Bitterroot Star - February 1, 2023

Nora Healy is a ffth generation Montanan. She graduated from the University of Montana with her Bachelors in Nursing in 2011. She went on and completed a graduate degree in advanced practice nursing and a certifcation in family medicine in 2019. For the last 2 1/2 years she has been providing comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment. As a Family Nurse Practitioner at Sapphire Community Health she provides family medicine and behavioral health needs. She enjoys caring for residents in her rural community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.

Eagles Lodge makes donation to Emma’s House

by Nathan Boddy

Athena Lande, Administrative

Assistant for Emma’s House Child Advocacy Center in Hamilton, says that the CAC is, “very, very fortunate to be where we are and to be of service.” Lande was on hand recently to accept the donation of several hundred dollars from the Eagles Lodge of Hamilton, funds which were the result of the Lodge’s bingo proceeds and a 50/50 rafe.

“We are a very well funded non-profit,” said Lande, “and that is based solely of our community.”

The Emma’s House CAC not only plays a critical role for young victims of physical and sexual abuse in Ravalli County, but it also serves as a model for other CACs throughout the state of Montana. Having opened in 2006, the CAC has routinely been the object of praise for the crucial work it has done to help young victims through streamlining and organizing essential services such as medical review, law enforcement, legal services, case management, etc.

Jef Olsen represented the Eagles Lodge to deliver the donation to Emma’s House, and describes himself as a “volunteer and go-fer,” but adds that “if you

Corrections

In a January 18th story about the Stevensville Town Council, it was incorrectly stated that the council had unanimously approved spending up to $10,000 from the Jean Thomas Fund for pool repairs. In fact the item was tabled. In the same story it was incorrectly stated that Melanie D’Isidoro or Nathan Hulling was approved for prosecution services. Only Melanie D’Isidoro was approved. The Star regrets the errors.

need somebody to lift and tote, well, if it’s not a lot of lifting and toting, I’m ok with that!” He also mentioned that his association with the Eagles bingo games was largely on account of his wife having undertaken the role as Chair of the Bingo Committee.

Olsen says that the Eagles will be increasing their bingo games to two Thursdays a month, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the calling getting started at 6:00. The proceeds of the game, and the simultaneous 50/50 rafe, will continue to be dedicated to a diferent non-profit each time. In fact, Olsen was on his way back to the Eagles Lodge to prepare for the next round of bingo, the proceeds of which would be directed to Hamilton’s Haven House food pantry.

“After that it’ll be for the Eagles Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday,” he said. “There will be thousands of eggs with candy, but four (of the eggs) will have little tickets for a bicycle.”

The Eagles Lodge is located at 125 North 2nd Street in Hamilton.

Merry Christmas

Catholic Men of the Bitterroot Valley:

Have you been desiring to commit more to your Catholic faith, but are unsure of how to do it?

Are you longing to connect in deeper friendship with other men of faith?

Do you want to contribute more in service to your parish?

This retreat is for you.

Come as fathers and sons, brothers, friends and neighbors.

Are You All In?

Are You All In?

Men’s Retreat

Presented by Fr. John Martin, S.J.

Register now: call or email the St. Francis of Assisi Parish ofce (406)363-1385 mail@st.francishamilton.org or drop by 411 S. 4th, Hamilton

Fr. Martin is a member of the Ravalli Jesuit Community in Missoula. Originally from the San Francisco area, he attended Carroll College for 1 year, and then graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He then served 3 years as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Viet Nam at the end of his 3 years. Following military service he spent 2 years on a sailboat in the Pacific, including an 18 month voyage from Hawaii to Australia. Fr. Martin has served in parishes and in province administration. Prior to joining the Jesuits he worked in business, including the Southern Pacific Development Company.

Fr. Martin is a member of the Ravalli Jesuit Community in Missoula. Originally, from the San Francisco area, he attended Carroll College for 1 year, and then graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He then served 3 years as an infantry ofcer in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Viet Nam at the end of his 3 years. Following military service he spent 2 years on a sailboat in the Pacifc, including an 18 month voyage from Hawaii to Australia. Fr. Martin has served in parishes and in province administration. Prior to joining the Jesuits he worked in business, including the Southern Pacifc Development Company.

Athena Lande of Emma’s House accepts a donation from the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Photo by Nathan Boddy.

FARM TO SCHOOL: ‘Our farmers, our food, our families’

continued

from KidsGardening along with a collection of gardening tools, putting them one stop closer to being able to actually plant the garden.

“We’re hoping to put down weed mat this spring, put in some garden boxes, and at a minimum plant some perennials,” said Nichols.

She said what they really need to make this project successful is “community buy in.”

So far some support has come from Bryan Dufresne, who heads the Keystone after-school program for the school district. “Those kids want to do some gardening,” said Nichols. “We’re hoping to have the beds in by April so these kids can just put some seed in the ground.”

Nichols said Farm to School is one her “passion projects.” She said it fits in nicely with her position at RCEDA. “Because this program is so new,” said Nichols, “I get to take it in the direction I’m interested in.” Nichols has been on the job since May, making connections in the ag community. Her position is partially funded by USDA and her current contract runs through August 2025. She works to connect local farmers and ranchers and ag-related businesses with the government resources they need.

Amy Harvey, a 3rd grade teacher at Daly, is also a member of the Farm to School Committee. She said when the committee formed last spring, they attended training provided by the Farm to School Institute. Hamilton was one of three schools in the state to be selected for the program, where

they received training, mentorship, and planning help.

“I want Farm to School to be part of our community and want it to be part of my classroom,” said Harvey. “I really believe in connecting our school with local food.”

Harvey said when they started on the project, less than 1% of the food being served was locally sourced. That’s now up to 11%. The schools serve beef from Hamilton Packing, produce from the Western Montana Growers Co-op, and greens from Local Bounti. The school’s food services director is also part of the committee, and as it turns out, says Harvey, the cost of purchasing this local food is comparable to buying

food that is not local. “Any increase is negligible,” she said.

Harvey said purchasing more locally sourced food for the school is part of their three-pronged goal which also includes revitalizing and using the school garden, and featuring “harvest of the month” items.

Harvest of the month is part of the education component of the group’s goal of increasing ag education in the classroom and along with the harvest of the month, the children will get to visit four diferent

farms during the year.

Harvey said the group is still developing a budget with the plan of continuing the Farm to School program indefinitely into the future. They’ll be going after grants and later on they plan to make specific requests, probably by the end of this spring.

“There’s been lots of excitement and lots of talk over the last few years,” said Harvey. “Now we want to incorporate this into classroom instruction” as a regular part of the curriculum.

Harvey said the committee is lucky to have Jay Stagg from Whitefish as an advisor. The Whitefish Farm to School program is a model in the state. In addition to Nichols and Harvey, the committee, which meets monthly, includes the food services director, the school superintendent, school board members, teachers and community members. Their motto is: “Our farmers, our food, our families.”

For more information contact Grace Nichols, 406-375-9416, email grace@rceda.org or visit the website at https:// www.hsd3.org/page/ farm-to-school-program

Amy Harvey, l, third grade teacher at Daly Elementary, and Grace Nichols, manager of RCEDA’s Specialty Crop Business Development Program, are both passionate about growing the Farm to School program in Hamilton schools. Photo by Victoria Howell.

Members of Hamilton’s Farm to School team at a training at Chico Hot Springs last summer.

DOWNTOWN: planning for future

continued from page

of collecting questionnaires from its members and the public in order to determine if its current trajectory is on track with perceived needs and wishes. A five year strategic play which covered 2017 through 2022 has been a guiding document for the HDA, but colossal shifts in the pace of growth in Montana, as well as their new foundation, make it a logical time to clarify their future course.

Pruitt says that they’d like to know, for example, how the Association is viewed, what are priority areas that members would like it to address, and what do they value about the services that the HDA provides.

“We do a lot of services on a very lean staf,” says Pruitt, pointing out that advocacy for businesses, beautification, events, financial development are all among the HDA’s list of priorities.

“It’s important to know that we don’t just serve Main Street businesses,” she adds. “We serve small businesses from bridge to bridge.”

ing fower baskets that decorate Main Street, or the careful interplay between city business owners and city staf to complete important projects, a healthy and active business landscape is an undeniable quality of life component for any town. Pruitt makes that point clear as it relates to the many people who are moving to Montana.

“They move here in part due to the

One of the many hanging baskets managed and cared for by the Hamilton Downtown Association. Photo provided by HDA.

Pruitt points out that one of their recent events, the Christmas Tree Lighting, brought in an estimated 1500 people to Main Street. However, bringing people specifically to downtown is not where the HDA calls it quits. Drawing people to an event is just one step, because it increases the likelihood that they stay in town and satisfy their needs here, whatever those needs might be.

Whether it’s managing the hang-

character and the sweetness of our town,” said Pruitt. “The way that we’re going to preserve our small town culture is to have an advocacy group that really is out there getting people to shop local, come to community events, and be a part of our downtown.”

LONE ROCK: funding shortage

continued from page 1

The school district wants to continue to ofer the same services to all students and be an employer of choice where they can retain employees.

Currently, the Lone Rock school district’s starting teacher salary ranks the lowest in the state of Montana at $27,185.

“With the current infation of nearly 8% we need to be able to recruit and retain teachers to continue to ofer the same programming into the future,” states the release. “As a result, a portion of the additional funding will go toward increasing teacher salaries to become more competitive with other area schools in the Bitterroot Valley. Increases in maintenance costs have been realized over the last three years to ensure that the physical plant is safe for students, he said. A portion of the additional funding will be used to help update textbooks, supplies, and curriculum materials for students, and

Report from the Senate

access to educational technology.

“We have ofered a wonderful education to area students since 1885 and we continue to ofer families a small school atmosphere with dedicated employees that want the best for each student. The additional funding will bring the Lone Rock School back to being a competitive school district ofering students the very best education.”

The election will be a mail ballot election and will be mailed out at the end of April with an election day of Tuesday May 2, 2023.

The School District will have the following dates available to ask questions about the upcoming mill levy in the Middle School Library from 6 to 7 p.m.: February 7th, February 16th, February 28th, March 14th, March 28th, April 13th, April 25th.

It’s

Ensuring transparency and accountability in state government

In an efort to increase accountability and oversight of state government agencies’ operations and spending, Senator Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, introduced Senate Bill 73. SB 73 was requested by the Legislative Audit Committee, which I am the vice chair and presumptive chair of, to ensure that auditors can access the information they need to fulfill their constitutional oversight role.

Looking

The right to audit exists in both federal and state law so that lawmakers and the public know taxpayer money is accounted for and laws are being efectively implemented. Unlike many other states that have robust laws enforcing the rights of their auditors to access records, Montana currently lacks an enforcement mechanism to ensure auditors get the information they need.

to elected and appointed ofcials for ofcial misconduct in cases where audit access is refused or obstructed.

SB 73 also adds confidentiality provisions to protect the integrity of the audit process.

by Jason Ellsworth

Montana’s legislative auditors have reported increasing attempts by state agencies to question, delay, or undermine auditors’ access to information. These issues have occurred under various administrations and agencies over a period of several years. It’s been a bipartisan problem and a bipartisan concern at the legislature.

SB 73 would strengthen the Legislative Auditor’s ability to access information, records, and data in state agencies by creating an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance from government agencies. The bill would apply criminal penalties

Auditing the other branches of government is a constitutional responsibility of the Legislature. Blocking or delaying auditors’ access to information goes against the public’s interest, good government, and the state constitution. This is not a new issue and it’s not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is about independent oversight and accountability of state government for the people of Montana.

The Legislative Audit Committee is an integral part of healthy governance, and that’s why SB 73 is so important. Guaranteeing that information being provided is not only accurate, but also complete, is critical for a well-informed legislature and public.

I’m a strong supporter of Senate Bill 73. No entity in the state of Montana does more to provide transparency and accountability in state government operations than the Legislative Audit Division. Auditors must be able to do their critical work in an efective and timely fashion, and that’s what SB 73 is all about.

Jason Ellsworth, a Republican, represents Senate District 43 in the Bitterroot Valley and is President of the Montana Senate.

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Guest Comment MHSA co-op rules must be fair to all

On December 19, 2022, 406 Sports reported the co-op between Drummond and Philipsburg was dissolved. For me and I’m sure several other Class C fans, this was very much appreciated. Flint Creek, as the coop is called, has been in the 8-man state championship game four times since the co-op was formed in 2014. The Titans were state champions in 2017, 2018, and 2020. Last year, they advanced to the quarter finals

before being eliminated.

As expected, there was a huge objection to this proposal to do away with this co-op, mainly coming from Drummond and Philipsburg. MHSA agreed to hold a hearing on the proposal on Saturday, January 14, at 8 am in Missoula. There were people from the Flint Creek Valley at the hearing but there were not any other schools represented. Were these other schools even invited?

by Jean Schurman

Of course there were people wanting to speak in favor of keeping the Flint Creek co-op. What wasn’t covered was how the other schools and programs felt about this. One comment I heard on the TV news regarding this was a gentleman from Philipsburg who said how tough it would be on the town to disband the co-op.

I agree that it would be tough for Philipsburg but that should not be an issue unless MHSA is willing to talk to other teams and schools who Flint Creek plays.

I was the sports editor for the Bitterroot Star for 24 years. As such, I attended a lot of football games. I am also a resident of Victor and have watched a lot of Victor football. My brothers played in the 1960s, my nephews in the 1990s, and my son from 1999 to 2002. During this time, the numbers were comparable between Drummond, Philipsburg, Victor, and other Class C schools.

I currently have two grandsons playing for Victor. The look of dejection on their faces when they see how many players Flint Creek has on their team is tough to see. Granted, Victor has not had the best record in the past few years but they are trying to rebuild. Watching a team with 17 or 18 players look over and see 28 or 30 players is tough. No one thought to ask about the impact of co-oping on these other teams and/or communities. My point is, if you (MHSA) take into account the views of a couple of communities, you need to look at all the communities in the districts.

Thank you to MHSA for instituting the policy that co-op teams will have to move up a classification for competition if their schools’ combined enrollment exceeds the maximum limit for the class they are in.

Now, if MHSA will look at Class B schools dropping down to 8-man, that would be great. If MHSA is going to hold co-ops accountable for their numbers, they need to not only look at B schools dropping down but, hold them (Class B schools) accountable for just that, their numbers. And also not let Class B schools drop down just because they’re not having a good couple years. It’s not the actual Class C schools’ fault that these Class B schools can’t compete at the level their numbers require them to be classified at.

There are some citizens as well as two local politicians, Wayne Rusk and Jason Ellsworth, who are proponents of the Convention of States as put forth by the organization Convention of States. There are then regular citizens who are frustrated by the lack of adherence to the Constitution by the U.S. Government and then there are those frustrated citizens that decided to research what the root cause is and look for a solution. If a COS is such a good deal why have they spent millions of dollars promoting it including donating lots of money to politicians here in MT including Rusk and Ellsworth? I would think COS would stand on its own and not need to buy support.

Some like to malign and criticize the John Birch Society (JBS) because they oppose the Convention of States. Years ago, long before there was a local chapter of JBS in the Bitterroot, my wife and I started to do research and came upon JBS and the platform

on which they stand: A non-partisan organization with the motto, “Less Government, More Responsibility, and - with God’s Help - a Better World” and “That Freedom Shall Not Perish.” Do your own research at JBS. org. You will find that JBS has grown and fourished since 1958 and got its start fighting communism in the U.S., and does so through education.

Some say JBS doesn’t ofer a solution to the out of control government.

I beg to difer in the fact that there is nothing wrong with the Constitution and it does not need changed/ amended to deal with the problem of out of control government. In fact, the Constitution is the Solution and contains ARTICLE VI and AMENDMENTs IX and X are the solution. And if you need an example look at Florida and Texas and what they have done to push back on the out of control U.S. Government. Montana needs to stand up also.

Our concern has to do with an actual Convention of States in that if you read ARTICLE V, nowhere does it have language or address the verbiage

touted by the COS organization about State Control and etc., not one word of it. ARTICLE V clearly states Congress will call the Convention and set the rules, not the States. I for one do not trust Congress in the current political atmosphere. Think about it…self proclaimed socialists like Bernie Sanders, AOC and rest of The Squad or how about Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader? We had a runaway Convention in 1787 where the delegates didn’t follow the rules set forth and generated a whole new Constitution replacing the Articles of Confederation. The outcome there was excellent, but one had to remember these men who wrote the new Constitution were God fearing men who had lived under the tyranny of English autocracy and had just fought a war for freedom and liberated a country. Or do you trust the 12 GOP Senators who voted for the 2.7 trillion dollar Omnibus Bill? Again, do you think we have many members of Congress that you trust with your future and your freedom? Remember they are the problem now! The solution is vote for legislators both Federal and local that will adhere and uphold the Constitution. Accountability is the solution…Accountability to the Constitution and the oath they took.

Tim & Patt Hancock Stevensville

Between head and soul

Western culture has a problem: it is dominated by the mind - and this has serious consequences. The mind with its logical thinking is a useful tool, which was only meant to help us to cope with our life. Nothing more. In some way, however, it has managed to rise to the position of “regent.” The mind with its thinking has come to dominate our lives, bringing with it a reduction of reality to logical relationships. But our intellect loudly proclaims this as “progress.” Because we listen to our mind and believe its whispers, we have acquired an emptiness that dampens the intense vibrations of life, creating depression that leaves the heart and soul cold with isolation. With its progressive thinking, the Western culture has distanced itself not only from God, but also from the human soul. We have forgotten the

soul because we have forgotten God.

The real God is beyond our comprehension, so we have reduced Him, packed Him into scriptures and into theological concepts. But what we have done to God, we have done to our soul. Because the purity of the soul is in opposite to pride and selfishness, we have also reduced it and dragged it down to the level of psyche. Thus, it has been robbed of its real quality: the capacity for feeling, warm-hearted and loving perception. In the meantime, we also call the psyche the soul, but it is not our real soul. We have unfortunately forgotten the actual soul because it was uncomfortable and beyond our limited mind. We make it so easy for ourselves: instead of developing ourselves, we reduce reality to a level that is bearable for us. Now we are stuck with our consciousness at this psychological level, leading to dissatisfaction, selfish desires, fears, emotional chaos, afective action and relationship problems.

Unfortunately, the mind is afraid of everything which goes beyond its smallness and limitations. Life, God, the Soul, true Love ... they go far beyond the mind. And because it cannot bear this, it tries instead to create a world according to human-scale. A world of feasibility, calculation, and technological progress. However, the artificial world that our minds have created is cold and devoid of feeling. This is real poverty, but we think this is progress!

But how do we get out of this highly developed dead end of progress? By bringing our focus back to the essence of life. For too long the focus was on what was important to us personally: prestige, money, and success. The focus was on feeding our ego! This has taken us away from our essence, and we have postponed the way back again and again until we had forgotten the essence of life. But what does the essence of life mean to you, the reader? Whatever it is, take care of it, nurture and listen to it and you will find a richness the mind of technology and logic cannot comprehend.

Erika Helene Etminan Hamilton

Flyfishing in the quietude of winter

Today there is fresh snow on the banks of the river, no ice along the edges to speak of, and a light covering of high overcast. I’m restless. Today would be a good day to take my fly rod for a walk.

There’s an ethereal wonderment in what Gordon Lightfoot calls “the quietude of winter” in a favorite song. And there’s no way to fully experience it except to get out into it, get to a place where the incessant background noise of civilization is muted by the stillness of fresh snow and motionless air.

by Chuck Stranahan

Fly fishing in winter give me an excuse, and once I’m doing it, a purpose for being there. If I’m simply enduring it I’ve missed the mark – being ready frees me to enjoy it.

Comfort and safety – gearing up If I go out I’ll layer up, wear fingerless mitts, a full-brimmed waxwear hat to ward off any sudden snow and to keep peripheral glare at a minimum, and my darkest pair of polarized and UV protected shades.

That latter item is important: your eyes take a double whammy when you’re surrounded by the perpetual glare of snow reflecting off an unshaded riverbank.

Sunscreen also goes on the checklist. On a cold day with no par

ticulate matter in the air, the double whammy of direct and reflected sunlight can give you an awful burn.

I’ll wear my studded wading boots instead of the felts; snow has a nasty way of compressing into ice on the bottom of a felt-soled boot.

Ice-on-ice is unbelievably slippery and downright dangerous footing.

I’ll take a water bottle and an insulated bottle of hot tea.

Hot tea in the bottle’s metal screw-off cup feels real nice between chilled fingers, and the warm liquid is pleasant against cold lips. Carbs, as a pocketful of dried fruit or trail mix and maybe some jerkey is a must, even on a short outing. I’ve learned to stay warm from the inside out.

And I’ll guzzle a lot of water before I hit a river trail. It’s deceptively easy to get dehydrated in the cold.

Tackle for winter

If you’re just getting started with winter flyfishing, bring whatever rod you have. I have a friend who fishes an eleven-foot three-weight nymphing rod; if there’s a choice, lean toward long and light.

Long, fine tippets are a must. I like to carry half-sizes from 5X down to 7X. Fine-tuning your tippet can give you your fly a quicker sink rate and natural movement. You can accentuate the free movement of that small underwater fly by tying it into a Duncan loop instead of using the standard clinch knot. Indicators? The rule of thumb

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for all nymphing, as far as I’m concerned, is to use no more than you need. I use Strike putty or a small pinch of New Zealand dyed wool or other fiber.

Where I need to get deep, the indicator comes off and a #8 stonefly nymph or weighted olive Wooly Bugger goes on, with the smaller fly about two feet behind the bigger one.

Basic winter flies

For flies I’ll tie up some winter midge nymph patterns on shortshanked #18 or #20 hooks. Basic

red, black, olive, and tan will get me by. If a fly has a seemingly large piece of hook extending back from the body, so be it. The trout don’t seem to care.

It’s hard to find flies like that on the market. I’ve tied custom orders for the diehards or those bold enough or curious enough to try it; it’s either that or tie your own. There simply isn’t the demand for them. Not that many people get serious about winter midge fishing. Too bad – they’re missing out.

You might see trout taking small dry flies. I bring three types of dries for that eventuality, all in #18 or #20: midges, blue-winged olives, and skinny (real skinny) black stoneflies.

Experienced winter midge fishers see the trout get persnickety about fly size. If you see them on something a wee bit tinier than what you’re offering, it can be exasperating. If you’re set to go with the next smaller fly, it can be exhilarating.

From there, fish the slow edges of the current and follow your instincts – and listen for the cries of geese as they echo off the snow. That, too is part of the quietude of fly fishing in winter.

*(Includes gas stipend if you live 25 or more miles from the facility)

The quietude of winter calls anglers to the river. Photo by Jan Stranahan.

Booked for the Season

“Gently Down This Dream: Notes on My Sudden Departure” by Hugh & Gayle Prather c.2023, New World Library $17.95 248 pages

These days, it seems, we’re all in the same boat.

We have little patience, too many irritations, no time but an overabundance of tasks that need doing. We must be in four places at one time –before lunch some days. Add an illness, a loss, any kind of big upheaval and you start to wonder how you’ll get through the minute after next. So let “Gently Down This Dream” by Hugh and Gayle Prather help you find a way to foat a little easier through the bad times.

Collaborators in life and in writing, Hugh and Gayle Prather created books together: He wrote first, she went next and fixed what was wrong. She had finished the manuscript on this book, “we laughed about the changes... and assumed that we would continue doing this for years to come. Hugh died the next day.”

How do you recover from something like that? Hugh Prather knew the secret.

Just because you are steer-

Birding Journal

ing “your boat gently down the stream,” he says, “doesn’t mean you... control the scenery.” What helps is to have peace, which “gives us a gentler attitude with which to deal with” problems. You can’t positive-think the “harsher aspects of life” away, but “if we seek the Divine,” it eventually helps feel like “a river of peace.”

Remember that you can do “almost anything” in a loving way and that blessing strangers silently, rather than getting annoyed at them, is an act of kindness. Don’t force cheerfulness; it only causes inner confict. Forget about controlling anyone; it will destroy “whatever peace you had.” Learn to enjoy the years and wisdom

you’ve accumulated. Leave behind the things that do not give you peace. Remember

that a church is a building that “should merely point the way.” Protect your peace and add it to as many situations as needed.

And finally, “walk in grandeur. Decide to be as large and whole and happy as you were created.” And remember that you are loved. Sound a little new-agey? It is, but your degree of that perception will depend on the spiritual journey you seek or the situation you’re trying to deal with. You may find it new-agey, but you might also feel that “Gently Down This Dream” is a Desiderada for today’s reader. The diference is in the attitude: this book is meant not for quick lessons, but for

‘Blue Bills’ – Montana’s Ruddy Ducks

As I sit at my desk on this rather balmy January day, I’m thinking of what bird to write about for your enjoyment. By the time my readers see this article published it will be February and waterfowl will begin to return north by midMarch as the ice retreats on lakes and ponds.

Some like the Northern Pintail actually come through Western and Southwestern Montana in numbers as early as mid-February, though I have seen a few in all of the winter months. Mallards are the same as the pintails with

some overwintering and large numbers by mid-February and early March. Others such as the Common Goldeneye remain in Western Montana all winter in fairly large numbers.

If the water is at all open at Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area, I will count upward to 300 individuals, whereas other duck species are only in single digits.

Crossword Puzzle

One of the latest waterfowl to move north are the Ruddy Ducks. I always look forward to seeing this waterfowl as they are unique in appearance. First of all, they are small, only weighing 1.2 pounds compared to the familiar Mallard which weighs in at 2.4 pounds. By the time males arrive in Montana, most are in breeding plumage. This is where the males show one of the more unique breeding plumages of all waterfowl. Their bodies are a bright chestnut, with a white cheek, black capped head and a rather obvious blue bill.

Many duck

hunters have nick-named this species “blue bills.” The only other breeding plumage blue-billed duck in America is the rather rare Masked Duck,

position, but if you watch long enough you will see it. In addition to hunters calling this “blue bill,” some call Ruddy Ducks “stif-tailed ducks.”

Females are rather drab brown, dirty white check with a black line through the cheek, dark cap and bill.

by Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC

a total and ongoing lifelong metamorphosis from troubled you to tranquil you.

Indeed, authors Gayle Prather and the late Hugh Prather write with sympathy about living in society today, with weird strangers, trafc snarls, rude coworkers, and pets gone wild. There’s humor in their words sometimes and constant, gentle reminders that backsliding is totally okay, that this is a process, not an instant demand.

That alone is instantly, powerfully comforting.

“Gently Down This Dream” may not change your 21st-century life immediately, but it’s worth keeping around to help get you through one day at a time. Tuck it in your briefcase, your car, or your desk and give yourself some smoother sailing.

found only in southeast Texas and southeast Florida.

The reason I think the Ruddy Duck is such an interesting species is that in

They are a species of “least concern” with 6,263 sightings here in Montana with the Natural Heritage Foundation’s data base. That’s not nearly as common as the Mallard with 43,816 sightings, but stable.

‘Bird Squawk’ by Gary Swant

goal for you would be to find 30 species. I hope you take the challenge; that’s how you learn the birds and get out into the field which is much better than mowing the lawn or cleaning the garage!

A final note. My book, “My Montana Birds” sold well over

the non-breeding plumage of September through February the bill is dark, and the chestnut body is drab brown, looking much like the female. The dark cap and white cheek is retained.

The other key field mark of this species is the up-turned tail. It is not always in this

There are 39 species of waterfowl that have been observed in Montana. This upcoming spring see how many you can find. Most can be seen fairly easily with only seven being rare and more difficult to find. Of those seven, three have been seen less than 20 times. A reasonable

the holidays. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, email me at birdmt@charter.net and request a copy. You can use VENMO or send a check for $39.95 to 800 St. Marys, Deer Lodge, MT 59722. Thanks for considering getting a copy, I know that you will enjoy it. I’ll even sign it! Thanks.

Female Ruddy Duck.

Male Ruddy Duck.

all of Montana, to help every individual achieve their unique potential,” said Bodnar. He praised McLean’s accomplishments in her first six months on the job, saying, “I don’t think we could have found a better more qualified leader. Someone who understands education, understands the state, who understands what it means to build a team and what it means to build a community. It’s an important time for Bitterroot College and I am very excited about what you have done and the trajectory that this institution is on.”

“When I first came here, we knew we had to get the message out that this college was still open for business and that was my first Op Ed… and we began the “Start here. Stay here” campaign and established a presence in every single high school.” In fact, they pursued every avenue available, even distributing thousands of fyers to local businesses.

“The eforts paid of,” said McLean. She noted that this spring’s enrollment numbers were a 20% increase over last fall’s.

“That is due to a lot of good messaging, hard work, blood and sweat from our faculty, and our students, who created a podcast about our faculty and staf,” said McLean. “Just good hard work telling the good story about the wrap-around services that we provide here and about how you can start here and stay here.”

“We live in a world that is changing rapidly,” said Bodnar. “Employer demands are changing rapidly. The skills that people need are changing rapidly. We have an aging workforce and a major talent crunch across the state. We have to adapt in terms of how we deliver education.

“The good news is that we now know there are ways to get a degree from Helena College without being in Helena, right? There are ways to get a degree from Montana Tech without being in Butte. There are ways to get a degree from the University of Montana without being in Missoula. And there are ways to get all that right here in the Bitterroot. That’s why I’m so excited about the ‘Start here! Stay here!’ motto. It’s exactly right.”

He said that the university’s goal “is for this campus to meet the unique needs of every student in the Bitterroot Valley.”

“We should see this as a portal,” he said. “It’s a portal to access everything, not just the University of Montana system which includes not only Missoula College and Montana Tech, and Montana Western, but the whole U.S. Why should a learner have to leave the Bitterroot to access the oferings of the University of Montana educational system?”

A couple of students at the roundtable expressed their appreciation of having access to a college right in town.

Lydia Lee, LPN, was one of four students in the LPN program at the college, part of a cohort of 16 students through Helena. She said two of the Bitterroot students graduated at the top of the class.

“We didn’t do that on our own,” said Lee. “It was made possible by the staf here and faculty members who would help us study, give us their time and go out of their way to help us reach those goals. And people like Meri [Administrative Associate Manager Meri Telin] who proctored our exams and answered ten million questions and helped communicate with Helena for us.”

“For many of us in the Bitterroot College who did the LPN program,” she said, “we are all moms. We all work. We all live here. It is not feasible for us to go anywhere else to do this program. This was just such a huge opportunity.”

She said she didn’t believe that it was possible but, when she went in to talk to the staf about it, they convinced her that she could.

“They helped me figure out how I could manage this and they helped me every step of the way,” said Lee. She said having a

local option for college had made a big impact not just on her life but on her kids and her husband. “My whole future is better.”

Christian Rodriguez was born and raised in Hamilton. She is also a mom and said, “It made it really nice to be able to come here to some place locally and not have to commute back and forth all the time to Missoula. It wouldn’t have been possible for me at the time that I started here.” She said that she didn’t know what to expect when she arrived, “but found the staf and the teachers here really care about their students. They want you to succeed.” Rodriguez graduated last month.

Bodnar said it was important to realize that the college was not here just to help students in high school get a head start or to participate in workforce development.

“You have lives, you have families, you have roots here in this valley,” said Bodnar. “You can’t just uproot for two years and go get a two-year degree. But to go purely online with no person to talk to, to help you through that? That doesn’t work for a lot of people. So why are those the only two options? Either abandon my family or work only by computer? There’s got to be a better way. That’s what the Bitterroot College is. A wrap-around service. A model of what the future of UM looks like.”

He said there was a long way to go, and it would take partnerships, and part of that was creating a University of Montana Bitterroot College Advisory Council to participate in the development of a plan to meet workforce needs.

One business that they have been working closely with on workforce development plans lately was represented by Dr. Marshall Bloom, Director of Administration at Rocky Mountain Laboratory.

Bloom said, “It’s been a terrific pleasure brainstorming with you and Ter-

ry Burkhouse and other members of your staf over the last six months about ways that we might be able to work together on projects and possibly bring some unique oferings to the Bitterroot College.”

Toby Wilson, who works with Bitterroot Health as Workforce Health Coordinator, said, “We’ve had a few meetings where we have looked at a few new avenues, arrangements, operations to try and give people opportunities. He said in his former position at Job Service, federal funds were used to send a lot of students to Bitterroot College for CDL, CNA and phlebotomy, “so I knew the value of the program and the value of the training that was here and available.”

Curtis Bunton, CDL instructor at the college for five years, said he had run over 100 students through the program with a 96% success rate. He said it was “because I slow down and take the time to get them through, where most schools just shove them through too fast. I have over-the-road driving just short of three million miles, so I bring a lot of my experience into my class and that is what they say after they get out of this class.”

Hamilton School District Superintendent Tom Korst said the district looked at its facilities and thought they were underutilized and worked with UM to bring Bitterroot College here. He said the school district made close to $500,000 worth of renovations and hopes to make more.

“It’s been a great partnership for lots of reasons,” said Korst. “We are always seeking out dual credit opportunities and workforce training programs and the college has always been super supportive of that. We are one of the biggest leaders in dual enrollment in the state.”

Paul Gladen, Director at Accelerate Montana UM’s economic development program as well as the workforce training program at the Missoula College, said they have some significant funding right now for the state’s workforce training programs and are now bringing those programs to the Bitterroot. Bodnar said the collaboration between Accelerate Montana and the Bitterroot College makes it “the economic development engine of this region.” He said that while many businesses are in desperate need of workers, you can’t just call out for a workforce, you have to build one.

“The world changes quickly and the idea that you are going to go to school ‘til you are 18 or 22 and then go get a job for 30 years and then get your watch and your pension upon retirement,” said Bodnar. “Those days only existed for a small sliver of the population, they don’t exist anymore. So, one of the things we are trying to do across the entire U of M system is to better serve learners at all stages of their lives and careers.”

McLean thanked everyone for being a part of the Bitterroot College story.

“I think the next chapter of the Bitterroot College story is about to be written and I think it’s going to be a very good one,” she said.

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar (r) was in the Bitterroot Valley last week to attend a roundtable discussion arranged by Interim Director of the UM Bitterroot College Angela McLean (l) to discuss the status of the college’s programs and future plans. Photo by Michael Howell.

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

Phone: (406) 363-9060

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

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MELVIN CHARLES MOOERS, Deceased. Case No.: DP-23-05

Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed Co-Personal Representatives 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 Alan K. Mooers and Donald K. Mooers, 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 10th day of January 2023.

/s/ Alan K. Mooers, Co-Personal Representative /s/ Donald K. Mooers, Co-Personal Representative BS 1-18, 1-25, 2-1-23.

Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County

In the Matter of the

Name Change of Patricia

Zaft Anderson, Patricia Zaft Anderson, Petitioner.

Cause No.: DV-23-21

Dept. 1

NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE

This is notice that Peti-

tioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Patricia Zaft Anderson to Patricia Joan Anderson. The hearing will be on March 2, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.

DATED this 19th day of January, 2023. Paige Trautwein Clerk of Court

BY: Catherine di Gleria Deputy Clerk of Court BS 1-25, 2-1, 2-8, 2-1523.

TANKO LAW OFFICE BRIAN C. TANKO, ESQ. Montana Bar No. 5194 392 - 1st Avenue East North Kalispell MT 59901 Tel: (406) 257-3711

Fax: (406) 257-3722

Email: btanko@tanko. law.com

Web: www.tankolaw. com

Attorney for the Estate MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DONALD J. D’HONDT, Deceased. Case No.: DP-22-65

HON. LINT District Court Judge NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the deceased 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 SYLVIA L. NOLASCO and FELIPE NOLASCO, the Co-Personal Represen-

tatives, certifed with return receipt requested, to ℅ Tanko Law Ofce, 392 - 1st Avenue E.N., Kalispell MT 59901, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 12th day of January 2023.

/s/ Sylvia L. Nolasco, Personal Representative /s/ Felipe Nolasco, Personal Representative BS 2-1, 2-8, 2-15-23.

NOTICE OF ERROR IN STEVENSVILLE’S PUBLIC NOTICE

The recently published Notice regarding the Town of Stevensville’s MOTION TO AMEND STATEMENT OF CLAIM 76H 214635-00 incorrectly stated that objections must be fled by March 6, 2022, the correct date is March 6, 2023. A corrected Notice is provided below.

Notice to Mainstem Bitterroot River and East Side Subbasin (76HA) – Bitterroot River Water Users

MOTION TO AMEND STATEMENT OF CLAIM (Pursuant to Section 852-233(6), MCA)

A Motion to Amend Statement of Claim 76H 214635-00 has been fled with the Montana Water Court by Claimant Town of Stevensville, seeking to amend the place of use for claim 76H 214635-00 to its projected service area encompassing the boundaries of its reasonably projected growth. Stevensville’s Motion to Amend requests an enlargement of its place of use based on projections of population growth through the year 2075. Stevensville does not seek any other modifcations to Claim 76H 214635-00. By fling this Motion, Claimant is asserting that this amendment is necessary to accurately refect the service area Claim 76H 214635-00 is entitled to.

The entirety of Claim-

ant’s Motion may be viewed on the Montana Water Court webpage at: https://courts. mt.gov/Courts/Water/Notices-Info/PublicNotices

OBJECTION DEAD-

LINE

Any response or objection to the Motion to Amend must be fled with the Montana Water Court, P.O. Box 1389, Bozeman, MT 59718, 1-406-586-4364, within 45 days of the date of the last newspaper publication of this notice, by March 6, 2023, in accordance with Section 85-2-233(6), MCA.

Please indicate “CASE 76HA-6002-A-2022” on any response, objection, or other correspondence related to this Motion to Amend BS 2-1, 2-8, 2-15-23.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Thursday, February 9, 2023, 6:00 pm

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the Stevensville

Town Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday February 9, 2023, at 6:00 pm during their regular scheduled meeting at Town Hall, 206 Buck Street, for the purpose of hearing public comment on the proposed Subdivision Regulations. Comments to be considered may be given orally at the hearing, submitted in writing via email to jenelle@townofstevesnville.com<mailto:jenelle@ townofstevesnville.com> or mail to Town Clerk, PO Box 30, Stevensville, MT 59870 before 5:00 pm February 9, 2023. Questions, comments or more information may be obtained by contacting the

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