Bitterroot Star - February 8, 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.

Fly-tying: lifelong passion translates into art

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also picked up the modern styles that incorporate artifcially manufactured materials. He’s always trying new things, while holding immense respect for the old.

He has the same sustained enthusiasm for the history of fy fshing and fy tying as he does for tying the fies and actually catching the fsh, it seems. He is most proud of his signed copy of a frst edition of Ray Bergman’s book “Trout.” The book was frst published in 1938 with nine color plates of fies painted by Dr. Edgar Burke. The book was popular right out of the gate and that frst edition was reprinted 13 times. Then in 1952 the book was reset and printed from new plates. This second edition not only contained additional color plates, it also contained new chapters on fshing for trout with spinners. This edition was reprinted for the ffth time in 1965.

Korcala said that after retiring and moving to Montana, he had more time on his hands and began collecting bugs and learning all he could about hatches and began tying new patterns. Then about four years ago he came across the late Don Bastian’s website and all the beautiful wet fies he had tied based on Bergman’s plates.

“Learning about the wet fies, their origins, names, and the stories behind each pattern, I was quickly inspired and started to tie a few patterns from his website,” said Korcala. He found further inspiration in the work of John McCoy, who also tied winged wet patterns, and studied his work thoroughly.

“Then last winter I decided to tie the entire Ray Bergman collection of nine plates and 440 wet fies included in his book,” said Korcala. He completed that endeavor last spring.

“These fies are complex and take a lot of skills to master,” said Korcala. “Good materials are critical. I searched many shops and reached out to friends to fnd the right materials, textures and colors. Materials have gotten more sophisticated over the years and Solarez

Bone Dry Black is one such example. It made all the diference in the fnal fnish of the heads on the fies. Quality of the feathers is also critical. My wife and I have experimented with diferent threads, hooks, and found a few of our favorites. Tying, then trying the fies in our home waters.”

Another hurdle in tying Bergman’s fy patterns is that some of the materials used are not available at all today. Some of the feathers used, for instance, were from birds that are now illegal to use or they are extinct, like the famous Red Ibis. Mallard feathers can be used as a replacement for some colors by being dyed. Only portions of the quill can be used, but four or fve pairs of wings can usually be made out of one quill. Thread is also important. You need all colors and all textures. Korcala’s hobby room has large desks with drawers full of spools of thread of many textures including silk, foss and even metal wire, and feathers, feathers and more feathers. Then there’s the animal fur and hair, including deer and moose, etc. He gets some of his hackles from Charlie Cohen in New York.

According to Korcala, a lot of people have tried to make all 440 fies in the Bergman plates, but many fail to fnish. He knows one fellow who took fve years to complete the project. He knows another who quit but came back 10 years later to fnish the job when he had more time to put into it.

To say that Les Korcala is an avid fy fsherman and fy tier is a gross understatement. The successful completion of his latest project, to tie the 440 fies pictured in Ray Bergman’s classic book “Trout” in under six months, is testimony to the real extremity of his passion for the art. He is pictured here holding a signed frst edition of the book, published in 1938. The fies are displayed in nine frames decorating the wall of his fy-tying workshop in Stevensville. Photo by Michael Howell.

“You have to be really determined to do this because you have to keep going,” said Korcala. So, he set a goal last winter to tie three to six fies a day, tying four or fve times a week with only one day of. It took him about six months.

He now has a few tips to share with anyone contemplating such an undertaking, like, if you want all the frames to match, for instance, you’d better buy them all at once. It takes nine frames to hold the Bergman selection. He also uses all the same size hooks, a #8. He uses specially selected paper for backing that looks like parchment and selected an elegant style font. Everything in the frame must be balanced and evenly spaced. He does this by eye without measuring.

When he’s not tying fies, or reading about fy fshing, he really is out fshing. His wife Cheryl, who also ties and has her own work

desk in their hobby room, joins him on many fshing escapades. He and his wife fsh catch-and-release; “We put the fsh back,” he said.

Although they can fsh the Bitterroot River by walking out their back door, for most of the summer they fsh in the many streams that lace the watershed. Korcala said that he measures the temperature in the river regularly at varying depths and can confrm that the water is too warm during the deep summer with irrigation underway.

“We go and fsh the streams, until the water cools of in the fall,” he said.

Korcala’s passion for fshing and fy tying spills over into other aspects of his life where he turns the art of fy tying into fy-tying art. Literally. Sculpted trout swim across the lintel of their freplace. An artifcial fy the size of a golden eagle graces their living room wall. Sculpted trout also appear on the back of a bench designed with a compartment to hold fshing gear and provide a place to sit and put your waders on.

Les and Cheryl are very active in the community, donating time to watershed restoration projects and children’s fy tying classes as well as donating various art pieces, like the fy fshing bench, to the local Trout Unlimited auctions.

When Korcala gets tired of the tedium and eye strain involved in tying tiny fies, he turns to doing bigger things, like this one foot long replica of a winged wet fy circa 1900. Attached to a woven wire cable it might just catch a whale. Photo courtesy Les Korcala.

Annual climbing restrictions in Mill Creek Canyon

Even though spring doesn’t arrive until next month, the Stevensville Ranger District is reminding everyone of the annual climbing closure in the Mill Creek area north of Hamilton to allow for nesting of clif-dwelling raptors. Beginning February 1st, several climbing routes are closed each year to prevent disturbance to these known raptor nesting sites.

On the north side of Mill Creek, the spring raptor closure will be the same as last year and includes the “Pie for Strength” climbing area. The closure also includes clifs on the south side of the canyon due to the presence of additional nests.

Maps are posted at area trailheads and on the Bitterroot National Forest (BNF) website. Forest Service Wildlife Biologists plan to visit the area later this spring to determine the presence or absence of birds using the nests. If the nests are not

active, the restrictions will be lifted. The area is a popular destination for hikers, horseback riders, and

rock climbers. Forest ofcials want to remind climbers of their responsibility to regulate use and self-po -

lice their activities by following the “Leave No Trace” and “Pack it In, Pack it Out” principles. Copies of the “Leave No Trace Climbing” brochure are available at all BNF ofces and at trailhead bulletin boards. The area will be monitored for compliance.

The BNF is undertaking the development of a comprehensive Climbing Management Plan (CMP) with the purpose of promoting sustainable climbing activities into the future. The plan will seek to reduce conficts, minimize impacts to resource values, and protect the unique climbing attributes found on the forest. To learn more about the CMP or to view climbing tips and recommendations visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot. Click on Recreation and Climbing. For more information, contact the Stevensville Ranger District at (406) 777-5461. Stay in touch with us through www.facebook.com/DiscoverTheBitterroot.

Final Supplemental EIS released for Gold Butterfy Project

The Bitterroot National Forest released the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Gold Butterfy Project, a proposed vegetation management and fuels reduction project in the Sapphire Mountains east of Corvallis. The project is located on the Stevensville and Darby Ranger Districts between St. Clair Creek to the south and Burnt Fork Creek to the north.

The FSEIS discusses the analysis for project-specifc Forest Plan amendments that align the management of old growth stands to the best available scientifc information. It also updates and clarifes information in the 2019 Gold Butterfy Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The Gold Butterfy Project is designed to:

• Improve forest resilience to natural disturbances like fre, insects, and

diseases

• Reduce chronic sediment sources in the Willow Creek watershed

• Improve water quality and bull trout habitat

• Restore or improve key habitat including meadows and aspen

• Manage timber to provide forest products, jobs, and income to local communities

• Promote resilience in old growth and retain old growth status in all treatment units

About 90% of proposed treatment acres are within an area designated for insect and disease treatment because of dense pockets of dead and dying trees. The area is impacted by mountain pine beetle, Douglas-fr bark beetle, dwarf mistletoe, and western spruce budworm. The proposed treatments include commercial timber harvest, non-commercial thinning,

Montana Junior Duck Stamp Call for Entries

Student Artists, Art Educators, Mentors: The 2023 Montana Junior Duck Stamp Contest is receiving entries now up until March 24, 2023. Entries can be mailed or hand delivered to Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge at 4567 Wildfowl Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 (406 777-5552). The art image should be of a live, native North American waterfowl species that measures 9” x 12” in a horizontal layout. Artwork can be drawn using ink, paint, pastel, crayon, or pencil. Entries should not be matted, drawn with a border, signed, initialed or lettered, computer-generated, photographs, or copies or tracings of published art. Entries placing frst through honorable mention will be publicly acknowledged and will receive ribbons and awards.

The Junior Duck Stamp Contest is an active participatory art and science program designed to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school enrolled in private, public or home schools. The curriculum (www.fws.gov/juniorduck/) guides students

using wildlife observation principles to draw or paint a waterfowl species in appropriate habitat. Approximately 27,000 students from across the country enter

the contest annually. The Best of Show from Montana will compete in the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest in Washington, D.C.

and prescribed burning to improve forest health.

The Bitterroot Community Wildfre Protection Plan identifed most of the area as a ‘high priority’ for fuels reduction in the Wildland Urban Interface. More information about the Gold Butterfy Project, including the FSEIS is available online at https://www.fs.usda. gov/project/?project=51486 or at the Stevensville Ranger District and Bitterroot Forest Supervisor’s Ofce.

For additional information concerning the Gold Butterfy Project, contact Steve Brown,

Stevensville District Ranger at (406) 777-5461 or steve.brown2@usda.gov.

Looking for a new member of the family?

Call 363-5311 or visit our website at bitterroothumane.org

Tana is a 1/2

Blood Hound, 1/4

Anatolian, and 1/2

Great Pyrenees. She is an one year old escape artist,who is great with other dogs, cats and kids!

The Town of Stevensville has been working to improve both pedestrian and vehicular trafc safety on Main Street. Signs have been placed at crosswalks, along with yelow crossing fags for pedestrians to use when crossing. Additionally, the Town Council passed an ordinance prohibiting J-Turns along Main Street. A J-Turn is when a driver crosses the center line to park on the other side of street. Enforcement will begin next month to allow for an education and warning phase. There was already an ordinance in place that prohibits U-Turns at intersections along Main Streeet. Photo by Victoria Howell.

Schafer promoted

Congratulations to Ofcer Todd Schafer, of the Stevensville Police Department, who has been promoted to Sergeant. A promotion ceremony was held last week at Town Hall. He is pictured here with his family.

Food program gets boost

Have a Happy Turkey Day From Everyone

Coffee

Liz Cook, left, of A2Z Personnel presents a check for $2000 to Fran Schmitz, Director of the Stevi Food Program. The Stevi Food Program is currently handing out about 30 weekend meals as well as 30 breakfast/snack bags each week through the school district, Head Start and Bitterroot Valley Educational Cooperative. This is equal to about $400 a week or $1600 per month. Schmitz thanked A2Z and the community for the generous donation from the Parade of Trees Auction. She also thanked Project 59870 for helping to bring awareness forward about their eforts as well as the eforts of the Stevensville School District to fght food insecurities in our children. Monetary donations can be made at Farmers State Bank in Stevensville under Stevi Food Program and Fran Schmitz. Visit their Facebook page at Stevi Food Program or email Fran at franniela70@gmail.com if you would like to make a food donation.

500

House passes bills

We have now completed the frst month of the 68th Montana Legislative Session.

The House has passed a total of six bills that are connected to each other and have to do with the current surplus of funds. We worked together to come up with a plan to use the access funds and disburse it to beneft ALL Montanans. These bill numbers are HB 192, HB 212, HB 221, HB 222 HB 251 and HB 267.

HB 192 introduced by Bill Mercer provides for the distribution of surplus revenue to Montanans based on certain individual income liability. It allows for the transfer of $480 million from the General Fund to be distributed by December 31, 2023, to qualifed taxpayers who incurred individual income tax liability in Montana in 2021. It will be determined by the amount listed on line 20 of their tax return. The amount is up to $1,250 for an individual or $2,500 for married couples fling a joint return.

Cutting red tape

relevant tax year.

HB 251 introduced by Llew Jones is the “Debt Free in 2023” bill the Governor mentioned in his State of the State speech January 25th. This pays of approximately $125 million in Bonds. Any excess funds will be split 50-50 to the General Fund and Capital Development Fund.

by Michele Binkley

HB 212 introduced by Josh Kassmier increases the class eight business equipment exemption to 1 million. This exemption will help small business owners. In Ravalli County it will help 1,075 businesses, according to the Montana Department of Revenue. These businesses are farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and commercial establishments.

HB 221 Introduced by Tom Welch revises the tax rates applicable to net long-term capital gains. This sets longterm capital gains at 3% for low-income taxpayers and 4.1% for higher income taxpayers. This clarifcation brings Montana up to a more competitive arena compared with our neighboring states. It will make Montana more business friendly.

HB 222 introduced by Tom Welch provides for approximately 250 million in property tax rebates. This will amount to $500 or the amount of total property taxes paid whichever is less, for tax year 2022 and $500 or the amount of total property taxes paid, whichever is less, for tax year 2023. It is a rebate provided for Montana property taxes assessed to and paid by a taxpayer or taxpayers on property they owned and occupied as a principal residence during the

BRHA valentine special

Running Saturday, February 11th through Saturday, February 18th, our adoption fees for adult dogs & cats is being reduced with an approved adoption application; fees for adult dogs $100.00 and adult cats $50! These discounted fee prices also include our “Cat Buddy Program”, where you can adopt two adult cats for the price of one.

Community members age 55+ are eligible to adopt a senior pet, seven years of age or older, under our “Senior to Senior” Program with fees waived completely. All the adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipped and engraved ID tag!

If you’re ready for love, have room in your heart & home, now is the PURR-FECT time to adopt your new lifelong friend. We’re located at 262 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton with adoption hours Tuesday-Friday 1pm to 6pm, Saturday & Sunday noon to 5pm and Closed on Mondays. For more information call 406.363.5311 and check out all our BRHA guests at www.bitterroothumane.org

HB 267 introduced by Courtenay Sprunger known as the “SAFER” ACT (Securing Access to Federal Expenditures to Repair Montana Roads and Bridges). The purpose of this bill is to stabilize the impact to state funding sources necessary to leverage certain federal funds. It provides a state match for additional federal funds allocated to the department through federal redistribution and a match for discretionary grants awarded to the department. These funds will be used to repair Montana roads and bridges. These six bills were tied together in the Appropriations Committee by language that basically states they are to be passed together as one package. If one fails, each bill is diminished in funds. The House passed these bills on Thursday and are now headed to the Senate. Hopefully they are quickly passed along to the Governor for his signature. It has been the desire of the legislature to get these bills passed quickly so we can continue with the State’s business. It is important to all of us to work out a solution to return funds as best we can where all Montanans will beneft. I agreed with this plan and supported the amendments that tie them all together. There are many other bills working their way through both the House and the Senate dealing with tax reductions, tax exemptions, and additional return of excess revenue.

One of Governor Gianforte’s campaign promises was to reduce the burdensome regulations that have been restricting our state’s economy. The legislature is working with the Governor to tackle this problem in the form of red tape relief bills. These pro-business, pro-Montana bills run the gamut from reducing licensure restrictions to removing requirements to report where Montanans pick their huckleberries. In totality, the over 170 red tape relief bills create a package that will streamline government and help unleash the potential of our economy.

One example is House Bill 152 that would help with the occupational licensing process in Montana by reducing the number of license applications that state boards must approve. It would also standardize the language for nearly 200 diferent professions that require licensing in the state of Montana. This will speed up access to opportunity and job creation across a wide variety of careers that require professional licenses.

that Montanans take their huckleberries seriously, whether it’s keeping secret a prized patch or making sure that what claims to be made with huckleberries is in fact made with huckleberries. House Bill 94 would reduce red tape and protect this Montana tradition.

by Jason Ellsworth

Under Montana law people picking huckleberries are required to report where the patch they were picked from is, even though no one was doing that and there was no way of enforcing the law. HB 94 would do away with the reporting requirements as well as ensure that huckleberry products are in fact made with huckleberries.

Another red tape relief bill is House Bill 113. Hucksters are people who sell fruits and vegetables door to door. Currently, hucksters are required to get a $25 license from their county treasurer. Passing House Bill 113 would suspend the $25 license, allowing schoolchildren and others to operate without that unneeded hurdle.

One thing everyone knows is

These examples are merely meant to highlight the range and depth of the red tape relief bills; they are a small fraction of the bills being brought in an efort to reduce government’s intrusion into our everyday lives. We want to make it easier for people to work and live in Montana. We want people who are already coming to Montana to easily get to work, especially in a lot of the industries where we are severely understafed. Each red tape relief is relatively small by itself, but together, they add up to significant improvement in the business and entrepreneurial climate in our state.

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

Michele Binkley represents House District 85 in the Bitterroot Valley.

Tribute to Ron McCann

Ron McCann, a long-time resident of the Porter Hill Road area NE of Stevensville, recently passed away in Haddonfeld, NJ. He was 92 years old and had gone back to New Jersey to visit his family. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and graduated from B-29 Flight Engineering School at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was one of the largest aircrafts of WWII and was the plane that dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It replaced the B-17 Flying Fortress because it could carry a much larger payload more than 3,000 miles.

Following his service in the Air Force, Ron worked for Boeing and earned a couple of Master’s degrees before retiring in 1991 and moving to Montana. He didn’t retire completely when he settled in the Bitterroot Valley because he built his home on ffty acres of land just east of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. Ron maintained his interest in both aircraft and trains through the “Aeronuts” group he founded and the Bitterroot Valley Model Railroad (BVMRR)

club he joined after its inception in the late 80s. Ron did volunteer work at the County Clerk and Recorder’s ofce for 27 years, researching and compiling

records on county roads. His work makes determining the legal status of roads in the county much simpler. Ron also entered some 10 years of commissioner minutes into a database

Darby heritage group receives donation

On January 12 Laura Owings Smith, President of the Bitterroot Heritage Civic Group was presented with a $6000 check to be used for the upcoming mural in the Sacagawea Rest park on Main Street in Darby. The check was presented by Laura Lindenlaub of The Power of Change and Melissa Greenwood manager of Communication for Ravalli Electric Co-op. The money will be carefully used by the civic group. BHCG has been generous donations from the community has been work-

ing on the park since 2017. Jane Azzerello will be the lead artist on the mural. Jane is an outstanding artist and has been researching content for the project as well as gathering information in connection with making a artwork a piece that will be enjoyed by all. Our little park is a project we are proud of, it has been placed on the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation and rack cards as a place to stop while going through our community. Support for town businesses

is very important to us and that support doesn’t happen if visitors don’t stop. Our community has a rich history and needs to be be on our forefront.

BHCG encourages people to become new members. Some of our members are native and some have chosen to make their home in the valley. Our meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at 6:15 at the Darby Public Library. Those of you interested in the in the community’s history are encouraged to join.

where they are now readily accessible.

In his many years of service on the county planning board, he made time to visit the sites of proposed subdivisions so he would have a better understanding of each proposal. Ron was always fair and objective in his votes while on the board. He demonstrated the same work ethic during his tenure on the Stevensville Airport Board.

He and his wife Myrna shared a collection of model trains, planes and art work that is truly museum worthy. In particular, WWII aircrafts featuring the Curtis P-40 Warhawk (Flying Tiger). Ron enjoyed displaying and sharing classic videos of the aircraft with his Aeronut buddies.

Ron and Myrna McCann were true additions to Montana and they will be best remembered for their duty to God and country while living here. Those of us lucky enough to have known them honor their memory.

Contributors to this piece include: Jim Hamilton, Kirk Thompson, Dick Sublett, Regina Plettenberg and Ron’s family in New Jersey.

Volunteers sought for Winter Special Olympics

Volunteers are needed for the 40th Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics, set to return on March 7 and 8, at Lost Trail Powder Mountain. Over 100 athletes are expected, according to Randy Hodgson, director of Bitterroot Special Olympics.

“It ‘takes a village’ to put on the games,” Hodgson said. “We are looking for volunteers to help. Skiing experience is not required, in fact, leave your skis at home. There are all kinds of ways to volunteer from helping athletes put on their snowshoes, cheering on athletes on the hill, to taking pictures and assisting in the lodge.”

“The event has grown from a few dozen athletes 40 years ago to our event today,” said Hodgson. “The games have been on hold for a couple of years, like a lot of events, but the athletes and our committee are thrilled to be back.”

To volunteer, contact Carla at 406-363-3028.

paymentsof$13.89per$1,000fnanced.Someexceptionsapply.Termssubjecttochange.Ofersexpire06/30/2023.Tismaterialisfordescriptivepurposesonly.Kubotadisclaimsallrepresentationsandwarranties,expressorimplied,oranyliabilityfromtheuseofthismaterial.Formore information,seeDealerorgotoKubotaUSA.com.Example:0%Down,0%A.P.R.fnancingforupto60monthsonpurchasesofselectnewKubotaBX238 $0Down,0%A.P.R.fnancingforupto36monthsorcustomerinstantrebatesof$500areavailableonpurchasesofnewKubotaRTV-XG850&RTV-1100CSeriesequipmentfromparticipatingdealer’sin-stockinventory.PromotionalrateavailabletoqualifedpurchasersthroughKubota CreditCorporation,U.S.A.subjecttocreditapproval.Example:36monthlypaymentsof$27.78per$1,000fnanced.$500rebateisnotavailablewith0%A.P.R.orotherpromotionalfnancing.Someexceptionsapply.Ofersexpire03/31/23.Termssubjecttochange.Tismaterialisfor descriptivepurposesonly.Kubotadisclaimsallrepresentationsandwarranties,expressorimplied,oranyliabilityfromtheuseofthismaterial.Forcompletewarrant,disclaimer,safety,incentiveoferandproductinformation,consultyourDealerorKubotaUSA.com.

Collage of Ron McCann’s many accomplishments.

game, the score tied 53-53, Hamilton’s do-it-all senior Eli Taylor drove the length of the foor, went down the lane and hit a double pump, contested layup to win the game. Asher Magness led Hamilton with 12 points and 5 rebounds, Eli Taylor had 10 points and 2 steals, and Canaan Magness had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

On Thursday, they hosted East Helena. Hamilton jumped out to an early 11-2 lead and it looked like they were headed to a blowout victory, but East Helena rallied, and at halftime the score was 25-25. The game stayed close in the second half, and Hamilton prevailed 62-56. Hamilton’s Eli Taylor sank 6 straight free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Asher Magness led the way with 23 points,

Crossword Puzzle

4 rebounds and 4 assists, Eli Taylor had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, and Cole Dickemore added 9 points. The Hamilton girls hosted East Helena on Thursday and rolled to a 54-23 victory. Hamilton exploded in the 1st quarter, outscoring East Helena 30-6, and were up 43-12 at halftime. They took the foot of the gas in the second half for the win. Taryn Searle had a huge game with 24 points, followed by Ashlynn Mckern with 8 and Ayda Grifn with 7.

Then on Saturday, they traveled to Dillon to face top-ranked and undefeated Dillon. On January 14th Hamilton lost to Dillon by 4 points. Hamilton was down 19-25 at halftime, but couldn’t keep up with the high powered Dillon team in the second half and fell 45-64. Taryn Searle had a big night with 22 points, Emilee Searle followed with 9, and Ashlynn Mckern added 6 points.

Darby

The Darby boys traveled to Missoula on Tuesday, January 31st to take on Valley Christian. The Tigers roared out of the gate, taking a 19-3 lead after the 1st quarter, and leading 35-14 at halftime. It was more of the same in the 2nd half as they rolled to a symmetrical 63-36 victory. This was their 9th straight victory. Hooper Reed owned the paint and had 21 points, Will Martin had 12, and Stevan Gabric added 10.

On Friday, they traveled to Seeley and lost 53-54, ending their 9 game winning streak. Darby started slowly, trailing 16-32 at halftime. They made a valiant comeback in the second half but were unable to get over the top. Hooper Reed led the Darby with 17 points, followed by Stevan Gabric with 11, and Cullen Duggan with 9.

The Darby girls also played Valley Christian on Tuesday and they won, 44-36. The girls started slowly, trailing 15-19 at halftime. But they came out strong in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Valley Christian 17-6 to take the lead and earn the victory. Sierra Reed led the way with 12 points, followed by Kylie Schlapman with 10, and Makena Hawkinson and Georgia Fisher had 6 points each.

On Friday, they traveled to Seeley to face Class C’s No. 10 ranked team (406mtsports.com). The Darby girls fought hard but lost 37-49. They were down 10-27 at halftime but battled back, outscoring Seeley 27-22 in the second half. Kyleigh Flux led with 12 points, Lillian Boyd and Kylie Schlapman each had 8, and Madison Nelson added 6.

Victor

The Victor boys traveled to Drummond on Saturday and lost 28-42 in a low scoring afair. Landon Nuttall led the scoring with 13 points, followed by Russell Drewien with 8. The Victor girls also played Drummond and lost 4-59.

Corvallis

The Corvallis boys hosted a strong Frenchtown team on Thursday, February 2nd and lost 35-57. Then on Saturday, they hosted East Helena and won 67-43. In this game, Corvallis jumped out to a 18-7 1st quarter lead and kept the advantage the rest of the game, outscoring East Helena 16-6 in the 4th quarter to preserve the win. Aaron Powell led with 19 points, followed by Derek Criddle with 12, and Tyler Wies with 11.

The Corvallis girls traveled to face a tough Frenchtown squad on Thursday and lost 28-61. Ava Loren led with 6 points and Tylin Sorenson added 5 points. Then on Saturday, they went to East Helena and lost 28-37 in a low scoring, defensive afair. Ella Varner, Ava Loren, and Tylin Sorenson each scored 6 points.

Of McManus, winter midges and ice shelves

Here lately I’ve been advocating for fishing in winter. A few people do it, others seem uncertain, and still others think it’s a bad idea.

It depends in part on your comfort level, I suppose, and how dedicated you are to maintaining it. Patrick McManus writes in They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They? of a friend who called him during the dead of a freezing Idaho winter, saying he had this terrible urge to go fishing.

McManus’ responded, “Well, that’s easily cured,” I said. “Just go out in your backyard and stand in a bucket of ice water while your wife shovels snow down the back of your neck.”

by Chuck Stranahan

I suggested to my grandson Nehi that he could employ this strategy if his deep-seated fishing temptations got the best of him on a recent family trip to Minnesota.

“But I’m not married,” Nehi responded triumphantly.

I told him his older sister could do it. He knew she’d probably be more than willing, even if he had no urge to go fishing. Nehi declined.

The winter midge hatch and ice shelves

Winter midges are hatching now – soon to be followed by snowflies, or winter stoneflies. Both bugs are about a quarter-inch long, if that, and imitated on #18 flies or smaller. The best winter midge patterns are black, skinny, and have sparse gangly legs from just a wrap or two of oversized hackle.

If the fish are on them, you’ll need the right flies. Until they are, continue fishing the nymphs – a

#18 red Perdigon or Copper John will do.

And whatever you do when fishing these flies, stay off the ice shelves along the river.

Consider the wise words of the venerable and unwashed old woodsman, Rancid Crabtree, to the young Patrick McManus: “You know how to check for thin ice, boy?” he would ask me. “Wall, what you do is stick one foot way out ahead of you and stomp the ice real hard and listen for it make a cracklin’ sound. Thar now, did you hear how the ice cracked when Ah stomped it? Thet means it’s too thin to hold a man’s weight. Now pull me out hyar and we’ll run back to shore and see if we kin build a fahr b’fore Ah freezes to death!”

Better recommendation: Don’t go out on ice shelves.

They can be thin, as noted above, or slippery, and they can slope a bit toward the river. Not the place to lose your balance, do a pratfall, crack a bone on the hard ice as you hit it and know, as you slowly slide toward the edge, that this isn’t about to end well.

River currents flow under ice shelves and can well up in one place, usually close to a bank,

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making the ice thinner there than it is further out, where it might seem thick enough to stand on.

A true (McManus-like) story

That’s what a friend of mine discovered one winter day when he was fishing on the West Fork.

He’s Canadian, grew up playing hockey, and is used to ice. He could see where he was going, guessed the ice shelf to be about three inches thick, plenty thick enough for a man to stand on. He didn’t need to do the Rancid Crabtree stomp to

test it.

He tells me that he was out on this ice shelf, fishing away, and got this sensation that he was floating. Not what you want to discover.

He turned to check his bearings and found he was. The ice shelf had calved like a glacier and he was standing on an unattached ice raft headed downstream.

This had never happened to him, apparently, as a boy playing hockey in Canada.

On the West Fork you’re never that far away from the next riffle. What to do now? he thought, among other things. Fortunately, as he floated down toward the inevitable rough water, he came to a place where he could step off and wade ashore.

What to do to avoid such a predicament? Maybe it’s to choose your spots real carefully if you’re fishing in the winter, and resist the temptation to cheat a little bit to reach that promising water beyond the ice shelf.

And if you know yourself to be subject to such temptations, it’s probably safer to stay home, stand in a bucket of ice water, and have your wife or big sister shovel snow down the back of your neck.

This gangly-legged winter midge is less than ¼” long – Gerald Baron photo.

POSITION AVAILABLE:

Extension Agent, Ag, Natural Resources and 4-H/Youth Development, Fort Peck Reservation, Poplar, MT. Exciting job working as a feld faculty member of MSU Extension. Bachelor’s degree required. Full benefts. For complete information and to apply, visit msuextension.org, click on “careers.” Screening begins March 1, 2023. Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled.

THIS COULD BE THE DAY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK!!! THIS IS SERIOUS!!!

Since the world doesn’t know the exact time, it only makes sense that people get saved NOW. -- Mathew in the Bible, chapter 24 verse 42

If you’re serious and want to get saved, confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. Then you’re saved – this is the most important thing a person can do, especially now, when there is a sense that according to the Bible, the time when Jesus will be back is near. After you leave this earth, there is no changing your minds.

Just in case you don’t know, there are places called HEAVEN and HELL. And we all will go to one of those places. HEAVEN – will be “peace” forever, and never stops – doesn’t that sound wonderful? HELL – will be torment forever, and never stops; think about that. Hell is described as tormented souls, burning, weeping, wailing – without any hope whatsoever! The book of Revelation describes hell as a lake of fre burning with brimstone” -- Rev.19:20; 20;10 14-15; 21:8

Investment Property!

358 Hamilton Heights Road, Corvallis

Unique custom-built farmhouse. 3 bed /

MARILYN MONROE COLLECTION, 406-8213163.

FOR SALE - ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, FURNITURE, Western & Farmhouse Decor, at Attic Treasures, 239 N. 2nd Hamilton. 11 am. to 4 p.m. closed Sundays.

MINI-AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES. Born mid-September. Well socialized. Ready to go. 406-381-9429.

RAW GOAT MILK RESERVATIONS! Kidding season is just around the corner call me to get on my reservation list for 2023. Raw goat milk, goat cheese chevre & feta. Testing done. Located in Stevensville, 406-8805477.

CAUCASIAN MOUNTAIN SHEPHERD DOG PUPPIES. Purebred. Born 11/03. Three males and one female. Call or Text (406)210-4807

USE HAPPY JACK®

SEAL N HEAL® on dogs, cats & horses to close wounds with a bitter taste. Allow healing. At Tractor Supply® (www. feabeacon.com)

paid. Security and damage dep. req. No pets, no smokers. $1600.00 per month. 208-827-3101

STEVENSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is accepting applications for a Business Manager/Clerk for the 2023-24 school year. The Business Manager will lead and be responsible for all fnancial operations in the Stevensville Public Schools. This individual will maintain and develop procedures and systems to ensure successful fnancial operations. The Stevensville School District Business Manager will supervise a small staf to assist with accounting, accounts payable and receivable. The Business Manager will also serve as the district clerk and be the custodian of all school records. Wage depending on experience. For a full job description please contact the district ofce at 406-777-5481x137. Applications are available at www.stevensvilleschools. org. Position is open until flled.

HIRING WEATHERIZATION POSITIONS, PROGRAM MANAGER $20- $28 DOE and weatherization crew member at $18- $22/hour, full benefts. Full job description at Lewistown Job Service or https://www.hrdc6.org/jobs

qualifcations). The MSU College of Agriculture/ Montana Ag Experiment Station is seeking a highly motivated and experienced executive assistant. Will work with a great team of people in supporting and implementing essential initiatives and programs, oversee administrative operations, lead and/or support staf activities, and coordinate special events. MSU ofers an excellent beneft package!

For more information and how to apply visit https://jobs.montana.edu/ postings/34421

Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disable

SNOW SHOVELING AND SNOW PLOWING. 406-207-1793.

FREE high speed internet for those that

qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefts, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus ofer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-866-585-6456.

WANTED: OLD CLOTHES. Ladies and Men’s. Paying cash. 406 381-7186.

Wanted: Valmar and Gandy air seeders, implement mount style. Call Paul at 763-286-2037 with model and condition.

WANTED ISO: PROPERTY/ RANCH TO LEASE FOR HUNTING. Montana rancher/outftter of 30 years seeks small or large tracts of land for elk, mule deer, or upland bird hunting. Paying top prices. 406-795-8286 ofce, 406351-1810 text.

APT. FOR RENT. Fully furnished 1br. 1bath also double bed/couch. New appliances. All utilities

ASSISTANT TO THE VP, DEAN, AND DIRECTOR ($68,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and

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 Petitioner 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. NOLAS-

CO and FELIPE NOLASCO, the Co-Personal Representatives, 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 85-2233(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 Claimant’s Motion may be viewed on the Montana Water Court webpage at: https://courts.mt.gov/

Courts/Water/Notices-Info/ PublicNotices

OBJECTION DEADLINE

Any response or objection to the Motion to Amend must be fled with the Montana Water Court, P.O. Box 1389, Bozeman, MT 59718, 1-406586-4364, 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 Town Clerk at 406-77-5271 ext. 102. The drafted subdivision document can also be found by visiting our website on our community development page under supporting documents.

Attest: Jenelle S. Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 2/1, 2/8/23

John S. Masar

LionWood Law, PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870 (406) 625-2682 jmasar@lionwoodlaw.com

Attorney for Personal Representative

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: RITA LOUISE NEUSTROM, Deceased.

Probate No.: DP-23-09 Dept. No.: 1 HOWARD F. RECHT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed 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 STEVEN D. NEUSTROM, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o LionWood Law, PLLC, 115 W. 3rd Street, Suite 103, Stevensville, Montana 59870, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 30th day of January, 2023.

/s/ Steven D. Neustrom Personal Representative c/o LionWood Law, PLLC 115 W. 3rd St., Ste. 103 Stevensville, MT 59870 LionWood Law, PLLC

/s/ John S. Masar Attorney for Personal Representative BS 2-8, 2-15, 2-22-23.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

SALE Notice is hereby given to the people hereinafter named and to whom it may concern. For enforcement of liens in the amount of $850 and $930, Venture West Storage, LLC, located at 1008 Hwy 93 N. Victor, MT, 59875, will sell the contents of storage units E7 and E16 occupied by Raquel Murray (E7) and Melvin Vogt (E16), at auction to the highest bidder. Auction will be held at Venture West Storage, units E7 and E16, on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. BS 2-8-23.

MONTANA TWEN-

TY-FIRST JUDICIAL DIS-

TRICT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of Guardianship of Jack Donovan Powell, Bryan and Lisa Brizendine, Petitioners Case No. DG-23-07

NOTICE OF GUARDIANSHIP HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the guardianship hearing will be held on March 9, 2023 at 1:30 pm in Ravalli County District Court #2, 205 Bedford Street, Hamilton. Dated February 1st, 2023.

/s/ Jennifer B. Lint District Court Judge BS 2-8, 2-15, 2-22-23.

David T. Markette Dustin M. Chouinard 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 Petitioners

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY N RE: THE PETITION FOR INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION OF LANDS IN THE DALY DITCHES IRRIGATION DISTRICT IN RAVALLI COUNTY, MONTANA Heather Villarreal; and Henry L. Tintzman and Wendy J. Tintzman; and Henry L. Tintzman; and James F. Shaw, Jr. and Diane M. Shaw; and Mary P. Wetzsteon and Joseph W. Wetzsteon; and Bitterrooters LLC; and Leonardi Farms Inc; Petitioners Cause N. DV-82-95

Dept. No.

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that a public hearing has been set in the courtroom of the above-entitled Court at the Ravalli County Courthouse, Courtroom No. 2, 205 Bedford, Hamilton, Montana, Ravalli County, Montana, for the inclusion and exclusion of land in the Daly Ditches

Irrigation District, the 23rd day of March, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at which time and place all persons interested in the Petition of Heather Villarreal; Henry L. Tintzman and Wendy J. Tintzman; Henry L. Tintzman; James F. Shaw, Jr. and Diane M. Shaw; Mary P. Wetzsteon and Joseph W. Wetzsteon; Bitterrooters LLC; and Leonardi Farms Inc; to add and remove certain lands described in the Petition to the Daly Ditches Irrigation District in Ravalli County, Montana, may appear to be heard. Said Petition is on fle with the Clerk of District Court and is open to public inspection.

DATED: January 30, 2023 Paige Trautwein Clerk of Court By: Barbara Beavers Deputy Clerk BS 2-8, 2-15, 2-22-23.

LEGAL NOTICE

The Daly Ditches Irrigation District will be holding its regular meeting