We sell
licenses
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID STEVENSVILLE MT PERMIT 89
• • 777-2822 • • 4039 HWY 93 N STEVENSVILLE
OUTLET STORE
For all your ammunition & Hunting needs
Section A
www.ammoandmorestore.com
Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!”
t s e B e h ‘T
’ ! l a c o L at
Next Sale: (last of the year)
First Interstate Buildings Ravalli Co. Fairgrounds
Thurs - Fri - Sat • Dec 6th - 8th • 8am - 6pm
Doll Collection, Tools, Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Clothes & Hats, Great Christmas Gift Sale!
For info call Mike (520) 990-9658 • swansonsestatesales.com
Established 1985 - Locally owned & independent
Volume XXXIV, Number 17
More public art!
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Ravalli County Election Results
Adult Basic & Literacy Eduation Levy approved The Adult Basic & Literacy Education Levy passed on a vote of 12,082 in favor of the levy versus 10,378 votes against it. The 1.5 mill levy that was approved will cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $2.03 per year in property taxes. The funds will support locally administered adult education services that provide direct instruction to adults who seek to earn a high school equivalency diploma and/or seek entrance into college or the workforce. The is no duration limit to the levy.
The North Valley Public Library held a ribbon cutting on First Friday to celebrate the second mural, shown above, painted on the front of the library by artist Ken Daly. This time he chose a Native American theme, in honor of the Salish people for whom the Bitterroot Valley is their ancestral homeland. This mural is a companion to a mural completed earlier this year which depicts a bucolic scene with a young woman reading a book underneath an apple tree while Charlie Russell looks on. Daly consulted with the tribal officials to get their input for the final design for this latest mural. Daly was a commercial artist for many years before locating in the valley. He continues to do commission work and also teaches art. Library director Denise Ard is pictured at right with the artist. For more information contact Daly at 530-305-4780 or kendalym@gmail.com or the library at 777-5061. Alex Sydorenko photo.
Florence Carlton School Bond approved Because the Florence Carlton School District straddles the county line voters in both districts voted and narrowly approved the bond by a total vote of 1,546 to 1,494. It was a close vote on both sides of the county line.
The $15,975,000 bond stretched over 20 years will pay the cost of expanding and improving the campus to address safety, space, accessibility, and building code concerns in part by building an addition that will house k-5th grade classrooms, associated administration spaces, a new commercial kitchen, dining/assembly space, band and choir rooms, a performing arts stage, and locker rooms. It also includes a health enhancement classroom, construction of a metal shop/maintenance facility, and other renovation and upgrading projects.
State Senate and Representative Districts Senate District 43 – Republican Jason Ellsworth beat Independent candidate Laura Garber by a vote of 6,891 to 4,210. Representative District 85 – Republican Theresa Manzella beat Democratic candidate Laura Jackson by a vote of 4,121 to 1,781. Representative District 86 – Republican David Bedey See RESULTS, page A9
Phillips appointed to Ward 2 Bitter Root Humane Shelter Stevensville council position ‘We are here, we are here!’
By Michael Howell
At the Stevensville Town Council meeting last Thursday, November 8, Robin Holcomb and Stacie Barker, the only two council members involved in the process following Council President Bob Michalson’s recusal, voted to appoint Jerry Phillips to fill the vacant council seat in Ward 2. But this was not until after they had both moved and seconded to appoint applicant Jim Crews and then turned around and voted against their own motion following public comment. Some members of the public spoke up concerning the process prior to it being considered as an agenda item. Former mayor Gene
Mim Mack requested that the town’s attorney, who was present, address the issue of the letter that was written on behalf of the town to former mayor and former council member Jim Crews, who, he noted, was one of the applicants for the vacant council seat that was to be decided on that evening. Mim Mack also asked for clarification concerning the legal requirement that a vacant seat on the council must be filled in 30 days from the date of the vacancy, when 31 days had already passed. Town Attorney Brian West stated that the Town had received a complaint from staff about a hostile work environment and retained an independent attorney in Missoula to investigate the alle-
Jerry Phillips (left) was sworn in by Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey as a council member representing Ward 2. Michael Howell photo.
gations. He said, in the meantime, steps had been taken to structure the communication with the persons involved in the complaint “at least until we get some determination from the investigation which is still underway.” Concerning the 30-day requirement to fill a vacancy, he said that state law and council rules both require that a vacant seat be filled within 30 days. As it stands, he said, it will be happening a day or two late. He said that after the meeting date for making the appointment was set for the 8th, he received an inquiry from the town about whether a special meeting should be called in order to meet the deadline. He said at that point, in weighing the consequences of violating the timeline by a day or two versus not being able to provide sufficient public notice for such an important issue as appointment of a council member, in his opinion it was “preferable to err on the side of adequate public notice.” Town resident Loey Knapp told the Council that “the world has become a scary place… but what is fundamental to us as human beings is to feel safe at home and at work… you need to be creating a good work environment, not a bad one.” Hattie Farrell said she was really surprised that Mr. Crews’ name was even on the list of applicants. “He did lose the election,” she said. “I’m so fed up with the petty, childish actions that this council has taken… The citizens See STEVI, page A2
L I T E RAC Y Bitterroot
By Christin Rzasa Eve Burnsides, Operations Manager for the Bitter Root Humane Association (BRHA), expressed frustration recently that “too many people don’t seem to know we’re here.” Referring to the Dr. Seuss book (Horton Hears a Who!), Burnsides declared, “Sometimes I feel like a little ‘Who’!” In fact, the shelter has been housed in the same building at 262 Fairgrounds Road since 1985, on land gifted to the BRHA by the estate of Countess Margit Bessenyey, the granddaughter of Hamilton
founder Marcus Daly. This cheerful facility serves as the heart of an amazing body of public service, fueled by a tremendous compassion for animals and the seemingly boundless energy of ten board members, eight staff members and over a hundred volunteers. Open six days a week, the shelter houses an average of 35-100 animals at a time who require care – feeding, exercising, training, medical treatment – 365 days of the year, and that’s just the group’s most basic function. According to board member and past-President Sue McCormack, the BRHA is an “open
admission shelter,” taking in lost and found pets as well as animals who need a new home, turning no one away. Not including the last three months of 2018, the shelter has cared for nearly 280 owner-surrendered animals and over 350 lost-or-found pets – including pigs, goats, birds, rabbits and other rodents. Both McCormack and current Board President Sue Devlin echo Burnsides’ frustration with the facility’s apparent low public profile, especially when it comes to lost animals. See SHELTER, page A8
Eve Burnsides, Operations Manager for the Bitter Root Humane Association, wants to get the word out about the many services provided by the group. Christin Rzasa photo.
On behalf of our students, we thank the voters of Ravalli County for supporting local adult literacy services!