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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!”
‘The B Volume XXXV, Number 34
Ready and willing
Established 1985 – Locally owned & independent
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Susan Wetzsteon, Volunteer By Jean Schurman
Ravalli County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert McGavran with his new K9 Deputy, “Rico.” Rico is an 18-month-old Malinois.
When it comes to volunteering, Susan Wetzsteon of Hamilton has one philosophy; why not me? She said she uses this as a guide and has used it for a long time. “Why not me? I have the time, the skills, and the desire to help,” she said recently. Wetzsteon was recently recognized by the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce as the Volunteer of the Year. She says her volunteerism has actually had a bit of a pattern once she started. Wetzsteon is the daughter of Betty and Duane Smith. Both of her parents were raised here in Hamilton and graduated from Hamilton High School. After graduation, Duane and Betty married and Duane joined the Navy. They spent the next 20 some years moving from San Diego to Alaska to New Orleans and back to Alaska. Along the way, Linda, Carol, and then Susan arrived. When Linda was entering high school, the family moved back to Hamilton. Wetzsteon said her mother was busy looking after three girls, working, and trying to keep the household together while Duane finished up his final tour of duty. Wetzsteon said she did the normal things in high school and really didn’t think she did much volunteering. Her mom had been involved with the Navy Wives while they were stationed in the various places but mainly Betty was involved with her girls,
Susan Wetzsteon was recently recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jean Schurman photo. Duane, and her parents, Mark and Gertrude Sorenson. After returning to civilian life, Duane did some volunteering with the VFW and with Springer Memorial Veteran’s Park up the East Fork. After graduation, Susan went on to study to become an operating room technician. She
and her new husband, Lonnie, moved to Seattle and she worked in a hospital there for a time. But Montana called and they wanted to raise their boys back in the great outdoors, so they moved back. Wetzsteon said this was See WETZSTEON, page 8
County K9 team now on duty Konen selected for Corvallis superintendent position
The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office recently welcomed Deputy Robert McGavran and new K9 Deputy Rico home from K9 training in Michigan. Ravalli County residents Bill and Katie Scholl’s generous donations funded the new K9 program. On February 21st, the Sheriff’s Department celebrated Deputy McGavran and Rico returning to work, and also Bill Scholl’s birthday in the Elections Room at the Ravalli County Courthouse.
Sheriff Steve Holton said, “We recognize that we need a K9 team in order to seriously address the dangerous drug crimes in Ravalli County. Bill (a firefighter) and Katie (a forensic nurse) certainly understand service to their community and have always been strong supporters of the Sheriff’s Office over the years. They have donated AEDs for patrol vehicles, participated in the Man Up Crusade to end domestic violence, and promoted public safety at every opportunity. We cannot
thank Bill and Katie enough for their work and financial support toward creating this K9 Program to include veterinary care for Rico.” Murdoch’s in Hamilton has also joined the team and has supplied Rico in dog food since he joined the Sheriff’s Office. Wild About Pets in Hamilton donated dishes, leashes, and other supplies. Sheriff Holton said the RCSO was “humbled”
ville.” It states that members of the Town Council are aware of possible infractions of the Town’s Code of Conduct by Michalson, including inappropriate contact with staff and department heads, representing the Town without express authority or permission to do so, and making personal comments about other members, their opinions and actions. They recognize the Council’s responsibility “to educate and, when necessary, discipline other Councilmembers who violate the Town’s Code of Conduct.” They claim Michalson failed to follow established process for requesting public records by disseminating a record containing information that may have put the Town’s Information Technology System at risk and that he may have committed the offense of forgery by submitting an agenda item to the Town Clerk containing the signature of Councilmember Dempsey Vick, however, the agenda item had been altered between the time that Councilmember Vick signed the document
and submittal to the clerk’s office. The resolution, if approved, states that it is in the Town’s best interest to suspend Michalson from the council for his unbecoming conduct and actions “without pay until further notice, effective immediately.” Council President Michalson said in a phone interview that the Councilmembers did not have the right to suspend him. “They cannot put it in a resolution and they definitely cannot suspend me,” said Michalson. “I am an elected official. You can quote me on this. I have yet to see an elected public official get sent home without pay.” He said the only way they could get rid of an elected official was to vote him out, through a recall election (although he claims this cannot be done by the council but only by a member of the public) or convene a tribunal, which Michalson said requires a real judge. Michalson said, “I don’t
See K9, page 2
Stevi council to consider suspending council president By Michael Howell
After sailing on rough waters for a long time, upset by allegations of bullying and harassment on the one hand and corrupt administration practices on the other, the Stevensville Town Council seemed to have hit some calmer waters this year. That may change at the next council meeting. Not only is the suspension of Council President Bob Michalson for unbecoming conduct on the agenda, another item will no doubt entail new allegations against the Mayor for signing a service agreement with an IT consulting firm for $2,500 a month without Council approval. The issues appear to be somewhat connected. A resolution to suspend Michalson was placed on the agenda by Councilmembers Dempsey Vick and Jaime Devlin. The resolution notes that Michalson has “a documented history of conduct that could be considered to poorly reflect on the Town Council and the Town of Stevens-
See STEVI, page 14
The Corvallis Board of Trustees voted unanimously to offer the position of District Superintendent to Jon Konen during a special board meeting held on March 3. Konen has accepted the position and will formally begin service to the School District and community on July 1, 2020. “We had five quality finalists to select from,” said Board Chair Becky Anderson. “During our formal interviews, each candidate demonstrated a commitment to public education and a willingness to lead our staff and students. But it was Jon’s passion for learning, enthusiasm for leadership, and energy for community engagement that made him stand out and truly impressed the trustees. After hearing from the community, teachers, administrators, and staff during our deliberations, the board knew that he was the right candidate to lead our district. We are excited to bring him to Corvallis.” Konen currently serves as Principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls. He previously served as K-12 Principal/ Athletic Director at the Power School District in Power and as a teacher at Somers School District in Somers. He holds a Master of Arts from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts from Montana State University. “I am elated to be chosen to lead this fabulous school district,” said Jon Konen. “There was evidence of a strong school culture when I walked the hallways of all three schools. Every leader I met was supportive, students were extraordinary, and the staff had students engaged and learning everywhere we toured! School culture and engagement are two principles I have prided my career
Jon Konen, Principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls, has accepted the Corvallis School District Superintendent position. He will take over on July 1. upon and I can’t wait to work and learn with everyone!” Konen received the 2019 No Kid Hungry National Breakfast Hero Award, the 2018 National Distinguished Principal Award, his school won the 2012 National Blue Ribbon School Award, and as a teacher in 2010 he won the Presidential Award in Math and Science. Along with other administrators, he was a leader in the successful $98 million building bond campaign in Great Falls in 2016. He has been president of both the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principal Association, and the School Administrators of Montana. He currently writes articles
for Teacher.org and the Kids Education Yes Organization. He has written three guides for educators on school culture and practice. He has also authored a children’s book entitled, “Benjamin’s Visit to Principal Reads’s Office, Again.” “The Board of Trustees appreciates the work of the staff and students who assisted in the interview process,” said Anderson. “Their help ensured the process went smoothly and all candidates felt welcomed. We are also grateful for all the parents, taxpayers, and employees who attended the meetings to meet the candidates, provide feedback, and watch the deliberations. It really reflected how strong our community is.”