Last Thursday, Hamilton got a visit from Montana’s Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen. The event was sponsored by the Council on Aging and Partners in Home Care. She visited three locations, and each one was well-attended. According to one of the organizers, Dyana Canavan, with Partners in Home Care, this event was meant to help network and allow questions to be answered, and networking opportunities to take place. Jacobsen said this was an opportunity to listen, and hear local concerns.
Jacobsen was in town all day, and attended three main events. The first was a visit to Hamilton High School, to meet with the 2026 graduating senior class. There, she read with the students from the U.S. and Montana Constitutions. They also had what she described as a “fireside chat,” where the students asked questions and there were student moderators. According to Jacobsen, the students asked “all really great questions about accountability and transparency.” She was also asked about her path to get to what she does today.
Jacobsen said she enjoyed speaking with the students and said it gave her “renewed energy.” She hopes it was a cool way for the students to start their school year. Jacobsen visited Hamilton High School in 2020 when she was recently elected, and was excited to be back.
The next stop was Nap’s Grill, where Jacobsen met on the roof of the restaurant to speak in a special session with around 60 business owners in the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce. She spoke about how new businesses are flocking to Montana, citing record numbers. She hopes to keep that trend up. Jacobsen said her goals are to keep “trying to cut red tape and alleviate unnecessary burdens along the way,” for businesses.
During the business forum, moderator Cole White, with Partners in Home Care, asked the first of two popular questions posed to Jacobsen. He asked what Jacobsen’s office is doing to support businesses in rural Montana. No matter where in Montana, including Ravalli County, “Main Street is impacted by what comes out of Helena,” said White. Jacobsen answered, saying there are over 300,000 businesses in Montana, and everything they do affects all of them. She mentioned a business “heat map” on their website, where people can see where the growth is. “It doesn’t matter what type of business,” said Jacobsen. “We support them all.”
One of the things Jacobsen said she is most proud of is how they have cut the new business filing fee, and how they waive the annual report filing fee every year. “It’s not a significant amount of money, but it’s meaningful,” said Jacobsen. According to Jacobsen, Montana has some of
the lowest filing fees in the country. They also have a completely electronic system, meaning business owners can access it 24/7. This also allows changes to be made, and filing to be done to start a new business, within a day or two. This is fast, according to Jacobsen, comparing it to other states where new businesses must wait weeks. In Montana, it can sometimes even be on the same day.
The last stop for Jacobsen was an open community forum, held at the Bedford Building.
The forum saw around 50 people attend, including members of the public, city staff and more. One of the moderators for that event was Cathy Orr, the executive director of the Council on Aging, serving Ravalli County. According to her, “We had an amazing day visiting with Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. We appreciate the time she and her staff spent answering questions from Hamilton students, business owners and other members of the public today.”
During much of the day, Jacobsen said she expected a lot of questions about elections. According to her, this has been a main concern of people for the last eight or so years. She encourages people to get registered and to “make sure your voting information is accurate. This is how your voice is heard.”
Another thing she highlighted over her time in office were changes they pushed to absentee voting. Now, these votes require a birth year to be added when signing. Jacobsen said this has really helped push these through much more smoothly, and quickly.
Another mention was how her office was awarded for their “Death of a Loved One,” initiative. Their efforts send flyers to funeral homes, and streamline the process for the living to remove their loved ones from the voter rolls. These changes meant less hoops for the family to jump through in their time of grieving, according to Jacobsen. Jacobsen’s
office was awarded for this initiative by the National Association of State Election Directors. Behind a lot of the organization of the event was Canavan. According to her, “being part of the Bitterroot Leadership program gave me the opportunity to meet Montana’s Secretary of State, which sparked thoughtful conversations that turned into collaboration. Through my work with Partners in Home Care, and as a Chamber Ambassador, I’m able to connect people in our valley with resources and talk with representatives who truly want to hear what’s happening in our community, opening doors to mindful business growth.”
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen addressing business owners in Hamilton last week. Photo by John Dowd.
SUBDIVISIONS: MACO updates county on new laws
can be renewed for another five years,” said Alley. She said she didn’t know how this would work out with DEQ’s Certificate of Subdivision Approval for sanitation that never expires. “But that’s a state agency problem from the perspective of counties,” she said.
She said If an application has been deemed sufficient before the January 1, 2026 effective date, it may still go through review without this new law applying, but if it has not met sufficiency by then, the new law applies.
“The Court ruled that DNRC was abdicating its authority,” said Alley. “This is what happens when you abdicate your authority, you get told that you have to do your job.”
According to Alley, the NOI to Appropriate only addresses the issue of legal availability of water and doesn’t address the question of physical availability. She said that, under the NOI to Appropriate process, there will actually be an allocation of water that the applicant can depend on.
“It will have more weight than the pre-determination letter did,” said Alley.
“Everyone involved in this recognizes that this is not a perfect fix,” said Alley, “this is a step. This is legal availability. This is a paper right. There are two kinds of availability, there is paper right and there is physical availability. So, there is still hydrology that will have to be done by the developer. They are still going to have to do a hydrological analysis as part of a complete and sufficient application. That hasn’t changed. Physical availability is not being covered by HB 681.”
She said the developer would have to cover the cost of the hydrological analysis and make it available to the Planning Board.
Ravalli County Planner Rob Livesay said, “There is no requirement in Ravalli County to have a hydrological study. That’s a misconception. The developers are doing it because they understand that we have some language in our Environmental Analysis that talks about depletion, so we have been asking for documentable, thorough responses which some people have taken to mean doing a hydrological study.” He said DEQ has required it as part of their water availability but for the county it’s not part of the county’s Preliminary Plat application. You still have to show DEQ that you have adequate water to meet your sanitation requirement.
now. So, I guess it’s our responsibility to look at that and mitigate it. And it’s a really challenging question. It’s really hard.”
“We’ve been seeing hydrology reports coming in with all of our major subdivision applications,” said Livesay. “Even on minor ones there’s been a hydrologist coming in to testify. It seems like the county is looking for someone who is qualified to make some kind of statement that the impact is negligible. Some qualified professional, supported by data, that can make some solid conclusions, that seems to be what the Commissioners are looking for.”
“As you all know, as counties are funded, dollars don’t go as far as they used to and maintaining all those properties becomes quite a problem,” said Alley. “This is a way for HOAs to take possession of those and maintain them. So, it’s kind of a cool tool that can be used state-wide.”
- Karen Alley, Associate General Counsel for the Montana Association of Counties (MACO) Continued from page 1
Alley said there are no solutions but there have been steps with portions being codified in the Subdivision and Platting Act, portions being codified in the Sanitation in Subdivisions Act, and portions codified in the Water Use Act.
“It’s an emotional issue,” said Alley. “But HB 681 was never meant to fix the problem of the counties having to make a legal determination about physically available water.” She said HB 358 was an effort to address all these issues, but it died on the floor.
In other legislation:
1, 1973. She said within the subdivision process there is a requirement to satisfy open space or park land within a subdivision unless a “payment-in-lieu” is made instead of setting aside that land. By statute the land becomes county property. It is not actually transferred into county ownership in some cases, but it is county property, so the county is responsible for maintenance.
“As you all know, as counties are funded, dollars don’t go as far as they used to and maintaining all those properties becomes quite a problem,” said Alley. “This is a way for HOAs to take possession of those and maintain them. So, it’s kind of a cool tool that can be used state-wide.”
Livesay said that it was his understanding that DEQ currently is really looking at water availability for the subdivision itself, but they are not looking at the impact to the overall aquifer health.
“That is where it seems to be falling to the county and that is where we are getting these planning board meetings where you have a neighbor commenting that they are having their well going dry,” said Livesay. “It’s my understanding that the DEQ is not looking at that, so this has kind of been exposed
HB 714 requires the Attorney General to prepare a form affidavit to be used across the state for the Family Transfer Exemption. Alley said the goal was to create uniformity across the state. She said we have 56 counties and 56 different applications. The bill also increased the penalty for evasion of the law and defines documented evidence. It was effective May 8, 2025.
HB 233 allows transfer of title of open space into a Home Owners Association (HOA) after the Plat has been granted and includes a specific definition of HOA. It applies to open spaces, parks, or similar common-use areas on Final Plats recorded on or after October
SB 174 moves review of mobile home lots and RV Parks from the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act and puts it into the Buildings for Lease and Rent Regulations and requires that the BLR regulations comply with County Growth Policies. It is effective October 1, 2025.
Associate General Counsel for the Montana Association of Counties Karen Alley and Ravalli County Planner Rob Livesay recently gave Ravalli County Planning Board members an update on the new laws affecting counties and guidance concerning public participation on land use and the subdivision process itself including findings of fact, judicial review, decision making, determining adverse impacts, analyzing facts, mitigation and best practices. Photo credit: Granicus.
AWARE expands youth mental health programs
As the 2025-2026 school year quickly approaches, AWARE Inc. has announced the addition of more school programs in Butte, Missoula, and the Bitterroot Valley to its already existing school-based mental health initiatives for students.
“We are excited to add the additional schools in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley communities to provide critical and compassionate care to even more Montana kids,” said Matt Bugni, CEO of AWARE. “Children learn best in the classroom. Our
team offers the support and structure that kids, teachers, aides, and families need to help kids stay with their classmates and promote growth and development.”
For over 20 years, AWARE has provided school-based mental health services in Corvallis, Hamilton, Billings, Bonner, Ramsay, East Helena, Havre, Lockwood, Great Falls, and Helena, supporting nearly 800 kids.
In May, AWARE announced an integration with Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC), where
WMMHC services would be brought under the AWARE umbrella. The transition is expected to take several months, but the school-based services were transitioned this summer.
AWARE’s school-based mental health support focuses on helping clients and their families succeed across school, community, and home environments. Using a wrap-around approach, AWARE’s specialized staff work directly with the identified children, their parents, teachers, and school personnel to meet the goals
outlined in each individualized plan. The services offered include assessment and evaluation, classroom support, crisis intervention training, classroom behavioral support, and family, group, and individual therapy. AWARE also offers in-home applied behavior analysis programs for children up to 21 years of age. Board-certified behavior analysts work with families to teach children new skills, reducing problem behavior and helping them grow, connect, and thrive.
HANGAR: where pilots and food come together
Continued from page 1
Hale said there seem to be a lot of local people who don’t like the fact that the airport is there, but in times like fire season, “we’re lucky to have them right here.” The pilots of the helicopter crews are common, and sometimes they don’t even have the time to finish their food. McDonald added, “When they have to go, they have to go.” The cafe tries to really honor those firefighters, and there is a special corner filled with photos given to the cafe by firefighters doing what they do.
Though a lot of pilots do go through the cafe, the place prides itself on a loyal local customer base. “You start to all become family,” said Hale. Many of the regulars even help stack the firewood for the wood stove, inside, or replace the flags out in front of the cafe when they get old and tattered.
The cafe has become a regular hangout for several in the community.
It has even become a local hangout for a few high school boys, who have their own “office space.” As Hale explained, “I’d rather have them hang out here than out on the roads, especially in the winter time.”
Hale is the cook, owner, accountant and everything in between. “It can get overwhelming for sure, but you just keep going.” She is the only cook after her husband died. His name was Paul and he started the business with her, as the cook. He was a chef and volunteered to take it over from Ashley’s father under their name in 2010, but Paul died in 2013. “I never once thought I’d be working in a commercial kitchen,” said Hale, who
has had to adjust and figure things out after the sudden passing.
It was truly family operated. Hale recalled that when her husband was still around, she was the server, and they even had one of her sons in a high chair in the back. They lived in an apartment adjacent to the cafe.
The food they serve is normal cafe food including burgers, salads and breakfast.
(The Hangar Cafe was recently voted “Best Breakfast in the Bitterroot.”) Many of the dish names have an aviation twist. The “Glider Omelet,” and the “Spruce Goose Burger” are popular options, and there is a whole “Top Gun” section of the menu, housing some of the more popular dishes.
The ceiling is decorated with huge model airplanes and the walls are covered in aviation photos taken by the pilots that visit. For those that visit the airport, it is a great place to stop in. For those that don’t have a reason to go out to the airport, they might
now find a good one. The Hangar Cafe is open Wednesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. They only serve breakfast and lunch
food, but breakfast is served all day. They start serving lunch at 10:30 a.m. Interested parties can follow Hangar Cafe on Facebook. The phone number is (406) 363-4478.
Hangar Cafe owner Ashley Hale, and head server Vonnie McDonald stand in the main dining space of the cafe. Photo by John Dowd.
The main dining space of the cafe sports an old Ravalli County Airport sign, among numerous other aviation memorabilia.
Photo by John Dowd.
Flyfishing, camping - part of a grander scheme
You may not recall Norman Greenbaum.
You’d have to remember the late ‘60’s-early ‘70’s amalgam of acid rock with a touch of hard-driving metal and gospel-tinged commercial country that eventually emerged as country rock. Norman Greeenbaum’s biggest hit in 1969 was “Spirit in the Sky.”
Greenbaum abandoned the drugged-out and drunk rock scene in 1972 and took his royalty money and young family to the then-small town of Petaluma, California. Beyond the wine grape belt, Petaluma was the center of Sonoma county’s chicken farming area. If you didn’t know that you’d figure it out soon enough, even at night, driving through with your windows down.
by Chuck Stranahan
That’s where Greenbaum started an organic goat dairy, traded tie-dye for farmer John coveralls, and sold his goat milk to the folks “who want to live healthy, who want to live right, I got the supply,” according his song “Grade A Barn.”
The song goes on: “Oh me oh my / Such a long way from Spirit in the Sky.”
The song is from his all-acoustic last album, “Petaluma.” It never reached the top of the charts For me, it was his best work.
My favorite song from the album is “Campin’ “ with Greenbaum accompanying himself on the ukulele. I changed it a little and added a personalized verse for each of the grandkids. It’s now a family favorite.
I hear Greenbaum’s song in my head and sometimes sing it out-loud when I’m setting up camp.
As truck campers go, I’m sort of a primitive camper. I sleep in an old canvas Coleman wall tent that goes up quicker than many similar-sized modern tents, and cook on an old but sturdy white gas burning Coleman camp stove.
To make camp I drop the tailgate, swing a selfmade camp box out from its nesting place behind the wheel well onto the tailgate; next to it goes the stove and water jug.
There is a familiarity to the camp box that can’t be bought, memories in the tent that come alive every time it goes up. I feel like I’m returning home. It happened again just a few days ago. I met some friends who helped me make camp before we gathered for dinner. We met over the years at my fly shop so naturally the conversation drifted
toward fishing. Three of the group floated the day before and caught plenty of fish – all small ones.
That shouldn’t be. All of these people are good anglers. If there are any good fish to be caught, Rebecca will rub some of her pheromones on her fly and catch a big one.
As the sun went down the joking gave way to the kind of talk that seems to grow from the warmth of a campfire.
The next morning I set up the fly tying vise. Troy and Rebecca were out (or nearly out) of Brindle ‘Chutes. By my reckoning their greater need was for a simple little ant pattern and some Light Caddis Variants.
While I tied flies the talk from the previous evening continued.
This trip was not about the fishing, or the fly tying session, or even our wonderful feast.
The conversations the evening before had some hilarious moments, were always respectful and warm, and occasionally found areas in each other’s lives that seldom find expression in other places.
And dare I say it – an atmosphere of love came down around that campfire; there was a felt sense of something greater than ourselves. You can’t force it but we all knew: that’s what we came for, that’s what we found in abundance around the campfire and the following morning around the fly tying vise.
We planned to fish that evening but I had to beg off – I had a column to write.
“What are you going to write about this week, Chuck?” Troy asked as I left.
“This, “ I said, “Or try to.”
Troy and I were discussing layers that had been touched on the past couple of days, trying to grasp a sense of it we could take with us.
“This is all part of a grander scheme,” Troy said as our conversation was winding down.
When I left I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself. I came to fish but didn’t, and left with more of what I really wanted - and beyond fishing, that’s why we were all there.
It’s like Troy said.
Blue Moose Ponds celebrating 10 years
When Bruce DeFoor first purchased a property in Stevensville more than a decade ago, he didn’t imagine it would lead to the region’s only dedicated pond restoration business. He simply wanted to clean up the pond in his backyard.
“It was full of invasive weeds and muck,” DeFoor recalls. “Everyone told me to just spray my pond with herbicides. But I didn’t want to dump poison into the water where fish, wildlife, and my family gathered.”
That decision—to find a better way—sparked the beginning of Blue Moose Ponds, LLC, which now celebrates its 10th anniversary as the leading company in ecological pond restoration across western Montana.
They are endorsed by the Ravalli County Weed District as the only company they recommend for invasive pond weed issues.
Unlike companies that rely on chemicals, the business built its reputation on hard work and environmentally sound methods. From their custom-built aquatic rakes to a state-of-the-art remote-control floating harvester, the company designs and fabricates many of its own tools to tackle problems that plague ponds. Their approach is rooted in a simple philosophy: ponds, like lawns, need regular maintenance to stay healthy.
“Some people are surprised when we explain that ponds require just as much care as the rest of their property,” said Tim Farmer, who joined Blue Moose in 2023 and now serves as company president. “A pond can be one of the most beautiful and valuable parts of a property, but without proper upkeep, it can quickly turn
into a stagnant, weed-filled mess.”
Pond ownership is a rare privilege—one that few get to experience. But with that privilege comes an inherent responsibility: to care for and maintain the pond in a way that ensures its health and vibrancy for generations to come. Whether it’s supporting local wildlife or preserving water quality, ponds are ecosystems that require ongoing attention to thrive. Those who own them are entrusted with a unique opportunity to protect and enhance this valuable resource.
One of Blue Moose’s signature techniques is applying a proprietary blend of aerobic bacteria that digests the black muck at the bottom of ponds—a major culprit in algae blooms and invasive weed growth.
The team installs thousands of gallons of BIO’s per month in ponds from Whitefish to Sula, averaging between 50 and 275 gallons per
pond depending on the size and condition. Combined with installing complete aeration systems that greatly improve oxygen levels for fish and other wildlife, they work together to restore balance to aquatic ecosystems.
The company’s growth has been steady and deeply local. Under Farmer’s leadership, along with his wife Sabrina, Blue Moose Ponds has tripled its reach, restoring more than 150 ponds across the Bitterroot Valley. The company also prides itself on hiring and retaining Montana employees.
From backyard water features to sprawling ranch ponds, Blue Moose Ponds has built its business around solving problems most property owners don’t have the time—or the expertise—to handle. It’s never too late to start, and late-season clean-outs are being scheduled now. Without a thorough clean-out, pond weeds just die over the winter and sink to the bottom, causing even more of a muck problem.
For DeFoor, now serving as vice president, it’s a far cry from that first overgrown pond. “We’ve come a long way,” he said. “But our mission is still the same: to keep Montana ponds clean, healthy, and alive for our grandchildren to enjoy.”
As the company enters its second decade, the team shows no signs of slowing down. For pond owners with questions, Farmer encourages one simple step: “Give us a call. We’ll help you bring it back to life.”
For a free visit and appraisal of your pond or water feature, Blue Moose Ponds can be reached at (406) 318-7788.
The Blue Moose Ponds crew.
The Weed Gator.
Rebecca and brown trout taken on pheromone-enhanced fly. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.
SURVEY: Stevi officials positive about policy update
of note, mentioned by Berthoud, was that all of the written responses were transcribed by Great West Engineering, so interested parties can read those individual responses as well as the general vote numbers. Question number 10, the final one, saw a significant number of written responses. According to Berthoud, these answers, and others, provide “opportunities to help educate,” showcasing areas the town can be more informative on.
Some interesting feedback from the survey included how over 90% of the respondents claimed they own their own home. However, regarding development, over 70% saw the need for single family homes over all other kinds, including apartments, rental homes, and even senior housing. Additionally, two of the greatest concerns to the respondents were community services, like law enforcement, library, etc, and infrastructure,
like sewer, streets, water, etc. Least important was housing development. According to Michalson, the issues they have been talking about in Stevensville Town Hall proved to be common community concerns as well. He specifically mentioned continuing work on sussing out water system leaks, and upgrading the wastewater treatment facility, which is nearing the end of its lifespan.
In the survey, participants were asked about projects they would like to see the Town focus on. The top of these by far was the water system, followed by street maintenance.
Town beautification projects, street lighting, schools and parking all fell to the bottom.
As far as improving the downtown, great interest was shown on advertising community events. However, the second greatest interest was in the “other” category, where numerous suggestions were made, including “allow people outside of city limits on the town council,” “clean up the store fronts,” and library updates.
Looking at the parks, survey participants
showed great interest in improving restroom facilities and about half were concerned with swimming pool improvements. There was also some interest in improving trail systems.
The public was split on a dedicated parks tax, with those who said “yes” to it having a slight edge in votes. Such a thing, according to the survey, would aid in improving and maintaining the town parks and recreation facilities. Michalson proposed this idea, hoping that having a dedicated park district would help lessen that burden on the community, which serves more than just the immediate Stevensville community and town people.
The Town will be hosting a Growth Policy Update Open House in October, which they hope many will attend. The open house will discuss a lot of this feedback, and the state of the Growth Policy Update project. They plan to use this feedback to inform choices on future growth, and the survey results will help finish the Growth Policy, allowing the Town to become more competitive in grant applications.
The next Planning and Zoning Board meeting will be on September 10, at 5 p.m. in Stevensville Town Hall. Michalson and Berthoud hope members of the community can make it to that meeting as well, and say that there will be an interesting guest presentation. The topic discussed at that meeting will be past projects Stevensville has undertaken and important future projects that deserve focus from the town.
4- H & FFA Livestock Sale at Ravalli County Fair
S tarting at 8:00 am on Saturday, August 3 0 , 202 5, in Hornung Arena
Complimentary Buyers’ Breakfast 6:30 -7:45 a.m.
Enter through the North gate and register at the sale table
SOLE PURCHASE
Buyer is responsible for the purchase of the animal as well as the processing, cutting, and wrapping cost of the meat.
SHARED PURCHASE
You may share in the purchase where the meat and costs are divided amongst buyers.
PROXY BUYERS
If you are unable to attend the l ivestock sale but would like to put in a bid, c ontact the Ravalli County Extension Office at (406) 375 -6611 to fill out a Proxy Buyer Form.
RESALE / SUPPORT
Buyer may consign their purchase back to support for resale. The buyer will be billed the difference between the buyer’s bid and the resale/support price. Resale/support prices will be announced at the sale.
ADD-ONS
Add -Ons are a flat fee of any amount added on top of the sale price. Add -Ons can be submitted before, during, or after the sale, and payment received no later than September 30, 2025. If any animal(s) you pay for do not sell in the l ivestock sale, your payment for that animal will be returned to you.
BUYERS’ BREAKFAST
Please join us at the Buyers’ Breakfast, 6:30 - 7:45 a.m. outside the Hornung Arena and get in on the auction excitement! Sale Committee and volunteers will be available to assist you.
BUYERS’ RECOGNITION
B uyers will be acknowledged with a rosette, a certificate with a photo of the member and the animal purchased, advertisement in the newspaper, and an appreciation breakfast prior to the sale. We very much appreciate the support of our Buyers in this community who make this livestock sale such a success for our 4 -H & FFA youth!
BUYERS’ PARTICIPATION
All buyers must register by mail or at the registration table prior to bidding at the sale. All buyers will be assigned a bidding number
Buyers must have this number when bidding. Numbers can be picked up at the registration table. Your name and number will be announced when
Grand Champion Sheep Owner: Kealie Hixson Buyer: Valley Irrigation, Inc.
Grand Champion Beef Owner: Payton Weigle Buyer: Eslinger Drilling
Grand Champion Dairy Owner: Paytn Griffin Buyer: Bobby Harrington
Grand Champion Swine Owner: Christian Thorness Buyer: Harpers Les Schwab
Grand Champion Market Goat Owner: Cannon Berkfield Buyer: Pigman Builders
From black measles to breakthroughs: why science matters
In the early 1900s, the Bitterroot Valley experienced waves of measles outbreaks. This was not the same measles (rubeola) that has caused outbreaks in the southwest United States this year, but a different disease entirely, referred to as “black measles”. Black measles preyed on children and adults alike with a mortality rate around 80%. However, unlike in the current measles virus epidemic, there was no vaccine to protect these early Montanans.
In these early days of black measles, lacking any clear reference for the disease, fear, confusion and distrust permeated the population. Some people insisted that the disease arose from drinking snowmelt from certain canyons on the west side of the valley, since cases were only found on the west side of the Bitterroot River. Herbal poultices were applied to rashes on infected individuals. Sulphur or arsenic compounds were ingested as a supposed form of prophylaxis. But none of these measures stopped the disease.
Dr. Howard Ricketts arrived in the valley to investigate the cause of the black measles. In 1906, he identified the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii (named in his honor) as the causative agent and showed that it was transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Based on these discoveries, efforts were refocused to preventing the transmission of the disease. Drs. Roscoe Spencer and Ralph Parker developed a vaccine against Rickettsia rickettsii in the 1920s. The valley began to institute mandatory tick inspections for all workers. Nowadays, anyone who spends time outdoors in the Bitterroot Valley knows about the importance of thorough tick inspections. The rate of mortality from Rocky Mountain spotted fever has dropped from nearly 80% to under 5% today.
The history of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a story that has been repeated innumerable times throughout the history of modern medicine. An unknown malady appears, infecting and terrorizing the population. Through years of arduous work, researchers identify the cause of the disease and find ways to prevent and contain it. Because of this work, fewer people get sick, and more people who are infected survive, a testament to the scientific process.
And it’s not just infectious disease. Scientific research also tackles more insidious, chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and cancer. The American research establishment—an interconnected network of universities, research institutions, government agencies, and private companies—is one of the greatest achievements in the history of civilization. It is something that the rest of the world admires and strives to emulate.
But now, changes in the priorities of the federal government take aim at the American scientific system. Congress is considering drastic cuts to the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and multiple centers of higher education, which train
Opinion
scientists like Dr. Ricketts. The administration is limiting universities’ abilities to enroll foreign students, who play a huge role in carrying out indispensable research. These actions are decimating the American scientific establishment as we know it. It will take decades to recover from these setbacks, if recovery is even possible.
These cuts to science would also impact communities in Montana. Ninety-seven years ago, driven by the success of research into Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the government established the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton. This center has produced myriad accomplishments: researchers helped discover the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, improved the vaccine for yellow fever that saved the lives of U.S. soldiers during WWII, and advanced research in acellular pertussis (whooping cough) ultimately leading to a vaccine, and more recently, it has led research on Ebola and COVID-19. What’s more, RML has been a pillar of the community, supporting 1,500 jobs and generating $89 million after-tax household income and $232 million in annual business revenue. For every person employed at RML, two additional full-time jobs are supported elsewhere in the community. Just as importantly, RML researchers and their families contribute to the vibrancy of the Bitterroot Valley by supporting local schools, volunteering, and enriching cultural and intellectual life within the community. The proposed cuts to the NIH will affect the Bitterroot Valley in myriad ways, including in the loss of jobs it will inevitably cause, but most depressingly in that it perpetuates the idea that we as a country do not cherish and support science as a force for good in today’s America.
I grew up in Hamilton, where I received my first exposure to science from committed, motivational teachers in our public schools. I continued my training in biology at U of M and as a summer intern at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, followed by postdoctoral research at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. I have dedicated my career to researching and developing a novel type of treatment for rare diseases called gene therapy, focusing primarily on diseases that affect young children, with no current treatments. Throughout myriad moments of frustration—including confounding results, roadblocks in developing treatments, unruly mice, and distractible predoctoral students—I can always stay grounded and motivated when I revisit the stories of the children and families who are affected by these diseases.
For me, as well as for my fellow scientists who harbor a passion for carrying out science as a means to get to the truth, and especially for all those affected by threats to our health, please consider demonstrating your support for the importance of prioritizing science and the research community, both locally and nationally.
Nick Weber, PhD scientist at the Center for Applied Medical Research University of Navarra Pamplona, Spain
Thanks
T he often lively opinion page with letters from all sides of issues actually caused me to take action. A Massachusetts resident wrote about wolves in the Aug. 20 edition. She made it apparent she did not agree with very much related to Montana hunting. After reading her letter, it reminded me to make sure my two granddaughters, son and I purchase our wolf tags yet again this season.
Thank you, Massachusetts.
Jim Kalkofen Stevensville
Election m anipulation?
I did not want to have to write this letter, but it seems to be the thing that has to be done.
On July 23, 2025, I was trespassed from the Stevensville Town Hall for apparently exercising my Right to Free Speech as protected by The Constitution of the United States 1st Amendment and my Freedom of Speech as protected by the Constitution for the State of Montana, Article II, Part II, Section 7, and exercising my Right to Know Article II, Part II, Section 9.
I had stopped by Town Hall to see Chief Boe, as I came in the door, I noticed the Town Clerk at the front counter. I stopped and she asked me, “How may I help you, Mr. Crews?”
I replied that I would like to see the Resolution regarding records requests. She immediately told me in a very forceful manner that the request had been forwarded to the Town Attorney for review. I told her that I was not there for my records request, that I would like to see the Council Resolution regarding the records request process. (That Resolution was 539). She again in a very forceful tone told me in no uncertain words that I would have to have the Town Attorney’s permission to look at that resolution. I asked her, are you saying I have to have the Town Attorney’s permission to review a resolution? The Clerk’s response was very firm that I was required to have the Town Attorney’s permission to see any resolution!
You see the problem with this is that you as a citizen have a right to see all public documents as protected by the Constitution for the State of Montana, Article II, Part II, Section 9 Right to Know. No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.
This right is also protected by state law, § 2-6-1003(1) MCA which states, (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), every person has a right to examine and obtain a copy of any public information of this state.
I was denied the right to examine Town Resolution 539 which governs the Schedule and Charges for Records Requests by the Town of Stevensville. In fact, it is my opinion that my right to examine the last 100 resolutions was denied and delayed by the sending of the records request to the Town Attorney for approval of the request.
The reason I wanted to see the
document was to examine the policy regarding the processing of Records Requests. The document request that I had submitted was requesting to come to town hall and sit down and review the documents in Town Hall. Which would have cost the town no money. I wanted to see the actual record books which are kept in Town Hall by the Clerk. The Business License Book, the Building Permit Book and the last 100 resolutions of the council. I can understand the reluctance to see business license applications and building permit applications, but the staff could have made that determination with the mayor rather than send the request to the town’s attorney, which by the way, cost you the taxpayer $561 if my understanding of the claims is correct. I am not sure who decided to engage the town’s attorney, that is something that not even a council member can do without consulting the Council President. So how is it a clerk can spend the money so easily? Maybe the Mayor can answer that question.
Because I was trespassed from town hall, I can no longer go to town hall to look at these documents, nor can I participate in any town meeting. To this day I am not sure why I was trespassed from town hall, because it is not on the letter that I received trespassing me and have not done anything that should have been the cause of me to be treated in such a manner.
So, the town had to copy each document. Another cost in manpower and materials. The quality of the copies was pretty bad. Often I could not read the resolution numbers. I was supplied with 133 business license applications, about 100 resolutions, mostly without attachments and 21 building permit applications. I am a candidate for mayor so I think it is very important that I know what is going on in town and understand how the town is operating. I cannot do that very effectively by being banned from attending all public meetings at town hall by the mayor. I understand that some personalities can clash, but as an elected or appointed officer of the town, you have to learn how to exercise people skills in order to understand and communicate with the various types of people you will encounter. As a public figure you have to accept that you will be criticized and critiqued by the public. As I was told, it comes with the territory.
My review of the public documents has revealed several holes in our system. One thing, there is no policy or procedure for processing public records requests. It seems as if it is left up to whoever is processing the request. That is wrong. There needs to be a policy or procedure that guides the staff in processing these requests. It should be a council approved process, not a process left up to an employee. There needs to be a public policy to allow the public to come into town hall and review documents without having to be put through the ringer. We should not have to pay to see what we have already purchased with our tax dollars. By the way, as I said I was supplied with 133 business license applications but I found another 86 businesses operating in town, of which no records had been supplied. I found other things as well.
Jim Crews Stevensville
Am Legion Post 47
American Legion Ravalli Post 47 meets the 2nd Wednesday at 7 p.m. at 322 S. 2nd (corner of Madison next to 2nd St Sushi), Hamilton. Check us out! visit https://www.legion.org/membership/whyjoin
Am Legion Post 91
Corvallis American Legion Post #91 meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Corvallis Fire Department. Contact them at corvallispost91@gmail.com.
Am Legion Unit 91 Auxiliary
Corvallis American Legion
Auxiliary Unit #91 meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at Corvallis United Methodist Youth Center, 352 Corvallis Cemetery Road. The Auxiliary has programs and projects to support veterans and Americanism. For info call Andrea, 406-381-6239.
Am Legion Post 134
American Legion Florence Post 134 meets the 1st Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Florence Rural Fire Hall. Contact: Robert Davis, Commander, 949-285-9010.
Post 134 holds a free pancake breakfast on the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Florence Rural Fire Hall.
Lions Club
The Hamilton Lions Club meets the first and third Tuesdays at noon at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. First Street in Hamilton. Guests and prospective members are invited to come and learn more about how Lions fulfill their motto “We Serve.” For more information contact Dan Rothlisberger at 406-363-3879 or check the website: www.hamiltonlions.org.
Blizzard Doll Club
The doll club meets the second Thursday afternoon each month at a member’s home. There is a short business meeting to discuss the club’s charities, its annual doll show, and other business. There is generally a program about dolls, bears, toys, miniatures, paper dolls, and related subjects. And, there is always show-and-tell! Contact Kay Schrader at 406-360-7214 or schrader1501@blackfoot.net
Three Mile bingo
Bingo games are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Early bird game 6:45 p.m., regular 6:45 p.m. at Three Mile Community Center, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Road. For more information call 406777-3710 or go to 3milecc.org.
Bitterroot Toastmasters
Afraid to speak up at work, your church or in the community?
Bitterroot Toastmasters can help you find your voice and speak with clarity and confidence. For details about our weekly meetings, call Courtney at 406- 781-1186.
Amateur Radio Group
The Bitterroot Amateur Radio Group meets the 3rd Monday of every month starting at 7:00 PM in the back room of BJ’s Restaurant in Hamilton. Contact n6mgml@ gmail.com or visit the web page at W7FTX.org. Come early and enjoy fellowship and a meal.
Socrates Cafe
The Socrates Cafe’ Philosophical Discussion Group welcomes you for a night of inspiring talks on topics ranging from philosophy to social issues to current events. It’s a time of social interaction and enlightenment. The group meets every other Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library downstairs meeting room. Coffee, tea and cookies are provided by the Library. People of all philosophies are encouraged to attend.
Kiwanis
Kiwanis meets every Wednesday at 12 noon at BJ’s restaurant in Hamilton.
TOPS
TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Thursday morning at Kootenai Creek Village, 43 Club House Way, Stevensville. Guests are welcome, including men. Weigh-in is from 8:30 to 9:10 a.m.; meeting follows until 10:30. A program on sensible eating and weight loss is presented every week along with incentives for weight loss. TOPS is an affordable non profit weight loss support group. For more information call
Cindy MacIsaac 406-961-0196.
Lone Rock Community Network
Times for Lone Rock Community Network meetings are changing to an “as requested, as needed” basis. The group will meet periodically for classes, having to do with sustainable and independent living, that are highly relevant to the community. Members will receive email notices of meetings, and they will be posted on Next Door and Facebook. If you’d like to be included, contact Rick Nelson at 406381-1466. Feel free to call or text to suggest topics or hands-on classes. Or, you may just want to get involved with this active, existing network of neighbors that are currently working on projects together.
Montanans for Life
Montanans for Life holds their monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month at 6PM at More to Come Fellowship, 330 3rd Ave., Victor. For more information call (406) 407-1254.
Selway-Pintler Back Country Horsemen
The Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen meet the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Forest Service office in Hamilton (enter through the rear door). Come enjoy refreshments and conversation. For additional information contact Kathy Hundley at 406363-8230. Visit the website at bchmt. org/wp/spwbch/ or their Facebook page for more information.
Yoga for Veterans FREE to veterans, first responders, and their families! Tuesdays, 1-2pm at the American Legion Post 94 in Stevensville Register at: redwillowlearning.org OR call 406-5307175. Come see us on 1st Friday in May ‘bout 1800 for more info! We’ll be in front of Active Care Wellness on Main in Stevensville
Bitterroot Health
Auxiliary
The Bitterroot Health Auxiliary meets the 3rd Monday every month in the Blodgett Conference Roomof the hospital. New volunteers are always welcome. Contact Mark Robinson, Auxiliary VP, (901) 5178554.
Knotty Knitters Guild
Knotty Knitters Guild meets the 4th Tuesday of every month except June, July, August and December at 6 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 275 Hattie Lane, Hamilton. You can also bring your knitting project to visit and knit with friends or get help with questions on Fri days from 12:00 to 5:00.
Bitterroot Celtic Society
The Bitterroot Celtic Society meets every 3rd Thursday at 6 p.m. at BJ’s restaurant in Hamilton. The Bitterroot Celtic Society is a passionate group of volunteers, dedicated to keeping the Celtic cul ture, heritage, and history alive in the Bitterroot Valley. Their biggest event is the Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering, held every third weekend in August at the Historic Daly Mansion. They also host a Burns’ Night supper, St. Andrew’s, St. Patrick’s, and Tartan day events. The BCS is a non-profit organiza tion. The public, new members, and the curious are always welcome to attend. For any time changes or additional committee meeting info, follow their Facebook page for updates.
A Course of Love study group
Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Center for Spiritual Life, Ham ilton Call: 406-381-6480
MS Support Group
Bitterroot MS Support Group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month in the Gallery room at the Coffee Cup Cafe in Hamilton, 500 S 1st Street, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Have a slice of pie, dinner, or just come to chat with others about living with Multiple Sclerosis. This is a positive and uplifting group that holds open discussions, and the occasional guest speaker. Find more information at www. nationalmssociety.org or contact Jackie Peterson, (970)518-293, jackierpeterson@gmail.com
Amateur Radio Club
The Amateur Radio Club
KG7SPL of the Corvallis American Legion Post #91 meets at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, at the Corvallis Firehall on the Woodside Cutoff Road. KG7SPL has a weekly radio net at 7 p.m. Wednesday, starting on 146.580 simplex and then on the club’s repeater located at 147.300 (DSC 703). Each month the club conducts amateur radio testing, a “Fox Hunt” and a HF exercise here in the Bitterroot Valley. Members participate in the ARRL Field Day in June and Winter Field in January. The club conducts Emergency Communications Training, as well as training in antenna construction and different amateur radio modes. Every year KG7SPL provides radio coverage for the Corvallis Memorial Day Parade, the Darby Dog Derby, Robert’s Run and other local events. The club has its own radio station and throughout the year holds “Get On The Air” radio nights. This is a very active club and if you have an interest in amateur radio or are already an operator you are encouraged to join. For more information, call club president Mike Nesbihal at 406552-8696.
Vet-to-Vet
Veterans looking for a laidback setting in which to visit with veterans from any period and any branch of service are in luck. Every Friday morning from 6 to 8 a.m., the VVA Chapter 938 sponsors a no-host breakfast at BJ’s Family Restaurant (back room). Come and mingle with those who know where you’re coming from.
Bitterroot Tango
Argentine tango lessons each Wednesday evening at 4039 US 93 N, Stevensville. Learn to dance the tango each Wednesday with beginner classes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., intermediate classes from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. followed by practice and social time to close. Classes are free. For more information about dance parties and guest teachers, find them on facebook at Bitterroot tango.
Call for nominations
The Florence Civic Club is accepting nominations until May 10th for its Community Service Award for 2025.
This award honors a local person for outstanding contribution of service to the Florence community. Their service may be through involvement in their community, church, nonprofit organization, the
run daily for Hand and Foot, bridge, ping pong, pinochle, bingo, line dancing classes. Proceeds go to support the center operation. Currently looking for volunteers to become members of the Board of Directors. Other volunteering positions available as well. Call Joesph Bruno, 406-375-5090, for more information.
NAMI family support group
A support group for families, friends, and caregivers affected by loved ones with a mental health condition is held every 2nd Monday of the month in Stevensville from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church community room (call Sue at 406-369-0406 or email namistevimt@gmail.com) and in Hamilton every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library (call Nicole at 406-241-8567 or email hamiltonnamifsg@yahoo.com. You are not alone!
Mindfulness Meditation & QiGong/Tai Chi
Free Mindfulness Meditation and QiGong/Tai Chi class meets Mondays from 10:30 to 12 noon in the downstairs meeting room of the Bitterroot Public Library in Hamilton. The class is designed for seniors and beginners but all are welcome. Meditation has been shown to be helpful in relieving stress, improving memory and can add to a general sense of well-being and happiness. Tai Chi with its gentle focused movements can help with balance, fitness and is traditionally integrated with meditation. For more information call 406-369-3482.
North Valley Library
Myth of the West in Film & Literature — Thurs, Aug 21 & Thurs, Aug 28 at 6:30pm “Go west, young man, and grow up with the country.” This bit of advice given over 150 years ago has become a catchphrase as familiar as John Wayne, the Lone Ranger, and Calamity Jane. This 2-part program explores the myth of the West, in all its complexities, and the how’s and why’s the “wild west” became an imaginary landscape in American culture. Like any cow puncher worth their salt, we’ll wind our way through the films, art, and texts of the mythic West. Attending both sessions is not required.
Hamilton School Board Governance Committee Meeting Thursday – September 4, 2025 12:00 p.m. – District Office Con-
Thursday – October 9, 2025
12:00 p.m. – District Office Conference Room
The Committee will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Regular Board Meeting Tuesday – October 14, 2025 6:30 p.m. – District Office –Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www. youtube.com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Men’s Club: Chess & Checkers
— Thurs, Aug 28 at 12pm
Gents, this one’s just for you. Make connections and conversation over a game of chess or checkers during this informal monthly get-together. All experience levels welcome. And if you’ve never played chess, come and learn! Gameboards provided or you may bring your own. Held at North Valley Public Library on the last Thursday of every month from 12-2pm. Please arrive at 12pm to be matched with a partner.
Victor Museum Ice Cream Social
The Victor Heritage Museum will be holding its Ice Cream Social on Sunday, August 31 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Come and enjoy the camaraderie; the OutWest Horse and Wagon rides around Victor, with Claudia and Carl; the Bitterroot Band playing in the Victor Park starting at 1 p.m., and of course, the ice cream and cookies. There is no charge - donations are welcomed. The event is held yearly as a thank you for the support from the local communities, for which the museum board is very grateful. The Museum is located in downtown Victor, 125 Blake Street, on the corner of Main Street and Blake Street. For more information contact the Museum at 406.642.3997, or Suzanne Tout, 406-381-8861; victormuseum@ cybernet1.com
Grief Support Group
Fourteen-week grief support group meets each Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon beginning Saturday, September 6 at Florence Carlton Community Church, 20075 Old Highway 93, Florence. Feel wel-
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Let the games begin…
Bitterroot Valley high school sports begin with a bang this weekend, as the high schools from Corvallis, Darby, Florence, Hamilton, Stevensville, and Victor start playing games. The following is a roadmap to the action.
Soccer
The boys and girls soccer teams from Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville are all in the Class A South conference with Frenchtown, Polson, and Loyola (girls only). All three schools have strong soccer traditions and are capable of making deep runs at the state tournament this year.
Corvallis hosts Bigfork on Friday, August 29. The boys play at 12 p.m. and the girls play at 2 p.m.
Corvallis hosts Billings Central on Saturday, August 30. The boys play at 10 a.m. and the girls play at 12 p.m.
Hamilton hosts Billings Central on Friday, August 29. The boys play at 2 p.m. and the girls play at 4 p.m.
Hamilton hosts Laurel on Friday, August 29. The boys play at 12 p.m. and the girls play at 2 p.m.
The Stevensville boys host Park County on Thursday, August 28 at 4 p.m.
Stevensville plays at East Helena on Friday, August 29. The boys play at 4 p.m. and the girls play at 6 p.m.
Stevensville hosts Polson on Tuesday, September 2. The girls play at 4 p.m. and the boys play at 6 p.m.
Volleyball
Victor volleyball is in the Class C Western Division in the 13C Conference alongside Alberton, Charlo, Drummond, Philipsburg, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Noxon, Seeley, St. Regis, Two Eagle River, and Valley Christian.
Victor volleyball starts their season on Thursday, September 4 at Valley Christian.
Darby is in the Class B Western Division in the 6B Conference along with Florence, Anaconda, Arlee, Loyola, and Deer Lodge.
Darby volleyball starts their season at the Drummond Invitational Tournament on Saturday, August 30.
Florence volleyball has high hopes for the 2025
season as they were the 2024 Class B State runner-up. Florence is in the Class B Western Division in the 6B Conference with Darby, Anaconda, Arlee, Loyola, and Deer Lodge.
Florence volleyball starts their season at the TipOff Tournament in Polson on Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30.
Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville are in the Class A Western Division in the Southwest Conference with Dillon, Frenchtown, and Butte Central. All three of the teams open their season at the TipOff Tournament in Polson on Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30.
Cross Country
The boys and girls cross country teams from Corvallis, Stevensville, and Hamilton begin their seasons at the Canal Run in Ronan on Friday,
August 29.
The Florence cross country teams are in Libby for the aptly named Libby Invitational on Friday, August 29. The Darby and Victor teams start the season at the Flathead Invite on September 5.
Golf
The boys and girls golf teams from Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville are already in full swing and have played multiple tournaments up to this point. Corvallis and Hamilton play next at Whitefish on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Stevensville plays next at Dillon on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Flag Football
The Hamilton girls flag football team is in their second season. They play at the Kalispell Jamboree on Saturday, August 30.
Corvallis golfer Powell shoots 60
Corvallis’s senior golfer Brady Powell had a round for the ages on Tuesday, August 19 at the Canyon River Golf Club in Missoula in a duel meet with Polson. Powell shot a course record 60 to have a 12 under par round that included three eagles and seven birdies - Powell was 8 under on the Par-5s alone for the day.
Powell followed this up by shooting a 7 under 65 to win the Ronan Invite on Thursday, August 21. Powell out-gunned 2024 Class A state champion Max Milton
of Polson in both of these events, beating him by eight strokes at Canyon River and two strokes in Ronan. As the 2025 golf season gets underway, Powell looks to be the golfer to beat in Class A. Powell took 8th at state as a junior in 2024, 2nd as a sophomore in 2023, and 9th as a freshman in 2022.
Corvallis golfer Brady Powell (middle) shot a 12 under round of 60 at the Canyon River Golf Club in Missoula on Tuesday, August 19.
Photo by Kristy Schlimgen.
The Hamilton, Stevensville and Corvallis boys and girls soccer teams start their season this weekend - all three teams host games (see story for times). Photo by Scott Sacry.
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Bitterroot Football Preview
Darby
The Darby football team looks strong heading into the 2025 season as they return most of their playmakers from last year. The Tigers had a solid 2024 season, going 4-4, and hope to improve this year.
Darby plays 8-man football, where they are in the West Conference with Arlee, Charlo, Plains, St. Ignatius, Seeley-Swan, St. Regis, Superior, Troy, and Victor.
Darby head coach John Steiner is excited about his team this year. “The team looks very good,” said Steiner. “We’ve had a consistent off season weight lifting program and all of the guys are a year older so that makes a huge difference. We didn’t lose much from last year’s team, I have about 25 kids out and we have a lot of depth. So I have very high expectations this year.”
The Tigers return a lot of weapons
state, as they won the Class A State title in 2021 and are generally in the mix at the end of the year. Last year was an off year for the Broncs as they finished with a record of 2-6.
Don’t expect Hamilton to stay down too long. They have an experienced coaching staff led by head coach Bryce Caver and they return an experienced group of young play makers, including senior Jackson Lubke, who was named All-State and first team All-Conference at WR. Hamilton has a deep roster of players looking to make their mark this season.
Hamilton is in the Class A Southwest Conference with Corvallis, Dillon, Butte Central, Frenchtown, and Stevensville. The Broncs open the season at Ronan on Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m.
Stevensville
Stevensville was 0-9 on the season last year, but the ‘Jackets new head coach Jack Villa hopes to improve on that record this season. The ‘Jackets return a core group of young athletes, including junior Shan Madula, who was honorable mention All-Conference
Stevensville is in the Class A Southwest Conference with Hamilton, Dillon, Butte Central, Frenchtown, and CorvalStevensville opens the season against the Hardin Bulldogs in Hardin on Fri-
The Victor football team went 1-7 last year. Head coach Zach Schurman has a solid group of kids to work with and hopes to get some more wins this Victor plays 8-man football, and is in the Class C West Conference with Arlee, Charlo, Plains, St. Ignatius, Seeley-Swan, St Regis, Superior, Troy, and Darby. The Pirates open their season at Troy on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.
Melissa Huss
Al Brown
Our dear friend, Al Brown, passed into the arms of his Savior on August 2, 2025.
Alfred T. Brown was born on December 10, 1930, in the Bronx, New York. His roots were Irish Catholic and if you ever noted Al’s distinctive accent and asked where he was from, he would say, with a twinkle in his eye, “the Bronx.” His father was a New York City policeman and his mother was a milliner. His older sisters were Adrienne and Joan, and his brother, Jack, was six years younger than Al.
At age 10, his family moved to Rye, New York, located on Long Island Sound. Al had fond memories of swimming out to a floating, wooden dock, anchored off shore, where all the boys his age hung out. His first job was in an old-fashioned, neighborhood grocery store where goods were displayed on ceiling-high shelves behind the counter. Customers would hand Al a list of the items they wanted to buy, and he would retrieve those groceries by climbing up and down a rolling ladder to reach the merchandise and place it in a box.
When he was 20, Al joined St. Joseph’s Abbey, a Trappist (Cistercian) monastery in Spencer, Massachusetts, as a Catholic brother. Al’s brother, Jack, eventually also joined as a monk. Al joined because he wanted an active, outdoor life participating in growing food for the monastery. He labored in the fields and dairy, and was restricted to a vegetarian diet (which he admitted later in life was not to his liking). St. Joseph’s was a silent order and Al learned the complex sign language that members used to communicate between themselves.
He was not there long before he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a condition which he came to believe both he and his father had suffered from for a number of years. He spent two years in a sanatorium regaining his health.
Upon his return to the Abbey, he worked in the monastery’s Holy Rood Guild as a tailor sewing vest-
Ronald Erickson
Ronald Eridkson, 80, born in Baker, Idaho on March 18, 1945 to John Gordon Erickson and Catherine Maxine, passed away July 29th, 2025. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Erickson; children Brian Erickson and Sandy Kisor; son Jamey and daughter Heather McCabe, also daughter Dawn Moran and son John Moran, grandchildren Chase
Death Notices
Valeda Beryl Siek
Hamilton - Valeda Beryl Siek, 68, of Hamilton passed away at her home on Saturday, August 16, 2025. No formal services will be held. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Kennard Sieben
ments and monastic garments. He rose daily at 2:00 a.m. for matins, and lived a simple life of devotion and work for 25 years. Al explained that the Abbey disbanded the order of brothers in the 1970s and, at that point, he opted not to stay.
Al met and married musician Shirley Myers in 1976. They moved to California’s high desert east of San Diego, and lived in the communities of Miller Valley and Pine Valley. There, Al worked as a roofer, a carpenter, a handyman and did fire-hazard reduction for local landowners. It is noted that when Al became a handyman, he had a ton of people, including widows, calling him to work for them.
In 1990, Al and Shirley moved to Hamilton, Montana, buying a log home on 20 acres on the west side of the valley. Al continued to pursue a varied line of work. He was employed sewing in a factory
and Mia Moran, Katie, Eddie, Evan, James and Nyla; and great-granchildren Larry and Emmet.
Ronald worked as a mechanic for Waste Connections Inc. His inspiration was remembering happy times. His hobbies included building his plane and restoring his Buick Electra car.
A service will be held at a later date in Shelton, Washington.
Missoula - Kennard Sieben, 93, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family Friday, August 22, 2025. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary. com
Mary Millin
Hamilton - Mary Millin, 78, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family in the morning of Saturday, August 23, 2025. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary.com
making goose down winter jackets. He was a cabinet maker, a chimney sweep, a roofer and a handyman. Al and Shirley eventually divorced, and Al stayed on in the Bitterroot Valley, perfectly content in his wood-heated log home.
Al’s daily life was his personal ministry in action — devoted to being of service to people. He was always on the go, committed to Christ’s message of helping others. He volunteered regularly at Haven House food bank and at the SAFE thrift store.
He was well-known in the area as the “great recycler,” finding new “homes” for people’s unwanted furniture, books, and household goods; taking mountains of cardboard to the recycling center; collecting wood scraps to use in his stoves; and transporting discarded produce to neighbors to use as animal feed.
Al remained very physically active into his late 80s, and was tickled that people thought that he looked like “an old 65.” He had a well-equipped, wood-working shop where he crafted furniture and helped friends with a multitude of repairs. He was one of those guys who decided not to learn to use a computer, because he would rather read from his large stack of magazines and newspapers he subscribed to. He wrapped Christmas gifts in Peanuts cartoons from the newspapers.
Al had many friends throughout Western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley and points beyond. Al will be remembered for his cheerful hospitality at his log home among the pines, along Tamarack Creek. He had a great sense of humor and always had time to converse with neighbors and friends who dropped in for a visit. Al was an easy-going, thoughtful and decent man.
We will all miss Al!
A Celebration of Life for Al will be held September 20, 2025, from 2:00–5:00 p.m., upstairs at the Bitterroot Brewery in Hamilton, Montana.
Jim Dullenty
Jim Dullenty, one of the state’s leading journalists and a nationally known historian, was born Feb. 28, 1941, in Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton. His parents, Fred Allen Dullenty and Sheila Marion Grant Dullenty, were dairy farmers on a farm/ranch located seven miles southwest of Victor in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains.
About 1950, Jim’s father bought an adjoining farm and expanded his operations to include beef cattle. He continued as a dairy farmer and was proud of his herd of registered guernseys. Jim’s father died in 1957 from a heart attack. His mother, sister June, and he, moved to Havre where his mother attended Northern Montana College and in 1959 earned a teaching certificate.
Jim was a 1959 graduate of Havre High School where he excelled in journalism, history and theatrical pursuits. He was editor of the Havre High School newspaper, he received the Charles Palmer Davis award in history, among other awards, and the play he starred in won first in the state at Interscholastics in Missoula in 1959. He was inducted into the National Honor Society and was selected to attend Boy’s State in Dillon where he was editor of the Boy’s State newspaper.
In the fall of 1959, he entered the University of Montana School of Journalism and became associate editor of the Montana Kaimin, the student newspaper. He also was selected for Bear Paws honorary, was initiated into Sigma Delta Chi, a journalism fraternity, and received other awards. He graduated in 1963 and immediately went to work for the Williston (ND) Herald.
In 1965, Jim helped start a Missoula weekly newspaper, the Hellgate Herald. It was while serving as editor of that paper that Jim interviewed Richard Nixon in Billings. Nixon was campaigning for other Republicans at the time. Later, when President Nixon opened the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, Jim interviewed Nixon again. So although he interviewed only one presidenthe interviewed him twice!
When that Missoula weekly did not work out, he entered the graduate school in history at the University of Montana and took his final seminar under Dr. K. Ross Toole. In 1967, he was hired by the Spokane Daily Chronicle, a newspaper of 63,000 circulation. For the next eight and a half years he was the military reporter for that paper as well as the writer of a weekly nightlife column called “On the Town.”
During those years he interviewed scores of celebrities from Jack Benny to Bing Crosby to Charles Bronson. He got to know Rory Calhoun and Agnes Moorehead because of their mutual interest in politics. But his closest relationship to a “movie star” was to Martin Kove. Kove was in many films including a Rambo movie with Sylvester Stallone. For two summers, Kove was featured at western history conventions that Jim organized.
Jim also was among a handful of reporters invited to greet America’s returning Vietnam War prisoners of war. The Chronicle sent him to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., for that.
Also unusual, the Chronicle copyrighted a series of stories Jim did on outlaw Butch Cassidy. From 1972 until shortly before his death, Jim was involved in researching and writing western history with an emphasis on outlaws of the Old West. Butch Cassidy was his primary interest, but his biography of outlaw Harry Tracy was published as was a booklet he wrote on Wyatt Earp.
In 1975, Jim left the Chronicle and drove to New York City where he hoped to become, as he said, “the Hemingway of western writers.” He did not attain that goal although he did use the six months he lived in New York to write a considerable number of magazine articles dealing with western history. While he was in New York and could have used the money, none of these sold. In the next year or two all of his stories sold to magazines or newspapers.
After a few months of unemployment, Jim was hired by the Tri-City Herald newspaper in Pasco, Richland and Kennewick, Wash. He was the energy writer for that paper and nearly every weekend he spent on the West Coast attending meetings of agencies and businesses who had activities going on at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland.
While at the Tri-City Herald, Jim was selected by the Associated Press as one of three Washington state journalists to go to Washington D.C., and spend a week investigating why the state of Washington had the three most powerful political figures in Congress, Senators Warren G. Magnuson and Henry Jackson, and Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley. Jim was assigned to do a story on Foley.
Also while at the Tri-City Herald, Jim’s testimony at a trial in Seattle put two of Washington state’s most powerful politicians in prison for 10 years.
It was while at the Herald that Jim was offered the editorship of the nation’s three most popular and influential western history magazines, True West, Frontier Times and Old West. The magazines were produced by a firm in Iola, Wis., so Jim moved there. But by the mid1980s, Jim wanted to be his own boss. So he resigned as editor of the magazines and opened a book store and antique shop in Hamilton.
He did this for the next 17 years during which he did much traveling, most of it in search of rare books. He made four trips to Europe, one trip through the Caribbean and repeatedly flew to New York, Denver, Phoenix, and elsewhere. When he closed his store in 2003, he had acquired more than 1,600 books and a huge assortment of antiques.
By 2003, Jim’s mother, a retired teacher at Fort Benton, was ailing and he needed to be closer to her. Also, his sister, June, was a teacher at Grass Range. When a job became available at the News-Argus newspaper in Lewistown, about half way between Fort Benton and Grass Range, he took it.
Jim began writing when he was 15 (in 1956) and a student at Victor High School. He still had copies of two stories he wrote that first year. Although he retired
from the News-Argus at the end of 2009, he continued to write feature stories for that paper. When he left Lewistown in May 2018, and returned to Hamilton, Jim had been a writer for print for 62 years, longer than anyone else in Montana at that time.
Because of his long and successful journalism career, the Montana Newspaper Association, in July 2017, awarded Jim its highest honor for a journalist, the President’s Award, saying it was given to him for his “excellence in journalism.”
In the history field, Jim was equally involved. In 1974, he was co-founder of the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History. Then in 1991, he founded the Western Outlaw and Lawman History Association. In recent years the two organizations merged and the resulting group is known as the Wild West History Association.
Jim’s expertise in Cassidy history resulted in the University of Nebraska inviting him to write a new introduction to James D. Horan’s popular Cassidy history “Desperate Men.”
In the 1990s, he appeared on at least 10 national television shows as a western historian beginning with “Unsolved Mysteries,” with Robert Stack on NBC-TV. He also appeared in shows on A&E, Biography, Lifetime and other channels. Some of those programs are still being re-run on cable channels.
In April 2018, Jim donated his entire collection of western history research materials, including rare photos and published items, to the Museum of Northwest Colorado at Craig, CO. Although not much happened in Craig itself, the town is located about at the center of the outlaw activity Jim wrote about.
Jim’s mother died in 2008. He is survived by his sister, June, at Libby, a niece, Jessamyn Lair, Prineville, Ore., a nephew, James Watt, in Virginia, four great-nephews and nieces, and several cousins.
There will be no funeral and the remains will be interred in the Victor cemetery where his parents are buried.
• The original 40 acres for the fairgrounds was purchased by Ravalli County in 1913, for the sum of $9,750, the grounds now total almost 67 acres.
• Marcus Daly hosted the first Ravalli County Fair in Hamilton in 1894.
• The Fairgrounds has an open gate policy and is a peaceful place to bring the family to enjoy the outdoors.
Dulfersitz and other radical advice
Outdoor advice is a dime-a-dozen these days, and a lot of it is no good. I was reading an article recently on a coping knife. These knives are meant to be sturdy, and have the unusual silhouette of a flat point. These are also called “rescue knives,” and get their name from their popularity with search and rescue crews. The idea being that the lack of a sharp point makes them safer to chop with around a survivor.
I’m not sure how practical that really is, but there are a lot of other benefits a user gets in the trade-off from a pointed knife to a flat point knife. One of particular note is the use in prying.
by John Dowd
All this is to say, that article I read was written by a U.S. Navy Seal. I’m patriotic, and I think Seals are awesome, but their service (unlike what many of them would like people to believe) does not make them experts. Case-in-point, the article stated this particular knife he was reviewing was a “full-tang.” It most certainly was not. There are a lot of people who hear a cool term, and use it as slang, without having any inkling of the true meaning of the word. When it comes to a review, especially regarding knife design, it is important to use proper terminology.
I am not a stickler for a lot of things, and I’m sure most English teachers would have something to say about my grammar, but when something is misleading about something where lives are on the line, to me that is different. A full-tang knife is a knife constructed with the steel construction running the full length of the handle (inside the handle, rather) and the full width of the handle. This is often given away by the ability to see the steel around the perimeter of the handle. These are built with two halves of the handle material sandwiched together around the tang, like an Oreo.
There is a vast difference in strength between a full tang knife, and a stick tang, as was the case with this particular coping knife. The less metal in the handle, the less strength the knife will have under shearing forces, such as prying. That’s important when the knife may be needed to pry up a log to get straps under it to rescue a person trapped underneath.
Another example is the Dulfersitz rappelling method. I loath this technique. Not in the sense that it is a poor technique. I hate that it is often the go-to rappelling lesson for basic survival courses. There are bet-
ter and safer ways to rappel, especially for a beginner. The assumption is made that it is simple, and when a person has no equipment, it is the only way.
It is not the only way, and there are a lot of tricks out there to make a harness from the rope and utilize the rope as the friction device. These other methods may be a little more complicated, and come with a bit less of a cool factor, but they are far safe. And, let’s be honest, if a person really needs to rappel down a face, or off a building, they should probably have a bit more technical experience than “that one technique I learned one time from a guy somewhere.”
The Dulfersitz is not only sketchy, but physically painful. It utilizes the human body as the friction device, slowing descent. There are several methods to descend using the body as friction, including an “Aussie-style” method which utilizes two strands of rope separately under each leg. The true Dulfersitz puts both strands together, and snakes them around the shoulder, body and one leg. Both of these methods also require a significant level of athleticism to make work as well. Someone out of shape will easily roll right out of the rope without some decent forearm muscle.
This technique is commonly taught in survival manuals, and was the go-to rappelling technique for mountaineers a hundred years ago. Maybe for athletes, climbers, and for Hans Dülfer himself, this is a great technique, but for most people there are better and safer ways. I am not a detail oriented person, but when it comes to life-saving techniques, I am exacting. This is especially true when I am teaching someone who doesn’t know any better. I have worked with, and known personally, many outdoor/adventure educators that have all the certifications in the world regarding their field, and still manage to get people killed, or teach sketchy advice. Education never trumps experience, and my best teachers were always those who learned through doing things. In my experience, I found I only really understood a thing once I tried
it and found my own way to do it.
On the other side of that coin, activities should never be held behind doors by gatekeepers. I firmly believe outdoor educators should work to create more gateways to adventure, instead of hyping activities up and relegating them as, “only for the experts.” It is important for beginners to understand the difference between someone who is an expert and someone who professes to be an expert. Sometimes, that is hard to know, as certifications and “service” don’t always translate to expertise.
x
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Hans Dulfersitz utalizing the technique named after him, though there is some argument that he was not the one who actually invented it. Public domain photo.
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FRESH EGGS from Howell’s Happy Hens are back! $5.00/doz. Pick up at Bitterroot Star office, 115 W. 3rd, Suite 108, Stevensville.
PLUMS, GRAPES, APPLES. Organically grown. Hand Picked. A dollar a Pound. (406) 369-3212, Hamilton.
RUMMAGE SALE / GARDEN ART SALE - Sat & Sun, Aug. 30 & 31, 5756 Eastside Hwy, Stevensville (1 mi N of 3 Mile Fire Station).
MONTH TO MONTH RENTAL, furnished apartment on 10 acres with private small yard, gorgeous views in the Stevensville area, $1450/month includes utilities, call for details, available mid August, (818) 921-5275.
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FOR RENT: 1 BDRM APT. fully furnished, utilities/trash paid. Rural Stevensville, very quiet neighborhood. $1500 per month, on a month to month contract. Deposits required: Security $400, Cleaning $300. 406-5501289/208-827-3101.
RENTAL NEEDED
Bitterroot ranch hand seeks room or apartment near Stevensville, beginning in September.. Part time help possible. Call Thomas at (406) 493-4589.
FREE BOOKS! Ger-
man books for free! Dutch books for free! Deutsche Buecher abzugeben! Nederlandse boeken af te geven! Several used books (German and Dutch) will be given away for free: Religion(s), Religion-Science, Spiritual Psychology, New Spirituality, Astro-Physica, Quantum-Theory. Please text (406) 218-6268.
Legal Notices
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Micalann Campbell, Micalann Campbell, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-41-20250000264-NC Dept. 2
Jennifer B. Lint
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Micalann Rose Campbell to Micalann Rose McCrea.
The hearing will be on September 11, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 29th day of July, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-13, 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
John D. Greef Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840
406-360-8117
Attorney for Petitioner
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST
JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME CHANGE OF: Alivia Marie Gates, Jorden Lynn Lawyer, Petitioner, on behalf of Alivia Marie Gates Case No. DV-41-20250000241-NM
Department No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN the Petitioner has asked the Court to change a child’s name from Alivia Marie Gates to Alivia Marie Lawyer. A hearing will be held on the Petition for Name Change on the 24th of September 2025, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard in the courtroom of the above court at which time all interested persons may appear and object.
Dated this 6th day of August, 2025.
/S/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine Di Gleria
Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-13, 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
John D. Greef Attorney at Law P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840 406-360-8117
Attorney for Petitioner MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE NAME
CHANGE OF: Alayna Lynn Gates, Jorden Lynn Lawyer, Petitioner, on behalf of Alayna Lynn Gates Case No. DV-41-20250000242-NM
Department No.: 2 NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN the Petitioner has asked the Court to change a child’s name from Alayna Lynn Gates to Alayna Lynn Lawyer. A hearing will be held on the Petition for Name Change on the 24th of September 2025, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard in the courtroom of the above court at which time all interested persons may appear and object.
Dated this 6th day of August, 2025. /S/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine Di Gleria Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-13, 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25. MNAXLP
RAVALLI COUNTY
ATTORNEY
Bill Fulbright, County Attorney Ravalli County Courthouse 205 Bedford Street, Suite C Hamilton, MT 59840 rcaoservice@rc.mt.gov
Phone: (406) 375-6750 Ravalli County Public Administrator MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: DONALD WAYNE JOHNSTON, Deceased. Cause No. DP-25-89
Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Ravalli County Public Administrator, 205 Bedford Street, Suite C, Hamilton, MT 59840, return receipt requested, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.
DATED: August 4, 2025 /s/ Kiki Smethers for Bill Fulbright, Ravalli County Attorney BS 8-13, 8-20, 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR SHERIFF’S RETIREMENT PERMISSIVE LEVY
The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 04, 2025 at 1:30 PM in the Commissioners’ Conference Room (3rd floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT. The purpose of this public hearing is to take public comment and pass a Resolution regarding the proposed Sheriff’s Retirement Permissive Levy for Fiscal Year 2026.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Commissioner’s office at 375-6500.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PERMISSIVE MEDICAL LEVY
The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 04, 2025 at 2:15 PM in the Commissioners’ Conference Room (3rd floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT. The purpose of this public hearing is to take public comment and pass a Resolution regarding the proposed Permissive Medical Levy for health care premiums for Fiscal Year 2026.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Commissioner’s office at 375-6500.
The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 04, 2025 at 1:45 PM in the Commissioners’ Conference Room (3rd floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT. The purpose of this public hearing is to take public comment and pass a Resolution regarding the proposed Lighting Districts for Fiscal Year 2026.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Commissioner’s office at
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES
The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 04, 2025 at 2:00 PM in the Commissioners’ Conference Room (3rd floor) at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT. The purpose of this public hearing is to take public comment and pass a Resolution regarding the proposed Elected Officials Salaries for Fiscal Year 2026.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Commissioner’s office at 375-6500.
The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 04, 2025, at 1:30 PM in the Ravalli County Administrative Building, 215 S. 4th Street (3rd floor – Commissioner’s Conference Room), Hamilton, Montana, for the purpose of taking public comment and reviewing the Final Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. The public hearing may be continued to Friday, September 05, 2025, at 9:30 AM.
The proposed final annual operating budget for FY 2026 is on file and open for inspection at the Ravalli County Commissioners’ Office located at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite A (3rd floor), Hamilton, Montana. The final FY 2026 budget will be approved and adopted by Resolution on either Thursday, September 04, 2025 or Friday, September 05, 2025, if second day is required.
If you have any questions, please contact the Commissioner’s Office at 375-6500, e-mail at commissioners@rc.mt.gov or at the above address.
Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 8-20, 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Darby Planning Board will hold a public hearing Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 6:00 P.M., at Darby Town Hall, 101 East Tanner Avenue to hear comments both written and oral regarding “ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT REGULATIONS”. For more information contact Darby Town Hall (406) 821-3753.
BS 8-20, 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
Let it be known to the general public that Reimel Loop Rd., Sula, MT, is once again open, by COURT ORDER, as of August 6, 2025. A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUED BY HON. JUDGE HOWARD F. RECHT, ordering the immediate removal of any and all obstructions placed by RODNEY RUMMEL & TOM ROUND.
BS 8-20, 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-285 Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD This is notice that
Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade to Jasiel Reine-Kamil Dever. The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025,at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025.. /s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court By: Sarah Sargent Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jayden Reese-King Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-284 Dept. No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jayden Reese-King Wade to Jayden Reese-King Dever. The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025, at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025.. /S/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
Wlliam J. Nelson, Esq. Nelson Law Office PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J
Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3633181
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF: DAVID GEORGE SUMIDA, Deceased. Cause No. DP-41-202541 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Grace E. Shewmake, return receipt requested, c/o Nelson Law Office PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED 12th day of August 2025. /s/ William J Nelson Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Angeline Maria Sumida Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
John D. Greef
Attorney at law
P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 360-8117
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Scott Kaminski, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-20250000093-11
Department No. 2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Heidi Kamins-
ki 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Heidi Kaminski, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in c/o John D. Greef, P.O. Box 1926, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.
DATED this 12th day of August, 2025.
s/John D. Greef, Attorney for Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25. MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE HAMILTON ZONING COMMISSION AND HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL
Zoning Request 202502 & Annexation Request 2025-02-A request by Chris and Kalyn Halamandaris, to annex a tract of land that is currently unzoned and to establish a zoning designation of Single Family Residential District (RS). The property is approximately 1.65 Acres, and addressed as 504 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hamilton, MT. The property is identified by Ravalli County Tax ID # 644200 and Geocode 131467-24-1-01-16-0000, and is legally described as:
A tract of land located in the SW1/4 SE1/4 of Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 21 West, P.M.M., Ravalli County, Montana described as follows: Beginning on the north line of Pennsylvania Avenue and the West line of Erie Avenue, as shown on the plat of Calumet Addition, Ravalli County, Montana, and thence from the said point of beginning S.85°40’ West along the North line of Pennsylvania Avenue 222 Feet; thence N.04°20’ West 326 feet; thence N.85°40’ East 222 feet, to the westerly line of Erie Avenue; thence S.04°20’ East along Erie Avenue 326 feet, to the point of beginning.
Deed Reference: Document No. 616780
The above described property is also shown as Lot A on Certificate of Survey No. 804371-TR.
The purpose of these public hearings is to consider the proposed zone map amendment request and petition for annexation.
The Hamilton Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to take public comment and consider a recommendation on the zone map amendment request on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM on the 2nd floor of Hamilton City Hall, 223 South 2nd Street, Hamilton, MT.
The Hamilton City Council will hold public hearings to take public comment and make a decision on the zone map amendment request and the annexation petition on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM, and Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM, during its regular meetings on the 2nd floor of Hamilton City Hall, 223 South 2nd Street, Hamilton, MT.
The public may attend and make comment in person, or on the Internet / by phone through Zoom. Instructions are available on the City of Hamilton website www.cityofhamilton.net, or by contacting aenglish@ cityofhamilton.net or cityclerk@cityofhamilton.net.
Comments prior to the Zoning Commission meeting may be submitted to the Planning Department at aenglish@cityofhamilton. net. Comments after the Zoning Commission meet-
ing may be submitted to the City Clerk at cityclerk@ cityofhamilton.net. Comments for the Planning Department or City Clerk may also be mailed or delivered in person to 223 South 2nd Street, Hamilton, MT 59840. Related materials will be made available on the City of Hamilton website prior to the meetings, and can be obtained by contacting the Planning Department at (406) 363-2101 or aenglish@cityofhamilton. net.
BS 8-20, 8-27-25. MNAXLP
Daniel Browder, Esq. Browder Law, PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840 Telephone: (406) 3613677 Facsimile: (406) 3612999 browderlawmont@gmail. com
Email:
Attorney for Megan Pfau
MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LEONARD M. PFAU, Deceased. Cause No. DP-2025-92 Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Megan Pfau has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Megan Pfau, return receipt requested, c/o: Browder Law, PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 8th day of August, 2025. BROWDER LAW, PLLC /s/ Daniel Browder Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Megan Pfau, Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25. MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Name Change of Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-285 Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade to Jasiel Reine-Kamil Dever. The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025,at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County. Dated this 12th day of August, 2025.. /S/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court By: Sarah Sargent Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25. MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Name Change of Jayden Reese-King Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-284 Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jayden Reese-King Wade to Jayden Reese-King Dever. The hearing will be on
the 24th of September
2025, at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025.. /s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25. MNAXLP
Wlliam J. Nelson, Esq. Nelson Law Office PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3633181
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF: SONJA DARLENE BOSWORTH, Deceased.
Cause No. DP-41-2024136 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Barbara D. Mackenstadt, return receipt requested, c/o Nelson Law Office PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED 14th day of August 2025. /s/ William J Nelson Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Barbara D. Mackenstadt
Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25. MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
Calf Creek Subdivision, (4-Lot Minor Subdivision); Subdivision Case # 202407, Tax ID: 55210. The proposal is a 4-lot minor subdivision on 84.2 acres and is located on Tract A of CS#719009-CT in the NW¼ of Section 18, Township 6 North, Range 19 West, P.M.M., Ravalli County,
Montana. The applicants are Robert, James and Stephen Foley and they are represented by WGM Group Inc. The subdivision has two proposed access points both off Hamilton Heights Road (County Maintained). The subdivision property is located within the Corvallis School and Rural Fire Districts. The proposed lots will be served by private wells and septic systems. Information describing the proposal is available for inspection at the Planning Department, in the County Administrative Center, 215 S. 4th St., Suite F, Hamilton, MT 59840. A copy of the preliminary plat is available on our website at https:// ravalli.us/178/Subdivisions-Exemptions. Written comments are encouraged to be submitted to the Planning Department prior to the below hearing, and will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The BCC will hold a Public Hearing on the proposal on September 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m., in the County Administrative Center (BCC Conference Room, 3rd Floor). The BCC will also accept verbal or written comments from the public during the hearing. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the BCC may make a final decision on the subdivision proposal. BS 8-20, 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
Kevin S. Jones
Joseph D. Houston
Remy J. Orrantia Jones & Houston, PLLC 2625 Dearborn Ave., Ste. 102 Missoula, MT 59804 (406) 541-3333 kevin@ jonesmtlaw.com joe@jonesmtlaw.com
Attorneys for Personal Representative Michael A. Spranger MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE: THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JACQUELYN A. SPRANGER, Deceased.
Dept. No. Cause No. DP-41-202590 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Michael A. Spranger has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate.
All persons having claims against the Deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice, or their claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Jones & Houston, PLLC, Attorneys for the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at 2625 Dearborn Avenue, Ste. 102, Missoula, MT 59804, or filed 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 14th day of August, 2025. /s/ Michael A. Spranger, Personal Representative of the Estate of Jacquelyn A. Spranger /s/ Kevin S. Jones, Attorney for Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
John S. Masar LionWood Law PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870 (406) 625-2682 jmasar@lionwoodlaw. com
Attorney for Personal Representative
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: TIMOTHY T. GUINARD, a/k/a TIMOTHY TODD GUINARD, Deceased.
Probate No.: DP--25- 95
Dept.: 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to HELEN J. GUINARD, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o LionWood Law PLLC, 115 W. 3rd Street, Suite 103, Stevensville, Montana 59870, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 15the day of August, 2025. /s/ Helen J. Guinard, 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 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC HEARING-RAVALLI COUNTY FEE INCREASE FOR: RAVALLI COUNTY AIRPORT LANDING FEES
The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 11:30 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Center at 215 S.4th Street, Third Floor Commissioners Conference Room, Hamilton, Montana. The purpose for this public hearing is to take public comment and make a decision, via Resolution, to amend the landing fees / landing weights for the Ravalli County Airport.
If you would like more information contact the Commissioner’s Office at 406-375-6500. 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
Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
AUDIT PUBLICATION STATEMENT
An audit of the affairs of the Town of Stevensville, Stevensville, MT. has been conducted by Denning, Downey & Associates, CPA’s, P.C. The audit covered fiscal year July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024. Section 2-7-521, MCA, requires that this publication concerning the audit report
include a statement that the audit report is on file in its entirety and open to public inspection at 206 Buck Street, Town Hall, and that the Town of Stevensville will send a copy of the audit report to any interested person upon request.
Sincerely, Bob Michalson, Mayor Attest, Jenelle Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 8-27-25.
MNAXLP
AUDIT PUBLICATION
STATEMENT
The fiscal year 2024 audit of Ravalli County has been conducted by Doyle & Associates, P.C. Certified Public Accountants. The audit covered the year ended June 30, 2024.
Montana Code Annotated (MCA) Section 2-7-521 requires the publication of the following summary of Significant Audit Findings. This is only a summary and is not intended to be used as an audit report.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS
The audit report for Ravalli County, Montana, for the year ended June 30, 2024 contained the following independent auditor’s reports:
1. The independent
auditor’s report on the County’s basic financial statements was unmodified.
2. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards was unmodified.
3. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s internal control over financial reporting and on compliance and other matters reported one finding.
4. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s compliance with major programs was unmodified.
PUBLIC INSPECTION OF AUDIT REPORT
The audit report is on file in its entirety and open to public inspection at Ravalli County’s business office located at 215 S 4th Street Suite B, Hamilton, MT 59840. The County’s management will send a copy of the audit report to any interested person upon request. BS 8-27-25. MNAXLP
