Bitterroot Star - December 28, 2022

Jewish community, friends celebrate Chanukah at

Celebrating the joy and miracle of Chanukah, local members of the Jewish faith as well as other faiths came together last Tuesday night at the fairgrounds in Hamilton.

Rabbi Chezky Vogel and his wife Rochi, from the Chabad in Missoula, were the sponsors of the event. State Representative Michelle Binkley (HD 85-Corvallis) along with her parents and plenty of children attended the celebration that was full of joy, music, good food, and camaraderie.

The Rabbi’s son led the charge for gaiety dressed in a dreidel costume.

Rabbi Vogel demonstrated creativity in lighting “second night candles” on the fve-foot high, electric candelabra (Chanukiah) at the front of the county fairgrounds. Using canisters of fuel oil to represent the traditional candles, he got loud cheers when the three “lights” burned brightly in the chilly evening.

When asked why he went to all the trouble of coming from Missoula, bringing traditional foods of jelly donuts (Sufganiyot), he

smiled and stated, “These are my people. It is my duty and my honor to help all enjoy, celebrate, and memorialize the traditions of Chanukah. The lights of Chanukah refect wisdom, goodness, and celebration.”

State Representative Binkley, her head nodding to what the Rabbi said, added her reason for being at the celebration. “These are my people too,” she said with a laugh. “They are the constituents that I care about, and I want to be here celebrating the joy and special meaning of Chanukah with them and their families.”

Rabbi Vogel told the story of Chanukah and then led attendees in prayers, singing songs, dancing to foot tapping music and enjoying the tasty foods that were brought and that quickly disappeared.

“Next year,” stated the Rabbi, “all are welcome to come and enjoy the blessings of Chanukah and share the

LONE ROCK ADULT EDUCATION - WINTER/SPRING 2023

◆BEGINNING SEWING

Instructor: Faye McCrumb Class Fee: $25.00 14 Hours/7 Classes Mondays 6 – 8pm Jan. 23, 30 • Feb. 6, 13, 27 • Mar. 6, 13 This course is designed for participants to learn the basics of sewing from pattern selection to pattern layout and basic construction. If you want to learn to sew, this is the class for you! You will need to bring your own SEWING MACHINE to class.

◆GARMENT ALTERATIONS

Instructor: Faye McCrumb Class Fee: $25.00 12 Hours/6 Classes Thursdays 6 – 8pm Jan. 26 • Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 • Mar. 2 In this course you will learn basic garment alterations for best and proper ways to repair or alter for size corrections. Please bring the garment you want to alter and your own sewing machine to class.

◆COUNTED CROSS STITCH

Instructor: Faye McCrumb

Class Fee: $25.00

16 Hours/8 Classes Tuesdays 6 – 8pm Jan. 31 • Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 • Mar. 7, 14, 21 In this course you will learn the basic stitches to complete a hand-stitched design. PARTICIPANTS WILL PROVIDE MATERIALS NEEDED FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

learners who would love to help! Please join us for a night of fun!

◆SOCIAL SCRAPBOOKING

Instructor: Amy Grassey

Class Fee: $10.00

MATERIAL FEE: $10.00 (PAID TO THE INSTRUCTOR

– NO DISCOUNTS)

6 Hours/ 3 Classes Tuesdays 6 - 8 pm Feb. 28 • Mar. 7, 14,

We are back to scrapbook together in person! Yay!

Each night we will construct a 2-page layout featuring a diferent technique to enhance the pages. Join our group and learn some fun easy ways to create beautiful pages while making new friends!

◆CARDIO STRENGTH & INTERVAL

ZOOM CLASS

Instructor: Doris Swanson

Class Fee: $25.00

Since this is a ZOOM class, participants will need a computer or other device that has a video/microphone or camera/microphone that can access the Internet and use a video conferencing app. Your instructor will provide instructions for joining the class with ZOOM

Join us for an evening that will enhance your fitness!

6 Hours/6 Classes Mondays 6 – 7pm Jan. 17, 43, 31 • Feb. 7, 14, 21

See results from this group of interval training, functional resistance, and core exercises. This is a Tabata-based interval workout. (Tabata Interval Training was developed by Dr. Izumi Tabata in 1996.

The individual works at a maximum intensity for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest for 8 rounds.)

Recommended for all ftness levels.

DUMBBELLS AND A MAT ARE PREFERRED.

◆

MUSCLE -TONING

Instructor: Doris Swanson

Class Fee: $25.00

5 Hours/5 Classes Mondays 6-7 pm

Mar. 6, 13, 20, 27 • Apr. 3

This class is designed to condition your body with resistance training workouts. We will focus on every muscle group with the intent of improving your strength, endurance, and muscle tone. Recommended for all ftness levels.

DUMBBELLS AND A MAT ARE PREFERRED.

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card making series, we will focus on interactive types of cards. Each week we will make a new design/theme. Basic card making skills are helpful but if you are a beginner, no worries, there are many advanced

OULA DANCE FITNESS

Instructor: Karinna Blodgett

Class Fee: $25.00

8 Hours/8 Classes Tuesday 6–7 pm Jan. 31 • Feb. 14, 21, 28 • Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28

Oula merges high-intensity cardio with easy-tofollow choreography, mindfulness practices, and a culture of inclusivity - all to an energetic pop soundtrack. Every Oula class empowers participants to challenge their bodies and process their emotions

are doing a ZOOM CLASS. If the class is at the school, payments will be collected the FIRST NIGHT of class.

SENIORS (62+) years of age get a 50% DISCOUNT on all class fees. The cost of the class is a one-time fee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the courses being offered please call JULIE BACHMAN at (406) 210.5129 after 4 pm

• PHONE in your registration by calling Julie Bachman at (406) 210.5129.

• EMAIL your registration to: adulteducation@lonerockschool.org.

• MAIL your registration to: Lone Rock Adult Education Attn: Julie Bachman, 1112 Three Mile Creek Road, Stevensville, MT 59870

through music, movement, and most importantly, a community connection! Join us for an evening of aweinspiring exercise and a lot of fun!

◆ALL LEVELS YOGA

Instructor: Lisa Rogers Class Fee: $35.00

11 Hours/11 Classes Saturdays 10am - 11am Jan. 21, 28 • Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 • Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25 • Apr. 1

This course will be for beginners, people with some yoga experience and even more advanced participants. Using a mindful-approach and guiding the participants to tune into their bodies, we will explore the healing benefts of yoga.

◆INSTINCTIVE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS –SESSION I

Instructor: Martha Piersma

Class Fee: $20.00

4 Hours/4 Classes Tuesday 6:30- 7:30pm Jan. 17, 24, 31 • Feb. 7

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INSTINCTIVE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS –

SESSION II

Instructor: Martha Piersma

Class Fee: $20.00

4 Hours/4 Classes Thursday 6:30- 7:30pm Feb. 16, 23 • Mar. 2,16

This course will restore calm to your days by learning to efectively bring calm to your day, even if you have a racing mind and a little spare time. The process is easier than you think.

Find Your Calm Place: Learn how to meditate quickly and easily in a modern way that helps you have more mental clarity, greater happiness, and less stress.

• Release Stress: Learn to unlock the relaxation response. Gain the confdence to meditate without relying on an app.

◆BEGINNING COMPUTER COURSE

Instructor: Diana Haker Class Fee: $25.00

12 Hours/8 Classes Thursday 5–6:30 pm Feb. 9,

Instructor: James Welch Class Fee: $25.00 9 Hours/6 Classes Thursdays 6:30-8 pm Jan. 19, 26 • Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23

This class will be presented over ZOOM so participants will need a computer or other personal device that has a video/microphone set-up to use a video conferencing app. A desk and chair with good lighting are recommended. The instructor will email participants with how to join the class using the ZOOM video conferencing app.

This course recognizes that everyone has a world view whether they know it or not or think of their outlook in this kind of way. This class will challenge you to critically assess the world views that science and/or philosophy ofer. Is one better than the other? Is one closer to the truth? (Even if you don’t agree that these terms have validity, we’ll tackle that, too.) We’ll look at the information and then you can make the decision.

AND ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW

ELECTRIC CARS

◆

Instructor: Dan Brandborg

Class Fee: $20.00

4 Hours/2 Classes Mon., Feb. 27 •Wednesday Mar. 1 5:30 - 7:30 pm

In this course you will learn about today’s Electric Vehicles (EV’s), diferences and advantageous of electric over gas vehicles, vehicle range, charging at home and on the highway, operating and ownership costs, various automakers solutions, battery advancements, recycling and environmental concerns, vehicle automation, embedded energy and efciencies, Hybrids versus full electrics, integration with home solar charging and electrical utilities. The class is designed to debunk many common myths associated with EV’s. This is a highly interactive class format with a good amount of time for questions.

Past presenter of renewable energy technical programs. Detailed study of EV industry for the last three (3) years. Taught Bitterroot College class in June of 2022 and The Learning Center in Missoula in the fall and was well-received.

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SURVIVING THE OUTDOORS

Instructor: LEE SCHARFF

Class Fee: $20.00

6 Hours/4 Classes Tues. & Thurs. 6:30-8 pm Jan. 24, 26, 31• Feb. 2

NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: EMAIL:

NAME OF CLASS(ES):

Mail this registration form to: Lone Rock Adult Education; attn. Julie Bachman, 1112 Three Mile Creek Road, Stevensville, MT 59870

miracle of light that overwhelms darkness and allows us all to worship our heavenly being in peace and joy.”

Submitted by Helen and Mark Sabin.

Rabbi Chezky Vogel addresses a gathering of about 50 people in Hamilton.

The Rabbi’s son led the charge for gaiety dressed in a dreidel costume.

Traditional foods were served.

The Chanukah menorah at the front of the county fairgrounds.

by Victoria Howell

Steve Lewis, chair of the Stevensville Schools Hall of Fame committee, was pleased with the recent gala sponsored by the Stevi STARS Foundation. Lewis, who is also on the board of STARS, said the event was sold out and about 160 people attended. He said that about $25,000 was raised from the event. That amount, coupled with a match from an anonymous donor, raised the proceeds to over $50,000.

The gala served as the venue to honor the frst group of inductees in the newly created Stevensville Hall of Fame. Nine people were chosen for induction: Lee Metcalf (posthumously), John Munk, Kristy Langton Schlimgen, Joe Cummings, Sean Goicoechea, Nathan Paul, Mark Gallik, Coralynn Jones Revis and Nora Hanson. Although some couldn’t make the event, all were represented.

Lewis said that the remarks were great, and generally the inductees spoke of how they were thankful for growing up in a small town and were “grounded in their community roots” which gave them “a great foundation.” Lewis said at least three of them mentioned John Munk in their acceptance speeches, praising him for his support. Munk was a teacher, coach, and administrator at Stevensville High School.

Munk started the wrestling program at the school and was one of the founders of the Stevensville Booster Club and helped facilitate the purchase of land for the current football and track complex.

The STARS acronym stands for “Supporting the Arts, Recreation and Sports.” The frst project the foundation plans to fund is the creation of three new tennis courts at the school. Lewis said that altogether about $135,000 has been raised so far which is about

half of what the tennis courts are expected to cost. Lewis said that after that project is completed they hope to add three additional tennis courts, and then fnally a new rubberized track and other

track and feld facility improvements.

Lewis wanted to thank everyone who participated in the fundraiser and helped to put it on, and also those who donated items for the auctions. He said this was the frst annual event. Nomination forms for next year’s Hall of Fame can be picked up at the high school ofce or on the school website. The deadline for next year’s submissions is June 1, 2023.

The Stevi STARS Foundation is always looking for new board members, said Lewis. Anyone interested in serving can contact Lewis at 406-239-4965. Anyone that would like to make a yearend tax-deductible donation to STARS can contact Sarah Armijo, STARS President, at 406-396-4901.

Newly inducted Hall of Fame members, l to r: Sean Goicoechea, Nathan Paul, John Munk, Joe Cummings, and Kristy (Langton) Schlimgen. Not pictured:Mark Gallik, Coralynn Jones Revis and Nora Hanson.

ADULT EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATION

SPONSORED BY THE STEVENSVILLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

which

be offered during the 2023 session. Registration for each evening

during the first class meeting, or you may pre-register for Adult Education by mailing the

fee along with your name and the course you wish to take to: Adult Education, Stevensville Public Schools, 300 Park Street, Stevensville, MT 59870. Adults may also pre-register at the Stevensville High School office with Vickie Vernon starting January 3rd. Courses will fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Most classes will begin the week of January 23rd, although some classes vary (as indicated). Some courses will charge for books and materials if needed. Courses need a minimum of 8 students in most cases to avoid cancellation.Complete course descriptions, starting dates, and fees are enclosed. For more information, call 777-5481 extension 129.

COURSE NAME INSTRUCTOR

MEETING TIME

COURSE LENGTH FEE ADULT VOLLEYBALL

CARTRIDGE RELOADING

CPR/AED FIRST AID

CREATIVE WRITING FOR BEGINNERS

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FINANCIAL SEMINARS

FLY FISHING 101

FUNDAMENTALS OF DRAWING

FUNDAMENTALS OF FLY TYING

GENTLE YOGA

HATHA FLOW YOGA

HERBAL MEDICINE MAKING 101

HANDCRAFTING

HERBAL BODYCARE

Kelsey Mahan

Dan Ashmore Jim McCormack

WED. 6:30-8:30 20 HOURS 10 weeks $20

MON., WED. 6:30-8:30 10 HOURS 5 weeks $10

Kristina Gaul THURS. 6:00-10:00 Starts Feb. 2nd

Angie Armour

Randi Burdette

Cody Velin

4 HOURS 1 evening $10

MON. 6:00-8:00 Starts Jan. 30th 20 HOURS 10 weeks $20

WED. 6:30-8:30 20 HOURS 10 weeks $20

TUES. 6:00-7:15

2 5 HOURS 2 weeks $10

Bob Prince WED. 6:00-7:30 7 5 HOURS 5 weeks $10

Kiana Fecteau TUES. 6:00-8:30 25 HOURS 10 weeks $25

Wes Wells MON. 6:00-9:00 30 HOURS 10 weeks $30

Andrea Buchanan THURS. 6:30-7:30 Starts Feb. 2nd 10 HOURS 10 weeks $10

Andrea Buchanan THURS. 7:45-8:45 Starts Feb 2nd 10 HOURS 10 weeks $10

Andrea Buchanan MON. 6:00-7:30 15 HOURS 10 weeks $15

Andrea Buchanan

MON. 7:45-9:15 15 HOURS 10 weeks $15 OIL PAINTING

PIYO

SEWING TOGETHER BAG CLASS/UFO OPT.

Mike Mickelson MON. 6:30-9:00 Starts Jan. 30th 25 HOURS 10 weeks $25

Libbi Hyde TUES. 6:30-7:30 10 HOURS 10 weeks $10

Colleen Koepplin WED. 6:00-9:00 15 HOURS 5 weeks $15 WATERCOLOR BACK TO BASICS

WEIGHT LIFTING

Kiana Fecteau THURS. 6:00-8:30 25 HOURS 10 weeks $25

Trae Williams

TUES.,THURS. 5:30-7:30 Starts Wed. Jan. 25th

32 HOURS 8 weeks $30

Brick campaign for new clinics to end this week

Provided by Bitterroot Health Foundation

WIth framing and exterior fnishes almost complete on the new Bitterroot Health Clinic in Stevensville, plans are moving forward at full speed for interior work, including a wall section featuring donor bricks. The Bitterroot Health Foundation is in the fnal week of selling engraved bricks to be installed at their three current clinic construction sites in Stevensville, Darby and near the cancer and infusion center at the Daly Hospital in Hamilton.

Stacie Duce is the Director of Philanthropy and has been working with the project managers and architects to fnd the best placement at each location, “but that all depends on how many we sell,” she said.

“So far we have bricks to honor family names and businesses, memories of loved ones, celebrations of cancer warriors and even some with inspirational messages,” she said. “We have bricks that thank frst responders and COVID caregivers and I’m really happy to recognize so many of our loyal and supportive donors.”

Each four inch by eight inch brick has room for three lines of letters and up to 18 characters per line. Since farmer’s markets last summer, foundation board members have been showing samples as red bricks with black letters that are engraved with a laser.

Duce said the bricks in Hamilton will be that red color to match the exterior of the building and will most likely be installed upright in a half wall or border in the landscaping somewhere near the new main entrance to the hospital and the infusion center.

The design of the Stevensville and Darby locations are similar in style and include an open galleria at the entrance with a designated donor wall where the bricks will be placed inside.

“We actually have quite a lot of color options with the brick company we’re working with and so the designers are choosing a color that will coordinate with the stone accents they’re using in the galleria,” Duce said. “It will defnitely enhance the space and connect those clinics with the community served.”

Bitterroot Health CEO John Bishop recently announced the timelines and progress in a leader forum at the hospital. He said the Stevensville Clinic is only two weeks of its original ideal timeline and that the grand opening is slated for late April. He said a majority of the stafng needs have been flled

with new providers and some existing staf who want to transfer to the new location.

“We are actively recruiting support staf for the Stevensville location and hope to fll those positions soon,” he said.

The 21,000 square foot facility will feature imaging and ambulance services as well as a rehabilitation center for physical therapy, speech language pathology and more adjacent to the family practice ofces.

The new Darby location will be closer to 6,500 square feet and is slated to be fnished in November 2023. Plans include a small pharmacy with a drive-up window, which would meet

a very important need in the south valley communities.

“When you purchase a brick, you have a choice of which location you’d like the brick to be installed,” Duce

said. “We have some businesses and civic groups who serve the whole valley who are buying one at each location. We’re very grateful for the support.”

Bricks are $100 and may be purchased online or by mail with a check to Bitterroot Health Foundation. You can also order a brick over the phone by calling the Foundation ofce at 406-375-4764. The website for brick purchases iswww.bricksrus.com/donorsite/bitterroothealth.

Bitterroot Health employees receive a 10 percent discount by using the code “BHemployee” and can pay by payroll deduction if purchased at the hospital’s gift shop.

Pay: $35,000.00 - $40,000.00

Director of Emergency Medical Services Willie Torres holds a brick that has been purchased to honor the work of frst responders during the pandemic.

Looking for the

Members of the Darby Volunteer Fire Dept. with some of the toys they collected in their recent Christmas Toy Drive. They were very appreciative of the community support they received this year.

Ed Jenne, a professional Illustrator from Missoula, visited the Bitterroot Valley Model Railroad Club recently to view and autograph a painting he did about 15 years ago for one of the original club members, John Susen from Florence, whose family donated the framed drawing to the club after John’s passing. The picture shows a main railway station that is the primary or central hub for a city with roundabouts, switching carousels, repair stations and the like. The model trains are done running for the year, but the club will resume running trains on 1st Friday starting in March, 2023. The club layout site is in the basement of the Kohl building below Valley Drug.

Sports

Lady Tigers nab big win over Victor

Valley wrestlers hold Battle of ‘Root

Florence and Stevensville battle on the hardwood

by Thomas Spencer

by Thomas Spencer

On Tuesday, December 20th the boys and girls basketball teams from Florence and Stevensville squared of. The boys played in Florence while the girls played in Stevensville.

Drawing together all the wrestlers in the valley over the weekend Florence hosted the 2022 Mike McChesney Battle of the ‘Root. And it was once again Corvallis with 99 points that took home the trophy this year, bringing pride and honor to that program. Florence came within striking distance at 70 team points followed by Hamilton at 53 and Stevensville at 47 total points. Besides the team rankings and scores, individual athletes were recognized by the competing schools’ coaches.

“I was a proud, proud coach, they channeled a great amount of emotion,” said Heather Berry, head coach of the Darby Tigers, following their dramatic win over valley rival Victor, 51-47. Going into Friday’s game the Lady Tigers had struggled in their frst game against the Pirates, but it was a diferent story this weekend. Coach Berry aimed at clarifying expectations and focusing her athletes on what they could control.

The girls’ game was evenly matched and came down to the wire with Stevensville winning, 43-41. Florence held a 34-25 lead going into the 4th quarter, but Stevensville, behind hot 3-point shooting from Cambree Praast, outscored Florence 18-7 in the fnal frame. Addison Drye made a short jumper to tie the game 41-41 with 30 seconds left. Florence then missed a three pointer and fouled Praast who sank two free throws to give Stevensville the lead, 4341. Florence’s Olivia Coulter barely missed a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

Jason Davis from Corvallis, wrestling at 138, was recognized as the “Bitterroot Valley Outstanding Wrestler.” Davis pinned Dillon Janes in 2:45. Te lone Florence senior, wrestling at 205, was recognized as the Bitterroot Valley Wrestling Ambassador, won by pin in his match earlier in the day against Cadogan Wheat of Hamilton.

The Stevensville girls hosted East Helena on Monday and won, 60-47. They trailed 23-27 at the half, but outscored the Vigilantes 37-20 in the second half to get the victory. Stevensville’s Claire Hutchison led all scorers with 22 points, Shilo McLain Lampi had 11, and Kyndahl Plantz added 8. Once again the Lady ‘Jackets had a diverse scoring attack with 10 girls scoring.

The Lady Pirates controlled the game, much like they did in the frst matchup, until late in the fourth quarter. With a minute-forty remaining in the game it was 4143 Pirates and Victor senior Bella Schicilone forced a foul driving the lane and found herself at the foul line with the hope of going up by four. She nailed the frst one, 4144, then missed the second. With the ball back, Lady Tiger number 12 Samantha Shull launched up a jumper that banked in. Now in transition racing down the foor, Schicilone drove hard in the paint and drew another foul with the opportunity to extend the Pirate lead. After missing the frst, she hit the second, 43-45 Pirates. Then Lady Tigers inbounded the ball rushing down with 47 seconds remaining when freshman Petra Mustafa rebounded the long shot and banked in a basket with a foul sending her

For Florence Head Coach Skip Rosenthal, the event is unique in a variety of ways. He said, “Te ‘Root is really a special event. In addition to bragging rights, it is one of the rare opportunities Florence gets a chance to wrestle against the other Bitterroot Valley teams since Florence is B/C and Hamilton, Corvallis, and Stevensville are A. It is also the only time where it is just our local teams. Many of our families know each other, have battled in earlier generations, and actually get a chance to connect at this event.” Rosenthal said the event began about 10 years ago, at the direction of the valley coaches.

line and sending a wave of hope to the Darby sideline. Her made basket was thwarted by a line violation, bringing the score to 45-45,

In

had a huge impact on what we’ve been able to achieve this year.”

Head Coach Ryan Tolley immediately called a timeout to regroup his squad in the fnal second left after the made free throw.

In the boys’ game, Florence defeated Stevensville in a low scoring afair, 39-28. For Florence, Ethan Alexander led the way with 12 points, and Jessie Padilla and Brodie Hinsdale each added 8 points.

Te Falcons showed up and performed at “Te Root” but at the end of the day were bested by Matt Davis and his crew of wrestlers from Corvallis.

With all the excitement and momentum, the Lady Tigers marched to their bench where they found their cool and collected coach ready with instructions. “I made multiple comments trying to calm my younger players, repeated directions in the huddle, and made sure they understood the importance of what they were expected to do.”

The Florence boys hosted the 406mtsports.com’s No. 1 ranked Class B team, Missoula Loyola, on Monday, December 19th. It was a rematch of sorts, as the two schools competed in the Class B football state championship game last month. But the outcome of this game turned out diferently as Loyola dominated Florence for the win, 76-40. Tyler Abbott led the Falcons in scoring with 9 points, Trapper Oster had 7, and Brodie Hinsdale and Ethan Alexander each added 6.

“We’ve won it every year except for once so it’s something we take pride in as a team,” said Corvallis Head Coach Matt Davis afer the tournament. For the Blue Devils, Kiera Davis, at 103, pinned Coltin Morgan of Hamilton, Luke Nuttal wrestling really well at 113, beat John Post from Florence and Hanna Hurst of Hamilton.

And with that possession, the Lady Tigers held on to their late-game lead for a dramatic and thrilling win over

“This win will help build some much-needed confdence in individual players and in their teammates,” said Berry. “This win was a fun game to coach and we are blessed to have come out of the hardfought battle on top!”

Seth Allen, at 126, pinned William Shiverine of Stevi. At 138 Jason Davis and Nate Davis both pinned their opponents. Kanyon Stoker at 145, pinned Drew Carmody of Hamilton. Bodee Davis pinned Jefrey Berryman of Stevi. And

This certainly was a big win for the Lady Tigers who will likely see the Lady Pirates in the District Tournament. And if you are a

The Stevensville boys traveled to East Helena on Monday, December 19th and lost a close game, 48-54. The ‘Jackets led at the half and were down by one at the start of the 4th quarter, but were outscored 11-6 in the fnal stanza to fall just short of their frst victory of the season. Ted Tackes led the way with 14 points, Kellan Beller had 11, and Gracen Trevino added 8.

Darby victorious over Victor

Darby boys prevail against Pirates

In the girls’ game, Darby won handily, 56-18. Darby ran out to a 32-11 halftime lead and never looked back. For Darby, Makena Hawkinson had a big game and led all scorers with 24 points, and Kimmie Berry and Maya Smith each added 8 points. For Victor, Virginia Brown had 5 points and Nola Smorawski added 4.

by Thomas Spencer

this year, the Darby boys were eager to fend of the Victor Pirates. Besides a slow frst quarter where the Tigers trailed by 4, the rest of the game was really just a slow march to victory.

ly been somewhat of a rekindling of the wrestling community in Florence. “As far as the Florence team’s performance, I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Rosenthal. “We’re in a bit of a rebuilding year with a new coaching staf and a renewed commitment to wrestling from the Florence School Administration and School Board. We will have a school-sponsored Middle School Program beginning this year and will be moving into our new dedicated Wrestling Room in the next couple of weeks. Te future of wrestling in Florence is looking bright.”

In the boys’ game, Darby defeated Victor, 56-37. Darby cruised to the win with a big 3rd quarter, where they outscored Victor 21-6. For Darby, Cullen Duggan led with 19 points, Hooper Reed had 16 points, and Nolan Lenny added 12 points. For Victor, Brandon Bowen led the way with 23 points and Landon Nuttall added 4.

means to be ‘Falcon Tough.’”

Corvallis meets Butte, Frenchtown

Rosenthal, who has been instrumental in the Florence wrestling world for some time, in both the high school and Little Guy programs, is grateful for his coaching

Rosenthal, refecting on his athletes’ performance this season, said, “Our kids have been working hard, are in great shape, focused, and having fun. We may

Darby head coach Krystal Smith said, “Ball movement, defense, and hustle are what helped us pull the win against Victor.” This seemed to be a good representation of Darby’s success against the Pirates. The Tigers did a good job of being patient in their ofensive movements and took high percentage shots at the basket.

Jonny Williams pinned Jett Murray of Florence in 1:57. For Coach Davis, “Luke Nuttal at 113 beating John Post that was a huge one. Tat match I fgured could go either way.”

letes,” said Rosenthal. “Tis core group has established a great culture that we can build on. Stand-out performances included Sean Larson at 170, Adyn Meinzen at 152, Arie Mclaughlin at Heavyweight, and Luke Maki at 205 who wrestled his last match at home but will certainly make a

Stevensville’s Beller and Gum sign letters of intent

“Josh Schreoder and I have been working together for several years with the Little Guy program,” said Rosenthal. “Tis year, however, we have Cody Sutton and Kody Davidson, two former Falcon wrestlers that have brought some ‘old school Falcon Toughness’ to the mix and have

The Corvallis girls defeated Butte Central 37-34 on Tuesday, December 20. Corvallis held a 22-15 lead at halftime and held on for the victory. Ava Loren led all scorers with 17 points, while Erika Jessop and Tylin Sorensen each added 6 points. They played Frenchtown on Wednesday and lost, 37-60.

Tat match was important for the Blue Devil victory on the day. Te Falcon wrestlers are mostly in the upper-weight classes and dominated in those areas, whereas the Blue Devils won many of the matches in the lower weight classes which ultimately led them to 99 points and frst place.

the key while Preston, Cully, Sawyer, Andrew, Jackson, and Nolan worked on shooting when they were open and driving to the hoop.” When asked which players really stood out she responded, “That’s a tough one, this game all of our players did a roll and did it well.”

The Corvallis boys faced some ferce competition last week. On Tuesday, they played Butte Central, the 406mtsports No. 4 ranked team and the defending Class A state champions, and got beat, 57-25. Then on Wednesday they played No. 3 ranked Frenchtown and lost, 64-31. In the Frenchtown game, Derek Criddle led with 8 points, Aaron Powell had 7, and Aydan Mayn added six.

Stevi plays Florence on Senior Night

by Thomas Spencer

Stevensville’s Kellan Beller and Hunter Gum signed their letters of intent on Tuesday, December 20th in the Stevensville High School gym. Both student athletes have excelled on the feld and in the classroom for Stevensville.

When asked what their week of practice looked like leading up to this matchup and what they anticipated, Coach Smith said, “We always know that a rival game can go any way, so our biggest advice was to keep our head in the game, play our game and hustle and work together and they defnitely worked together! And with a little press the whole game we wanted to slow them down and try taking advantage of a few mistakes.”

On Tursday night the Lady Yellowjackets and community celebrated their seniors from the girls basketball team, cheer, and other extracurricular activities.

Hunter Gum will attend Carroll College and play football, compete in track and study pre-med. Gum is a two-time All-Conference TE and DE in

And although the Lady Jackets did not walk away with a win against Florence, they competed against a strong, well coached team and the atmosphere of the night remained positive and cheerful. Te three seniors on the basketball team that were recognized on the night were Hailey Tomas, Kelti Wandler, and Faith Huenergardt.

The Yellowjackets came out really strong in the frst quarter, beating some tough defensive pressure numerous times and capitalizing on strong drives to the basket and open looks from the foor.

has the greatest sense of humor and quick wit, which brings a lot of levity to the team, whether during practices,

By the end of the third quarter, this game was still very close, 32-28, but the fnal score was 41-60. Darby had a great fourth quarter, outscoring the Pirates 28-13. Townsend and Smith both had stellar 4th quarters, each posting 8 and Reed had 6 in that quarter.

football, starts on the basketball team, and excels in track in the shot put and discus.

Beller will attend Montana Tech and play football and study engineering. Beller is a three-time All-Conference and three-time All-State LB and RB for football, a four year starter in basketball, and excels in track where he won the state title in the javelin in 2021.

“Until the game is over, my only thoughts are to keep putting the ball

in the basket, hustle back, play hard defense, and outwork the opponent,” said Smith. “This group of boys never

and play in the varsity game. You saw the players and fans go berserk when Faith almost scored in the frst minute of the varsity game!”

quit, so if we are behind or ahead, it’s not over until the buzzer rings.”

the two teams only separated by 4 and the Falcons also managed to keep that lead in the fourth as well but only outscoring the Yellowjackets by 2 in that quarter. Te fnal score was 61-43, Florence.

Stevi boys drop one to Frenchtown

in the fourth and responded with 9 of their own including 5 from Tad Tackes in that quarter. Beller accounted for 14, Tackes, 9, Travino, 5, and Grazzani had 4 on the night.

Both teams came out fast and strong in the frst quarter, not really giving much up on defense for either team but Stevi managed to come out ahead 10-7 going into the second quarter. But, like she has done many times this season, Florence’s Kasidy Yeoman went of in the second quarter with 11 of the Falcons 27 to end the second half.

Te Jackets were carried by their Captain, junior Clair Hutchinson, who had an outstanding night.

When asked later what he liked about his experience, Grazzani said, “My favorite aspect about being an exchange student is to experience a new type of life and culture with new people and have the opportunity to play basketball at a higher level than

“Claire had a real good game, turning hard work on defense into steals and fast breaks on offense,” said Fulbright. Hutchinson had 21 on the night, scoring mostly in transition but she was also efective pulling up from the mid and three-point range as well. But the Lady Jackets are most efective in the more run-

The frst quarter ended 13-14 Frenchtown where Kellan Beller had 8 in that quarter and was absolutely everywhere. Beller worked strongly defensively and

Bill Fulbright, speaking to his experience coaching Hailey Tomas, commented, “I have been privileged to coach Hailey for the past four years. Hailey is one of the toughest young ladies, mentally and physically, you will ever meet, and yet is so compassionate toward everybody around her. She plays her heart out every time she is on the court. I couldn’t ask for a player

was a freshman.

Faith has a wonderfully cheerful, upbeat attitude about everything, and doesn’t let anything get her

This Saturday also happened to be Senior Night for the young Stevi squad and in a sea of junior boys, Lorenzo Grazzani stood out as the team’s only senior.

“Tey only missed two shots in the 2nd quarter alone,” Fulbright said. Tat quarter proved to be the defning moment of the game.

Grazzani, an

Te third quarter

for fve years,” said Grazzani. “This in my country school and sports are separate programs.” Grazzani usually exhibits a positive attitude and it wasn’t surprising to hear his response when asked what he liked most about his team and experience thus far. “I love how we support each other on our team. Our coaches are trying to make us compete and get better every

“Getting the ball up the foor quickly and without a lot of wasted dribbling is something we have been working on all year,” said Fulbright. “It’s gratifying to see the progress the girls have made this year, and to see it work efectively during parts of the game.”

Te Florence athletes won several matches on the day. Seth

to the

and was followed by Mustafa who had

Darby’s Preston Smith scans Caleb Rockwood and the Pirate defense. Photo by Thomas

by Thomas Spencer

Yellowjackets took on the Broncs of Frenchtown on Saturday in Stevensville.

Florence’s Luke Maki with the pin at the Battle of the ‘Root wrestling match. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.

Corvallis took frst place in the Battle of the ‘Root. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.

Scott Sacry Sports Editor

another all Bitterroot Valley matchup, the boys and girls basketball teams from Darby and Victor met in Darby on Tuesday, December 20th.

Florence’s Maggie Schneiter (#22) takes a three-pointer as Stevensville’s Lexi Perez (#14) positions herself for a rebound. Stevensville won an evenly matched contest, 43-41. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Florence’s Caleb Brossman (#1) looks to make a pass in the Falcons game against Loyola on Monday, December 19th. Florence lost to a strong Loyola squad, 40-76. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Stevensville’s Hunter Gum (left) and Kellan Beller (right)

signed their letters of intent on Tuesday, December 20th. Beller is going to Montana Tech to play football and study engineering. Gum is going to Carroll College to compete in football and track and study pre-med.

Weather History

Dec. 28, 1987 - A winter storm produced heavy snow in the upper Mississippi Valley and the upper Great Lakes region. Up to twenty inches of snow buried southern Minnesota, and 20 to 40 mph winds produced snow drifts six feet high and reduced visibilities to near zero.

Dec. 29, 1830 - A very heavy snowstorm ushered in the "winter of the deep snow". The storm produced 30 inches of snow at Peoria, Ill. and 36 inches at Kansas City, Mo. The snow continued until the middle of February, causing great suffering among pioneers.

Chart This Week

Wed8:21 a.m.4:54 p.m.12:12 p.m.11:44 p.m.

Thu8:21 a.m.4:55 p.m.12:31 p.m.Next Day

Fri8:21 a.m.4:56 p.m.12:48 p.m.12:59 a.m. Sat8:21 a.m.4:57 p.m.1:06 p.m.2:11 a.m. Sun8:21 a.m.4:58 p.m.1:26 p.m.3:23 a.m.

Mon8:21 a.m.4:59 p.m.1:49 p.m.4:34 a.m.

Tue8:21 a.m.5:00 p.m.2:18 p.m.5:43 a.m.

Middle school and high school choirs, directed by Kyla Morton, presented a winter concert on December 15. The Chrysolian Choir is pictured here, with Morton directing and Julie Ludington accompanying on the piano. Photo by Cora Masar.

In the bleak midwinter – and afterglow

As I write the air outside is crystal clear and utterly cold. Every particle of moisture in it has frozen and fallen to join the snow. The fir trees in the yard sparkle, their raiment of frosted tips lit up by the piercing sunlight.

If I walked out into it dressed as I am I wouldn’t survive long. The scene is as harsh as it is beautiful. And it is, in its bright stillness, beautiful. The view from the windows that face the back deck – from me that means a westerly view across the valley toward the Bitterroots - is beautiful.

There are snowfields, now, that are hay crop and pasture land at other times of the year, a winding swath of frosted trees mark the course of the river, the East Side Highway where today the sparse traffic is cautious and slow, and a few scattered houses and barns.

Yesterday I saw a lone redtail hawk gliding on silent wings across the field below the house. He didn’t hunt for long. The gophers, those that he didn’t pick off earlier, are burrowed in for now. They too feel the cold, and yet the raptor must eat.

And this morning, I saw one lone flock of about twenty geese headed south. They were moving at a good clip – not looking for a place to land. They were pushed out of Canada by the arctic air that drives them further south.

There is plenty to see from where I sit, and plenty to do indoors. I’m a little restless, but not yet bored. The unfinished tasks are relentless in their presence – and soon enough I’ll have to choose one and get at it. These cold days should give me

plenty of time to complete some of them but I probably won’t; my drudgery is sure to get sidetracked by daydreams and memories.

There is also time to reflect.

For me, Christmas is a season that doesn’t end with throwing away the wrapping paper and shifting the meal plan to leftovers. There is an afterglow that I don’t want to dismiss.

Do you remember the old Louis Armstrong song, “What a Wonderful World?” If you missed it the first time around, you can Google it. Look for the YouTube version by Eva Cassidy.

The part that gets to me when I hear Eva sing is the ending of the bridge:

The colors of the rainbow

So pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces

Of people passing by.

I see friends greeting friends Saying, “How do you do?”

They’re really... saying...

“I... love... you.”

I remember the purveyors of psychobabble that dominated the talk shows and sold a lot of books a few decades back; they said that you had to fill your own love-bucket before you could give any away. Love yourself. Indulge. Everybody else can wait.

Their books produced some immediate feel-good among their readers, but they weren’t around for counsel when their follower’s self-indulgence consumed them from within, leaving them empty, asking “Is this all there is?”

You don’t hear much from these psychobabble gurus any more. They got their priorities flipped. Self-esteem doesn’t build well on selfishness. In short, I think they were crazy. We’d still be listening to them if they weren’t. We still listen, though, to the message of Christmas.

Christmas is a time when we remember in our souls, even if we can’t articulate it, that we love best

and feel most loved when we give. That kind of love produces the afterglow I don’t want to lose, and can be as simple as a smile for a stranger or a hug for a friend.

I don’t want to lose that sense of giving – and I refuse to put it away with the wrapping paper and ornaments until next year.

There has to be more to Christmas than the glitzy feel-good that misses the mark of peace on earth and good will toward men, and the love that comes down at Christmastime.

I’ll try to sustain this renewal of hope and love and joy in my everyday living; there will be more smiles and hugs, especially where they are needed most. I’ll find some measure of peace in the afterglow of Christmas as a stay against a world which seems to grow increasingly mad –and I’ll make that Christmas afterglow last as long as I can.

If I’m lucky, it’ll last until next Christmas.

Chuck Stranahan

Winter brings a time for refection, and an afterglow from Christmas.

By Keely Larson Montana Free Press

It’s kind of a thing for septic pumpers and haulers to have puns on their trucks. One time, Conrad Eckert had one that said “Caution: Hauling political promises.”

Eckert took over his dad’s Stevensville-based pumping and hauling business in 2012. Eckert senior started Eckert’s Septic Services in 1969, and his son has since renamed the business Eckert’s Patriot Pumpers.

A lot has changed since Eckert took over, perhaps the worst being a lack of land available for dumping his loads of sewage. As the population in Ravalli County grows and new residents look outside of city limits to settle down, city pipes aren’t there to handle their waste.

Septic systems come with a tradeof. Living in an area without a sewer system means people have to manage their own waste. Something that remains consistent, however, wherever you live, is that the waste has to go somewhere.

And that’s where Eckert comes in.

He drives around in his truck — bedecked with the American fag, a bald eagle and “We The People” on the side — and pumps people’s septic systems. Pumping is required about every fve years to keep a septic system working properly. The solids and liquids — poop, pee, grease, scum, sludge and garbage — are referred to as septage. Septage contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus that can be too much for municipal wastewater treatment systems. In many cases, that septage is spread on a farmer’s feld to serve as fertilizer for pasture grass.

That practice is called “land application,” and for Montanans who aren’t connected to municipal sewer systems, it’s one of the most common ways to dispose of solid waste.

Eckert doesn’t have a land application site in Ravalli County right now. One he’s used in the past is out of commission because the owner is considering selling the land for development. He can drive septage to the Missoula mu-

nicipal treatment plant, but he knows of others who end up without a legal place to dump.

“We’ve had people call us and tell us they’ve seen pumpers dumping in the [Bitterroot] river. When they get there it’s just washed down the stream,” Eckert said.

North of Ravalli County, in Flathead County, something similar is unfolding.

Both counties have fairly large rural swathes, high levels of population growth, and infuxes of people who want to live on acreage that may once have been available for dumping septage.

According to U.S. census data, Flathead County is the fastest growing micropolitan area in the country. As more people move in and the practice of land application becomes more difcult, Flathead County is trying to fgure out what to do with its waste. A proposed solution — building a facility to collect septic system waste and turn it into compost — strikes some locals as a no-brainer. Others view the idea as a condemnation of their way of life.

Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality is in charge of overseeing land application sites and licensing pumpers.

DEQ Solid Waste Section Supervisor Fred Collins said not all pumpers dump their loads on felds, but land application has been a primary method of solid waste disposal because of the availability of land, the limited infrastructure required and maxed-out capacity at city wastewater treatment plants.

An approved land application site has to check quite a few boxes: It must be far from homes, surface water, groundwater, roads, drinking water supplies and slopes. Pumpers have to submit an operation and maintenance plan to DEQ indicating the equipment they plan to use, what type of crops are going to grow and the type of waste that will be applied. All those considerations limit the land that can be used for solid waste disposal and ultimately point toward areas that could also be suitable for residential development.

Collins said the Flathead Valley relies heavily on land application because the

Kalisepll wastewater treatment plant doesn’t accept septage. He thinks the proposed septage facility could be a good solution to a regional problem.

“In waste, generally, it’s sometimes nicer and a little bit easier to manage when it’s centralized,” Collins said.

Centralization is something that those in favor of a septage facility emphasize.

The proposed septage facility in Flathead County would consist of two parts: treatment and composting. Pumpers would bring their loads to the facility, and a system would separate solids from liquids. The system would connect to Lakeside’s water treatment plant and direct the liquids there, where they would be treated and used for irrigation, a practice already in place. The solids would stay on-site and be turned into compost. The facility would include mechanisms to control odor.

Flathead County received a $15 million federal grant, part of COVID-relief money, in 2021 for the facility’s construction, and plans to buy property on Wiley Dike Road in Somers for $1.5 million. The timeline for completion is tentative, and DEQ hasn’t yet received an application for the facility.

Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl said the problem of losing land to waste disposal has been ongoing for years due to population growth.

“Everyone that’s developing out there, they’re looking at how many lots they can get on plots,” Brodehl said. “Very few people see dealing with septage as a high priority.”

Pumpers, unsurprisingly, don’t fall in that category.

Dustin Thornton with A1 Sanitation in Kalispell has a diferent take on the proposed facility. He said it would be the last place he would go.

“All the stuf they’re buying for millions of dollars, I’ve been piecing together for years,” Thornton said.

Unlike Eckert, Thornton has his own land application sites. A1 Sanitation has six septic trucks – also adorned with puns — and Thorton remembers that feet being sufcient to serve the whole

valley at one point. Potential construction of a new facility that could allow for more pumpers in the area has him worried about the health of his business.

Thornton’s advantage is access to land, he said, and he sees the facility as leveling the playing feld for everyone else in the business after he’s invested in his own land application sites and advanced treatment methods.

“I’m all for competition … but the government stepping in and just saying, ‘Well, we’re going to even it out.’ it’s pretty frustrating,” Thornton said.

At a crowded public meeting in Kalispell on Dec. 1, local residents expressed a variety of concerns. Some spoke up about increased truck trafc and a big, ugly facility changing the character of the rural area. Others voiced worry about the nearby foodplain. Some were simply shocked to learn about land application and the use of human waste as compost.

The proposed septage facility wouldn’t be the only place in Montana to reuse human waste. Mountain West Products, producer of a compost called Glacier Gold, already has two locations in northwest Montana.

Glacier Gold takes sludge from the city of Kalispell’s wastewater treatment plant, combines it with sawdust or bark, dries it out and sells it in bags. Human waste, like any other fertilizer, is flled with nitrogen and phosphorus, two nutrients that help plants grow.

Joe Warner, who’s worked in sales with Glacier Gold since 1995, said the forest products used to create the compost would have been disposed of in years past, but today, combined with the sludge, it contributes to a useful product.

“We’re taking two problems on this planet and creating something positive,” Warner said.

Anna Mahlen has used Glacier Gold before, but, after learning what’s actually in it at the Dec. 1 meeting, she vowed never to use it again. Mahlen has lived just across the street from the site of the proposed facility in Somers for more than 20 years. Once the facility is built, she says, she could throw a baseball from her property and hit it.

A big sign on her fence with a “stop” symbol and a poop emoji encourages others to fght the septage facility. She worries about increased truck trafc and what the plant would do to her property values. Mahlen said she doesn’t have a lot of money to leave to her kids, but she wants to leave them her home.

“It just won’t be the same,” she said.

Dean Robbins, another neighbor of the proposed

facility, has also used Glacier Gold, and said he’s not put of by human excrement. But he doesn’t think this is the right place for the facility. “I’ll withhold judgment about whether it’s needed,” he said, but he’s certain the location is wrong.

County Commissioner Brodehl acknowledged that other locations in the area might be better suited to the facility, but this one was for sale. The facility also needs to be near a cooperating wastewater treatment plant like the one in Lakeside. Brodehl said treatment plants in Kalispell, Whitefsh, Colombia Falls and Big Fork are already operating at capacity.

The county is scheduled to purchase the property on Jan. 13, after an environmental review and business plan are completed. Pete Melnik, Flathead County administrator, said infrastructure is one way county governments can actually address problems. They can’t build apartments or houses, he said, but they can build infrastructure to support growing communities. As far as the Wiley Dike Road property goes, Melnik sees a lot of pluses: It’s centrally located, the infrastructure is already there and the property is for sale.

“The elements are conspiring to put it there,” Melnik said.

The Somers septage facility, with its composting capacity, would be the frst of its kind in Montana, but not in the region.

The wastewater treatment plant in Coeur d’Alene has been biocomposting for more than 30 years. Instead of taking septage, it uses waste gathered from its municipal sewer system.

Bill Martin, assistant wastewater director for the city, described the material that gets added to wood chips to make the compost as “chocolate cake.” Apparently the consistency is similar.

After the cake is combined with the woodchips, heavy metals, dangerous bacteria and odors are removed, making it safe enough to use on a vegetable garden. Martin said, that for the most part people are all for it, but he understands the concerns of those who aren’t.

“My advice to them is, you know, I get it, but your fowers don’t care,” Martin said.

Eckert, Ravalli County, remembers his dad at one point being in charge of seven counties in northeastern Montana. When he pumped septic tanks, it was normal for the waste to go right back onto his customers’ property. People understood that was the tradeof.

People moving into western Montana today, he added, don’t have that same conception of waste. He drew up plans for a septage facility in Ravalli County 15 years ago, but no one saw the need at the time.

“You fush a toilet, it goes away and that’s it and then it’s gone,” Eckert said. “So, it’s education. It’s getting to understand that it’s got to go some place.”

Booked for the Season Best of 2022

It happens every year. The decorations come down. The last of the Christmas leftovers have been eaten. Errant bits of ripped wrapping are found and discarded. You have no more holiday candy or cookies, you look around at your empty hands, and you won der now what?

Now it’s time to settle in and read for the rest of the winter season. For your pleasure, here are the Top Five Book worm Picks for the Best of 2022...

Fiction

Lovers of fairy tales are in for a big surprise with “The Book Eaters” by Sunyi Dean (Tor, $26.99).

It’s a dark, dark legend flled with evil drag ons that look like men, princesses that are worse than second-class citizens within their realms, and a chase that will chill you. Book lovers will adore this tale, especially if you don’t necessarily need a happily-ever-after.

Pick up a copy of “Dot and Ralphie” by Amy Hofman (University of Wisconsin Press, $16.95) and it doesn’t look like much. But aren’t you glad you don’t judge a book by its cover? This is a sweet tale of two elderly women, partners in life and love, and aging. It’s sweet and grumpy and charming, somewhat like a lesbian Honeymooners episode, only better.

Readers who are familiar with the thrillers that James Lee Burke writes will absolutely be stunned by “Every Cloak Rolled in Blood” (Simon & Schuster, $27.00) because in this book, the thrill is secondary to the main plot. Here, retired detective

Aaron Broussard has lost his beloved daughter and it’s cut him to the core. Fiery, glass-sharp grief doesn’t stop crime, though, and so he still has crime to solve – whether real, imagined. Read this book with an open heart and tissues at hand. It may be

Lovers of clever, clever stories will love “Sign Here” by Claudia Lux (Berkeley, $27.00).

It’s the tale of Peyote Trip, whose job on the Fifth Floor of Hell is to recruit new souls for eternity. But Pey has a plan to get out of his purgatory, which turns this funny, sharp-witted story into a shady mystery that will make you laugh a lot and squirm even more.

Here’s a book that’s absolutely not for everyone: “Manhunt” by Gretchen Felker-Martin (Macmillan Nightfre, $17.99) is a lesbian feminist dystopian thriller, which sounds like a lot and it is. A virus has hit every corner of the world, making men into wolf-like killing machines and sending the women into hiding. When two young women – one of them, trans – learns that a “healer” might be able to save her from the inevitable, they head out to fnd the woman but a makeshift band of warrior women get in their way. Again, this isn’t a book for everyone but if you’re looking for something very, very diferent, this is it.

BONUS BOOK: “Things Past Telling” by Sheila Williams (Amistad,

$25.99) is a novel of the memories of a 112-year-old former slave, who was also a pirate’s woman, a healer, and someone reaching for things her soul needed. It’s an adventurous book with the tiniest touch of fan- tasy and you shouldn’t miss it.

Non-Fiction

tions. And “All the Living and the Dead” by Hayley Campbell (St. Martin’s Press, $29.99) has answers. When someone dies, what happens next? A wide vari ety of things, that’s what, and it’s someone else’s job to see that it’s done right. This book is careful not to be (too) gruesome but it is compellingly fascinating.

“Charlie’s Good Tonight” by Paul Sexton (Harper, $27.99) is on this list because it could be the biggest surprise of the year for readers. It’s the story of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, a man who really never wanted fame and often actively shunned the limelight. If you think you know all about the debauchery of your favorite rock & roll band, think again and be totally charmed by one man’s life.

There are two business books on this list because they don’t at all read like business books; in fact, “Think Like a Horse” by Grant Golliher (Putnam, $28.00) and “Meet Me by the

Fountain” by Alexandra Lange (Bloomsbury, $28.00) both seem

by Terry Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC

gle-up-in-front-ofthe-fre kinds of books. Golliher’s book is pure cowboy – he was a rancher and worked extensively with horses –and there are western-novel tones in his book on getting the most out of people.

Lange’s book is a trip to the mall throughout history, including a good look at stores you may have visited through the years. These books are both great for the business-minded reader, but could be enjoyed by anyone. And fnally, an obsession: “To Walk About in Freedom” by Carole Emberton (W.W. Norton, $28.95) is a jaw-dropping memoir that hides in a history book. In the earlier part of the last century, the government paid writers to interview people for a WPA project. One of the interviewees was a former slave woman who ofers up not only her life, but a real-life account of the end of slavery and how it impacted everyday, average people. This is a book you’ll be talking about well into the new year.

If these eleven books don’t ft your mood, then be sure to check with your favorite bookseller or librarian. When it comes to books, (s)he is a superhero.

Happy Reading!

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Legals

Craig Mungas State Bar No. 6746

Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC 2809 Great Northern Loop, Ste 100 Missoula, Montana 59808

Telephone: 406-7218896 Telefax: 406-541-8037 Email: craig@bjornsonlaw.com

Attorneys for Jan Burgess, Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: JASPER P. BURGESS, Deceased. Dept. No.: 2 Cause No.: DP-22-133

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever

barred.

Claims must either be mailed to JAN BURGESS, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC, 2809 Great Northern Loop, Suite 100, Missoula, MT 59808, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 9th day of December, 2022.

/s/ Jan Burgess Jan Burgess, Personal Representative Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC

By: Craig Mungas Craig Mungas

Attorneys for Jan Burgess, Personal Representative BS 12-14, 12-21, 1228-21.

Aaron J. Tolson (#7252)

TOLSON & WAYMENT, PLLC

1906 Jennie Lee Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83404

Ph: (208) 228-5221 Fax: (208) 228-5200 ajt@aaronjtolsonlaw.com Phone: (406) 363-9060

Attorneys for Applicant MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI

Ask an Atoney

by Greg Overstreet

What Is Mediation and Arbitration?

Let’s face it: going to court is far too expensive, time consuming, and adversarial. That has led to a revolution in the legal system: The increasing use of mediation and arbitration, which is a way to decide disputes without going to court. And it’s very popular. Some believe that mediation and arbitration will eventually make most civil lawsuits obsolete.

“Mediation” is the voluntary process of having a neutral third party – called a “mediator” – help the parties resolve their dispute by settling it on their agreed terms. Most mediators are trained, and a trained mediator can resolve about 90% of disputes. Mediation is voluntary in the sense that the parties can decide not to settle. A mediator is not a judge and doesn’t decide the case. Mediation is so successful at reducing the number of court cases that Montana courts require it – well, require a settlement conference in front of a settlement master, who is essentially a mediator – before a court will schedule a case for a trial. Many cases settle in the settlement conference process. For more on mediation, go to www.MontanaMediations.com.

“Arbitration” is the process of having a neutral third-party decide the case instead of a judge doing so. Arbitration is required in many contracts as the exclusive way to resolve a dispute about the agreement. Arbitration is a streamlined version of a traditional court case with limited fact-fnding and relaxed rules of evidence. Arbitration is used in cases from the very smallest to some of the largest.

The parties in mediation and arbitration must pay a mediator or arbitrator, but the simplicity of the proceedings means far less attorney time is needed, which means it’s much cheaper than paying an attorney to fully litigate the case in court.

The advantages to the parties of mediation or arbitration are more than vastly reduced costs. Mediations and arbitrations are far quicker and usually result in a result both sides can live with. Judges are often restricted by law to rule almost entirely for one or the other parties; mediators can encourage a more balanced result and arbitrators have the leeway to come to a decision that isn’t exclusively in one side’s favor.

For a copy of this Ask An Attorney column, including hyperlinks to the referenced resources, go to www.OverstreetLawGroup.com/blog

This information is of a general nature; exceptions to these general statements might exist. This information is for general educational purposes only; no attorney-client relationship with Overstreet Law Group, LLC is formed unless a person enters into a written representation agreement with the frm.

COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF JIMMY DAVID MCDONALD, Deceased Case No.: DP-41-202244-II

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Grayson James McDonald has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Aaron J. Tolson, Attorney for the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at 1906 Jennie Lee Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83404, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 7th day of December 2022.

/s/ Aaron J. Tolson Attorney at Law 1906 Jennie Lee Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83404 BS 12-14, 12-21, 1228-22.

Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840

Phone: (406) 363-9060

Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RICKY LYNN KUHNHENN, Deceased Case No.: DP-22-121 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate.

All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Zackary L. Kuhnhenn, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 2nd day of December 2022.

/s/ Zackary L. Kuhnhenn, Personal Representative BS 12-14, 12-21, 1228-22.

Emily F. Wilmott Ferguson and Coppes, PLLC

A Natural Resource Law Firm PO Box 8359 Missoula, MT 59807

Phone: (406) 532 - 2664

Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF Nanci J. Agee, Deceased. Case No.: DP-22-113 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Stephen Lilburn, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, c/o Ferguson and Coppes, PLLC, PO Box 8359, Missoula, MT 59807, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 12th day of December 2022.

/s/ Stephen Lilburn, Personal Representative c/o Emily F. Wilmott Ferguson and Coppes, PLLC

A Natural Resource Law Firm PO Box 8359 Missoula, MT 59807 BS 12-14, 12-21, 1228-22.

David T. Markette Megan S. Winderl MARKETTE & CHOUINARD, P.C. 601 S. First Street P.O. Box 515 Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-1110

DavidM@mcpcattorneys.com

Attorneys for Plaintifs MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY

STEVE MORTON, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE MORTON-MENEZES FAMILY TRUST, Plaintif, vs WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, THE ESTATE OF ROY E. ELMORE, MARGARET J. ELMORE, and COLLECTION BUREAU SERVICES, INC., and ALL PERSONS, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN CLAIMING OR WHO MIGHT CLAIM ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, OR INTEREST IN OR LIEN OR ENCUMBRANCE UPON, THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ TITLE THERETO, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM BE PRESENT OR CONTINGENT, Defendants. Cause No. DV-41-20220000378

Dept. No. 1 SUMMONS

THE STATE OF MONTANA SENDS GREETINGS TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT,

All persons known or unknown claiming or who might claim any right, title, estate or interest in or lien or encumbrance upon, the real property described in the complaint adverse to Plaintifs’ title thereto, whether such claim be present or contingent:

You are hereby summoned to respond to the complaint in this action which is fled in the ofce of the Clerk of this Court, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to fle your response and serve a copy thereof upon the Plaintif’s attorney within ten (10) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service; and in case of your failure to respond, decree will be taken against you by default for the arrangement requested in the Complaint.

This suit is being brought to quiet title to land situated in Ravallii County, Montana, and described as follows:

Lot 17A, Amended Plat No. 786, being a portion of Lot 17, Block 5, Sunnyside Orchards, Ravalli County, Montana, according to the recorded plat thereof.

Dated: December 14, 2022

Paige Trautwein Clerk of Court

By: Catherine di Gleria Deputy Clerk BS 12-21, 12-28-22, 1-4-23.

Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060

Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HARVEY HAYWARD HILL, Deceased Case No.: DP-22-134

Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Carrie Kitzberger, the Personal Representative,

return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 12th day of December 2022.

/s/ Carrie Kitzberger, Personal Representative BS 12-21, 12-28-22, 1-4-23.

Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060

Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JACQUELINE TRYTHALL COPPAGE, Deceased Case No.: DP-22-138 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Deirdre L. Coppage and Michelle K. Beyeler, the Co-Personal Representatives, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 21st day of December 2022.

/s/ Deirdre L. Coppage, Co-Personal Representative /s/ Michelle K. Beyeler, Co-Personal Representative BS 12-28-22, 1-4, 1-1123.

PUBLIC NOTICE Rashelle Brushia, Notice is now given, that, pursuant to the provisions of MC 70-6-601, et seq, and the contract you signed, the contents of your storage unit is now subject to operator’s lien. Unless the accruing balance is paid in full before noon Friday, January 6, 2023 the contents will be sold at MT93STORAGE, Victor, MT 59875, at 2pm Saturday, January 7, 2023. BS 12-28-22.