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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent
‘The XXXVII,Number Number29 28 Volume XXXVII,
’ ! l a c o L Best at
www.bitterrootstar.com
Wednesday, Wednesday, January February26, 2, 2022
Groundbreaking held Association for medical center Bitter Root Humane
celebrates new shelter, 50th anniversary
by Victoria Howell
Bitterroot Health held a groundbreakby Michael Howell ing last Wednesday openmedical house celebration was for An its new held last week at the complex that will be Bitter Root Humane Association’s (BRHA) new built just north of animal shelter located on Fairgrounds Stevensville at the Road in Hamilton. The event served a corner of Kootenai double purpose. It included a ribbon Creek Road and in honor of the new cutting ceremony Hwy 93. including tours of the whole facility, John Bishop, building, and anBitarray of food and terroot drink inHealth honorCEO, of the organization’s 50ththat birthday. said Marcus The privatehad non-profit organization Daly Hospital was first organized in 1972. In 1984, Countess Margarite Bessenyey, the granddaughter of Marcus Daly, gave the BRHA land on Fairgrounds Road with a 99-year lease. Six years later, in 1990, the Bessenyey estate deeded the land to the organization where the current shelter is located. The new building replaces an old building
speech, occupational and physical therapy services – including a therapy – plus imaging and cut the ribbonpool at last week’s and lab services. ceremony, said concerning the Bishop said “It organization’s 50 years of service, they hope to old have was started by a bunch of little ladies in 1972 and the it’s still run by facility opena bunch of little old ladies.” by spring of 2023, Kathie Butts, President theplan and thatof they Board, said, “This organization on continuinghas to come such a long way since it was expand services. started about 50 years ago. I feel a “We’re bringing the huge sense of responsibility to honor care to the patients, those who have come before us and ” said.be as we set make it as good as he it can Hedgethe course for the nextLois 50 years.” McCormack saidpeth, thatchair the of the organization conducted a successful hospital board, fundraising campaign to fund the new said this project construction but then the Covid-19 has been four years Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce Director Al Mitchell holds the group spell-bound as Bitpandemic hit and construction in the works, costs but ter Root Humane Association Board Member Sue McCormack prepares to cut the ribbon skyrocketed. As a result, the group John Bishop, pictured from left, leads a gathering people involved in the there were some celebrating the opening of the new animalfifth shelter in Hamilton. Photo by Michaelof Howell. had to take out a mortgage to finish delays due to the Bitterroot project in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The facility on the property that hadHealth housedbuilding the Sue McCormack, who serves on See SHELTER, page pandemic. She said2 shelter since 1984. theat organization’s of directors will be built on land located the corner ofboard Kootenai Creek Road and Hwy 93 their vision is that just north of the Stevensville Junction. the Stevensville facility will be more Darby, Victor and Corvallis, as well as been providing “quality, of a “medical center” rather than just a Hamilton. accessible, personalized clinic. She also said that Marcus Daly The new 12-acre campus will health care” for 90 years. provide primary, care, urgent care and Hospital, which is a critical access In recent years, they hospital, was recently rated #4 in the specialty have been taking steps to me likeservices. a ton of Two physicians have nation for quality by the national ratalready been hired, along with a nurse invest in all the commubricks.” ing agency, out of 351 similar facilities. practitioner, andwas two more doctors nities of the Bitterroot, Overstreet Victoria Howell aresent being recruited. also be he said, with clinics in home from There willby
Surviving COVID by Victoria Howell
Cowboy Ball scheduled
When it comes to Covid, Greg Overstreet has a the hospital with The Cowboy Ball at the Ravalli County message for you: an oxygen tank. Fairgrounds will be held February 12th. This is don’t fool around! He was home for the tenth annual event and the way it’s shaping Overstreet, two or three days. up, it’s going to be an event worthy of a jubilee an attorney in During that time, and former council member, the public at the next meeting celebration. private practice in his oxygen level by Victoria Howell Rod Freeman is the chair of this year’s appears to be continuing when the council considers Stevensville, was went down to 51, event. Freeman is also the chair of the Rodeo diagnosed with from a normal of his efforts to teach the new the appointment of two addiAt the second regular Committee, and the vice chair of the Fair Board, colon cancer in 99. “I jokingly say council and mayor how local tional council members. meeting of the two-member which he’s been on for 12 years. A real estate February of 2021. that 51 is brain “We’ll do our job,” said Stevensville Town Council, on government should run. He agent for 18 years here in the Bitterroot, and also He went through damage material.” Gibson January 27, town clerk Jenelle was a frequent commenter in the Army for 21 years, his organizational and chemotherapy and But COVID-19 Joan Mell, an attorney Berthoud told the council and at council meetings during fundraising skills, and discipline, have been put to in late August he was was no joke. “It the last administration. In from Hamilton, wasgot recaudience thatcancer she was having good use as chair of the Cowboy Ball committee. told that the so bad I felt public comment, Crews told ognized for stepping in I couldn’t Freeman said the committee hopes to raise trouble streaming the meethad been eradicated. like the council that those makto handle the prosecution $50,000 this year, for the expansion of the rodeo had She said breathe, like I ingsOverstreet on the internet. ing public comment should caseload of Town Attorney bucking chutes. “They’re just getting old,” he said. surgery on YouTube October chanwas being water the former “They need to be replaced. They’re getting banged address the mayor, not the Greg Overstreet while he was 23, 2021 for ostomy boarded, or what nel they had was no longer up. Bucking stock can be hard on metal.” removal, the fi nal I imagine water audience. He also said, “This hospitalized, and then recovworking but they had set up The 10th annual cowboy ball – which actually treatment in the boarding to be is not a question and answer” ering, from Covid-19. Mell a new Facebook page. Howstarted 11 years ago but couldn’t be held last year colon cancer journey. like,” recalls session. “It’s public comment.” did the work at no charge to ever, members of the public due to the pandemic – has been upgraded this The day after that Overstreet. “This The mayor had said previous- the town. “I just wanted to who had he tried to access the year. surgery, was is when I realized ly that he would be answering publicly thank Joan for help- The Town of Stevensville attorney Joan aMell, Facebook “This is therecognized first year we’ve ever done fully diagnosedpage withsaid it was not that I was not ing me and helping the town, ” questions from the public. center, for filling in while town attorney Greg Overstreet accessible. catered dinner,” said Freeman. The University COVID-19.Berthoud asked taking Covid said Overstreet. seriously enough. Crews also said that they Montanawith Catering provide the had Covid-19.ofPictured Mell Service are, l towill r, Overstreet, for“I patience as she worked was obviously should be prepared for some dinner. Desserts are provided by 4H members. very weakened,” said through the issues. Mayor Steve Gibson, council members Cindy Brown and See STEVI, page 2 “interesting comments” from Greg Overstreet talks about his recent brush with death due to Overstreet. “It hit Jim Crews, former mayor Stacie Barker. Photo by Victoria Howell. See COWBOY BALL page 4 See SURVIVING, page 5 Covid. Photo by Victoria Howell.
Stevi to revisit refinancing bonds
Gold Butterfly project draws some objections
Local draft horse rescue thriving
the commissioners stated Protection Agency. The letter National Forest 1987 Forest aspen and whitebark pine; contains recommendations that “Ravalli County objects Plan. manage timber to provide concerning the Draft SEIS for forest products and jobs; and to unmitigated impacts to A new record of decision The deadline closed on year, the facility tookButterfly. in just under by Victoria Howell county owned/maintained the Gold Concernretain old growth status in all was issued on December 17, January 18, for filing objec$240,000 and spent every penny. roads from heavy equipment ing the scope of the analysis 2021 accompanied by a Draft treatment units. According to tions to theShinn, Draft SupplemenThere are no paid employees; it’s an allJasmin founder and and logging trucks, mostly, the letter quotes the BitterSEIS that provides a site-spea Forest Service press release tal Environmental volunteer organization. But Shinn said executive director Statement of 1 Horse root Forest Plan’s Forest-wide but not limited to, theitimpacts about 90% of the proposed (Draft SEIS)Draft for the GoldRescue cific forest plan amendment costs about $200 per month to feed At A Time Horse Management Wildlife Retreatment areas are within an to Willow Creek Road. Due to defining old-growth stanButterfly a Bitterroot these “gentle giants.” Then there are facility inProject, Corvallis, got a nice resource and financial limitasource Objective to “Maintain area designated for insect and dards. Some objections to the veterinary bills, therapy, training, and boost lastForest week project when she National thatwas tions, Ravalli County other wouldassociated sufficient habitat disease treatment because of costsold-growth to rehabilitate presented with 13,000 a checkacres for $7500new decision were received includes nearly on suitable timberland to not be able to accommodate by the January 18 deadline dense pockets of dead and dythese horses. When they’re fi nally ready from representatives of JCCS, an of commercial and non-comfor adoption, most can be driven or accounting fi rm with a branch support viable populations ing trees. They claim the area the necessary maintenance mostly having to do with the mercial vegetative treatment ridden, some just become “pasture located in Hamilton. Part of the logging of old growth, potenold-growth dependent is impacted by mountain pine during the project, nor the and of within a 55,000 acre area of selection for awarding that gift tial impacts to wildlife and to pets.” beetle, Douglas-fir bark beetle, rehabilitation of the road after species.” The letter notes that forest in the Sapphire Mounwas online voting and according Willow Creek Road. 1 Horse At Time SEIS was established theA Draft limits the scope the project is complete. Ravalli dwarf mistletoe and western tains eastbranch of Corvallis. to JCCS manager, Andrea by Shinn in 2018. She’s originally from of its environmental consespruce budworm damage. County objects to shifting Bitterroot National Forest The original proposal Simmerman, 1 Horse At was A Time Germany where she grew up around Although in general financial burden of the project quences analysis to vegetation, officials have stated that the withdrawn of vote 2020 was one of in theAugust top four horses. She’s always been a horse fan, the pileated woodpecker project is designed to improve agreement with the proposed to Ravalli County and believe after Friends of the Bitterroot getters. but she is especially passionate aboutand pine marten. it is contrary to current law forest resilience to natural project, the Ravalli County checkfor followed in the wake draft horses. She and her husband, a andThat Alliance the Wild “We and realize these growth and existing agreements. ” Commissioners expressed of a $25,000 gift claiming in November military retiree, their twoold children Rockies filed suit the disturbances like fire, insects indicator species are listed in concern over impacts to Forest officials also received and disease; reduce sedifrom Tractor Supply. relocated to Montana and bought a 20agency failed to use the best That sounds like a lot of acre farm which Shinn said can support the Forest Plan, but it is not comments from Philip Strobel county owned and maintained ment sources in the Willow available science in managing Presenting a check for $7500 from JCCS to Jasmin Shinn (second from left) of 1 Horse At money but, according to Shinn, Creek watershed; improve 20 horses. She currently clear whether there are other DirectorJCCS of the NEPAabout Branch roads, Willow Creek A Time Draft Horse Rescue were, l to r: especially Levi Clark, CPA, Andrea Simmerman, Branch elk habitat and didn’t comtaking care of draft horses is Office of the Adminbull trout habitat; restore Manager, and Will Ramsey, CPA.Road. Also pictured is Tiny, the non-profit’s mascot andRegional the ply with the definition of old an expensive proposition. Last habitat including meadows, RESCUE, page 65 See See GOLD, page istrator of the Environmental In a letter to the Forest fi rst horse that was rescued by 1 Horse At A Time. Photo by Victoria Howell. growth found in the Bitterroot by Michael Howell