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Stevensville Parade of Lights
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a t s e B e h ‘T Volume XXXVII, Number 19
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Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Stevensville man gives the ultimate gift
by Victoria Howell “If I ever had an opportunity to save a life, why wouldn’t I?” That’s a question that Tim Schreiber asked himself and it didn’t take him long to answer it. Of course, he would. He’s just that kind of guy. Many people know Tim. He’s worked at Farmers State Bank for many years and has been a leader in his Stevensville community. His wife Beth is a well-known elementary teacher at Stevensville and they’ve raised their two sons there, one now a sophomore at Montana Tech and the other a senior at Stevensville High School. Tim’s brother-in-law, Rob Kennedy, who is married to Beth’s sister Sarah, had contracted a virus in his teens that affected his kidney function. As he grew older, his kidneys continued to deteriorate. Kennedy, a detective
Tim and Beth Schreiber at their home in Stevensville. Tim was able to gift one of his kidneys to his brother-in-law. Photo by Victoria Howell.
Pruitt takes over at Hamilton Downtown Association by Nathan Boddy It’s only been a few weeks since Robin Pruitt took over as Executive Director of the Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA), but a busy holiday season is underway, and the HDA will not miss being a part of it. Pruitt, who accepted the position following the resignation of Erin Steuer in late October, is in the midst of strengthening connections, navigating the holiday season and making plans for the next calendar year. “The work that has been done by committed volunteers and staff over the last 11 years has really given us the footing to take it to the next level,” says Pruitt, adding that one of her goals will be to continue positioning the HDA as an entity which can be both a resource and an asset to members of the organization. Indeed, she says that there is a lot of capacity building that can be coordinated through the HDA, including grants for training and marketing all the way to facility improvement. Luckily, Pruitt says that,
with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Department, went in for a routine procedure and the doctor found that his kidney function had dropped to 18%, indicating a rapid decline. He was put on a transplant list. All adult family members and coworkers were listed for possibility as a kidney donor, and after many tests, Tim proved to be a match, even though the likelihood of a non-blood related match is very slim. After another series of tests, Tim and Beth found out that it was likely that the transplant would work. The two men each had separate teams, one for the donor, one for the recipient. Many tests were conducted in Missoula, then in Seattle for more tests: stress test, EKG, MRI, meetings with social worker, psychologist, team coordinator. But Tim still hadn’t been told he was definitively a match. See GIFT, page 4
Western Ag Research Center fund drive starts by Michael Howell
Robin Pruitt, Executive Director of the HDA. Photo by Nathan Boddy. “There is more interest and maintain the vitality of the excitement from the businesses Hamilton business and nonthan I’d anticipated, and no profit community to contribute shortage of people who are to the vitality and well-being of willing to get involved.” our community.” However, the The HDA was established HDA’s ongoing relationship in 2011 and was originally a with the Bitterroot Chamber subcommittee of the Bitterroot of Commerce is something Chamber of Commerce before that Pruitt looks forward to becoming a registered 501c6 nurturing for the benefit of non-profit. According to their both entities. “I have a great website, the HDA now, “works relationship with Jodi and Al collectively with the local See PRUITT, page 6 community to re-invest in and
The Western Agricultural Research Center (WARC), located in Corvallis, is standing in the doorway to one of the most significant transformations in its history as it transitions from doing research in some 100-year-old farmhouses and a barn into a modern research facility. The transformation is coming primarily thanks to a $1.2 million appropriation made during the last legislative session. Only one last hurdle remains to be jumped, however, before the research center can step through the door and into the next century and that’s some state participation in the funding. The Montana State University system must first come up with a $300,000 match for all that funding and the fund raising has begun in the Bitterroot. “For the last 100 years, researchers having been doing science in old farmhouses and a barn,” said Zach Miller, the director of MSU’s Western Agriculture Research Center. “We want to build something here that will last another 100 years.” WARC has been involved in doing agricultural research since it was established in 1907 when the property was donated to the state by the company developing the 10-acre apple tracts that were created during the valley’s Apple Boom days. As a result, the research focused mainly on apples for a number of years but as times and the See WARC, page 6
Evans Ace - fostering a culture of community
by Victoria Howell
David Evans starting working at his parents’ hardware store in Hamilton in 2008. In 2010, he bought it. Once he was fully committed to the business, he began to expand it, and part of that was a conscious attempt to engage the community. The first project was painting murals on the side of the building at 714 N. First. He gave four high school art students a loose outline and style theme, kind of a 1920’s art deco feel, and “they nailed it.” Next came the Mammo Man campaign to raise money for mammographies for people who couldn’t afford them. Before Sprinkle Pink, and before Colors of Cancer, there was Mammo Man. People dressed up as Mammo Man. Ace Hardware employees would volunteer
to make a costume and dress up to raise money. Evans recalls that the first costume was made with pink duct tape. The program was fun and successful. “My mindset is that we just have a really special, special community here,” says Evans. “It’s a real gift to be able to live David Evans, owner of Evans Ace Hardware in here.” Hamilton, with the poster promoting the first“But,” he ever Oddbody Awards, standing by the “lucky adds, “if you’re gnome” his mother Sandy bought for the store.
going to have a brick and mortar store you have to get the community to be involved in it.” Every month of the year, Evans chooses a special cause to promote and raise funds for. The Daly Mansion was an easy choice, because Evans had served on the board. He scheduled an in-store event
with “Mrs. Daly” on hand to visit with people and had a “round up at the register” where customers can round up to the nearest dollar and donate their change. “We’re creating an experience for people when they come into the store,” says Evans. “We don’t want to look like a box store.” “With 700 people per day coming through here,” says Evans, “there’s such an opportunity for us to get the word out. Ace corporate also encourages trying to connect with your community through community service work. The CEO said recently, ‘Who’s more helpful in the neighborhood than your health care workers?’” That got him thinking. Evans said that both of his parents had died of lung cancer. He approached Marcus Daly Hospice last year when many of See EVANS ACE, page 6