On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Hamilton Lions Club met in front of Hamilton City Hall to commemorate a community bench in honor of long-time Lions Club member, the late James “Jim” Whitlock. In attendance were Whitlock’s son Randy Whitlock, who drove out from Whitefsh, and daughter Trudy Dickerson, who came from Deer Lodge.
To speak on behalf of the Hamilton Lions Club, and to give an address remembering Whitlock was Lions Club member Dan Rothlisberger. According to him, this bench has been over a year and a half in the making, and it is more than a commemoration of a man. It is a “monument to Lionism,” said Rothlisberger.
Beginning the dedication, Rothlisberger also mentioned Jim’s wife, Jo Ann Whitlock, who was extremely supportive of everything Jim did. “He couldn’t do it without her support.” They were married for 67 years and both supported the community in various ways, as well as each other.
It was ftting that the bench was placed in front of Hamilton City Hall because Jim was also Hamilton mayor for 10 years. The current Hamilton mayor, Dominic Farrenkopf, submitted a letter to be read at the dedication. In it, Farrenkopf stated,
“We are here today to honor the life of James ‘Jim’ Whitlock and his contributions to the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Lions Club, and Lost Trail Ski Patrol. Serving as Mayor from 1982 to 1992, Jim Whitlock oversaw the purchase and remodel of the Hamilton City Hall at 223 South 2nd Street. He oversaw the relocation of the Police Department, City Court, and City Administration ofces from what is now the historic Fire Hall to the current City Hall location. Mayor Whitlock also facilitated the completion of the Community Room that continues to serve as City Council Chambers and a gathering place for public and private events. Service to the City of Hamilton also included terms on the Hamilton Police Commission, Study Commission, and Zoning Board. We are proud to display this bench as a lasting reminder of Jim Whitlock and his contributions to the City of Hamilton and Hamilton Lions Club.”
Jim was a member of the Hamilton Lions Club for 53 years, serving in a variety of positions from Lion Tamer to club President. He was supportive of every community improvement project brought forth. He was also a “Legacy Member,” because he was sponsored by an original charter member of the Hamilton Lions Club. The Lions have been in the valley
for over 95 years and Jim was one of the last to be directly connected to those who started it in 1930.
Randy noted that Jim was a copious blood donor, saying, “I don’t know how many gallons of blood” his father donated. Whitlock was also a member of Lost Trail Ski Patrol for over 50 years, and was involved with skiing across the state. According to Trudy, who mentioned how in the early days of the Job Corps, even though the kids there were a little shunned as was the program, her father used to always have some of the youth over for dinner with the family.
According to Randy, looking back at their life with their father, he said “It was just part of your life, but going back over it, you’re like, holy cow.” He said they were part of so much, and their father did so much for everyone. Trudy said, “It was just what we did when we grew up,” speaking of how involved her father was in Ski Patrol and statewide skiing. They were
able to ski in just about every ski resort in the state, many of which are no longer around, and they spent countless hours at the Lost Trail ski area.
“It’s hard to imagine how he came up with so many hours to put into the community,” said Rothlisberger. “Not that many people have been that engaged for that long,” and Jim “set the bar pretty high.” Rothlisberger
noted that the slogan of the Lions is “We serve,” and said that Jim “was the personifcation of that.”
Rothlisberger fnished the dedication by saying that he hopes Jim inspires people today with his selfess service, and that the Hamilton Lions Club is “proud to be the organization that sponsors this bench.”
MUSEUM: gearing up for annual chocolate tasting event
Continued from page 1
The event is sponsored by Farmers State Bank, which helps the event even happen. Hosko added that there are around 40 candy makers. “That’s just a huge donation right there,” she said, as the candy can be expensive. According to Ingrahan, “everything goes into the museum,” and everything is appreciated.
Tout said, “People are excited about this event coming up, people are happy,” and that is one reason “among other reasons, why I like doing this.” Many
of the current board has been involved with the museum for as long as it has been around. According to Langton, “When you get a job here, you’re here for life.”
Riedman is the only one who has only been involved for a couple years. However, most of them have been involved with Victor history for a long time. The rest of them even grew up and went to school together in Victor. The museum has been in operation for 15 years. In all that time, the museum has grown,
and so has its needs. The museum was mostly Victor stuf in the beginning, but over the years has become a place featuring a lot of valley history. They now have a shipping container which they use as extended storage, because they ran out of room where they were previously storing items. Farmers State Bank donates the space for the container on a patch of land near the museum. The board and volunteers are now looking for someone who might help donate shelves for the container
because many of the items are kept on the foor. The museum board and volunteers also wanted to announce that they have just added several display sign posts over the last summer. These feature information on the various outdoor exhibits. These were created by the Victor School FFA, with help from the Stevensville School FFA. The Victor Heritage Museum is located at the
corner of Blake and Main Streets in Victor.
In back row, Tom Tunny, David Hill, James Baugh, Tracy Baugh. In center row, Alene Tunny, Cheryl Rothlisberger, Dan Rothlisberger, Barbara Orlando, John Orlando. In front row, Trudy Dickerson and Randy Whitlock, along with Tanzy the dog. Photo by John Dowd.
Inaugural Veteran’s Day Dinner sells out
It all started with a novel idea proposed by Harris Himes at a gathering of all of the valley’s American Legion posts.
“We need to sponsor a Veteran’s Day Dinner for all the Veterans in the Bitterroot Valley,” said Himes. And so began a multi-months’ long planning for the inaugural Bitterroot Veterans’ Appreciation Dinner, starting way back in April.
As the planning progressed, the citizens of the Bitterroot Valley supported the eforts wholeheartedly. The organizers specifcally chose to hold this event to honor local veterans and not to use it as a fundraiser. They were humbled to have so many donors graciously helping to achieve that goal.
Starting with Farmers State Bank who donated the rental of the Event Center at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds and agreed to sell tickets at each of the branch banks in the valley. Other organizations quickly stepped forward to donate items and/or money to help cover expenses or enhance the planned program.
Trapper Creek Job Corps Culinary Arts program catered the event. They had hoped to sell about 200-300 tickets, and when that number exploded to a sell-out of 600 tickets, the Trapper Creek crew handled the job almost without blinking an eye. Steve Studer, Culinary Arts Instructor, led his students through this monumental class project. The menu of brisket, BBQ chicken, potato salad, baked beans and rolls was tasty and professionally served by eight culinary arts students. They were assisted by three players each from the American Legion baseball teams, the Hamilton Red Sox and the Bitterroot Bucs.
Tony Hudson allowed the use of several of his large American fags to be displayed on the walls of the Event Center. He also loaned several pieces of restaurant equipment for use by the Job Corps.
The Bitterroot Community Band provided both classic and patriotic music during the program. This is a 100% volunteer group of musicians who play at various community events including the Memorial Day Parade in Corvallis, the Creamery Picnic, the summer music series at Claudia Driscoll Park and a combined Christmas Concert with the Missoula Community Band at the Victor Performing Arts Center.
Patriot Pin Up Montana held a 50/50 rafe and helped with door prizes as well as posing for photos with the guests. This is a 100% volunteer organization of women who fundraise to send care packages to our active duty military members every six months, attend Honor Flight homecomings to welcome home our heroes and volunteer at the SW Montana Veteran’s Food Pantry, among other things. Luscious desserts of cookies and cupcakes were donated by several pop-up bakers/farm stands in the Bitterroot. Donors included Baking Bad Bakery, Cozy Crumb Cookies, GG’s Mixed Delights Bakery, G&M Clucker
Farm Stand, Huckleberry Hut and Nene & Papa’s Cluck Hut, Hope Anderson and Rockin Rose Farm, as well as the Culinary Arts Program Class B at Stevensville High School.
Emcees were Doug Mason of American Legion Post 91 in Corvallis and Rachel Lowitt, who is a former Miss Teen Rodeo Montana and is now Marketing Coordinator for the Montana Legacy Project which provides scholarships for women in rodeo among other rodeo/equine projects. They kept things fowing early in the evening, announcing door prize winners and talking about the history and mission of the American Legion. They then introduced the more formal part of the program with the posting and retiring of colors. This ceremony was fawlessly performed by four members of the Color
Guard from the Bitterroot Valley Military Program. Once the colors had been posted, the Missing Man POW/ MIA solemn ceremony was conducted.
The keynote speaker for the evening, Colonel Ethan E. Sabin, Deputy Commander, 57th Wing Nellis AFB, Nevada was then introduced. He spoke about the importance of the Legion’s continuing presence and involvement in our Bitterroot community, especially regarding our youth and their civics education and participation in the activities of their community.
Honored guests included Marc and Helen Sabin, Ed Sperry, Jeannie Doyle, and Ron Osborn.
The evening concluded with the retrieval of the colors, a closing prayer and the playing of Taps.
Many attendees have expressed hope that this event can become an annual program in the future.
Barrel
Above, the event sold out crowd of more than 600. Below, members of the Bitterroot Valley Military Program. Photos courtesy Kay Gibbons
Above, members of Pin Up Girls Montana. Photo courtesy Kay Gibbons
WATER: citizen scientists provide critical data
Continued from page 1
the north valley area and even being used as fll in the installation of stream culverts.
A study conducted by Bitterroot College UM hydrology professor George Furniss and graduate students confrmed lead contamination that could be traced back to the Curlew Mine tailings. A video of the study and results can be accessed on the BRPA website www.bitterrootriver.org (click on Bitterroot River Health Check and click on projects).
“We don’t want the upper Bitterroot River to sufer the same fate and have an out-of-state company come in and contaminate a pristine watershed and potentially the entire Bitterroot River and leave the public to clean it up,” said Roubik. He said contamination from REE mining is documented to be worse than conventional mining, involving potential radioactive contamination and, in this case, potential asbestos contamination as well.
“The Bitterroot River is the lifeblood of our valley,” said Roubik. “It is the foundation of the valley’s economy which is primarily based on agricultural and recreational enterprises, both of which require lots of clean water.” He said the Bitterroot River Basin is closed to any new water right appropriations due to the over-allocation of the resource already. “Mining operations, especially REE mining, require a huge amount of water and, unfortunately, they carry an extremely high potential for contaminating water in the process. It doesn’t make any sense to risk everything we have going for us here in the Bitterroot to put in a mine with such a high potential for spoiling it all at the tip top of our watershed.”
Dr. Phillip Ramsey, a local scientist with years of experience working on the Superfund clean-up of the Clark Fork River and leader of the Bitterroot Clean Water Alliance which formed in opposition to the mine, is very much in agreement with Roubik.
“Rare earth element mines use far more water and create more toxic and radioactive waste than other types of large surface mines,” said Ramsey. “Since 1980, every new large mine permitted in Montana has caused unanticipated, often severe, impacts to water quality, except for Montana Resources, in Butte.” He said the location for the proposed Sheep Creek Mine is remote, in steep terrain, and snowbound in winter, all factors that make environmental contamination more certain. He said Montana could easily become a world leader in critical mineral production, including rare earth elements, without sacrifcing a pristine watershed in the Bitterroot and pointed to potential rare earth element production from existing sites like the Berkeley Pit in Butte, the piles of coal fy ash in Colstrip and the shuttered Columbia Falls Aluminum Smelter Superfund site.
The Department of Defense is currently considering funding a $75 million grant to Montana Resources to build a rare earth element concentrator in Butte. He said supporting this project is a very good alternative to placing a new mine in one of Montana’s most valuable pristine watersheds. He recommends urging public ofcials to reconsider capping the Aluminum Smelter Superfund Site in Columbia Falls and instituting a gallium recovery operation there instead. He said the Colstrip fy ash contains extractable rare earth elements as well.
According to Ramsey, the single biggest barrier to all this is retroactive liability under the Superfund law.
pristine waters of the upper West Fork
morning light just below the proposed
US Critical Materials, owner of the Sheep Creek mining claims, is a private company
10 employees. US Critical Metals Corp. is a publicly traded company that has an
with US
earn
joint venture interest in the property. The partnership allows US Critical Metals Corp to advance the rare earth projects identifed by US Critical Materials, with the goal of establishing a domestic supply of critical minerals for national security and technology. US Critical Metals is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. It is a subsidiary of European Lithium Limited, an active overseas mining exploration company, incorporated in the Virgin Islands, which wholly owns the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Austria. European Lithium holds 50.55% of the shares in US Critical Metals. No other shareholder holds more than 2% of the shares each. The partners have announced annually since 2023 that they are going to begin exploratory drilling on their claims in the area but each year have failed to do so. The most recent announcement was to start in September of 2025 but to date no Plan of Operation has been submitted, a requirement for mining on National Forest land. Photo by Michael Howell.
“Anyone who handles contaminated material can be held strictly, jointly, and retroactively liable for the entire cleanup—even if they improve the site,” he said. “This deters companies from reprocessing mine waste or coal ash. Repealing or reforming that liability is the key to unlocking Montana’s economic potential and making new headwaters mines unnecessary.”
Roubik said that establishing a baseline for the current water quality in the upper West Fork is a continuation of BRPA’s adopted mission since 2018 to establish a systematic set of permanent water quality monitoring stations across the entire Bitterroot River Watershed. Since 2018 the organization has established 23 monitoring sites on 10 tributaries and seven sites on the mainstem of the
Bitterroot River.
According to Roubik, due to limited funding, aside from the nutrient and stream fow parameters collected in the frst two rounds of sampling, metal testing was confned to looking for arsenic, lead and selenium, which are the most common form of pollutants produced in any kind of mining operation. No detectable levels of arsenic, lead or selenium were found in any of the samples. In the fnal round of sampling they also tested for many other metals commonly associated with REE mining, including cadmium, calcium, copper, nickel, silver, zinc and chromium VI. No detectable levels of these metals were found in any of the samples.
Roubik said the Sheep Creek Mine monitoring project totaled about
$5,856 in laboratory analysis costs alone.
“We could not have done it without a lot of help from our friends,” said Roubik. “We owe a special thanks to our compatriots in river protection, the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, the Friends of the Bitterroot and grants from the Cinnabar Foundation, the Rapp Family Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Farmers State Bank and several individual donors. Of course, we also owe a special thanks to the volunteers that did all the work: Mark Van Loon, Larry Campbell, Doug Soehren and Michele Dieterich.”
For more information about the group’s activities visit www.bitterrootriver.org or contact them at bitterrootriverprotection@gmail.com.
The
of the Bitterroot River sparkle in the
Sheep Creek Mine.
headquartered in Salt Lake City Utah with 2 to
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Critical Materials to
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Ski flm set for screening at Eagles Lodge
Proceeds to beneft Bitterroot valley conservation eforts
Community members are invited to attend a special screening of Matchstick Productions’ adrenaline pumping 2025 documentary flm After the Snowfall and connect over the conservation of access to outdoor recreation in the Bitterroot Valley.
Held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hamilton Eagles Lodge (125 N S 2nd Street), the event will kick of at 6 PM. The night will include music by local DJ Cove Jasmine, great door prizes and rafes. Chili and drinks will be available for purchase. A special viewing of the 90-minute flm begins at 7:30 PM.
Proceeds will be donated to the Bitter Root Land Trust (BRLT), a local nonproft organization that partners with private landowners to conserve water, wildlife habitat, working lands, and public access to outdoor recreation in the Bitterroot Valley. BRLT’S past recreation projects include Skalkaho Bend and Steve Powell Parks in Hamilton, C. Ben White Fishing Access Site and Trail in Conner, and the in-progress Grof Family Park in Victor.
Sponsored for the third year in a row by community member and longtime BRLT Board Member, Heather Menning, the flm is expected to draw community members that enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding – or, those that simply enjoy the beauty of a Bitterroot winter.
Photo by Jason Savage.
“As a ski fanatic, the excitement for snow—what many call ‘snow stoke’—is real, and the opportunity to create this evening for our community is a way I can help bring us together over a common love while supporting an organization I deeply believe in,” says Menning. “Outdoor recreation provides a critical heartbeat within the Bitterroot, and more chances to connect over our shared passions is something I will continue to pursue. By hosting this event, we not only celebrate our love for the outdoors but
also raise funds to support our local land trust, ensuring that these open spaces remain available for everyone in our community. This family-friendly event aims to bring together outdoor enthusiasts of all ages for an evening of inspiration and community support. Whether you’re a seasoned winter sports lover or simply curious about local conservation eforts, the screening ofers a unique opportunity to learn more about the impact of land stewardship in the Bitterroot Valley.”
According to the flm’s promotional materials, “After the Snowfall features on-location shooting from the North American Rockies to the Norwegian Alps and Alaska to Myo-
ko, Japan. It is a celebration of skiing in its purest form, chronicling the world’s best athletes and everyday skiers as they chase snow, risk it all, and fnd joy in the mountains. From deep powder mornings in Japan to pond skimming in California, the flm explores what skiing brings to our lives. With a blend of jaw-dropping action, heartfelt storytelling, After the Snowfall is a reminder that skiing is more than a sport; it is a way of life.”
BRLT Communications Director, Stephanie Sipe, says, “BRLT is delighted to be able to connect with our community over a shared love of outdoor winter recreation, thanks to Heather’s vision to bring this flm
to the Bitterroot. We live and work in a place that provides year-round, world-class recreational opportunities right outside our front door. Our community makes protecting these opportunities possible, so that future generations will still be able to experience the same trails, natural beauty, wildlife, and open scenery many years from now. We invite you to join us for what is sure to be a great, action-packed evening.”
Tickets are for sale online for $17.85 and should be purchased in advance. Tickets and flm trailer can be found on the BRLT website, bitterrootlandtrust.org. All ages are welcome.
Fake Republicans sow discord in Montana Republican Party Bedey announces senate candidacy
We all know the phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” but there’s an even bigger danger here in Montana: Democrats in Republican clothing. Though Montana voters sent a conservative majority to Helena, a small faction of self-identifed Republicans abandoned their colleagues and handed power over to Democrats, enabling a massive tax shift and growing government.
While Democrat leaders celebrated the session as a success, Republicans started working to ensure real conservative policies get passed in 2027. Now, the fake Republicans who empowered the Democrat minority are attempting to play victim.
about issues like the role of government, when human life begins, and how to lower property taxes. These questions get to the heart of fundamental diferences between conservatives and liberals.
Although Bedey admitted that such questions matter to his voters, he nevertheless refused to respond, claiming that answers could be used to “purge” the party. Why exactly does Bedey think giving honest answers would result in his departure from the party? Voters can draw their own conclusions.
by Kathy Love
One of them, Rep. David Bedey, wrote an article about “discord” in the Montana Republican Party (MTGOP). In reality, the only discord is coming from the likes of Bedey and swamp boss Llew Jones. Instead of watering down conservative principles and fracturing the Republican majority, they should just be honest with voters and run as Democrats or Independents.
Bedey claims the MTGOP is no longer a “big tent” party, having supposedly been limited to a “right-wing” defnition of conservatism. Why does Bedey object to a right-wing version of conservatism, and how does he think the Republican base defnes itself? Would he prefer a left-wing conservatism? As always, the MTGOP welcomes anyone with a genuine commitment to lower taxes, limited government, and stronger families.
Bedey also complained about being asked to complete a simple questionnaire sent to all self-declared Republican candidates. The prompts were straightforward, asking candidates
The article concludes with a desperate attempt to reframe the situation as a “people vs. the party” situation, rather than what it really is: fake Republicans undermining the will of the grassroots Republican base. Bedey seems to arrogantly believe that the platform of the party he campaigns under — and the voters that support it — are beneath him.
Bedey missed the mark. Political parties are built on shared principles and policy priorities. Voters have every right to decide whether he consistently represents those principles and advances those policies.
Lincoln once cautioned: “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand frm.” Republican voters are right to stand frm in questioning whether a person who allies with Democrats and attacks their colleagues has, in fact, put their feet in the right place.
Kathy Love is a representative of the Montana House for District 85. She is also a candidate for Senate District 43.
I’ve been honored since 2019 to serve the citizens of Hamilton in the Montana House of Representatives. But per our state’s constitution, my time in the House must come to an end. So after careful consideration, I’ve decided to run to represent Senate District 43, which ranges from Corvallis and Hamilton south through Darby and extends beyond Sula and up the West Fork. The primary election for this seat will be held on June 2, 2026.
by David Bedey
Many of you know my background. For those who don’t, the short story is that I was born and raised in Hamilton, returned home after serving 30 years in the U.S. Army, and have engaged in public service ever since— frst on the Hamilton school board and now in the state legislature. I am a traditional conservative and a “big tent” Reagan Republican.
The reason I’m running for the Senate is to continue being a voice for the many Montanans in Ravalli County and beyond who are weary of the vulgar hyper-partisanship that is infecting politics in our state. Citizens expect good government from legislators who do the hard work necessary to solve problems instead of striking ideological poses. That’s what I bring to the table.
Throughout my tenure in the legislature, I have been among the most efective legislators in terms of getting bills passed into law, with 50 bills to my credit. Among these are bills that provided funding for the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center, protected your right to worship during a state of emergency, ensured that vote-counting machines are secure and accurate, removed bureaucratic restrictions on how schools like Darby can expend funds bequeathed to the district, strengthened the fnancial stability of rural hospitals, and increased parent
choice within the public school system. I stand ready to continue doing this work. If these were ordinary times, I would not have written this letter until next spring. But these are not ordinary times. Already, misleading anonymous television ads and robocalls are attacking traditional conservative legislative candidates across Montana. This is undoubtedly part of scheme hatched by the far-right fringe of my party to purge the party of those who don’t conform to its narrow defnition of “conservatism.”
There is more at stake here than intra-party politics. In today’s toxic political environment, citizens increasingly view each other as enemies rather than as neighbors who simply disagree on some issues. When one’s political opponents are branded as hated enemies, fnding any common ground becomes increasingly difcult, if not impossible. Under these circumstances, the constitutional order put in place by our nation’s Founders cannot long survive.
I will neither compromise my conservative values nor neglect my duty to represent all of my constituents just to please party bosses who presume to be empowered to defne what it means to be a conservative and to determine what counts as “conservative” policy— and who expect legislators to slavishly follow their orders.
We can restore civility to our politics and govern ourselves in a way envisioned by the Founders. It can be done. It starts here at home. If you agree, please support my candidacy.
David Bedey is a representative of the Montana House for District 86. He is also a candidate for Senate District 43.
Let me be the frst person to congratulate the Marxists on the apparent victory of Comrade Mamdani for Mayor of NYC! Montana liberals, now is the time for action! Grab the frst bus you can fnd and head to NYC for the lifetime of free everything that you’ve been programmed to believe communism ofers! Start hitchhiking to NYC! Start posting ads on Craigslist looking for a (free, of course) ride to the new glorious communist mecca here in America! You surely don’t wish to remain in an oppressive capitalist regime like Montana, do you? Of course not! Your new fabulous life in communism awaits you! Of course you won’t have to work, everything is FREE! You’ll naturally receive free housing forever! Nobody will ever be required to pay for anything again, ever! Rejoice! Let the rest of us help you fee as fast as possible to your new communist mecca, comrades! I’m sure many repressive and racist capitalist pigs will be happy to help you relocate to NYC, comrades! You should not waste another minute! A free life awaits you in clean New York City, where no crime will ever exist again, and nobody will ever be without free housing, free utilities, free video games, free cell phones, or free food for eternity!
As capitalist pigs, we must do our part to help our comrades make it to their promised land of FREE! Please ofer your help so these proud soldiers of FREE make it home to communist NYC forever!
Daniel Shevlin Missoula
Trump’s BIG mistake
The playbook for becoming an “authoritarian dictator” is to frst win the people over through good deeds! Then you can proceed to suggest that since you have done such a great job, the people would want you to stay in ofce. DJT should have read this book before moving back into the White House (oh, I forgot, DJT doesn’t read!). Well, at least some of his advisors (Miller, Vought, Bessent, etc.) should have read the book.
Instead, Mr. Trump proceeded to antagonize the American public with his cruelty towards immigrants and his imposition of the ICE gestapo troops/US National Guard troops spread out in cities around the country. Sending 300 unindicted Venezuelans to a hell-hole in El Salvador did not improve Trump‘s image. Nor did his crazy strategy of tarifs or his inept attempts to settle the war in Ukraine. Neither has his “trumped up” indictments of James Comey, Leticia James, Senator Adam Schif, and former National Security Advisor for Trump, John Bolton!
Not to mention the damage he has done to our outstanding universities, our military, and our international relations with our long-term partners. The money he has made for himself and his family (more than $3.4 billion) while in the White House is of epic proportions considering the fact that presidents are not to make any money other than their salary while they are in ofce. In the meantime, we “the people” are paying higher prices in the grocery stores and everywhere else! His latest eforts to deny SNAP benefts to some 20 million Americans is just icing on the cake for his demise! What have I left out???
These are not activities that will win the minds and hearts of the American people in his quest to gain our support for his nefarious goals!
Opinion
Mr. Trump and his gaggle of White House advisors are victims of the Dunning-Kruger Efect ( look it up!). The American people are smarter and more humane than Mr. Trump thinks, as he will fnd out next November!
Tom Tunny Hamilton
Say no to an activist Supreme Court
In 1972, the people elected 100 Montanans from all walks of life to meet in Helena and to debate and create our State Constitution. They spent a great deal of time and efort tackling one of the most important issues in our state’s history: the Environment. Too much pollution and too little regard for proper practices left a legacy of degradation in many of our rivers, streams, felds, and communities. The great questions were how to protect the environment for future generations and who would have the power to defne and enforce this right. Virtually everyone agreed the environment must be protected, but there was sharp disagreement about whether this right would be interpreted and enforced by the Supreme Court or by a Legislature elected by the people.
Why was it so important to decide this in 1972? As one of our eloquent delegates put it, we must keep the power to interpret the right to a clean and healthful environment out of the hands of the Montana Supreme Court, because its decisions would be “locked in forever” and could never be overturned by the people or their elected representatives. (Vol. 5, p. 1223) The delegate who won over the others with this argument was Helena attorney Geof Brazier, a Democrat.
There were actually two proposals drafted to allow individuals the right to sue and the courts the power to defne and enforce the right to a clean and healthful environment. Both proposals died in their committees and both proposals died repeatedly on the foor of the Convention whenever they were brought up for a vote. Ultimately, the delegates decided to reserve this authority to the people acting through democratic elections and deny it to the courts, which, unlike our legislature, face no term limits. The delegates rightfully decided that the right to a clean and healthful environment belongs to the people and not to the courts or their favored experts. Only the people’s elected lawmakers are permitted to make laws deciding what the right to a clean and healthful environment means and who can enforce it.
But some members of our Supreme Court have other ideas. They want to take the right to a clean and healthful environment and use it for their own means. Recently, in a decision that one member of the Supreme Court called a “fashy headline-grabbing” opinion, the Supreme Court created a new right to a stable climate system and declared that the State of Montana must guarantee this right to all Montanans – even though more than 99% of the carbon emissions they say are causing climate change come from outside Montana. Good luck making that work.
The rule of law starts breaking down when our own Montana Supreme Court chooses to ignore the history of our state constitution and fails to respect the decisions made by the delegates who wrote it. We must reject judicial activism and elect Justices to the Montana Supreme Court who will obey the Constitution, written and approved by the people’s
representatives, rather than using their power and position to advance an activist agenda.
Jef Essmann Billings
Jef Essmann is a senior member of the Montana State Bar and a former legislator from Billings. He served as President of the Montana State Senate during the 2013 legislative session.
Give thanks for our caregivers
This Thanksgiving, as we gather with loved ones, let’s pause to honor Montana’s unsung heroes: the 214,000 family caregivers who keep our families whole. I know their sacrifces frsthand as I spent time caring for my signifcant other, balancing meals, medications, and midnight worries while holding down a job.
These Montanans -- 23.8% of our adults -- provide $1.76 billion in unpaid care annually, helping parents, spouses, and neighbors stay independent at home. They bathe, feed, and manage complex medical tasks like injections and wound care, often with no training.
The cost is staggering. Eight in 10 caregivers spend their own money, averaging $7,200 yearly, about a quarter of their income. Nearly half face debt or skip essentials like food and medicine. Over half juggle jobs, cutting hours or quitting altogether, risking their futures.
As Montana ages, demand grows. Ahead of the 2027 legislative session, AARP Montana urges lawmakers to act. In 2026’s interim, we’re advocating for updates to long-term care policies and to strengthen guardianship laws. Federally, pass the Credit for Caring Act for a $5,000 tax credit and the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act to expand fexible spending options.
I’m grateful for every caregiver’s quiet strength. This holiday, say thank you to one you know. Join AARP’s “I Am A Caregiver” movement at aarp. org/IAmACaregiver and tell lawmakers it’s time for support.
Need help? Visit aarp.org/MTCaregiving for free guides, and aarp. org/MTVets for veterans caregiving resources.
From one former caregiver to many: thank you. You make Montana stronger.
Sandy Bailey, AARP Montana State President
Sandy Bailey, Professor Emeritus at Montana State University, holds a doctorate in Family Studies and serves as AARP Montana State President -- the state’s top volunteer role -- shaping strategic priorities and building community partnerships.
False hope vs. actual leadership: where does Montana go from here?
Every election season, we’re told that hope is on the ballot. We’re promised reform, revival, renewal—as if the right combination of slogans can heal what’s broken in our communities. But hope, when it’s not tied to truth and responsibility, isn’t leadership. It’s theater. And Montana has had enough theater.
False hope sounds good. It’s quick, emotional, and easy to sell. It tells us we can fx things without sacrifce, clean up corruption without confrontation, and restore trust without
earning it. It ofers comfort instead of courage. But comfort doesn’t build roads, feed families, or keep the heat on when winter hits.
Actual leadership, by contrast, is quieter. It’s the neighbor who shows up early and stays late, the parent who teaches by example, the public servant who admits when they’re wrong and owns it. Real leadership doesn’t demand applause; it produces results. It doesn’t trade in fear, frustration, or chaos—it earns respect. In Montana, we have reached a crossroads. The gap between appearance and substance—between what’s said and what’s done—has never been wider. The parties have left the people, while our communities fght to survive. We’ve outsourced our production, weakened our self-reliance, and in the process destroyed the middle class that built this state. Sadly, the only export we have left is our children—for we all know graduation day is the day we say goodbye as they move on to out-of-state opportunities. So where do we go from here? We start by telling the truth. Not the version that fatters us, but the one that demands something of us. The truth that rebuilding Montana—and America—means producing again, trusting again, and leading again.
Real hope is born through honesty, sincerity, and hard work—the possibilities of being truly relevant. It doesn’t come from consultants or pollsters; it comes from people who still believe in building in the present for the future. The next generation of Montana leadership must learn to reject performative politics, and instead promote mothers, fathers, and families. Montanans need to say no to the idea that leadership is about climbing ladders instead of carrying burdens. If we are to move forward, we must make INTEGRITY our starting point, not our slogan. We must RETURN the parties to the people. Those who identify as independent are the proof that conscience is still alive in this state. Our task is not to shame them into belonging, but to give them a home worth belonging to. False hope tells people what they want to hear. Real leadership is the execution of good ideas—honesty, humility, and owning your mistakes. One fades the moment the banners come down; the other endures long after the crowd goes home. When I think about leadership, I think about Washington on that frozen Christmas night in 1776. There were no cameras, no slogans, no promises of reward. Only starving men in rags, pushing wooden boats through ice, following a commander who said little but expected everything. The words that carried them across the Delaware weren’t campaign lines—they were the immortal opening of Thomas Paine’s American Crisis: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”
That was not a call to comfort, but to courage. It didn’t ofer safety; it demanded sacrifce. And yet those half-frozen soldiers rowed through darkness because they trusted the man beside them, and the cause before them. That’s what leadership looks like. It’s not found on stages or in slogans—it’s found in the quiet endurance of people who keep going when every reason says to quit.
If Montana is to move forward, if America is to be renewed, then we must rediscover that kind of faith—in our purpose, in our neighbors, and in ourselves.
Tony Hudson President, Save the American West
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Darby’s Townsend is the real McCoy
In 1982, Ennis defeated Wibaux 38-28 to claim the first 8-Man Football State Championship. In the 43 years since, there have been some memorable individual seasons in Montana 8-Man football. The 2025 season for Darby senior quarterback McCoy Townsend will rank as one of the best when the final tally is carved in stone.
2025 season s tats
Co nsider Townsend’s stat line for the 2025 season. Darby’s run-first quarterback rushed for 1934 yards and 38 touchdowns, averaging 214.9 rushing yards per game. He passed for 589 yards with 8 touchdowns. For the season, he gained 2540 total yards (17 receiving), had 46 total touchdowns, averaged 282.2 total yards per game, and accounted for 306 total points. Townsend also led the team on defense with 107 tackles (11.9 per game).
Townsend’s stats in Darby’s 40-34 victory against St. Regis on October 3 highlights what a game looked like for Townsend this year. In that game, Townsend rushed 41 times for 313 yards and scored 6 touchdowns, and he led the defense with 15 total tackles. Not too bad for a day’s work. All-around student a thlete
Bes ides football, Townsend is one of the top students in his class, a starter on the basketball team, and a standout in track. Last year in track, Townsend qualified for State in the 100m, 200m, 400m, the long jump, and was on the 4x400m relay team.
“The kid’s an absolute beast,” said Darby head coach John Steiner. “He averaged over 214 rushing yards a game. He’s a great teammate, gets great grades, and he turned into a great leader this year. He’s just a great kid. I really hope he can get some recognition and get some looks by some of these local colleges. I think he really could find a spot somewhere to be successful.”
Historic context
H ere’s how Townsend’s numbers compare with other historic 8-Man football seasons.
Townsend’s nine consecutive games rushing for over 100 yards ties him for the most ever in a season.
His nine games rushing over a 100 yards was the second most ever in a season.
His rushing touchdowns (38) was the 2nd most ever in a season.
His total points (306) was tied for the 2nd most ever in a season.
His total yards/game (282.2) was the 2nd most ever in a season.
His average rushing yards/ game (214.9) was the 4th most ever in a season.
His total yards gained in a season (2540) was the 6th most ever in a season.
And his total touchdowns (46) was tied for the 8th most ever in a season.
The Real McCoy indeed.
The historic stats are from the MHSA website.
Townsend’s stats are from maxpreps.com and verified by Darby’s head coach. In order to become official, Townsend’s stats will have to be sent to the MHSA through an official application process.
Hamilton volleyball ends season at state
The Hamilton volleyball team played in the Class A State tournament in Bozeman from Wednesday, November 12 to Friday, November 14. The Broncs won their frst game, then lost the next two games, thus ending their 2025 season.
In their opening round game on Wednesday, Hamilton, the #2 seed from the West, defeated Laurel, the #3
seed from the East, 3-1 (25-17, 13-25, 25-23, 25-13). This win sent Hamilton to the second round, later in the day on Wednesday, where they were defeated by the eventual state champions, Billings Central, 1-3 (21-25, 15-25, 25-19, 16-25). For Hamilton in this game, Ciara Hanley had 5 aces, 14 kills, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 9 digs. Aurie Duncan had 4 aces, 5
kills, 19 assists, 3 blocks and 11 digs. Lundyn Murray had an ace, 4 assists, and 13 digs. Kaitlyn Snavely had 7 digs, and Jenna Ellis had 5 kills. This loss sent Hamilton to the loser’s side of the bracket where they were knocked out of the tournament by Havre, 0-3 (30-32, 22-25, 19-25) on Thursday. For Hamilton in this game, Aurie Duncan had 3 aces, 9 kills, 24 assists, and
15 digs. Ciara Hanley had an ace, 15 kills, 2 assists, a block, and 12 digs. Morgan Lubke had an ace. Lundyn Murray had 5 assists and 14 digs. Jenna Ellis had 7 kills. Ashlynn McKern had 3 blocks, and Kaitlyn Snavely had 2 blocks. Billings Central won the Class A title, Havre took 2nd, and Frenchtown took 3rd. This ends another successful volleyball season for
Hamilton. The 2025 Broncs took 2nd place in the Southwestern A Conference, placed 2nd in Western A Divisionals, qualifed for the Class A State tournament, and won a game in the state tournament. Hamilton loses some talented senior players, but has many good young players coming back, so expect Hamilton to have a strong team again next year.
Florence volleyball ends season at state
The Florence volleyball team competed in the Class B State tournament in Bozeman from Wednesday, November 12 to Friday, November 14. The Falcons lost their opening round game, sending them to the loser’s side of the bracket, where they won a game and then lost a game, which ended their season.
In their opening game on Wednesday, Florence, the #1 seed from the West, lost to Townsend,
the #4 seed from the South and the eventual state runner-up, 0-3 (2225, 17-25, 23-25). For Florence in this game, Maggie Schneiter had 2 aces, 6 kills, 16 assists, and 11 digs. Emory Ralston had an ace, 11 kills, and 19 digs. Reese Briney had an ace and 8 assists. Lexi Danczyk had 6 kills, and Taylor Pyette had 20 digs. This loss sent Florence to the loser’s side of the bracket where they defeated Fairfield on Thursday,
3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-11). For Florence in this game, Maggie Schneiter had 2 aces, 8 kills, 18 assists, and 8 digs. Emory Ralston had 4 aces, 15 kills, and 9 digs. Taylor Pyette had 16 digs. Reese Briney had 11 assists. Kendyl Meinhold had 4 kills, and Lexi Danczyk had 2 aces.
After this win Florence played Baker later in the day on Thursday, where Florence was defeated 0-3 (14-25, 20-25, 19-25). Shepherd won the Class B title,
Townsend took 2nd place, and Jefferson took 3rd. This ends another successful season for the Florence volleyball team. The Falcons took 1st place in the 6B Conference, won the Western B Divisionals, qualified for the State tournament, and won a game at the state tournament. Florence graduates some excellent senior players, but they have plenty of young talent and look to be a top team again next season.
Darby senior quarterback McCoy Townsend (#10) had one of the best individual seasons in Montana 8-Man football history in 2025. Photos by Scott Sacry.
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Hamilton Women’s Golf Association
The Hamilton Women’s Golf Association (HWGA) continues to make a positive difference in the Bitterroot Valley golf community. The HWGA raised a record amount of funds this year and donated it to the five high school golf teams in the Bitterroot Valley. Representatives from the HWGA recently passed out checks in excess of $1000 each to the five Bitterroot Valley high schools that have golf programs: Hamilton, Corvallis, Darby, Stevensville, and Florence.
This year the group was able to include Florence High School.
“Scott Marsh and his students from Florence were super appreciative of this first time donation,” said Rainey Warner, secretary for the HWGA. “We look forward to continuing to raise funds for these students so that they may continue to succeed in their efforts.”
“We hope the funds will help with the various expenses that the teams need money for,” continued Warner, “such as travel expenses, team attire, newer golf clubs or golf bags, etc. One of the best parts was seeing the reaction from the schools. They had so many great reactions – appreciation, gratitude, smiles, happiness – all of those words.”
The HWGA is a non-profit organization that is funded through annual fees from the Hamilton Golf Club Women’s golf league. They also hold an annual all-women’s golf tournament as a fundraiser. This year’s tournament was a huge success through the support of local businesses.
“We realize that businesses in the valley are asked a lot to support the community and we are so grateful to them, and they were so generous this year,” said Warner.
The HWGA plays every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9 a.m., as well as every Wednesday evening beginning in early May. The season ends around the last week in September, weather permitting of course.
The Hamilton Women’s Golf Association recently donated over $1000 to each of the fve high school golf teams in the Bitterroot Valley: Hamilton, Corvallis, Darby, Stevensville, and Florence. Photos courtesy of Rainey Warner.
Obituaries
Robert Bachmann
Hamilton - Robert Arthur Bachmann, 97, of Hamilton passed away due to natural causes at his home at The Manor on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Our dad was a loyal and faithful friend—a man who outlived most of his peers, yet never lost his deep appreciation for connection, laughter, and life itself.
A musician, writer, PR professional, college instructor, marketing expert, and World War II soldier, he wore many hats throughout his life. But what made him truly special was his heart. He was not like most men of his generation—he accepted people from all walks of life without judgment, treating everyone with dignity and kindness.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Art, who had him later in life and considered him their pride and joy. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after being discharged from the Army, he had the choice of three diferent transports returning to the States. He chose the frst available—to Seattle. After notifying his parents where he was, he enrolled at Seattle University. There, he met some of his dearest lifelong friends, and together they formed The Chanticleers, a quartet that performed through-
Glenna Mae Cederberg
Glenna Mae Lundberg Cederberg, born January 22, 1935 in Hogeland, MT to Melvin Lundberg and Mabel Peterson Lundberg, passed away November 4th, 2025 at the age of 90.
Glenna grew up in the family home across the street from the Turner school, one of the frst homes in Turner with indoor plumbing. She worked at various jobs in Turner while growing up, including helping her Mom run the post ofce and working in the local hotel and café’.
Glenna graduated from Turner High School in 1953 along with her high school sweetheart Brice (Swede) Cederberg and four other class members. She was a cheerleader and involved in a number of clubs while in High School. She was the last surviving member of the Turner Class of 1953.
Glenna and Swede were married in August of ’53 and moved to Havre. The frst of four children, Dan was born in Oct. of ’53, followed by Bryan in June of ’56, Brice in Dec. of ’61, and Jane in Oct. of ’66. Glenna was a doting mother to all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She always put her children’s interest before her own, putting of buying anything for herself to ensure her children had new clothes. She was the perfect Mom.
Glenna began working outside the home during the Christmas season when Dan and Bryan were little. Her frst full-time job was as the secretary of the First Lutheran Church in Havre, where she worked for many years. She left the church and began her career in the insurance industry in the late 60’s. She worked as the ofce manager for Flynn Insurance in Havre, Inman Insurance in Chinook, and Wagner Insurance in Washington. The owners of all the agencies greatly valued Glenna as an employee and were sorry when she left to pursue
Warren Price
Warren Price, 84 of Stevensville, MT, passed away on October 27, 2025 at St Patrick Hospital. He was born in Charleroi, PA on March 3, 1941, the son of the late Lawrence Price and Elizabeth (Kachur) Price. Warren graduated from Charleroi Sr. High School in 1959. He joined the Navy in August of that year and served until 1963. After leaving the service, Warren moved to Gaithersburg, MD, where he worked for Microdyne Corporation. He worked as an electronics techni -
Death Notices
DeWayne L. Smith
Hamilton - DeWayne L. Smith, 92, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 at The Remington in Hamilton. Services will be held in the spring. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
her next job.
Glenna lived in Havre until 1979, when Swede’s job moved them to Chinook. Glenna and Swede moved from Chinook to Snohomish, WA in 1987, returning to MT in 2001, semi-retiring in Stevensville. Glenna worked part-time for Thomas’ Insurance Agency in Stevensville, and became active in the Senior Center, serving as the secretary there for a number of years.
Glenna was a friendly, social person, always putting the needs and wishes of others before her own. She was a hard worker, working a full day at her job and then taking care of all of the duties associated with raising four children in the evening. If you were ever around the house, you know you could fnd Glenna late at night in the kitchen working, baking, and listening to country western music. Glenna always had a good joke to tell, a smile on her face and got her work done in a cheerful manner. She was an excellent cook and an accomplished seamstress. Her meatballs, angel food cake, sugar cookies and pickles are legendary!
Glenna lived in her home in Stevensville for 22 years where she enjoyed the community, the Senior Center, being close to many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and doting on her dog Bandit. In July of ’23, after sufering several health and memory issues, Glenna moved to the Village Senior Residence, Pearl Garden memory care unit in Missoula. Throughout her time at the Village, she remained happy and content, frequently saying “this is a nice place, the people here are very kind, I can’t complain about anything.”
Glenna was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Brice (Swede) Cederberg; her parents Melvin and Mabel Lundberg; her three siblings, Wilford Lundberg, Virginia Lundberg McCrack-
cian and later a technical writer. He moved to Livermore, CA, as a sales manager for Microdyne. He moved to Stevensville in 2018 after the death of his wife of 55 years, Jonelle (Ellis) Price.
While living in Livermore, he was an avid trap shooter and was active in the Livermore-Pleasanton Rod and Gun Club. Warren was also active in the American Legion after leaving the service and was a member of Post #94 in Stevensville. He served as adjutant and
Robert ‘Bob’ Colley
Hamilton - Robert P. “Bob” Colley, 73, of Hamilton passed away Sunday, November 16, 2025 of natural causes. No formal services will be held. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.om.
out the Pacifc Northwest and remained close until their fnal days.
Above all else, his greatest purpose was to be a good dad. From the time we came home to the time of his passing, he was simply “Dad.” Our lives are flled with warm memories of motorhome trips, trick-or-treating, summer days at Denny Creek with our dog, Duchess, and tinkering in the garage every Saturday. He was healthy and strong up until just a month before his passing—a true testament to his spirit.
He is survived by his daughter Anne Marie, son Robert, daughter-in-law Luann, granddaughter Kristian, and grandson Lukas.
Condolences may be left for the family at www. dalyleachchapel.com.
Our family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staf at Sapphire Lutheran Home in Hamilton, Montana, where he lived for 30 years; his wonderful neighbors; and the Home Health and Hospice programs, along with his dear friend Clover, who was with him at the end. Each of you played a beautiful part in his journey, and we are forever grateful.
In place of fowers, donations to Big Sky Home Health Care are appreciated. www.bigskyhhh.com.
en, and Melvin Lundberg; and her son Bryan Cederberg. She is survived by her children: Dan (Forey) Cederberg of Missoula, MT; Brice Cederberg of Missoula, MT; and Jane (Ray) Bedford of Fairbanks, AK; grandchildren: Jerilyn (Chris) Lankhaar, Jaqlyn Cederberg, Brad (Monica) Cederberg, Jenna (Kris) Cederberg, Breland (Brady) Tommerup, Zac Hereth, Dac Cederberg, Amanda Bedford, and Thomas Bedford. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Bandit. She will be missed by all.
Memorial services will be held in Turner, MT in the Spring of 2026. In lieu of fowers, memorial donations can be made to the Turner American Lutheran Church, 155 2nd St W, Turner, MT 59526, Phone: (406) 353-2234, or your local Salvation Army.
was part of the honor guard during his time with Post #94. He was also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montana Lodge #28 of Stevensville. Warren also enjoyed woodworking in his spare time.
Warren is survived by his daughter Michele Price Theobald, Colorado Springs, CO, and son Michael Price of Rialto, CA, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren as well as sisters Deborah Price of Florence and Donna Price McDaid of Milford, NJ.
Dennis Lietzow
Hamilton - Dennis E. Lietzow, 80, of Hamilton passed away Friday, November 14, 2025 at his home. No formal services will be held. Condolences may be left for the family at www. dalyleachchapel.com.
Solitude, sculpins, and sparkle minnows
It’s been a long time since I’ve fshed the middle and lower Bitterroot in the fall. When I was guiding I fshed it regularly, and since then have tried to get out there as often as I could, which wasn’t enough.
by Chuck Stranahan
There’s something special about that broad, mostly fat, slow-moving water that refects the last golden leaves on streamside cottonwoods and the dark green of occasional stately pines; there’s the crisp air where you feel the chill of the breeze and the warmth of the sun all at once; you see all of it framed in the frst brushings of bright new snow on the mountain peaks thrusting into an achingly clear blue sky; even those utterly clear days that tend to produce the slowest fshing are worth getting out.
For the best fshing give me some overcast, and maybe a drizzle that gets pushed around by a slight breeze. If all goes well, I might score.
There’s something to be said for going where you know your envelope is likely to get pushed –and going there anyway. The successes, when they occur, are that much sweeter.
The whole experience runs deeper than bragging rights.
I’ve had many such days, fshing through guide clients as though their experience was my own, or fshing solo on solitary wade trips. I don’t remember them all, of course, but the general impressions remain.
I cut my teeth as an angler on some of the toughest water in the western United States – California’s lower Hat Creek during its heyday.
Flat water is fat water – wherever you fnd it. It can be a long slow pool in a rock – bound canyon with boulder-strewn cataracts above and below, or a meandering meadow stream. The approach to the trout in such places, with hidden seams few bubble trains, is the same.
I learned to stalk my fsh – or the water where they are holding – without crunching gravel underfoot or splashing around with the oars if I’m foating.
I told my clients: Try being a stalker, stay out of sight and keep shadows of the water.
Be sure of your cast. The best way is to practice between fshing trips. That way you’ll be confdent,
and ready on the stream.
As to fies, be prepared. You need to be ready for anything – not just something. If you see fsh rising freely for something you didn’t bring, you’ll feel helpless.
I speak from experience. A friend and I once staged a planned streamer assault on a batch of big browns we knew were schooled above a certain log jam.
The fsh ran from fve to eight pounds. When we arrived, they were all on top – feeding on bluewinged olives. We didn’t have any. And those fsh wouldn’t take a streamer.
We learned the hard way: The main grab might well be streamers, but if there’s an unexpected dry fy hatch in the neighborhood, you want to be equipped to fsh it.
I like to fsh streamers this time of year. I know they’re productive – especially for big browns. That might be the impetus for getting out, but once there I fall into the rhythm of casting, retrieving, stepping down, repeating. I fall into a gentle lull in harmony with my surroundings. I look up – see the trees above their gilded refections and maybe an
eagle.
The solitude and what it does for my soul is worth the experience. And if I’m jolted out of it, hey – that’s why I came, right?
Where to go? This year I’d avoid the boney stretches where I’d be dragging a boat or fshing for captive fsh between semi-exposed rifes. This year, especially, it is Important to pick your spots. Check before you go out.
Nicole Coley at Blackfoot River Outftters tells me, “The Blackfoot’s still a little low; I’d go to the middle or lower Bitterroot or the Clark Fork below Missoula.”
I’ll check again before I go out, carry my dry box and spools of fne tippet, but I’ll plan on fshing streamers.
I’ll keep it simple. I’ll concentrate on getting the fy down to the fsh and moving it so they’ll take it. Even with streamers, presentation is still the name of the game.
I’ll likely start with my sculpin pattern because it’s done so well for me over the years. I’ll fsh it slow and if that doesn’t work, I’ll switch to a Sparkle Minnow to fsh on faster retrieves.
Merle Unruh
Chuck’s Sculpin is a favorite fall pattern for big browns. Photo courtesy Chuck Stranahan.
LAWSUIT: Town of Stevensville vs. prior airport manager
that he was negotiating for the outright purchase of the tank. It appeared, according to Germane, that negotiations seemed to break down after that. Eventually, the breakdown in negotiations became apparent when Hawthorne
came out to the airport and removed the fuel from the tank in the summer of 2024. After that, the tank sat for over a year, unserviced and empty. Rowe resigned in late 2024 from his position as airport manager.
CityServiceValcon then took over management and ownership of the tank in April of 2025. This sale was done through an agreement between Hawthorne and CityServiceValcon. The Town of Stevensville was not involved in that sale.
After this occurred, Rowe began attending Stevensville Town Council meetings, and made allegations of misconduct by the Town and participating aviation companies.
During a Stevensville Town Council meeting on June 2, Rowe challenged the Town’s actions, stating that he owned the lease for the land the tank was sitting on. Rowe stated, “Everything I was doing when I was at the airport was trying to fix, trying to do right by the town, trying to protect the taxpayer’s investment for what they spend up there and then I get backdoored by individuals representing the town.” He added, “Not once have I been notified about anything.”
During his time as airport manager, Rowe did in fact create a lease for the land the tank sat on. This was done sometime around September of 2023. In addition, the lease agreement was signed by the mayor at that time, Steve Gibson. However, according to Germane, previous to Rowe’s lease, this plot of land was not identified as a leasible property on the airfield. Additionally, the lease was never approved by the Stevensville Airport Board or the Stevensville Town Council. This was in violation of Ordinance 141, which was then amended in March of 2024, nearly six months after Rowe created the lease. The amendment would make it so that it was not required for the board to review and approve leases.
The Town of Stevensville, in the early part of 2025, began working with CityServiceValcon, as the company agreed to lease the tank to the Town, bringing fuel back to the airport. According to Germane, this allowed fuel to continue to flow, while the Stevensville Airport pursued getting its own fuel tank. This is currently in the works, thanks to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding.
When Rowe began disputing the sale of the tank from Hawthorne to CityServiceValcon, the Town of Stevensville decided to tie up loose ends so as to not jeopardize FAA funding for a new tank. In May of this year, Stevensville Town Attorney Greg Overstreet sent a letter and documentation requesting Rowe and his attorneys cease their claims that the sale was disputed, and invalidated the lease Rowe had.
Overstreet mentioned several reasons, including how the lease was
never reviewed by the board or the council. In his letter to invalidate the lease, Overstreet wrote, “Under the 2013-2024 version of Ordinance 141, the Town’s Airport Board must “Review and recommend to the town council approval or denial of all ... leases at the airport[.]”
He also stated the following, taken directly from the documents as it appears, “The Airport Board never approved the Lease. This is demonstrated by the minutes of the Airport Board’s September 12, 2023 meeting (Exhibit 3) and its October 10, 2023 meeting (Exhibit 4), neither of which show an approval. In fact, the Airport Board did not know of the Lease until recently.”
Overstreet continued, stating [written exactly as shown], ”the Town Council did not approve it (or know about it). The minutes of the August 24, 2023 Town Council meeting (Exhibit 6) and the September 14, 2023 meeting (Exhibit 7) similarly do not show an approval or even discussion of the Lease. (Interestingly, your client spoke at the September 14, 2023 Town Council meeting as the airport manager and did not disclose the lease.)
Rowe’s response was to forward Overstreet’s letter to his own attorneys. Following this, in June the Town of Stevensville filed for a declaratory judgment on the validity of the lease. In response, Rowe filed counter claims against the Town in that same case.
According to an article in the Ravalli Republic, Rowe’s counterclaims against Stevensville on Aug. 22, 2025 denied the legitimacy of various stated facts in Stevensville’s lawsuit and also argued that the Town of Stevensville ratified Rowe’s lease, which they claimed was never legitimate, by benefitting from Two Ravens’ management of the fuel tank.
“By knowingly accepting benefits of 2 Ravens’ performance — including insurance coverage, maintenance, fueling operations, and revenue — the Town ratified the Lease,” reads the counterclaim. “The Town was aware in 2023 that 2 Ravens was both (a) negotiating to purchase the fuel tank from Hawthorn Aviation, and (b) operating the fuel tank pursuant to its agreement with Hawthorn Aviation, the Lease, and the transfers of the Masterfuel account and Titan Fuels contract. The Town did not object at that time.”
As of yet, no judicial decisions have been handed down in this case. According to Rowe, “we do not want to publicly comment because this is currently still in litigation, but right now everything is in a holding pattern until the court decides.”
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Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Alexander Efren Rangel, Alexander Efren Rangel, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-41-20250000372-NC
Dept. 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Alexander Efren Rangel to Alexander Caspian Frost.
The hearing will be on December 3, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 21st day of October, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine di Gleria Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 10-29, 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jordan King, Jordan King, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-41-20250000371-NC
Dept. 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Jordan Briann King to Jordan Briann Hastings.
The hearing will be on December 3, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 21st day of October, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Michelle Goldman Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 10-29, 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
Daniel Browder, Esq. Browder Law, PLLC
217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3613677
Facsimile: (406) 361-2999
Email: browderlawmont@gmail.
com
Attorney for Lile Gideon
MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PATSY JENE LONGTINE, Deceased.
Cause No. DP-2025-125
Dept. No. 1
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Lile Gideon 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, Lile Gideon, return receipt requested, c/o: Browder Law, PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 28th day of October, 2025.
BROWDER LAW, PLLC /s/ Daniel Browder
Attorney for Personal Representative
BS 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25. MNAXLP
William J. Nelson, Esq.
Nelson Law Ofce PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3633181 Attorney for Personal Representative
MONTANA TWENTYFIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF: FRED H. SPRINGER, Deceased.
Cause No. DP-41-2025128 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the
frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Kimberly Rockwell, return receipt requested, c/o Nelson Law Ofce PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED 31st day of October 2025. /s/ William J Nelson, Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Kimberly Rockwell, Personal Representative BS 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25. 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 CHARLES R. PETTY, SR., Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-2025129 Dept. No. 2 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 Kirk A. Petty and Charles R. Petty, Jr., 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 29th day of October 2025. /s/ Kirk A. Petty, Co-Personal Representative /s/ Charles R. Petty, Jr., Co-Personal Representative BS 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HOWARD WILLIAM EIMER, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-2025122 Dept. No.: 2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that H. Steve Eimer has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the said decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to H. Steve Eimer, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South 2nd St., Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. BS 11-5, 11-12, 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 363-9060
Attorney for Personal Representative
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PHILLIP ROBERT STOLBERG, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-2025130 Dept. No. 2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Kerry J. Stolberg, the Personal Representative, 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 3rd day of November 2025. /s/ Kerry J. Stolberg, Personal Representative BS 11-12, 11-19, 11-2625.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Shifawn Jovana Beckner, Shifawn Jovana Beckner, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-41-20250000395-NC Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Shifawn Jovana Beckner to Shifawn Jovana Potter.
The hearing will be on December 11, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 3rd day of November, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 11-12, 11-19, 11-26, 12-3-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PETITION TO ABANDON PORTIONS OF ROADWAYS NORTHEAST OF STEVENSVILLE OFF AMBROSE CREEK ROAD AND ILLINOIS BENCH ROAD
The Board of Ravalli
County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday, November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Conference room (3rd Floor) at the Ravalli County Administrative Center located at 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana. The purpose of this Public Hearing is to take public comment on the Petition submitted by Steve Kamps of Rocky Mountain Skies, LLC, (application No. 225) requesting to abandon portions of roadways northeast of Stevensville of Ambrose Creek Road and Illinois Bench Road; and to take action by Resolution.
If you have any questions, or would like to make a public comment due to your inability to attend this meeting, please contact the Commissioners through either of the following: 215 S. 4th Street, Suite A, Hamilton, Montana 59840 or by phone (406) 375-6500 or by email commissioners@ rc.mt.gov.
Chris Taggart Commissioners Administrative Assistant
BS 11-12, 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE
The frst half of the 2024 Real Estate Taxes are due payable before 5 PM, December 8, 2025. We have a Night Drop located at North end of Administration Building in drive through. Mail payments must be postmarked by December 8, 2025 or the payment will be returned for penalty and interest. Please make checks payable to the Ravalli County Treasurer. Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express cards are accepted. Also accepting online payments at www. Ravalli.us/196/Property-Tax. Paying with Credit/Debit card will include a 2.15% convenience fee and $1.25 Transaction Fee.
Real Property Tax Notices were postmarked November 7, 2025 so to be compliant with state law even though the due date shows December 1st I am moving the due date to December 8, 2025.
Ravalli County Treasurer
Dan Whitesitt
215 S 4th St Ste H Hamilton MT 59840
406-375-6600
BS 11-19, 11-26, 12-3-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE
The second half of the 2025 Mobile Home Taxes are due payable before 5 pm December 8, 2025. We have a Night Drop located at North end of Administration Building in drive thru. Mailed payments must be postmarked by December 8, 2025 or the payment will be returned for penalty and interest. Please make checks payable to the
Ravalli County Treasurer. Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express cards are accepted. Also accepting online payments at www. Ravalli.us/196/Property-Tax. Paying with Credit/Debit card will include a 2.15% convenience fee and $1.25 Transaction Fee.
Ravalli County Treasurer Dan Whitesitt 215 S 4th St Ste H Hamilton MT 59840 406-375-6600
BS 11-19, 11-26, 12-3-25.
MNAXLP
Call for Applications for the Position of City Court Judge
The Honorable Royce
A. McCarty has notifed the City of his intention to resign from his position as the Hamilton City Court Judge efective upon swearing in of his replacement, which will be scheduled for January 2, 2025. The City will begin accepting applications from any lawyer in good standing who has the qualifcations set forth by law and Hamilton Municipal Code for holding the position of City Court Judge. The person appointed to the position will take ofce upon swearing in and will remain in ofce until December 31, 2027. The position is subject to election in 2027. The annual salary for this position is $65,000$75,000 DOE plus applicable City benefts.
Please visit the City of Hamilton website to apply. https://cms3.revize.com/ revize/cityofhamilton/departments/human_resources/ city_court_judge.php
BS 11-19-25.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
The Darby Planning Board will hold a public hearing to receive all comments both oral and written regarding a Subdivision Request from Cole Sain located at 411 South Water Street. The hearing will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Darby Town Hall, 101 East Tanner Avenue. Information may be obtained by calling Town Hall at (406) 821-3753.
BS 11-19, 11-26-25.
MNAXLP
LEGAL NOTICE
The Darby Planning Board will hold a public hearing to receive all comments both oral and written regarding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Sewer Variance from Craig & Janet Steele located at 406 West Missoula Avenue. The hearing will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Darby Town Hall, 101 East Tanner Avenue. Information may be obtained by calling Town Hall at (406) 821-3753.
BS 11-19, 11-26-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Lolo Sewer and Water Impact Fees
The water and wastewater system in Lolo has reached full capacity and no new connections are allowed. Additionally, the existing infrastructure has defciencies that need to be addressed to ensure long-term reliability. Missoula County has proposed improvements aimed to resolve these defciencies while also creating additional capacity for future growth.
Capacity upgrades or users wanting service outside of the district are proposed to be funded by impact fees. Authorized under MCA section 7-6-1601 et. al., impact fees are one-time fees charged at the time of building permit that fund the infrastructure necessary to support new development. The county has developed an impact fee study for Lolo Sewer and Water Impact Fees. The study and proposed impact fees will be considered by the Impact Fee Advisory Committee meeting at their meeting on December 3, 2025, at 3:30 PM and information about attending that meeting can be found here: http://missoula. co/ifacmeetings. The Impact Fee Advisory Committee will take public comment and make a recommendation on this proposal to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM to consider a resolution to adopt Lolo Sewer and Water Impact Fees. Information about how to attend that meeting can be found here: http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.
Details on the proposal are available by contacting the PDS Ofce or online at https://missoulacountyvoice. com/. The preferred method for receiving comments is directly through the Missoula County Voice project page; however, comments may also be mailed to PDS, 200 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT, 59802.
If anyone attending these meetings needs special assistance, please provide advance notice by calling 406-258-4657. For additional information regarding the request, please contact Karen Hughes at 406-258-3425 or by email at khughes@missoulacounty.us.
BS 11-19, 11-26-25.
MNAXLP
CORVALLIS COUNTY
SEWER DISTRICT
Notice is Hereby Given that the Board of Directors of the Corvallis County Sewer District will hold a Public Hearing at 5:30 pm at the Corvallis WWTP located at 234 Brothers Way in Corvallis for Ordinance No. 15, granting the petition of Janet L. and E. Robin Smyth to annex land into the District. The purpose of this public meeting is to consider and take public comment regarding the proposed ordinance. The frst reading of Ordinance No. 15 will take place on November 25, 2025. The Second reading of Ordinance No. 15 will take place on December 23, 2025. The related petition and draft ordinance may be viewed through the following link: https://bit.ly/4pfVUD8
If you have any questions, or would like to make a public comment due to your inability to attend this meeting, you may send comments via postal mail to P.O. Box 134, Corvallis, MT 59825 or via email to ccsdmontana@ outlook.com . BS 11-19, 12-17-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE. Notice is hereby given, pursuant to MCA 70-6-411, that a public sale of the contents of UltraDynamics Storage, #3, 1971 N 1st Street, Hamilton, will be held to satisfy a lien against Jason Wilcox, Elements Heating, for unpaid storage and related costs. The sale will be conducted via online auction at storagetreasures.com, bidding to begin November 25, 2025 with the fnal sale held December 11, 2025. The amount due for the unit is $866.00; amounts due are accruing additional monthly rent and costs associated with public sale. The unit contains HVAC supplies and tools. Pictures will be available at storagetreasures. com. Entire contents of the unit must be removed within 48 hours by the purchaser. Units are reserved subject to redemption by owner prior to sale. For questions, contact Cardinal Properties at 406363-4430.
BS 11-19, 11-26, 12-3, 12-10-25. MNAXLP
Michael J. Moore / Erica T. deVries COLLECTION BUREAU SERVICES, INC. PO Box 7339 Missoula, MT 59807-7339 (406) 721-4454 Attorneys for Plaintif MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY COLLECTION BUREAU SERVICES, INC., Plaintif, RICK PRITCHETT, JENNIFER L. PRITCHETT, BITTERROOT COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, CBM COLLECTIONS INC., A/K/A CB1, INC, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY – INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, RAVALLI COUNTY, a Political Subdivision of the State of Montana and DOES 1-5, Defendants. CAUSE No. DV-41-2022434-FO
DEPT. No. 1 SECOND AMENDED SUMMONS IN A FORECLOSURE ACTION, DOES 1-5 THE STATE OF MONTANA SENDS GREETINGS TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: Does 1 – 5, being any unknown person who claim or might claim any present or contingent right, title, estate, interest in, lien or encumbrance upon such property or any part thereof, adverse to Plaintif’s claims sought to be foreclosed herein, including any right of inchoate or accrued dower, A lawsuit has been fled against you.
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you or (42 days if you are the State of Montana, a state agency, or a state ofcer or employee), you must serve on the plaintif an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. Do not include the day you were served in your calculation of time. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintif or plaintif’s attorney, if plaintif is represented by an attorney, whose name and address are listed above. If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. You also must fle your answer or motion with the court.
This action is brought for the purpose of foreclosing Plaintif’s judgment lien on real property located in Ravalli County and described as follows:
NW¼NW¼N½W½NW¼ Section 18, Township 5 North, Range 20 West, P.M.M., Ravalli County, Montana Recording Reference: Book 121 of Deeds, page 59. EXCEPTING AND RESERVING THEREFROM that portion deeded to the State of Montana in Book 121 of Deeds, page 604. Also known as Lot 2, Block 1, Cummings Subdivision, Ravalli County, Montana, according to the ofcial plat recorded January 24, 1964, as Instrument No. 160462. WITNESS my hand and seal of said Court the 4th day of November, 1025. Paige Trautwein Clerk of Court By: Kimberly Provence Deputy Clerk A24380/5. BS 11-19, 11-26, 12-3-25. MNAXLP
Craig Mungas State Bar No. 6746 BJM Law PLLC 2809 Great Northern Loop, Ste 100 Missoula, Montana 59808 Telephone: 406-721-8896 Telefax: 406-541-8037 Email: craig@bjmattorneys.com
Attorneys for Tawnya Luce, Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: GEORGE A. BIDDLE, Deceased Dept. No.: 2 Cause No.: DP-41-2025136 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed 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 TAWNYA LUCE, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o BJM Law PLLC, 2809 Great Northern Loop, Suite 100, Missoula, MT 59808, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 17th day of November 2025. /s/ Tawnya Luce, Personal Representative BJM Law PLLC By: Craig Mungas Attorneys for Tawnya Luce, Personal Representative BS 11-19, 11-26, 12-3-25. MNAXLP
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