Bitterroot Star - February 9, 2022

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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent

‘The Volume XXXVII, Number 30 29 XXXVII, Number 28 Volume XXXVII, Number

’ ! l a c o L Best at

www.bitterrootstar.com

Wednesday, February 2022 Wednesday, January 26, Wednesday, February 2,9,2022

Eagles in winterHumane Groundbreaking held Association for medical center Bitter Root

celebrates new shelter, 50th anniversary

speech, occupational and physical therapy services – including a therapy Bitterroot Health – plus imaging held a groundbreakby Michael Howell and cut the ribbonpool at last week’s and lab services. ceremony, said concerning the ing last Wednesday Bishop said “It An open house celebration was organization’s 50 years of service, for its new medical they hope to have held last week at the Bitter Root was started by a bunch of little old complex that will be Humane Association’s (BRHA) new ladies in 1972 and it’s still run by a the facility open built just north of animal shelter located on Fairgrounds bunch of little old ladies.” by spring of 2023, Stevensville at the Road in Hamilton. The event served a Kathie Butts, President theplan and thatof they corner of Kootenai double purpose. It included a ribbon Board, said, “This organization on continuinghas to Creek and in honor of the new cuttingRoad ceremony come such a long way since it was expand services. Hwy 93. including tours of the whole facility, started about 50 years ago. I feel a “We’re bringing the John Bishop, huge sense of responsibility to honor building, and anBitarray of food and care to the patients, terroot those who have come before us and ” drink inHealth honorCEO, of the organization’s said.be as we set make it as good as he it can 50ththat birthday. said Marcus Lois Hedgethe course for the next 50 years.” The private non-profi t organization Daly Hospital had McCormack saidpeth, thatchair the of the was first organized in 1972. In 1984, organization conducted a successful Countess Margarite Bessenyey, the hospital board, fundraising campaign to fund the new granddaughter of Marcus Daly, gave said this project construction but then the Covid-19 the BRHA land on Fairgrounds Road has been four years Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce Director Al Mitchell holds the group spell-bound as Bitpandemic hit and construction with a 99-year lease. Six years later, in the works, costs but ter Root Humane Association Board Member Sue McCormack prepares to cut the ribbon skyrocketed. As a result, the group in 1990, the Bessenyey estate deeded 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 the land to the organization where delays due to the Bitterroot Health building project in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The facility on the property that had housed the Sue McCormack, who serves on the current shelter is located. The See SHELTER, page pandemic. She said2 theat organization’s of directors will be built on land located the corner ofboard Kootenai Creek Road and Hwy 93 new building replaces an old building shelter since 1984. 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. Murphy. She led the is a critical access Halfway provide primary, care, urgent care and Hospital, which In recent years, they commissioners through rated the specialty have hospital, was recently have been taking steps to a lengthy fund#4byinfund by Victoria Howell me likeservices. a ton of Two physicians through fiscal by the national rataccounting that, to sum already been hired, along with a nurse nation for quality invest in all the commubricks.” it up, shows the county, ing agency, out of 351 similar facilities. year, county practitioner, and two more doctors Numerous Bald Eagles have been congregating in the Burnt area lately to feed onOverstreet carcasses. was Photos nities of Fork the Bitterroot, When it comes overall, doing very well by Michael Victoria Howell aresent being recruited. also be he said, with clinics in to Covid, Greg Howell. home from There willby by Victoria Howell

Surviving COVID

County budget on track Cowboy Ball

scheduled

budget looking good

on its tax collections and Overstreet has a the hospital with showing revenues over The Cowboy Ball at the 50% Ravalli County message for you: an oxygen tank. of projections in Fairgrounds will be held February 12th. Thiswhile is don’t fool around! He was home for most departments theMichael tenth annual event andexpenses the way have it’s shaping Overstreet, two or three days. by Howell only up, it’s going to be an event worthy oftoa23% jubilee an attorney in During that time, amounted of and former council member, the public at the next Halfway through celebration. projections due in large private practice in hismeeting oxygen level by Victoria Howell the budget year, the part jobyear’s vacancies Rod Freeman is the chair of to this appears to be continuing when the council considers Stevensville, was went down to 51, county’s performance have yetRodeo to be filled. event. Freeman is also thethat chair of the diagnosed with from a normal of his efforts to teach the new the appointment of two addiAt the second regular is looking pretty good, One big savings was in 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 according to Ravalli the budgeted funds which he’s been on for 12 years. A real estate for February of 2021. that 51 is brain government should run. He “We’ll do our job, ” said County CFO Klarryse the Bitterroot, county’s share Stevensville Town Council, on agent for 18 years here in the andin also He went through damage material.” was a frequent commenter Gibson January 27, town clerk Jenelle in the Army for 21 years, his organizational and 10 chemotherapy and But COVID-19 See COUNTY, page 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 questions from the public. ing me and helping the town, ” center, for filling in while town attorney Greg Overstreet accessible. catered dinner,” said Freeman. The University COVID-19.Berthoud asked taking Covid Crews also said that they said Overstreet. seriously enough. 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 provided by 4H members. very weakened,” said through the issues. Mayor Steve dinner. Gibson,Desserts council are members Cindy Brown and See page 2 Stacie Barker. Photo by Victoria Howell. “interesting comments” Greg Overstreet talks about his recentfrom brush with death dueSTEVI, to Overstreet. “Itformer hit Jim Crews, mayor See COWBOY BALL page 4 See SURVIVING, page 5 by Michael Howell Covid. Photo by Victoria Howell.

Hearts full love Stevi toofrevisit refinancing bonds

DUI Task Force, MAPS to partner on special video

Gold Butterfly project draws some objections

Spreading love horse rescue thriving Local draft

Last week the Ravalli County Commissioners approved adoption of a memorandum of understanding with the Ravalli County DUI Task Force and aspen and whitebark pine; the commissioners statedInstituteProtection letter National Forest 1987 Forest MAPS Media to produceAgency. a video The designed by Michael Howell help parents on their children’s behavcontains recommendations manage timber to provide that “RavallitoCounty objectskeep tabs Plan. ior. impacts to concerning the Draft SEIS for A new record of decision forest products and jobs; and to unmitigated The deadlineHowell closed on if it would by Victoria be possible The DUI Task Force approved of by Victoria Howell year, the facility tookButterfly. inthe justcreation under county owned/maintained the Gold Concernwas issued ononDecember 17, retain old growth status in all envelopes January 18, for filing objec- to put a Mischief$240,000 Room lastand Mayspent and the commissioners every penny. ing theinvolved scope ofthe thecreation analysis roads from signed heavy equipment 2021 accompanied treatment units. According to Dominic Farrenall the doors and then by a Draft off There on it. The project tions to theShinn, Draft SupplemenJasmin founder and are no paid employees; it’s an all-of kopf, activities director put valentine cards in a Forest Service press release and logging trucks, mostly, the letter quotes the BitterSEIS that provides a site-spea set of easily accessible items that had secret hiding tal Environmental Statement executive director of 1 Horsethem. Farrenkopf really volunteer organization. But Shinn said at Sapphire Lutheran compartments where someone could stash some root Forest Plan’s Forest-wide about 90% of the proposed but not limited to, theitimpacts cific forest plan amendment (Draft SEIS) for the Gold AtHomes A Time Horse costs about $200 per month feedwas inDraft Hamilton, isRescue liked the idea. He asked drugsRoad. or hide a small flask of whiskey. Thetoaim Management Wildlife Redefining old-growth stantreatment areas are within an to Willow Creek Due to Butterfly Project, a Bitterroot facility Corvallis, got a nice these “gentle giants.” Then there are askinginthe community students at schools to provide parents a learning opportunity to see the resource and financial limitasource Objective to “Maintain dards. Some objections to the area designated for insect and boost lastForest week when she veterinary training, and to send his residents athatwas and daycares to make National project various ways in whichbills, any therapy, young person can hide Last year lopes. sufficient habitat tions, Ravalli County woulduse newenvelopes decision and were received disease treatment because of the envelittle love this13,000 special presented with aValencheckacres for $7500 other associated costsold-growth to rehabilitate their substance from casual inspections. includes nearly so full they now tine’s Day. and non-comdecorate them for each onWhen suitable timberland to denseis pockets oflopes dead were and dynot be able to accommodate January 18 deadlineThe project from representatives of JCCS, anby the horses. they’re finally ready Glendathese Wiles, Director of the DUI Task Force, of commercial had to be emptied more really popular, and About four years resident. Then people said what she tells parents is, “If you don’t look, accounting fi rm with a branch for adoption, most can be driven or support viable populations ing trees. They claim the area the necessary maintenance mostly having to do with the mercial treatment could drop off valenthan once. growing every year. ago, a vegetative resident came then younor don’t If you don’t then you don’t located in Hamilton. Part of the logging of old growth, potenridden, some justsee, become “pasture thesee.and of old-growth dependent is impacted by mountain pine during the project, within a 55,000 acre area of to Farrenkopf to see tines to fill the enveSee VALENTINES, page 10 selection for awarding that gift tial impacts to wildlife and to pets.” See DUI, page after species.” The letter notes that10 beetle, Douglas-fir bark beetle, rehabilitation of the road forest in the Sapphire Mounwas online voting and according Willow Creek Road. 1 Horse At A Time was established the project is complete. Ravalli the Draft SEIS limits the scope 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 financial burden of the project quences analysis to vegetation, Although in general officials have stated that the withdrawn of vote 2020 was one of in theAugust top four horses. She’s always been a horse fan, RDO Equipment Co. to Ravalli County and believe the pileated woodpecker project is designed to improve agreement with the proposed after Friends of the Bitterroot getters. but she is especially passionate aboutand 8571 W. Road project, the Ravalli County it is contrary to current lawhorses. pine marten. forest resilience to natural draft SheRunning and her husband, a checkfor followed in the wake andThat Alliance the Wild “We realize these old growth Commissioners expressed and existing agreements. ” disturbances like fire, insects Missoula, MT 59808 military retiree, and their two children of a $25,000 gift claiming in November Rockies filed suit the species are listed in and disease; reduce sediconcern over impacts to Forest officials also received relocated toindicator Montana and bought a 20from Tractor Supply. 406-549-4171 agency failed to use the best acre farm which Shinn said can support That sounds like a lot of comments from Philip Strobel the Forest Plan, but it is not ment sources in the Willow county owned and maintained available science in managing Presenting a check for $7500 from JCCS to Jasmin Shinn (second from left) of 1 Horse At RDOequipment.com 20 horses. She currently money but, according to Shinn, Creek watershed; improve 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 In a At letter to the Forest first horse that was rescued by 1 Horse A Time. Photo by Victoria istrator Howell. of the Environmental

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