Multi-award-winning Montana author Marty Essen has just published his eighth and most mass appeal book to-date, “The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles.”
To celebrate, he will be doing a reading and book signing at Fact & Fiction in Missoula, and a book signing at Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton.
Dates and times: Fact & Fiction, Missoula, Thursday, February 13, at 7:00 p.m.; Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, Saturday, February 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
“The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles represents a switch in genres for me,” says Essen. “Although I enjoyed writing nonfction adventure travel books and irreverent science fction novels, I wanted to write a mass-appeal hit that still touched on important social issues… While The Silver Squad is totally original, my inspirations for writing it included a dollop of Harold and Maude, a pinch of Dexter, a sprinkle of Thelma & Louise, a dash of Bonnie and Clyde, a quiver of Robin Hood, and a curmudgeon of A Man Called Ove. Without a doubt, it’s the best book I’ve written to date.”
The plot:
The Bold, the Brave, and the Wrinkled: Retirement Just Got Rowdy! Barry and Beth, high school sweethearts separated by time and circumstance, fnd themselves reunited at the Blue Loon Village senior living center in Minneapolis. Now both 70, they rekindle their relationship only to discover how diferently time has shaped them. Beth has blossomed into a free spirit with a goth fair, while Barry has transformed into the curmudgeon he swore in
his youth he’d never become.
Despite their diferences, neither senior is content to settle into a quiet life at the Blue Loon Village. As they reminisce about their unfulflled teenage dream of changing the world, Beth convinces Barry that it’s never too late to make a diference. In fact, their age provides them with an advantage—the minimal consequences they’d face if caught doing something illegal. Inspired by their past and emboldened by their age, they set of on a daring road trip across America as Silver Squad vigilantes with nothing to lose.
Soon joined by Jenny—a woman in her forties on the run from her abusive cop- husband—the Silver Squad’s humorous, sometimes perilous escapades include robbing the prosperous to feed the homeless, rescuing drowning kittens, challenging unethical alligator hunters, and confronting a mass shooter with only a can of Spam.
And sometimes, when a woman tires of running, she turns around and fghts. As Jenny’s fear turns into courage, she vows to seize control—and give her husband the surprise of a lifetime.
“The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles” is a comedic novel that celebrates living life to the fullest while tackling the serious issues of spousal abuse, animal cruelty, mass shootings, and homelessness.
National reviews:
“A smart, funny tale of a Good Samaritan crime spree.”—Kirkus Reviews (Recommended)
“[A] sparkling road-trip comedy of retiree crimefghters taking the U.S. by storm.”— BookLife by Publisher’s Weekly (Editor’s Pick)
“An original and fun read (think senior citizen versions of Thelma & Louise) from start to fnish, The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles by author Marty Essen is a deftly crafted and extraordinary story that is will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in inherently fascinating novels that imaginatively blend later-in-life romances with elements of an action/adventure.”—Midwest Book Review
“The Silver Squad: Rebels with Wrinkles is an inspiring and delightful read that reminds us it’s never too late to make a diference—or to fnd love and adventure. It’s a perfect pick for readers looking for a mix of humor, action, and heartfelt moments, with a cast of characters who prove that age is just a number.—Bookshelf
Marty Essen began writing professionally in the
1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His frst book, “Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents,” won six awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a “Top Ten Green Book.” His second book, “Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico,” won four awards. His novels, “Time Is Irreverent,” “Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again!” “Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds,” and “Doctor Refurb” have all become Amazon #1 Best-Sellers in at least one category. “Doctor Refurb” was a Booklife by Publishers Weekly Editor’s Pick and a Top-5 Finalist in the Shelf Unbound 2022 Best Indie Book contest.
Marty is also a popular college speaker. Over the past 17 years, he has captivated audiences with the stage-show version of “Cool Creatures, Hot Planet,” performing it on hundreds of campuses in 45 states. For more information, email Marty@MartyEssen.com or call (406) 642-3333. Website: www. MartyEssen.com
MUSIC: Rodeo partners with festival
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For those especially interested in making the most of the Darby Music Fest, there are special VIP tickets. The fest is partnering with a new restaurant that will be opening in Darby. During the festival, the Sapphire Restaurant will cater to 20 exclusive tables. These tables will have access to a private bar, exclusive food and wine and much more.
“I mean, they are going to be very well pampered,” said Brewster.
been, clearing $100,000. According to Brewster and Ruark, Bennett has been looking to do another rodeo after one in Kamas Valley, Utah. Through a chance meeting with rodeo and festival organizers, it really was “a match made in heaven,” said Brewster.
“It
- Ericka Brewster
Members of these exclusive tables will have VIP parking, their own bathrooms, a private entrance and more. Tables are available when tickets become available. They are limited, and each can include up to eight people. Individual VIP tickets are also purchasable, with limited availability.
According to Brewster, “It is going to be a hootenanny of a time!” For her, the event is all about bringing the community together for a world class time. There will also be an after-rodeo concert, Saturday night, featuring Clair Dunn, kicked of by Libacious Gents and Western Front Band.
Ruark wanted to highlight that they will be adding 11 new skyboxes to the arena, which will be ready by the event weekend, bringing the total number to 23. They will also add two new sets of bleachers, allowing an additional 350 people each.
The rodeo itself will partner with professional bareback-rider, and tentime National Finals Rodeo Qualifer, Caleb Bennett. Bennet is the bareback riding representative for the PRORODEO Contestant Executive Council. Bennett will join Curt Rasmussen as co-masters of ceremonies for the weekend. The rodeo itself will be announced by William Rasmussen, another big name in the rodeo industry.
With the inclusion of Bennett, the pot this year is bigger than it has ever
“I don’t do things to take second place,” Ruark commented. This sentiment was shared by Brewster. Both are more than excited to see all of their work come to fruition, and believe this partnership will help boost both events.
As Brewster explained, “Part of doing the Music Fest is recognizing local talent,” and for Ruark, it is also about bringing premium talent to their community.
The Rodeo event will be broadcast live on the Rodeo Sports Network, and according to Ruark, it is the “world’s richest single bareback riding event.” It is also the only standalone bareback event in the U.S.
The Darby Rodeo Grounds holds the world bareback riding record, and everyone involved with the weekend has a deep history in rodeo. Ruark himself has been part of rodeo his entire life of 78 years. This event will be Darby’s sixth rodeo.
The rodeo grounds hold nine days of entertainment, including now one day of music and eight days of rodeo, every single year.
“I’ve been to a piece of rodeos and I’ve never seen a rodeo arena like Darby’s,” said Ruark. For him, there is something special about the place, and the way it is designed. Viewers are close to the action, and Ruark says it really feels like an old-school honest rodeo. Alongside the design, Ruark is proud of the work they do for the community. The location is home to the local Bitterroot Marksmanship Club, as well as many other youth and community programs. Ruark spoke about their “Twisted Nut Rodeo,” a special event that
of age.
raises money for various charities. The rodeo is held the weekend after the Fourth of July, and has raised thousands over the years.
According to Ruark, the money raised from that event allowed the Darby Rodeo Association to give nearly $8,000 last year to the local charity, Emma’s House. Next year, their goal is to raise that number to $20- or $25,000. They used to raise the money for the hospital and Tough Enough to Wear Pink. In fact, over the years they have donated over $100,000 to Tough Enough to Wear Pink.
Another event Ruark wanted to highlight will be the August rodeo, which will include the full gamut of rodeo events. A key addition to that event Ruark was excited to mention will be a tug-of-war between all Ravalli County frefghters. This will also
be a fund raiser for charity, and will beneft all involved fre departments. For Ruark, and the Darby Rodeo Association, their motto is “Let’s make it happen.” This year, they plan to do exactly that, by going above and beyond in everything they do. When asked why he puts all the efort into the rodeo, Ruark said bluntly, he has MS. “This is my physical therapy.” He carries a deep love for the rodeo and what it can do for a community. For both he, and Brewster, this event is meant to be the feather in the community’s cap.
Festival tickets go on sale Feb. 7, and they can be found at darbymusicfest.com. Organizers also ask the community to keep an eye out for the QR code to quickly and easily access the site. The rodeo will be June 7 and 8, and tickets will be available on the rodeo website, darbyrodeo.org.
Hunters help FWP collect most CWD samples since testing began
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks submitted 9,066 samples for chronic wasting disease testing in 2024-2025 hunting season to date. This is the largest number of CWD samples ever to be collected in a single year in Montana. Many of these samples were collected by hunters themselves. Of those samples, 335 tested positive for the disease, including 202 white-tailed deer, 127 mule deer and six elk.
“We’re very excited about the number of samples we collected this season,” said Wildlife Health Program Biologist Bevin McCormick. “Hunters are a huge part of CWD surveillance and monitoring, and we thank everyone who had their animals sampled this year.”
More than 4,521 samples were submitted from FWP’s 2024 prior-
ity sampling areas, which included southwestern, central and central-eastern Montana. FWP asks hunters who harvest a deer, elk or moose in these areas to voluntarily submit their animal for sampling.
Hunters are a vital part of CWD monitoring and management in the state. Hunters can visit FWP ofces and CWD sampling stations to have their samples collected or they can collect and submit their samples themselves. This year, approximately 1,138 samples were collected and submitted by hunters themselves. They sent their samples through the mail or dropped of the samples at one of the check stations.
Samples are collected by removing the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and sending them to the FWP Wildlife
Health Program in Bozeman so they can be prepared for testing at the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. These lymph nodes are where much of the infectious protein frst accumulates in infected animals.
The data collected helps FWP identify where CWD is, estimate its prevalence and update its management strategies. These strategies sometimes include increasing total tags or either sex/antlered tags in certain CWD-positive hunting districts, with the goal of reducing herd densities.
Since 2017, when CWD was frst discovered in the wild in Montana, FWP has tested an estimated 51,556 samples statewide.
CWD is a fatal disease that can afect the nervous system of deer, elk and moose. Transmission can occur
through direct contact between animals or through contact with bodily fuids of infected animals, including urine, feces, saliva and blood. Carcasses of infected animals likely serve as a source of environmental contamination, allowing animals that come into contact with them to also become infected.
There is no known transmission of CWD to humans; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters who harvest an animal in an area where CWD is known to occur have their animal tested. If the animal tests positive, the CDC advises against eating the meat.
Although the main sampling season is over, FWP will continue to collect samples from animals throughout the year.
COUNTY: looks to build septage treatment facility
poses of approximately 2,800,000 gallons of septage annually or 210 gallons of septage per year per septic system. Within the planning period it is anticipated that the annual amount of septage generated needing treatment or disposal will increase from 2,800,000 gallons annually to 4,165,000 gallons annually.
According to the report, there are around 13,328 septic systems in the county generating waste, approximately 3,000 of which have been installed since 2000. It estimates that the population of the county in rural areas is four times the population receiving municipal and public sewer treatment. The current population of Ravalli County is 48,299 and approximately 10,980 of these persons live within the municipalities and public sewer districts.
The report states that a steady growth scenario provides for realistic future populations that are based on long term trends. In this scenario it can be anticipated that the number of septic systems within the county will increase from 13,328 to 19,834 by the year 2045. This is approximately 310 new septic systems installed per year over the next 20 years.
Septic pumpings are required by law to be disposed of at wastewater treatment plants, a septage processor or composter, a landfll, or a land application site.
There are six licensed septic tank pumpers in Ravalli County. There are three active land application sites in the county, about 4.6 acres, 107 acres and 14 acres in size. A fourth site has been inactive since 2020.
A second public hearing to develop and evaluate alternatives is planned for March, 2025 and a third public hearing is planned for developing an implementation plan and project costs on April 8, 2025.
The report lists several items as background references to the septic pumping issues in Ravalli County including:
• Neighbors Concerned About Septic Waste Land Application- Bitterroot Star by Michael Howell, December 2016
• New Septic Permits on the Rise in Ravalli County- NBC Montana, November 2017
• No Place to Dump? Montana County Plans New Septage Dewatering Facility- Pumper, November 2022
• Out of Sight, Out of Mind: An Exploration of Wastewater Issues and Possible Solutions in and out of Montana- Keely Inez Larson, University of Montana Graduate Student Thesis, Dissertations and Professional Papers, May 2023
• Valley Septic Pumpers Face Hard Times- Bitterroot Star by Michael Howell, November 2023
• What to do With All the Poop: County Considers Septage Disposal- Bitterroot Star by Michael Howell, January 2024
• County Looks for Septage Treatment SolutionsBitterroot Star by Michael Howell, July 2024
Ravalli County Septic pumpers use six land application sites for depositing their Seepage, two in Missoula County and four in Ravalli County. Of the four located in Ravalli County one site has been in-active since 2020 and the other three are about 4.6 acres, 107 acres and 14 acres in size. Map courtesy of Morrison-Maierle.
STREET: Hamilton addresses future growth
in some stretches, as well as a traffic calming circle with mountable edges and a planter at the 7th Street intersection. Through its entire length, the street will have either shared or dedicated bike lanes.
While safety of traffic movement was at the forefront of the design, the back and forth pattern which residents will see on the western half of the rebuilt road resulted from multiple encroachments to the public right-of-way, and the city’s desire to keep landowner impacts to a minimum.
“We fit it in to try and give people as much space as we could for the ones that were encroaching on the right-of-way,” said Ramer, pointing out several structures that are either near or on the line.
Ramer says that the contractor hopes to get started on the rebuild in March, and that residents should know that, “there are definitely going to be changes to how people get where they need to go.” And while not all plans have been finalized, the current thinking is that all the asphalt will be removed from Ravalli prior to focused work in designated sections. The exposed roadway will be graded and smooth, and accessible in areas where work is not ongoing. The contractors will then complete each section, likely in 2 or 3 block stretches, through final concrete work. Ultimately, they will
underway
then pave the entire project as a last step, hopefully before school starts again for the fall session. Ramer says that a similar approach was used on 3rd Street last summer, and was successful.
“The goal is to keep the north-south streets open until they are working on those intersections.”
- Donny Ramer
Ramer also said that the city will be keeping residents up to date on the construction through its Facebook page, as well as a dedicated page on the rebuild which will be on the city’s website.
“The goal is to keep the northsouth streets open until they are working on those intersections,” said Ramer, adding that limited east-west travel on Ravalli Street itself will be the largest encumbrance to residents. That difficulty may be especially challenging as residents decide how
“I think just be
go,” says Ramer, “and we’ll try and do the
Hamilton Public Works Director Donny Ramer discusses reconstruction of Ravalli Street, which will get
in March. Photo by Nathan Boddy.
The newly built Ravalli Street will include improved parking adjacent to the Catholic Church. Public Works Director Donny Ramer says that they worked in tandem with the church as the group went through its own Conditional Use process in order to arrive at a safer design. Photo by Nathan Boddy.
Update from the House
Some good news out of the Montana legislature this session is that legislators seem to agree on two things: the need to fund a high-quality education for Montana students and a need to lower property taxes. Fortunately, a package of school funding-related bills can help us achieve both.
This Valentine’s Day many of us are eagerly dreaming up a long list of outdoor summer adventures to take place in our valley’s beautiful forestlands, and the local volunteers with SelwayPintler Wilderness Backcountry Horsemen (SPWBCH) are no exception. Joined together by a shared love of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness area and preserving our valley’s longstanding heritage of working with horses and mules in the backcountry, the SPWBCH are a group of local adult volunteers that work together throughout the summer on various trail projects in support of the USFS - including clearing trails from downed logs and other obstructions to maintain access to trails for all types of recreationists. If you’d like to experience amazing country, share your love of the land with friends, and “recreate for a reason” this summer, you’re invited to volunteer with SPWBCH!
No horse? No problem. Volunteer hikers are always welcome to join in on projects. Members can gain new wilderness skillsets including First Aid and CPR training, saw certifications, best practices for horse and mule packing, and more. To learn about upcoming summer projects for 2025, please join us for “trail talk” and refreshments at the SPWBCH monthly meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hamilton Forest Service Building located at 1801 N. 1st Street, Hamilton, MT. Entry is at the back of the building. For additional information, contact Kathy Hundley at 406-363-8230. Visit our website at bchmt.org/spwbch or follow us on Facebook & Instagram.
Montana is falling behind our neighbors in how much we pay our teachers, especially frst-year teachers. That means a highly-trained teacher who might prefer to live here in Montana chooses to teach in Wyoming or North Dakota instead because those states pay more competitive starting salaries. Because we can’t compete for top talent, Montana students pay the price.
The STARS (Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success) Act of HB 252 incentivizes higher starting teacher salaries to attract and retain those highly-qualifed teachers. But that’s not all: it expands career and technical education opportunities, dual-credit programs, and profciency-based learning, too, so that our taxpayer dollars are going directly to educating students for success both today and in the future.
With increases in school funding comes the inevitable question, “But who is going to pay for it?” We cannot raise property taxes on Montana residents. Fortunately, there are common-sense solutions to
our school funding challenges that don’t pile an even greater burden on homeowners. The STARS Act itself helps correct the infation lag in our school funding formula by making up the diference using state General Fund money. This is a permanent solution for Montana schools to compete for the highest-quality teachers without adding a dime to your property taxes or making dramatic changes to the current funding formula.
Another solution would preserve the 95 mills levy as a stable funding source for schools while redirecting any excess money collected directly to property tax relief for homeowners. Together, these solutions reward schools that pursue better outcomes for their students while addressing the challenges infation has posed to school funding and teacher pay, all while reducing property taxes instead of raising them.
These are the kinds of win-win solutions we support. Working together, we can give Montanans what they’re asking for: a high-quality education for their children without placing a greater burden on homeowners.
Representative Linda Reksten (R-Polson), Representative Dave Bedey (R-Hamilton), and Representative Llew Jones (R-Conrad)
SPAMALOT: Monty Python’s musical to feature in Hamilton this February
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Creative Pulse Program, and was anxious to get back in touch with some of his creative passions from earlier years.
Tucker describes the play as the ofshoot of a “cult classic” movie, which provides laughs every few minutes.
“I’m thrilled to get the chance to play in it,” said Tucker. “And I couldn’t be more lucky because I think two of my favorite parts of the movie are the two parts that I’m playing.”
Jennifer Floch will be playing the roles of the well-known ‘Not Dead Fred,’ a minstrel and one of the Laker Girls. Growing up in Darby, Floch stopped her engagement with theater after high school, but was pulled back to the stage for the Players’ production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in 2023.
About Spamalot, Floch says, “It’s hilarious. I’ve seen the movie, obviously, which is also hilarious.
But you add music to it and dancing, and it just adds a whole new level of enjoyment,
in my opinion.” Lawrence says that the entire cast is hard-working and has been putting extra hours
into their preparations, and even building their group cohesion outside of rehearsals. He mentions the hard work of Elsie Read, who has flmed and shared dance routines to help actors master their steps, and Jayne Bauer, vocal director for the production, who has “recorded and shared countless piano segments to help folks learn their parts.” Additionally, he says that lighting and sound techs for the show are, “overcoming new challenges every day.” The show will play on
three weekends, February 14-16, 21-23, and February 28-March 2nd. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday performances are at 2:00. Tickets are available at the Hamilton Players’ website: https://hamiltonplayers.com
Mullen Newspapers purchases Havre paper
Since January 1, the Havre Weekly Chronicle (formerly Havre Daily News) is under new management. Jesse Mullen, founder of Mullen Newspapers based in Deer Lodge, met with the staf of the Chronicle last week in Havre.
“I’m excited about Havre, and the Chronicle,” Mullen said. “Havre is a great community, and it deserves a great community newspaper… The team at the Chronicle has what it takes to provide top-notch reporting and marketing for the Hi Line, and I’m glad to be able to work with them and community members to improve the newspaper and help it rebuild.”
The Havre paper had operated as a daily since 1914, until it changed to a weekly last May.
“We have been going through a lot
of changes in the last few years, and we thank our readers for their loyalty and patience,” manager Tim Leeds said. “We want to keep putting out a quality paper that covers what goes on in this region.”
Mullen lives in Deer Lodge and plans to travel between the communities frequently. Mullen Newspapers manages the Cut Bank, Shelby, Browning, Chester and Conrad newspapers on the Hi Line in addition to the Seeley Swan Pathfnder, the Silver State Post/Philipsburg Mail and the Bitterroot Star.
“The Havre newspaper is primed to grow and can help with my papers across Montana,” Mullen said. He is stepping into the publisher role and can be reached at jesse@mullennewspapers.com.
Jennifer Floch and Stephen Tucker channeling the cast’s good energy prior to a Sunday rehearsal. Photo by Tucker Boddy (who plays the role of Prince Herbert.)
Vocal Director, Jayne Bauer (left) and Irelyn Potts, who plays numerous roles, get ready to head back to the stage. Photo by Tucker Boddy.
Fire fuels management
Recently, there was a LTE in the Star about the forest fre threat on the west side of the valley, lamenting the lack of action to reduce fuels. However, there are eforts being made, as we will describe here. For the past 17 years, the Bitterroot Forest Collaborative (BFC) has served in a voluntary advisory role to the Bitterroot National Forest (BNF). The BFC is composed of valley residents with expertise in business, forestry, wildlife, fre, geology and roads. Members have extensive on-the-ground knowledge of the BNF going back over 40 years. The BFC is always ready to use their knowledge and local perspective to provide recommendations and alternative ideas to assist BNF management.
The BNF was formed in 2007 as part of a project to help improve forest management and reduce lawsuits against BNF timber sales. For many years after the BFC was formed, there were no timber sale lawsuits against the BNF. In recent years, most of the very few lawsuits fled would not have occurred if the BNF had followed the recommendations of the BFC and its members. BFC suggestions would have had only a small reduction in timber sale volumes.
Much of the forest land on the west side of the valley, from Lolo to Darby, up to the 4,000 to 4,500 foot level (and even higher in some places) is private property. Some of the BNF land above the private land has been logged over the past few decades. Much of the land above the logged area is not suitable for timber management or is in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness or recommended Wilderness. More recently, the BNF has been doing prescribed burns to reduce fuels. Wildfres have also reduced fuels.
A great many houses have been built in the forested areas on the lower slopes. These houses can best be protected from wildfre by reducing fuels immediately around the house and by using fre resistant designed materials.
The primary constraint in reducing forest fre fuels is cost, not environmental fling lawsuits. Logging by itself does not reduce primary fuel (slash, brush, limbs etc.) in which a wildfre initiates and spreads rapidly, especially with wind. The green sawlogs do not burn. It is costly to dispose of the fuels present before logging as well as the slash resulting from logging. After logging, nature promptly starts regenerating more fuel, continuing a never-ending cycle requiring costly fuel reduction.
Information on protecting homes from wildfre is available from the DNRC, RC&D, BNF and the BFC.
Skip Kowalski
Kirk Thompson Co-chairs BFC
Thank you, Victor School
Last week I had the pleasure of judging students involved in the Victor History Day. The theme of the projects was Rights and Responsibilities. The eighth graders have been studying U.S. History while the 10th grade studied World History. Projects ranged from studies of Wyatt Earp to child labor in the factories in the East and coal mining for the eighth graders. World history projects ranged from a 9-minute documentary on human ex-
perimentation in Nazi Germany, to the Tuskegee Airmen study of syphilis and the atrocities of the Vietnam war.
The students presented their projects, showed how they researched and answered questions regarding their studies. Their teacher, Ms. Meyers, is to be commended for encouraging this project and not shying away from tough subjects. The students were excited to present and handled themselves very well.
Thank you, Victor School.
Jean Schurman, Class of 1972
Victor
A thank you
A huge thank you to the person who turned in the billfold they found in the BJ’s parking lot on January 24. Your honesty is much appreciated. God’s blessings be with you. Grace Wilson Stevensville
Housing shortage solution
A solution to the housing shortage in Ravalli county may be in sight. The Ofce of Management and Budget sent buy out ofers to all federal employees including employees at the Rocky Mountain Labs and the USFS in Ravalli county. More than 3 trillion dollars in federal funds has been halted and/ or reviewed. All federal programs are on the chopping block including public health, national vaccine programs plus wildfre fghting funds.
When Trump’s review results in government reductions particularly in agencies involved in science and vaccine development, it seems logical that Rocky Mountain Labs would be closed. Reduced demand for GSK’s vaccine adjuvant production facility in Hamilton would most likely result in staf reductions or closure. USFS staf would likely be further reduced as all these laid of workers sell their homes and move on. A local housing surplus is born.
Imagine the possibilities, local elections are secure again, local housing prices drop. Stuart Rhodes(J6 leader) returns to Montana and settles in Ravalli County because he is no longer a federal hostage and gets a housing “deal” enabled by his boss DJT. Laid of workers can apply for jobs as bus drivers/tour guides for the local destination tourist resort for presidentially pardoned felons. Local MAGA loyalty is repaid with the loss of 3 major Ravalli County employers. Local residents cheer on further economic and unemployment disruptions while making Ravalli County Great Again! Call Senator Daines (202) 2242651 and Representative Zinke (202) 225-5628 and thank them for their latest economic development and jobs program as they prepare for their 2026 re-election.
Archie L Thomas Merry Schrumpf Corvallis
School bond/taxes
Was I reading this right? After all this talk about lowering our property taxes, I read that the Hamilton School District wants to try another bond to raise money for another school. It says taxes will increase on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $134-$148 a year and a home with a market value of $200,000 by $268-$296 a year!
First of, whose house is valued
that low anymore? Second, how’s that going to reduce my property taxes?
Hamilton is becoming an older community with many people like myself on a fxed income. My cost of living increase doesn’t even come close to covering those tax increases! What’s up with that?
Deborah Mason Hamilton
Long live the king
Hear ye, all who dwell in the Kingdom of America. Laws of the land are hereby changed. By proclamation of the king, all who reside in the land are no longer citizens of a democratic republic, but are henceforth subjects of the kingdom. The former U.S. Congress is hereby named, “The Royal Choir of Praise to the King.” The former president’s Cabinet shall be named, “The Royal Inner Court of Praise to the King.” By edict of the Royal Judicial Court, the King is immune from wrongdoing. Be advised that criticism of the king will not be tolerated. Critics shall be banished or sentenced to the dungeon. All subjects shall sign the oath of loyalty to the king. By proclamation, the kingdom is great again! The republic is dead. Long live the King!
Don Gardner Corvallis
Musk is dangerous
Elon Musk is an unelected billionaire immigrant from South Africa and yet he was illegally given recent access to the $6 trillion US Treasury Payment System which processes and pays Social Security, Medicare benefts, tax refunds, civil service salaries, grants and much more that is congressionally approved funding. Musk is part of an unofcial Department of Government Efciency which was not appointed by Congress.
I’m in my 70’s, retired,and very concerned that Musk and his young hacker team have created the biggest data breach in history obtaining Americans’ personal and private information plus banking and tax data. I’m now really worried that Social Security and Medicare are in jeopardy. Musk has strong business ties with China. The deed is done, now the question is, how will Americans’ private information be protected?
I suggest contacting your elected ofcials to make your concerns known as I have.
Marilyn Wolf Stevensville
2nd Amendment case
There is a Second Amendment case in Montana you should pay attention to.
The second amendment question in this case, can you use a frearm in self-defense IF you don’t fre a kill shot ?
Some will fnd it interesting that the US Department of Justice in an article in 1998 advocated for “warning shots” and the International Association of Chiefs of Police has a section on policy in 2017 under deadly force restrictions
that recommends “warning shots” , when it reduces the possibility that deadly force will have to be used. And in a case in Ohio in 2024, the headline is “Warning Shot Enough for Jury to Consider Self-Defense Claim”... A Clark County man was entitled to argue self-defense when he intentionally shot toward a person, and was not required to show he intended to kill or harm the man who threatened him, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today ....”the Ohio self-defense law does not require an intent to harm or kill another, just the “intent to repel or escape force.” Shooting toward another with the intent to stop an aggressor is sufcient to justify a self-defense jury instruction, she concluded. Montana Law: 45-3-102. Use of force in defense of person. A person is justifed in the use of force or threat to use force against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary for self-defense or the defense of another against the other person’s imminent use of unlawful force. The Case: Jury Trial - DC-24-32 - Assault with weapon - 03/24/2025 9:00am Fourth Judicial District Court, Mineral County...a person convicted of assault with a weapon shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 20 years or be fned not more than $50,000.
Glenn Ferren St Regis
The Trump Efect
To all those who proudly voted for Trump, a heads-up. Already people in the Valley are losing jobs due to his Executive Orders. Others are already searching for new jobs because their jobs are threatened. These are not immigrants, mind you. These are dyed in the wool Bitterrooters. You forgot, didn’t you, that the federal government sends Montana money - more than we send it in taxes? Those monies become jobs once they get here. But Trump and his shadow president Elon Musk have bigger ideas. Acquire Greenland, annex Canada, rename the Gulf of Mexico? Your favorite kitchen table issues, talked about it for years! Never mind about jobs, groceries or housing. Be so proud when your neighbors’ adult children show up at the food bank. Move over, Grandma. They need housing. Recessions and Depressions are real. Get ready.
Linda Schmitt Corvallis
Ofce Conference Room
A Course of Love study group
Fridays 10:00 a.m.12:00 noon.
Center for Spiritual Life, Hamilton Call: 406-381-6480
MS Support Group
Bitterroot MS Support Group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month in the Gallery room at the Cofee 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
Republican Central Committee
The Ravalli County Republican Central Committee
regular monthly meetings are held the frst Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at The Place Church, 273 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton. All are welcome to attend.
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) 517-8554.
Bitterroot Celtic Society
North Valley Library
How to Use Your Android Phone—Thurs, Jan 30 at 6pm
Did you get a new Android phone (non-iPhone) for Christmas? Or maybe you’ve had yours for awhile and would like to be more confdent using it. During this hands-on program, we will practice navigating a cellphone, customizing settings, and fnding useful features, as well as answering specifc questions or problems you may have. Please bring your phone with you.
Fiber Arts Club—Thurs, Feb 6 from 12-1:30pm
Do you enjoy knitting or crocheting, embroidery, hand sewing, or quilting? Bring your work-in-progress, problem piece, or brand-new pattern and enjoy the company of like-minded crafters during this informal club. All experience levels are invited to join us for a cozy place to gather, enjoy tea, and a community of yarn and fber artists like yourself. Club is held the frst Thursday of every month from 12-1:30pm in the Community Room.
Hamilton school board
Governance Committee Thursday – February 6, 2025 12:00 p.m. – District
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 culture, 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-proft organization. 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.
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 – February 11, 2025
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – 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
Grief support programs
Stevensville
Ongoing: 1:1 and Group
Support
Virtual/Statewide Ongoing: 1:1 Support / Counseling
Visit tamarackgrc.org to explore Grief Support opportunities, check the calendar for upcoming programs, or contact TGRC about receiving support for yourself or a loved one: Missoula/Stevensville: 406-541-8472 or info@tamarackgrc.org
Knotty Knitters Guild
Knotty Knitters Guild meets the 4th Tuesday of every month except 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 Fridays from 12:00 to 5:00.
Any questions call 406381-5123 or just show up on Friday!
Writers’ Group
Do you like to write?
Wednesday, February 5, from 5:30-7 pm, Writers’ Group will meet at Explore the Arts, 7th and Main Streets, Hamilton. All are welcome to this casual meeting of folks who write various genres including fction, poetry, cowboy poetry, memoir and narrative. Beginners welcome! Contact Star at 406-546-5344 for more info.
Pachyderm Club
The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday February 7 at 12 noon at the Frontier Cafe, Hwy 93 in Stevenville. Guest speaker will be Tony Hudson who will talk about his train trip to Washington D.C. for the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
AARP Tax-Aide
AARP Tax-Aide will be ofering free tax preparation services for low to moderate income taxpayers of all ages. Tax preparation will begin on February 8 and will be at the Stevensville Senior Center on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The Senior Center WILL NOT schedule those appointments. Call 406201-5734, leave your name and phone number, and a volunteer will call back to schedule your appointment.
Women Newcomers Club
Are you new to the Bitterroot Valley or a longtime resident? The Bitterroot Women Newcomers Club is a fun group of women who invite you to join them. Meetings are held at the First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton. This month’s meeting, February 13 at 10 a.m., after a short business meeting
will feature Dr. Arlen Cage, a Naturopath Physician.
Grief Share
Grief Share program to help process grief ofered at Florence Carlton Community Church, 20075 Old Highway 93, Florence, from February 15 to May 10, 2025. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Colleen, (206) 930-2519
Grief Share
Grief Share program to help process grief ofered at Florence Carlton Community Church from February 17 to May 10, 2025. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Colleen, 206-930-2519.
Rummage sale donations wanted
Three Mile Community Center is having a books, puzzles and games Rummage Sale on March 8th. Donations of these items in good condition will be accepted during the commu-
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
The Battle of the Root
The Bitterroot Valley high school wrestling teams from Corvallis, Darby, Florence, Hamilton and Stevensville converged on Hamilton on Saturday, February 2 for the annual “Battle of the Bitterroot.” This event seeks to determine who holds wrestling supremacy in the Bitterroot Valley by getting all the teams together for one specific event.
Corvallis once again proved their dominance as they took home the “Root” trophy as the overall team champion for the ninth year in a row. The Blue Devils compiled 176.5 points, Florence came in 2nd with 128, Stevensville 3rd with 68.5, Hamilton 4th with 55, and Darby 5th with 34.
Florence’s Jett Murray was named the “Outstanding Wrestler” and Saul Hulling of Stevensville was named “Most Inspirational Wrestler.”
Individual winners
Darby.
At 103 , in the 1st place match, Axton Houser of Corvallis won by fall (1:25) over Caleb Speer of Florence. Wesley Hunt of Hamilton took 3rd.
At 110 , in the 1st place match, Chase Davis of Corvallis won by technical fall (19-3) over Caleb Scussel of Florence.
At 118 , in the 1st place match, Kahle Hill of Corvallis won by fall (1:17) over Mannix Moree of Stevensville.
At 126 , in the 1st place match, Quinn Wissenbach of Corvallis won by fall (1:25) over Landon Serevaag of Florence. Keegan Gingerich of Hamilton was 3rd.
At 132 , in the 1st place match, Rowan Miller of Florence won by fall (2:28) over Sean Davis of Corvallis. In the 3rd place match, Colt Yocom of Hamilton won by fall (0:32) over Tristen Spross of
At 138 , in the 1st place match, Benjamin White of Stevensville won by technical fall (18-3) over Max Rosenthal of Florence. In the 3rd place match, Byron Stocker of Corvallis won by fall (2:34) over Mark Sandoval of Darby.
At 144 , in the 1st place match, Todd Whitescarver of Stevensville won by decision (6-1) over Torean Caroll of Hamilton. In the 3rd place match, Rogan Sutherland of Corvallis won by fall (2:42) over Isaac Nicoson of Florence.
At 15 0, in the 1st place match, Braden Carter of Florence won by fall (3:57) over Emmitt Allsop of Corvallis.
At 157 , in the 1st place match, Castin Burkholder of Corvallis won by fall (0:39) over Isaac Tritz of Florence. In the 3rd place match, Landon Bryan of Stevensville won by fall (2:28) over Caleb Clairmont of Hamilton.
At 165 , in the 1st place match, Kade Bowles of Corvallis won by fall (0:08) over Saul Hulling of Stevensville.
At 175 , in the 1st place match, Jett Murray of Florence won by fall (3:08) over Colton Snyder of Corvallis.
At 190 , in the 1st place match, Noah Guisinger of Hamilton won by fall (0:40) over Maurice Craun of Corvallis. Jake Nyholm of Stevensville took 3rd place.
At 215 , in the 1st
place match, Eli Spross of Darby won by fall (1:26) over Aidan Emerson of Corvallis.
At 285 , in the 1st place match, Jacob Schauer of Florence won by fall (2:46) over Shannon Stuart of Darby. Blaine Wallace of Corvallis took 3rd. Exhibition matches
At 126 , Sam Geiser of Florence won by fall (0:48) over Kale Benson of Corvallis. At 132 , Shane Spencer of Corvallis won by fall (3:25) over Liam Rogers of Florence. At 138 , Boone Venama of Corvallis won by fall (3:14) over Ian Digiovanni of Hamilton. At 144 , Colby Bowles of Corvallis won by decision (14-9) over Torean Caroll of Hamilton. At 150 , Braden Carter of Florence won by fall (2:40) over Kaison Weidow of Corvallis. At 157 , Peyton Harbin of Corvallis won by fall (0:19) over Levi Whiting of Darby. At 165 , Saxton Jessop of Corvallis won by fall (1:44) over Saul Hulling of Stevensville.
Bitterroot basketball roundup
Florence keeps rolling
The Florence girls are now the #3 ranked Class B team in the latest 406mtsports.com poll after their big win over Loyola last week. Florence kept the train rolling in Anaconda on Saturday, February 1. The Falcons jumped out to a 36-6 halftime lead and cruised to a 66-14 victory.
For Florence, Taylor Pyette led the scoring with 18 points, Emory Ralston had 13, Maggie Schneiter had 8, Shelby Crocker, Madigan Hurlbert and Ali Meinhold each had 6, Alex Nelson had 4, Kendyl Meinhold had 3, and Jaden Fisher added 2.
The Florence boys also played at Anaconda on Friday. Florence held a 23-18 halftime lead, then outscored the Wardens 23-13 in the third quarter and rolled to a 59-41 victory.
For Florence, Bridger Alexander and Brody Duchien led the way with 19 points each, Jake Schneiter had 12, Mason Arlington had 5, Levi Winters and Mose Smith each had 3, and Schoenfeld Grant added 2.
The Florence girls played at Stevensville on Thursday, Jan. 20 and won 68-11. For Florence, Emory Ralston led the scoring with 16 points, Taylor Pyette had 13, Ali Meinhold had 10, Jaden Fisher had 9, Kenzy Pickering had 8, Alyx Monaco had 6, Madigan Hurlbert had 4, and Maggie Schneiter added 2. Hamilton hosts Frenchtown
The Hamilton boys hosted Frenchtown on Friday, January 31 in a battle of the Broncs. Frenchtown
came in as the state’s #2 ranked Class A team (406mtsports.com). Hamilton had trouble scoring because of cold shooting and a solid Frenchtown defense. Hamilton shot 24% from the feld for the game and 20% (5-25) from 3-point land. Hamilton trailed 13-29 at halftime and could not make up the diference in the second half and fell 33-66.
For Hamilton, Canaan Magness had another big game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, Tyler Jette had 3 points and 4 rebounds, Kaden Gum and Jake McCarthy each had 3 points, and Asher Grifn and Landon Wetzel each added 2 points.
The Hamilton girls also hosted Frenchtown on Friday. Hamilton had their hands full, as the Frenchtown girls came into the game as Class A’s #4 ranked team. Hamilton fell behind early, trailing 8-30 at halftime and lost 25-53. For Hamilton, Annalise Lewis, Meryn Leonardi and Ashlynn McKern each had 6 points, Ella Grifn had 4, and Bryn Cianfone added 3.
Darby
The Darby boys and girls played at Missoula Loyola on Tuesday, January 28. In the girls game, Darby ran into a buzzsaw. Loyola fell to #9 in the 406mtsports.com poll last week after losing two close games, but they still look to be one of the top Class B girls teams. Darby didn’t have the depth to keep up with the Breakers and fell behind 4-32 after the frst quarter and couldn’t make up the diference, losing 18-77. For Darby, Hadley Hei-
land led the scoring with 10 points and Georgia Fisher added 8.
The task didn’t get any easier for the Darby boys, who faced topranked Loyola, arguably one of the best boys teams in the state. Darby fell behind 11-25 after one quarter and 15-50 at halftime and lost 28-78.
The Darby boys and girls hosted Victor on Friday, January 31. In the girls game, Darby was up 20-9 after the frst quarter and 35-18 at halftime. Then Darby held on in the second half to get the 54-45 victory.
In the boys game, Darby jumped out to a 46-16 halftime lead. After the half it was more of the same as Darby controlled the game and won 72-20.
Corvallis
The Corvallis boys and girls played at Frenchtown on Tuesday, January 28.
In the girls game, Corvallis didn’t have the ammo to stay with the #4 Broncs. The Blue Devils fell behind 4-18 after one quarter and 7-34 at halftime and couldn’t make a comeback and fell 27-70. Ella Varner led the scoring for Corvallis with 13 points.
In the boys game, Corvallis had a tough task against #2 ranked Frenchtown. The young Blue Devil squad fell behind 12-19 after the frst quarter, then rallied in the second quarter to take a 29-27 halftime lead. Frenchtown roared back in the second half and Corvallis ended up losing 50-72.
The Corvallis girls hosted Butte Central on Saturday, February 1.
Corvallis got up 26-19 at halftime and held strong for the 45-41 victory. The Corvallis boys went to Butte Central on Saturday and were defeated 37-73.
Victor
The Victor boys and girls played at Darby on Friday, January 31. In the girls game, Victor fell behind early and trailed 18-35 at halftime. Victor rallied in the second half and narrowed the gap, but they fell short and lost 45-54. For Victor, Chloe Pollan had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. Asia Parks had 11 points. Nichole Bugli had 10 points, 13 rebounds and 5 steals. Brooklyn Cary had 4 points and 3 steals. Whitney Bugli had 3 points, and Hannah Buchanan added 2 points. In the boys game Victor was defeated by Darby 20-72.
The Victor boys and girls then hosted Hot Springs on Saturday. In the boys game, Victor got down 19-45 at halftime. The Pirates played well in the second half, but were unable to make up the diference and lost 44-78. For Victor, Koen Nuttal had 11 points and Kyle Glasser added 10. In the girls game, Victor played solid and trailed 23-38 at the half, but got cold in the second half and lost 35-61. For Victor, Chloe Pollan led with 12 points and 4 steals. Lilli Buchanan had 6 points. Kayden Allred had 5 points and 6 rebounds. Asia Parks had 5 points and 5 rebounds. Whitney Bugli had 5 points and 5 rebounds. And Nichole
Bugli added 2 points and 7 rebounds.
The Corvallis wrestling team won the “Root” trophy for the 9th straight year in the Battle of the Root in Hamilton on Saturday, February 1. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
Florence’s Jett Murray was named the “Outstanding Wrestler” at the Battle of the Root on Saturday, February 1. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
Saul Hulling of Stevensville was named “Most Inspirational Wrestler” at the Battle of the Root on Saturday, February 1. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
Sports
The season of the blowout
A curious trend is emerging in high school basketball in Montana. There seems to be more lopsided games this year and it’s commonplace to see teams winning by 30, 40, 50 points or more.
Dowd john@bitterrootstar.com
The following are high school basketball scores from the week of January 21-25. The Bigfork girls beat the Polson girls 6626, the Hobson-Moore girls defeated Great Falls Central 61-13, the Lockwood boys beat Laurel 66-25, the Frenchtown girls beat Butte Central 51-15, the Dillon girls beat Hamilton 61-9, the Columbia Falls boys beat Libby 70-34, the Terry boys beat Wibaux 92-42, the Thompson Falls girls beat Troy 75-21, the Roberts boys beat Reed Point-Rapelje 75-36. The Florence girls beat Darby 82-22, earlier in the year Darby beat Victor 50-22, and before that Victor beat Alberton 49-21.
Less participation
by Scott Sacry
Third, there is less overall participation in high school sports. Sports are hard and time consuming and not everyone wants to take it on or has the skill or desire. Take girls basketball in the Bitterroot Valley: in the six valley high schools there are only eight total senior girls playing basketball this season. Also, along with specialization, kids are playing competitive sports earlier, and can get burned out by the time they get to high school.
Scott Sacry Sports Editor scott@bitterrootstar.com
more lopsided recently, we have to look at the shot clock. Starting with the 2022-2023 season, there has been a 35-second shot clock in Montana high school basketball. Gone are the days when a team could run their offense for minutes on end to slow down the game. The shot clock is a good thing and makes for a more entertaining game, but when a good team is playing a bad team the side efect is a lopsided score.
The shot clock
Finally, when looking at why basketball scores are becoming
Let’s say you have a weak team going against a strong team. If that weak team can run their ofense endlessly, efectively stalling, it keeps the better team from scoring. With the shot clock, that team has to shoot in 35 seconds, giving the strong team more possessions to score, thus Roberts beats Reed Point-Rapelje 75-36 with a shot clock, instead of maybe 42-29
without a shot clock. Are the kids on the teams that are getting beat by 50 points going to decide it’s not worth it and stop going out for sports, leading to even less participation and more uneven matchups?
I’m not sure if this rises to a problem where something needs to be done. There are obviously bigger problems in the educational system. But high school sports, for those who participate, provide endless life lessons and teach important life skills. The erosion of this would make our schools less efective in training youth for life. Whether this trend has something to do with the above reasons or not, something is going on, and for those of us who care about high school sports, it’s a trend to keep an eye on.
michaelonburntfork@gmail.com
essential news and information to our
What are we to make of this? Here are four possible culprits.
Normal ups and downs
First, there is a natural ebb and fow to how good a school’s teams are, especially in smaller schools with lower enrollments. Some years an especially athletic group of kids comes through and the teams are strong. Then in other years there’s not as many talented kids in sports and the teams aren’t as good.
More specialization
Second, there’s more specialization as kids tend to pick one sport and concentrate only on that. Back in my day (picture me sitting in a rocking chair waving my walking stick at you) kids who were interested in sports went out for multiple sports every year. So, for example, your star track athlete also was a good role player on the football and basketball team. Of course this still happens, but it’s less common. More likely, if someone is really good at basketball or volleyball or soccer, they will join traveling teams in the of season to increase their skills and recruiting visibility and skip the other sports.
Mullen Newspapers. The advertising and editorial content deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. We you have a story idea, or any other concern, call us at 406-777-3928, email: editor@bitterroot133, Stevensville MT 59870. notify the editor immediately and we will print a correction in the next
and letters appearing on the Opinion page and elsewhere in the paper represent the opinion welcomes public comment and encourages letters to the editor. Letters on local topletters generally have a better chance of prompt publication. While letters expressing of contributors, donors or volunteers are not accepted as letters to the editor. do not run letters anonymously. We attempt to run all letters, but reserve the us, and do not turn them in by hand. This increases the chances the letters will get
Lopsided scores are becoming more commonplace in Montana High School Basketball this season. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Stevensville 2024-2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
Continued from page 1
Billy Wark, Class of 1991
Billy competed in basketball, football and American Legion Baseball while attending Stevensville High School. He was an All-Conference and AllState selection for both basketball and football his senior year along with being selected to play in the annual East-West Shrine football game. He helped lead the American Legion Bitterroot Bucs to three state titles in four years. Billy was a four-year starting pitcher for Whitworth College and earned an All-Conference selection his senior season. Billy holds the school record for most complete games in a season. Billy was Head Coach for the Bitterroot Bucs and led them to back-to-back state tournament appearances. Billy went on to be the pitching coach at both Whitworth University and George Fox University after graduating. He also coached high school cross-country. Billy has three children, sons Declan, Owen, and daughter Kinsey.
Firman Ray, Class of 1987
Firman was a multi-sport athlete. He lettered in football, basketball, and track, earning First Team All-Conference and All-State honors in football and was selected to play in the EastWest Shrine All-Star game. Beyond sports, Firman served as SHS’s student council president and vice president of the Western Montana Student Council. He graduated as the salutatorian of his class, named an Academic All-American, and received the DAR Citizenship Award. After graduating from high school, Firman attended the University of Montana. There, he excelled in the school’s ROTC program, earning the distinction of Distinguished Military Graduate. Upon graduation, Firman was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Firman was Platoon Leader of the Quick Reaction Force that spearheaded the rescue of a downed Black Hawk crew in the embat tled streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. This earned him the prestigious Silver Star. Firman is a survivor of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Penta
gon. Firman went on to have a successful 30-year career in the Army, retiring in 2021 as a Colonel.
Ralph Serrette, Soccer Coach 1994-2024
Ralph Serrette played for the University of Montana men’s soccer team and earned a bachelor’s degree in botany. It was there that Ralph further developed his love for soccer with the men’s soccer team, boasting wins over Pacifc Lutheran and Gonzaga University and winning the Northwest Intercollegiate Soccer League in 1972. Ralph was also a highly respected and skilled soccer referee and blessed the entire state with his skills. Ralph created the Yellowjackets soccer team and led it for the rest of his life, over 30 years. Serrette also founded and led the Stevensville Sabres Club, a local youth soccer program, for 31 years. The U.S. Army veteran and Trinidad native left a culture of soccer in the Bitterroot Valley that spans generations. Through a career of coaching, playing and refereeing, Serrette became well known and beloved in the Bitterroot Valley and beyond. He donated countless hours and sometimes his own funds to the maintenance of the famous Stevensville Soccer complex, known for having the best grass in the state. Ralph loved his athletes and they loved him, afectionately referring to him as their “Trinidaddy.”
Kim Anderson, Class of 1971
Michael Goicoechea, Class of 1990
Michael was on the All-Conference and All State teams for football his junior and senior years and the All-Conference and All-State teams for basketball his sophomore, junior and senior year. He was selected to play in the 1990 East-West Shrine Game. Michael walked on at the University of Montana for football in 1990. He was selected as one of the Scout Team Players of the Year in December of 1990. He was the starting strong safety, defensive signal caller, and captain on several special teams in 1993 and 1994, helping the Grizzlies win the Big Sky Conference in 1993 and make it to the Division I-AA Semifnals in 1994. At the conclusion of his senior year, he was awarded the Tony Barbour Award for work ethic and character that most exemplifes Grizzly Football. Following college, he was a teacher and coach at Gooding High School in Southern Idaho. In 1997, Michael returned to Stevensville where he was a teacher/coach (Football, Basketball and Track) until the summer of 2000. Michael then pursued a career with the USFS as a Missoula Smokejumper and worked in Fire Management and Leadership. Michael currently serves as the Defensive Coordinator for the Glacier Wolfpack Freshman Football Team.
cancer awareness, and diabetes advocacy within the Atlanta community. Additionally, they have sponsored teacher sabbaticals to underdeveloped countries, further demonstrating their dedication to giving back and making a diference in the lives of others.
Tom Tucker, Class of 1971
Tom was involved in football, basketball and golf while at Stevensville High School. He was on the All-Conference team for football and the All-Conference and All-State teams for basketball his senior year. The football team fell to the conference champions by only 2 points, while the basketball team started 19-0 and fnished with a trip to the state tournament. Tom played basketball and golf for the Western Montana Bulldogs for three and four years respectively. Tom was elected Student Body President during his sophomore year and received the Phi-Delta-Kappa ‘Man of the Year’ award. Tom taught and coached at Hamilton High School for seven years. Tom taught at the University of Arizona for four years before moving back to Billings, Montana to start his software company that would grow into an international company. He guided the Montana Board of Horse Racing. He received the “Heritage Award” from the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame for his work in “Preserving the Western Heritage” in Montana. Tom currently serves as the Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee for the University of Montana Western Foundation where they just completed building a football stadium on campus in Dillon.
Kim was a four-year letterman in basketball, receiving All-Conference and All-State honors his junior and senior years, and the Yellowjackets earned berths to the state tournament his junior and senior years. In track, Kim was state champion in the triple jump, setting a new state Class B record in that event. Kim began his college basketball and track career at Western Montana College, but transferred to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho at semester of his freshman year, to then return to Western Montana College for his junior and senior years, competing in both basketball and track. As a junior, he won the long jump and triple jump at the conference track meet. As a senior Kim was awarded the Maier Miller Scholarship. After graduation Kim and his family moved back to the Bitterroot to begin his teaching and coaching career. He taught at Lone Rock and Victor, while coaching and becoming athletic director. Kim earned his counseling endorsement and later his Master’s Degree from Montana State University in Education Administration. Kim was High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Hardin High School, Assistant Principal at Whitefsh Elementary and Middle School, Principal at Whitefsh Middle School, and Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Sheridan Junior High School in Sheridan, Wyoming, rounding out his 41 years in education.
Ted Ray, Class of 1982
Ted Ray’s time at Stevensville High School was marked by achievements in football, basketball, and track. Ted earned All-Conference and All-State honors in football during both his junior and senior years. Ted was a three-year starter in basketball. Ted claimed the state championship in the 400m in both his junior and senior seasons, while also anchoring the 4x400m relay team to a state title in his fnal year. He placed third in the 100m and 200m events at the state championships in his senior season. Ted served as captain of the football, basketball, and track teams. He also graduated in the top fve of his class, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was honored to serve as president of his junior class. He competed for University of Montana in both football and track from 1982 to 1986. In football, he earned four letters, receiving All-Conference honors in his junior and senior years, and was named conference player of the week. His senior year brought even greater recognition, as he was selected as a preseason All-American and was later chosen by the Washington Commanders in the 1986 NFL Draft. In track, Ted also earned four letters, contributing to a 4x400m relay team that set a school record. Ted had a 15 year career in fnancial IT banking. Alongside his wife, Robin, Ted co-founded several Goddard School franchises in Atlanta and Orlando, where their shared vision for education and community building took root. Their commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond business. Ted and Robin have been deeply involved in charitable eforts, supporting causes such as cystic fbrosis research, breast
Frederick (Fred) Costello, Class of 1991
Fred participated in football, basketball and track while at Stevensville High School. He was an All-Conference running back during his senior year and was an Academic All State while playing sports. Fred played one season of football for Montana State University. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1994 with a degree in Microbiology. Following graduation, he moved to Copenhagen, Denmark where he performed research at a veterinary university for two years. Fred attended medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle and graduated in 2001. Fred completed his three-year Internal Medicine residency at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He remained at UNC for an additional three-year Cardiology Fellowship and fnally fnished training with an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at UNC in 2008. He began work at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center as an Interventional Cardiologist. During his time at St. Luke’s, Fred was a leader as the head of the Cardiovascular Quality board and as President of the Cardiology group of 20 physicians. In May 2023, Fred left St. Luke’s Hospital to start an independent cardiology practice in Boise with three other like-minded cardiologists. They formed High Desert Heart & Vascular and established a new Cardiovascular division at Treasure Valley Hospital with two cardiac catheterization labs and a Cardiology care unit. Fred has a wife Amy, a daughter Paige and a son Peter.
Midwinter 2025, vol. 5: tying fies in winter
For some fly tying is an enjoyable, maybe rewarding, pastime. For me it is much more.
There were the years and endless hours of long haul commercial tying –thousands of dozens for private customers, Orvis, and eventually my own shop.
There were the obligatory dozens of flies to be stashed through the winter until hordes of eager anglers descended on the shop to demand them. There were flies to be tied for my own depleted fly boxes.
And then there were flies to be tied out of sheer whimsy, to once again get back to the intrinsic joy of fly tying.
by Chuck Stranahan
There were those times when the demand for flies in the bins weighed against the onset of fatigue and the desire to be somewhere else, and those times do occur.
During those times the eyes strain to the point of burning, and the coffee keeps you going while it produces jitters that you really don’t need or want. The shoulders and neck spasm against that unrelenting posture, immobile behind the vise, a nagging reminder of that whiplash injury from the car wreck years ago… get up, stretch, shove a different CD into the player, and reach for the Advil.
That’s the worst of it. All fly tying, even commercial fly tying, isn’t like that.
Most of the time I could get up, go do something else for a while, and come back to something I enjoyed, even in the midst of obligation.
And when it’s right, commercial fly tying ascends into another realm of activity; you could call it getting into the flow or being in the zone, as some of the trendy psychologists of the day put it. The more I read of their work the less sure I am of what they mean, but when I’m tying flies and it’s all going right, you could say the process is in a flow or I’m in a certain zone.
Yeah, either of those terms sound about right. It happens with any creative activity. Your hands and mind and soul go on autopilot, your sense of time goes on hold, the process you’re engaged in goes smoothly and without a glitch. Even the broken thread or that small pinch of hair that won’t behave, problems that would drive you nuts at other times, don’t seem to matter.
And while this is happening the mind soars:
Bump
The best memories get replayed. The daydreams take shape and become plans for the future. Insights from the deepest recesses of consciousness, things that have nothing to do with flies or fishing, find their way to the surface.
And that flow or zone still happens when I’m running up a few Caddis Variants for myself, or sitting at a campground picnic bench, building Brindle ‘Chutes for the friends who sit with me a visit as I tie.
No wonder Heather LaFontaine wrote a book about the Zen of fly tying as if it were the source of that enlightenment.
These days, when I want that sense of flow, to be in that zone, I often head for the vise. There’s more to it than amassing a pile of Caddis Variants or Brindle ‘Chutes for next season’s fishing. That smacks of drudgery – and that’s not why I do this.
A few days ago I pulled a sweater, an old favorite, off the top closet shelf. I smiled, as if
greeting an old friend. When I put it on there was a comfortable sense of familiarity about it. I get a similar sense when I sit down at the simple bench I made years ago, and look through its shelves of materials, some fairly new, and some stashed away for years, in search of what I want for some particular fly.
That leads to the time when the materials come together to make a fly, and then a dozen or more of that same fly, as the fingers go on autopilot. The mind casually rambles to recalling exact moments in fishing trips with friends to beautiful places and it all came together. The essence of those experiences are connected to the fly pattern that I replicate, again and again on a winter’s night with music in the background and a comfortable old sweater around my shoulders.
That, if you can call it all one thing, is the joy of fly tying.
That’s what I look forward to every winter.
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Stranahan works on a fy. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.
Margaret ‘Peg’ Whitesitt
Margaret “Peg” Kathryn Whitesitt, 83, of Stevensville passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025 in Stevensville, MT with her family by her side.
She was born, along with her twin brother James “Jim,” on June 28, 1941 in Great Falls, MT to Stewart “Bud” and Margaret Moore. She spent her childhood in Whitehall, making many trips back and forth to her grandparents homestead. Peg attended school in Whitehall, where she was active in the band as a cornet player. She graduated in 1959 and then attended Western Montana College of Education in Dillon for one year. During that time, she met the love of her life, H. Dean Whitesitt of Stevensville.
Dean and Peg were married September 17, 1960 and spent the next 65 years by each other’s side. Dean was frequently heard saying, “We are the perfect team.” After their wedding, they left Montana so Dean could fnish mortuary school in Los Angeles, CA. Upon his graduation, Dean accepted a job in Livingston, MT and they returned to Montana. While in Livingston, they welcomed their daughter, Vicki, into the family. A few years later, a move to Kalispell brought them their son, Dan. In 1972, Dean and Peg were called back to the Bitterroot Valley to take over the family business, Whitesitt Funeral Home, which had been in Dean’s family since 1902. They owned and operated Whitesitt Funeral Home together for 39 years until retiring in 2011.
Peg was a very special woman in many respects, and she was quite the cook. Some of her best-known recipes included her apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade applesauce. Additionally, she was known by the families she and Dean served at the funeral home for “her” lasagna. After funeral services, many families would ask her for the recipe, to which she would quickly reply with the family recipe - simply purchase a full-sized Kirkland Signature lasagna from Costco and bake it. Peg’s other hobbies included sewing, quilting, and when time permitted, oil painting. Throughout her life, Peg was active in many organizations. She frmly believed the motto “When you start a project, don’t be a quitter - see it through.” While in Kalispell, she served as President of the Jayceens. She was a 4-H Leader for the Bitterroot Belles & Beaus and was in charge of the sewing program for many years. Around 1975, recognizing the need for organized summer sports, she partnered with John Munk to start the Stevensville Baseball Association. Peg also served as Secretary for the First Baptist Church of Stevensville. Her community service extended further - she was a longtime volunteer with the Stevensville Civic
Club, serving as an ofcer for many years. She was instrumental in establishing two beloved Stevensville traditions: the annual 4th of July “Pignic” and the December Christmas Stroll, which featured the lighting of Main Street. Peg also chaired the local American Heart Association and was an area leader for fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes.
Peg and the trusty 1968 1/2 cab Bronco played a signifcant role in helping develop a river park at the Bitterroot River in Stevensville. Peg and her good friend Billie Schwartz worked diligently to ensure a walking path was built to the river so that people could enjoy the park and river. Peg also helped found Loving/Helping Hands (now Pantry Partners) in 1976, initially operating out of a small room at the back of Lloyd Eickert’s Realty. She and Dean dedicated countless hours to organizing and running the Creamery Picnic, handling everything from managing queen candidates and selling booth spaces to organizing the Kiddie and Grand Parades.
Peg also gave back to Stevensville by supporting the Fire Department in any way they needed during Dean’s 37 years of service as a frefghter. Additionally, she and many others helped establish the Booster Club Christmas Bazaar, which played a critical role in securing funding to sustain Stevensville High School’s athletic programs. Peg also served on the Board of Directors for Community Medical Center in Missoula.
In retirement, Peg remained active until her health forced her to slow down. Her mornings in retirement followed a familiar routine - at 10 a.m. each day for over 30 years, she and Dean gathered with friends for cofee. This tradition started at Mary’s Place, then moved to Stevi Cafe, and continues today at CJ’s. Peg spent much of her retirement tending to her landscaping and garden, traveling the country with Dean, and supporting her children and grandchildren in everything they did.
In March 1980, Ravalli Republic reporter Martha Burke featured Peg in a spotlight article titled “Peggy Whitesitt Lights Many Candles.” The piece highlighted her philanthropic and volunteer work, her life in the Bitterroot, and her role as a civic leader. Near the end of the article, Peg was quoted as saying, “My one ambition is that my husband and I may successfully raise our two children to be happy, useful members of society.” Without a doubt, she and Dean succeeded in this endeavor. The article began with the words, “This woman has made her corner of the world brighter by lighting not one, but many ‘little candles.’” Over the
Jerry Gordon Lewis
Brian Sutherland
Brian William Sutherland, 84, of Hamilton, passed away January 31, 2025. He was born March 14, 1940 to Dan and Dorothy Sutherland. Brian grew up north of Corvallis on the family farm. He was the second of seven children. Brian graduated from Corvallis High School in 1958. After school he went on to work road construction which took him around the state on numerous jobs. But for most of his life, he found his occupation as a truck driver. For 38 years he worked for Missoula Cartage hauling wood chips from Salmon, ID to the pulp mill in Frenchtown, MT.
Brian married Monica Sorenson in 1963. They went on to have four children, Kimberly, Patrick, Daniel and Alan. Together they built their own log home. Over the years they raised cattle and hay. Brian enjoyed getting out and exploring ghost towns and panning for gold. He spent many years hunting with friends and family. Brian was a member of The Bitterroot Valley Dusters, and he enjoyed old cars. Brian was also a life member of the NRA.
Death Notices
Dr. J. Bruce Beckwith
Missoula - Dr. J. Bruce Beckwith, 91, passed away in the afternoon, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at home, surrounded by his beloved wife Nancy, and his cats. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
February 9, 1939 – February 1, 2025
Jerry Gordon Lewis, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and outdoorsman, passed away peacefully in his home on February 1, 2025, at the age of 85.
Jerry grew up in Wisconsin alongside his siblings, developing a deep love for nature that would shape his life’s path. After marrying his beloved wife Patricia in 1961, Jerry joined the Air Force. The Air Force took him to Amarillo, Texas for bootcamp; Long Island, New York; Rawalpindi, Pakistan; and Mountain Home, Idaho.
After his service, Jerry and Patricia found their home in the Bitterroot Valley. Together, they built a life centered around the great outdoors, working as outftters on the Salmon River in Idaho for several years. Jerry eventually took a position as a trapper for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, a role that perfectly suited his lifelong passion for the wilderness. They remained in Stevensville, Montana for forty-fve years, flling their marriage with hard work, a sense of adventure, humor and some ups and downs. But, as Grandma says with a giggle, “Makin’
Brian always enjoyed having a dog around and will be missed by his pal, Shelby.
Brian is preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Dorothy Sutherland; his brothers, Jonathan, Ladd and Steve; his children, Kimberly and Patrick.
He is survived by his wife Monica; his siblings, Nick of San Antonio TX, Kit of Corvallis, MT and Pam of Albany, OR; his children, Dan (Sarah) of Hamilton, MT, and Alan of Hamilton, MT; and his 7 grandkids, Aidan, Liam, Rogan, Jonathan, Joshua, William and Grace. Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 8th, at 3:00 pm at Daly-Leach Chapel with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Tyler Arnold Bonner - Tyler Arnold, 22, passed away tragically on December 12, 2024. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
years, Peg brightened the lives of all she touched and will be deeply missed - not only by her family but by the entire community.
Peg is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Dean; her daughter Vicki (Jef) Motley; her son Dan; her grandson Trevor (Heidi) Motley; and her granddaughter Abbie Motley. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Peggy (Bill) Haley, all of Stevensville; as well as her nephews, Jef (Mary) Moore of El Cajon, CA, and Ryan Roycroft.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Margaret Moore, her brother, Jim Moore, and sisterin-law June Moore.
Visitation will be held at Whitesitt Funeral Home on Thursday, February 6, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, February 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville, with Pastor John Capen ofciating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, with a reception afterward at St. Mary’s Family Center. Services will be live streamed online at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
In lieu of fowers, Peg’s family requests that donations be made to Pantry Partners (PO Box 806, Stevensville, MT 59870) or the Stevensville FFA Alumni & Supporters (375 Spooner Creek Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870). Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
up is fun.”
Beyond his work, Jerry found joy in simple pleasures—gardening, camping, cooking over an open fre, and pranking his grandchildren. He was happiest under the open sky, surrounded by nature and the people he loved.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Patricia Lewis; his daughter, Shannon (Keith) O’Brien; his sister, Janie (John) Pettit; and his grandchildren, Chad and Carli O’Brien (Madison Bolton); and best friend Sherm Blom. He was preceded in death by his son, Shane, and siblings Carla (Smitty) Ufkin, Ted (Mayona) Lewis, Pat (Ted) Haugo, and Roger (Ruth) Lewis; and mother and father Granville and Fern Lewis, who undoubtedly welcomed him with open arms.
His adventurous spirit, warmth, and sense of humor will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Special thanks to the caregivers and staf at The Auberge, and Partners in Home Care Hospice - you are the A-Team - along with the compassionate care of Just Cremations.
At Jerry’s request, there will be no service.
Carlene Bohn
Stevensville - Carlene A. Bohn, 81, passed away at home in the early morning hours of Wednesday January 29, 2025, with her husband of 43 years, Doug and her son Greg by her side. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary.com.
Rodrick Brooks Florence: Rodrick “Rowdy” Brooks, 64, passed away at home, this morning, January 31, 2025 surrounded by loving family. Brothers Mortuary & Crematory are honored to care for Mr. Brooks. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
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MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of MARIO di LORENZO, Deceased.
Probate No. DP-412025-0000003-IT Dept No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed as Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Michael di Lorenzo and Glenn di Lorenzo, the Co-Personal Representatives, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C., 99 Marcus St. 3rd FL, Hamilton, MT 59840 or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated this 7th day of November, 2024.
/s/ Michae di Lorenzo
Co-Personal Representative
/s/ Glenn di Lorenzo
Co-Personal Representative
CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C.
Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives
By: Megan S. Winderl BS 1-22, 1-29, 2-5-25. MNAXLP
Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Estate of TERRY FRED TANNER, Deceased.
Probate No. DP-412025-0000005-IT
Dept No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to TYLER TASH, the Personal Representative, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C., or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated this 7th day of January, 2025. /s/ Tyler Tash Personal Representative
CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C.
Attorney for Personal Representative By: Megan S. Winderl BS 1-22, 1-29, 2-5-25. MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages License
RALLS INC (Beverly Ralls and Robert Ralls, Owner(s)) has applied to transfer Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages License No. 13-8706520-001 to be operated at OLE’S 15 ROOSTER CASINO, 3912 US Highway 93 N, Stevensville, Ravalli County. The public may protest this license transfer in accordance with the law.
Who can protest this transfer? Protests will be accepted from residents of the county of the proposed location Ravalli County, residents of adjoining Montana counties, and residents of adjoining counties in another state if the criteria in 16-4207(4)(d), Montana Code Annotated (MCA), are met.
What information must be included? Protest letters must be legible and contain (1) the protestor’s full name, mailing address, and street address;
(2) the license number 13-870-6520-001 and the applicant’s name RALLS INC; (3) an indication that the letter is intended as a protest; (4) a description of the grounds for protesting; and (5) the protestor’s signature. A letter with multiple signatures will be considered one protest letter.
What are valid protest grounds? The protest may be based on the applicant’s qualifcations listed in 16-4-401, MCA, or the grounds for denial of an application in 164-405, MCA. Examples of valid protest grounds include: (1) the applicant is unlikely to operate the establishment in compliance with the law; (2) the proposed location cannot be properly policed by local authorities; and (3) the welfare of the people in the vicinity of the proposed location will be adversely and seriously afected.
How are protests submitted? Protests must be postmarked to the Department of Revenue, Ofce of Dispute Resolution, P.O. Box 5805, Helena, Montana 59604-5805 on or before February 15, 2025.
What happens if the transfer is protested? Depending on the number of protests and the protest grounds, a public hearing will be held in Helena or Stevensville. All valid protestors will be notifed of the hearing’s time, date and location. Hearings typically are scheduled within 90 days. A protester’s hearing testimony is limited to the grounds in the protester’s letter. Following the hearing, the Department of Revenue will notify the public whether the license transfer is approved or denied.
NOTICE OF HEAR-
ING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Kelly Kathleen Larot to Kelly Kathleen McCarthy
The hearing will be on February 27, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 16th day of January, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine di Gleria Deputy Clerk of Court BS 1-29, 2-5, 2-12, 2-19-25.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
59840. 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).
imum of 10 feet for trees less than 8 inches in diameter. Larger overstory trees will not be removed. Slash would be masticated or
is
Please direct
tions
Sapphire Valley Estates Major Subdivision. The proposal is a 33-lot major subdivision on 49.22 acres. The subdivision is located before the intersection of Eight Mile Creek Road going eastbound Upper Woodchuck Road. The subject property is located in the NE ¼ of Section 09 and a portion of the SE ¼ of Section 4, Township 10 North, Range 19 West, P.M.M., Ravalli County, Montana. The applicant is Laura Watson – Developer Representative of Watson Homes LLC and the consultant is John Kellogg – Principal Planner of Professional Consultants, Inc. 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
The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will conduct a Public Hearing to review the proposal on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 at 9:30 A.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room (Third Floor) at the Administrative Center. The public may comment verbally, or in writing, at the meeting. Comments and information submitted at the public meeting/ hearing will be considered in the decision on the subdivision. However, please note that only under select circumstances will new information be allowed into the record after the public hearing.
BS 2-5-25.
MNAXLP
SOFT ROCK SCOPING NOTICE
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservations Southwestern Land Ofce Hamilton Unit is in the preliminary process of developing a hazardous fuels reduction east of Corvallis of Soft Rock Road near Coal Pit Creek. The purpose of the project is to mitigate fuels within the Wildland Urban Interface. The proposal would treat approximately 86 acres. Trees would be individually selected for removal to increase crown spacing to a min-
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How can additional information be obtained? The cited MCA statutes are online at leg.mt.gov/ bills/mca_toc/. Questions may be directed to Breanna Gill, Compliance Specialist for the Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, at 444-0710 or Breanna.Gill@mt.gov BS 1-29, 2-5-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Kelly Larot, Kelly Larot, Petitioner.
