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Find the latest updates and information on the COVID-19 pandemic at www.bitterrootstar.com Volume XXXVI, Number 18
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
www.bitterrootstar.com
COVID cases surge nationwide, locally
By Michael Howell
The Covid-19 pandemic is surging across the nation. According to National Public Radio, last week alone one million new cases of COVID-19 were reported nationwide, averaging 1,000 deaths a day. There have been over 240,000 Covid-related deaths reported nationwide. The rate of increase in active cases is stressing hospitals everywhere in the country, many having already surpassed their bed capacity. Montana is no exception. The state’s health department reported on Monday that 48,027 have been infected with the coronavirus in Montana and at least 522 people have died. According to Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day test positive rate in Montana last week was almost 30%, ranking it among the top ten countries in the world alongside Poland (45.56%), Switzerland (39.23%), and Italy (27.44%). Cases in the state have surged by 13 percent in the last three weeks, particularly in
Yellowstone and Cascade counties. According to a University of Washington projection, at this pace the state is on track to reach 1,800 deaths by February if severe measures aren’t taken.
The situation in the state is bad enough that the U.S Department of Health and Human Services dispatched a team of nearly 30 doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other health-care workers to
Number of Daily Active Cases fo COVID-19 in Ravalli County September 1 – November 16
Note: The number of daily active cases was reset on November 16 to 329. The dotted line shows the trend including the drop from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16 when the number of active cases was not reported.
‘Come on, let’s Turkey Trot!’
Billings for two weeks to help strained health-care systems. A state report, recently published in the Billings Gazette, showed that several hospitals, including in Helena and Butte, are at 90 percent capacity. In a press conference last week, Governor Bullock said, “The alarm is ringing loud.” He said it took six months for Montana to reach 10,000 cases of COVID-19. It only took 25 days
to diagnose another 10,000 and another 10,000 were added in only another 15 days. Then it only took 11 more days to add the next 10,000, bringing the number to 40,000 on November 8. State Medical Officer Greg Holzman said, “We need a coordinated response.” He said the effort is being made and guidelines, including the use of masks, have been well publicized “but many people out there are not following
them.” He said currently Montana can’t keep up with the growing rate of infection and schools are closing, local health officials can’t keep up with contact tracing, and the whole system is under stress. He said four hospitals in the state were already beyond capacity. “We cannot sit around and wait for a vaccine,” said Holzman. Stacey Anderson, Lead
See COVID, page 3
Stevensville council moves on By Michael Howell
Prior to the resignations submitted by council members Bob Michalson and Robin Holcomb, the Stevensville Town Council had been considering Mr. Michalson’s conduct as well as the town’s policies concerning council member conduct which were adopted following Michalson’s previous resignation. They contemplated removing him from office, or censuring him and removing him from the presidency. At their most recent meeting, following his
resignation on November 5th, the two remaining council members decided to drop the issue. “I did forgive Mr. Michalson for his conduct towards myself,” said Council member Dempsey Vick, “However, the conduct towards the citizens of this town and the conduct towards the employees of this town was definitely uncalled for. If Michalson had not resigned, I do think that it would have been in the best interest of the Council to seek some sort of punishment.” Council member Jaime
Devlin said, “Everybody needs closure on this with the understanding that this has been going on in our government for decades and it is not allowed anymore. It is not OK to treat other people this way.” She apologized personally for the fact that that the behavior went on for so long “and that we weren’t able to reach a decision as a council…” “But I think with the resignation that has been submitted that we can put this to rest with a See STEVI, page 3
Stevi police chief resigns
Stevensville Chief of Police James Marble gave notice last Friday, that he was resigning his job as top cop in Stevensville effective November 27, 2020 in order to take a job with the State of Montana. “I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the citizens of Stevensville for the last 16 and a half years. I will miss working with everyone immensely. I plan on continuing to live in Stevensville for the foreseeable future so I will see everyone around town from time to time. God bless and take care of
each other!” wrote Marble in his letter of resignation. Marble came to Stevensville from Plains, Montana where he also served as Chief of Police. Mayor Brandon Dewey said, “Marble’s 16 years of service to our community is admirable, and an accomplishment few employees achieve working for the Town. We all owe James a great deal of gratitude for his dedication to the job and the people of Stevensville. On behalf of the organization and
By Michael Howell
as the Library. He said the library could use the space and that it would also keep the building in public ownership. Wetherington said if the city was agreeable to considering it they would get an architect to survey the building and see if it is feasible and what the cost might be for the library to expand over there. Councilor Jenny West asked if any consideration had been given to connecting the two buildings and Wetherington said it had been discussed. He said they
Police Chief Marble
See CHIEF, page 3
Bitterroot Library interested in expanding into fire hall
Big old turkey Dominic Farrenkopf visits with staff at Pantry Partners food bank in Stevensville when the Turkey Trot could still happen in person.
‘Turkey Trot’ goes virtual
Dominic Farrenkopf, Community Life Director at Sapphire Lutheran Homes in Hamilton, is doing the Turkey Trot again this year, however, it is online only. In years past, Dominic dresses like a gigantic turkey and goes through the communities of Stevensville, Hamilton and Darby to
g sgivin Thank ial Spec -6 4 Serves
solicit funds for each community’s food bank. This year people can still give a monetary donation to a food bank of their choice; however, they will need to contribute on a GoFundMe site. “The Turkey Trot is one of my favorite fundraisers because it is so personal,” said Farrenkopf.
“There is a lot to say about the interaction that happens between me and donors. People like to joke about hunting season when seeing a 6-foot-tall turkey. People like to donate to good causes and this is definitely one of them. A See TURKEY, page 2
NOW OPEN!!! 529-3157 . 101 Church . Stevensville
Bitterroot Public Library Building Director Mark Wetherington told the Hamilton City Council members at their last Committee of the Whole meeting last week that, after hearing the Hamilton Fire Department might be moving out of its current location in the adjacent Fire Hall in a few years, they wondered about the possibility of expanding the existing lease on their current building to include to the old Fire Hall which sits on the same block
thought of either directly connecting the buildings to make it one block-long building, or building a sky walk over the existing alley that separates the buildings. He said they would look at what would be most economical and do the best at preserving the historic values of the building. “We will have to get into it first and see what we’ve got, but that was one thought,” said Wetherington. Councilor West said she
Cakes • Cupcakes • Cheesecake Gluten Free • Rustic Bread
See HAMILTON, page 9
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