Olsen announces write-in campaign for Hamilton mayor
“I compared it to my tax bill in 2015 and found the City of Hamilton taxes had gone up much faster than from either the school district or the county, and much faster than infation,” says James Olsen, who has announced his write-in campaign for mayor of Hamilton.
Olsen was surprised to fnd that the Hamilton 2025/26 preliminary budget passed by the City Council included a raise for the Mayor – which he had requested – to $32,000 a year, an entire year’s wages for many workers in Hamilton, for someone whose bio states he has another full-time job. “I will work whatever hours it takes,” says Olsen, “but that is more than I could accept in good conscience.”
Everybody knows the property taxes are rising; it is time to do something about it, says Olsen. “We begin by treating every dollar as someone’s hard earned wages
and make sure every dollar is spent for a worthwhile service the public needs. That means working with the department heads and the employees of the City of Hamilton to make the operation as efcient and efective as possible. If the public doesn’t need it, and it is not absolutely required by law, we need to ask why the City of Hamilton is doing it.”
Olsen also takes issue with proposed new zoning regulations. The new zoning, which is expected to be passed by December, is by far the most far-reaching action the City of Hamilton has contemplated since the 1990s.
“It will forever change Hamilton, converting it into a land-grabbing urban center,” says Olsen. “When I looked at the text, it has nice words about infll while preserving the traditional neighborhoods and providing afordable housing. It will do neither. The single-family housing zone will be eliminated and replaced by fourplexes. It is a plan to urban-
ize Hamilton. “The idea that increasing housing density will solve the afordable housing crisis is not true — and there are plenty of examples. Having worked with the Bitterroot Afordable Housing Coalition for several years, I am aware of the intractable nature of the problem. However, the hard fact is that the numbers I examine suggest that at least one third of our workforce cannot aford to rent a place in Hamilton. This is a nationwide problem that Hamilton can take the lead in solving — providing afordable rent without relying on Section 8-like subsidies. It will be my top priority whether or not the new zoning is passed.”
Son of a career naval aviator, Olsen is a veteran of the US Air Force and has successfully run large defense contracts both in the Air Force and in industry. In the early 90s he “ married into the valley” to Mary Byers, a
Community Death Literacy Project comes to Bitterroot
Jana Branch, End-of-Life Doula with Good Passage LLC, has been chosen as one of ten grantees to participate in the newly launched Community Death Literacy Project. Grantees in ten states including Missouri, Vermont, and Texas will ofer programming through local community centers, arts nonprofts, and libraries that aims to reduce fears around death and dying and give people the knowledge and confdence to make value-aligned decisions. The new project is co sponsored by Compassion & Choices, the largest and most active nonproft working to expand and improve healthcare options for end-of-life care, and The Contemplative Doula, a pioneer in death literacy education.
“Our goal is to empower everyone to discuss their own wishes, and information to improve death literacy is a powerful tool to support someone in that journey,” said Jessica Empeño, National Director of Clinical Engagement at Compassion & Choices. “The Community
Death Literacy Project reaches out to gathering places across the country, making space for vital conversations,” says Francesca Arnoldy of The Contemplative Doula.
Jana Branch has been a practicing doula in the Bitteroot Valley since 2024 after training with the University of Vermont. Doulas provide non-medical, holistic guidance and support to people and their care circles around decline, dying, and death. She also earned a Death Literacy Specialist certifcate from The Contemplative Doula. Branch explains, “I came back to the Bitterroot to help my parents through their last years, and I saw frsthand how much better that time can go if you’re willing to have those honest—and often uncomfortable—conversations around what’s happening. Dying is a natural process, and there are so many choices along the way that can make life meaningful right up to the last breath.”
The grant will cover the cost for 24 people to participate in the “Liv-
ing Fully and Dying Prepared” workshop series, scheduled to begin in late September. The 6-week workshop will be a welcoming, friendly place for conversations about death, dying, and end-of-life decisions. Arnoldy’s book, “The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared” and Compassion & Choices End-of-Life Decisions Guide will guide creative exercises and refection around topics including legacy, memory, and advance care planning. Feedback from the ten programs ofered around the country will inform the possibility of expanding the program. The workshop will be ofered at Explore the Arts in Hamilton starting Sept 24 for six Wednesdays. Another section will begin Sept 25 and run for six Thursdays. Each section is limited to 12 participants. The workshop and materials are free, but registration is
required. To learn more or to register, visit www.goodpassage.co, email info@goodpassage.co, or call 406493-7473.
local fabric artist who had been the fre lookout at Sula Peak.
Hamilton mayoral candidate James Olsen.
Murdoch’s to keep greenhouse open year round
by John Dowd
Becky Hawkins, a garden associate with Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply in Hamilton, wanted to highlight their new greenhouse and how it will be doing something diferent than most Murdoch’s across the state.
The Hamilton Murdoch’s plans to have the greenhouse open year-round. Other than the Murdoch’s in Bozeman, none of the other locations do this, and certainly most greenhouses in the Bitterroot Valley do not. According to Hawkins, they decided to do this for multiple reasons, but chiefy because of how isolated the Hamilton area can be.
Murdoch’s had their greenhouse grand reopening in early July, and wanted to tell people that they are pursuing more oferings throughout the seasons. Over the last winter, the store un-ofcially experimented with the temperature control, and utilized the space as storage. They found they were able to heat it to around 65 degrees consistently, and can maintain that even in the colder months.
Because of this, they believe they will be able to maintain a number of items year round. Things that, in Montana, are traditionally only available in
the warmer months, like houseplants. They also wanted to let the public know this will also allow them a space to carry more seasonal oferings, like decorations and holiday memorabilia.
The Hamilton location also plans to keep several perennials available, and when the seasons change, they hope to ofer infatables, Christmas trees, pumpkins and even live wreaths. “Things that the public has never seen from us before,” said Hawkins.
According to Hawkins, most of their oferings are locally sourced, many right from the Bitterroot Valley. Their houseplants are some of the only things that come from out of state. Their greenhouse will ofer year-round indoor plants and they will continue to ofer garden tools and decor.
Hawkins and other garden staf
have been involved in the store working to meet more community needs, often looking at things they have not seen other area stores ofer. For Hawkins, it is important that they
“have that versatility and availability that we’ve heard customers ask about.” She also hopes this will save people the drive to Missoula, or having to go without.
about 92% of its
for the year. There is approximately 2134 acre feet of contract water
to deliver. The reduction of reservoir outfows will start this weekend, possibly as early as 9/12/2025.
Murdoch’s associates Jackie Irwin and Becky Hawkins in the greenhouse. Photo by John Dowd.
The Painted Rocks Reservoir has already used
contract water
left
Photo courtesy Larry Schock.
WINGS: sanctuary property up for
1
volunteers that keep the ranch running smoothly, along with a few paid staf members that take care of daily feeding and mucking.
Board President and Volunteer Coordinator Laura Weise joined the program in 2021 as someone new to horses.
“I fell in love with the horses and became excited to learn and help,”
said Weise. She spearheaded a youth volunteer pilot program that launched this spring. “We’ve had fve regulars in the program since May. The youth volunteers come out every other Saturday and muck stalls and do any other chores needed at the ranch. Once chores are done the rest of the day is spent learning basic horsemanship, horse safety and behavior, hoof care basics, understanding facial expressions, basic horse handling and lead rope tying. We also cover horse feeding and nutrition and plant toxins. Some of these girls are real horsewomen and know more than I do. I think the frst year went really well.”
The sanctuary currently houses a variety of horses, everything from mini horses to Arabian and Quarter horses. The mini horses are particularly popular at events such as the Celtic Festival, Tammany Trot and the Sapphire Lutheran Homes concert series, and these appearances help raise funds and awareness of the program. They are also available for private parties. Currently the property that the ranch is located on is up for sale, and the board is trying to fnd a way to purchase it.
Weise commented, “This property is perfectly set up for us. There are two big barns and three rental houses that would
generate enough income to pay the mortgage. We just need to come up with a down payment.”
Wings ofers many ways to get involved, whether you are curious about horses and want to volunteer your time at the ranch, or help them reach their goal of raising a down payment through a donation. For more information visit their website: www. wingsprograms.org or call (406) 3633346.
Wings was one of several recipients of the Spring Grant from the Stevensville Community Foundation. The awarded grant money helped fund the Youth Volunteer Program run by Weise. The Foundation has two grant cycles per year, in the spring and fall. To learn more about the foundation and how it serves the community, or to apply for this year’s upcoming grants, visit www.
VICTOR: host of new programs offered to students
Continued from page 1
classes or electives and to do other cour- ses at home, at their own pace. The fnal track is geared towards athletes, and gives them the option to get their required attendance, while also taking on a more fexible course-load, with some online and some in-school.
According to Stiegler, the standout feature of this new program will be that it comes at no cost to participating students. Families that sign up for
Victor Online Academy get to utilize Harmony’s online educational services, without having to pay the tuition. This leads to a huge “cost savings,” for families, said Stiegler. The new program already has around 20 students signed up, 13 of which are new to the district. Victor has a dedicated teacher managing the program, who even has lab hours so students can physically come into school to utilize school equipment and get more direct in-person instruction.
Stiegler also wanted to mention that they are beginning a co-op sports program for their students this year, allowing
those interested in soccer, wrestling, softball and baseball to work with Corvallis.
Stiegler is proud of their successes, and spoke of his team’s unique leadership method. He referred to this as a “servant leadership approach,” by which he described fipping the traditional leadership pyramid on its head, with the top supporting all other aspects of the operation. For him, this means his job is about working to “support the needs of staf and students.”
“If we’re doing it with kiddos in mind,” said Stiegler, “we’re doing it for the right reasons.”
Pebbles, currently in training and will be up for adoption soon. Photo by Kristin Kruse.
With tricos, you have to bring you’re A game
It takes about a season of warming up to get ready for a late summer binge of trico fshing. You work on getting that cast to lay down delicately, getting the strike refex honed in, and developing a sense of where your fy is even if you can’t see it.
This year, once again, I’m not completely ready.
Nonetheless, I look forward to mornings of fshing those ultra-small black-and-white mayfies when good-sized trout rise to them methodically in fat water.
To do well with tricos you need to see these tiny bugs in fshable numbers – but that doesn’t begin to guarantee success.
by Chuck Stranahan
You have to have you’re A game with you to score well with tricos.
What you’ll see, if the tricos are worth getting into, is this: There will be masses of these small insects plastered into the water’s surface, carried by the power current where it slows down to an easy, fshable speed, about two feet per secondthe speed of a slow, ambling walk.
They’ll be there early morning until they quit – anywhere from 11AM until after noon. You’ll be looking at the spinner fall, or egg-laying stage of insects that hatched and mated the night before or earlier that morning.
There will be a batch of fsh rising one after another to take these small insects that you can barely see. The trout rise rhythmically, eating one little bug at a time. The temptation is to cast into the midst of them thinking you’re sure to nail one.
Wrong. That approach seldom works, and usually ends badly. One lame cast or more often, one splashy yank on the pickup, and you’ll be asking yourself, “Where’d they all go?”
Instead, here’s what it takes:
Pay attention to making a delicate cast that is on target. Pick one rising fsh, and fsh to that fsh. Let the fy drift through, then strip it of and pick it up gently – if you spook one rising trout, it’s likely they’re all gone.
Let’s say you saw a swell and maybe a dorsal fn about nine inches behind the small protrusion of a nose that left a bubble on the surface. You’re looking at about an eighteen to twenty-inch trout coming up again and again right in front of you. You can take him, but know: one false move and he’s gone. You’re tensed up, ready.
You didn’t see the fy the fsh took – nor can you see your own #20 fy.
Cast to the rhythm of the rise. Try to time your delivery so the cast lands about four feet, maybe more, above the fsh you’re working. If that fsh is coming up, say, every seven seconds, you want the fy to pass through the strike zone exactly seven seconds from when you saw the last rise.
Then, be ready – anticipate the rise.
The most critical technique in this sort of fshing is the hook-set. To start with, handle your line gently. Don’t clamp down. Let the line slip through your fngers when you set up. A quick upward motion, just enough to jump the line a little, followed by a smooth upward sweep until there is contact or no, is enough.
Sometimes you time it perfectly – and fnd that the trout took a fy just an inch ahead of yours. This is a game of anticipation, a game of nerves, a game that brings a rush with every triumph. That’s what makes it fun.
If you miss, and move the fy just a few inches, you’ve done that part of it right. Eventually you’ll connect.
You’ll need every edge you can get. This is technical fshing - presenting small fies to trout laying just under the surface of slow moving, fat, clear water.
You’re fshing a long leader, twelve feet or more, tipped out with three feet of 6X or fner tippet.
I know at the outset I probably won’t be able to see my fy on the water, but I can hone in on where I think it is. After a while I’ll be able to spot my fy more often, but when I can’t I’ll strike at any rise that comes close. Occasionally I’ll hook up, and I don’t mind those false hook-sets.
I’d rather come up and miss than second-guess myself and not strike a broad-shouldered rainbow that just inhaled my fy – and I’ve done both.
Late summer, low water, bring your A game to hook up. Photo courtesy Chuck Stranahan.
RAVE: organizer vows to try again
Continued from page 1
26 calls to the Sheriff’s Office. “But the only thing they could do was write a ticket for violating the noise ordinance,” she said. Clements said they contacted the Forest Service, DNRC, the fire department, Sheriff’s Department and simply got shrugged off. She said that one reason people from up in Missoula were coming down here to the Bitterroot was due to the lack of any permitting requi -
rements here, and the lack of any control over what’s happening. “So that’s when we decided to petition the County Commissioners to do something about it,” said Clements.
The petition asks the commissioners to conduct a full review of the event plans and permitting status; require proof of all necessary permits, safety plans, and insurance; consult with law enforcement, fire services, DNRC. and FWP; evaluate whether this location is suitable for a large-scale festival; and establish clear event guidelines for rural residential areas.
Banjo ● M ● 8yrs
Banjo
Clements said, although they were successful in stopping this particular event, they were not going to stop the outcry. “We are trying to make this sort of a grassroots thing and get some sort of control over things like this, some sort of permitting system or something,” she said.
Event organizer Ivan Gallego said, “I’ve just been trying to create fun engaging opportunities for young people. It’s pretty sad how this
whole thing shook out.”
Gallego claims the bulk of the resistance to the festival can be placed on the doorstep of Suart Draper, a neighbor to the property owner that was hosting the event. He said, “Draper and his gang called my sponsors, my food trucks, my vendors, attendees, somehow called my mom, they called everybody that I was working with from Montana Pro Audio, Elevation Productions, and essentially lied to their faces, saying this was going to be a huge awful drug fest that’s going to damage the environment and blah, blah, blah and scared off all of my business partners.”
Gallego said he was a native Montanan with a background in endurance.
“I’m here to take care of the environment, I study neuro-science at the university, I’m a mental health advocate, this festival was a confluence of all of my greatest strengths in one place and it was here to serve the community,” said Gallego.
He said the so-called facts on the petition are all incorrect. “They don’t know how legitimate this event is with two million dollar insurance policies, a security team, a medical team, a fire watch. It’s very unfortunate. It was a very safe, legitimate, well-organized, thoughtful event we had planned.” He said he looked into suing Draper for “defamation, spre -
ading dis-information, slander, tortuous interference, but I can’t really afford that, the venue owners can’t really afford that, but we definitely have a case.”
Gallego said that he had incurred tens of thousands of dollars in non-refundable payments preparing for the event. “So, I am deep in the hole and just have to climb back out. He’s created himself to be an enemy so all I want to do now is have this event. It’s my only focus. It’s going to be bigger and better than it was going to be this year. He has motivated me even more than I knew I needed to be.”
“You can’t argue against the message of this event and the aims of this event,” said Gallego. “It’s bringing the community together supporting mental health and presenting a new type of music, electronic music and raving that is being stigmatized. It’s not drugs. It’s not violence. No way. Some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met are so-called ravers. So, we are going to bring it back and it’s going to be magical.” He said the cancellation has actually brought forward a lot of new support.
Draper declined to comment on Gallego’s allegations. But he has filed a police report alleging he was illegally doxed by Gallego by a posting of his telephone number on-line.
has just the right mix of spunk & snuggles - always up for a good zoom around the yard, followed by some quality tme with his person.
Banjo isn't a fan of bigger dogs, but he's been fne around smaller canines.
What Banjo really wants is a home where he can be your buddy for backyard adventures, walks, & couch tme.
Overstreet at it again
Gr eg Overstreet is at it again. Our recent transplant from Washington state and first-term legislator for House District 88 has been making the rounds at the local rodeos across the state, bragging about the legislation that he penned and got passed, a law to make rodeo the state sport of Montana. I see nothing wrong with this, in fact it’s great. And, by the way, the first official rodeo in Montana was believed to have been held in Miles city in 1914.
But if you really want to look at what Greg did for the state, you might want to know he did nothing to help property tax issues or funding of our public schools. In fact he voted against Medicaid expansion and a whole host of other issues that are far more important to the average Montanan. So please don’t be fooled by Mr. Overstreet’s boasting, especially when you’re paying your higher property tax bill. Mr. Overstreet didn’t help your circumstances when you can’t afford the land to keep a horse, or the hay to feed your horse, or even to own a decent horse so you can participate in the Montana State sport.
Evan Schroedel Florence
To Sen. Daines:
Senator Daines, the survivors of the horrifc Epstein abuses are pleading for release of ALL the fles. You will be voting up or down on the upcoming discharge petition on behalf of the victims. If you do NOT vote in favor, your constituents will know that you are a supporter of sexual abuse and trafcking. Don’t spout Mike Johnson’s excuse that victims need protection. What they need and are asking for is NOT protection but transparency.
Ruth Hazelton Hamilton
Climate change
Misinformation is widespread on the Internet, case in point Joe Rogan‘s interview with Mel Gibson, where the topic was climate change. Not that either are experts on climate change, as was indicated by their ignorant remarks. Firstly, Gibson serves up the old chestnut of how can you have ocean rise when your glass of water doesn’t overfow when the ice melts. If you don’t know the rebuttal to this, you need to educate yourself. The problem is not sea ice melting but land ice melting in Antarctica and Greenland, which is already causing sea level rise. Imagine a block of ice in a funnel over your already full glass of water. Joe Rogan eagerly agreed with Gibson that human caused climate change was a bunch of baloney and chimed in with a report from the Washington Post, which he said showed a decline in temperatures in the past “several thousand years.” He then produced a graph showing global temperature changes over 450 million years, which was largely level with a slight dip and then tiny uptick at the very end of the line. Anybody see a problem here? An instructive point on that line shows an uptick, millions of years ago, similar to the one we are experiencing now, which was a 10°C increase over 50,000 years that led to the mass extinctions. We are now looking at a 4°C increase over less than 100 years. We also have 8 billion people on this planet, all dependent upon such things as a stable climate to keep their houses from going underwater and providing
Opinion
enough arable land to feed everyone. Again do you see a problem here? The problem is the speed of climate change, and our ability to adapt. That is a huge problem, even for those who listen to Joe Rogan.
John Schneeberger Hamilton
Trump Efect 12
Trump is trying to disembowel the United States. He’s trying to destroy your health. He’s after your money. He is waging war on women. He is after US companies, one after another, taking stakes and controlling their decisions. He’s trying to get you accustomed to soldiers with guns in your streets. He eviscerates his “enemies,” anyone who disagrees with him. He hosts shameful meetings, with Putin, with his Cabinet toadies who fawn over him like courtiers around Louis the 14th. He is wagging his tail for Putin like a little puppy. He will give away Ukraine, Palestine, India, Mexico, Greenland and no doubt more, in his drive for power and headlines. He is trying to destroy our government, placing toadies rather than professionals.
He will NOT tell you about his sleazy, SINFUL times with Epstein. He will NOT abide by any rule that tells him it’s unlawful to seek personal gain from his position. He will NOT honor you, his party, his country, our laws, our judges, the military, the democracy, the Constitution. He is power mad with no restraints.
Get up of the sofa. It’s your country, not his. Do something about it.
Linda Schmitt Corvallis
What’s the plan?
Lib letters to the editor are hysterical and hysterically absurd and laughable. Liberal Democrats, we know full well you hate President Trump, but hatred is not an agenda, or a plan for the future of our country. President Trump is a man of action and in the seven months he has been in ofce he has accomplished MANY of his campaign promises—promises which got him elected in the frst place. What is the Democrat plan? Keep all illegal aliens in the country, criminals or not? Allow biological men to compete against biological women in sports? Carry a DEI program to such extremes as to sexually confuse and disorient young students? Tell parents not to complain about this? Discriminate against Jews, and promote Palestinian fags over Old Glory? Kick out the Constitution and our Democratic Republic, and embrace Socialism and Communism as our form of government? Is this the plan, Democrats? If not, please lay out for us what your plan IS for the future of our country. Convince me you have a better plan for us than President Trump! Jane Lambert Stevensville
Need some fun?
We just discovered ARTSPACE!
This amazing place is in Explore the Arts Gallery (corner of Main and S. 7th in Hamilton) and is great for kids (and adults) to play, create and experiment with paint, markers, clay and loads of other fun stuf—at no cost! We started out in one room (sponsored by the Bitterroot Children’s Discovery Museum) and the kids crawled along the foor on “mats” that change color and shape with each movement, placed light cylinders to create interesting designs and so much more. Then we decorated gourds, wood shapes and butterfies before getting to the day’s
favorite—making stuf from diferent colored clay using some “machine” for creating unique ribbons that could be shaped into whatever. If you’re looking for a fun activity with your kids, this is THE place to visit. Barbara Liss and her staf are friendly, helpful and welcoming. What a great fnd!
Syble Solomon Hamilton
Rebuttal to article
I suppose I should be somewhat concerned about what John Dowd penned in his front page personal opinion piece. What really concerns me is the fact that he never once made an efort to ask me. You should read the Malin Stearns Johnson report if you want the truth. I am not the culprit.
Perhaps you should revisit the articles in the Bitterroot Star from August 4, 2020 regarding reports of improper infuence, code of conduct violations, oath of ofce violations and the Stevensville Town Council preparing to try one of its members.
People seem to forget how Council Member Michalson, now Mayor Bob Michalson, harassed the town staf, was put on trial by the council, lost a lawsuit and has cost the town a large sum in insurance fees.
A typical example is the article in the Bitterroot Star from October 5, 2021 where Tribbensee was awarded $35,000 and $50,000. The Town’s Insurer spent $93,649.28 in legal fees. The Town’s insurance rate went from about $24,000 in 2019/20 to about $32,000 in 2020/21 to $73,000 in 2021/22, according to the Bitterroot Star.
None of these things were because of me. I left ofce in January of 2018. Any interaction I had with the town or staf was as a citizen.
The current mayor said in the past that, “I’ll stick to my job as much as I can, running by the rules that I see ft.” That was quoted in the Bitterroot Star, January 15, 2020. Looking at his current track record, we can see that he does just that, signing contracts without council consent, suing companies without even notifying the council, failing to obey council rules.
Nothing to see here… just everything that you need to be watching.
OK. I was trespassed from town hall. It is true. Mayor Michalson had me trespassed because a clerk got really upset at me when I questioned whether or not I had to get permission from the Town’s Attorney to see a public document that any citizen has the Constitutional right to see. The Town Clerk REFUSED to let me see a Council Resolution that you and I must obey.
She said I had to have the Town Attorney’s permission to see any council resolution.
That is a direct violation of my State Constitution Right to Know. It is also a violation of State Law. Imagine if you will, that you are required to obey a law. However, you are not allowed by the dictator(s) of your town to see what law you are required to obey.
The Stevensville Town Ofcers, members of the Town Council, Mayor, Police Chief, Finance Ofcer, City Attorney, Judge and the Clerk all are required to take an oath of ofce. That oath of ofce, as required in Article III, Part III, Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Montana, is as follows: “I do solemnly swear (or afrm) that I will support, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Montana, and that I will discharge the duties of my ofce with fdelity (so
help me God).” I was told point blank, three times by the Town Clerk in a very aggressive manner, I was required to have the Town Attorney’s permission to see any resolution.” Then the clerk got really upset when I decided to record what she was saying to me. I tried to explain it was not a records request I had submitted that I wanted to see, it was the resolution that controls how these things are submitted. The resolution, which by the way neither she nor the deputy clerk even knew the number of, was Resolution 539. This is what you get when you try to do things at town hall. It upset the clerk so badly that I objected to my rights being violated, that I was trespassed. I was not rude, loud or aggressive. She was busy, of all things, taking fngerprints. The Clerk should not be taking fnger prints; she should be taking care of the council minutes which often are not up to date. So, I left to see the Chief of Police. While in his ofce, she yelled at the Chief of Police to direct me to turn of my recorder (which was never started). You can record public servants in the performance of their jobs. News people do it all the time.
To this day, over fve weeks later, I still have not been told by anyone from Town Hall why I was trespassed. I have asked several times. The mayor will not respond. I found out, through Mr. Dowd’s article, apparently from conversation he had when interviewing either the mayor or an employee at town hall, that it was because I was harassing town employees. It was a citizen that was denied his rights (me). I am the victim here, not the Clerk. It is so hostile at town hall that I rarely visited town hall. It has been that way for many years. The employees are so frightened by the citizens of this town that the clerk has to ask for a police escort to her car after a council meeting. Fact is, they did not want me to get the information I was after, even after six weeks all of the information from town hall has not been gathered. What is the problem? All I ever wanted was to just see the Business License, Building Permit and Resolution books in town hall. I did not want the town or anyone else to go through the problem and expense of copying everything. I would have completed my research in a couple of hours.
Someone at Town Hall, however, decided that the information, public information I might add, had to have someone’s clearance or approval before a Citizen of this Country, State and Town could see the public documents. Last time I checked we do not live in a communist country so I should not need Politburo permission. Read the law, § 2-6-1003 MCA Access to public information -- safety and security exceptions -- Montana historical society exception. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), every person has a right to examine and obtain a copy of any public information of this state.
You also need to remember, our rights do not end where your feelings begin.
A public servant means someone that is employed by the government to serve the public’s interests and works impartially for the community’s welfare.
Jim Crews Stevensville
Editor’s note: For clarifcation, Jim Crews is referring to a news article that ran on 9/3/2025, not an opinion piece.
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Darby, McCoy run past Victor
Football roundup
Broncs best Bulldogs
Ha milton traveled to Whitefish to battle the Bulldogs on Friday, September 5 and won 27-23. The Broncs started quickly and controlled the game early, leading 14-0 after the first quarter and 27-8 at halftime. The Broncs slowed down in the second half and Whitefish made a comeback, but Hamilton was able to hold on for the 27-23 victory.
Hamilton sophomore quarterback Cooper Weston had a strong game. He rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns, and completed 26 of 41 passes. Hamilton got big games from a trio of receivers. WR Jackson Lubke had 9 catches for 119 yards, WR Easton Hollis had 8 receptions for 96 yards and a TD, and TE Kaedan Gum had 9 catches for 94 yards and a TD.
Hamilton is 2-0 on the season and plays Libby on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in Hamilton. Florence loses to #2 Manhattan Fl o rence went to Manhattan on Friday, September 5, to play the #2 ranked Tigers (406mtsports.com poll). The Falcons played tough but fell 18-6. Florence quarterback Brody Duchien threw for over 100 yards and rushed for a touchdown and Bridger Alexander rushed for 60 yards.
Florence has faced tough competition in their first two games, playing #3 Three Forks in the opening week, then #2 Manhattan last week. Florence looks to get a notch in the win column against Fairfield in Florence on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Yellowjackets felled by Loggers
S te vensville headed north to face Libby on Friday, September 5. The ‘Jackets trailed 22-0 after the first quarter and 42-7 at halftime and weren’t able to recover in the second half, losing 42-14. Stevensville is now 0-2 on the season and will play Livingston in their home opener on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Corvallis falls to Bigfork
T he Corvallis Blue Devils went to Bigfork on Friday, September 5, to battle the Vikings. The Blue Devils weren’t able to get any traction in the game and fell 52-0 to Bigfork. Corvallis is now 0-2 on the season and hosts Whitefish on Friday, Sept. 12 in their next game.
The Darby and Victor football teams squared off in Victor on Saturday, September 6, in a contest of the two 8-man football teams in the Bitterroot Valley. Darby jumped out early and led 24-0 at halftime, and cruised to a 34-0 victory. Darby’s speedy and athletic quarterback McCoy Townsend rushed for four touchdowns and teammate Jordan Browning added a touchdown run to account for the Tigers’ scoring. It was a hard hitting, competitive game. Darby led 12-0 after the first quarter, thanks to two short TD runs by Townsend. In the second quarter, Townsend had a 40-yard touchdown scamper and Browning took a reverse 25 yards to make the score 24-0 at halftime. After halftime, Townsend added a short TD run to make the final score 34-0.
Darby is now 1-0 on the season and hosts Arlee in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
Victor is 1-1 on the season and travels to Seeley-Swan to battle the top 10 ranked Blackhawks on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Bitterroot Valley golf results
The Bitterroot Valley Class A golf teams were in Bigfork for the 2025 Steve Hullett Invitational on Thursday, September 4. Individually for the girls, Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett fnished 3rd (87), Corvallis’s Kristen Race tied for 7th (97), and Hamilton’s Rhain Hollingsworth tied for 10th (100). In the girls team standings, Hamilton took 3rd and Corvallis took 4th.
Individually for the boys, Corvallis’s Brady Powell tied for 2nd (74), Corvallis’s Tag Jessop tied for 5th (76), Hamilton’s Jackson Kirkbride tied for 15th (83), and Stevensville’s Weston Cotton tied for 31st (87). In the boys team standings, Corvallis fnished 3rd, Hamilton took 8th, and Stevensville took 12th.
The Hamilton and Corvallis golf teams were at the Whitefsh Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The Corvallis boys took frst place in the team standings, while the Hamilton boys took 6th. The Hamilton girls team took 2nd place while the Corvallis girls took 4th. Individually for the boys, Corvallis’s Brady Powell shot a 4 under 67 and took 2nd place. Hamilton’s Jackson Kirkbride tied for 4th (76). Corvallis’s Tag Jessop tied for 6th (78), and Dylan Wirt took 10th (81).
Individually for the girls, Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett took 2nd with a score of 83, Corvallis’s Kristen Race took 5th (94), and Hamilton’s Ellie Hattlestad took 9th (100).
Cross Country teams at Flathead Invite
The Bitterroot Valley boys and girls cross country teams from Darby, Corvallis, Florence, Hamilton, and Stevensville were at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell for the 2025 Flathead Invitational.
Over 30 high schools participated in the meet, including many of the top Class AA schools. So for the Bitterroot Valley runners, this was some of the best competition they will face all year.
Individually for the boys there were 172 varsity racers. Darby’s Ben Martin finished 13th (16:18.73) and was the highest boys finisher from the Bitterroot Valley. Hamilton’s Taylor Doleac finished 17th (16:23.13). Corvallis’s Carter Koerner finished 24th (16:39.56). Florence’s Seba
Schroeder finished 30th (16:46.24). Hamilton’s Benjamin Beare finished 33rd (16:48.11). Individually for the girls there were 132 varsity racers. Hamilton’s Aleigha Child finished 19th (20:25.24) and was the highest girls finisher from the Bitterroot Valley. Hamilton’s Reecelyn Walthall finished 22nd (20:35.62). Corvallis’s Ella Varner took 30th (21:09.92). Corvallis’s Cheyenne Herbert took 44th (21:29.00). Florence’s Bailey Kroeker took 53rd (21:50.60).
In the boys team standings, Corvallis finished 7th, Hamilton finished 12th, Florence finished 15th, and Stevensville finished 22nd. In the girls team standings, Corvallis finished 9th, Florence finished 17th.
Above, Darby’s McCoy Townsend hits Victor’s Sawyer Agee as he throws the ball in Darby’s 34-0 victory over Victor on Saturday, September 6 in Victor.
Bellow, Victor’s Colin Lewis (#7) gets swarmed by a group of Darby defenders led by Darby’s #8 Wyatt Manning. Photos by Scott Sacry.
Sports
Soccer Roundup
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Hamilton defeats Corvallis
The Corvallis boys and girls soccer teams hosted Hamilton on Thursday, September 4.
In the boys game, Hamilton scored three frst-half goals en route to a 4-1 victory. Hamilton’s Otto Gantz scored two goals, while Marihas Oshell and Sam Missiani each scored a goal. The Corvallis boys have a young team with only three total seniors and juniors. Corvallis’s lone goal came from a second-half stoppage time penalty kick by Eli Knight.
In the girls game, Hamilton jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead, then rolled in the second half for the 9-0 victory. Hamilton’s Anna Lewis had a hat trick, Greta Gantz and
Victoria Stuart each scored a brace (two goals), and Ellie Hughes added a goal.
The Hamilton boys went to Whitefsh on Saturday, Sept. 6 and lost 3-7.
The Corvallis boys hosted Columbia Falls on Saturday, Sept. 6, and lost 11-1.
Stevensville
The Stevensville boys and girls hosted Polson on Tuesday, September 2.
In the girls game, the teams were equally matched but Polson got the go ahead goal late in the second half to get the 1-0 victory. Stevensville had some chances late, but were unable to fnd the back of the net and lost 1-0.
In the boys game, Stevensville gave up four goals late in the frst half to go down 4-0. They played better in the second half, but lost 4-1. Konstantia Parshin scored the ‘Jackets’ lone goal.
Then on Saturday, Sept. 6, the
and Gianna Ruprecht. The Stevensville boys won 2-1 and got goals from Hayden Warrington and Jacob Shobe.
Florence volleyball of to hot start
The Florence volleyball team is off to a strong start to the 2025 season. In their opening week they were undefeated in a Class A Tip-off Tournament in Polson, then last week they won straight set games against Plains and Thompson Falls.
Florence was the Class B state runner-up last season, and this year’s team is a good mix of veteran leadership and new faces. They look poised to make another deep postseason run this year.
On Thursday, September 4, Florence hosted Thompson Falls and won 3-0. The Lady Falcons won a close first set 25-21, then rolled in the next two, winning 25-10 and 25-15. For Florence, Emory Ralston had 10 kills and 8 digs, and Maggie Schneiter had 11 aces, 15 assists and 3 blocks.
Florence went to Plains on Tuesday,
Sept. 2 and trounced the Trotters 3-0 (2516, 25-10, 25-10). For Florence, Emory Ralston had 11 kills, and 11 digs, Lexi Danczyk had 2 blocks, Maggie Schneiter had 15 assists, and Dia Jenkins had 6 aces. Darby falls to Troy (smaller, under Florence volleyball story)
The Darby volleyball team hosted Troy on Thursday, September 4 and lost 3-2 in a hard fought five-set match. Darby took the first set 25-19, then lost two in a row 12-25, 20-25 before winning the fourth set 25-19. Darby fell in the final set 6-15. For Darby, Brenna Bush had 2 aces, 4 kills and 4 assists, Natalie Anderson had 3 aces, 7 kills and 4 blocks, Austin Hackel had 3 kills and 4 assists, Hadley Heiland had 3 blocks, and Brooklyn Janis had 5 aces and 7 kills.
boys and girls traveled to Libby to play the Loggers. The Stevensville girls won 3-1 and got goals from Madigan Hurlbert, Cora Masar,
Above, Stevensville’s Deci Endres (#9) looks to control the ball in the ‘Jackets game against Poslon on Tuesday, September 2. The Stevensville girls lost 1-0.
At left, Stevensville’s Jakob Wenck bumps shoulders with a Polson player in the ‘Jackets game against Polson on Tuesday, September 2 in Stevensville. Stevensville was defeated 4-1. Photos by Scott Sacry.
Florence’s Maggie Schneiter sets the ball in Florence’s game against Thompson Falls on Thursday, September 4 in Florence. Florence won 3-0, and Schneiter had 11 aces and 15 assists. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Jesse Lunceford
Florence - Jessie Sanderson Lunceford, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and greatgreat-grandmother, passed away peacefully at the age of 100. She was born on February 19, 1925 to George and Nellie Sanderson in Worland, Wyoming, the youngest of seven children, and moved to Pioneer, Montana at the age of 5. She often told the story of panning for gold with her dad during the summer she turned 12.
Jessie attended and graduated high school in Deer Lodge. In March of 1943, she met Ernie Lunceford, whom she would marry on October 30th of that year, just two months before he had to go into the Navy to serve in World War II. He got home on Christmas Eve in 1944. She said that was the best day of her life. They had their two daughters, Shari and Denice, while living in Deer Lodge, then moved to a small ranch in Florence in 1951, where Cody and Joe joined the family.
Jessie raised a large garden and canned everything she could, helped milk cows, care for chickens, haul wood, and put up hay—for a few years the old-fashioned way, with a team of horses. During the
mid-sixties, she was also Florence’s “Avon Lady.”
Jessie began working at the Florence Post Offce, where she served as a clerk, mail carrier, and eventually Postmaster for fve years. She made many lifelong friends during her years at the post ofce.
After she and Ernie retired, they began wintering in California at the Fountain of Youth Spa, where they enjoyed horseshoes and card games. She and Ernie won many trophies pitching horseshoes. Jessie loved the Spa so much she continued going even after Ernie’s passing in 1998.
She crocheted countless afghans, dish cloths, and other handmade treasures for family and friends, sometimes creating her own patterns. Her gifts remain cherished reminders of her love.
In addition to four children, Jessie and Ernie have 15 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by her four children, Shari (Denny) Edwards of Florence, Denice (Roger) Rummel of Scottsdale, AZ, Cody (Liz) Lunceford of Stevensville, MT, and Joe (Judy) Lunceford of Troy, MT. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
John (Mac) Bert McQuaid (1937-2025)
John Bert McQuaid passed peacefully, and on to his next adventure, on 9/29/2025. He was at
home surrounded by loved ones with his faithful companion Kia at his side. He was born in 1937 to Bert and Grace McQuaid and was raised in Denver, Colorado. As a child, he spent many days panning for gold with his parents in Colorado’s Clear Creek canyon on the family’s mining claim. He attended South High School and proudly served four years in the United States Navy. He settled into a career as a real estate broker in Colorado’s Vail Valley and Craig Colorado and eventually found his home in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Mac met many people along his life journey and will be greatly missed. Mac was a very thoughtful individual and sought truth in everything he did. From his political and spiritual beliefs to inventing and creating devices that promoted self-sufficiency, there was no insurmountable challenge for him. He could design and build anything he set his mind, heart and hands to including a serenade on his banjo after a delicious burrito he whipped up for dinner. He was an accomplished pilot and loved soaring over the
Dr. Charles R. Petty
Charles (Chuck) R. Petty, M.D. passed away August 30, 2025 in Hamilton, Montana, at the age of 95.
Born February 3, 1930, Chuck was the youngest of three boys born to William Lloyd and Bernice (Wheeler) Petty in Williston, North Dakota.
Chuck grew up and attended public schools in Williston where he was active in curricular and civic activities. He graduated from Williston High School in 1948. He studied pre-med at the University of North Dakota on an athletic scholarship, where he participated in the football and track programs. He then attended the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School, graduating in 1955.
Chuck met his wife, Norma Heinle, in Williston, North Dakota. They were married at St. John’s Church in Hebron, North Dakota on July 24, 1954, and were married for nearly 69 years. They had two sons, Kirk and Charles, Jr.
After graduating medical school, Dr. Chuck enlisted into the US Army and served a rotating internship at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. From there, he was assigned to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas for basic military training prior to entering the first group of Army Family Practice residents at Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing the residency program, he attended language school in Washington D.C. becoming fluent in French for his assignment to the US Military Assistance Advisory Group in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After his 18 month tour as a physician in Cambodia, he returned to Madigan Army Hospital for his final year of his military obligation.
In 1960, following his discharge from the Army, he joined the Craven-Hagan Clinic in Williston, North Dakota in general practice. In July
1963, he relocated to Hamilton, Montana where he entered family practice in partnership with Dr. Richard Peterson and Dr. Donald Maclean. Their partnership later became known as the Bitterroot Clinic.
Dr. Chuck’s fondness for the field of obstetrics resulted in the delivery of several thousand babies over the course of his medical career. He retired from private practice in 1993. He became an aviation medical examiner early in his professional career, performing FAA airman physical examinations until 2021, retiring at the age of 91. He was especially dedicated to the medical needs of the professional pilot population as well as the recreational pilot groups in his practice area of western Montana and Idaho.
Rocky Mountains in his Cessna airplane.
Mac was preceded in death by his beloved wife Shirley and his son Mike Lovins (JoAnn) and is survived by son John Lovins (Gilda) and daughter Patti Gill (Joe).
Mac played an important role in his Grandchildren’s lives and his beloved niece Heidi’s life. He taught them right and wrong, survival skills, financial responsibility and that rewards are earned. Most importantly he taught them to recite the following: “Grandfather, knower of all things great and small from creation to eternity!” His wisdom and the example of his life are passed on to his grandchildren Sarah Ahnstedt, Jacob Robida, Magdalene Robida, Rebekah Smith, John Robida, Andrew Lovins, Nadia Lovins and John Lovins. As well as his great grandchildren Stella Lee, Zildjian Heinze, Sophia Smith, Dezmond Heinze, Delilah Smith, Zenith Heinze, Race Ahnstedt, Augustus Smith and Juniper Smith.
A celebration of life will be held at 1959 Basil Ln., Corvallis, MT 59828 on Saturday, September 13 at 2 p.m. It is going to be a potluck style dinner if you care to bring a dish of your choice.
attended.
He was active in community affairs, serving on numerous boards and committees, including the board of directors of the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust, Marcus Daly Hospital Foundation, and the Montana Historical Society.
Living in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley gave Dr. Chuck and his family opportunities for much backpacking, camping, and skiing. He did many bike trips with his wife and friends through the Vermont Biking Tours, which included rides in Montana, Washington, British Columbia, New Zealand, Prince Edward Island, and Vermont. He had a private pilot’s license and enjoyed many hours of flying his plane with his family.
He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and sang in church choirs from an early age. He was a faithful participant in nearly every office and committee within the church that he
Survivors include sons, Kirk (Carole) of Ranchester, Wyoming, and Charles, Jr. (Kayla) of Priest River, Idaho; five grandchildren Brian Petty (Alison) of Moscow, Idaho, Matthew Petty (Hailey) of Ranchester, Wyoming, Michelle Petty of Laramie, Wyoming, Christianne McKay (Corban) of North Bend, Washington, Allison Jampsa (Kyle) of Kent, Washington; four great-grandchildren, Owen and Quin Petty of Ranchester, Wyoming and Silvia and Wesley Petty of Moscow, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brothers, Warren Petty of Fargo, North Dakota and Dwight Petty of Spokane, Washington.
A memorial service to celebrate Dr. Chuck’s life will be held Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11:00 am at Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton, Montana, with a luncheon to follow. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com
The family suggests memorials to Marcus Daly Hospital (Bitterroot Health), the Daly Mansion, or the United Methodist-American Baptist Church in Hamilton, Montana.
Mary White Hamilton - Mary White, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Thursday evening, September 4, 2025 at Beehive Homes. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
Thomas Lowe Turah - Thomas Lowe, 75, passed away at home, surrounded by family in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 6, 2025. Brothers Mortuary & Crematory is honored to care for Mr. Lowe.
Patrick Ray Howard
Patrick Ray Howard passed peacefully, September 3rd, into the arms of Jesus after a hard-fought battle with cancer at age 71. Pat was born in Rathdrum, Idaho, to Bud and Betty Howard. When he was three, he moved with his family to Florence, Montana. Pat grew up the youngest of fve children. He had a great childhood, fshing and hunting with his older brother and pestering his older sisters. He played football, basketball and ran in track. His frst job was working on the Mikesell ranch. After graduating from Florence-Carlton High School, he went to work his frst summer logging with his stepdad. He later went to Missoula Vo-tech and earned a certifcate in small engine repair and another in welding. He was the frst one hired out of his class and went to work at the Honda Cycle Center in Missoula. He worked there for fve years and made some life-long friends. Then, he opened his own shop until the recession sent him to California to work. When he came back to Missoula, he drove delivery truck for Norco for two or three years. Pat worked at Al’s Cycle in Hamilton for several years. He worked at Hamilton Pack for a couple of years before starting his own metal fabrication shop. He became a very skilled welder, specializing in stainless steel fabrication for the pharmaceutical industry. He was well known for being able to build or fx anything. He never had to advertise his business; he always had more work than he could do. He said he was retired but still went to his shop every day even during his illness. His shop has been in operation for over 36 years.
place.
Pat fnally found the girl he wanted to marry when he was 37. Pat and Edel were married in 1990. They had many fun times in their 35 years of marriage— camping on the beach in Mexico at a beach they named Playa de Howard; and back country camping from the dune buggy Pat built. They felt very blessed to have jobs that allowed them to meet at home every day at noon to have lunch together. Pat would pet their little dog, Gracie, before heading back to work.
Pat loved racing. He started out racing “fat track” dirt bikes after high school. In 1998 they had a “fat track” race in Hamilton where he became known as
Many people have said Pat was one of the friendliest people they ever knew. He reached out in friendship to people he didn’t know yet but who soon became his good friends. He was easy to laugh, and that was part of his charm. He was talented and gifted in his vocation – always willing to understand and make suggestions on how to make something work better. He has friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It has been amazing to see the lives he has touched.
He had a few nicknames: Captain Howard, Scooby, and Prankster Pat. The prankster part he learned from his sister Karen.
Pat was preceded in death by his dad, Bud; stepdad, Lawrence; mom, Betty; brother, Gerry;
the Hamilton hero. It was a “clean sweep”; he won every race. He also raced on the ice with his “fat track” bike. Most recently, he said, “with age comes a cage,” and started racing stock cars at Salmon Valley Speedway. He named Edel his crew chief and even had a shirt made for her. He didn’t always listen to her, though, and lost a race because he didn’t heed her advice and ran out of gas on the last lap when he was in frst
sister, Florence, and his son, Jacob Dillon. He is survived by his wife, Edel; sons Seth (Ann), Warren, and Travis (Timaree); sisters, Karen (Rick), Betty (Tom); and grandchildren, Delanie, Mackenzie, Brytten, and Trinity.
Pat will be deeply missed by all of us! We miss that twinkle in his pretty blue eyes full of mischief. We are thankful we know he is in Heaven, and one day we will all be together again.
A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held Saturday, September 20th at 11:00 a.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel with a potluck reception to follow. Remember, it is a Celebration of life. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com
It would be nice to see everyone sharing happy memories of Pat. Maybe even wear bright cheery clothes like he always did.
by John Dowd
Do you remember?
Do you remember where you were during “9/11”? Many people ask that, and being as young as I am, I do barely recall. I was in elementary school, and they sent us home. It was September 11, 2001, and planes hijacked by terrorists had rammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
My mother was in New York, as a fight attendant at the time. Obviously, we were concerned, but fortunately she was on a diferent plane. In fact, she took one of the last photos of the towers just hours before they went down.
I may have been young and unable to remember much of where I was, but I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview one who remembers exactly where he was on that day.
Joe Graziano was there, right in the middle of it. At 71 years old, Graziano is from Queens, New York, born and raised. He was also a New York Fire Fighter for over 20 years. A member of Ladder 13, Graziano was assigned to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. When the second tower was hit, they went in.
According to Graziano, when they got there, his frst thought was, “this is bad.” He remembers the area covered in glass and they could hear the awful sounds resulting from people hurling themselves out of the windows of the building, hundreds of stories above, contacting the pavement. “Slapping,” he described the sound.
Graziano’s group went up to the 24th foor of the North Tower and after searching many foors they heard an explosion. As a freman, he was taught there could always be secondary explosions, so they were not sure if it was another plane, the fre or whatever else. They didn’t know that it was the South Tower collapsing.
The frefghters began searching huge ofce spaces inside, which Graziano described as “foot-ball feld sized rooms.” With a lot of ground to cover, they had to be as efcient as possible, yet were simply overwhelmed with the situation. There
was only one clear stairwell, and so they started utilizing that to move people. During this, there was a young frefghter assisting an overweight man down the steps. The young man was from another company, and struggling with the man who seemed to be having a heart attack. Graziano separated from his company and the two frefghters assisted the man down the stairs. Every few steps they would ask the man if he needed a break, but the man declined. It was so bad, Graziano describes helping the man to even lift his feet, one step at a time.
They came down into the lobby, where the younger frefghter separated from Graziano and the man. The young man went out one door, and Graziano helped the overweight man towards the door leading to an ambulance. Seconds after they exited the building, it collapsed on top of them. In those moments, Graziano pushed the man down and fell on top of him. “I didn’t want to leave him,” said Graziano.
“I just thought, who’s gonna play ball with my kids?” said Graziano. He had always been a sports fan, and for him the fact that he couldn’t be there for his kids was at the top of his mind.
According to Graziano, there was so much building and pressure that fell during the North Tower collapse that there was nothing left but literal tons of dust and loose paper. “The dust was unreal.” He described the dust getting everywhere, pressed into the pores of his face so much so that he could feel himself almost begin to swell.
Fortunately, the debris and everything that fell on them was limited to “things I could get myself out of, thank God.” Buried by dust and paper, he was able to get up and get the man to the ambulance. However, after the fact, Graziano was left with asthma, COPD, herniated disks in his neck and back and a loss of feeling in several fngers.
Nearly 3,000 people died during the events of 9/11, including civilians, law enforcement, ambulance teams and frefghters. Graziano always felt it was an open question why he was “chosen” to live. He was the only one of his entire group to survive. In fact, he, the man, and the young frefghter were the last to come out of that building alive before it fell.
ziano about the aftermath, he spoke about traveling and speaking about the events. He recalled a meeting with an older man who was a veteran present at Pearl Harbor, during the attack by the Japanese. The old man relayed a message to Graziano, which
he relayed to me. The old man said, to everyone else, these events will fade away. For them, it is a bleak memory. A thing that happened, though horrifc, that leaves an imprint, but only that. “But to you, It’s always gonna be yesterday.”
Flags to be displayed 9/11
According to Graziano, that man saved their lives. “He just kept pushing,” said Graziano. “Thank God he wouldn’t quit. As much as we saved his life, he saved our lives.”
Speaking to Gra-
My mother standing in front of the Twin Towers, hours before they events of 9/11, during her layover. Photo courtesy Nanette Mayfeld.
Left to right: Kay Gibbons, Commander Dave Hanson, James Higginson. Higginson representing Stevensville First Ward, Church of Latter Day Saints, donated 48 fags to Stevensville Fort Owen Post 94 of the American Legion. The fags will be posted along the Stevensville Cut-off Road for all fag holidays. The fags will be put up on September 11 this year.
Photo courtesy Kay Gibbons.
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Legal Notices
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-285
Dept. No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade to Jasiel Reine-Kamil Dever.
The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025,at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025..
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jayden Reese-King Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner Cause No.L DV-25-284
Dept. No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jayden Reese-King Wade to Jayden Reese-King Dever.
The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025, at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025..
/S/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
Daniel Browder, Esq. Browder Law, PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840
Telephone: (406) 3613677
Facsimile: (406) 3612999
browderlawmont@gmail. com
Email:
Attorney for Megan Pfau
MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LEONARD M. PFAU, Deceased.
Cause No. DP-2025-92
Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Megan Pfau has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against 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, Megan Pfau, 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 8th day of August, 2025. BROWDER LAW, PLLC
/s/ Daniel Browder
Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Megan Pfau, Personal Representative BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner
Cause No. DV-25-285
Dept. No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jasiel Reine-Kamil Wade to Jasiel Reine-Kamil Dever.
The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025,at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025..
/S/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY
In the Matter of the Name Change of Jayden Reese-King Wade, Collette Dever, Petitioner
Cause No.L DV-25-284
Dept. No.: 1
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Jayden Reese-King Wade to Jayden Reese-King Dever.
The hearing will be on the 24th of September 2025, at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Ravalli County.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025.. /s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court By: Sarah Sargent
Deputy Clerk of Court BS 8-20, 8-27, 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
AUDIT PUBLICATION
STATEMENT
The fscal year 2024 audit of Ravalli County has been conducted by Doyle & Associates, P.C. Certifed Public Accountants. The audit covered the year ended June 30, 2024.
Montana Code Annotated (MCA) Section 2-7-521 requires the publication of the following summary of Signifcant Audit Findings. This is only a summary and is not intended to be used as an audit report.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS
The audit report for Ravalli County, Montana, for the year ended June 30, 2024 contained the following independent auditor’s reports:
1. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s basic fnancial statements was unmodifed.
2. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards was unmodifed.
3. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s internal control over fnancial reporting and on compliance and other matters reported one fnding.
4. The independent auditor’s report on the County’s compliance with major programs was unmodifed.
PUBLIC INSPECTION OF AUDIT REPORT
The audit report is on fle in its entirety and open to public inspection at Ravalli County’s business ofce located at 215 S 4th Street Suite B, Hamilton, MT 59840. The County’s management will send a copy of the audit report to any interested person upon request.
BS 8-27, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FY25-26 PRELIMINARY BUDGET & BUDGET AMENDMENTS OF THE FY24-25 BUDGET
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 @ 6:30PM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Stevensville
will hold a public hearing on SEPTEMBER 11, 2025, at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall, 206 Buck Street, Stevensville, Montana 59870 for the purpose of obtaining public comments regarding the preliminary FY25-26 Budget and Budget Amendments to the FY24-25 Budget.
All interested persons will be given the opportunity to express their opinions regarding the preliminary budget and budget amendments. Comments may be given orally at the public hearing or submitted in writing via email to townclerk@ townofstevesnville.gov mail to: Town of Stevensville, Attention Town Clerk, PO Box 30, Stevensville, MT 59870 before 5:00 pm on September 11, 2025. Questions, comments or more information may be obtained by contacting Town Hall at 406-777-5271.
Attest: Jenelle Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RAVALLI COUNTY
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AND COURTHOUSE SNOW REMOVAL
The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners is soliciting request for proposals for snow removal and lawn care for the Ravalli County locations known 215 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana AND 205 Bedford, Hamilton, Montana.
Proposals must be received by the Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, Hamilton, MT no later than Friday, September 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
Proposals will be opened and possibly awarded on Tuesday, October 02, 2025 at 10:30 AM, in the Commissioners Conference Room at 215 S. 4th Street (third foor), Hamilton, MT.
For a copy of the full request for proposals and specifcation, or if you have any questions regarding the RFP process, please contact the Commissioner’s Administrative Assistant at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite A, Hamilton, Montana or by phone 406 375 6500 during regular business hours.
BS 9-3, 9-10-25.
MNAXLP
John D. Greef
Attorney at Law P.O. Box 1926 Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 360-8117
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Thomas K. Greenlee, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-202500000100-11
Department No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Lynne Greenlee 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 Lynne Greenlee, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in c/o John D. Greef, P.O. Box 1926, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 28th day of August, 2025. s/John D. Greef
John D. Greef, Attorney for Personal Representative BS 9-3, 9-10, 9-17-25. MNAXLP
John S. Masar
LionWood Law PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870
(406) 625-2682 jmasar@lionwoodlaw. com Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: ALLEN J. HARVEY, a/k/a Allen Joseph Harvey, Deceased. Probate No.: DP--25- 99 Dept.: 2 JENNIFER B. LINT 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 ALLEN L. HARVEY, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o LionWood Law PLLC, 115 W. 3rd Street, Suite 103, Stevensville, Montana 59870, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 28th day of August, 2025. /s/ Allen L. Harvey, Personal Representative c/o LionWood Law PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870 LionWood Law PLLC /s/ John S. Masar Attorney for Personal Representative BS 9-3, 9-10, 9-17-25. MNAXLP
Legal Notice The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will conduct a public hearing for a Ravalli County Open Lands Bond project on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room (Third Floor) of the County Administrative Building located at 215 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840. The project is called Bob Lewis Ranch Conservation Easement (230 acres). The project is located at 230 Pine Hollow Road, Stevensville.
Bitter Root Land Trust is the applicant. Information describing the proposals are available for inspection on the Ravalli County website at https://ravalli.us/181/ Open-Lands-Board and 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 406375-6530.
BS 9-10, 9-17-25. MNAXLP
Legal Notice
Ravalli County has received an application for a 10-lot major subdivision at 643 Bass Lane, Corvallis, MT 59828. The subdivision is called the Amended Plat (AP) of Lot B, AP#782106, a Portion of Block 1, Hamilton Heights Platted Subdivision. The subdivision property is located within the Corvallis School and Corvallis Rural Fire District. The proposed lots will be served by private wells and septic systems. Irrigation shares associated with the Bitterroot Irrigation District will be severed from the property. The property owners are Dylon and Kayla Day and Amy Lewis. The subdivision consultant is RAM Engineering. A complete copy of the applica-
tion packet is available for viewing at the Ravalli County Planning Department. 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 below Planning Board Meeting and Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Hearing. The Ravalli County Planning Board will conduct a site visit on September 11, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the project site. The site visit is an opportunity for the Planning Board to view the site and is for informational purposes. The Planning Board Public Meeting to review the proposal is on September 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room (Third Floor) at the County Administrative Center (215 S. Fourth Street, Hamilton, MT 59840). The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will conduct a site visit on October 1, 2025 at 1:00 pm at the project site. The site visit is an opportunity for the BCC to view the site and is for informational purposes. The BCC will also hold a Public Hearing to review the proposal on October 2, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. 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/hearing. Comments and information submitted at the public meeting/hearing will be considered in the decision on the subdivision. ***This legal ad will run two times September 10, 2025 and September 17, 2025. Certain date in the September 17, 2025 posting may have passed.
BS 9-10, 9-17-25.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Final Report of the Darby Study Commission is available at https://www.darbymt.net or a printed copy can be picked up at Darby Town Hall 101 E Tanner Ave, Darby M-F 8-5. BS 9-10, 9-17, 9-24, 10-1-25.
MNAXLP
Wlliam J. Nelson, Esq. Nelson Law Ofce PLLC 217 North 3rd Street, Suite J Hamilton, MT 59840 Telephone: (406) 3633181
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF: LILLIANE MARIE. BRYAN, Deceased. Cause No. DP-41-2025101 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, Virginia Paula Carroll, 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 2nd day of September 2025. /s/ William J Nelson, Attorney for Personal Representative /s/ Virginia Paula Carroll, Personal Representative BS 9-10, 9-17, 9-24-25. MNAXLP
PUBLIC HEARING
The hearing will be held at: Darby Town Hall 101 East Tanner Avenue September 23, 2025 6:00PM. BS 9-10, 9-17-25. MNAXLP
PUBLIC HEARING
The Darby Town Council will hold a public hearing to receive oral and written comment regarding the: 2025-2026 ANNUAL BUDGET
The hearing will be held at: Darby Town Hall 101 East Tanner Avenue September 23, 2025 6:15 PM. BS 9-10, 9-17-25. 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 courts@workmanlawmt. com
Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of CHARLES FRANK WROBLE, JR., Deceased. Probate No. DP-412025-0000083
Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed as Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to CHRISTOPHER WROBLE and JANEL ROE, the Co-Personal Representatives, in care of WORKMAN LAW, PLLC, 601 S. First Street, P.O. Box 1167, Hamilton, Montana 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. We declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct.
/s/Jane Roe
8/27/25
/s/ Christopher Wroble 8/27/25 WORKMAN LAW, PLLC By: Kyle J. Workman, Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives BS 9-10, 9-17-9-24-25. MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Bryan Vamp Earl Perkins, Bryan Vamp Earl Perkins, Petitioner Cause No.: DV-41-20250000313-NC Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Bryan Vamp Earl Perkins to Bryan Earl Perkins. The hearing will be on October 16, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 8th day of September, 2025.
/s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court By: Catherine Di Gleria Deputy Clerk of Court BS 9-10, 9-17, 9-24, 10-1-25. MNAXLP
The Darby Town Council will hold a public hearing to receive oral and written comment regarding: ∙ Amend Fiscal Year Budget 2024-2025
Hunters Against Hunger program returns
Hunters Against Hunger, a partnership between Montana Food Bank Network and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, provides hunters in Montana with the opportunity to donate any amount of their legally harvested big game animals. The meat is processed free of charge and is then distributed directly to a nearby food pantry.
Since the program’s inception in 2014, over 413,995 pounds of meat have been donated and shared with Montanans experiencing food insecurity. The meat has been distributed to 30 food banks across Montana thus far, with plans to reach more than 35 food pantries in 2026. Protein is often the most expensive food item for food pantries to source. Access to Montana wild game through Hunters Against
Hunger plays a critical role in providing individuals and families with essential nutrients and protein.
“When people walk in and see that we have a freezer full of wild game, they light up,” shared Susan and Jay Wood, Co-Founders of Southwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Services, about the program’s impact.
Hunter and local meat processor participation is crucial to the success of this growing program. Legally harvested big game donations (deer, elk, antelope, moose, and wild bison) can be delivered to authorized participating meat processors across the state, who are reimbursed up to $3.00 per pound of fnished product. A full list of authorized processors can be found at mfbn.org/hunters-against-hunger/.
Hunters purchasing a Montana
hunting license are also able to make a monetary donation to contribute towards the processing and distribution of the donated game. Additional donations can be made by visiting mfbn.org/hunters-against-hunger/ or
Empty Bowls of the Bitterroot sets 2025 luncheon, November
Empty Bowls of the Bitterroot organization is excited to host the 2025 community luncheon, continuing a beloved tradition now in its seventh year. The event is scheduled for November 8 and promises an engaging celebration for all attendees.
Participants will have the opportunity to select a handmade bowl to take home, each crafted by talented local clay artists throughout the year. In addition, various restaurants from the valley will contribute their signature soups, available during both seatings on Saturday. For frst seating, doors open at 11 a.m. For second seating, doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Proceeds from this event help provide an estimated $8,000 to local food banks. The impact of these contributions is profound, nourishing individuals and strengthening the community. Children who receive nutritious meals can better concentrate and perform at school. Families who receive groceries gain stability, enabling them to manage other essential expenses. Seniors beneft from regular food deliveries, allowing them to maintain independence and quality of life.
Acts of care and generosity from this event reinforce the social fabric of Ravalli County, helping to reduce the wide-reaching consequences of hunger and signaling that every resident is valued. By
nourishing hope one meal at a time, the community comes together to support those in need. Attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars for October 11 and watch for the announcement of ticket sales. Both Chapter 1 Bookstore and Clayworks will be selling tickets.
by calling (406) 721-3825. For further information about the Hunters Against Hunger program, contact MFBN’s Programs Coordinator Cyrus Turbak at (406) 215-1772 or at cturbak@mfbn.org.
Bowls from last year. Photo courtesy Marilyn Morris.
