Bitterroot Star = October 22, 2025 by Bitterroot Star

Burnt Fork Market Parking Trunk

Valley American Legions to host dinner for vets

by John Dowd

For the frst time ever, all the American Legion posts in the valley are coming together to hold a group event. However, according to Doug Mason, the historian for Corvallis American Legion Post 91 and an organizer of the event, it is not just for American Legion members.

On November 11, at 5 p.m. the American Legions of the valley want to welcome all to the Farmers State Bank Event Center at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds to celebrate Veterans Day, and veterans everywhere, with an Inaugural Veterans Day Dinner. Mason said it will be, “a heartfelt tribute to our nation’s veterans under the theme ‘For God and Country,’ inspired by the American Legion’s preamble.” That Tuesday they will honor veterans on Veterans Day, something that has been discussed valley-wide for some time.

The evening will begin with patriotic music performed by the Bitterroot Community Band, followed by a dinner from the Trapper Creek Job Corps’ Culinary Arts Program and beverages at a no-host bar by the Rainbow Bar.

The highlight of the night will be the guest speaker, Colonel Ethan E. Sabin, Deputy Commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Mason said Sabin will deliver an inspiring address honoring veterans’ devotion to faith and nation.

According to his biography posted with the U.S. Air Force, Sabin comes highly regarded:

“Col. Ethan E. Sabin is the Deputy Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He is responsible for 36 Squadrons at 12 installations constituting the Air Force’s most diverse fying wing. The wing fies and maintains more than 182 aircraft of the following types: A-10, F-15C/D, F-15E, F-16C/ CG/CJ, F-22A, F-35A, and HH-60G. The wing also utilizes E-3, RC-135, E-8, B-1, B-2, B-52, C-130, KC-135, C-17, AC-130J, MC130, CV-22, and U-28 as well as the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft at 12 stateside bases to support the U.S. Air Force Weapon School Syllabus. Col. Sabin is responsible for three groups: 57th Operations Group, 57th Maintenance Group and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. In addition, he oversees the U.S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School; U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the ‘Thunderbirds,’ Red Flag and Green Flag exercises; and the U.S. Air Force aggressors.

“Col. Sabin received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2004. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a senior pilot with more than 2,100 fying hours in the T-37, T-38, A/OA10, A-10C, and F- 35A. He has fown combat missions in Operation Enduring Freedom and missions in support of Theater Security Packages. He is originally from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.”

According to Mason, there will be door prizes, studio displays and much more for people to enjoy. Mason said this is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to “come together as veterans and legion posts.” He also said, “People in Florence are a lot diferent than in

Clarification

Sula and all in between,” however, they all have the same mission.

This is set to be the biggest American Legion event in the county, and the only event that comes close is the Memorial Day Parade, in Corvallis. Mason said many members will meet up across the Legions there. For this, they are pooling their resources to honor veterans in a grand way.

So far, they have had a good response, but they will need to stop selling tickets on October 28. Interested parties can purchase tickets at all Farmers State Banks in the valley. Tickets are also available at Triple Seven Liquor in Stevensville, the VFW Post 1507 in Victor and through any American Legion member. Their goal is to reach 600 people for the dinner.

Farmers State Bank has covered the event center for the dinner and businesses have sponsored tables. Mason stated that, for those veterans who may not be able to aford a ticket, all they need to do is reach out and they will be taken care of. He added that this is not a fundraiser.

“We just want to honor some veterans, so this is not really to raise money,” said Mason.

They plan to roll any money they raise into the next year’s event, and hope to make this dinner a long-standing tradition. Mason said that anymore it seems like most get-togethers are about raising money for something. He spoke of the old days in the valley, and the community dinners, where people just got together to enjoy each other’s company. To Mason, these seem to be a thing of the past. He and others with the valley American Legions want this to be a chance for people to meet up every year, and to honor those who have served.

Tickets are $20 per person or $150 for a table of eight. The table will include two complimentary bottles of wine. Businesses, individuals or organizations can sponsor a table with recognition on the table.

Mason said interested parties can register online at https:// corvallispost91.blogspot.com/ or on the Corvallis American Legion Post 91 facebook page. According to him, Venmo is accepted, or in-person payment as well.

“We’re honored to unite our community in the spirit of ‘For God and Country,’” said Mason. “With sponsors’ support, the Bitterroot Community Band’s music, Colonel Sabin’s words, and exciting door prizes, we’ll celebrate veterans’ service.” Veterans, residents, groups and businesses are invited. Tickets must be purchased by October 28. Contact Doug Mason at 406-546-4244 for details.

In last week’s paper, a press release titled “Marine Corps Ball to be held in Hamilton,” it was stated that the event is going to be a “black tie” event. However, the event will be business casual.

October 24

Hamilton Christian Academy shows of expansion

by John Dowd

Hamilton Christian Academy (HCA) held an open house last week to reveal its recent campus enhancements to the community. The Hamilton Christian Academy is located at the former Grantsdale Public School.

Stephanie Beck, head of the school, was at the open house to welcome visitors and give them tours. Beck has been a part of the school since 1990, with a brief break in between. She stepped back into the head of school position in June.

Most of the renovations were fnished over this past summer. Part of the enhancements included a new 1,600-square-foot building to accommodate a new library and dedicated space for music, art and visual art programs. Beck added that they are going to look into adding sound proof panels to improve the acoustics of the space.

The new structure was built behind the main building on the academy’s six-acre property.

“The new space is working wonder-

and labor,” Beck said.

Beck returned to her post this past June after retiring four years ago to take care of family needs. She had previously served the school for 35 years, including 13 years as head of school. In addition to providing leadership to HCA, she teaches a service-oriented class for ffth and sixth graders.

“The community and local businesses have come together to maintain this historical, faithbased school and continue its tradition in a quality manner. I feel that the joy of the Lord is our strength and that God is allowing us to create this place that children love,” said Beck.

fully for music classes, and provides a new space for our worship band,” Beck said. “We also have a beautiful library, after not having a library at all the past two years.”

Also, prior to the new space, lunches, gym, music and more were held in the gymnasium. Now, they can better use the space.

Another huge addition was a completed major landscaping project.

“A local turf farm donated 25,000 square feet of sod and a landscape company donated additional sod plus 90

sprinkler heads, 12 trees, pavers and all labor, and a drilling company donated and installed a new well to support the sprinkler system,” said Beck. “We’ve had a total transformation of this old school property (an extreme makeover), and we’ve brought on some amazing new staf. People are really excited.”

They also improved the bathrooms, making fve individual lockable bathrooms, and recently hired new staf, according to Beck.

The new building and other campus improvements were made possible through the support of donors, Beck says. A $75,000 matching grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation along with gifts from individual donors funded the new building.

Amongst all the changes, one thing has stayed the same and according to Beck, they never considered getting rid of it. They have retained an original mural, painted by a teacher and her students. The teacher was “Mrs. Holmes,” according to Beck, and the mural has been an integral part of the building since they purchased it. It is a holdover from the old Grantsdale school. According to Beck, “For a lot of people, this was a very special place.”

Hamilton Christian Academy is a faith-based school for kindergarten through 12th grade. They have been operating in the Bitterroot for more than 60 years and HCA boasts a 98 percent graduation rate. The private school started in 1963 at the Hamilton Assembly of God Church on Main Street in Hamilton and continues to be a ministry of the Assembly of God Church. The facility is interdenominational and nationally accredited. Since 2014, the school has been located at the former Grantsdale School building at 778 Grantsdale Road.

“Over a dozen local construction companies were involved in the completion of the building, and many donated materials

Servicing all your kitchen & laundry appliance needs from Lolo to Darby, no

For information on the Hamilton Christian Academy, interested parties can visit their website at https://www. hamiltonchristianacademy.org or contact Beck at 406-363-4534.

Above, the mural created by Mrs. Holmes and her students when the school was still the Grantsdale School. Photo by John Dowd.

Above, the front of the Hamilton Christian Academy, complete with fnished landscaping and sign. Photo by John Dowd.

Bitterroot Forest begins prescribed burns

The Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) is planning to start prescribed fre operations this fall season, pending all required approvals. BNF estimates this work to continue through the season as weather conditions allow. They use prescribed fres to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from future wildfres.

Darby-Sula Ranger District planned prescribed fres:

• Cameron Blue Ecoburn – Located south of Cameron Creek and northeast of Guide Saddle utilizing Forest Road 723 as a southern boundary and FR 717 as a northwest boundary. 1,117 acres are planned.

• Pile burning may occur in multiple locations. 1,905 acres are planned.

West Fork Ranger District planned prescribed fres:

• Piquett Ridge, Piquett Creek, East Piquett and West Violet – Project areas are located approximately 4 to 7 miles southwest of Conner, east of the West Fork Road and south of Trapper Creek Job Corp. Burning will take place along Forest Roads 49, 731, 5720, 5723. 1800 acres are planned.

• The West Fork RD is planning for 1,050 acres of hand piles.

Stevensville Ranger District planned pile burns:

• West Central Pile 3B – The prescribed burn area will be 5 acres of piles. The burn is located northeast of McCalla Creek. The project area will be adjacent to Saint Mary’s Peak Road.

• Bass Creek Pile 1A (labeled WCP_1A) – The prescribed burn will be 10 acres of piles. The burn is located

SUBDIVISION:

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comment from Bradley Paulson and others, that changing the use of a water right in an area that has been historically food irrigated will have un-mitigatable impacts to downstream water users who rely on waste-water because others’ waste-water serves many purposes such as aquifer recharge, loss of habitat, and recharge into other irrigation infrastructure. In addition, they found, based on public comment from the Makis and other ranchers in the areas, changing the use of irrigation water on the subject property will have unknown, and therefore un-mitigatable, efects on water users in the area because they rely on historic irrigation practices.

The vote on a motion to approve this criteria as mitigated was split with Commissioner Burrows voting yes and Commissioner Huls voting no. Because it was a split vote, the motion to fnd the mitigation sufcient failed and it was determined that the measures proposed were not sufcient to mitigate the negative impacts to water user facilities.

northeast of Bass Creek Trailhead. The project area will be adjacent to Forest Road 1136.

• 3-Mile Landing Piles – The prescribed burn will be 300 acres of logging slash landing piles. The burn is in the 3-Mile Wildlife Management Area. The project area will be located in the southern portion of the wildlife management area.

• Calf Creek – The prescribed burn will be 60 acres of hand piles. The burn is in the Calf Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Prescribed burn project areas may close to the public for several days to ensure public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fre areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality,

go to https://fre.airnow.gov online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights if you encounter smoke on the road.

BNF will evaluate weather conditions in the hours and days before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fre activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fres by visiting the forest Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF, the forest interactive prescribed burn map at https://experience.arcgis.com/ experience/4ac726fda3434b40bf59a127f1ddf380 and the interagency incident information system InciWeb.

BNF will notify county emergency management ofcials and post on the county burn permit site at https://app. egovmt.com/burnpermit/ when burning begins.

complicated issue required three hearings

Although proposed mitigation for efects on Public Health & Safety were found sufcient in terms of addressing problems with trafc safety and emergency vehicle access and response time, the subdivision proposal foundered over issues concerning water and wastewater and considerations of Natural and ManMade Hazards.

Commissioner Huls noted that multiple landowners in the area have had wells going dry and issues with declining yield and recovery times. They have had to drill new wells and install cisterns. Written testimony was referenced from Jim Rummell, Kathy Matranga, Megan Barber, Kathy Warner, and Brien and Gayle Weber. Verbal testimony was provided by Albert Gardner, Bill and Faith Kemp, Felice Fausto and Dolores Foley.

“All of these citizens live adjacent to the proposed project or have active knowledge of the area’s groundwater resources,” said Huls. Summarizing the proposed mitigation and the fndings of fact, he stated, “The proposed

mitigation is not sufcient because it does not address lack of water and declining trends of water yield. Adding more wells cannot be mitigated.”

Commissioner Burrows noted the analysis presented in the application was not sufcient because it does not perform individual pumping tests to look at impacts to adjacent owners and relied on equations, not physical pumping measurements.

“The equations contain assumptions and do not truly defne impacts on adjacent wells because equations do not look at individual wells and their available yield,” said Burrows.

Commissioner Huls also summarized public comment, specifcally from Paris and Donelly, that naturally occurring arsenic has the potential to harm residents of the area. The proposed mitigation of requiring new lot owners to flter water does not mitigate the impact, as it only applies to the residents on the subject property and does not address adjacent owners.

“The development and disturbance of soil and rock on the property

may afect ofsite residents and the mitigation is not sufcient as proposed,” said Huls.

The motion to approve the Preliminary Plat for the Calf Creek Subdivision was subsequently denied by both Burrows and Huls. But Burrows cautioned those present that denial of this subdivision proposal did not prevent future development of the property in ways that would not come under subdivision review, such as family transfer or other means of property division and use such as for storage sheds, cell towers, or other uses.

Alan Maki, neighboring landowner and member of the Sapphire Coalition which was formed to stop the Sapphire Heights Subdivision, the Calf Creek Subdivision and the nearby Rolling Ranch Estates “Family Transfer” subdivision, said that Montana law prevents using family transfer as a means to evade subdivision review. He said to Commissioner Burrows, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Soroptimist scholarships available

The Soroptimist of Hamilton are looking for women to apply for the Live Your Dream scholarship that are primary wage earners for their families and are seeking financial assistance to continue their education.

Applications and eligibility requirements are on the web at “Live Your Dream Applications”, apply for Live Your Dream Award, and click on start my application.

There are three levels of consideration, with scholarships ranging from $1,000.00 to $10,000.

Recipients can use the Live Your Dream Award to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This includes tuition,

books, childcare, transportation, or any other education-related expense.

Soroptimist International of Hamilton works to promote the success of women in the professional setting, and provides scholarships for women and girls to further their education. The group also supports policies that help women and girls. They are always looking for new members, and encourage interested women to contact the group to get involved.

More information about Soroptimist can be found at sihamilton.org. For more information on scholarships, interested parties can contact sihamiltonawards@gmail. com. Applications must be received by November 15, 2025.

DARBY: Study Commission recommendations go up for vote

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Since the 1990s, all executive and legislative powers have been placed in the council. This point focuses on returning executive powers to the mayor, and would return the charter to more in line with how the original Darby Town Charter was written. Robbins believes this was done to remove powers from the mayor at the time.

The third sub-point to vote on would be to extend the mayor’s term to four years. Currently, the mayoral term is two years.

The fnal sub-point to vote on would determine how the changes voted on above would go into efect. This vote

regards holding another new election, as would be consistent with the current charter.

According to Robbins, if the people vote not to hold a new election this year, the council and mayor positions would fnish out their terms, which is the recommendation from the Darby Study Commission.

Once up, a new election would take place, rolling into the new rules. This would mean that in another couple years, the frst set of council members will be voted for at large, if that is what the community chooses.

The other choice would be to hold another, new election, this year. According to Rob-

bins, this may not be the best choice. It would prove to be “more expensive and more burdensome on everyone.”

Each candidate would have to fle their name again into the voting pool, and all the proceedings that go with a standard election would need to take place. This means ballots would be sent out, recounted, campaigns may need to be run again, etc.

However, the argument for this decision would be that, assuming the public votes for at-large elected positions, the voting pool would then be opened to more in the community.

Currently, the council members sit on “staggered se-

FEATURING:

ats,” meaning that two or three come up for election every couple years, while two or three would be elected the next year. This keeps institutional knowledge of proceedings continuous as the council turns over to new people. Since council terms are four years, if a new election is decided, it is likely they would need to draw lots. After the new election is held, two council members would serve for four years, and three council members would serve two years. Robbins wanted to remind people that ballots must be received by November 4. He said the fyers the town sent out to the community went to registered voters and have more detailed information than that contained in this article. According to Robbins, this was done to clarify a lot of questions that could arise about the recommendations made by the Darby Study Commission, and to simplify their recommendations. But, “sending out the whole fnal report would be like sending out a novel,” said Robbins. He also wanted to remind people that the information can be found by contacting town hall, or by reaching out to the Darby Study Commission members: Sam at (406) 369-1316, Terri at (406) 360-0002 or Christina at (406) 239-0546.

NOTICE OF VOTING SYSTEM EXHIBITION, DIAGRAM OF BALLOT, VOTING INSTRUCTIONS, BALLOT PREPARATION & COUNTING OF BALLOTS

Notice is hereby given that the following elections will be conducted solely by mail ballot: MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: City of Hamilton, Town of Darby, Town of Stevensville

Notice is hereby given that the following elections will be conducted solely by mail ballot: MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: City of Hamilton, Town of Darby, Town of Stevensville Ballots will be mailed on October 17, 2025 to active electors who reside in the district. Contact the Office at 375-6550 if you do not receive your ballot.

Ballots will be mailed on October 17, 2025 to active electors who reside in the district. Contact the Elections Office at 375-6550 if you do not receive your ballot.

VOTING SYSTEM EXHIBITION/PUBLIC TEST

A public test of the ES&S DS850 high-speed vote tabulator and the ES&S ExpressVote ballot marking system will be conducted at 10 AM on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in the basement Election Room of the Ravalli County Courthouse (205 Bedford Street, Hamilton, Montana). Upon request, the voting system will be demonstrated to any inquiring elector.

The ES&S ExpressVote is a ballot-marking device that is available at the Election Office in order to assist voters with disabilities in marking their ballot privately and independently. Other arrangements for reasonable accommodations can be made by contacting the Election Office at 375-6550.

A sample diagram of the ballot layout and instructions on voting the ballot is provided below. Sample County State of Montana

FEDERAL AND STATE (Continued)

A sample diagram of the ballot layout and instructions on voting the ballot is provided below. Sample County State of Montana Election Date FEDERAL AND STATE (Continued) NONPARTISAN STATE (Continued) INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS

(Continued)

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS

1. TO VOTE, BLACKEN ( ) THE OVAL COMPLETELY. An oval blackened completely to the left of the candidate or ballot issue choice indicates a vote for that candidate or a vote on the ballot issue.

2. To write in a name, blacken the oval to the left of the line provided, and write in the name (or affix a pre‐printed label) in the blank

ANDREW JACKSON MARTIN VAN BUREN

WILLIAM H. HARRISON JOHN TYLER GEORGE WASHINGTON JOHN ADAMS

JAMES BUCHANAN ABRAHAM LINCOLN

PREPARATION, RECONCILIATION AND COUNTING OF BALLOTS

Ballots for the Municipal Elections will be opened, reconciled and counted by a Counting

Ravalli County Courthouse (205 Bedford Street, Hamilton), in the basement Election Room beginning approximately 11 AM on Election Day, November 4. No results will be released until after the

Public is welcome to

Public is welcome to observe on November 4 (Election Day). Montana law requires that any person participating or observing the procedures of the count be required to take an oath that they will not discuss the results of the early counting of votes at any time prior to the closing of the polls on Election Day. A person who knowingly violates this law shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed two years and/or be fined an amount not less than $100,000 and not more than $500,000.

not to exceed two years fined an amount not less than $100,000 and not more than $500,000.

Dated this 15th day of October 2025 Regina Plettenberg, Election Administrator 215 South 4th Street, Suite C Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 375-6550

Wildfre suppression strategy afecting water fows

The Oct. 8 article concerning Lolo Creek gave a good report on eforts being undertaken to parse the use of waters fowing in Lolo Creek, and the recent de-watering of portions of the creek. Regardless, it seems that there is a lack of discussion specifcally about the source of the creek’s water.

Curtailment of water uses in years of drought can certainly mitigate negative impacts, but it doesn’t address the impact of landscape sized wildfres in the headwaters of the creek. Simply put, whatever volume of water resulting from winter snow will fow through to the creek, but WHEN that occurs is a direct result of forest and wildfre management. Burnt out headwater drainages will release their water much earlier in the summer, rather than slowly throughout the season.

Over the last quarter century, the wildfre suppression strategy has seemed to focus on avoiding expansion of fres into the adjoining lower elevation lands outside the forest rather than actually suppressing the fres at all elevations. Concurrently, Forests’ Purpose and Need Statements in their vegetative management project documents continually use “reduction of stream sedimentation” along with “reduced wildfre risks” as justifcations for action. Yet time after time, the agency ignored timing of water fows. It is ironic that water fows are ignored by the agency in its planning. First, the agency itself pursued a Water Compact for years with the State of Montana, which ultimately was ratifed in 2007. Even more fundamental, the original efort by Congress to establish the Forest Service in the 1897 Organic Act included the directive “…for the purpose of securing favorable conditions of water fows.” Then in 1978, the Supreme Court reafrmed that mandate. Therefore, I would assert that generally following any sort of a “let burn policy” in headwater drainages is wrong.

Yet, following any efort to aggressively protect the “hydrologic sponge” efect of high elevation watersheds will be in confict with existing unroaded areas. Unfortunately, discussing forest management of these areas never happens during a fre bust or de-watered creek.

Pat Connell, Forester Former State Senator Hamilton

Credit where credit is due

When I read the recent good news about the planned repaving of Ricketts Road just west of Hamilton, I felt like celebrating. As a 24-year resident there, I know it to be equal parts pavement, potholes, and patches. I read the article for details so I would know who to thank.

The news story credited Rep. Ryan Zinke. His accompanying photo seemed to confrm this claim.

But that didn’t sound right to me. Most Republicans care more about tax cuts for billionaires than the welfare – and automotive suspension systems - of ordinary folks like me.

For clarifcation, I emailed County Commissioner Jef Burrows. He confrmed that Rep. Zinke was instru-

Opinion

mental in securing the funding via the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Anybody with a basic understanding of Congressional processes knows the tangled funding procedures in Washington would put your average Gordian Knot to shame. A little research revealed that a Consolidation Appropriations Act is housekeeping legislation to bundle and distribute previously allocated funds.

Put simply, Ryan Zinke delivered the check but did nothing to ensure funds were available to cover it.

So here I am back to my original question: Who should I thank for funding this important infrastructure project?

My gratitude goes to Joe Biden, Sen. Jon Tester, the only Montana lawmaker to vote for the funding bill, Democrats, and dozens of Republicans who understand the importance of local projects. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law in Nov. 2021 when Zinke wasn’t in Congress, having been forced from his Secretary of the Interior position by Donald Trump. This bipartisan legislation provided at least $3.8 billion specifcally for Montana to improve roads, bridges, water systems, Native American communities, high-speed internet infrastructure and other projects.

But our county commissioners deserve recognition. The $1 million check Zinke delivered was $300,000 short of funding the entire project. Commissioners promised to cover the defciency, and on behalf of all of us who live along or travel on Ricketts Road, many thanks.

And Ryan Zinke? Thanks for next to nothing, pal.

Wayne Adair Hamilton

Support our public lands

Wanting to do something tangible to express my support for our public lands, I walked into a Forest Service ofce and asked, may I volunteer?

At the age of 73, I thus became a fre lookout in a tower atop a mountain peak this past summer.

I was soon in awe of the professionalism and efciency of Forest Service employees, as well as what they could accomplish with little funding.

When I reported smoke rising from behind a ridge six miles away, the dispatcher launched an observation plane and personnel on the ground headed toward the fre. Within two hours frefghters were laying hose lines around the lightning-ignited fre in thick forest. That was on a Saturday evening. Wow.

That early detection and suppression protected people living nearby and visitors in the forest.

There was neither waste, inefciency, nor fraud. The stated rationales for reductions in force (RIFs) and fring federal employees are wrong.

The simple presence of residents and visitors in a forest impacts the environment, including the obvious trails, roads, and structures that are all barriers and disruptions to wildlife and native plant species.

The protection of people requires fre suppression, and suppressing fre alters the natural environment. Logging, thinning, prescribed burns, and forest treatments remove fuel for fres, for example. But living trees shade the land and hold the soil against erosive

forces. Trees also transfer carbon and nitrogen to the soil.

And dead trees, standing or fallen, and duf on the ground are natural nurseries for fungi, insects and other invertebrates, rodents, small mammals, and birds. Yet those nurseries are routinely removed in the name of fre prevention.

Removing fuel causes other changes to the natural environment. Removing duf, for example, exposes the ground to the evaporative forces of sunshine and wind. It causes the soil to dry out in the already arid West. Removing fuel also adds access roads and thereby increases fre danger, introduces alien species, and disturbs wildlife.

Protecting the natural environment and natural processes are goals that are undermined by the need to protect people who are there to enjoy the public resources. It takes professional land stewards to manage public lands in order to work toward the diverse and sometimes conficting goals.

Given the nation’s growing population and the increasing pressures on our public lands, we need more rather than fewer staf.

Wilderness designation helps by reserving roadless wildlands as places where nature can proceed naturally. It is the gold standard of conservation. A recent study of protected lands, for example, documented fre’s benefcial impact on bird populations in the decades following a wildfre.

Wilderness designation does not keep people of the land, but it does ban mechanized and built disturbances and industrial degradation of our watersheds and wildlife habitat.

We need not destroy our public lands through overuse and misuse. Land stewards facilitate our use and limit damage.

Wilderness areas and other legally protected public lands — national parks, national monuments, national forests, BLM lands, wildlife refuges — require professional land stewards to implement and maintain protections as well as public services.

Removing land stewards weakens the public lands system and endangers our wildlife and native plants as well as our public waters. Too many reductions in force will shatter the system.

Please tell elected ofcials, political appointees, and career bureaucrats that you support our public lands and the men and women who take care of those lands.

Anne Millbrooke Bozeman

Montana’s nonprofts under threat

As the federal government shutdown continues, concern across Montana is building. This shutdown means many government ofces and services are closed, and more than 20,000 federal and military employees in Montana will soon be missing a paycheck. It also means a threat to the essential services that form the backbone of our communities – services provided by Montana’s dedicated nonproft sector.

In Montana, charitable nonprofts are not merely “nice-to-have” organizations. We are fundamental infrastructure. We operate in every county, reservation, and community in the state – urban and rural. We are the food banks, the shelters, the mental

health centers, the arts programs, the veteran service organizations, and the afordable housing providers. We employ tens of thousands of Montanans, contributing billions to our state’s economy and serving on the frontlines of creating and ensuring community well-being.

Crucially, nonprofts often act as trusted partners to government at all levels, delivering vital services efciently and efectively on its behalf. We are contracted by the government to provide rural healthcare, childcare, and food security, to maintain trails and outdoor spaces, to boost local economic development, and to lead on afordable housing initiatives.

This is where a shutdown can become so deeply damaging.

A government shutdown threatens hundreds of Montana’s nonprofts and the critical services we provide across our state. Many of organizations rely on federal grants and contracts for a signifcant portion of their operating revenue. These funds ensure the services you rely on: the food on a pantry shelf, the staf who respond to a mental health crisis, the support for seniors and people with disabilities.

As most nonprofts operate on razor-thin margins, even a short-term lapse in funding can force devastating choices: lay of staf, cut services, or close the doors entirely. For an essential service organization in a frontier community, there is no private philanthropic well deep enough to backfll the hole left by missing federal dollars.

A shutdown doesn’t just halt a federal program; it creates a community crisis that Montana nonprofts are then expected – without resources – to solve.

The people of Montana deserve a functioning government that honors its commitments and provides the stability needed for its critical nonproft partners to do our work.

Nonprofts will continue to meet the needs of our neighbors as we always have. But we cannot sustain this role as the emergency shock absorber for repeated political failure and callous political directives. We urge Senator Daines, Senator Sheehy, Congressman Zinke, and Congressman Downing to rise above rancor and dysfunction and prioritize the needs of Montana communities—afordable healthcare access, food security, and economic stability. Our communities depend on it.

Adam Jespersen, Executive Director Montana Nonproft Association

Open letter to Daines

Senator Daines, since Trump took ofce, his administration has undermined the principle that Congress controls funding. It has withheld funds Congress appropriated, a practice that violates the 1974 Impoundment Act and the Constitution. Why is this not alarming to you? Why do you and your colleagues care nothing about the fact that powers assigned to you have been abducted by this lawless president? Do you not see plainly that this is infuriating to at least half of your very own constituents? You insist that you hold ofce to represent ALL Montanans, and it simply is not true!

Ruth Hazelton Hamilton

Sports

by Scott Sacry Sports Editor

Stevi soccer upsets Billings

A penalty shootout is one of the most exciting things in sports. Regular season soccer games end in a tie, but when a winner is needed, like a state tournament, games are extended. If the score is tied after regular time, there are two 10-minute overtime periods. If it’s still tied after overtime, then there’s a penalty shootout.

In the shootout a minimum of five players from each team alternate shots from the penalty spot until there is a winner. A lone shooter against a lone goalie.

This is what happened in the first round of the boys Class A state soccer match between Stevensville and Billings Central in Billings on Saturday, October 18. Stevensville was the #3 seed from the South, while Billings was the #1 seed from the East, and the defending state champion.

The game was tied 0-0 at the end of regular time, then the score was tied 0-0 after both overtime periods, so the game went to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Billings went first and scored on their first penalty kick, then Jakob Wenck took Stevensville’s first attempt and scored, and the shootout was tied 1-1.

Billings’s second attempt went wide right, and Stevensville’s attempt from Konsti Parshin was blocked, so it was still tied 1-1.

Billings’s third attempt also went wide right, and on Stevensville’s third attempt, Francesco “Poncho” Zamboni scored and Stevensville led 2-1.

Billings’s fourth attempt was good, and Jacob Shobe made Stevensville’s fourth attempt, and Stevensville still led 3-2.

Billings’s fifth attempt was good, which tied the score 3-3. A Stevensville goal would end the game, but Bryce Morrell’s shot was blocked, so the score was still tied at 3-3.

Billings’s sixth shot doinked off the left post. Once again, if Stevensville scored they would win. Stevensville’s Christian Yaskus took the attempt and his shot slid under the goalie’s glove

on the left side, hitting the back of the net and punching the ‘Jackets ticket into the semifinals with a 0-0 (4-3) win.

With the win, the Stevensville boys advance to the state semifinal game for the second year in a row. Stevensville plays perennial power Whitefish, the #2 seed from the North, on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Whitefish. Stevi also faced Whitefish in the semifinal game last year and lost 3-4.

Soccer playoffs r oundup

T he Hamilton girls soccer team was the #1 seed from the South and hosted Lone Peak, the #3 team from the East, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Hamilton.

It was a tough, back and forth match, but Lone Peak scored late in the second half and Hamilton wasn’t able to get the equalizer and lost 0-1.

The Hamilton boys soccer team was the #2 seed from the South and played Whitefish, the #2 team from the North, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Whitefish. The young Hamilton boys teams played solidly, but ultimately lost 0-3 to a tough Bulldog squad.

The Stevensville girls soccer team was the #2 seed from the South and played Bigfork, the #2 team from the North, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Bigfork. The Stevi girls played valiantly but ultimately fell to the Valkyries 0-3.

Volleyball roundup

Florence

The Florence volleyball team went to Deer Lodge on Tuesday, Oct. 14 to play the Wardens and won 3-0 ( 25-11, 25-13, 25-15). For Florence, Taylor Pyette had 14 digs, Maggie Schneiter had 5 aces and 31 assists, Emory Ralston had 5 aces and 12 kills, and Jaden Fisher had 3 blocks.

Then on Thursday, Oct. 16, Florence went a little further south and played a tough Anaconda squad and won 3-0 ( 25-22, 25-14, 25-12). For Florence, Maggie Schneiter had 4 aces, 18 assists, and 13 digs, Lexi Danczyk had 5 blocks, and Emory Ralston had 13 kills.

Hamilton

T he Hamilton volleyball team hosted Frenchtown on Thursday, Oct. 16 in a matchup of two of the top teams in the conference. The game went to five sets, but Hamilton fell just short and lost 2-3 (25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 11-25, 6-15). For Hamilton, Ciara Hanley had 16 kills and 16 digs, Kaitlyn Snavely had 4 blocks, Lundyn Murray had 18 digs, and Aurie Duncan had 31 assists. Then on Saturday, Oct. 18, Hamilton traveled to Dillon and defeated a strong Dillon team 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-12, 25-19). For Hamilton, Ciara Hanley had 17 kills and 14 digs, Lundyn Murray had 5 aces and 17 digs, and Aurie Duncan had 31 assists.

Stevensville

Th e Stevensville volleyball team went to Butte Central on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and won 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-10). Then on Thursday, Oct. 16, Stevensville hosted Dillon and played strong but lost 1-3 (26-24, 23-25, 18-25, 1625).

Corvallis

T he Corvallis volleyball team played Frenchtown on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and lost 0-3 (13-25, 13-24, 6-25). Then on Saturday, Oct. 18, Corvallis hosted Butte Central. It was the Senior Recognition game and they honored volleyball seniors Nahiya Jennings, Kaitlyn Keller, and Abby Weber. The Blue Devils were in top form and won 3-0 (25-16, 29-27, 25-21).

Darby

The Darby girls volleyball team had a successful week last week, winning both of their games. First, they hosted Alberton on Wednesday, Oct. 15 and won 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-18). Then on Thursday, Oct. 16, the Darby girls traveled to Arlee and won 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21).

Victor

The Victor volleyball team hosted Philipsburg on Thursday, Oct. 16 and lost in a tight match 1-3 (27-25, 19-25, 23-25, 22-25). Then on Saturday, Oct. 18, Victor hosted Two Eagle River and won 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13).

Stevensville’s boys soccer team defeated Billings Central, the defending state champion, on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Billings 0-0 (4-3). In the shootout, Stevensville’s Christian Yaskus scored the fnal PK to seal the victory. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Hamilton setter Aurie Duncan had 31 assists against Frenchtown and 31 assists against Dillon last week. Hamilton defeated Dillon 3-1, and lost to Frenchtown 2-3. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Players battle it out during the Stevensville/Dillon game, which the Stevensville girls lost, 1-3. Photo by John Rudow

by Scott Sacry Sports Editor

Florence, Hamilton, Darby all tally wins

Falcons clobber Copperheads

The Florence Falcons football team, #6 in the latest 406mtsports.com rankings, played at #10 Anaconda on Friday, October 17. The Falcons dispatched a tough Anaconda team, winning 34-0 and cementing themselves as one of the top Class B teams. The win clinched a conference title for Florence.

The two teams were tied 0-0 after the frst quarter and Florence led 7-0 at halftime. Florence exploded in the second half, scoring two touchdowns in each quarter to run away with the lopsided victory.

For Florence, QB Brody Duchien was efcient, completing 11 for 12 passes for 103 yards, including a touchdown pass to Tash Murray. RB Mattix Chase rushed 16 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. Florence also got rushing touchdowns from Levi Winters and Nolan Lippy.

Florence’s defense continued to impress as they held the high-powered Copperheads scoreless and only allowed 73 yards rushing and 6 yards passing. Florence has outscored their opponents 186-12 over the last four games.

The Falcons are 4-3 this season and 4-0 in conference and are rolling into the Class B playofs at top form.

The Falcons have their regular season fnale on Friday, October 24, where they host rival Missoula Loyola (2-5) at 7 p.m.

Broncs batter Maroons

The Hamilton football team, ranked #5 in this week’s 406mtsports.com poll, hosted Butte Central on Friday, Oct. 17. Butte scored frst and led 7-0 early, but from that point on it was all Hamilton. The

lunges for a touchdown in

Butte Central last Friday.

Broncs reeled of seven straight touchdowns and cruised to a 50-7 victory.

Most of the damage was done in the frst half as Hamilton led 20-7 after one quarter and 43-7 at halftime.

Hamilton’s defense dominated the Maroons, as the Broncs held the Maroons to only 35 yards total ofense, with 44 yards passing and -9 yards rushing.

For Hamilton, sophomore QB Cooper Weston continued to impress, completing 8 of 13 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns; he also rushed for a touchdown. RB Jude Widmer had a big game with 9 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns (43 yards, 36 yards). Widmer also intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. RB Brandon Saltzman had a rushing touchdown, and TE Kaeden Gum had two touchdown receptions.

Hamilton is 6-1 on the season and hosts Corvallis (1-6) in their regular season fnale on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Tigers tame Vikings

The Darby Tiger football team went to Charlo on Friday, October 17 to face the Vikings and won 48-14. The win moves Darby one step closer to a playof berth.

Darby’s McCoy Townsend had another great performance. Townsend had 17 total tackles on defense. On ofense, he rushed 16 times for 225 yards with 5 rushing touchdowns. Townsend also threw a touchdown pass to Jordan Browning. Browning also rushed for 47 yards including a touchdown run. Also for Darby, Colter Bennett had 10 tackles.

The win moves Darby to 6-2 on the season and a win against a solid St. Ignatius team (5-3) on Friday will ensure Darby a playof berth for the frst time in years. Darby hosts St. Ignatius on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Corvallis falls to Frenchtown

The Corvallis football team went to Frenchtown on Friday, Oct. 17, to play the #3 ranked Broncs. Corvallis fought hard but didn’t have the weapons to stay with the high powered Broncs and Corvallis lost 0-50. For Corvallis, Marshall Jessop led with 11 total tackles.

Corvallis is now 1-6 on the season. For their fnal game of the 2025 season, the Blue Devils make the long trek south to Hamilton to play the Broncs (6-1) on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Stevensville defeated by Dillon

The Stevensville football team hosted Dillon on Friday, Oct. 17, and lost 14-42. The ‘Jackets got behind early and trailed 0-28 at halftime. In the second half, Stevensville held their own as both teams had two second half touchdowns, but Stevensville couldn’t get any closer and lost 14-42.

Stevensville’s Landon Bryan had 105 yards rushing on 24 carries, including a 21-yard TD reception from QB Luca Schmidt. Stevensville’s other touchdown came on a short run by Jake Nyholm.

Stevensville is 1-7 on the season and hosts #3 Frenchtown (7-1) in their fnal game of 2025 on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Victor defeated by St. Regis

The Victor football team hosted St. Regis on Saturday, Oct. 18.

It was Victor’s Senior Night and they honored the following senior football players: Colin Lewis, Johnny Lewis, Sawyer Agee, Evan Silvia, Mario Martinez, and Tysen Nuttall. In the game, Victor struggled to keep up with St. Regis and lost 6-46.

Victor is 2-7 on the season and plays their fnal game of 2025 at Superior (6-2) on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Cross country results

Western A Fall Classic

The Class A cross country teams from Corvallis, Hamilton, and Stevensville were all at the Hamilton Golf Club on Friday, October 17, for the Western “A” Fall Classic. This was their last tuneup before the Class A state meet, which is in Missoula at the University Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 25. In the girls varsity race, Hamilton’s Aleigha Child took 4th (19:45.00), Hamilton’s Reecelyn Walthall took 7th (20:42.11), Corvallis’s Ella Varner took 12th (21:16.70), Hamilton’s Maevie Child took took 15th (21:30.24), and Corvallis’s Jillian Huls took 21st (22:05.74). Stevensville’s highest fnisher was Irelyn Potts with a time of 25:24.89.

In the boys varsity race, Hamilton senior Taylor Doleac won the race with a time of 16:21.67. Hamilton’s Benjamin Beare took 5th (17:04.03), Corvallis’s Eider Reed took 8th (17:21.95), Corvallis’s Carter Koerner took 9th (17:25.32), and Corvallis’s Braden Anderson took 11th (17:41.49). Stevenville’s highest fnisher was Ben White who fnished 23rd with a time of 18:11.17. White, a senior at Stevensville, broke the Stevensville men’s cross country record the previous week at the Mission Shadow Duels at the Silver Fox Golf Course in Pablo on Saturday, October 11. White had a time of 17:26.09, breaking the record

of 17:33.0 set by Wes Brown in 2019, and taking 7th in that race.

Western B/C Invite

The Florence and Darby cross country teams were at the Western B/C Invite in Thompson Falls on Thursday, October 16. This was their last tuneup before next week’s Class B state meet, which is in Missoula at the University Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 25. In the boys varsity race, Darby’s Ben Martin took 3rd with a time of 16:35.87. Also for Darby, Taylor Graham took 11th (18:06.62), and Kasch Neidhardt took 13th (18:24.94).

For Florence, Max Rosenthal took 12th (18:21.86) and Caden Miller took 16th (18:48.97). In the girls varsity race, Florence’s Bailey Kroeker won the meet with a time of 20:59.23. Darby’s Lily Adair took 7th (21:45.07) and Brooklyn Rogers took 8th (21:45.19). Also for Florence, Brinley Skaggs took 10th (22:17.26).

Stevensville’s Ben White broke the Stevensville men’s cross country record at the Mission Shadow Duels at the Silver Fox Golf Course in Pablo on Saturday, October 11.

White had a time of 17:26.09, breaking the record of 17:33.0 set by Wes Brown in 2019.

Florence’s Maddox Chase, shown here scoring a touchdown against Eureka, had 16 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown in Florence’s most recent victory over Anaconda on Friday, Oct. 17. Florence clinched the conference title with the win. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.

Hamilton’s Brandon Saltzman (#8)

Hamilton’s 50-7 victory over

Photo by John Rudow.

Photo by Scott Sacry.

by Jean Schurman

Remembering Coach Otto

I frst met Mike “Otto” Thill in the spring of 1997, just after I began covering sports for the Bitterroot Star. Even then, with all of his ‘loud’ and seemingly aggressive coaching, it was evident he loved softball, and, he loved his players. It wasn’t long before he was telling me his coaching ideas, his history, and pretty much anything else I asked him about.

Softball became a sanctioned sport in 1986 but it wasn’t until 1997 that Class B schools could play against Class A schools, and in 1999, Class B and C combined to have their own division. Even though Florence frst had to battle Class A schools, they held their own and won their frst state championship in 1997.

In 1999, I think, Florence won their frst straight up state title in Class B on a frigid, blustery day in Helena. The next year, it was another blustery day, this time in Conrad, and

the Lady Falcons again brought home the trophy. At each post game interview, Coach Otto praised his players, his blue eyes twinkling, and started talking about ‘next year.’ But even with his focus turned to the next year, his frst thought was of his players. They loved him and he loved them. Some people didn’t necessarily like his demanding coaching style, but he was a frm believer in discipline and sportsmanship. I don’t think I ever saw him more proud than when his former player, Liz Ashworth, was honored for her Central Washington efforts in a game that saw a member of the opposing team hit a home run and sustain a terrible injury. She could not make it around the bases but was determined to try so her team would win the game. Enter Ashworth and another team member who carried her around the bases, stopping at each base and allowing the player to touch the base. Otto teared up telling me the story, he was so proud.

Otto set the bar high for Florence softball and they have gone on to win state championships 12 times since then. Joe McKay, Maurice Crain, and many others have all been impacted by Otto’s softball fever and have continued his legacy even though he moved on.

Through the years, he also mentored softball players throughout Western Montana. Most recently, he began working with a family of girls in Victor. The last time we talked, he was full of praise for the player, the sisters, and the parents. That’s the way Otto was; it was a family afair.

But softball was not the only sport he coached. For years he was the middle school boys basketball coach at Florence. And for those who were unsure if he had the skills, he would mention his Havre Blue Ponies basketball teams and being named an all-stater in basketball.

Last year he was the junior varsity coach at Victor and made an impact

there. He had traded in the maroon and gold of Florence for the blue and gold of Victor. He was set to begin middle school basketball on October 20 and was really looking forward to that.

Just like he had been at everything in Florence, he now made the trip to Victor for every game possible. In fact, just last Tuesday, it was my granddaughter’s 13th birthday and it was the last game of their middle school season. Every time Zoey turned around, there was Otto, yelling across the gym, “Happy Birthday Zoeyyyyyy.” She was embarrassed but I suspect that memory will stay with her for a long time. Otto was like that, giving a memory to everyone, athlete or not.

I am going to miss that old fellow and so will many others. I just wonder, what is going to happen to the 36 quarts of salsa he just canned last week. He was a multi-faceted man and he will be missed.

Bell to be inducted into Cowboy Hall of Fame

The late Marvin Bell of Hamilton will be posthumously inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. Marvin Bell Marvin F. Bell was born on October 21, 1916, to Samuel and Bessie (Ford) Bell at the ranch home of his aunt and uncle, near Belgrade, Montana. The family moved to Bozeman, where Marvin received his elementary and high school education. Many members of the Bell family were involved with Montana State College, where Marvin would attend, graduate and create networks of friends and connections he would cherish throughout his life.

As a young man, Marvin helped his granddad and uncles’ herd saddle stock and work horses over the horse-heaven hills between Belgrade and Three Forks, Montana. Many days were spent daydreaming on the back of a horse as he thought about his future. One of Marvin’s favorite summers was spent on grazing land between Gallatin Gateway and Norris, where jackrabbits abounded by the truckload. With a single shot .22 and a box of shells, he was given the grown-up responsibility of thinning the numbers. What an opportunity for an eight-year-old boy! This was a task he was very proud of, and felt this experience put him top in his squadron for marksmanship later in his military career.

He graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a Major in Animal Husbandry in 1939. During school he competed in many judging activities. Traveling back east for a horse judging event by train with his friend Billy Hobblitt was a particularly memorable event. Mar-

vin and Billy conceived the idea they needed a mascot to accompany them, and not just any mascot would due: they decided on a long horn steer! Their advisor was not too keen on their plan at frst, but grew to accept their panache. For years, many diners saw a life-size picture of this traveling trio on the wall at Stacy’s Bar and Steakhouse in Gallatin Gateway. Marvin also participated in research projects throughout college, including a summer at Fort Keogh outside of Miles City learning the grazing practices of cattle. Another was tending to three bands of sheep in the Bridger Mountains by Clyde Park. Marvin also worked for the college as a graduate assistant in range management following graduation. In 1940, he took a position with the US Department of Agriculture, Farmers Security Home Administration (FSHA) headquartered in Polson, Montana, where he met Agnes Carey. Marvin and Agnes were married on June 8, 1942, in Great Falls. Later that same year, he headed of to World War II; he served three years as a sergeant in the US Air Force 321st Transport Squadron. Two children were born to this union, a son Ron, and a daughter Pat. Returning stateside, Marvin resumed his work with the FSHA. He was in charge of the Hamilton and Missoula ofces until 1950. He then oversaw what became the Farm Home Administration (FHA) loans that fnanced the building of the Bass Lake Reservoir, as well as work on the Sunset and Ward Irrigation District projects in Ravalli County. He was later promoted to a position within the state FHA ofce in Boze-

man, as head of the water and real estate loan division. In 1957 the family returned to Hamilton, where Marvin was employed by Citizens State Bank; he stayed until 1967. At that time, Marvin and Agnes established Western Montana Real Estate, which they operated together until their retirement in 1993.

While taking a Forest Service pack string trip up the Sleeping Child area near Hamilton during college, Marvin discovered a special piece of property and declared that if it ever came up for sale, he wanted to purchase it. It did, he did, and the place became their ranch in 1957, where they raised Hereford cattle and Arabian horses. Marvin, through his work at the bank and real estate ofce, helped countless people secure funding and land to help put together ranches throughout western Montana and northern Idaho.

Marvin was instrumental in planning and establishing the Darby Stockgrowers and putting together the frst producer direct trainload of cattle from Hamilton to Omaha, Nebraska.

Not many local horse activities occurred without his involvement. He helped Hungarian Countess Margit Besseney, granddaughter of Montana’s “Copper King” Marcus Daly,

who inherited the Anaconda Copper Company and Daly’s Bitterroot Stock Farm in Hamilton, with the Bitterroot Competitive Trail Ride she founded and sponsored for endurance horses. He was infuential, too, in bringing the local chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen to the Bitterroot. As a member of the Ravalli County Sherif’s Posse, Montana Farm Bureau, Bitterroot Stockgrowers, Montana Cattlemen’s, Elks Lodge, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and a longtime beef barn superintendent for the Ravalli County Fair, Marvin was an incredibly active and supporting member of the community he loved.

The search for western black-nosed dace

My young friend Quaid Potts is a bright-eyed and energetic kid who is enjoying that magical eight to ten-year-old stretch of his boyhood.

I ran into Quaid and his family at Bell Crossing a while back. They were enjoying the river, wading and cooling of on a long hot summer day.

I carry an improvised a bug sampling net, a paint strainer I stretch around the hoop of my landing net. I carry it with me to sample bugs where I’m fshing. I used the net to introduce the kids to something they hadn’t seen before –nymphs living on the rive bottom, right where they were wading. Kids love to experience mysteries being revealed where they can see and touch whatever’s going on.

by Chuck Stranahan

The kids took turns turning over rocks upstream from the net they held below, and inspecting the dislodged nymphs that would drift in. Catching those nymphs in the net, seeing them wiggle and scurry away from their fngers, brought moments of discovery and delight.

Catching these bugs, bugs they hadn’t experienced before held their attention for a while.

Quaid got into it briefy but then his sense of adventure took over.

“Look!” he said. “There’s fsh down here!”

When it was his turn he went after the fsh with the net. He was persistent and got pretty good at it. The fsh went into a sand bucket, now flled with river water and reappropriated from play along the small stretch of sandy beach.

Quaid stayed with it until it was time for the family to leave. Then he emptied the bucket into the river.

Most of the fsh he captured were black-nosed dace. A couple of them were big ones – around four or fve inches long. The rest were average minnow sized.

My friend Chris Clancy, a retired fshery biologist for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, once told me that black-nosed dace are the most numerous fsh in the Bitterroot River. That’s likely true of every river in this part of the state.

I’ve seen plenty of them in along the shallow slow-moving edges of the Blackfoot, Rock Creek, and the Clark Fork every summer when

the water’s low. At frst they’re hard to notice. I might see a sudden small fash or a shadow before I see an actual fsh. Then I’ll see another and then several more. If I wave my rod shadow over them they’ll scurry and then, cautiously and one by one, reappear.

To minnows, shadows mean death. Kingfshers and other predators that feed on them make shadows. Sometimes, as the scurry downstream away from one predator they slip into stronger current and become prey to another one: trout.

Typically, trout most often see these frightened little fsh moving downstream. They don’t often see them struggling upstream across the heavy current of a rife, if ever.

Yet, swinging a streamer across after a downstream cast is an accepted way to fsh streamers. I’ve done it successfully at times, usually when there is no other approach I can use to get my fy in the water.

My preferred method, if terrain and conditions permit, is to cast quartering upstream across fast water into slower water, let the fy sink and jerk

around in the current a little as I mend the belly out of the line. I want the line to come straight toward me as I begin my retrieve. I want to keep the fy broadside to the fsh as it continues to drift downstream with the current. I vary my retrieve to look weak and feeble, or panic-stricken in escape mode. I leave a pause at the end of every two-three feet of line taken in. Trout are triggered by the movement, and hit on the pause.

The old classic streamer patterns come into their own here. Black-nosed dace are slender little fshes with a distinct black stripe down their sides.

My favorite dace-like streamer patterns are sparse bucktails. One is the old Art Flick Blacknosed Dace. The other is Ted Trueblood’s Integration Bucktail. I modify both a bit for my own fshing, but either one will get you started. The addition of big bulging eyes on either won’t hurt. If you’re a fy tyer, Google either pattern and go from there.

I like mine tied sparse on heavy hooks, no added weight. Those fies swim naturally and trout will come for them.

The many donors who contributed to our permanent Scarecrow sculpture: Keeper of the Seasons. Many thanks to the artst, Laura Jean Newby.

Maze Prep & Setup & Donatons: Brad Webster, Jack Hubber, Scot & Dara Waters, Kyle Waters, Crist & Shane McClarin, Rich Perry, Rich Perry Farm.

Informaton Table: Fran Schmidt, Anna Robison, Avery Sacry, Debbe Dickerson, Diana Filkins, Maria Mitelstadt, Natalya Chvilicek, Stacey Doll, Whitney Kelley, Engel & Volkers team members.

Event Volunteers: Pat Eldridge & Wendy Seitz. Sister Missionaries for running the s’mores. Headwater Wellness Center for Pumpkin Carving & parking lot. Gigi Mills for help with sponsors & posters. Mike Kuhlman & American Eagle Instruments for the loan of 2 cornhole games.

First Security Bank for power & for the use of their parking lot for Monster Mash & Kids Actvites.

Stevi Hardware: For supplying tables & chairs & loading up the chairs & table for us. Biterroot Disposal: Provided trash containers.

Town of Stevensville, especially the Parks crew & Chief Boe. Banner: the Fire Dept, R.J. Mickalson, Bryan Kirkland.

A2Z & Groovz for the Haunted Houses. Valley Drug for fyers. Mara Arlington for the use of the building lobby, 3rd & Main, for Memory Land.

Everyone who partcipated in creatng scarecrows & pumpkins & the businesses that allowed scarecrows on their property.

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A western black-nosed dace. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

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City of Conrad Police Department is accepting applications for Full-time Patrol Ofcer. Wages DOE, +Animal Control compensation. Information: cityofconrad.com. Send to: alund@cityofconrad.com , 413 S. Main, Conrad, MT 59425

disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profle. Montana State University does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law

Extension Agent in Rosebud/Treasure Counties, Forsyth, MT. Full time. Exciting job with lots of autonomy! Will develop, implement and evaluate Extension programming. Complete information and to apply: www.montana. edu/extension/careers.

GARAGE SALE - Saturday, Oct. 25th, 8 AM-4 PM. 1 day only. Large collection of Dept. 56 villages, furniture, Christmas stuf. 319 College St., Stevensville.

Extension Agent in Roosevelt County, Culbertson, MT. Full time. Exciting job with lots of autonomy! Will develop, implement and evaluate Extension programming. Complete information and to apply: www.montana. edu/extension/careers . In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans,

Legal Notices

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 TWEN-

TY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:

SUSAN BORCHARD, a/k/a SUSAN VEARL BORCHARD, a/k/a SUSAN SAGE BORCHARD, Deceased.

Probate No.: DP-25-118

Dept.: 1

HOWARD F. RECHT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to ARTHUR T. BORCHARD, 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 3rd day of October, 2025.

/s/ Arthur T. Borchard, 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 10-8, 10-15, 1022-25.

MNAXLP

Dan O’Brien O’Brien & Pekovitch, PLLP P.O. Box 1280 113 South 2nd Street West

Malta, Montana 59538

Phone: (406) 654-2541

Attorneys for Personal Representative danobrien@coleamestoyobrien.com

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA SUSAN BLAIR, Deceased. Probate No. DP-2025117 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 said deceased 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 be mailed, return receipt requested, to: Gary A. Mitchell, Personal Representative, c/o O’Brien & Pekovitch, P.O. Box 1280, 113 South 2nd Street West, Malta, Montana 59538, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 7th day of October 2025.

/s/Gary A. Mitchell Personal Representative BS 10-15, 10-22, 1029-25.

MNAXLP

PUBLIC NOTICE SURPLUS VEHICLES

The Daly Ditches Irrigation District is accepting sealed bids for the following used vehicles: 1992 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 Truck, standard transmission, non-running. 194,562 miles.

2005 Chevrolet 1500 4x4 Truck, standard transmission,4.8 V-8, runs/drives 247,383 miles.

2005 Ford F-250 Super Duty 4x4 Truck, standard transmission, Gas V-8, runs/drives, Intermittent Dash cluster issue. Parking brakes are not working. 178,589 miles. 2008 Dodge Dakota

4x4 Truck, standard transmission, V-6 runs/drives

121,269 miles

The vehicles are located at 1023 Old Corvallis Road, Corvallis, Montana 59828. Interested parties can view the trucks at that address. The DDID ofce will receive sealed bids located at 1023 Old Corvallis Road, Corvallis, Montana 59828, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., starting October 13, 2025, through November 3, 2025. Sealed bids will then be opened by the DDID Commissioners at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in the conference room at 1023 Old Corvallis Road, Corvallis, Montana.

The District Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

BS 10-15, 10-22, 1029-25.

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 DONNA JEAN TURLEY, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-2025119

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 James A. Moerkerke, 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 8th day of October 2025. /s/ James A. Moerkerke, Personal Representative BS 10-15, 10-22, 1029-25. 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: William L. Clarno, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-20250000115-IT

Department No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Tracy Clarno 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 Tracy Clarno, 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 14th day of October, 2025.

/s/John D. Greef

Attorney for Personal Representative BS 10-22, 10-29, 115-25. MNAXLP

Megan S. Winderl

CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. 99 Marcus Street, 3rd Floor

Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 218-4888

meganw@cwlawmt.com pleadings@cwlawmt. com Attorney for Petitioner/ Creditor MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of BRIAN LEE CHOCHRANE, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-412025-000111 Dept. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY

NOTICE OF ELECTION

GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Mary Lou Cochrane, the Personal Representative, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C., 99 Marcus St. 3rd Floor, Hamilton, MT 59840 or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated this 10th day of October, 2025. /s/ Mary Lou Cochrane Personal Representative CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. Attorney for Personal Representative By: Megan S. Winderl BS 10-22, 10-29, 115-25. MNAXLP

Notice is hereby given that the following elections will be conducted solely by mail ballot: Municipal Elections: City of Hamilton, Town of Darby, and Town of Stevensville Ballots will be mailed on October 17, 2025, to all active registered voters in each district and must be received, by mail or in person, by 8:00 PM on November 4, 2025, by the Ravalli County

Montana 59840.

If you are a registered voter and do not receive a ballot, contact the Ravalli County Elections Office to

and

Sample ballots are available on the Ravalli County Elections website at https://www.ravalli.us/ 515/Municipal-Elections

Dated this 1st day of October, 2025 Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Election Administrator