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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent
‘The Volume XXXVII, Number 27
’ ! l a c o L Best at Wednesday, January 19, 2022
www.bitterrootstar.com
Stevi council vacancies will take longer to fill Proccess of filling council vacancies called into question over legal concerns by Victoria Howell At its first regular meeting, on January 13, the new two-person council and new mayor convened to consider applications for the two vacant council seats and to consider appointments of council members to various town boards. The council received five applications. Leanna Rodabaugh, Sharon Laramie and Wallace Smith applied for the Ward 1 seat. Bob Michalson and Raymond Smith, former council members both of whom have previously resigned before their terms were up, applied for the Ward 2 seat. Any possible discussion on those applications came to an abrupt halt when the agenda item came up. Before the council could take any
action, Mayor Steve Gibson said that the Town had received an email from “an individual” outlining a number of potential legal issues concerning the process of filling the vacancies. In an email sent to the mayor
current town council vacancies. They included: 1) Exceeding the required time frame for filling vacancies, which are to be filled within 30 days. 2) Failure to meet public notice
Town’s webpage as required, we were not aware that the Town had begun seeking applicants. There are individuals who are upset that they missed the opportunity to submit an application because they were not informed that applications were being accepted, even though they checked the Town’s webpage daily for the announcement.” 3) The application period was not left open for the full 10 days, which is required by Council Rules. 4) The January 13th Council packet did not include a list of applicants and status of eligibility for each applicant. “Council Rules clearly state that a list of all New Stevensville Town Council members Cindy Brown, left, and Stacie Barker talk with the new Mayor, Steve Gibson. The council members and mayor were sworn in at a ceremony on January 3rd that was ap- applicants as well as the status of their parently not announced to the press. Photo by Victoria Howell. eligibility shall be submitted by the requirements. The vacancy was not and the two council members and Town Clerk to the Town Council at announced on the Town’s website, copied to the town clerk and the its next regularly scheduled meeting which is required by the Council town attorney, former town clerk after the application deadline,” wrote Audree Tribbensee listed six issues of Rules. Tribbensee wrote, “Because See STEVI, page 5 concern regarding the handling of the a notice was not posted on the
Raptor reckoning by Michael Howell
to be migratory, and nine non-migratory. Most of the migratory Golden Eagles summered in Wintertime is one of the best times to watch Alaska, and the rest summered across the Yukon, large raptors, like hawks and eagles, in the British Columbia, and Northwest Territories, Bitterroot Canada. valley. One The average reason is the summer big increase in locations for numbers over migratory the winter birds were as raptors over 900 from Alaska miles from and across the capture northwestern location. In Canada contrast, migrate south the average to spend location for the winter seven of the in Western nine nonMontana. Not migratory only do local Golden populations Eagles were of hawks and within 90 eagles grow miles of in the winter, the capture but it also location brings in a for the few species remainder of that are not the year. (see generally seen MAP) in the area at Blood all except in samples winter, like the were also Rough-legged taken from Hawk. all of the Researchers captured from birds before Bitterroot they were View Raptor released Research to test for Institute and blood lead MPG Ranch levels (BLL). tracked the Studies have movements of This eagle was found recently in Whitefish suffering from symptoms of lead poisoning and is shown that This Bald Eagle was found recently in Whitefish suffering from symptoms of Golden Eagles currently undergoing treatment at Wild Skies Raptor Center where it is showing signs of Golden Eagles lead poisoning and is currently undergoing treatment at Wild Skies Rapimprovement and may survive to be released into the wild. Another eagle found recently in the captured in are susceptible tor Center where it is showing signs of improvement and may survive to be Bitterroot and nicknamed “Darby” did not fare as well and died despite the best medical the valley to ingesting released efforts. into the wild. Another eagle found recently in the Bitterroot and from 2011 residual lead nicknamed “Darby” did not fare as well and died despite the best medical to 2018 and fragments efforts. determined, from hunted among other things, that these northern breeders animals. If hunting occurs where Golden Eagles return to the valley year after year. winter, both migratory and non-migratory The eagles tracked included two juvenile, Golden Eagles may be exposed to lead. seven immature, and 20 adult, that were outfitted See RAPTOR, page 3 with GPS transmitters. Of these, 20 turned out
New Hamilton Chief of Police settling into job by Nathan Boddy Hamilton’s newest Chief of Police, Steve Snavely, says that he’s always felt the need to serve, and that his career in law enforcement has been a great way to do so. The longtime Hamilton police officer was sworn in on December 30th before a crowded room at the Hamilton Justice Center. As he passed the baton to Snavely, outgoing police Chief, Ryan Oster, said, “There is nobody I would rather pass this badge on to than this guy right here.” Steve Snavely has spent his entire law enforcement career with the Hamilton Police Department, and during his tenure has served in every capacity within the department. He was hired as a reserve officer in 1996, and full-time officer in October of 1998. While he appreciates the excitement of his profession, Snavely, a Navy Veteran, says his outlook on the importance of policing a community boils down to service. “I’ve always been one who feels like we need to serve and that we always need to get back to our community.” While policing has been under increased scrutiny in many parts of the United States in recent years, Chief Snavely says that serving in See CHIEF, page 12
Outgoing Police Chief, Ryan Oster, pins the badge onto new Chief, Steve Snavely. Photo by Nathan Boddy.