Former Senate leader Jason Ellsworth was banned from the Senate foor for life as part of a censure on Tuesday, April 1 stemming from an ethics investigation into a government contract awarded to a friend.
The Senate voted 44 to 6 to censure the Hamilton Republican, who has survived three diferent expulsion votes since mid-March, each failing to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to pass.
Before the vote Tuesday, Republican and Democratic leaders praised the compromise.
“It’s more than just the Senate Ethics Committee report, so I want to make that clear,” said Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray. “So, we’re going all the way back to the [Federal Trade Commission] complaint in 2009 where he was fned $600,000 for failing to disclose material facts to customers in his business in magazine sales. Two diferent infractions where he was stopped by the Montana Highway Patrol, abused his position as a senator and was ultimately charged with multiple misdemeanors. In May of [20]23 when he was issued an order of protection alleging domestic abuse. December of [20]24, we’re all familiar with, two bifurcated contracts, which the legislative auditor found to be acts of fraud, waste and abuse, which led to this ethics committee holding hearings.”
The earliest incident cited by McGillvray, specifcally Ellsworth’s settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, predated Ellsworth’s 2018 election to the state Senate by several years.
Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said the vote was about Ellsworth’s fail-
ure to disclose his personal relationship with a friend and former business partner, Bryce Eggleston, who in late December received a $170,100 contract to observe and report on how government agencies put into practice any 2025 Republican bills that become law limiting the autonomy of Montana courts.
An investigation by the Legislative Audit Division concluded that Ellsworth attempted to split the work into two contracts to avoid a $100,000 threshold that would have required the work to go out for bid. Ellsworth has denied involvement in how the contracts were originally set up. In the end, the state Department of Administration put the work into a single contract classifed as a “sole source” agreement, which allowed the work to be awarded without open bidding.
included removing Ellsworth from Senate standing committees and interim committee assignments during the next two years. Ellsworth will be allowed to vote remotely during Senate foor proceedings, including any Senate special session during the 2025 biennium.
The contracts drew public attention when current Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, and Majority Aide Rhonda Knudsen reported Ellsworth for investigation to the legislative auditor.
Eggleston said he lost interest in the work because of the scrutiny.
“I believe, many of us believe, that this motion is appropriate for the unethical failure to disclose a confict of interest, which we believe is what is at issue,” Flowers said.
“Penalties in the motion are strict, in my opinion, but I also think they’re fair.”
The full slate of penalties presented by McGillvray
Ellsworth is banned from initiating verbal communications with executive branch directors and legislative staf. He also lost access to legislative ofce space, including legislative staf ofces for the 2025 biennium.
Ellsworth did not respond to press inquiries after the vote. The senator was not present on the Senate foor Tuesday but did vote against censure, which some lawmakers said went too far.
“I have some deep concerns about the fairness of the process from its inception, specifcally when the Ethics Committee was convened,” said Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula.
In a Democratic caucus a
week earlier, Boldman suggested that Ellsworth was being punished for defying Republican Senate leadership on the frst day of the session by collaborating with Democrats in reassign himself and several other lawmakers to preferable committees, this after being assigned to a committee that dissenting lawmakers described a parking spot for Republican senators who prevailed in some of 2024’s most contentious legislative primaries.
Ellsworth served as Senate president in 2023 but lost the position toRegier this session.
“I think I certainly would have been interested in a compromise, but the good senator from Ravalli County has kids. He has a new grandchild,” Boldman said. “I’m sure he’d like to, as a former president of this body, be able to come here and, whether he has to vote or not, take photos and still be part of this institution until the day he dies. And I think this is just too close to expulsion for
my liking.”
Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, said there should have been a steppedin disciplinary process, akin to a stepped-in warning for employees.
“I think there should be steps or procedures, such as the frst being a verbal notice, second being a written notice and third being expulsion,” Windy Boy said. There remains an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice into an alleged act of ofcial misconduct identifed by the Senate Ethics Committee early in its work on the Ellsworth matter.
Meanwhile, the Senate Rules Committee has been asked to consider whether the Senate Ethics Committee should review current Senate President Matt Regier’s use of public funds to hire outside legal counsel. Ellsworth’s current term expires in 2026. He is ineligible to run again due to term limits.
Photo courtesy of Montana Free Press.
ELECTIONS: RCRCC split, judge orders election
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Central Committee allowed it.
In an interview with Hudson, his arguments centered around state law MCA 13-38-205. The law requires the presiding ofcer to call a convention in order for elections to be held, and that this must take place prior to the State Ofcers Conventions. Hudson testifed that this had not occurred after the last U.S. primary elections. The RCRCC was operating on a false assumption. “They do not believe they need to follow the law,” added Hudson.
Hudson believes, regardless of the reasoning, this decision to push a vote back to 2026/2027 robs the voting public of representation for two years,
“disenfranchising” voters of their control. Essentially, this breaks the contract of election, whereby an agreement is made between voter and elected, that the term will be limited to only two years. The decision to wait would buy already elected persons another two years in their terms, or an entire term period.
The law Hudson cited applies only to requiring that a convention and elections be held. It does not specify term limits. However, according to Montana state law, MCA 13-38-202, the law clearly states:
represented. This means, for example, that those who live in rural areas, with a lower population, will not be drowned out by the voices of higher population centers. However, according to Hudson, “it only works if we follow the rules.”
Cynthia Shaver of C.S. Appraisals was just awarded the Accredited Gemological Laboratory designation at The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers’ 63rd Annual Winter Conference held this February 2025, in Tucson, AZ. The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers consists of both national and international members. The Association is dedicated to the professional standards, ethics, and education in the field of gemstone and jewelry appraising. Attendance at this year’s conference did not disappoint and focused on exotic gemstones which confront appraisers on a daily basis and updated their knowledge with advancing technology and treatments. Cynthia is one of fewer than 50 appraisers in the World to receive this designation and the only personal property appraiser in Montana to receive this designation.
C.S. Appraisals performs a variety of personal property appraisals and appraisal related services, including but not limited to: Insurance, Estate Planning, Fair Market Valuation, Divorce and Equitable Estate Distribution, Purchase Verification, Jewelry Brokerage, Foreclosure/Seizure, Auction Liaison, and Gemstone Identification.
Cynthia’s office is located at 201 W. Main Street in Hamilton. She can be reached at (406) 578-3008, or see her online at jewelry-appraiser.net
“Each precinct committee representative serves a term of 2 years from the date of election or appointment pursuant to 13-38-201. Once the term has expired, the position becomes vacant.”
This law bolsters Hudson’s opinion that such a delay would indeed be against Montana state law, and would be in violation of voters’ representative rights.
“Our system (U.S. governmental system) is amazing because it gives the rights to the minority,” said Hudson, speaking of concepts like the electoral college. For him, these systems turn true democracy, which he compares to mob rule, into a more fair system; that no matter how large a group is that votes, all points of view are equally presented, and all walks of life are equally
In this particular case, Hudson argues that voters were under the impression that the term was two years, an assertion that Judge Jennifer Lint agreed with. Lint issued an order to compel the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee to hold the convention and elections. Additionally, Hudson said the judge went beyond what he and others in the committee were requesting. Hudson said Lint issued an order, following the hearing, to hold the convention to a standard that could not be later called into question. This order laid out all specifcities in detail as to the proper procedures of such a convention.
However, Hudson does not believe this order was followed properly. The main issue was that only 23 of the RCRCC’s 43 members attended, including only one of the previously elected ofcers, Robert Wallace. This meeting was not overseen by the presiding ofcer, Ron Stoltz, who did not attend.
Additionally, not one of the previous ofcers, as of the interview with Hudson early this week, has responded to committee inquiries. The former ofcers also did not turn over any minutes, fnancials or other important information required to operate the RCRCC.
Hudson fears the State Central Committee may not recognize this election, even though a quorum was present, elections were held and new ofcers were voted in following a legal order from a judge. However, according to Hudson, if none of the infrastructure is turned over to the new ofcers, the issue could return to court, and consequences for the previous ofcers not following the judge’s order could be very serious.
IMPACTS: RIFs coming home to roost
(ordering/managing resources), Finance, etc. Many of those positions are flled by Forest Service employees who are not in primary fre positions but fll crucial roles throughout the fre season. Incident Management Teams were already short-stafed in recent years because of issues around recruitment and pay, and the illegal terminations only exacerbate those issues.”
Forstag goes on to state that, “many non-primary fre positions are the people who serve on militia crews for local fres to help suppress them before they get too big and keep the overall size and cost of incidents down. These people, too, are the ones being swept up in the chaos of frings, rehiring, paid leave, and contradictory communications over the past two months.”
While the USDA has not been forthcoming about the number of non-bargaining unit employees (BUEs) afected by the attempted probationary frings, Forstag ofers us the numbers for the BUEs who were afected in Region 1 in Montana: 284. Of those people, 85% were GS6 or below, typically making less than $20/
potential impacts to Montana, the Montana Nonproft Association, in partnership with Montana funders and Headwaters Economics, recently published a white paper entitled “Potential Impacts of Federal Cuts to Montanans & Montana’s Economy,” detailing all federal funding that moves into Montana and where it goes.
4.
5.
6.
hour. 75% were GS5 and below. One person illegally fred under the guise of efciency was a GS2, making less than $12/hour.
than 0.5% of American communities and causes.14 Without federal support, these communities rely on would face cuts. Workforce
“These haphazard frings are afecting the lowest paid people. These are often the people in the feld, swinging tools, trying to get by, and serving as public land stewards,” states Forstag.
The report underscores the potential consequences of federal cuts, not just to nonproft organizations, but across all sectors that receive federal funding. Federal funding is a cornerstone of Montana’s economy, contributing over $14.1 billion in obligated funds in FY 2024 to state and local governments, utilities, businesses, schools, and individuals. This includes more than $440 million per month in Social Security benefts to individuals, $4.32 billion to state government (43% of total state revenue), $1.6 billion in wages paid to federal workers in Montana, more than $360 million paid to local governments, and more than $500 million in agriculture subsidies.
of those who reported being afected said they experienced a reduction in federal grants and contracts. About 40% said they had lost revenue.
According to the MNA report, federal employment is a critical part of Montana’s workforce, employing 13,279 Montanans and contributing over $1.6 billion in earnings. The majority (62%) of Montana’s federal employees work in rural areas where job losses would have deep and lasting consequences.
“Job cuts to federal employment create cascading economic impacts. A reduced federal workforce leads to lower household spending, impacting local businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, childcare providers, and service industries,” states the report.
‘Hands
Recent cuts in the workforce at Rocky Mountain Laboratories will certainly have a major impact on Ravalli County’s economy. A report published by the Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that RML was responsible for creating 1,498 permanent, year-round jobs across a majority of important industries around the state; has drawn in 1,938 additional residents to the state; and generated $105.1 million in income of which $89.2 million is after-tax income; as well as $231.8 million in additional economic output received by Montana business and non-business organizations each year.
About a dozen employees at the lab lost their jobs last February and last week another two dozen layofs were announced.
Off!’ event draws large crowd
by Sarah Glass
While the Trump administration, following two adverse rulings from two diferent federal judges, began the process of “reinstating” the illegally fred employees, at the same time it ramped up its eforts to implement a “Reduction in Force” (RIF) to eliminate the jobs instead, not only in the USDA but in pretty much every federal agency across the board.
part of Montana’s workforce, employing 13,279 Montanans in earnings. The majority (62%) of Montana’s federal employees would have deep and lasting consequences. An additional 7,531 military.15 employment create cascading economic impacts. A reduced federal household spending, impacting local businesses such as childcare providers, and service industries.
Aside from the RIFs the administration has also enacted federal funding freezes that are afecting not only federal agencies, but non-proft organizations, private contractors, and businesses of every sort.
To get a picture of the broader
“Even micro-reductions to these funds would have devastating impacts across Montana, especially to the state’s most rural areas,” states the report.
According to the report, Montana’s nonproft sector is the state’s third largest employer, accounting for 11.8% of jobs (60,181) and over $3.6 billion in annual wages. Montana nonprofts have received an average of $134.4 million/year in new obligated federal contracts, grants, awards, and loans over the last four fscal years. More than half of this funding comes from six federal subagencies: the Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Agricultural Marketing Service, Small Business Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Administration for Children and Families.
The nonproft sector makes up an even greater share of the economy in many rural counties. In Deer Lodge County, one in fve jobs is in the nonproft sector, while in Valley County, nonprofts account for 23% of total annual wages.
According to a recent survey done by the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce of businesses, nonprofts and organizations, 42% of the survey respondents reported being impacted by the federal funding freeze, 20% were uncertain and 36% hadn’t yet been afected. Over half
Hundreds of Bitterroot Valley residents gathered in Hamilton on April 5th to participate in the “Hands Of!” event, part of a nationwide protest of the policies of President Donald Trump and his billionaire allies. According to national media outlets, millions turned out in cities and towns all over the country. Organizers of the Hamilton event, with the group Bitterroot Indivisible, estimated a turnout of about 500 to 600.
In Hamilton, participants frst gathered at City Hall Park to personalize pre-made signs. Underneath the
“Hands Of!” logo, a myriad of concerns appeared, ranging from federal worker employment, freezing of health, science and research funding, sell of of public lands, women’s rights, veterans benefts, and federal grants to education, clean air, and issues related to refugees (see related stories).
The group then joined together to rally at Main Street and Highway 93 before marching down the highway to River Street. Speakers at the event included 2024 U.S. House of Representatives Democrat candidate for the state of Montana, Monica Tranel, and former Rocky Mountain Laboratories employee, Kim Hasenkrug.
Marchers line Highway 93, in Hamilton, for blocks, prior to the main walk over to River Street Dance Theatre where the rally was held. Photo by Victoria Howell.
Photo by Victoria Howell.
Mud Creek project intensifes global warming
The Bitterroot National Forest notifed the public of its gigantic Mud Creek Project in September 2019. Such a notifcation is required by law to give members of the public a chance to comment. And the public did just that. Almost 150 individuals and organizations ofered constructive comments, including notice that the Agency had overlooked specifc legal requirements for all Forest Service projects.
Although the Agency corrected some project defciencies, it ignored others. The resulting shortcomings led to conservation groups fling suit in early 2024.
Over 20 years, this 48,486-acre project would commercially log 13,700 acres — including 4,800 acres of clearcuts in areas with mature and oldgrowth forests — and would intentionally burn an additional 40,360 acres. Also included is the intent to bulldoze 43 miles of new roads to facilitate logging.
The level of disturbance that will be inficted by this project to one of the wildest places in the Bitterroot Mountains is shocking. Not only will it disturb the well-being of wildlife, but it will spew vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Approximately 85% of the carbon stored in a tree is released to the atmosphere when it is logged – 46% is logging residue, 22% is mill residue, and 17% is transportation required to deliver the fnished product for sale. That 85% does not include the amount of CO2 released during the logging process – each gallon of fuel releases approximately 20 pounds of CO2, plus, soil disturbance releases even more CO2.
Humanity is already sufering the consequences of global warming. We cannot continue to mindlessly continue business as usual and expect to survive. The Mud Creek Project uses the euphemism “vegetation” to obscure what it really is, a logging project that will release vast quantities of CO2 from trees and the soil and intensify global warming.
Michael Hoyt Corvallis
Call to action
We bear the burden of saving our democracy
I never thought I’d feel the need to write such a letter, but here we are.
Donald Trump, his cabinet, and his advisors are a clear and present danger to the United States democracy, as articulated in the Declaration of Independence’s promises and the Constitution’s structures. We, the citizens, must act now, or we will lose our democracy forever.
He and they are breaking things they do not understand; nor have they expended the efort to appreciate the consequences of the actions they direct. While their intentions may have merit, their strategy, tactics and respect for people, history and precedent are all wrong. They are “moving fast” because they know their plans cannot survive responsible scrutiny.
As you read this, Trump has defed one or more court decisions that limit his authority. There is no entity to enforce those decisions; Trump is unbound.
Consider this from Abraham Lincoln in his Lyceum Address in January 1838: “At what point then is the
Opinion
approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and fnisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
This is a call to action for Republicans with “buyer’s remorse”, betrayed Independents, Democrats and all those who “sat out” the politics of our time for whatever reasons. If you need an example, consider all the things Ukrainian individuals, families, and businesses thought they had planned for the next few years… ON THE DAY BEFORE RUSSIA INVADED their country. We are not substantively diferent.
We must resist and replace this Trump Administration as quickly as possible. And in the meantime, we must fght every antidemocratic action they attempt to take. That means showing up! Protests, demonstrations, lobbying ofcials and all our elected politicians. We will need to vote all MAGA types, at every level, out of ofce at our earliest opportunity. It also means sending money to those fghting their actions in court; and enough money that if it doesn’t hurt you a little, give more.
You may fnd ways to contribute to ongoing eforts and organizations. If not, gather some friends and start your own. But don’t wait; and expect this to be at least an 18-month to twoyear efort.
Please commit to saving our democracy.
David Leslie Corvallis
Democrats abandon values
Thank you to Michael Howell for his return to actual journalism—diligently calling local government agencies rather than merely printing talking points from Democrats, as the Bitterroot Star did when Jon Tester promoted the Infation Reduction Act in 2022. It’s refreshing to see curiosity about government resurface—though only when Republicans are in charge.
I’m bafed by the sudden wave of Elon Musk hate. When he was launching rockets and producing the most popular electric car—with billions in government subsidies—Democrats applauded. Joe Biden even signed an executive order in 2021 pushing for 50% of all car sales to be electric, later raising it to 67% by 2032. Gavin Newsom, whose wealthy in-laws own local property, ordered California to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
Yet now, the same party that mandated EVs suddenly encourages vandalizing them. If climate change is truly an existential crisis, why is attacking Musk a higher priority than transitioning to clean energy? Surely, one man’s political leanings can’t justify abandoning environmental principles.
Progressives also betray their values on public-sector unions. FDR opposed them, warning in 1937:
“All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining cannot be transplanted into the public service. A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent to obstruct the operations of government. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.”
Yet today, government workers
earn 18-22% more in wages than private-sector counterparts, with benefts that far surpass those in the private economy. In March ’23 the BLS reported public sector workers make on average $17 more an hour than their private sector counterparts. In Montana, many retire with full pensions after just 20 years, often re-entering government for a second pension—all guaranteed for life, funded by taxpayers. The real reason Democrats resist transparency? Our tax dollars are funneled into their political machines. Every new bureaucrat means more union dues feeding campaigns. Grants for the “public good” often serve as voter mobilization funds. It’s a gross abuse of government power, betraying the progressive ideal that government should serve the people, not a single party.
Tim Adams Stevensville
Non-partisan judiciary
I had to comment about the commercial on TV that asks us to write our Montana congressmen to vote supporting a non-partisan judiciary. Did you notice that the commercial is paid for by the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU)? That’s about the most partisan organization I can think of! Kay Schrader Darby
Response to Garrity
You have an opinion letter in your March 26 edition that requires a response. Mike Garrity of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies is proudly taking credit for a Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) decision to pull back a decision on the Eastside Fuel reduction Project. Garrity also had a letter in the Star shortly after the January inauguration pledging to continue the fght against the Forest Service’s eforts to reduce fuels in order to reduce the chances of wildfres destroying wildlife habitat, and putting private property and lives in danger. In the most recent letter he proudly proclaims his group has been successful with 80% of their lawsuits. He does not tell you that taxpayers have had to pay the legal bills of his attorneys after they have found a liberal judge that knows little of natural resource management, but shares their philosophy that National Forests should be managed like National Parks.
A provision in a law called the Equal Access to Justice Act allows them to be compensated if the judge fnds in their favor. This law was not intended for their use but, they have found their “Golden Goose” in their fght against common sense resource management. He also doesn’t tell you that their lawsuit with the BNF is likely to result in signifcant damage to the habitat supporting bull trout, grizzlies and lynx. That damage will occur when the area burns with a high intensity crown fre also known as a “stand replacement” fre, because the BNF was prevented from reducing the fuels found in the area. The evidence of climate change and heavy fuel concentrations are all around us each fre season and they make the national news. The Bitterroot Valley is home to the most dangerous place to live in or near the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in the state of Montana and ranks high in the nation.
It is not a matter of IF it will burn but WHEN and all we can do is lessen
the chances it will become a catastrophic crown fre that cannot be controlled. Garrity’s group and others like his are strong believers of climate change and the impacts of carbon being released into our atmosphere, yet they remain silent on the amount of carbon released by the large wildfres they seem to promote by preventing large scale fuel reduction projects like the Eastside, Gold Butterfy, Mud Creek and much-discussed West Face project. They also remain silent about the fact that carbon is safely stored in wood products used in building construction.
My hope in all the words I have written is you will not be deceived by Garrity and believe the BS he so easily shares with all who will “listen.”
Sonny LaSalle Hamilton
Trump Efect 6
Trump is a liability: to our country, our state and our Valley. Nationally he runs of our allies, destroys trust in our nation, turns them into adversaries. Why? Who knows. Do you actually think America can “go it alone”? Who would have our back when China, Russia, Iran see us wobbling and move in? Oh right, Trump is courting Putin, naive in his belief that Putin will hold our hand. “America First” in this administration is “America Foolish.”
In our state, have you talked to anyone in auto, timber or ag businesses? Ask them about tarif efects on their business. Ask your ag guy about his wheat shipments or losing crop insurance or what’s happening at the ports. Ask John Deere, who lost 50% in proft in the last quarter. Think that will afect production? Better change brands. Ask a homebuilder what his lumber prices are. Forget the trades afected: carpenters, plumbers, electricians and the many hands-on skilled workers, not to mention accountants, bookkeepers and most importantly, families! In our valley, just look at the news regarding huge drops in non-proft funding. One of our most successful non-profts, SAFE, is looking at sharply reduced income. How about the businesses RCEDA advises? Think they’ll be able to provide services that are so needed? That businesses will just bounce back? Look at your renters, fred fed employees having to break their leases. Look at local service businesses who are scrambling to replace orders snatched through Trump’s “chainsaw.”
And don’t tell me “that’s life.” It’s not “life,” it’s an economic rant by a crazy man who cares not in the least about YOU. Kick the bum out, and all his sycophants. Yes, that’s you, Zinke and Daines. And our Montana misguided MAGAs. Focus, people: “It’s the economy, Stupid.”
Linda Schmitt
Corvallis
Not in my valley
An Executive Order issued March 20, 2025 directs federal agencies to speed up approvals for mining projects on federal land. A list of “priority projects” for this fast-tracking is due April 20, 2025. We are concerned that US Critical Materials’ proposed mine in the Bitterroot River headwaters could be placed on this list. This would bypass standard environmental reviews and public input for a project in a completely unsuitable location. The Bitterroot headwaters are the wrong place for a mine. Our drinking
water, agriculture, and fsheries depend on a clean river. This project poses an unacceptable risk to these essential resources.
Montana has better options for securing critical minerals. A project in Butte is already working to extract needed minerals from existing mine waste, cleaning up pollution while meeting demand. Prioritizing the Butte project supports a Montana-based solution.
Further, the Sheep Creek project is too early in development, with no mine permits issued, to meet any immediate national needs. Rushing this specifc project makes little sense.
Please contact our congressional representatives immediately and ask them to oppose including the Sheep Creek mine on the priority list. Tell them to protect the Bitterroot’s clean water and support responsible, Montana-based solutions like the Butte project.
Steve Jones Corvallis
How about your eggs?
Consumer prices are up. Gas prices are increasing and in Montana were $2.60 per gallon prior to the Musk/ Trump slash and burn of government agencies to get their trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest.
Tarifs are a tax on consumers and kill jobs. Think about all the government and business job losses now and in the future.
The stock market is down. How’s your retirement fund doing? Red states like Montana will be hit hardest as our state receives the second largest amount of federal subsidies nationwide.
Ask farmers and ranchers how they feel about the tarifs. Where will they market their grains and meat?
More than a war plan on a public app was recently exposed. So was the stupidity and dangerous disregard for our military by cabinet members acting like teenagers with their fst bump texts. Our GOP dominated Congress was and is silent and inept.
Solution: Vote in the mid term elections and help stop the chaos.
Marilyn Wolf Stevensville
The good old days
I’ve read with interest the recent articles and letters in the Star concerning DOGE and the efects of cuts on local Forest Service employees and the Bitterroot economy. I worked in timber on the Bitterroot NF for 31 years. I would like to make a few observations which hopefully will help people to understand how we came to this current situation and then share some thoughts of how to solve the problem.
Over 40 years ago when timber sales began to be litigated, I remember thinking – this is not going to end well. Just one example to illustrate the problem. In 1982, a 16 million board foot timber sale was prepared
on the Stevensville District which had 13 million feet of helicopter logging and the rest was to be tractor and line skidding. The helicopter portion of the sale was thrown out because “someone didn’t want to hear helicopter noise near their home.” Of course, most of that forest is now burned and everyone heard lots of helicopter noise during the fre fghting eforts.
I think everyone should know that sales like this one built the schools in this valley and paved a lot of roads. It was called the 25% fund because counties received 25% of all money paid to the Forest Service for timber sales. It was the good old days when it came to money. Replacing that fund by printing money and giving it to the counties was not a good idea.
But the point of my letter is not to argue about past decisions, but to think about what must be done to save Forest Service jobs. Three things have to happen:
• Forest management decisions can’t be made by the courts anymore. Your local district court judge is not a forester! How is the health of the forest doing? Anyone with open eyes can simply take a hike in the National Forest and see that something is desperately wrong.
• In order for the Forest Service to manage again, the laws will have to be changed. I’m sure everyone had good intentions when they passed laws like the National Environmental Policy Act but now these laws need to be reworked so they don’t ensure poor management of the National Forests. Reworking a timber sale 3 or 4 times to satisfy a court costs a lot of money. This would be called “waste” in the current political climate. Let’s be honest with ourselves, if a sale does get approved, it is so modifed that it’s not really doing anything for forest health. This is a message for our congressional delegation, the laws have to be functional for the sake of forest health.
• The biggest hurdle is that the infrastructure is almost gone. Most sawmills and loggers have gone away. When I read the second article in the Star, I kept asking myself, what timber program can function without any sawmills? Not many people shed tears when the logging industry lost their jobs and went to North Dakota to fnd work. We needed them more than we knew.
So, if these three problems aren’t dealt with, the Forest Service as we know it probably won’t survive the DOGE cuts. It was a great place to work, maybe the best job ever. I hope it ends well for the current Forest Service employees.
Nate Luibrand Darby
Big responsibility
Where do I start? I start the day with the news; some of it is uplifting and most is not. What dominates the news these days is anger and hate.
I am not an educated person. I quit high school when I was 14 years old, and my uncle took me under his wing
and taught me carpentry. We had no power tools, only hand tools and had to cut everything with a hand saw. Uncle Henry taught me that to cut a board accurately you need to cut the pencil line in half, not across the line but down the center of the pencil line.
I have always believed that we have a line before us that we use in all of our decisions in daily life. It’s a line that separates the good from the bad, right from wrong, God from Satan. And more. I believe that God gave me a conscience and a free will and a purpose in this life that keeps me tethered to that line. I think of an astronaut becoming untethered and foating away in space for all eternity, as believing that there is no purpose in life.
Politically there is too much division and too much of it as, it’s my way or the highway. I think it’s time for personal evaluation for many in politics, like the question, is this where I belong? Am I qualifed? Do I walk the line? I think every politician should have a degree in business. They don’t know how to manage money, only how to spend it.
I believe that honesty and morality is the key to being a good politician. I could never be a one party voter and never will be; there is too much responsibility for that gift.
Roger Rademacher Hamilton
Republican Senatorial Committee
I have written many letters and have not received any answers. You are supposed to be my employees. Well, folks, you sure aren’t doing your job. You have let Joe and Hunter Biden get many millions of dollars from the Chinese Communists and many millions from Comrade Zelensky and you have not done anything to them for income tax evasion. Now what is going on? Wasn’t Al Capone put in prison for tax evasion? What is your answer to this? You keep sending letters to me about wanting more money, but Biden and Co. (Joe and Hunter) are getting away tax-free. I’m a tax paying Republican so why do I have to pay
taxes while Joe and Hunter go free? I don’t really expect an answer to this but I sure as hell will not give you money anymore until you answer my letter. I’m also a U.S. Navy Veteran (disabled) so wipe the stupid grin of your collective faces.
William Slade Stevensville
A travesty
The evisceration of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency—not to mention all agencies afected by DOGE’s indiscriminate chain saw approach to cutbacks—has enormous ramifcations for all Montanans. EPA’s core mission is to protect our health by enforcing federal laws that ensure clean air, land, and water. Hamstringing its ability to do so will have devastating efects upon our environment and, by extension, ourselves. DOGE’s slashes plus RFK Jr.’s direction are transforming HHS. According to the American Public Health Association, these changes promise to result in a rise of disease and death throughout the country. As substantial protections are eliminated, it’s a no-brainer that Montanans will receive fewer benefts and services (Medicare, anyone?). By rolling back protections regarding our health, we are turning back the clock. Needless to say, the administration’s grand scheme has nothing to do with the undeniably commendable goal of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. If that were the case, the process of scaling down agencies would be achieved thoughtfully and pragmatically with knowledgeable people at the helm. What is happening now is a travesty that we’re all going to pay dearly for, sooner rather than later. Please take action if this concerns you!
Nancy Reece Jones Stevensville
Stevensville FFA team wins state championship
The Stevensville FFA Chapter returned home from the 95th Montana State FFA Convention with a state championship title in Agronomy — marking a major victory for the program and the community.
Stevensville High School students Kyra DesJarlais, Teigen Hackett, Adelaide Meyer, and Tasia Rohbock have spent the past year dedicating countless hours to preparing for this moment. Their hard work paid of as they captured the state title, earning the opportunity to represent Montana at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this October. It’s a rare and prestigious accomplishment — only state champions advance to nationals — and this marks Stevensville’s frst state title since 2015.
The team’s road to victory was anything but easy. Over the past two years, DesJarlais, Hackett, Meyer, and Rohbock have mastered an impressive array of skills, including identifying over 100 diferent agronomic plants and seeds, diagnosing crop diseases and disorders, recognizing crop insects, and understanding soil nutrition and fertilizer management.
Their competitive season began last fall at the Montana FFA Ag Expo, where they placed third among 40 schools. From there, the team went on a winning streak, capturing frst-place honors at the KMON contests in Great Falls in January, the Western District contests in Kalispell in March, and the statewide Conrad Crops and Mechanics Seminar.
Heading into the state competition, Stevensville knew they faced tough competition. Shields Valley, the defending state champions, returned with three of their four team members from last year’s title run. Agronomy is considered one of the fve premier contests in Montana FFA, drawing teams from nearly all 115 chapters statewide. To qualify for state, teams must place in the top half of their district competitions — making the state feld incredibly competitive.
Now, with a state championship secured, Stevensville will proudly represent Montana at the Na-
tional FFA Convention this fall in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This latest title adds to Stevensville FFA’s history of state championships, which include:
• Agronomy — 2015
• Agricultural Issues — 2013, 2011, 2009
• Extemporaneous Speaking — 2007
• Horse Evaluation — 2005
• Livestock Evaluation — 1999, 1955
The Stevensville FFA Chapter, chartered in 1930, is the oldest FFA chapter in the Bitterroot Valley and currently ranks as the fourth-largest chapter in Montana. With 212 members enrolled in agricultural education courses from grades 7-12, the chapter continues to thrive under the leadership of advisors and agriculture educators Josette Hackett and Trevor Motley.
The National FFA Organization is a schoolbased youth leadership development organiza-
Veteran ‘Walk for Jesus’ scheduled
The Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot of Corvallis Post #91, The American Legion, Department of Montana, Inc., are a group of followers of Jesus Christ who have served in the military. Their motto is “give back with love,” and their mission is to support fellow veterans, their families, and the local community through prayer and service. They aim to remind all Christians, especially veterans, that they are not alone and that stand ready to assist them.
They believe it is time for local Christians to rise and demonstrate solidarity with fellow believers here and across the globe. The Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot invite all Christians in the Bitterroot Valley to participate in the “Walk for Jesus Christ” on Saturday, April 19. You do not need to be a veteran to join this walk, and you can lift up in prayer those organizing this inspiring event.
The walk will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the Set Free Christian Fellowship
Church in Lolo. Participants will head south along U.S. Highway 93 on the Bitterroot Trail to Angler’s Roost, south of Hamilton. Choose to walk 1 mile, 3 miles, 20 miles, or the full 40mile journey to Hamilton.
All Bitterroot Valley churches can join in by walking a three-mile segment as a group. If walking isn’t possible, consider supporting the walkers by setting up a station with water, energy bars, drinks, or other refreshments. Last year, churches, organizations, families, and individuals carried The Cross in three-mile increments from Hamilton to Lolo. Cross bearers are still being sought for this year’s walk.
For more details, visit http:// corvallispost91.blogspot.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/corvallispost91, or contact Brian Wrede at 406-369-5813. You can also join the Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot prayer breakfast every Monday at 7:00 a.m. at BJ’s.
tion with more than one million student members across 9,163 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The on-stage moment that the Stevensville FFA learned of their state championship. L to r: Tasia Rohbock (16th place individual), Teigen Hackett (2nd place), Kyra DesJarlais (8th place), and Adelaide Meyer (11th place). Photo courtesy Stevensville FFA.
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
First game played on new Corvallis feld
The Corvallis High School baseball team hosted Missoula Sentinel on Saturday, April 5 in their frst home game of the season. It was also the frst game to be played at the new baseball feld at the Bitterroot Ball Park.
The Bitterroot Ball Park is a project spearheaded by the Corvallis Baseball and Softball Association (CBSA). The new baseball feld is the frst of fve felds to be built in the evolving project that is located just east of the Corvallis soccer felds.
The completion of this feld is the frst major step in the process to complete the overall park. The Corvallis High School baseball team will use the feld for home games this season.
The CBSA has been raising money toward completion of the park for six years and has raised close to a million dollars through various fundraising
eforts. These eforts were bolstered by a $200,000 matching donation from Tim and Sarah Southwell, owners of ABC Farms in Hamilton.
The Southwells were honored in the pregame ceremonies on Saturday.
“This has been such a collaborative process with so many people and businesses stepping up to help, both fnancially and with their time,” said Chase Cooper, president of the Corvallis Baseball and Softball Association. “We have
nine board members and tons of volunteers. It’s amazing to see it all come together.”
The main reason the group sought to build the park was to address the lack of feld space for softball and baseball youth programs in Corvallis specifcally, and in the Bitterroot Valley in general.
The CBSA, along with similar organizations in Stevensville, Hamilton, Victor and Darby, works under and with the Bitterroot Valley Baseball Association to manage youth baseball and softball in the valley. Corvallis alone has more than 250 kids on nine teams in their youth baseball and softball programs. Cooper estimates 1000 kids in the whole Bitterroot Valley will participate in youth baseball and softball programs this year. Needless to say, there are never enough felds for all the teams, and the creation of the Bitterroot Ball Park will help with alleviating this pressure for feld space.
The main feld where Saturday’s game was played was just the start of the proposed greater Bitterroot Ball Park (see photo). The fnal plan calls for fve total felds. The CBSA leases the land from the Corvallis County Sewer District. The CBSA needed land for the felds and the Corvallis County Sewer District wanted this land put to good use, so it
was a win-win scenario all around.
“My job is pretty easy,” said Cooper. “It’s all the other people who have done all the hard work. I’ll leave the site and come back and be like ‘wow, they fnished this and fnished that’. It’s a testament to what can be done when you get a group of people working on a common goal.”
On April 4, the Friday before the opening game, the community was busy preparing the feld. Volunteers were putting the benches together, groups were hanging up sponsorship banners, and crews were tinkering with the pitcher’s mound to get it just right for the game.
“We haven’t cut any corners here,” said Cooper. “The feld is top notch, the drainage system is state of the art, the infeld dirt is a special kind from Idaho, the feld is comparable to what you’d see at major league stadiums. There has been great momentum lately to get the feld ready for this game.”
In the game on Saturday, Corvallis lost 0-4 to Missoula Sentinel. Corvallis struggled at the plate, only getting one hit against a solid Spartan pitching performance. For their part, Corvallis’s four pitchers (Branden Wiren, Adrian Sears, Adrian Cardullo, and Reese Earp) only allowed four hits and struck out 13 batters, but they gave up 4 runs.
In a perfect world, the Blue Devils would have won the game to put a bow on the day. But in a larger sense, the win was the game itself, the win was the crowd gathered around the new feld, the win was the community coming together for a common purpose. For more information about the CBSA, see their facebook page or email them at cbsacorvallis@gmail.com.
Hamilton Invitational Track meet held
Hamilton hosted over 20 area high school track and feld teams in the aptly named Hamilton Invitational on Friday, April 4. All the Bitterroot Valley high school teams competed.
In the boys team standings, Corvallis took 2nd, Hamilton took 4th, Florence took 9th, and Darby took 10th. In the girls team standings, Hamilton took 1st, Corvallis took 4th, Stevensville took 9th, and Florence took 12th.
The best individual result of the day came in the boys javelin. Corvallis’s Hunter Loesch threw the javelin 204’ 4”, which is the furthest throw in the state this year (for reference, no Montana high school boy threw a javelin further than 200 feet in all of 2024), and this distance is the second longest throw in the country so far this year for a high school boy. Impressive.
Individual girls winners from the Bitterroot Valley included the following: Corvallis’s Ella Varner won the long jump (16’ 5”), Hamilton’s Lily Apedaile won the triple jump
(34’1”), Hamilton’s Aubrey Korst won the pole vault (12’ 0”), Hamilton’s Jenna Ellis won the 300m hurdles (47.69), and Hamilton’s Annalise Lewis won both the 400m (1:00.85) and the 1600m (5:17.98).
Individual boys winners from the Bitterroot Valley included the following: Florence’s Kyler Harris won the 1600m (4:29.76), Corvallis’s Ayden Spencer won the 100m (11.22), Corvallis’s Taggart Jessop won the 800m (2:05.50), and Hamilton’s Evan Bennett won the 400m (50.15).
Florence/Darby Golf Invite
The Florence and Darby high school golf teams hosted the Florence/Darby Invite at the Hamilton Golf Club on Tuesday, April 1 in what was the frst golf event of the season for most of the teams. There were 11 total boys teams and 59 individual boys, and 4 total girls teams and 36 individual girls.
Girls results
The Florence girls team (Kipley Solari, Reese Briney, Lexi Danczyk, and Lacie Ketelhut) took 1st place in the girls team standings, defeating 2nd place Missoula Loyola by 16 strokes.
Individually for Florence, Kipley Solari took 3rd (91), Reese Briney
took 4th (96), Lexi Danczyk took 12th (106), and Lacie Ketelhut tied for 19th (122).
Boys results
The Jeferson boys took 1st place, while the Florence boys team (Brody Duchien, Rollie Fisher, Ian McLean, and RJ Moody) took 4th, and the Darby boys team (Jordan Browning, Gus Harrell, Daniel Stewart, and Talen Davis) took 7th.
Individually for Florence, Brody Duchien tied for 7th
Rollie Fisher and Ian McLean tied for 9th (87), and RJ Moody tied for 23rd (94). Darby’s highest fnisher was Jor
(86),
dan Browning, who fnished tied for 36th (105).
The Southwell family, owner of ABC Farms in Hamilton, was honored for its $200,000 matching donation toward the new baseball feld at the Bitterroot Ball Park. Photo by Hope Earp.
The proposed plan for the Bitterroot Ball Park includes fve total felds. The Corvallis high school baseball team played on the main baseball feld on Saturday, April 5. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Corvallis pitcher Adrian Cardullo pitches against Missoula Sentinel on Saturday, April 5 in Corvallis’s home opening game at their new feld. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Hamilton’s Annalise Lewis won both the 400m and the 1600m at the Hamilton Invitational on Friday, April 4. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Victor’s Bugli to play in Costa Rica
Nichole Bugli, a junior at Victor High school, was selected by the Student Athlete World USA (SAWUSA) group to represent the USA for basketball in their 2025 Costa Rica tour.
Bugli needs to raise money to be able to go on the trip. To help with the costs, there is a Spaghetti Feed on Friday, April 11th at the Victor High School Cafeteria from 6 to 9 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.00.
To be included in the SAWUSA group, players are nominated, recommended, or apply for various world sports tours. The players are then evaluated by SAWUSA staf based on recommendations, abilities and interviews.
Bugli was nominated by a recruiting service based on her basketball stats, school grades and her list of goals. She also had to complete a Zoom interview as part of the selection process.
The dates of Bugli’s Costa Rica tour are July 15-23. Her team will be playing basketball, which includes practices and four games. The group and Bugli will also be doing some other activities, such as visiting San Jose, exploring the rainforest, ziplining, exploring hot springs, and training on the beach.
Devils and Broncs tussle in tennis
The Hamilton tennis team hosted Corvallis on Thursday, April 3. In the overall team results, the Corvallis girls won 6-1, while the Hamilton boys won 4-3.
Girls Doubles: Brooke Child/Clara Taracido (Cor) def. Charlie Holmes/Codie Clarke (Ham) 4-6, 1-1 (Hamilton had a medical default). Kenley Jessop/Olivia Lawson (Cor) def. Josie Wolfe/Ellie Hattlestad (Ham) 6-0, 6-1. Lottie Jessop/Kylie Debuf
(Cor) def. Greta Grantz/Eider Hernandez (Ham) 6-3, 6-3.
Boys Singles: Pierce Yaskus (Cor) def. Carden Nelson (Ham) 6-2, 6-4. Atticus Chavez (Cor) def. Jackson Kirkbride (Ham) 2-6, 6-0, 15-13. Bradley Powell (Cor) def. James Tossberg (Ham) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Cash Hawkes (Ham) def. Ben Malcom (Cor) 6-0, 6-1.
Boys Doubles: Finn Dufresne/Jason Chaplin (Ham) def. Emmett Allsop/Brannon Fehr (Cor) 6-4, 6-1. Daniel Simmerman/ Kaden Carroll (Ham) def. Hadley Jessop/ Cody Humphrey (Cor) 6-0, 6-1. Mavion Sasse/Josh Bender (Ham) def. Cooper Gividen/Reece Weidow 6-1, 6-2.
Baseball bonanza
Hamilton
The Hamilton boys defeated Missoula Big Sky 5-2 on Tuesday, April 1 in Missoula. Hamilton pitcher Cash Lawrence got the win. At the plate for Hamilton, Atticus Southwell hit a three-run home run, and Jackson Lubke had an RBI and scored a run.
Then on Thursday, April 3, Hamilton hosted Missoula Hellgate and won 17-1 in three innings. For Hamilton, Jude Widmer struck out 7 batters and got the win. Widmer also went 3 for 4 at the plate and had an RBI. Jackson Lubke went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, Cash Lawrence went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Brady DeMoss scored 2 runs and had 3 RBIs.
Florence Florence played at Missoula Sentinel on Monday, March 31 and won 9-1. For Florence, Isaiah Testerman allowed 3 hits and got the win. Drew Wagner went 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs. Chase Wagner had an RBI triple, and Levi Winters and Isaiah Testerman each had an RBI.
Then on Saturday, April 5th, Florence
hosted Missoula Hellgate and won 10-0 in 5 innings. Florence Mason Arlington didn’t allow a hit and struck out 10 of the 16 batters he faced. Arlington also went 2 for 4 with an RBI at the plate. Also for Florence, Drew Wagner went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple, Levi Winters went 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Calan Rocco, Wes Potter, and Caleb Katen each had RBIs.
Stevensville Stevensville hosted Frenchtown for their season opener on Tuesday, April 1 and lost 5-8. For Stevensville, Evan Montague had 7 strike outs on the mound and an RBI at the plate. Stevensville also got RBIs from Shane Ayers, Jackson Guenzler and Cole Germane. Then on Thursday, April 3, Stevensville hosted MAC (Mission-Arlee-Charlo) and won 13-0 in fve innings. Stevensville pitchers Braden Drye and Aiden McBride didn’t allow a hit for the game. Then at the plate, Jackson Guenzler went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Evan Montague went 3 for 4 and scored 2 runs, McCoy Endres went 2 for 4, and Kaden Wyant had 2 RBIs.
Softball scores
Corvallis
On Tuesday, April 1, Corvallis hosted Frenchtown and lost 7-11. For Corvallis, Lacey Jessop went 2 for 3 and scored 3 runs, Ella Daly went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, and Sophie Cooper, Caitlin Nelson and Kristen Race all had an RBI.
Then on Thursday, Corvalls hosted Hamilton and the Blue Devils lost 2-17 in four innings. For Corvallis, Caitlin Nelson went 2 for 2 and scored a run, and Sophie Cooper and Libby Jessop each had an RBI.
Hamilton
The Hamilton girls hosted Stevensville on Tuesday, April 1, and defeated the Yellowjackets 13-6, thanks in part to a 10-run 4th inning. Hamilton pitcher Mariah Johnson got the win and struck out 9 batters. At the plate for Hamilton, Thea Jackson went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Dawsyn Ekin went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Mel Race went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Hayliegh Savage went 2 for 2 with an RBI.
On Thursday, April 3, Hamilton went to Corvallis and defeated the Blue Devils 17-2 in four innings. Hamilton pitcher Mel Race struck out six batters in the win, Race also went 4 for 4 at the plate. Also for Hamilton, Mariah Johnson went 3 for 3, had 4 RBIs and scored 4 runs. Dawsyn Ekin went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs, Kennidi Cooper went 2 for 3, and Casey Kennedy scored 3 runs and had 2 RBIs.
Florence
Florence hosted Thompson Falls for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1. In the frst game, Florence won 17-2 in three innings. For Florence,
Jayden Fisher had a monster game, going 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Kaylee Crawford also hit a home run and had 4 RBIs. Maggie Schneiter went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Taylor Pyette went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Gemma Bouma went 2 for 2 and scored 3 runs. In the second game, Florence won 14-3 in fve innings. For Florence, Ava Philbrick had a three-run home run. Reilley Reed went 4 for 4 with 3 RBIs, and Lacie Larson went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs.
Then on Saturday, April 5, Florence went to Plains for a doubleheader. Florence won the frst game 13-2 in fve innings. Florence pitcher Kenzy Pickering got the win and went 2 of 3 with 4 RBIs at the plate. Reilley Reed went 2 of 3 with an RBI.
In the second game, Florence won 13-1 in fve innings. Florence pitcher Jayden Fisher got the win with 6 strikeouts. Kaylee Crawford went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and scored 2 runs. Maggie Schneiter went 2 for 2 and scored 3 runs.
Stevensville
The Stevensville girls went to Hamilton on Tuesday, April 1 and lost 6-13. For Stevensville, Jaidan Oyler went 4 for 4 and scored 4 runs, Lilly Newsome went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Molly Davids went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Olivia Hansen had an RBI double.
Then on Saturday, April 5, Stevensville hosted Butte Central and won 15-0 in four innings. Stevensville pitcher Morgan Yeager had 7 strikeouts in the win. At the plate, Lilly Newsom went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and scored 3 runs, Molly Davids went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, and Kenzi Frost went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs.
Nichole Bugli of Victor was selected by the Student Athlete World USA (SAWUSA) group to represent the USA for basketball in their 2025 Costa Rica tour. Photo courtesy of SAWUSA.
Obituaries
Terrence ‘Terry’ Rose
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Terrence “Terry” Eugene Rose, who left this world at the age of 80, surrounded by his beloved family on March 25, 2025. Born on January 17, 1945, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to James and Yvette Rose, Terry was the eldest of four siblings.
Life’s challenges never dimmed Terry’s resilient spirit. From an early age, he cultivated passions for hockey and boxing, which exemplifed his enduring strength and determination. In 1966, Terry joined the US Navy, marking the beginning of a lifetime of service and dedication. After his naval service concluded, he settled in California, where he met and married the love of his life, Theresa “Terri” Vandehey, in 1975.
Terry built a successful career as a hydraulic mechanic, contributing his skills to both Carlton Forge and McDonnell Douglas. Terry could build or fx anything, a jack of all trades. The 1980s were a joyful time for Terry and Terri as they welcomed two beautiful daughters, Kimberly in 1984 and Colleen in 1986. In 1994, the family embarked on a new chapter, relocating to Stevensville, MT.
A man who truly understood the value of hard work, Terry enjoyed repairing cars and cherished every moment spent with his family. His legacy of love and dedication lives on through his wife of 49 years, Terri Rose, his daughters Kimberly (Scott) Purdy and Colleen (Phillip) Karls, and his treasured grandchildren: Madison, Taylor, Robert, Kara, Abigail, and Riley.
Terry’s unwavering strength, love for family, and zest for life will forever be remembered by all who knew him. In the words of Jim Reeves, adios amigo, adios my friend, the road we have travelled has come to an end.
Terry’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers of the Living Centre. Thank you for everything you do, day in and day out.
Please join us for a Rosary service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 9th at 6:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held the following day, Thursday, April 10th, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s in Stevensville, with a reception to follow. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www,whitesittfuneralhome.com.
Gary Bruce Haefner
Lori Ann Rokosch
Lori Ann Rokosch, a powerhouse, ferce advocate, mother, wife, and friend to many, let go of her year-long battle with cancer on March 14, 2025. As she passed, she was surrounded by her beloved family during the starry sky of early morning, taking fight as the blood moon reached full eclipse.
Lori was born at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, to her parents Gladys Davidson and Charles Baker, and was raised in Northbrook, Illinois. Lori was the youngest of her three siblingsNancy Knop, Bob Baker, and Sherry Blom. At the age of 24, Lori made the move to Montana with her fancé Jim Rokosch, nesting in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. Here, she had three children - Josh, Joey, and Jennifer Rokosch.
Quickly after her arrival in Montana, Lori began serving her community as a remarkable volunteer for the Three Mile Fire Department’s quick response unit, and further dedicated her time working as a nurse for St. Patrick’s Hospital. As a nurse, she worked for Life Flight, and later gave her love, passion, and unwavering work ethic for caregiving in the Emergency Department, Operating Room, and ended her career as RN, Supervisor of Clinical Informatics, where she travelled to many places, making
Death Notices
Nancy Nelson
Hamilton - Nancy Nelson, 72, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025 at Beehive Homes. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
Gary Bruce Haefner was born in 1945 and passed away at the age of 80 on March 26, 2025. In his youth, Gary lived in California and was full of schoolboy hijinks. He helped pull of a senior prank by letting chickens loose during a school assembly, participated in drag races and other follies.
Two years after graduating from Glendora High School, Gary enlisted and served in the United States Army from 1965 until he was honorably discharged in 1971. While serving, he trained for both medic and special forces and became a sergeant in the Green Berets. He was sent to Vietnam where he worked in hospitals and in the feld, treating everything from bullet wounds to cholera. At one point, he was a member of an A-team helping to train South Vietnamese soldiers. Gary saved the lives of fellow American soldiers as well as Vietnamese soldiers and villagers.
When Gary returned home, he moved to Idaho where he helped his family run the Northfork ranch which included a store, cafe and motel. It was during this time he reconnected with a woman
many friends along the way. Through Lori’s 41 years spent at Providence Missoula, her coworkers became her close friends, and she will be remembered by them for her ferce patient advocacy, passionate heart, and candid sense of humor.
Beyond her working life, Lori loved the Natural World and all its beauty. She loved hiking, foating the river, gardening, spending time in her orchard, huckleberry picking, harvesting morel mushrooms, and fowers—her favorites were lilies and daisies. Being the gregarious soul she was, Lori also loved dancing to live music, adventurous travel, and even more so, sharing these special moments with friends and family.
While Lori will be missed beyond measure, it is important to remember that her spirit is everlasting. She will live within and around us for the rest of our days. Through the stories we share, through gardens, rivers, belly laughs, outspoken love, and Mother Nature’s beauty—especially in birds—she will live on.
Lori’s celebration of life will be on Saturday April 12th. Contact Jenny Rokosch at (406)381-0466 for details. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
Arthur Hansen
Missoula - Arthur Hansen, 85, of Darby, passed away in the morning hours of Wednesday April 2, 2025 at St Patrick Hospital. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary.com.
named Judy. Gary and Judy married in 1973 and enjoyed 51 years of marriage. They moved to Montana in 1977 where they later built their forever home in the Bitterroot Valley.
His hobbies included hunting, fshing, working on cars, and he especially loved golfng. He had a curiosity about the world around him and read everything he could from stacks of manuals to his favorite magazine, National Geographic, which he read cover to cover. Described as an amazing storyteller, Gary loved to have visitors over to share his humorous and colorful stories with. He was the kind of man people wanted to keep in touch with. There were even friends from grade school and the Army who would consistently keep in contact. If Gary could be described in one word, it would be unforgettable.
Gary is survived by his wife Judith Haefner, brother Peter Haefner, sister Charlotte Haefner, daughter Christina Rodriguez, son-in-law Joseph Rodriguez and grandson Orion Rodriguez. No formal services will be held. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Russell Nasset
Missoula - Russell Nasset, 75, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2025 with his sons Sam and John by his side. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
What I learned in fy tying class
“Hoo boy – I hope I don’t mess this up… here goes...”
I had just sat down behind my fy tying vise for the frst time in – way too long.
There had been long layofs before, that part was no big deal. I usually start by putting a goodsized hook in the vise, not huge, but an easy to manage #10 or so, and proceed with a simple two-step or three-step fy. Then I tie several more just like it. After the fngers and mind are in synch the rest goes easy.
by Chuck Stranahan
This time was diferent. There was no practice time before I had to demonstrate how to tie Brindle ‘Chute. The scene was Wesley Wells’ adult ed fy tying class at Stevensville High School.
A Brindle ‘Chute is a fairly involved pattern; you don’t just sit down and whip one out unless you have spent some time beforehand getting the materials prepared just-so, and then the Brindle ‘Chute, like any parachute fy, is more of an intermediate-advanced pattern than a beginner – or old hand after an long layof – pattern.
Narration and teaching are easy for me. I lucked out, there. All I had to do was tie real slow and follow my own instructions. Still, what if my fngers didn’t obey the signals my brain was sending?
Wes gave me free rein and a white board to illustrate how fy design attempts to replicate the natural light patterns that trout see. It’s hard enough to tie any fy and have it look right to the fsh unless you start by looking at the fy from their perspective. Having a notion of what you’re trying to achieve, beyond which-material-goes-where, is important.
Where do you want the wings to appear, toward the head of the fy or more toward the middle, where they sprout up from the thorax in the natural? And what kind of a dimple do you want the fy’s body to make in the water? The object is to come up with a fy that looks more like a bug than a photo from a fy catalog.
Behind the vise I could aford to be careful –maybe demonstrate twice if the frst time didn’t seem right. The students watched, returned to their own vises, and Wes and I roamed between them, helping as we could.
By the time they fnished their frst Brindle ‘Chutes I was impressed. Those fies looked buggy –
like something a trout would eat. They were well put together. In previous Weeks Wes had done a good job on instilling the fundamentals. The students all had a frm grasp of what they were attempting to do.
One thing that stuck out to me as I roamed among the people working diligently to get the wing length just right or spin dubbing and wrap it the way I did is that to b get started with fy tying it’s better to get some hands-on instruction that start from scratch at YouTube University.
Don’t get me wrong – there is some great fy tying stuf on YouTube. But you have to be at a certain level of experience before you can pick it up readily or tell the good from the not-so-good. I learned again that it’s easier if someone shows you how.
Wes does more than that. He’s a great teacher. He’s been teaching his Stevensville courses for over six years, now, and has put a lot of himself into the efort.
He’s assembled a wealth of materials over the years. By the time a neophyte fy tyer fnishes his course, they’ll have a box of fies to match the challenges they’ll face each season on the Bitterroot and other western Montana rivers. They’ll have a broad knowledge of materials and techniques. They’ll have a sense of which fies work when, and where, and how to fsh them.
Wes’s cataloguing of that information is based on his own experience and bringing other fy tyers into the mix as his guests. He’s both a teacher and student of the sport.
And, I hope, so am I. I learned, in Wes’s class that evening, how much useful material can be packed into one course.
I also learned a new skwala pattern. I watched Wes tie his own pattern before the evening was over. Before the water gets too high I want to tie and fsh it for myself.
Stranahan teaches a fy-tying class. Photo courtesy Chuck Stranahan.
Bitterroot National Forest spring burning begins
The Bitterroot National Forest plans to begin prescribed fre operations for the spring season as early as this week. They estimate this work to continue through the spring as weather conditions allow. Prescribed fres are used to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfres. Visit Discover the Bitterroot Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ DiscoverBitterrootNF to get updates on
prescribed fres this season. This week, April 7 to 12, the Stevensville District Ranger station plans to burn 5 miles southwest of Stevensville. The project area lies between McCalla Creek on the north and Big Creek on the south. A combination of hand and aerial ignitions are planned. A minimum of three engines and 40 frefghters will be assigned to the burn. Locations on the interactive prescribed burn map are listed as BC1a,
Warning signs will be posted along roads near all prescribed fre areas before and during burns. Road closures will be in efect for Big Creek Trailhead Road 738 and Roads 1319 and 739. Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns, most
notably in the evening. Go to www.airnow.gov to fnd more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.
Weather conditions will be evaluated in the hours before a burn begins to determine the ability to safely achieve objectives. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fre activities may be canceled.
Bitterroot CASA plants pinwheel garden in Stevi
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. What research showed, and what PCAA’s experiences since then have reinforced, is that people respond positively to pinwheels, which represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness and a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.
PCAA identifes April as Strengthening Families Month.
On Friday, April 4th, Bitterroot CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in Ravalli County) planted a Pinwheel Garden in downtown Stevensville in front of Headwaters Health Center to promote Strengthening Families and Bitterroot CASA’s new online Parent & Family Information Resource Center.
In response to numerous phone calls and requests for information and support, in December 2024, Bitterroot CASA reimagined its website to include an Online Parent & Family Information Resource Center based on identifed needs for information and support from family members both within and outside the child welfare system, foster parents, and Bitterroot CASA’s trained advocates. The purpose of the Online Parent & Family Information Resource Center is:
· To increase the number of adults utilizing best practice information to advocate for children’s best interests,
· To connect parents, family members, and caregivers to resources during times of need,
· To enhance knowledge of primary prevention, the impact of traumatic stress, and the challenges facing children who have experienced or are at risk of abuse and neglect, and to develop informal caregiver support networks.
Bitterroot CASA (BCASA) will maintain and continue to develop its website and Online Parent & Family Information Resource Center to improve
outcomes for children and families involved in and outside the Child Welfare System. The website includes descriptions and links to various services, including podcasts and webinars under the following headings: MT Law Help, MT Kinship Navigator, MT ACES & Resiliency Resources, Resource for Teens in Foster Care, Connecting with Teens, Dating Violence, Media Literacy, Understanding Traumatic Stress, Child Abuse Prevention, Drug Endangered Children, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, and links and contact information to all Ravalli County Services. The new BCASA website and resource center website can be accessed at: www.bitterrootcasa.org
Apr. 12 1pm-5pm
$50 for both classes Only $25 to add a youth registrant age 12-17
For more details and to register: montanahorsesanctuary.regfox.com/horse Questions? Contact MHS at 406-254 or info@montanahorsesanctuary.org Apr. 13 1pm-5pm Setting up a Safe Home for your Horse sponsored by Montana Horse Sanctuary Held in a heated meeting room.
Decide if a Horse is Right for You Instructor Leslie Nalls Lifetime horse owner Owner, Red Crow Ranch District Commissioner, local Pony Club Teaches Horsemanship Skills Considers herself a student of the horse
being found as a stray, so we don’t have very much informaton on him. We do know that he does well with other dogs. If you re looking for a friendly and sociable dog, Bowie is the perfect match for you!
Saturday, May 3, 2025 5:30-7:30pm $25/person
Mary’s Parish Family Center 333 Charlos St. / Stevensville
tickets by cash, check, or Venmo at the
Library
/
406-777-5061 or contact Celeste Statler 269-569-4723 or celeste.statler@gmail.com An evening of hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and discussion with Montana authors to beneft the North Valley Public Library
Bitterroot CASA “planted” pinwheels in front of Headwaters Wellness Center in downtown Stevensville on April 4th, to to promote Strengthening Families and Bitterroot CASA’s new online Parent & Family Information Resource Center.
NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTION
NOTICE OF OPEN OF FILING
Notice is hereby given that Thursday, April 17, 2025 is the opening date for filing oath of candidacy forms for the Municipal Elections to be held on November 4, 2025, for the following positions elected by voters in said districts:
CITY
Mayor
Councilperson
Councilperson
Councilperson
TOWN
Councilperson
Oath of candidacy forms are available at the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 215 South 4th Street, Suite C; Hamilton, Montana. The filing deadline is 5 PM on June 16, 2025.
Dated this 2nd day of April 2025
Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Election Administrator 215 South 4th Street, Suite C; Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 375-6550
NOTICE OF ELECTION
Notice is hereby given that the following elections will be conducted solely by mail ballot:
• Florence-Carlton School District No. 15-6 Trustee Election
• Hamilton School District No. 3 Trustee and Bond Election
• Corvallis Rural Fire District Levy Election*
• Darby Rural Fire District Trustee Election*
• Sula Rural Fire District Trustee Election*
• Victor Park District Trustee Election
Ballots will be mailed to all eligible registered voters in the districts on April 18, 2025, and must be returned to the County Election Administrator, Ravalli County Administrative Building, 215 South 4th Street, Suite C, Hamilton, Montana 59840, no later than 8 PM on May 6, 2025.
For voters dropping off their ballot, a DRIVE-THRU BALLOT BOX will be available at the north entrance of the Ravalli County Administrative Building (215 S 4th Street, Hamilton) between April 21 and May 5 (excluding weekends) from 10 AM to 4 PM. On Election Day, hours are 8 AM to 8 PM.
ON ELECTION DAY ONLY: A secondary ballot drop-off site is available for all elections listed above. Drop site location: Florence-Carlton School District Office, 5602 Old Hwy 93, Florence, from 7 AM to 8 PM.
All electors, as defined in Title 13, who reside in the District, are eligible to vote in the elections.
*All electors, as defined in Title 7-33-2106(4), who hold title to lands within a Rural Fire District are eligible to vote in a fire district election.
Early preparation and reconciliation of mail ballots will be held on May 2, 2025 at approximately 10 AM, in the basement of the Ravalli County Courthouse, 205 Bedford Street, Hamilton. Continuation of early preparation and reconciliation of mail ballots, as well as the early counting of ballots, will be conducted on May 5, 2025, at approximately 10 AM, in the basement of the Ravalli County Courthouse, 205 Bedford Street, Hamilton. Public is welcome to observe.
Beginning at approximately 11 AM on Election Day, May 6, 2025, ballots will be opened, reconciled, and counted by a counting center board in the basement of the Ravalli County Courthouse, 205 Bedford Street, Hamilton. No results will be released until after the polls close at 8 PM.
Dated this 2nd day of April, 2025
Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Election Administrator 215 South 4th Street, Suite C; Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 375-6550
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of K-12 School District No. 3 (Hamilton), Ravalli County (the “District”), that pursuant to a resolution duly adopted at a meeting of the Board on February 18, 2025, an election of the registered voters of the District will be held by mail ballot on May 6, 2025 for the purpose of voting on the question of whether the Board may sell and issue general obligation school building bonds of the District in one or more series in the aggregate principal amount of up to Forty-Nine Million and No/ 100 Dollars ($49,000,000.00), for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of designing, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new 6th through 8th grade school facility on the Westview site, to include classrooms, a library, learning spaces, a gymnasium, locker rooms/changing areas, a student commons/dining area, a kitchen, storage/custodial spaces, and administrative spaces; making renovations and constructing an addition to the existing Westview Building to accommodate 4th and 5th grades, to include classrooms, learning spaces, a library, a gymnasium, a student commons/dining area, storage/custodial spaces, and administrative spaces; adding a connection between the two facilities to share spaces; and creating dedicated student drop-off areas and associated site improvements; if bond proceeds are available after paying for the above improvements, constructing a new bus barn facility and maintenance shop to be located on land the District owns and improving school grounds into outdoor recreational and/or athletic fields with associated amenities; related costs and improvements; and paying the costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds. Each series of bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates to be determined at the time of sale and be payable semiannually during a term of not more than twenty-five (25) years.
If the bond election passes, based on the taxable value of the District, the property taxes on a home with an assessed market value for tax purposes of $100,000 would increase by $85.06 in the first year, of $300,000 would increase by $255.18 in the first year, and of $600,000 would increase by $510.36 in the first year. An increase in property taxes may lead to an increase in rental costs.
The election will be conducted by the County Election Administrator solely by mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed to all eligible registered voters in the District on April 18, 2025, and must be returned by each voter by mail or in person to the Ravalli County Election Administrator, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, Hamilton, Montana 59840, during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) weekdays (exclusive of holidays) April 21, 2025 through May 5, 2025.
On Election Day, May 6, 2025, the only place for deposit of voted ballots will be the office of the Ravalli County Election Administrator located at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, in Hamilton, which will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All ballots will be tabulated in accordance with Montana law with the preliminary results, if known, expected to be released after 8:00 p.m. that day.
A qualified voter who will be absent from the District during the time the election is being conducted may:
a) vote in person in the office of the County Election Administrator as soon as the ballots are available and until 8 p.m. on Election Day; or
b) make a written request prior to noon on May 5, 2025, signed by the applicant and addressed to the office of the County Election Administrator requesting the ballot be mailed to an address other than that which appears on the registration records.
An elector may obtain a replacement ballot if his or her ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received by the elector by filling out and mailing, emailing, or faxing back a completed replacement ballot request form or by the elector personally appearing at the office of the County Election Administrator, located at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, in Hamilton, Montana.
Ballots may be returned in person at the places of deposit listed in the election instructions of the Ravalli County Election Administrator, or returned by mail. If returning by mail, please use the then-prevailing first-class-postage price or one Forever Stamp. Postmark date does not apply; ballots returned by mail must be received at the office of the County Election Administrator by the 8:00 p.m. Election Day deadline to be counted.
Please note, all electors, as defined in Section 20-20-301, M.C.A., are those who reside within the District and are registered to vote by the close of registration on April 7, 2025.
For electors who miss the close of registration deadline, such electors may register late and vote in the election by appearing in person at the Ravalli County Election Office, located at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, in Hamilton, Montana and providing to the County Election Administrator the electors’ voter registration information in verifiable form prior to 8 p.m. on May 6, 2025.
this 2nd day of April, 2025 Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli
FRESH EGGS from Howell’s Happy Hens are back! $5.00/doz. Pick up at Bitterroot Star ofce, 115 W. 3rd, Suite 108, Stevensville.
THE ELKS LODGE is looking for a part time cook! Part time on Wednesdays and Fridays. Come work in a fun and friendly environment. Up to $17/hr. For information call (406)363-3031.
BITTERROOT CONSERVATION DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Job Announcement
1709 North First Street Hamilton, MT 59840
POSITION: Full Time Administrative Assistant.
WAGE:
Starting at $21.23 per hour. Benefts include annual, holiday, and sick leave, along with a monthly health savings stipend and retirement.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
--High School diploma/ GED.
--One year’s experience in an ofce setting.
Knowledge: This position requires a knowledge of basic conservation practices and resources; basic grant management; profcient in preparing quarterly taxes and reports, basic accounting procedures, profcient in the use of software and ofce equipment.
Preferred Knowledge:
--Profcient in the use of QuickBooks.
--Profcient in the use of WordPress website design.
--Profcient in the use of Microsoft Ofce Suite.
--Accounting experience.
Skills: Work efectively with the general public ofering positive customer service; establish efective working relationships with fellow employees; ability to work from the ofce; assist in the feld; be organized; be self-motivated; prioritize tasks; maintain confdentiality; maintain accurate records; communicate efectively orally and in writing; follow verbal and written instructions; apply bookkeeping skills; efectively use ofce and feld equipment; profcient in the use of software programs; must keep accurate timesheets; have the ability to work after business hours every second and last Tuesday of the month; ability to attend local and state meetings; must have an automobile, proof of auto insurance, and a current Montana driver’s license; be able to lift 40 pounds. .
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Submit a cover letter and resume addressed to the Bitterroot Conservation District Board 1709 N. 1st Street, Hamilton, MT 59840.
WANTED TO BUY: Old Car, Truck, Motorcycle, also old signs and license plates, gas station items or dealership items. Call 406270-8630 any time.
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Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: BETTY DIANE REED, a/k/a Betty Reed, Deceased.
Probate No.: DP-2527
Dept. No.: 1 HOWARD F. RECHT 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 months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to DEBORAH D. THRALL, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o LionWood Law PLLC, 115 W. 3rd Street, Suite 103, Stevensville, Montana 59870, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 17th day of March, 2025.
/s/ Deborah D. Thrall, Personal Representative c/o LionWood Law PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870
LionWood Law PLLC
/s/ John S. Masar
Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 3-26, 4-2, 4-9-25. MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Megan Janay Chapman, Megan Janay Chapman, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-412025-0000109-NC
Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Megan Janay Chapman to Maygan Janay Chapman.
The hearing will be on April 24, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
BS 3-26, 4-2, 4-9, 4-16-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Larry Matthew Benboe, Larry Matthew Benboe, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-25-104
Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Larry Matthew Benboe to Larry Matthew Nielsen.
The hearing will be on April 24, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 17th day of March, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
/s/ Jennifer B. Lint
BS 3-25, 4-2, 4-9, 4-16-25.
MNAXLP
Daniel Browder, Esq. Browder Law, PLLC
217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3613677
Facsimile: (406) 3612999
Email: browderlawmont@gmail.com
Attorney for Michelene A. Lee
MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF NORMAN HOWARD LEE, Deceased
Cause No. DP-202532
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 months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Michelene A. Lee, return receipt requested, c/o: Browder Law, PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 21st day of March, 2025. BROWDER LAW, PLLC
/s/Daniel Browder
Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 3-26, 4-2, 4-9-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
This is to notify all interested parties that BitterRoot Bus is applying for $ 168,635.00 under the Section 5311 Program for the Federal Transit Administration entitled “Financial Assistance for Other than Urbanized Areas,” administered by the Montana Department of Transportation. Funding will be used for operating expenses associated with providing transportation services to the general public within Ravalli County, Montana. BitterRoot Bus will also be receiving $ 74,248 in matching TransAde funding. MRTMA of Missoula is also applying for $195,60.00 section 5311 as well as $113,974.00 in CMAQ funds and $49,999.00 in Capital funding for one replacement van. Anyone wishing to comment on this proposal should send comments within 30 days to: BitterRoot Bus, 310 Old Corvallis Rd., Hamilton, MT 59840. BS 4-2, 4-9-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Leland Morrisson, Leland Morrisson, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-25-79 Dept. 2
AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Leland Morris Morrisson to Leland Morris Jessop.
The hearing will be on May 15, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 26th day of March, 2025. /s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
/s/ Catherine di Gleria
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 4-2, 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Gay Esther Wilson, Gay Esther Wilson, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-412025-0000123-NC
Dept. 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Gay Esther Wilson to Gayle Esther Wilson.
The hearing will be on May 14, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 26th day of March, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
/s/ Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 4-2, 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Burnt Fork Water Commission will hold its frst meeting of the 2025 irrigation season on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall at the corner of Meyer Lane and Middle Burnt Fork Road, Stevensville. If you have agenda items for the meeting, please call Jean Comer at 406-360-5304 before the meeting date.
BS 4-2, 4-9-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jaden A. Lundquist, Jaden A. Lundquist, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-25-119 Dept. 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Jaden Alexander Lundquist to Jaden Alexander Shrader.
The hearing will be on April 30, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 19th day of March, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
/s/ Sarah Sargent
BS 4-2, 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25.
MNAXLP
REQUEST FOR BIDS (RFB)
Tin Cup and Indian Trees Hazardous Fire Fuels Reduction Projects
The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners is soliciting a Request for Bids (RFB’s) for the Tin Cup and Indian Trees hazardous fuels reduction projects.
All Tin Cup Units are located west of Darby, and the Indian Trees job site is located Southwest of Sula, Montana. These projects aim to enhance forest health on 300 acres of forest land, by thinning smaller trees to retain an average spacing between trees. Slash management includes compact piling of all cut materials under six inches in diameter, and scattering logs above six inches in diameter for course debris retention.
For a copy of the Full Treatment Plans (Scope of Work) and location maps, contact the Ravalli County Forester, Gary-Allen Oram a t #406-375-6511during
regular business hours. A jobsite walk through will occur Friday, April 18, 2025. Interested contractors will meet at the Darby Forest Service Ranger Station, 712 N Main St, Darby, MT 59829. The group will move out from there at 10:00 AM, to view all job locations.
Bids must be received by the Ravalli County Clerk & Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, (Second foor) Hamilton, Montana 59840 by Friday, April 25, 2025 by 4:00 PM.
Bids will be opened by the Ravalli County Commissioners on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 9:30 AM. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room (Third Floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana, followed by possible award(s).
For questions concerning the Request for Bids or Contract Process, please contact Chris Taggart at the Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce406-375-6500. Chris Taggart Commissioners Administrative Assistant BS 4-2, 4-9-25.
MNAXLP
Public Hearing-Ravalli County TAX ABATEMENT (Benefts) REQUEST: Maztech Industries
The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Center at 215 S.4th Street, Third Floor Commissioners Conference Room, Hamilton, MT. The purpose for this public hearing is to take public comment on the Tax Abatement Application, per MCA 15-6-138, for the property located at 3945 Maztech Way, Stevensville, Montana, 59870 (Tax ID #274550), and to make a decision by Resolution to grant or deny said tax abatement (beneft) request.
If you would like more information contact the Commissioner’s Ofce at 375-6500. If you are unable to attend and would like to make comment you can do so by contacting the Commissioners at the above phone number, or by email at commissioners@ rc.mt.gov
The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners are soliciting Request for Proposals for mold remediation for the Forest Service building located at the Ravalli County Airport, 533 Airport Road, Hamilton, Montana 59840.
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 PM., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Proposals will be opened by the Ravalli County Commissioners at 11:00 AM. on Thursday, May 01, 2025 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 Mold Remediation, please contact the Ravalli County Commissioners Administrative Assistant
Chris Taggart at 215 S. 4th Street Suite A, Hamilton, MT during regular business hours or by calling 406-375-6500. For questions concerning the Request for Proposal process, contact Chris Taggart at the Ravalli County Commissioners Ofce – 406-3756500. Chris Taggart Commissioners Administrative Assistant BS 4-2, 4-9-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THADIOUS DELANO WALL, Deceased.
Probate No.: DP2025-30
Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Carole Wall 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 Carole Wall, 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 4-2, 4-9, 4-16-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE 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 $2,358 to Advanced Storage Solutions, located at 108 Westside Road, Hamilton MT 59840, will sell the contents of storage units #37, and #49, occupied by Tamara Valenzano, at auction to the highest bidder. Auction will be held at Advanced Storage Solutions, Unit #37 and Unit #49 on Saturday, April 19th at 11 AM.
BS 4-9, 4-16-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TERESA PATRIA VERWORN, Deceased.
Probate No.: DP2025-39
Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Brodie Vernworn 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 Brodie Verworn, 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 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25.
MNAXLP
Megan S. Winderl CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. 99 Marcus Street, 3rd FL Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 218-4888
meganw@cwlawmt. com
pleadings@cwlawmt. com
Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of Jefrey Walter Demme, Deceased. Probate No. DP-412025-4
Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as 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 Susan Demme Birkenbuel, the Personal Representative, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C., 99 Marcus St. 3rd FL, 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 24th day of March, 2025. /s/ Susan Demme Birkenbuel
Personal Representative
CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C.
Attorney for Personal Representative By: Megan S. Winderl BS 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25. MNAXLP
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: BRUCE CAMERON BARBER, Deceased.
Probate No. DP-412025-0000017-FI
Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as 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 John Barber, the Personal Representative, in care of WORKMAN LAW, PLLC, P.O. Box 1167, Hamilton, Montana 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated this 2nd day of April, 2025. /s/ John Barber Workman Law, PLLC By: Kyle J. Workman
Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 4-9, 4-16, 4-23-25. MNAXLP
HAMILTON: city council drafts letters of concern
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community members.
“That’s why we felt it was important for this council to engage in the conversation,” said Pruitt. When speaking on the impact to the Hamilton community, she further stated, “It looks much diferent,” in a small rural community like Hamilton, then it would for a larger community. Hamilton also already has such a reliance on the existing presence of these organizations employing hundreds, which in Hamilton is a very large percentage of the population. This brings a lot of money into the area as well. According to Pruitt, another difculty has been a general lack of information from the government. For the council, these letters are also “an ask for ofcials to be transparent with us,” said Pruitt.
The letters were sent late last week. The letter concerning the Rocky Mountain Lab was addressed to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health and Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and reads as follows:
Dear NIH Acting Director Memoli and NIAID Director Marrazzo,
We write concerning federal government actions related to stafng of Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML). It appears that the federal government is initiating a “reduction in workforce” process that may result in fewer staf at RML. Such actions have the serious potential to endanger the safety and economic well-being of our community and its residents. Prior to taking such action, we request formal consultation between the City of Hamilton and the ofcial(s) making reduction in workforce decisions related to RML.
Established almost 100 years ago (1928), RML is located on a campus in downtown Hamilton. RML plays a long-proven role in protecting America’s health and well-being through research on infectious, and some contagious, diseases. Its campus includes a Level 4 lab, which allows RML scientists to handle and research the most dangerous pathogens known
to humans. Any changes to employee status raise serious safety questions for Hamilton and Ravalli County. These include concerns for the safety of RML stafers, local emergency responders and, if the integrity of the research labs is compromised, the broader community.
Further, RML has been a central component of our community and our economy for a century. RML’s roughly 450 employees live in Hamilton and Ravalli County. They, and their family members live, work and volunteer in our community, and their children go to our schools. In addition to the vast human health and safety benefts to the nation that come from RML’s work on infectious diseases, RML provides substantial economic benefts nearly $250 million annually -- to our community and the State of Montana. See The Economic Contributions of Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana School of Business (April 2023).
Given the safety and economic interdependence of Hamilton and RML, formal consultation between us is prudent and important prior to any signifcant changes in stafng levels. Please note that we do not object to government action to prevent fraud and abuse and to increase the efciency and efectiveness of government; these are goals we share for our own government. That said, it is important that action, addressing these issues occur in an informed and transparent manner. This is especially true when missteps in addressing them have the potential for both dangerous safety and economic consequences for your neighbors in the Bitterroot Valley.
Please note that the City of Hamilton is the only city in Montana that has a National Institutes of Health satellite facility. Additionally, 72% of our county lands are public lands owned by the US government. Any potential reduction of US Forest Service employees and/or National Institutes of Health employees results in a disproportionate impact for our community’s economy when consid-
ering the City of Hamilton population is less than 5,000 citizens and there are less than 50,000 citizens living within our county. For these reasons, we invite any state or federal representatives to come visit our amazing city and speak with our constituents. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
The Hamilton City Council
The letter concerning the U.S. Forest Service was addressed to Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture at the US Department of Agriculture and reads as follows:
Dear Secretary Rollins, We write concerning federal government actions related to stafing of the Bitterroot National Forest. It appears from public reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating a “reduction in workforce” process that may result in future staf changes at the Bitterroot National Forest. Such actions have the potential to endanger the safety and economic well-being of our community and its residents. Prior to taking any such action, we request formal consultation between the City of Hamilton, the county seat of Ravalli County, and whoever is making reduction in workforce decisions for the Bitterroot National Forest, whether that be USDA or the Forest Service. Established in 1898, the Bitterroot National Forest is roughly 1.6 million acres in size, over 70% of which is in Ravalli County. Among other tasks, Forest employees provide critical fre prevention, preparedness and response services. Wildfre risk is high in our community and our collective ability to minimize and respond to this risk requires close relationships and coordination between our governments. This is not an imaginary concern. Wildfre is a constant in the Northern Rockies. In 2000 a massive wildfre complex burned over 350,000 acres in Ravalli County. The fres raged for over 5 weeks, destroyed homes and property, displaced hundreds and disrupted life and business for all county residents. Without the Forest Service’s
organization, personnel and resources the outcome would have been much worse.
Further, public land use on the Bitterroot National Forest is a large economic driver for our community. As one example, the Bitterroot National Forest manages the Lake Como Recreation Area, which is the busiest national forest recreation area in the Forest Service Northern Region with roughly 250,000 annual visits. This natural jewel provides signifcant economic benefts to Hamilton and Ravalli County, and changes to stafing levels and Forest services that are not informed with local knowledge risk destabilizing our rural economy. Please note that we do not object to government actions to prevent fraud and abuse and to increase the efciency and efectiveness of government. That said, it is important that action addressing these issues occur in an informed and transparent manner. This is especially true when missteps in addressing them have the potential for safety and economic consequences for your neighbors in the Bitterroot Valley.
Additionally, the City of Hamilton is the only city in Montana that has a National Institutes of Health satellite facility. Currently, 72% of our county lands are public lands owned by the US government. Any potential reduction of US Forest Service employees and/or National Institutes of Health employees results in a disproportionate impact for our community’s economy when considering the City of Hamilton population is less than 5,000 citizens and there are less than 50,000 citizens living within our county.
In closing, the Forest Service motto “Caring for the Land and Serving People” expresses values that we too share. In that spirit, and in one of cooperation and for the reasons above we invite any state or federal representative to come visit our amazing city and to speak with our constituents. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
The Hamilton City Council
by Micki Long Bitterroot Forest Collaborative
We stare up, through hundreds of branches, large and small, trying to see the top of a huge, old-growth Ponderosa Pine. We think about all that has happened in the human world since this pine was a seedling. Numerous owl pellets at the base of the tree tell us that an owl, mostly likely a Great Horned Owl, roosts here often. Many feel awe in the presence of large, mature, and old-growth trees. Throughout human history, many cultures and religions have revered trees. For example, the Bible mentions trees over 525 times. Scientifc discoveries about trees and their importance in ecosystems have led to an explosion of books aimed at a general audience.
Management of old-growth stands is often a contentious issue in projects proposed by the Bitterroot National Forest (BNF). The mission of the Bitterroot Forest Collaborative (BFC), one of over 25 groups participating in
the Montana Collaborative Forest Network, is “to infuence the design and expedite the implementation of forest management proposals on public lands in a manner which refects the desires of Bitterroot Valley residents, minimizes adverse environmental impacts, and supports ecosystem function.” Our collaborative defnes “old-growth forests as ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes such as snags, down woody material, and multiple canopy layers.”
Persuaded by research, we see old-growth forests as crucial backbones of forest landscapes.
One way old-growth and mature trees contribute to a healthy forest ecosystem is by providing habitat for certain species. As our Position Statement on Special Habitats says, “Certain species on the Bitterroot Forest are associated with mature forest habitats or old growth. These animals require habitat with structural components such as snags, down logs, and large, old trees for cover, denning, food, or nesting.
Examples include fsher, fammulated owls, pileated woodpeckers, and pine marten, the latter two being old growth management indicator species.”
Continued loss of old-growth habitat makes survival more challenging for these species, threatening the rich diversity of wildlife on the BNF. BFC is not alone in assigning a high value to old-growth trees and stands.
Public comments on BNF projects, like
Gold Butterfy on the east side of the valley, show high support for preserving old growth. These comments align with the more general support for preservation of habitat among Western voters. Colorado College’s recently released 15th Annual State of Rockies Project Conservation in the West poll showed that “60 percent [of responding Western voters] oppose expanding the amount of national forest and other public lands available to private companies for logging.” As public input on individual forest projects faces an uncertain future, other sources, like this poll, will provide land managers with important information about public perspectives.
The following are just some of the recommendations in our Position Paper on Special Habitats. To see the full paper and papers on other for-
est management issues, see https:// montanaforestcollaboration.org/app/ home/committees/bitterroot/
To the extent possible, retain all or nearly all old/large trees. Retain and expand on existing relict trees, old forests, and post-disturbance large snags and down logs in these types.
Forest managers should protect existing old-growth habitat and manage vegetation to accelerate the replacement of ecologically functioning old growth where there is a defcit of existing old growth or where old -growth habitat is likely to be lost to normal forest succession and/or wildfre in the immediate future.
Any prescriptive vegetation management in old growth should not decrease old growth percentages in any 3rd order drainages in a given project area.
A little one who hopes this huge, old Ponderosa Pine will still be standing long after she herself is old. Photo courtesy Micki Long.
