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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!”
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Volume XXXV, Number 26
FWP Commission says no to hovercraft on river
Dog Days of Winter
By Michael Howell
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission denied a request from Stevensville resident Jim Crews to exclude hovercraft from the definition of a vessel and exempt hovercraft from the 20 mph limit on motorized craft on the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. The commission received the petition in October of 2019 and dismissed it at a meeting held on January 6, in Helena. The state Department of
The annual Darby Dog Derby, hosted by the Bitterroot Mushers, is scheduled for January 18th and 19th at Gibbons Pass. Details can be found at bitterrootmushers.org.
Skijoring, sledding in the ‘Root By Jeanette Hunter
Winter sunrise takes a while to crawl down into icy Gibbons Pass, but the rising cacophony will assure you you’ve come to the right place. 2020 marks the thirteenth year for the Darby Dog Derby (DDD), hosted by the Bitterroot Mushers. Whatever the weather, it’s a magnificent backdrop for the 2-day gathering. In 2019, it started at a balmy 27 degrees and 50 shades of grey: saged, browned, heathered, and whitened, from the sky to the pines swaying with the wind’s symphony. From as far away as Oregon and Canada, teams travel to participate in this event each January, competing in 2- to 8-dog sled races and the slightly eclectic sport of skijoring, which requires a dog or two in harness streaking down the trail while attached to a person strapped into cross country skis. You might ask yourself who’d be crazy enough to try this, but try – and succeed! – they do, and somewhere
deep in your skull you may find yourself thinking maybe you, too, could release your own inner child in such a manner. Actual kids can also participate in the festivities, due to the generosity of so many of these mushers. The pee-wee race gives 4- to 10-year-olds the opportunity to experience dog sledding, even if their families don’t own a sled and team. Participation is limited, helmets are required, and entry requests are available online prior to The Derby. The camaraderie between humans and dogs and even among competing teams is strongly evident as enthusiastic dogs are placed in the rigging then led to the starting lines, sometimes with nearly as many handlers as dogs to prevent a premature start to the race. Bright-colored booties commonly cover paws, the human team members frequently take time to stroke or talk to their canine companions, and teams occasionally return with an injured or tired pup carefully packed on the sled. Energy and trust abound
at these events. One would expect to find huskies and malamutes, but the number of rangy, short-haired dogs may surprise you. Their athleticism is highly-valued, and muscular frames tend to generate substantial heat. Additionally, hollow hair is a trait of many of these chosen slender breeds, lending some pretty remarkable insulative qualities, and pups that tend to cool down quickly are carefully blanketed as needed. Stories abound, occasionally with Iditarod roots. Tawny little Patia often joins in this Montana melee, her mother a canine member of the 2011 winning team in that famous Alaskan race. Quite a few of the dogs are actually adopted from shelters or when other mushers retire. One of the 2017 skijor runners previously belonged to a racer who tragically died in a car accident, and the sledding community rallied to find homes for all his dogs. Teams from across See SLEDDING, page 8
Stevensville council elects Michalson as president By Michael Howell
Newly elected Stevensville Town Council member Bob Michalson was selected to serve as Council President at the January 9 Town Council meeting. Michalson served previously on the council and as president before resigning because of what he claimed were on-going illegal activities by Mayor Brandon Dewey. None of the legal complaints lodged with the Town Attorney, the Commissioner of Political Practices and the County Attorney’s office were deemed valid by any of the officials. He did not withdraw his can-
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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Bob Michalson didacy for the position, however, and won his seat back in the last election.
In the discussion preceding the vote for the position of Council President last week, Councilor Jaime Devlin, who is new to the council, raised the issue of Michalson’s past actions and behavior. “In the past, there has been conflict between Mr. Michalson and the administration,” she said, “so I am curious as to what policies, procedures, and regulations have been put in place so we are not going to have that happen.” Michalson responded, saying, “It’s a new year. I took See STEVI, page 2
Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommended denial of the petition, arguing that to provide an exception for one watercraft would be contrary to the statutory definition and would encourage other similarly situated to do the same. “In 2011, the department undertook an extensive river recreation planning process that included heavy public involvement. The conclusion of this process resulted in the current regulations on the Clark Fork, its tributaries and the Bitterroot.
These regulations have extensive public support in Region 2. These regulations are no more restrictive towards hovercraft than they are any other vessel rated at over 20 horsepower. Providing an exception for one would encourage others,” the agency stated. Although not officially taking public comment on the petition, the commission received about 70 comments from the public. All but two were opposed to changing the rules.
never reached any agreement yet with the county as a bargaining unit. Three of the attorneys filing suit, Daniel Browder, Thorin Geist and William Lower were founding members of the Ravalli Deputy County Attorney Association (RDCAA), formed by six members of the county attorney staff back in 2018. Plaintiff Korin Ziegler was also a member but recently left her job with the county in November to take a better paying job in Park County. All but Ziegler were founding
members of the group that sought voluntary recognition as a collective bargaining unit from the Board of County Commissioners in 2018. According to the allegations contained in the complaint, the commissioners denied the request “even though it is the policy of the state of Montana to encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining between public employers and their employees.” The RDCAA then sought
County attorneys file suit against county over wages By Michael Howell
Four Ravalli County Deputy Attorneys have filed a suit in District Court against Ravalli County over unpaid wages. The attorneys allege that their Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payments have been withheld illegally. They argue that they should have been receiving the same COLA increase as every other county employee who is not bound under a collective bargaining agreement because they have
See ATTORNEYS, page 8
Grantsdale Addition subdivision extension request denied
By Michael Howell
The Ravalli County Commissioners denied the request for an extension of the Preliminary Plat Approval granted to the Granstdale Addition major subdivision in 2011. One of the largest subdivisions ever approved by the county, the Grantsdale Addition proposed the creation of 181 lots on 67 acres at the intersection of
Skalkaho Road and Grantsdale Cut-Off. Denial of the extension request means that the subdivision’s preliminary approval has now expired and that in order to move forward a new subdivision application would be required. Under the original proposal as it was preliminarily approved, the subdivision was only subject to the subdivision regulations at the time and cannot be subjected to
new regulations, such as the new provisions concerning phased subdivisions that were recently adopted. Any new submittal would have to be reviewed under the new regulations. Following the approval of the preliminary plat in 2011, the developer sought and was granted an extension of the timeSee SUBDIVISION, page 9
County Commissioner Chris Hoffman not seeking reelection By Michael Howell
Ravalli County Commissioner Chris Hoffman announced last week that he does not intend to seek reelection in 2020. He said that, while it is not without some regret that he has decided not to seek a third term, it is the right time to begin the next chapter for himself and his family. Hoffman cited the great work being done by the current board. “While we are a diverse group, we are united in our dedication to serve our community,” Hoffman said. “The board is very stable and is focused on issues that are important for the valley’s future.” With one year left in his term, Hoffman, who
Commissioner Chris Hoffman is serving as board chair this year, is excited about the work yet to be done and the agenda that the cur-
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rent board has set for the year. Hoffman, who started his public safety career in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1984, moved back home to Corvallis in 1989 and was hired by Ravalli County Sheriff Jay Printz. He also served with the Hamilton Police Department for 10 years before being elected Sheriff in 2002. After 14 years as Sheriff, he ran for county commissioner, and at the end of this term will have served two two-year terms in that position. Hoffman said that he feels blessed to have served the Bitterroot Valley for the past thirtyplus years. “It is very humbling
See HOFFMAN, page 2
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