A couple weeks ago, House District 85 Representative Kathy Love and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen stopped into the Bitterroot Star ofce to speak on the success of their recently passed House Bill 82 (HB82), in early April. The bill was sponsored by Love, and Knudsen spoke highly of how Love “spearheaded” the bill, and, “as a freshman, knocked it out of the park.”
Knudsen lauded the bill, and noted that it really was meant to tackle several problems the Montana Department of Justice was seeing when prosecuting child sexual abuse crimes. The proposed changes to the law addressed in the bill, according to Knudsen, “came from prosecutor experience, things that they are seeing, as well as gaps in the law.”
One element to see a beneft from the bill will be sting opera-
fastest growing technology in the world,” and according to him, they should try to get out ahead of it.
These images are also being utilized in what Knudsen referred to as, “sexploitation.”
This is where a young person communicates with a criminal who they believe to be a friend. The “friend” convinces the youth to send images or information that the criminal then holds as ransom material to extort the youth. Images can be digitally altered, using AI, to become more explicit, and therefore more dangerous and embarrassing for the victimized youth.
“It’s happening in our own backyard.”
- Kathy Love, HD 85
tions. In sting operations of these cases, a detective or ofcer will pretend to be a child communicating with a criminal. Prior to HB82, the defense often used was that since there was no real victim, there was no crime. Now, with HB82, intention is important, and it is assumed the criminal would have acted upon their intentions. According to Knudsen, “Before it required that you had actually victimized someone,” but as this would mean the direct damaging of a child, potentially for the rest of their life, Knudsen believes that was just not an option.
Also, prior to the passing of HB82, the grooming of a child for these types of crimes was not considered a crime. The bill now makes those actions punishable under Montana law. The bill also addressed Artifcial Intelligence (AI), and especially its use in the alteration of images. Now, the creation or alteration of images to display child-related explicit content is considered child sexual abuse material. According to Knudsen, “AI is the
Criminals can also create realistic personas with AI images that match, in order to hide their identity and appear as anyone they wish. This also afects crimes like identity theft. According to Knudsen, the type of sexploitation activity mentioned above is also often linked to youth suicides. This is also why the Montana Department of Justice is working to spend more time in schools, educating youth on how to “lock down their social media,” and to stay safe from these types of crimes.
Knudsen also mentioned the use of AI applications to improve law enforcement. Being an emerging technology, the Justice Department is looking to incorporate tools aided by AI. According to Knudsen, these tools have genuine law enforcement applications.
Knudsen also talked about elder abuse being another concern, and that these types of scams are common in Montana. With the state having such a high population of elderly,
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many are falling victim to various types of identity theft, and various scams.
Knudsen said this is why they formed an “Elder Justice Unit,” to tackle specifcally these types of cases. Before this unit was created, these cases were given to the Ofce of Consumer Protection, which is civil, and has no criminal element. Knudsen said he always thought this was not an appropriate place to send these types of cases. The Elder Justice Unit is small, and includes a criminal prosecutor and a criminal investigator. However, according to Knudsen, so far it has been very successful.
Returning to the topic of HB82, Knudsen added that HB710 was a companion bill that allowed the Montana Department of Justice to go after criminals with intent to act before children even got involved and became victimized. This second bill goes hand in hand with HB82, and was also passed in early April.
HB710 is attached to the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) Task Force. According to Knudsen, with these types of crimes against children, it’s critical for law enforcement to be able to act quickly. This bill allows ICAC to write their own subpoenas.
Knudsen is also trying to see that there are more ICAC ofcers in the state. “There is absolutely a need,” he said.
According to Love, the ICAC ofcer in Ravalli County told her that when he started he saw about seven cases of child sex crimes in a year. Now, he receives seven tips a month. “It’s happening in our own backyard,” said Love. “Every one of those tips represents a child, potentially.”
Love talked about her experience sponsoring HB82, saying, “I was like a deer in the headlights,” but added that the Attorney General’s Ofce made the process easy. Love also expressed that, “it was a real eye opening experience for me,” and she learned a lot, not only about sponsoring a bill, but what all is involved in prosecuting these types of crimes against children.
Property appraisal notices coming
The Montana Department of Revenue is mailing property classifcation and appraisal notices to all owners of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural land properties. These notices are not tax bills. They include the department’s determination of market or productivity value and the taxable value for your property that will be used by your county treasurer to determine property taxes owed for tax year 2025 and 2026. Importantly, these notices will refect recent rate changes enacted by the 2025 Legislature that were signed into law by Governor Gianforte.
“It’s important that Montana property owners review this information,” said Brendan Beatty, Director of the Montana Department of Revenue. “If property owners wait until property tax bills are sent in November, it will be too late for the depart-
ment to correct property characteristics and make adjustments that may impact the value of the property for Tax Year 2025. We ask Montanans to review the notice as soon as possible and contact us if you have questions.” If property owners disagree with the department’s determination of value for their property, they may submit a Request for Informal Classifcation and Appraisal Review (called Form AB-26) within 30 days of the date on their notice. Owners can electronically submit the form, download it, and fnd more information on the informal review process at revenue. mt.gov. The public can fnd contact information for local Department of Revenue feld ofces by visiting revenue. mt.gov/contact/ or by calling (406) 444-6900, or Montana Relay at 711 for hearing impaired.
House District 85 Representative Kathy Love and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen in the Bitterroot Star offce after speaking at length about a pair of successful bills they championed. Photo by John Dowd.
LAB: demonstrators support RML workers
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restructuring results in a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees.” As part of this efort, NIH was slated to decrease its workforce by approximately 1,200 employees by centralizing procurement, human resources, and communications across its 27 institutes and centers. RML did not go untouched and over a dozen scientists and other employees have already lost their jobs.
“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was quoted saying in the
press release. “This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer.”
“Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefcient even when most of their staf are dedicated and competent civil servants,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again.”
NIH’s new director, Dr. Battacharya, was very critical of NIH’s response to the Covid-19 epidemic and co-authored a treatise at the time which called for allowing the coronavirus to spread natu-
rally to achieve herd immunity.
In a note to RML’s Community Liaison Group, Dr. Bloom stated that the purpose of Bhattacharya and his entourage’s visit was to demonstrate NIH executive level commitment to RML and recognize RML’s role in the NIH’s mission. They were provided with overviews of RML history and current research areas and met with the three Lab ChiefsLab of Virology, the Lab of Bacteriology, and Lab of Neurological Infections and Immunity.
“All three did a terrifc job showcasing the science in their labs,” stated Bloom.
The group was able to tour the RML campus including the
new vivarium, the electron microscopy facility, the lab corridor side of Building 25, and the Intensive Rehabilitation Facility. Additional meetings were held with RML safety, biosafety, facilities, emergency response, and security staf.
Bloom noted that “because the meeting was limited to a single day, Dr. Bhattacharya did not have an opportunity to meet all of the principal investigators but had a very productive session with our trainees.”
“All of the meetings were positive and interactive, and the Director was very interested in and supportive of our research programs,” said Bloom. “The entire visit was extremely successful and both Dr. Bhattacharya and Mr. Schnabel are eager to visit again.”
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A couple shows their support for Rocky Mountain Laboratories at a demonstration last week on the day of a visit from the Director of the National Institutes of Health, of which RML is a part. Photo by Scott Sacry.
O’HARA: nonproft wins community asset award
nings and a big idea, the O’Hara Commons, according to O’Byrne, now works every day to “make the valley a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
The story began with O’Byrne’s small retail garden shop called, “Sam’s Spade.” In 2008, she moved her business to the O’Hara House at 111 S. 4th because she wanted to be more centrally located in Hamilton. The location was perfect, and allowed her to establish some garden beds on the property. The business even had an espresso bar.
She leases the space, and said the owner has been nothing but supportive of the mission. The idea for the change in scope to a nonproft was infuenced by the economic difculties of 2010, which O’Byrne said were hard on many local people. She also found that the O’Hara House was utilized by the public as a community park.
“It was really a community hub,” said O’Byrne. Things all came together to create the beginnings of an organization, founded in programs to educate and assist the public.
O’Byrne said the O’Hara House was convenient as a space for what O’Hara Commons would eventually become. One big reason was because it is a “nice chemical-free environment, with no pesticides or other chemicals used on the grounds.” This was consistent with the nonproft’s mission to help people become more involved with where their food is coming from.
O’Byrne had the garden shop for 13 years, and the last two were spent in founding the nonproft. In 2015, the business transitioned into a non-proft and it became the O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center. When this happened, the retail side of the business went away, and it began to focus on gardening resources and education. O’Byrne’s goal was all about “empowering a resilient community.”
Soon after, they added the farmers market, and started numerous programs, including “curiosity campus,” adult education and more, all revolving
around the mission. O’Byrne wanted to help teach people, including youth, that “food systems are only as healthy as our natural resources that go into it, including water, soil and pollinating populations.” The programs included gardening, cooking with seasonal foods, basket making and much more. They were all about “connecting people with garden- and food-related activities.”
The frst year they had between 250 and 300 programs, which O’Byrne said was too many. As the nonproft grew, they paired down on programs signifcantly, focusing on improving the programs they kept and making them more long-lived and sustainable.
The O’Hara Commons has a lot of volunteers, and a working board, but had only one staf member – O’Byrne – until recently. Now, the nonproft has hired a director of education and outreach, Mackenzie Brosious.
According to O’Byrne, Brosious was brought on to help make programming more cohesive, and to redevelop programs to highlight their educational element in more thoughtful, sustainable and engaging ways.
One such program is the “Old Blue Mood Orchard Program,” which sees them utilize and maintain an orchard outside Stevensville. The place is also used as an educational space, and provides some funding for the nonproft through fruit and produce sales. The orchard is managed by volunteers, program graduates and participants. The A grade fruit they grow is sold at the farmers market, while the C grade fruit is sent to local livestock growers.
The nonproft recently started a youth-led program. So far, it has six youth, ages nine to 13, but it is open to more that are interested. The program
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allows youth to make the decisions, with guidance, and has the goal of creating four seasonal activities they can do annually. The youth handle their own fundraising at the farmers market. The frst activity they are looking at will be called “the great pumpkin rescue.” This activity will have the youth picking up jack-o-lanterns after Halloween and delivering them to pig farms. O’Byrne said this will hopefully keep a lot of those pumpkins from going to waste, and will help local growers make their food stores go further. According to O’Byrne, O’Hara Commons is always looking for volunteers and, “our biggest challenge is the human capacity,” said O’Byrne. Some of their programs take a lot of volunteers to make them happen. One such program, which is the biggest program run by O’Hara Commons, is the organization’s online market. This program allows community members to shop for healthy local produce, online, and then pick it up at various locations. This program was started to give local growers another option to sell their produce. The program has become extremely convenient
for both buyers and growers. Information on this program is available on the O’Hara Commons website.
The O’Hara Commons Farmers Market takes place on Wednesdays, June to September, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Street fairs are held on July 9 and August 6, closing of the street and bringing in all kinds of craftspeople and sellers to feature local art and talent. O’Hara Commons is working to open a winter market as well.
The organization also partners with other organizations like Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA). The O’Hara Commons is helping the RCEDA to develop their food processing and storage facility, which both organizations believe will make a huge impact on the valley as far as helping small-time local growers.
For more information on the O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center, interested parties can visit the organization website, www.theoharacommons. org. The website has many of their programs listed, as well as other ways to get involved with local produce and gardening.
Samantha O’Byrne stands next to the ‘58 Apache truck, up for raffe to raise money for the nonproft.
Photo by John Dowd.
Fly selection 101: I wonder if they’ll hit this?
When the fish are rising our first question is: What are they taking?
We tie on a fly , fish it, and if it doesn’t work we tie on another. Our choices are calculated to show the trout another one like the one he just ate.
We’ve been conditioned to match the hatch. When Ernest Schwiebert wrote his book, “Matching the Hatch” in 1966 he shaped the direction of the sport. If we weren’t matching hatches of aquatic insects in 1966, succeeding generations are certainly doing it now.
by Chuck Stranahan
We start by getting close in size and color to the bugs we see the trout eating, and dial it in from there. Schwiebert’s book is full of elegant pen-and-ink drawings that take it several spheres beyond that. He identified order, family, genus, and species for more mayflies than I care to memorize. He left some of his readers feeling as if he had given them the Golden Key that unlocks the mystery of flyfishing.
Fortunately that turned out not to be so. There’s still a mystery to it, and that’s what makes it fun.
I once watched a fly fishing class where the main speaker told the attendees that fly fishing was all about matching the hatch. I watched the student’s faces sink.
What about learning how to cast, and learning a couple of practical knots that you can tie on the stream to keep yourself fishing after you’ve experienced a tangle or a breakoff, much less when you change flies? What about learning how to wade safely without putting yourself in danger?
First things first. The older generation of writers that preceded Schwiebert called that basic stuff streamcraft. There might be a few pages about the things trout eat and the flies to represent them, but the rest of those older fishing books told how to sneak up on a trout, that sort of thing.
It’s what the old timers called streamcraft that we’ve lost – not hatch-matching.
True, you have to start somewhere with fly selection. But before I do Ilike to be sure of several things, or at least have them in mind in case
I have to change one of them:
Is my leader long enough to keep the line shadow away from the fish? Is my tippet, the long level portion of my leader that attaches to the fly, long and light enough to let the fly drift freely? Am I getting the cast in?
If any of those factors or several others are off, it doesn’t matter which fly I’m using. If they’re right, any of several similar flies might work.
I once watched a pair of anglers try to match a hatch, shortening their leaders in increments as they changed flies and spoiling their chances further with each fly change. Meantime I fished a simple little Grey Hackle Yellow, a fly consisting of nothing more than grizzly hackle in front of a yellow thread body and wisps of more grizzly hackle for the tail and caught several nice trout. Size, shape, silhouette, color, how the fly rests in the water are all things that matter – after you’re rigged up right and get the cast in. Take care of first things first, and have fun.
I once asked my long-time friend Bill Miller how he selected a fly. His answer was memorable, and worth repeating.
“I go out to the stream,” he began. “I put my rod and reel together, and put on my waders. Somewhere along the way I swish the rod a couple of times, just to remember how it feels. Then I walk down to the stream, and pick a spot. I slow down, and wade in, and notice how nice and cool the stream feels against my legs.”
He paused for a moment, smiled to himself, and sipped his lemonade.
“Then,” he went on, “I stop for a minute. I take a deep breath, and I smile. I take a look around. Maybe, overhead, I see an eagle. I might see some trout; maybe they’re taking something right in front of me. Then I open my flybox, poke around a little, and then maybe I reach up into the righthand corner and take out a fly, an old favorite that I haven’t fished for a while - a little yellow oneand I ask myself: ’I wonder if they’ll hit this?’”
Millie the Trout Shepherd checks out my fy selection. Photo courtesy Chuck Stranahan.
Woman’s Club rewards valley high school seniors
Since 1962, the GFWC Bitterroot Woman’s Club has promoted education through various service projects including their High School Senior Scholarship Project. This year’s educational scholarships were given in memory of Mrs. Bobbie Atkins, who was a contributing member of club, being President from 1992 to 1994 and continued her membership past 50 years. The scholarship project started at $40 as funds would allow, to now ofering one $1,000 award to
each of the valley’s high schools. Bitterroot Valley graduates have the opportunity to compete each year, with 26 applicants this year; applications are reviewed, by all members of the Scholarship Committee, looking at an applicant’s volunteer activities & community services, participation in school activities, any job experiences, any other scholarships received along with rank in the graduating class. This year’s 2025 recipients & their college of choice are: Georgia
HOURS: Still no
Continued from page 1
in the ofce and are constantly trying to fnd ways they can save the Town money. This means they often need to miss days, or leave early to save hours. “They manage their time very well,” added Michalson.
Michalson also wanted to remind the public that, as he stated in previous meetings covering the proposed hours change, “on Friday afternoon there’s nobody coming in here.” He said they often do not see anybody coming into the ofce on Friday afternoons. “It’s a waste of the public’s money,” for town employees to be paid to sit in the ofce, when they could be taking that time of to compensate for other hours when they need to be there, like for council meetings, he said.
Another concern voiced by the public over town hall hours was if the decision to shorten them was even legally within the Town’s power. To answer that, after Michalson was done speaking, Barker read the Montana law on the subject, MCA 7-4-102. Under the second bullet point of the code, it states, “The governing body of a third-class city or town may establish days and times when municipal ofces are open to conduct business.” According to Barker, the town is considered a third-class town and, therefore, the Town of Stevensville has the right to change its operating hours, and the council can vote to do so, legally.
At the request of council member Wally Smith, and agreed upon by all
Fisher, Darby – going to Montana Tech; Kyra Des Jarlais, Stevensville –chose Missoula College; Sierra Berry, Hamilton – heading to Brigham Young University; Brook Kidd, Florence-Carlton – will attend Montana State University and Morgan Bisel, Corvallis has chosen Carroll College. These scholarships are made possible through various club fundraisers and the generosity of business donations.
The GFWC Bitterroot Woman’s
Club and the Bitterroot Woman’s Club Foundation congratulate this year’s scholarship winners along with all valley graduates, and we wish you all remarkable success in your new life adventures! 2026 Scholarship applications will open in October and be posted on the club’s website: www. gfwcbitterrootwomansclub.com For more information on the Bitterroot Woman’s Club Scholarship Project, contact Cathy McCormick at (406) 961-8492.
decision on Stevi offce hour change
other council members, the subject was again tabled until an upcoming meeting where all town council members were present, as last week’s meeting was absent council member Cindy Brown.
event
town council meeting was that the town decided to award the bid to Water XYZ for a water distribution system leak detection service. The goal of this was to
attempt to discover where a large amount of water might be leaking, as the town suspects.
Stevensville also welcomed a new Stevensville Police Ofcer, Otis Baugh. Baugh introduced himself before the council, speaking on his time as a bomb technician in the military and how he is excited to be a part of the community and to get involved.
Stevensville Police Chief Boe also spoke to the community and the council. He wanted to remind the public that there will be no freworks show at the park this year. He also stated the hours the public would be allowed to use freworks. These hours were July 3, from 6 p.m. to midnight and on July 4 from 8 a.m. to midnight. The Civic Club will still be holding the Pignic in the park, but there will be no ofcial show. Boe added that there are to be no freworks in any of the town parks, and said all freworks are to cease at midnight. He wanted to remind the public that there are a lot of elderly veterans in this community, and some may have PTSD. “Please be respectful, and enjoy the holiday,” said Boe. Also at the meeting, a member of the public, Sue Devlin, voiced a complaint against Stevensville Pubic Works Director Stephen Lassiter. The complaint noted an aggressive comment he made on a Facebook post. She requested that he be reprimanded. The town council stated that they would look into the matter.
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New Stevensville Police Offcer Otis Baugh shakes hands with Stevensville Police Chief John Boe. Photo courtesy John Boe.
Veterans deserve more than respect
I was talking to a veteran friend whom I have known for 40 years since we were stationed together at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls. He served in Vietnam and in both phases of the war in Iraq, Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He has been diagnosed with leukemia directly related to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam. He told me that the Montana Veterans Administration has gone to hell since Jon Tester was voted out of ofce. This long-time friend, a man I like, admire, and deeply respect, is being forced to look to other states for a VA convalescent home because of his mobility restrictions.
This is a tragic indictment of the current administration.
Montana has the second-largest population of veterans per capita in the United States. In his 18 years in the Senate, Tester, as chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Afairs Committee, sponsored and helped pass dozens of bills that helped veterans and their families. The new VA clinic that opened this spring in Hamilton would not exist without his tireless eforts.
Whether through incompetence or intent, Donald Trump’s administration is now dismantling much of what Jon Tester accomplished, and our veterans are paying the price.
Don’t believe me? Ask a vet.
Evan Schroedel Florence
Intolerable
Senator Daines, tonight on MSNBC, Lawrence O’Donnell laid out the case that our current president is woefully incompetent to lead our nation. This was not the newscaster’s biased opinion, as an opponent if the president over a long period of time. This was a series of video clips that demonstrate the facts in this matter of incompetency, with many examples of the president’s inability to speak with any resemblance of reason. Israel has attacked Iran, and Iran has retaliated. The president says he has no idea about how he is going to respond. We are listening. We know what the man is saying to the nation in a public forum. This situation is becoming intolerable. You are in a position to lead the charge from the foor of the Senate. There are a number of your colleagues who would gladly join you but do not dare to be the frst. Please help our nation rid ourselves of this single person who is the single cause of so much unnecessary anxiety and grief.
Ruth Hazelton Hamilton
Relevance of fag-fipping
Roger DeBrito and the Florence Civic Club are to be commended for their service to Florence and the visual appeal of the 93 bike path in Florence. Individuals like Roger and the Florence Civic Club’s many projects is what defnes and gives communities their unique character and value. Nothing I’m about to say is meant to detract from this reality or the hard work of Roger Debrito or Florence Civic Club.
I simply wish for everyone to consider a broader perspective regarding what is happening to federal locally laid of employees and agencies distressed within the county. Article
Opinion
quotes: “There was no vandalizing, but this was someone who just wanted to disrupt the peace in our community… DeBrito said he fully understands that the nation is ‘in distress’ right now.”
At present 20 to 40 Ravalli County residents have been laid of between the Rocky Mountain Labs and USFS by DOGE. Millions in annual local payroll have been cut. No money is included for Trapper Creek Job Corps in next year’s budget. Under the current Big Beautiful Bill, Medicaid cuts will afect local hospitals, millions of acres of public lands are to be sold and the defcit will increase by trillions of dollars. Where is the concern for the disruption of the unemployed? At what point should the peace of Florence residents be disrupted?
Maritime tradition and protocol mandates an upside down fag fown on board signals a ship in distress. If a ship is in distress it would be foolish to display a fag right-side up. It is not a sign of disrespect but rather desperation. The captain of the ship would be highly unlikely to be oblivious to the distress. Article quote: “Then he got a call from the county commissioners’ ofce, wondering why the fags were upside down.“ In this county are not the commissioners the captain?
In America, the fag represents everyone including the distressed, disrupted and the unemployed. The fag fipper should volunteer to share the work of weekly fag fipping with Roger, thus piquing the interest of the public to ask, “What is happening in and to our communities resulting from present administration’s policies and what is county government and our representatives doing about it?”
Archie Thomas Corvallis
Support for Pres. Trump
Wow! The liberals are freaking out everywhere. We are being told that President Trump’s attempts to reduce the federal workforce, eliminate waste and fraud spending, to deport the hardcore criminals who were allowed to food our country under President Biden and to stop Iran from having nuclear weapons are “unconstitutional.” Well, that’s not the way I see things.
Anyone who has visited Washington, D.C., has to have wondered why we have so many federal buildings housing so many federal workers. What do all these folks actually do? I certainly had those thoughts on my frst visit in the 1970s. If you take the time to investigate these questions you will quickly see that many of the federal agencies were established to react to an immediate need but were initially not intended to become permanent. Unfortunately, once established, they are difcult to eliminate even if their need has passed. President Trump is making an attempt to uncover these un-needed situations.
The DOGE folks have uncovered really unbelievable stupid waste and fraud already which we should all agree needs to be eliminated, but not the liberals. You would think President Trump is trying to close all of our hospitals or something. We continually hear the Democrats contending that he is going to eliminate Social Security and welfare programs. Not the case but it has been shown that all of these programs need to be cleaned up and investigated further.
The recent rioting occurring in many “blue” cities which has resulted from the President’s programs to
identify, fnd and deport hardcore illegal aliens really blows my mind. How can you not be in favor of getting rid of these criminals? Well, you don’t have to look very far to see that the liberals are simply lying about these programs. Recently the mayor of LA was quoted as questioning who would be left to handle childcare and work in gardens if this deportation continues. Federal-level representatives are trying to tell you that these were peaceful demonstrations and that no illegal activity occurred. This is very comparable to the lies we heard about Biden’s mental ftness – don’t believe your eyes.
President Trump’s decision to destroy Iran’s program to produce a nuclear weapon had my complete approval. It has been absolutely clear to me that Iran was a threat to the world should they achieve nuclear weapon capability. The surgical strike that our military carried out will go down as textbook perfect.
I support what President Trump is trying to accomplish. Really, it is what he promised to do and what got him elected.
Jerry Esmay Stevensville
Stop sell-of of public lands!
Did you know that the current Senate Reconciliation Bill requires the sell-of of 3 million acres of federal public lands across 11 western states? Federal lands managed by both the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management on behalf of all Americans would be sold to the highest bidder, and lost forever.
It doesn’t matter if the legislation does not include any federal public lands in Montana. Federal public lands transcend state lines. Just ask wildlife! Call Senator Daines and Senator Sheehy now, and urge them to vote no on the bill.
Also at stake are some of the wildest landscapes in Alaska. The bill would force oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Western Arctic. And another provision would approve a right-of-way to construct a 200-mile road through the Brooks Range and the Gates of the Arctic National Preserve to facilitate huge mining operations. These provisions have no business being included in a federal budget bill, either.
Pick up the phone, and voice your concerns!
Brett Haverstick Missoula
Flag problems and faux problems
It is high time a few facts were ofered up about the rampant misinformation being bandied about regarding U.S. Flag display. There are essentially two sets of circumstances involved here, both involving some combination of populist mythology, limited interest in researching facts, cultured thought imprinting, much too much confdence in well presented b.s. and who knows what else.
The frst of the circumstances I am citing is almost certainly simply a matter of the topic’s rarity. The average adult would never have cause to think about such a thing. The condition of
experiencing severe distress and feeling the need to express distress in the form of a signal to others. The most universally known method of signaling dire distress is to raise your nation’s fag inverted, so in the case of Americans, union down.
Let me quote some synonyms for the word “distress” from sources (Webster and Roget) to head of any Trumpian distortions of word meanings. Distress means discomfort, trouble, afiction, privation, harassment, anxiety. Those are equivalent nouns. A good verb for this is “worry.”
There is no law against this signal. It is a recommended response as a matter of fact. If you are aware that your situation is that of dire distress and you have a fag you can raise, do so, union feld down. Presently many millions of Americans recognize that their country is very much sufering in dire distress. They have chosen to raise the alarm, raise their voices and raise signals of distress.
Let me now turn to the second set of circumstances. This involves unlawful behavior, blatant desecration and severe disrespect for the American fag.
Look around our beautiful valley to see many examples of this appalling behavior. Is it just ignorance of the fag laws? Probably, but ignorance does not come with an excuse clause. The laws of our country are codifed in The United State Code. In the Title 18 set of these Federal Laws is Section 700. Violation of (a)(1) of Section 700 allows for imprisonment of 365 days and a fne (unspecifed).
“Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defles, burns, maintains on the foor or ground, or tramples upon any fag of the United States shall be fned under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both”.
How many defaced, mutilated and defled U.S. fags do you see in people’s yards, on vehicles, teeshirts, hats? Our country’s fag is never to be altered in any way for any purpose. Altered, even its proportions as specifed, is a defacing act. Hundreds of these defaced and defled fags will be sold at the fair this summer. Many more by vendors here and there, not to mention on-line. Out of curiosity I searched online for fags like this. In a very short time I had screenshots of 40 diferent expressions, so cut the session of in disgust. When the one came up of a silhouette of Trump plastered “bigly” upon it and the words “IT WILL BE WILD,” I was fnished. Celebration, on our nation’s fag itself, of the invitation to storm a joint session of Congress. That, an undeniable act of insurrection involving thousands, nothing but an act just as treasonous as Jeferson Davis’s forces attacking a U.S. Army fort on April 12th,1861. The kind of folks who might defle our nation’s fag.
Bill Jones Stevensville
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Hunter Loesch Gatorade Player of the Year
Hunter Loesch’s magical season got a little better last week. The Corvallis high school senior and future University of Montana Griz was awarded the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year for boys track & feld on June 25th.
Loesch made headlines this year in the boys javelin. Loesch’s best throw of the season was 219’11” at the Western A Divisionals on May 17. This was the best throw in Montana for 2025 and the second best throw in the nation during the high school season. Loesch took 3rd place at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon on June 22 with a throw of 217’ 4”. It’s rare for a Montana track & feld athlete to be at this level nationally.
Loesch won the Class A state championship in Kalispell on May 24 with a throw of 209’04”. Loesch also took 2nd
at state (186’8”) in 2024 as a junior, and 3rd at state (176’8”) in 2023 as a sophomore.
“Hunter has matured immensely as an athlete, person and student over the past four years,” said Corvallis’s track head coach Spencer Huls. “His dedication to his craft has been second to none. He is a role model for all student-athletes.”
Gatorade also lauded Loesch for keeping a B average in the classroom and volunteering to help elderly neighbors, and donating his time as a youth tee-ball and football coach.
This is the second year in a row that a track athlete from Corvallis has won this award for track and feld. Corvallis’s Olivia Lewis won the Gatorade Player of the Year for girls track and feld last year.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in each of the 50 states for high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & feld.
Bucs and Red Sox season underway
Bitterroot Bucs
The Bitterroot Bucs are 9-9 on the season and have had an up and down year so far. They lost six games in a row from June 14 to June 19, then won six games in a row from June 20 to June 29.
On Wednesday, June 25, the Bucs defeated Missoula Mavericks A 25-15 in an ofensive slugfest. The Bucs trailed 8-10 heading into the 6th inning, then scored nine runs in both the 6th and 7th to get the win.
For the Bucs, Chase Wagner went 4 for 7 with 6 RBIs, Caleb Katen went 3 for 6 with 5 RBIs, McCoy Endres went 3 for 6 with 3 RBIs, Wes Potter went 3 for 6 with an RBI, and Cole Germane went 4 for 5 and scored 5 runs.
Then on Sunday, June 29, the Bucs had a doubleheader with Glacier Twins A. They won both games,
winning the frst 10-2 and the second 11-8.
In the frst game, Bucs pitcher Mason Arlington struck out 7 and got the win. At the plate, Caleb Katen went 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs, Chase Wagner went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs, and Arlington went 1 for 2 and scored 3 runs.
In the second game, Drew Wagner went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run, Joey Wheeler went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Mason Arlington went 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Braden Drye went 1 for 2 and scored 2 runs.
Bitterroot Red Sox
The Bitterroot Red Sox have had a solid 2025 season so far, and are 17-5 of the year.
On Monday, June 23, the Red Sox hosted Fairfeld and lost 9-10. For the Red Sox, Cash Lawrence had 2 RBIs, Boedy Tadvick went 3 for 4 and scored 3 runs,
and Hunter Harness had 2 RBIs.
Then on Tuesday, June 24, they went to Missoula for a doubleheader with the Missoula Mavericks A squad. They won the frst game 11-1 and the second game 20-5.
In the frst game, pitcher Jude Widmer got the win. At the plate, Elijah McNair-Neal went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Brady DeMoss went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Boedy Tadvick went 2 for 3, scored 2 runs and had an RBI, and Cash Lawrence went 2 for 4 and scored 2 runs.
The Red Sox won 20-5 in the second game. Reese Earp struck out 7 batters over 3 innings. At the plate, Hunter Harrness went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, Boedy Tadvick went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Cash Lockhart went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, Jackson Lubke went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs, and Owen Marston went 2 for 3 and scored 3 runs.
Montana Shrine Baseball Classic
The frst ever Montana Shrine All Star Baseball Classic is to be held at Three Legends stadium in Butte on August 16 at 4 p.m. The game is modeled after the annual Montana East West Shrine football game and the money raised will beneft the Spokane Shriners Hospital.
The high school head coaches of the 35 schools that participated in baseball this year were asked to nominate up to three seniors from their respective teams.
Bitterroot baseball players from Corvallis, Florence, Hamilton, and Stevensville are well represented on the West roster, and the following players made the team: Evan Montague, pitcher, Stevensville; Mason Arlington, pitcher, Florence; Isaiah Testerman, pitcher, Florence; Atticus Southwell, 1st base, Hamilton; Drew Wagner, 1st base, Florence; Joey Wheeler, 3rd base, Stevensville; Reese Earp, 3rd base, Corvallis; Cole Germane, outfeld, Stevensville; Hunter Harrness, outfeld, Hamilton; Owen Marston, outfeld, Corvallis; and Elijah McNair-Neal, utility, Hamilton.
Florence’s Mason Arlington (shown here) was one of eleven Bitterroot Valley high school baseball players selected to the frst ever Montana Shrine All Star Baseball Classic, which will be held at Three Legends stadium in Butte on August 16.
Photo by Scott Sacry.
A Red Sox player slides toward base. The Bitterroot Red Sox have had a solid 2025 season so far, and are 17-5 on the year. Photo courtesy by Hope Earp.
Corvallis’s Hunter Loesch was awarded the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year for boys track & feld on June 25th. Star fle photo.
City of Hamilton to hold freworks display at Fairgrounds
by Dominic Farrenkopf
The City of Hamilton’s annual freworks display will take place on July 4th, beginning approximately at 10 p.m. or dark, at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Last year’s display was amazing, and Hamilton is counting on their pyrotechnician, Bubba Riley, to dazzle us again.
The Ravalli County Fairgrounds has donated the use of the fairgrounds for the annual 4th of July celebration. The display can be watched free of charge from the grounds of the Fairgrounds and is also visible throughout the area.
This year’s display is made possible by the City of Hamilton with generous donations from
neighbors, friends and businesses.
The City of Hamilton wishes all a safe and happy 4th of July. They also ask that the community be respectful and courteous of neighbors when discharging freworks. Fireworks may be discharged in the City of Hamilton on July 4th from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., (midnight) and from 12:01 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on July 5th. Please use good judgment when discharging freworks. Be aware of buildings, trees and foliage near your discharge site. Do not trespass on private property to discharge freworks. It is a good idea to have something to extinguish a fre with, should one start. Again, use good judgment, and have a great Fourth of July!
Hamilton freworks show. Bitterroot Star stock photo.
Sapphire Community Health’s guide to a safe 4th of July
With Fourth of July festivities this week, Sapphire Community Health (SCH) is reminding Ravalli County residents that a safe holiday is a happy one. As families plan picnics, freworks, and trips to the river or mountains, SCH encourages everyone to take basic precautions to protect their health and the wellbeing of others.
“The Fourth of July is one of those iconic American traditions that brings people together,” said Patrick Peer, CEO of Sapphire Community Health. “We want everyone in our community to enjoy the holiday—but to do so with safety in mind. A little awareness goes a long way toward avoiding unnecessary accidents or emergencies.”
Fireworks the smart way
Fireworks can bring excitement to Independence Day— but they can also lead to burns, injuries, or even wildfres if misused. Sapphire Community Health recommends leaving freworks to the professionals and attending one of the local public shows instead of setting them of at home.
If you do plan to use freworks:
• Keep pets and young children at a safe distance.
• Avoid lighting more than one frework at a time.
• Never attempt to relight a dud.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby.
“Homemade shows may seem fun, but they come
with serious risks,” said Peer. “Montana’s dry conditions make fre prevention especially important this time of year.”
Grill with caution
Backyard grilling is a staple of summer, but it can lead to injuries or fres if safety rules are ignored. Make sure your grill is on a fat surface away from buildings or trees, and never leave it unattended while it’s hot.
“Supervising the grill and keeping kids away from hot surfaces are easy steps that make a big diference,” Peer noted. “It’s all about enjoying the food—and keeping everyone safe in the process.”
Beat the heat and stay hydrated
Montana’s mountain sun can be deceiving. Even on a breezy day, it’s easy to get dehydrated or sufer from heat exhaustion. Whether you’re foating the Bitterroot or relaxing in the backyard, remember to:
• Drink plenty of water—especially if consuming alcohol.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours.
• Wear a widebrimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Take breaks in the shade or indoors.
“Many people forget how intense
the sun can be at higher elevations,” Peer explained. “Protecting yourself from sunburn or heat exhaustion keeps your holiday fun instead of frantic.”
Water recreation remind-
ers If your Fourth of July includes river foats, lake trips, or swimming, SCH encourages everyone to practice good water safety. That means:
• Wearing a life jacket during boating or paddle boarding.
• Keeping constant watch on young children.
• Avoiding alcohol while supervising swimmers.
“Montana ofers incredible outdoor experiences, but water safety needs to come frst,” said Peer. “Don’t let a preventable tragedy ruin your day.”
Drive Safely—Don’t Drink and Drive
Many people will be traveling across the valley or into nearby towns to join family and friends. SCH urges everyone to plan ahead if alcohol is part of the celebration. Use a designated driver, call a ride service, or arrange to stay overnight.
“The roads are busier over the holiday, and impaired driving puts lives at risk,” Peer emphasized. “Make a plan before you party.”
Be considerate of veterans and pets
Sapphire Community Health also encourages people to be mindful of how freworks can afect others. Veterans living with PTSD and family pets can both experience distress from loud explosions and bright lights.
“If you’re setting of freworks, consider your neighbors—especially those who may be sensitive to noise,” Peer said. “Celebrating responsibly means looking out for the entire community.”
Evon Lucian Stephani
Evon Lucian Stephani, 90, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at his longtime home west of Woodside. He was surrounded by his wife of 51 years (Linda), his three sons (Robert “Bob”, Jonathan “Jon” and Chris) and his daughter-in-law (Brenda). He was also loved and in the hearts of his other two daughtersin-law (Krista and Janie) and his fve grandchildren (Addison, Madelyn, Charles, Wyatt and Owen). He
Bonnie Zacha
Corvallis - Bonnie (85) peacefully passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior, June 26, 2025. It was close to lunch time when Jesus came for her. She was ready for a party in Heaven with her family and friends that went before her.
Bonnie was born in Hamilton, Montana, to Frank and Minnie Taulman in 1940. She grew up in the round house on Marcus Street that her dad built. Bonnie graduated from Hamilton High School in 1958. She married Walker E. (Sonny) McVicar in June of 1958. Sonny was killed in a tragic accident in December of 1958. Their daughter Edel was born in August of 1959. In 1960, Bonnie’s brother Darryl introduced her to a friend of his, Russell Zacha. They fell in love and were married in 1961. Bonnie moved from the big city of Hamilton to live on a big ranch northeast of Corvallis. Russell adopted Edel as his own daughter. Their son Alan was born in 1963. They lived a great life on the ranch. Bonnie got into painting ceramics and before long she had her own kiln. The business boomed. She held classes for people to come and learn to do ceramics. She and Russell invented the Bon-Del Sponge brush. They acquired a US patent on it. They manufactured the sponge brushes and traveled to shows across the country. Bonnie was very artistic and published her original techniques. She was featured in many ceramic magazines, and she won many awards for her work. She was asked to teach her techniques all over the country and even went to Australia to teach there. Her business turned into a wholesale supply company where she sold many unique items for the ceramic business. That business still lives on today as “Bon-Del Company.”
Bonnie loved horses. She especially loved miniature horses and ended up getting the whole family
was preceded in death by his parents (Peter and Charlotte), sisters (Lillie, Lucille, and Roberta) and brothers (William “Bill” and Robert “Bob”).
Evon was born November 10, 1934, in Fort Benton, Montana. His family moved from Square Butte to the Bitterroot Valley in 1938. He graduated from Corvallis High School in 1952 and joined the United States Air Force from 1954-1958. During his service, he discovered his love of electronics while stationed on a radar base during the Korean War on the Japanese island of Shimokoshiki-jima. Following the completion of his military service, he attended Montana State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1962.
After graduating from college, Evon worked at the National Reactor Testing Station (now called the INL) outside of Idaho Falls and then later at various laboratory sites in Los Alamos, NM. He was responsible for designing the test/measurement equipment used on numerous research experiments conducted by those sites. Evon was highly respected for the accuracy and dependability of the equipment he designed, which were critical to the success of those programs.
While working in Los Alamos, Evon met the love of his life, Linda Maurine Simpson. After a couple years of courtship, Evon presented Linda with an engagement ring which led to their marriage at the Los Alamos Church of Christ on June 22, 1974. Evon and Linda were married for 51 years spending most of that time living in Montana.
Evon fully retired in the summer of 1990 at which time he moved his family from New Mexico back to the “Stephani Homestead” west of Woodside. Once back, Evon began raising beef cattle on the family
involved. She raised miniature horses and miniature donkeys. She took them to shows across Montana. She also entered them in the local parades. The name of her ranch was “Bon D Tiny Hooves.”
As a family, they did a lot of fun things together. They went boating, skiing, and motorcycle riding. Bonnie had her own motorcycle. They would all do an annual ride up to Burnt Fork Lake in the summer.
She loved all arts and crafts- knitting, cross stitching, and she also loved to shop. It was hard to get her back in the car once she got into a store. You could fnd her by the jingle of her bracelets. She wore at least a dozen at a time. She preferred sterling silver to gold and loved turquoise and western wear.
She was a gift giver by nature, always making something special for her friends, family, and even strangers. She loved giving. She was the type that would make friends with everyone. She always had a smile on her face. She loved to have fun and loved family so much and getting together for parties and picnics.
She loved spending time with her grandkids, and enjoyed taking them shopping with her. They would come out of the store with a cart full of fun things.
She is so greatly missed. She is the one that held the family together by staying in touch with all the long-lost relatives.
Thank you to the faithful caregivers at Arron Care, she loved all of you.
She is survived by her daughter Edel (Pat) Howard of Hamilton; son Alan (Stacy) Zacha of Corvallis; grandchildren Warren Nelson, Travis Nelson, Seth Smith, Huck Pfeifer, Garrett (Jessica) Zacha, and Kara Walker; great grandchildren Mackenzie, Delanie, Brytten, Trinity, and Collin.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Russell Zacha; frst husband Walker E. McVicar; her parents Frank and Minnie Taulman; her brother Darryl Taulman; her grandson Michael Zacha.
Death Notices
Jane Pfau
Missoula - Jane Pfau, 69, passed away peacefully at home, Thursday, June 26, 2025 with her loving family by her side. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary. com
Toby W. Bolinger
Darby - Toby W. Bolinger, 74, of Darby passed away Monday, June 23, 2025 at his home of natural causes. Services will be announced. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
property, cultivating the best vegetable garden in the Bitterroot and constantly working to improve the land that was so dear to him since his childhood. Evon also volunteered his time helping in the Corvallis School system where he worked with kids on projects including mentoring the robotics team or teaching classes on electronics. Evon spent multiple years on the board for the Mill Lake Irrigation District where he led the multi-year project to perform maintenance and improvements on the Mill Lake dam. Evon was recognized by the Forest Service for his years of partnership with them while serving as a commissioner for the Mill Lake Irrigation District.
Evon always found places to hike, hunt, and fsh while living in Montana, Idaho, and New Mexico. Some of his favorite locations included the Dry Creek area in eastern Idaho, Mill Canyon and Tag Alder Lake within the Bitterroot National Forest. Evon took his sons, grandkids, friends, and other family members on countless hiking, hunting, and fshing trips over the years in an efort to share his love of the outdoors. Evon also loved Montana history, cutting frewood, running cattle, maintaining irrigation ditches, and tending to the 80-acre “Stephani Homestead”. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends that would come by to visit he and Linda. Graveside services will be held at the Corvallis Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025. Military honors will be presented by the Corvallis American Legion Post #91. A reception will follow at the Daly Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton. Condolences may be left for the family at dalyleachchapel.com.
In lieu of fowers, the family asks for memorials to be made to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.
Peter E. Walther
MissoulaPeter E. Walther, 95, passed away peacefully in the afternoon of June 20, 2025 at Saint Patrick Hospital with his family by his side. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com
www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Meridith Clearman
Missoula - Meredith Clearman, 93, passed away peacefully at St Patrick Hospital in the afternoon of June 24, 2025, surrounded by family. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
John Elicker
Post FallsJohn Elicker, 80, passed away late in the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Memories and condolences may be shared at www. brothersmortuary. com
She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at Daly-Leach Chapel with a reception to follow. Burial at Riverview Cemetery to follow the reception. Condolences may be left for the family at
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Legal Notices
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Teena Barton, Teena Barton, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-41-20250000181-NC
Dept. 1
Howard F. Recht
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Teena Louise Barton to Teena Louse Reynolds.
The hearing will be on July 16, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 2nd day of June, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court
By: Janenne Sorenson Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 6-11, 6-18, 6-25, 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE Stevensville School District Transportation RFP
Stevensville School District is soliciting bids for student transportation bus contracting services for routes serving students residing within the Stevensville School District beginning in the 2025-2026 school year for a period of up to fve years. The District is seeking bids for two options: (1) all daily transportation routes as well as for curricular, extracurricular, or other school activities; and (2) nine daily transportation routes. Bid information packets can be obtained at the District Ofce for the Stevensville School District, 300 Park Avenue, Stevensville, MT 59870 or by calling Dave Thennis at 406-777-5481. Completed bid packets must be received by the District no later than 3:00 PM (MST) on July 7th, 2025. All proposals must be plainly marked “Response To Transportation RFP2025-2030,” and no faxed or emailed proposals will be accepted. Proposals received after this date and time will not be considered.
The bid opening date is July 7th, 2025 at 4:00 PM (MST) in the Stevensville School District Ofce located at 300 Park Avenue, Stevensville, MT 59870.
This request for bid responses does not commit the Board of Trustees for Stevensville School District to enter into any agreement, or to pay any expenses incurred in the preparation of any response to this request, or to ultimately procure any contract for the provision of these services. The Board of Trustees expressly reserves the right to waive any formalities and to reject any or all proposals.
BS 6-18, 6-25, 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
High Post Subdivision Continuance Hearing Ravalli County has received an application for a 5-lot minor subdivision, located on Tract A of CS #509504-F, existing Tax ID: 1376313 on 24.5 acres. Florence is approximately 5.5 miles southwest of the subject property. The subdivision property is located within the Florence School and Rural Fire Districts. The proposed lots will be served by private wells and septic systems. The applicant is Michael Maine of IMEG Corp., representing 2DSG LLP. The subdivision is referred to as High Post Subdivision. A copy of the Preliminary Plat is posted on our Website at https://ravalli. us/178/Subdivisions-Exemptions. 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. 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 held a Public Hearing on the proposal on June 9th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. The BCC voted to continue the hearing to July 7th, 2025 at 1:30pm, in the County Administrative Center (BCC Conference Room, 3rd Floor). The BCC will accept verbal or written comments from the public. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the BCC may make a fnal decision on the subdivision proposal. 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 6-25, 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
RFP FOR AUDIT SERVICES
RFP Due Date: Friday, July 18, 20255:00pm
The Board of Directors of the Corvallis (MT) County Sewer District invites qualifed certifed public accounting frms licensed to practice in Montana to submit proposals for the provision of fnancial audit services according to the requirements of this Request for Proposal (RFP). The audit will be conducted subject to the Single Audit Act and its implementing regulation at 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F regarding audit requirements.
For the fscal year ending June 30, 2025. To obtain a copy of the full solicitation or if you have further questions, please contact Lyndi Henson, District Clerk, via email at corvallissewer@gmail.com or visit http://bit.ly/3TqxCYZ
BS 6-25, 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PENDING ATTACHMENT OF A TAX LIEN
(MCA 15-17-122)
On Thursday, August 1, 2025, by 5:00 pm, the Ravalli County Treasurer will attach a property tax lien to property on which the 2023 taxes are delinquent. The delinquent taxes, including penalties, interest and costs are a lien upon the property and that unless delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs are paid prior to August 1, 2024 a tax lien will be attached and may be assigned to a third party.
A complete list of all property on which taxes are delinquent is on fle in the ofce of the Ravalli County Treasurer and is open to public inspection and examination on Monday thru Friday from 8:15 am to 5 pm. For further information, please contact the Ravalli County Treasurer at 215 S. 4th St., Suite H, Hamilton MT 59840 or at 406-3756580.
BS 6-25, 7-2, 7-9, 7-1625.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will conduct a public hearing to consider revoking an Agricultural Covenant which encumbers Parcel (1079510) located of Leavens Road, Conner, MT on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 at 1:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room (Third Floor) of the County Administrative Building located at 215 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840. The covenant is recorded under Document #748387 and does not allow buildings with water or sanitation. The request is on behalf of MT FWP.
Information describing the proposals are available for inspection at the Planning Department, located at the County Administrative Building, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite F, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Written comments are encouraged to be submitted to the Planning Department prior to the public hearing and will be forwarded to the BCC for consideration at the public hearing. The public may comment verbally or in writing at the hearings. Comments and information submitted at the public hearing will be considered in the decision. Submit email comments to: planning@ rc.mt.gov, and questions can be asked by phone at 406-375-6530.
BS 6-25, 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
Naomi J. Cheeney
Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 363-9060
Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KENNETH MARTIN NUXOLL, Deceased.
Case No.: DP-41-20250000075-11 Dept. No. 02 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Thomas E. Nuxoll and Lynn E. Boehm, the Co-Personal Representatives, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED the 23rd day of June 2025.
/s/ Thomas E. Nuxoll, Co-Personal Representative /s/ Lynn E. Boehm, Co-Personal Representative BS 7-2, 7-9, 7-16-25. MNAXLP
Kyle J. Workman
State Bar No. 65442127 WORKMAN LAW, PLLC P.O. Box 1167 Hamilton, MT 59840 T: (406) 802-2198 kyle@workmanlawmt. com
Attorney for Plaintifs MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY ALBERT MAGOON AND LENA MAGOON Plaintifs, vs. SOREN SORENSEN (DECEASED), THE ESTATE OF SOREN SORENSEN, AND ALL UNKNOWN OWNERS, UNKNOWN HEIRS, OR ANY UNKNOWN DEVISEES OF ANY DECEASED PERSON, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS, UNKNOWN, CLAIMING OR WHO MIGHT CLAIM ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE OR INTEREST IN OR LIEN OR ENCUMBRANCE UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFF’S OWNERSHIP OR ANY CLOUD UPON PLAINTIFF’S TITLE THERETO, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM OR POSSIBLE CLAIM BE PRESENT OR CONTINGENT, Defendant. Cause No. DV-41-20250000180-QT Dept. No.: 2 SUMMONS THE STATE OF MONTANA TO ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DE-
SCRIBED IN THIS SUMMONS OR ANY PART OF THE REAL PROPERTY, DEFENDANTS, GREETING:
You are required to appear and answer the complaint of Albert and Lena Magoon, Plaintifs, fled with the Clerk of this Court, within 60 days after the frst publication of this summons, and set forth what interest or lien, if any, you have in or upon that certain real property or any part of the real property situated in the county of Ravalli, state of Montana, particularly described as follows:
A tract of land in the SE1/4NW1/4 of Section 30, Township 8 North, Range 20 West, P.M.M., Ravalli County, Montana, and being more particularly described as:
Beginning at a point 1840 feet North of the northeast corner of Lot 11, Block 2, in the Town of Victor, known as Appolonio, Watters & Co., corner thence running 16 rods West, thence running 10 rods North, thence running 16 rods East and thence South 10 rods to the place of beginning.
Deed Ref.: 198-4
TOGETHER WITH a portion of land adjacent to the relocated boundary line as shown on the plat of Hochhalter Subdivision as recorded March 3, 2002 in Instrument No. 492536.
EXCEPTING THEREFROM Lot I, Hochhalter Subdivision, as recorded March 5, 2002 in Instrument No. 492537. You are further notifed that, unless you appear and answer, the Plaintifs will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court this day of June 20, 2025.
State Bar No. 65442127 WORKMAN LAW, PLLC P.O. Box 1167 Hamilton, MT 59840 T: (406) 802-2198 kyle@workmanlawmt. com
Attorney for Plaintifs MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY ALBERT MAGOON AND LENA MAGOON , Plaintifs, vs. SOREN SORENSEN (DECEASED), THE ESTATE OF SOREN SORENSEN, AND ALL UNKNOWN OWNERS, UNKNOWN HEIRS, OR ANY UNKNOWN DEVISEES OF ANY DECEASED PERSON, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS, UNKNOWN, CLAIMING OR WHO MIGHT CLAIM ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE OR INTEREST IN OR LIEN OR ENCUMBRANCE UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFF’S OWNERSHIP OR ANY CLOUD UPON PLAINTIFF’S TITLE THERETO, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM OR POSSIBLE CLAIM BE PRESENT OR CONTINGENT, Defendant. Cause No. DV-41-20250000180-QT Dept. No.: 2 NOTICE under 70-28208, MCA COMES NOW Plaintifs Albert and Lena Magoon, by and through undersigned counsel, Kyle J. Workman, of Workman Law, PLLC, and hereby gives notice pursuant to 70-28-208, MCA, that the following individuals, that as heirs of Soren Sorenson may have a claim to the property at issue.
Aksel James Sorensen 110 Church St. Stevensville, MT 59870
Nathan Kelley Sorensen PO Box 951
Wells, NV 89835
DATED this 20th day of June 2025.
Respectfully Submitted, WORKMAN LAW, PLLC /s/ Kyle J. Workman
Attorney for Plaintifs BS 7-2, 7-9, 7-16, 7-23, 7-30-25.
MNAXLP
Daniel Browder, Esq. BROWDER LAW, PLLC 217 N. 3rd St., Ste. J Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406-361-3677
Fax: 406-361-2999
Email: browderlawmont@gmail.com
Attorney for Andrea Poulin
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN DAVID MUOIO, Deceased. Cause No. DP-2025-50
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 frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Andrea Poulin, return receipt requested, ℅: Browder Law PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 24th day of June, 2025. BROWDER LAW, PLLC /s/ Daniel Browder
Attorney for Andrea Poulin, Personal Representative BS 6-4, 6-11, 6-18-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF STOCKMAN BANK OF MONTANA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BRANCH OFFICE Notice is hereby given by the Applicant, Stockman Bank of Montana, 700 Main Street, PO Box 250, Miles City, Montana 59301, that it has applied to, or will apply to, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Montana Department of Administration, Division of Banking and Financial Institutions for permission to establish a new branch at the following location: 170 S. 2nd Street, Unit B, Hamilton, Montana 59840.
Any person wishing to comment on this application may fle his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at the appropriate FDIC ofce at 25 Jessie Street at Ecker Square, Suite 2300, San Francisco, CA 94105 not later than July 17th, 2025. The non-confdential portions of the application are on fle at the appropriate FDIC ofce and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the non-confdential portion of the application fle will be made available upon request. Publication Date: July 2, 2025. Stockman Bank of Montana Miles City, Montana /s/ Jefrey D. Johnstone Chief Accounting Ofcer BS 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Notice is hereby given to the persons hereinafter named and to whom it may concern. For enforcement of liens in the amount of $675, Venture West Storage, LLC, located at 1008 Hwy 93 N. Victor, MT, 59875, will sell the contents of storage unit E21, occupied by Donna Bishop, at auction to
the highest bidder. Auction will be held at Venture West Storage, unit E21 on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. BS 7-2-25.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE Middle Fairview Subdivision (5 Lot Minor Subdivision), Tract C of CS #647364-F, existing Tax ID: 1376372. Ravalli County Planning has received an application for a 5-lot minor subdivision on 20 acres. Direct access to this property is from Fairview Lane (Privately Maintained) and Two Creeks Terrace (Privately Maintained). The subdivision will add approximately 1.5 new children to the Florence School District and 45 new vehicular trips per day to the road system. The application states the subject property does hold 11 water shares from Eight-Mile Creek Irrigation Ditch Company. Stevensville is approximately 14.2 miles south, being the nearest municipal boundary Florence is approximately 5.5 miles southwest of the subject property. The subdivision property is located within the Florence School and Rural Fire Districts. The proposed lots will be served by private wells and septic systems. The applicant is Sombra Investments LLC and is represented by Tamara Ross of IMEG Corp. The subdivision is referred to as Middle Fairview Subdivision. A complete copy of the application packet is available for viewing at the Ravalli County Planning Department ofce, in the County Administrative Center, 215 S. 4th St., Suite F, Hamilton, MT 59840. A copy of the Preliminary Plat is posted on our Website at https://ravalli.us/178/Subdivisions-Exemptions. Written comments are encouraged to be submitted to the Planning Department prior to the hearing, and will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The BCC Public Hearing to review the proposal originally scheduled for Monday, July 7th, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. has been rescheduled to July 22nd, 2025 at 1:30 pm in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room (Third Floor) at the County Administrative Center (215 S. Fourth Street, Hamilton, MT 59840). 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 7-2, 7-9-25.
MNAXLP
OG-25-06-270
Legal Notice
The Ravalli County Planning Department is inviting public comment on foodplain application FA-24-09 for work proposed within the FEMA regulated foodplain of the Bitterroot River. The applicant is Greg Keller. The project is proposing to construct a riding arena in the food fringe area. The project site is located at 54 Deer Run Trail, Stevensville, MT in Section 28, Township 9 North, Range 20 West, Ravalli County. Detailed information regarding this application is available for review at the Ravalli County Planning Department at 215 S 4th St, Suite F in Hamilton. Written comments may be mailed, hand-delivered or emailed (planning@rc.mt. gov) and must be received by July 16th, 2025 (Reference Application #FA-2509).
