas, played games and more in support of the shelter.
According to the preliminary plat the subdivision is anticipated to add approximately 11 new children to the Florence-Carlton School District and 264 new vehicular trips per day to the local the applicant is proposing to dedicate a 100-foot by 100foot easement for the use and benefit of the Florence Rural Fire District and contribute $8,000 to the Florence Rural
concerns about the potential impacts to the roads, to public safety, to wildlife, and to the rural character of the area. A substantial number of comments expressed concern about the potential impacts to
giving many other similar talks about the Sheep Creek Mine proposal. Ramsey is a founder of the Bitterroot Clean Water Alliance, as well as a resident of the West Fork. He has a Ph.D in microbiology and in school
could herald major changes in the subdivision review process across the state was also discussed. In that case, the Upper Missouri Waterkeepers and a group of residents living close to
public comments expressing
rector, Tom Allsop, has been
by John Dowd
little locally owned bookstores are a waning business. However, the folks that own Chapter One Book Store, in Hamilton, may take exception to this, as they were recently awarded for being an “outstanding model business,” according to the Hamilton Downtown Association. They will also be celebrating 50 years of operation.
ty for failing to do the proper analysis of the environmental impacts by handing of its mandated duties to other agencies and ignoring numerous specific, documentable, and clearly defined impacts
Shelter hosts slumber ‘Pawty’
even out of the country held the same event during the same 24hour period. The event is a fundraiser for each shelter, and participants each work to raise funds to donate to their respective shelters. Individual community businesses also donated to the fundraiser, amounting to over $10,000 as of Saturday.
tional and physical therapy services –including a therapy pool – plus imaging and lab services. Bishop said they hope to have care to the patients,”
Surviving COVID
the project. She said they a levy, so this won’t have any additional impact on people’s property taxes. In addition to the loan, the project was paid for by the Three Mile Community Senior Center (the ofcial name) which raised over $80,000 general contractor donated la-
duty to provide the statutorily required information lies with
approve a subdivision without
Scammers thwarted, vigilance recognized
RCFW aids future conservationists
day, March 5 to discuss several upcoming city projects. However, when the meeting opened, concern about the Sheep Creek mine following a meeting held a couple weeks earlier, made it into the opening. After that, the council said goodbye to the beloved long-time city clerk, who is retiring.
Longtime Hamilton city clerk retires
of the slumber party, and a barbecue was held at noon on Saturday, welcoming all of the community to visit the shelter.
Overstreet has a message for you: don’t fool around!
Many of the participants that spent the night were kids. During the slumber party, participants took part in a “tortilla slap game,”
by Victoria Howell
by Sarah Glass
co-owners, and according to one of them, Mara Lynn Luther, that is one of the many ways they have been so successful. Joined by the other owners, Katrina Mendrey and Marisa Neyenhuis, Luther believes having three people allows them to do it all. “We couldn’t do it without each other,” said Luther. The spread of responsibility allows
vation in the Bitterroot through various projects and programs. One such program is their scholarship program, which awards three winners who can display an interest in pursuing fields related to conservation, wild land ethics or natural sciences.
by
John Dowd
Overstreet, an attorney in private practice in Stevensville, was diagnosed with colon cancer in February of 2021. He went through chemotherapy and in late August he was told that the cancer had been eradicated.
See PETS, page 11
Participating
Stevi to revisit refnancing bonds
See BOOKS, page 18
to say they are shipping legal papers or paperwork.” Other common tactics for
Thousands of vegetable, herb and flower starts went home with Bitterroot Valley gardeners, free of charge or by donation, thanks to another successful Mayday! Gardens plant giveaway hosted by Cultivating Connections Montana (CCM) on May 21. Located at the
The Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) will host a public meeting this Wednesday, March 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. to share information regarding the development of a draft forest Climbing Management Plan (CMP). The virtual meeting will be held on Zoom. See below for instructions and a link to join the meeting. Five similar public meetings (virtual) were held in 2021. In addition to the
Visitors who RSVPed to the Mayday! Gardens event this spring through the organization’s website (cultivatingconnectionsmt.org) were met with a scene of bounty that embodied a promising step towards Montana food independence. Tables and racks were full of Montana-adapted plant starts
homeschools her five sons, Karst said she enjoys making salsa and that cooking is an enjoyable activity she shares with her children.
Overstreet had surgery on October
During the public comment period of the council meeting, Robert Steinhof stood to address the council. He explained that he attended a meeting hosted by the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association and Trout Unlimited. The meeting called upon Dr. Phillip Ramsey to speak on the dangers of a proposed mine up Sheep Creek. According to Steinhof, “I thought it wasn’t going to afect me, but I learned that it would only take just one little mistake and we will all be hurting.” Steinhof said that he heard about the track record of the company when Ramsey told how it was not very good. Steinhof stated that the company has supposedly been in the state
At the second regular meeting of the two-member Stevensville Town Council, on January 27, town clerk Jenelle Berthoud told the council and audience that she was having trouble streaming the meetings on the internet. She said the former YouTube chan-
For the year of 2023, one of the winners to receive a check was Savannah Deuter, who graduated high school in May of 2023. She has so far completed a semester of college and submitted her transcript providing proof of compLeting associated courses. These are two of several criteria appli-
by John Dowd chines.
On Wednesday, March 27, the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a well-attended mid-day event for members, giving their annual report, reviewing 2023 and talking about what they have planned for the upcoming year. During the meeting, it was also
Snavely said that he wants the Hamilton Police Department to “become more vocal about the good things that happen within the community.” Sharing his department’s experience with Ms. Staub was one such opportunity. In early March, a customer came to the Boxxe Shoppe intending to send a package via FedEx. The customer seemed confused and unfamiliar with the process, and Staub became susunfortunate contents of the package: nearly $16,000 in cash, which the customer was unwittingly sending to a scammer in Chicago, Illinois.
and former council member, appears to be continuing his eforts to teach the new council and mayor how local government should run. He was a frequent commenter at council meetings during the last administration. In public comment, Crews told the council that those making public comment should
the public at the next meeting when the council considers the appointment of two additional council members.
Local Chamber of Commerce holds annual business meeting
“We’ll do our job,” said Gibson
might be beneficial to talk to Darby and possibly Stevensville as well.” Her thoughts were shared by several other council members. In discussion on regular agenda items, the first to be brought forward was the issue of re-roofing the city street shop. According to Hamilton City Public Works Director, Donny Ramer, the building is used for snow plow storage and for other maintenance equipment. According to Ramer, it is the original roof, which has some significant leaks and insulation issues. Ramer believes the new roof
A lot of families attend Mayday! Gardens, said Garber, “And this is the point. Now they can garden together.” For her and Executive Administrator Jennifer Johnson, the event
of that time as the executive director. After it was announced that he would be retiring, he was asked to speak, and was introduced by Jodi Mitchell, his daughter-in-law and the current executive director. Al gave a history of the chamber, and spoke about important members during that time that led up to him taking on the position.
Joan Mell, an attorney from Hamilton, was recognized for stepping in to handle the prosecution caseload of Town Attorney
Over the course of her decade with the
ed throughout the Bitterroot. got into it because he owns the Paper Clip in downtown Hamilton. It was suggested to him that he get involved to network. He then got onto the board in the early 90s, and in 2012 he became the executive director.
New studio opens its doors in Stevensville
An open house celebration was held last week at the Bitter Root
Boxxe Shoppe, Staub
Hamilton Trap Club members line up for a shoot. Photo by Kristin Kruse.
Alliance website. The event drew over 220 people
Mara Lynn Luther sits in Chapter One’s used books section. Photo by John Dowd.
Dominic Farrenkopf (right) awards recognition to Rose Allen (left. Photo courtesy
See SAPPHIRE, page 14
team members Quinn Rahl, Kyra DesAg Mechanics led by Selwyn Hack-
Conduct of Chapter Meeting: team members Zane Deering, Teigen Hack-
youth getting ready to spend the night with puppies at the shelter. Photo by John Dowd.
Brewfest, which he started in 1995. Now valley. For him, the experience has been
the role. Al will be retiring in August this year. After Al spoke, Jodi stood to thank
Ralph Keppel, likely one of the oldest veterans that will attend the fair. He is pictured with service dog Luna. Photo courtesy Victoria Miralda.
Victoria Miralda during her time in the military. Photo courtesy Victoria Miralda.
sourced, knowing how it has been treated, there is just nothing like it as far as a health benefit because you know everything about it…,” said Johnson. “That’s kind of an important thing to do when you are trying to improve the health of not only yourself and your family, but also your community. One of the things we are focused on is the appreciation of local food.”
CCM involves community members of all ages and abilities in the gardening process; it doesn’t matter their age or whether they have a window box or an entire backyard dedicated to gardening. Young teens have been applying to CCM for paid summer internships for the last decade; “kinder-gardeners” from local kindergarten and elementary schools receive tours of Homestead Organics to introduce them to the sensations of a farm, and even the plants distributed at the Mayday! Gardens this year were in part seeded by volunteers who received gardening instruction from Garber while contributing their time. Starting in 2025, as part of CCM’s “give back initiative,” the nonprofit introduced a new program called Ladles of Love. Where CCM members and interns used to make salads for Meals on Wheels, Ladles of Love is an outgrowth of the same concept, this time providing meals that can be heated up and stored longer. CCM endeavors to expand the program this year, the goal being to get more people involved in making food and to make more food from Montana-based ingredients to donate.
Johnson explained, saying “[Ladles of
Love] involves bringing volunteers from the community into our commercial kitchen along with our youth interns, and they create soups and other ready-to-eat food for donation to our local food bank here in Hamilton, which is the Haven House food bank, as well as other partners that we have, too.”
Starting in July, people can sign up for Ladles of Love events as individuals or as teams. CCM hopes book clubs or church groups will consider it a team-building experience that empowers participants while benefiting people experiencing food insecurity in the valley.
Garber and Johnson invite the public to RSVP for CCM’s first Mayday! Gardens that will focus on storable, fall food varieties. The event will be taking place on Friday, July 17. The Heritage Skills Workshop Series is also available to those interested in learning age-old skills through hands-on learning. Subjects range from making sourdough bread and butchering a pig to making baskets from cattails.
Said Garber, “Around the idea of building community through food, there’s so much we disagree about, but we can all agree about food. Everyone can get behind growing food and feeding each other, as opposed to any other issue that is going on. Our motto is ‘change your food, change the world.’ I think we really believe that we are changing the Bitterroot Valley by changing the access to food, changing people’s perceptions of food, changing what people get to eat and changing youth into food growers and community advocates.”
Above, Bitterroot Valley gardeners of all ages and abilities gather at Homestead Organics in Hamilton for Cultivating Connections Montana Mayday! Gardens plant giveaway on May 21. Photo courtesy of Cultivating Connections Montana.
Below, Leslie Karst attended the Mayday! Gardens event to bolster her starter garden. She enjoys sourcing local ingredients and cooking with her fve sons. Photo by Sarah Glass
Susan Day ‘Sue’ McCormack Obituaries
Hamilton - Susan Day “Sue” McCormack, 84, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Dave McCormack; her son, Craig Day; her step-daughter, Tracy McCormack; nephews, Phillip and Graham Silcher; and her brother, Dr. Peter F. Silcher.
or less. $1 for every 10 extra words.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date and will be announced. The family suggests that all memorials or gifts be directed to the Bitterroot Humane Association, 262 Fairgrounds Rd, Hamilton, MT 59840. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Patrick James Gustav Mace ‘PAT’
Teri Patterson
Hamilton - Teri Patterson, 57, passed away at home on Saturday night, May 16, 2026. Brothers Mortuary & Crematory are honored to be entrusted with Ms. Patterson’s care. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
Patty Smith
Hamilton - Patty Smith, 63, passed away in the morning of Sunday, May 17, 2026 with her daughter by her side. Brothers Mortuary & Crematory are honored to care for Ms. Smith. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www,brothersmortuary.com
Cindy Cook
February 10, 1954 – May 7, 2026
Patrick James Gustav Mace, known afectionately to all as “PAT,” passed away on May 6, 2026. Born on February 10, 1954, in Missoula, Montana, Pat was a longtime resident of Darby, Montana, where he built a beautiful life centered around hard work, family, and the great outdoors.
Pat was a deeply dedicated and hardworking man who spent over 40 years of his life as a skilled cement mason. Upon retiring at the age of 60, he happily traded the job site for the simple, peaceful pleasures of Montana life. An avid outdoorsman with a lifelong passion for hunting and fshing, his absolute favorite place besides home was “up the Creek.” In his retirement, he found endless joy screening for sapphires, meticulously working in his yard, and immersing himself in a good mystery series or audiobook while camping. He was famous for the characteristic message left on his voicemail: “Sorry I can’t make it to the phone. I’m either
Missoula - Cindy Cook, 72, of Hamilton, passed away Sunday morning May 17, 2026, at St. Patrick Hospital with her family by her side. Brothers Mortuary & Crematory is honored to care for Ms. Cook. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
Betty Lou Lloyd
Hamilton - A Celebration of Life will be held for Betty Lou Lloyd (October 14, 1928 - February 7, 2026) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 20th, 2026, at the Sapphire Lutheran Homes Courtyard in Hamilton. For more details, visit www.dalyleachchapel.com.
taking a nap or up the creek!” family. He was the reason so many gathered and stayed connected, and his warmth, humor, and steady presence will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Pat’s legacy of love for the mountains and his ferce devotion to his family will live on forever in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
Pat was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Natalie (1979–1996). He is survived by his loving wife, Janet “Gigi”; his daughters, Danae and Wendy; and his son, Kirk. He is also survived by his four brothers, Steve, Mike, Mark, and “otha brotha” Steve. Pat’s legacy continues through his grandchildren, Riley, Declan, and Laycee; his great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Shelby, and Trisha; and his great-great-grandchild, Kingston.
Daniel ‘Jack’ Sain
Corvallis - Daniel “Jack” Sain, 88, of Corvallis passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at his home. Services are pending and will be announced. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Christine Ann Easley
Victor - Christine Ann Easley, 73, of Victor passed away Monday, May 11, 2026 at her home of natural causes. Private family services will be held. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Margaret W. Beattie
Hamilton - Margaret W. Beattie, 74, of Hamilton passed away Friday, May 1, 2026 at Hope Hospice in Missoula. Services are pending. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
William ‘Bill’ Edward Lauer
Hamilton - William “Bill” Edward Lauer, 86, of Hamilton passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Valley Health and Rehab in Hamilton. Local services have taken place. Burial will take place in Connecticut. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Vote for America
We have endured civil war, depression, world wars, political corruption, riots, assassinations, economic collapse, and periods where millions of Americans believed the country itself was beginning to come apart. More than once, people looked at the nation and wondered whether the experiment could survive another decade.
Yet somehow, generation after generation, Americans found a way forward.
Not because we were perfect.
Not because we always agreed.
Not because our leaders never failed.
There is a growing temptation in America to believe everything is broken beyond repair. Some now speak as though collapse is inevitable, corruption is permanent, and the entire system no longer deserves faith.
by Tony Hudson
We endured because enough ordinary citizens still believed the country was worth preserving, even when they were frustrated with it.
That is the real strength of a republic.
I understand the frustration behind those feelings. Many Americans feel ignored, economically pressured, culturally exhausted, and increasingly disconnected from the institutions meant to serve them.
But hopelessness is not wisdom.
And cynicism is not strength.
A nation becomes fragile the moment its people stop believing improvement is possible.
designed to create a framework where free citizens could argue, vote, build, reform, and govern themselves without destroying one another in the process. It requires character. It requires integrity.
The future of this country will not be determined solely by politicians, media personalities, corporations, or activists. It will be determined by millions of ordinary Americans quietly deciding whether they still believe this republic is worth strengthening. I believe it is. I believe our best days can still be ahead of us.
I believe strong communities, honest work, responsible leadership, and civic decency still matter.
And I believe self-government survives only when citizens refuse to surrender either to hatred or despair.
So on June 2 — one of only two days this year you will have the chance to honor both the generations of the past and the future in the same moment — please vote.
A free nation does not survive because its people are always happy. It survives because enough people remain willing to participate responsibly even during disappointment, uncertainty, and disagreement.
Voting is part of that responsibility.
Not because elections magically solve every problem, and not because every candidate deserves admiration, but because self-government only functions when citizens remain engaged instead of surrendering to bitterness, apathy, or permanent outrage.
America’s greatest moments often emerged from its darkest hours.
The generation that endured the Great Depression went on to build the industrial strength that helped defeat tyranny across the world.
A divided nation scarred by civil war eventually preserved the Union and expanded liberty.
History reminds us that decline is not destiny unless a people chooses resignation over responsibility.
The Constitution was never designed to guarantee comfort, agreement, or political victory. It was
Vote with hope rather than vengeance, humility rather than arrogance.
Vote understanding that no election alone will save the country, but that abandoning the process guarantees its decline.
Most importantly, remember that the American experiment has always depended on citizens willing to carry responsibility during difcult times rather than retreat from it.
Every generation inherits a moment where it must decide whether it still believes in the republic it was given.
Paid for by Tony Hudson
Legal Notices
John D. Greef
attorney at law
P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 360-8117
Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JU-
DICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Cliford Merrill Gilstad, Deceased.
Case No.: DP-2026-0000031
Department No. 1
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that Brandy Wagner and Roxanne Wagner have been appointed Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Brandy Wagner and Roxanne Wagner, the Co-Personal Representatives, return receipt requested, in c/o John D. Greef, P.O. Box 1926, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.
DATED this 29th day of April, 2026.
/s/John D. Greef
John D. Greef, Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 5-6, 5-13, 5-20, 5-27-2026.
MNAXLP
NOTICE
The 2nd half of the 2025 Real Estate Taxes are due payable before 5 PM, May 31, 2026. We have a Night Drop located at North end of Administration Building in drive thru. Mailed payments, must be postmarked by May 31, 2026 or the payment will be returned for penalty and interest. Please make checks payable to the Ravalli County Treasurer. Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express cards are accepted. Also accepting online payments at www. Ravalli.us/196/Property-Tax. Paying with Credit/Debit card will include a 2.15% convenience fee and $1.25 Transaction Fee.
Ravalli County Treasurer
Dan Whitesitt
215 S 4th St Ste H Hamilton MT 59840 406-375-6600
BS 5-6, 5-13, 5-20, 5-27-2026. MNAXLP
NOTICE The frst half of the 2026 Mobile Home Taxes are due payable before 5 pm June 15, 2026. We have a Night Drop located at North end of Administration Building in drive thru. Mailed payments must be postmarked by June 15, 2026 or the payment will be returned for penalty and interest. Please make checks payable to the Ravalli County Treasurer. Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express cards are accepted. Also accepting online payments at www. Ravalli.us/196/Property-Tax. Paying with Credit/Debit card will include a 2.15% convenience fee and $1.25 Transaction Fee.
Ravalli County Treasurer
Dan Whitesitt
215 S 4th St Ste H Hamilton MT 59840
406-375-6600
BS 5-6, 5-13, 5-20, 5-27, 6-3, 6-10-2026.
MNAXLP
John D. Greef
P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840
406-360-8117
Attorney for Petitioner
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF: Heidi Debra Kaminski, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-26-194 Dept No. 2 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN a hearing upon the Petition for Name Change will be held on Thursday, the 16th day of June, 2026, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard in the courtroom of the above court at which time all interested persons may appear and object.
Dated this 5th day of May, 2026. /s/John D. Greef, attorney for Petitioner BS 5-13, 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF: Medusa the Gypsy Callihan: Medusa the Gypsy Callihan, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-26-196
Dept No. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is a notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Medusa the
Gypsy Callihan to Susan Ann Callihan. The hearing will be on June 18, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County. Dated May 6, 2026. Paige Trautwein, Clerk of District Court
/s/ Catherine Di Gleria, Deputy Clerk of Court BS 5-13, 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF: William Aaron Alt: William Aaron Alt, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-26-199 Dept No. 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is a notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from William Aaron Alt to William Aaron Davis. The hearing will be on June 17, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County. Dated May 7, 2026. Paige Trautwein, Clerk of District Court /s/ Catherine Di Gleria, Deputy Clerk of Court BS 5-13, 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026. MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT DANIEL WEER, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-2026-60 Dept. No.: 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Dana Tompkins has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Dana Tompkins, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South 2nd St., Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
BS 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026.
MNAXLP
Request for Bids (RFB) Selway River: Rush Skeletonweed and Trailside Spraying Bitterroot National Forest, Selway River The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners are soliciting Request for Bids for work to be performed which consists of applying foliar herbicides to rush skeletonweed in accordance with label specifcations and as directed by the Ravalli County Weed District Coordinator. Herbicides and additives needed for this project will be provided by the contractor. Chemicals needed for this project include: Milestone, Escort and a surfactant. Equipment required shall include: Backpack(s), GPS/Smart Phone, Camera, Boat/Raft/Jet Boat, Livestock/mounted sprayers. Proposals must be submitted to the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, (Second Floor) Hamilton, MT, 59840 no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2026. Proposals will then be opened by the Ravalli County Commissioners at 10:00 AM. on Monday, June 01, 2026 in the Commissioners Conference Room (Third Floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, with possible award of bid to immediately follow.
For a copy of the full Request for Bid, contact the Ravalli County Weed Department at 121 South Tudor Street, Victor, MT during regular business hours or by calling 406-777-5842.
For questions concerning the Request for Bid process, contact Chris Taggart at the Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce – 406-3756500. Chris Taggart Administrative Assistant Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce BS 5-20, 5-27-2026. MNAXLP
Request for Bids (RFB) Salmon River: Rush Skeletonweed and Trailside Spraying Bitterroot National Forest, Salmon River Breaks
The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners are soliciting Request for Bids for work to be performed which consists of applying foliar herbicides to rush skeletonweed in accordance with label specifcations and as directed by the Ravalli County Weed District Coordinator. Herbicides and additives needed for this project will be provided by the contractor. Chemicals needed for this project include: Milestone, Escort and a surfactant. Equipment required shall include: Backpack(s), GPS/Smart Phone, Camera, Boat/Raft/Jet
Boat, Livestock. Proposals must be submitted to the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, (Second Floor) Hamilton, MT. 59840 no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2026. Proposals will then be opened by the Ravalli County Commissioners at 10:15 AM. on Monday, June 01, 2026 in the Commissioners Conference Room (Third Floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, with possible award of bid to immediately follow.
For a copy of the full Request for Bid, contact the Ravalli County Weed Department at 121 South Tudor Street, Victor, MT during regular business hours or by calling 406-777-5842.
For questions concerning the Request for Bid process, contact Chris Taggart at the Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce –406-375-6500.
Chris Taggart
Administrative Assistant Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce
BS 5-20, 5-27-2026.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice is hereby given to the persons hereinafter named and to whom it may concern. For enforcement of liens in the amount of $657 to Advanced Storage Solutions, located at 108 Westside Road, Hamilton MT 59840, will sell the contents of storage units #11, occupied by Benjamin Roland, at auction to the highest bidder. Auction will be held at Advanced Storage Solutions, Unit #11 on Friday, May 29 th at 4 PM.
BS 5-20, 5-27-2026.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice is hereby given to the persons hereinafter named and to whom it may concern. For enforcement of liens in the amount of $3,020 to Advanced Storage Solutions, located at 108 Westside Road, Hamilton MT 59840, will sell the contents of outside space #7, occupied by Michael Rinaki, at auction to the highest bidder. Auction will be held at Advanced Storage Solutions, Outside space #7 on Friday, May 29 th at 4 PM.
BS 5-20, 5-27-2026.
MNAXLP
Request for Proposals
Pavement Markings
The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners is soliciting Request for Proposals for pavement markings to be conducted throughout various County roads in Ravalli County. Proposals will be received by the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, (Second Floor) Hamilton, MT. 59840 until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Proposals will then be opened by the Ravalli County Commissioners at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 in the Commissioners Conference Room (Third Floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT.
For a copy of the Full Request for Proposal and Specifcations for the pavement markings, contact the Ravalli County Road & Bridge Department at 244 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, MT during regular business hours or by calling 406363-2733.
For questions concerning the Request for Proposal process, contact Chris Taggart at the Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce –406-375-6500.
Chris Taggart
Administrative Assistant Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce
BS 5-20, 5-27-2026.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTYFIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF Carrie Lynn Oury: Carrie Lynn Oury, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-41-20260000200-NC
Dept No.: 2 - Jennifer B. Lin
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is a notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Carrie Lynn Oury to Carrie Lynn Candla Aragen. The hearing will be on June 18, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated May 5, 2026. Paige Trautwein, Clerk of District Court /s/ Catherine Di Gleria, Deputy Clerk of Court BS 5-20, 5-27, 6-3, 6-10-2026.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTYFIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF Michelle Schaefer: Michelle Schaefer, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-26-181 Dept No.: 1
AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is a notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Michelle Rose Schaefer to Michelle Rose Hooper. The hearing will be on July 8, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated May 13, 2026. Paige Trautwein, Clerk of District Court /s/ Sarah Gingerich-Sargent, Deputy Clerk of Court BS 5-20, 5-27, 6-3, 6-10-2026. MNAXLP
Kyle J. Workman State Bar No. 65442127 Workman Law, PLLC P.O. Box 1167 Hamilton, MT 59840
T: (406) 802-2198 kyle@workmanlawmt.com courts@workmanlawmt.com
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: MARGARET WOLD BEATTIE, Deceased. Probate No. DP-41-20260000067-IT
Dept. No. 2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to JAMES K. PATTERSON, the Personal Representative, in care of WORKMAN LAW, PLLC, 601 S. First Street, P.O. Box 1167, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true
and correct.
DATED this 15th day of May, 2026. /s/James K. Patterson
WORKMAN LAW, PLLC /s/Kyle J. Workman, Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026.
MNAXLP
Craig Mungas
State Bar No. 6746
BJM Law PLLC 2809 Great Northern Loop, Ste 100 Missoula, Montana 59808 Telephone: 406-721-8896
Telefax: 406-541-8037
Email: craig@bjmattorneys.com
Attorneys for Luke Bush, Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: LINDA BUSH, a/k/a Linda L. Bush, Deceased. Cause No.: DP-41-2026-65
Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to LUKE BUSH, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o BJM Law PLLC, 2809 Great Northern Loop, Suite 100, Missoula, MT 59808, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 14th day of May 2026.
/s/Luke Bush, Personal Representative BMJ Law PLLC
/s/Craig Mungas
Attorneys for Luke Bush, Personal Representative BS 5-20, 5-27, 6-3-2026.
MNAXLP
Bitterroot Conservation District Adopted Rules and Appendix
Pursuant to MCA 75-7-117, The Bitterroot Conservation District is required to adopt rules setting standards and guidelines for projects and exclusions within their district that meet, exceed, or are not covered by the minimum standards as found in Administrative Rule 36.2.4.
The 2025 State Legislator adopted SB10, which extended the timeline associated with the review of emergency notifcations when there has been a governor declared state of emergency. The Bitterroot Conservation District will modify its adopted rules according to the 2025 State Legislator mandate and is proposing to add an appendix to its adopted rules concerning the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act (310 Law) as governed by the administration of the district’s stream permitting program.
The proposed appendix will be inserted into the adopted rules to help defne jurisdictional 310 authority concerning: in-stream woody debris; riparian vegetation; fsh passage at road crossings; irrigation and headgate maintenance; buried utility line crossings; of-stream buried revetments. All other changes are formatting changes designed to make the adopted rules easier to use and understand.
A hearing will be held on the 9th of June, 2026, 6:00 pm, 1709 North First Street, Hamilton, to provide an opportunity for the public to present views and submit written comments on the appendix to the rules. Copies of the draft appendix are available by contacting the district at 406-361-6181 and/or visit the BCD website at www.bitterrootcd. org. Written comments must be submitted to the district by 4:00 p.m. on June 8th, 2026. BS 5-13, 5-27-2026. MNAXLP
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Florence golf strikes state gold, silver
A Florence golf team hoisted a state championship trophy for the second straight year. Last year it was the girls; this year it was the boys.
The Florence boys golf team of Ian McLean, Brody Duchien, RJ Moody, Preston Ekstedt, and Easton Anderson, claimed the Class B Golf State Championship title at the Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings on Wednesday, May 20. Florence shot a combined score of 658 (+82) over two rounds to defeat second place Manhattan by four strokes.
“We had a great group of boys this year,” said Florence head golf coach Scott Marsh. “The boys had some early success this season. They stalled a bit midway, but then they turned it on toward the end of season and won divisionals and state.”
“This is the frst state trophy for the Florence boys golf program,” said Marsh.
“They skipped second and third and went straight for the championship trophy.”
In high school golf, fve golfers are allowed to play per team, and the lowest four scores count toward the overall team total.
“The strength of our team was our depth,” said Marsh. “We had three seniors in Duchien, McLean, and Ekstedt, and then two freshmen in Moody and Anderson. Our alternate Oliver Fisher would have been a starter on almost any other team in the state.”
Florence girls state runner-up
The Florence girls won the second place trophy. The team of Kipley Solari, Jordan Kidd, Lacie Ketelhut, Reese Briney, and Lexi
Softball postseason underway
Class A
The girls softball teams from Hamilton, Corvallis, and Stevensville all play in the Southwest A Conference. The two teams with the best conference record automatically qualifed for state, while the third place team played a state play-in game. The Class A State Softball Tournament takes place in Hamilton on May 28-30.
The Hamilton girls took frst in the conference and earned the Southwest’s top seed at the state tournament. Hamilton plays their frst round game at state on Thursday, May 28, at 5 p.m. in Hamilton.
Corvallis was the Southwest’s third seed and played a state play-in game against Ro-
nan on Saturday, May 23. The winner of that game advanced to the state tournament. For Class A State Softball Tournament updates, go to the Montana High School Associations website at www.mhsa.org/ sports-activities/spring/softball-postseason-page/.
Class B
The Florence girls played in the Western B/C Divisional Softball Tournament on Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, in Anaconda. Go to bitterrootstar.com for results.
The Class B/C State Softball Tournament will take place at Stewart Park in Billings on May 28-30.
Danczyk, put forth a strong efort but fell short of a repeat title. A strong Lone Peak team took frst.
“Some would think that the girls getting second place after winning the state championship last year would be disappointing,” said Marsh, “but we actually shot 23 shots better than we did last year when we won. Lone Peak just had an exceptional team this year.”
Marsh highlighted that the MHSA
allowed each team to have four coaches on the course this season, and having these extra coaches to help the kids proved invaluable.
Marsh gave special thanks to his assistant coaches Kurt Solari, Keri Briney, Bobbie Ketelhut, and Brian Frederick.
This is the third straight season the Florence girls have taken home a state trophy. They placed second in 2024, first in 2025, and now second in 2026.
“We’ve had a great run on the girls’ side,” said Marsh. “The core group of girls have one more year left. We sent the senior boys home with a title this year, so we hope to send the girls out with a bang next year.”
Florence boys individual results. Brody Duc -
hien was +13 (75, 82) and tied for fourth. Ian McLean was +17 (82, 79) and took 11th. RJ Moody was +21 (78, 87) and tied for 14th, and both Easton Anderson (92, 88) and Preston Ekstedt (87, 93) were +36 and tied for 46th.
Florence girls individual results. Last year’s state champion Kipley Solari was +20 (82, 82) and finished in fourth. Reese Briney was +43 (88, 99) and tied for 14th. Jordan Kidd was +46 (95, 95) and tied for 21st, Lacie Ketelhut tied for 33rd (100, 96), and Lexi Danczyk tied for 47th (100, 109).
Darby’s 8th grader Bentley Rouse qualified individually for the state tournament and shot a 106 and a 107 to tie for 50th.
Baseball postseason underway
The Montana high school baseball postseason is underway as state play-in games were held on Saturday, May 23, and the 2026 Class A/B State Baseball Tournament will be played in Polson on May 28-30.
The baseball teams from Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville are all in the South Division in Class A/B. In the regular season, Frenchtown took first and got the division’s automatic bid to state. Florence took second, Hamilton took third, Corvallis took fourth,
and Stevensville took fifth.
As the South’s #2 seed, Florence played the North’s #3 seed in a state play-in game on Saturday, May 23. The winner of that game advanced to the state tournament to play the #1 seed out of the Central Division.
As the South’s #3 seed, Hamilton played the North’s #2 seed in a state play-in game on Saturday, May 23. The winner of that game advanced to the state tournament to play the #1 seed from the East.
Baseball scores
Florence 14, Corvallis 4
Florence hosted Corvallis on Tuesday, May 19, in both teams’ fnal game of the regular season. Florence won 14-4 in fve innings. For Florence, Calan Rocco went 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Wes Potter scored two runs and had an RBI, and Alden Crawford scored two runs and had an RBI. For Corvallis, Joe Hixon, Maurice Craun, Ryan Bourassa, and Elijah Harden all had an RBI.
Stevensville 9, Thompson Falls 0 In their fnal game of the season, Stevensville hosted Thompson Falls on Tuesday, May 19, and won 9-0. Stevensville’s Shane Ayers pitched six innings without giving up a hit and struck out 15 batters. At the plate for Stevensville, McCoy Endres went 2 for 3, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Jackson Guenzler went 1 for 4 with two RBIs, and Corbin Mauler scored two runs.
Hamilton 6, Frenchtown 7 In their regular season fnale, Hamilton played at Frenchtown on Tuesday, May 19, and lost 6-7. Hamilton led 6-5 after fve innings, but Frenchtown scored a run in both the 6th and 7th innings to get the win. For Hamilton, Bridger Huddleston went 3 for 3 and scored a run. Brady DeMoss went 1 for 3 and had an RBI. Jude Widmer went 1 for 3 and had two RBIs, and Adrian Cardullo went 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Divisional tennis Divisional track
The Southwestern A Tennis Divisionals Tournament was held in Ronan on Tuesday, May 19, through Friday, May 22. Rain and thunderstorms prolonged the tournament
an extra day. The teams from Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville all participated. Go to the sports page at bitterrootstar.com for results.
The Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville track and feld teams competed in the Western A Divisionals in Frenchtown on Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23. The Darby, Florence, and Victor track and feld teams competed in the Western B/C Divisionals in Missoula on Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23. Go to the sports page at bitterrootstar. com for results.
The Florence boys golf team take a dip in the lake to celebrate their state championship. Photo courtesy of Scott Marsh.
The Florence girls golf team took second place at the Class B State Golf Tournament at the Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings on Wednesday, May 20. Photo courtesy of Scott Marsh.
The Florence boys golf team won the Class B State Golf Tournament at the Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings on Wednesday, May 20. Photo courtesy of Scott Marsh.
VETERAN’S: event to help connect services to servicemen, women
ed, they are much less likely to check out.” Her organization does six to seven retreats a year, and they also do a “cop camp” twice a year. Veteran’s Victory Alliance works with Missoula Vet Center to help fnd people that really need it. Miralda said the employees there are “people that do really, really tough work every day,” and she appreciates their help.
She also partners with Project Healing Waters and a number of other organizations; all “people rowing in the same direction.” That teamwork allows for a much wider reach.
Much of Miralda’s excitement is culminating in a big upcoming event that could be a game changer for many veterans in the community. On Saturday, May 30, several of these groups will be collectively hosting a Veteran’s Resource Fair. The event starts at 9 a.m. at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. There will be an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and it will run until 3 p.m.
The event is being made possible by a Montana Crisis Diversion grant, with funds going to the Ravalli County Behavioral Health Coalition. This group is a partnership with membership from Bitterroot Health, Hamilton Police Department and the Ravalli County Sherif’s Department.
Miralda said this event will go a long way to helping people who may have fallen between the cracks. She has seen this type
of event done in several places in Montana, including Billings, and said it does a lot to help connect veterans with services that could help them.
Miralda spoke on the pain that leads many veterans to suicide. That pain could stem from hearing loss, physical pain from injuries, mental health or even the subsequent emotional pain from things seen in the service. “My number one is to get them out of pain,” said Miralda.
Employment is another concern Miralda mentioned. Many veterans feel a loss of a sense of purpose in their lives, and it is important to help them connect with the community.
Employment can assist with this. She noted there are so many job openings available, but many employers cannot even send representatives because they are so short-handed. The partnership is trying to include information for those jobs at the fair.
The event will have music performed by Montana-raised Stephanie Quayle, out of Nashville. She will be performing a lunch concert. The youth Bitterroot Valley Military Program will be raising colors and the Ravalli County Sherif’s Ofce mounted patrol will be there. There will be food trucks, and because of generous sponsors, they will be providing a free lunch to every veteran that attends. There will also be rafe items, Ham radio and
emergency communications demonstrations and much more. There is also a VA shuttle. For information, call (406) 202-9936.
“A lot of people stepped up so they [veterans] have a great day,” said Miralda.
Guest speakers will include Command Sergeant Major Kieth DeBoo, the command senior enlisted leader for the Montana National Guard, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Todd Dunlap from Senator Sheehy’s ofce and non-voting member of Montana Board of Veterans Afairs and U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John Tabb, the Montana 988 Program
Manager and suicide prevention program specialist. Miralda noted that they also want to recognize Vietnam and Korean war veterans. Several will be in attendance and will talk about the diference made in their lives. “We want to capture our veterans in our valley at this time,” to “tell their story,” added Miralda.
For her and others, that service should not go on, forgotten; no veteran should. To emphasize that sentiment, the motto of the event is: “We’ve got your six in the 406.”
Female veterans retreat conquers Johnson Peak. Photo courtesy Victoria Miralda.
High Water Chronicles: tips for more trout
With flyfishing there’s some stuff you need to learn hands-on. With water rising everywhere and becoming unfishable, one of the best uses of your time off the water can be to practice the two skills you need most on the stream: casting and tying knots.
Casting practice has many benefits: It’s a good way to scratch the itch before the season gets rolling. Grooving your cast in beforehand can mean the difference between fish and no fish when you’re on the water. Besides, properly done, you’ll see rapid progress and it’s fun.
near bag with the line tip first, and when that distance is easy, go to the further one. Practice for a smooth flow of line and accuracy.
After a few days of good practice, sling another long one. You’ll be surprised at the results.
by Chuck Stranahan
For a first session, take your fly rod outdoors and string it up. Let the experience, the sweet memories and anticipation soak in. Give it a couple easy casts to warm up. Then, go for a long one – sling it out there. Get it out of your system.
Limit those long ones to three casts, but don’t persist with it. Stop before you ingrain bad habits that need to be broken later, and pace off your best one. Then put the rod away, go indoors and dial up some YouTube videos – good ones – on casting. The problem is there’s too much YouTube content out there –good and bad. How do you tell the difference?
Start by watching anything by Steve or Tim Rajeff, or the newer videos by Orvis. If you don’t mind older video quality, look up Doug Swisher’s casting videos. You’ll get good models to follow. Choose titles that match your experience. Try to memorize what they show you. Then, same day or next, go practice again.
Grab a couple of paper bags, put rocks in them and set them at 30 and 40 feet from where you’ll make your casts. Try to hit the
Better still, get some lessons from a qualified instructor. Another high
water thing to practice is tying good knots. Sit in an easy chair, with a newspaper spread in your lap to catch the snippets and a good lamp shining bright over your shoulder. Have your clippers and a couple spools of tippet material, one heavy and one light, say, 3X and 5X at hand along with your fly box. First, take a fairly big fly, say a #8, and some 3X leader material. Practice a knot called the improved clinch knot. You can find diagrams of that knot and others in books, product inserts that come with various pieces of tackle, and on YouTube. Ask Mother Google.
She’ll know where to find it. Follow the diagram or the video and practice the knot. Don’t quit practicing when you finally get it right. Tie it a dozen more times until you really get the hang of it. Then switch to a #14 fly and 5X tippet material. Still feeling smug? Keep going… the idea is to tie that knot in various sizes until you find it easy, routine.
Practice that improved clinch knot until you imagine yourself tying it perfectly and quickly in fading light with numbingly cold fingers while standing knee-deep
in moving water that you can hear rushing over the midstream boulders, while a big trout is rising about forty feet away.
Then, learn the turle and Palomar knots. They’re fussier to learn but easier than the improved clinch once you know them, and they’re stronger.
Another good knot to learn is the triple surgeon’s knot for tying two pieces of monofilament together – as in replacing tippet. You’ll use this knot about once for every three times you tie an improved clinch, and it is just as important.
Again, try YouTube and Google. The surgeon’s knot shown in videos is just a double overhand knot tied in overlapping pieces of material.
To make it a triple surgeon’s knot add a third overhand knot to the loop. That makes it a triple surgeon’s knot. That third turn adds 50% to the bulk of the knot and increases its strength by about the same percentage. Master those two knots – one to tie on your fly, and one to repair your leader. Secure knots will show in your catch rate when the water comes down.
Time spent tying secure knots yields more trout, fewer breakoffs. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.
Bitter Root Land Trust to host poker ride on May 30
The Bitter Root Land Trust (BRLT), a local conservation non-profit organization, is inviting recreationists to get an on-the-ground look at conserved agricultural lands at the 3rd annual Burnt Fork Poker Ride on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Stevensville.
Presented by BRLT’s Next Gen Committee, a group of rising leaders in the Bitterroot who connect with the community over conservation through engagement events and community outreach, this event was designed to bring recreating user groups together over shared values of protected open land to safely enjoy Bitterroot Valley trails that are open to horses, bikes, and hikers.
The Poker Ride will feature two separate routes that will take horseback riders and bicyclists to a series of poker stops on privately owned working ranches in the Burnt Fork conservation neighborhood that have been protected in perpetuity with conservation easements by private, willing landowners in partnership with BRLT. To date, BRLT has partnered with 71 families to conserve 15,282 acres of open land in the Bitterroot Valley including agricultural land and habitat for wildlife.
The horse route (starting at 10 a.m.) is 3.5 miles and travels across the Lazy Burnt
Fork Ranch (landowners Steve Peckinpaugh and Catherine Taylor-Peckinpaugh) and Haywire Flats conservation easement (landowners Carola Woolsey-Mielke and Ed Mielke), with the option to extend the ride to 5 total miles using a moderately difficult connector trail.
The route for bicyclists (starting at 11 a.m.) will take riders along a private ranch road on Skyline Angus (landowners Drew and Kaci Lewis), and along Middle and South Burnt Fork Roads with stops at Flying E Ranch (landowners Dan and Debbie Severson), Runnin’ Bear Ranch (landowners Doug and Janis Astle), and Kerslake Ranch (landowners Dan and Sari Kerslake).
“The landowner momentum for conservation in the Burnt Fork is inspirational, with over 7,000 acres and 7 contiguous miles of working ranches that will remain
intact forever thanks to conservation easements and BRLT,” says Kelly Hook, Next Gen Committee Member. “The Next Gen committee created this unique event to share with our community the incredible conservation that local support makes possible and celebrate our valley’s agricultural landscape that will remain forever unchanged. We are grateful to the landowners who are generously allowing public access for the day for this one-of-a-kind event.”
Both horse and bike routes will start and stop at Lazy Burnt Fork Ranch, where an after-the-ride celebration will take place with raffles, music, beverages and burgers for purchase from Double K Ranch, and information about private landowner-driven conservation in the Bitterroot Valley. The best poker hand of the day will win the grand prize of a Yeti cooler filled with locally grown beef and chicken.
“As conservation easement landowners who partnered with the Bitter Root Land Trust to protect our ranch, we are happy to continue our support of Bitterroot conservation by hosting this annual Poker Ride
for the community,” said Lazy Burnt Fork Ranch landowners Steve Peckinpaugh and Catherine Taylor Peckinpaugh. “We are blessed to live here and hope the day will be a memorable one for everyone attending as we share the protected open land that we get to enjoy daily.”
Landowners who conserve their properties in partnership with BRLT can choose whether to allow public access. As most BRLT-completed conservation easements are working family farms and ranches, public access to privately-owned conserved lands is relatively rare.
Event proceeds will directly support BRLT’s mission to conserve the Bitterroot Valley’s water, wildlife, and working lands. Entry for the ride costs $20 with additional poker hands available for purchase at $10 per hand. Limited tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online by visiting the Bitter Root Land Trust website at bitterrootlandtrust.org.
For more information about the Bitter Root Land Trust, visit www.bitterrootlandtrust.org.
Montana families deserve a representative who answers to them — not to political insiders or party bosses in Helena. Wayne Rusk is a proven conservative that will fight for Montana
DEFEND YOUR PROPERTY TAX CUT
PROVEN CONSERVATIVE LEADER
SMALLER, SMARTER GOVERNMENT
MBPC releases Ravalli County housing, affordability data
The Montana Budget and Policy Center released an interactive map that provides county-level data on Montana residents’ ability to afford rental housing.
“Housing is an essential factor in whether or not Montanans have the resources they need to live healthy lives and whether neighborhoods prosper or fall behind,” said Aubrey Godbey, housing policy analyst for Montana Budget and Policy Center.
“However, 43 percent of Ravalli County renters are facing rental costs they cannot afford.”
Ravalli County-specific data
· Twenty-one percent of resi -
dents rent their homes, or 3,849 households;
· Forty-three percent of Ravalli County renters are cost-burdened by rent prices; and
· Someone working a minimum-wage job in Ravalli County must work 101 hours each week to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Rising housing costs place a heavier burden on renters, who tend to earn less than homeowners. In Ravalli County,
the median income for renters is $41,079, while the median homeowner income is $78,254 annually. Median income is the midpoint of a specific area’s income distribution, in this case, Ravalli County.
“We hope this data will help community members, advocates and policymakers consider policy solutions that can support renters and increase the supply and availability of affordable and attainable housing for
Montanans,” said Godbey. The full housing profile for Ravalli County can be found at https://www.montanabudget. org/interactive-housing-map.
Montana Budget and Policy Center is a nonprofit organization providing in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax and economic issues. MBPC’s focus is publishing credible, timely and easy-to-understand reports on the fiscal policies that most affect Montanans living on low and moderate incomes. To learn more about MBPC, interested persons can go online to www.montanabudget.org.
Steven Neal: right man for Precinct 22
There is a divide inside today’s Republican Party between traditional Reagan Republicans and ideological purists, more interested in purges than public service and who place Party over constituents.
Kevin Hammons exacerbates that divide with his baseless attacks on the current Ravalli County Republican Central Committee Captain for Precinct 22, Steven Neal.
Steven Neal is the kind of Republican many of us grew up respecting. He shows up, works, volunteers, and contributes. He attends meetings, supports candidates, and helps with fundraising eforts. He invested more than $20,000 of his own money building handcrafted furniture that was auctioned of at local Republican events to help support conservative causes in the Bitterroot Valley and raise money for local candidates.
Steven Neal is a public servant committed to his constituents. On the other hand, Kevin Hammons prefers to criticize rather than contribute. The diference between Neal and Hammons is the diference between the man who built the barn and the man who shows up later asking for the keys.
Many local Republicans relate that Hammons has not attended any Central Committee meetings, has not helped staf Saturday Farmers’ Market booths, has not helped raise funds for candidates, and appears disconnected from the practical realities of how local and state Republican organizations operate.
Hammons’ inadequacies show he is not suitable for public ofce, even as he claims to be the better choice to replace someone who has consistently done the real work for many years.
Most of us are weary of the destructive ideologies and growing infuence of the John Birch/Freedom Caucus/AFP extremists. These infect Republican Party politics with loyalty tests, false conspiracy rhetoric, purging elected legislators, and internal warfare rather than on the practical conservative principles Ronald Reagan championed: optimism, persuasion, economic growth, and coalition-building.
Reagan Republicans like Steven Neal believe in attracting people to the party, not driving them away. It is more productive to debate ideas than to demand oaths and purge Republicans who disagree with counterproductive strategies and polices.
Credibility is not earned by falsely demeaning opponents. It is earned through honesty, reliability, service and accomplishment.
Steven Neal has earned his credibility. He is the kind of man we need to serve the community and accomplish conservative goals. Too many Republicans are fghting each other instead of advancing ideas that help Montanans. It is up to you voters to recognize the difference between someone who talks negatively about the Republican Party and someone who has spent years doing the hard work to support and grow it. There is a big diference between a positive builder and a negative bystander. Vote for Steven Neal. He, not Hammons, is the proven Republican, focused on serving Montanans.
Dr. Marc L. Sabin, ScD Corvallis Fall of the American empire
America’s fascist junta has dragged the United States into an era of obscenity and darkness. Experiments in fascism always end in chaotic misery. Their mandate is to create pandemonium, violence and mass destruction, weapons of an authoritarian state. Aided by AI their control over the populace will grow stronger and their terrorist activities will escalate. America is engaged in an illegal war in the name of world peace and has threatened nuclear annihilation, indicating a degenerate, demented failed empire teetering on the brink of the abyss. America’s wealth was methodically looted by its ruling elites. The American empire’s fall represents the latest in a historical precedent that goes back centuries. Empires are ephemeral and in time die. The massive degree of America’s greed and corruption
Opinion
accelerated its death.
With threats to planetary survival intensifying nuclear disarmament/demilitarization of the earth is a dream that must come true. If the world would fght for truth with love rather than fear, peace will fourish.
Bill Bakeberg Hamilton
Thank you, SC!
While Americans always believe that we are number one in the world in everything, the following survey statistics might startle our readers a bit!
And now, thanks to the recent decision on Voting Rights by the Supreme Court members appointed by Donald Trump, America will continue to sink lower!
Our country will never move forward until we recognize that almost 15% of our population, that is our black population, is to be kept in their places by giving them inadequate education, health services, employment opportunities, social mobility, and an unkept promise of equal justice under the law!
The Supreme Court majority has just taken those possibilities away from our fellow Americans… and THEY ARE our fellow Americans!
Tom Tunny Hamilton
Response to Big Corral Park halt
The gymnasium idea does not pass the smell test. It appears to me that this is an attempt for a hostile takeover of the public park that is intended for public use. The people do not need or want an athletic complex in what should be and has been an open land, undeveloped park for family activities and outdoor commerce. This is a public park and it should stay that way, without industrial monetary infuence. We are here to save a 25+ years of undeveloped park, not destroy it, period.
Jefrey John Hamilton
Just a note (part 1)
I’m writing this with the feeling I have experienced a death in the family.
At this time, the threat to the United States is at a level never before allowed to develop.
While some ask How, it is more appropriate to ask Why Not?
Why Not, make your move when each of the political parties is in active pursuit of self destruction?
Why Not, make your move when efective government is at a standstill?
Why Not, make your move when Congress is incapable of exercising any allegiance to their oaths?
Why Not, make your move when Congress is more adept at “kicking the can down the road” than making intellectually focused decisions?
Why Not, make your move when the confusion reigns, for example, in the Auto-Pen Event? An obvious maneuver by unnamed person or persons to short circuit the justice system. The probability that they will face exposure, prosecution and sentencing is at a level so low it is immeasurable. The extent of the state of the government is clearly shown. One failure follows another as sure as sunrise. The extent that integrity is absent is a statement, a forecast for coming attractions.
Politicians stand before cameras, their favored location, and advise the public of the extent and successes of their investigations. When was the last time the subject of one of those extended, horribly pricey investigations (ofering little more than job security for the investigators) resulted in even an attempt to prosecute, much less actually sufer prosecution, conviction, and sentencing APPOPRIATE FOR THE VIOLATION OF
THE LAW, now there’s another subject altogether. Our recently replaced, senile individual, who obliged his controllers with absolute control, violated so many laws that no one can make a list. No Prosecution.
Anthony Fauci killed more people than Hitler. Exonerated by Auto-pen. Made millions by his misrepresentations but escaped respon-
sibility.
William (Bill) Campbell Conner
Republicans advocate for cruelty?
A comment made at a recent candidate forum by Republican candidate for Senate District 43 Kathy Love was so appalling and cruel that it boggles my mind and demands to be called out. At the May 14 forum sponsored by the Bitterroot Valley Board of Realtors, Love suggested a wholesale “Montana DOGE” approach to the Department of Health and Human Services, in apparent reference to Elon Musk’s 2025 arbitrary, and ultimately deadly, cuts to the independent federal agency US Aid for International Development. Boston University infectious disease modeler Dr. Brooke Nichols estimated 332,553 deaths, including 224,575 children, worldwide from these arbitrary DOGE cuts. That estimation is nearly a year old and doesn’t include estimated HIV deaths, the millions of children who lost access to basic health care and education, nor does it include the resurgence of infectious diseases, such as measles, HIV and polio. Is this what Kathy Love wants for us?
The story about the Board of Realtors forum notes the current disarray in the state Republican Party, and states that “Hardliners characterize (Love’s challenger Dave Bedey) . . . as having abandoned the Republican platform.” Since when does the Republican platform advocate for cruelty and extended hardship by taking a jewel-encrusted chainsaw to critical health and education services for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Montanans? I accuse the “hardliners” in the Republican Party, like the ironically and inaptly named Kathy Love, of having abandoned common sense, community, human decency and, dare I say it, love. In Montana, we don’t throw disadvantaged children into Elon Musk’s wood chipper. We ofer compassion through public policy, and we extend a helping hand to those of our neighbors who need it.
Carlotta Grandstaf Hamilton
Aren’t we the party bosses?
Representatives like David Bedey are not confused about who they work for. In response to Shannon Mannes’ recent article in the Dillon Tribune, “Who are the Party Bosses?” It seems many Republican legislators are.
Who the bosses are NOT: outspoken, power-hungry politicians who think their opinion is the only opinion.
Out of state dark money
“Dark money” is anonymously funded corporations to infuence policy and legislation making it more favorable for their industry, or wealthy individuals/special interest groups promoting personal, political, or economic agendas.
An example of one of these groups that’s extremely active in Montana is Americans for Prosperity, a northern Virginia based organization founded by the Koch brothers that has already spent over $420,000 in Montana in 2026 attacking Republicans deemed out of step with the interests of their faceless funders.
This matters because organizations like Americans for Prosperity who list legislators with a score of how well they are matching up with the Republican party’s platform disallows those voted into a legislative role to think independently and vote on bills which they believe are best for Montanans, regardless of staunch “these-are-the-rules-you’ll-follow-if-you-sayyou’re-one-of-us” threats.
As for Mr. Maness’ proud suggestion that the MTGOP is holding Republican legislators “accountable” for their role in government, this is a swing and a miss. Perhaps the state budget needed to grow after education needs were unfunded in the past, as evidenced by lacking profciency scores for 8th grade reading and math, a trendline only a local representative using critical thinking skills would be able to see.
I certainly understand Maness’ concern
that those running for election should not lie to voters about who they are. This is valid. So why are these dark money groups making up signifcant lies about honest candidates? Why should their opinions be the only ones that bear the Republican brand?
Who the bosses ACTUALLY ARE: you and me, your neighbors and coworkers. You get the idea. When somebody gets a job, the boss is the one that gives it to them. Constituents determine who gets the job by way of votes, and elected ofcials have to reapply every election cycle.
MTGOP in-fghting and ugly acts towards legislators who put their hearts and souls into doing what they think is right isn’t a group I see myself represented by. A word of warning from one regular Montana born-and-raised Republican; you all might be doing yourselves more harm than good with this whole deal. Petty playground bullies don’t get to decide who is part of the in-crowd. That kind of behavior is exactly what it seems like: schoolyard bull.
Vote David Bedey in Senate District 43. Tara Jones Dillon
Sam Forstag
I frst got to know Sam Forstag working in the legislature together on afordable housing, public education, healthcare, and constitutional liberties in Montana. Even as a student lobbyist at the University of Montana in the 2019 session, Sam was a wonderful force for change in this state. Since then, I’ve gotten to know Sam as a wildland frefghter, a union leader, and most of all, a great friend.
People like Sam are rare in Congress— working class people who want to work together to make real change happen. Just like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sam will make meaningful and lasting diferences in Congress for regular people like you and me. I am beyond excited to do all I can to help Sam win in Montana’s western Congressional district. Vote for Sam Forstag!!
Abigail St. Lawrence Great Falls
Promoting Wayne Rusk’s candidacy
Citizens of Montana’s Hamilton area in the Bitterroot valley have a chance this June to keep authentic conservative Republican representation in the Montana House of Representatives by electing Wayne Rusk to the open seat for House District 86, the Hamilton area. He is running to keep the tradition going. The Republican Party of Montana has been changing, and true conservatives like Wayne are facing primary challenges from dark money coming from beyond Montana, hoping to elect people who will answer only to party bosses rather than the electorate.
Overall, the party elders have been espousing radical ideology that runs counter to fnding common ground. Common ground, though, is the only way to get anything done!
Wayne Rusk has found that common ground in the past. His position is to serve in the next session in Helena and to continue promoting that way of doing government business, keeping in mind the values of the people who send him there.
Simply put, he believes in putting principles above partisanship and putting the people frst. This is the only way there will be opportunities to preserve, protect, and defend the life and liberty we cherish.
And as public lands and access are important issues Montanans consider their birthright, Rusk will continue to be a leader in developing policies that assure his constituents that public lands will remain in public hands and that the right to access them will be preserved.
The suggestion, then, is to select Wayne Rusk as your next Montana legislative representative for House District 86. Rick Graetz Missoula
Sarah Glass General Manager editor@bitterrootstar.com
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FRESH EGGS from Howell’s Happy Hens are back!
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