Bitterroot Star - March 13, 2024

Shoe

MARCH 15TH

Wishing you the joy of the Easter promise. May the resurrection of Christ fill your heart with hope.

invite you to join us this Holy Week at St. Francis of Assisi, 411 S. 5th Street, Hamilton stfrancishamilton.org & St. Mary, 333 Charlos Street, Stevensville stmarystevi.com

• Palm Sunday of the Lord’s PassionMarch 24

Saturday Vigil at 5 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi

8:45 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary

• Holy Thursday - March 28

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

6:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi

• Good Friday of the Lord’s PassionMarch 29 Noon at St. Francis of Assisi 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary

• Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter - March 30 8:45 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi

• Easter Sunday - March 31

The Resurrection of the Lord 8:45 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary

Please Note: No Vigil mass at 5pm and NO Reconciliation on Holy Saturday.

Fly fishing film festival coming to Victor

The 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) is coming to Victor on Friday, March 15, featuring nine official selections.

The Victor screening of IF4 will be at the Mary Stuart Rogers Performing Arts Center at Victor School, 425 4th Ave Victor, MT, on Friday, March 15 at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at bitterrootwater. org/fishweek or at the Bitterroot Water Partnership office (162 S 2nd Street, Hamilton) and are priced at $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the event. Total running time of the film is one hour and forty-five minutes.

This screening of IF4 is hosted by the Bitterroot Water Partnership and all ticket and raffle sales support their conservation work, including habitat restoration and the annual Bitterroot River Clean Up. IF4 guests will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for multiple prizes, including a full day guided fishing trip on the Bitterroot River. The screening of IF4 of March 15 marks the end of Fish Week, a collection of fish-focused events across the

Valley. To view the full Fish Week schedule, and to purchase raffle or film tickets, visit bitterrootwater. org/fishweek.

Fish Week includes a trivia night and a featured expert panel and discussion on snowpack, precipitation patterns, and other factors affecting our waters like sediment and warming stream temperatures. You can RSVP for the Thursday 3/14 panel, Let’s Get Reel: Threats and Solutions for our Waters & Fisheries, at bitterrootwater.org/fishweek.

For more information on the film festival, featured films, dates and

locations, visit www.flyfilmfest.com/ victormt.

Among the official selections in the festival are Pinawaca, a jungle adventure, led by popular angler and guide, Jako Lucas, in search of legendary and oversized peacock bass; Vivid Dreams, a breathtaking film about a group of friends in search of oversized sea-run brown trout in rugged landscapes; Tunulik, a northern adventure to Nunavik in search of trophy brook trout, arctic char and Atlantic salmon; The Runaround, a high-energy film following a group of friends on an adventure

from Walker’s Cay to the famed everglades; Tension, a cinematic tale celebrating legacy, conservation and the American West; and A Ride with Clyde, an unforgettable, unconventional and memorable trip with salty friends into the Tennessee hills.

Others include Kendjam, a tale of Bolivian adventures and; The Golden Ride, an unforgettable fly-fishing trip centered around a community of friends as they travel south to Argentina in pursuit of aggressive Golden Dorado.

For information on the event contact rachel@bitterrootwater.org

“We received over 200 submis-

from 17 different schools, each one demonstrating how creative and artistic Montana youth are. I love seeing the innovative art created to help deliver an important fire prevention message,” said Kristin Mortenson, Community Preparedness & Fire Prevention Specialist for the Southwestern Land Office of the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) in Missoula where the entries from area schools were judged for the regional competition. “We are excited that we had a good turnout for this year’s contest and hope to see an increasing number of schools participate in the future.”

Each year, the DNRC and the Keep Montana Green Association (KMG) ask kindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers across the state to participate in the annual art contest, and KMG provides educators with a curriculum for teaching students about wildfire safety, prevention, and conservation. This year’s theme was “Go the extra mile, each time you burn a pile”—to address a top cause of human-caused wildfires in Montana.

“Using art to engage Montana’s next generation is an integral part of our fire prevention program,” said Julia Berkey, Keep Montana Green Association Executive Director. “Every year, the impressive artwork demonstrates how deeply students feel about our timber, rangelands, wildlife and communities while stressing the importance of preventing human-caused wildfires.”

The art entries are initially judged regionally where first, second, third, and honorable mention placings are decided. Those entries are then submitted to the state-level contest where winners receive cash prizes and statewide recognition. Special education and computer-generated divisions are judged only at the state level. Statewide winners will be announced mid-April on the Keep Montana Green website at www.keepmontanagreen. com.

The Montana DNRC Southwestern Land Office and KMG are pleased to announce the Southwestern Montana regional winners of the 63rd Annual Keep Montana Green Wildfire Prevention Art Contest:

Primary Division, Kindergarten-3rd grades:

1st – Hale Devins, 2nd Grade, Natasha Hartsoch (teacher), Seeley Lake Elementary, Seeley Lake

2nd – Reid Graveley, 3rd Grade, Alyssa Daniels (teacher), Helmville School, Helmville

3rd – Maya Mannix, 1st Grade, Alyssa Daniels (teacher), Helmville School, Helmville

Honorable Mention – Maya Chinikaylo, Kindergarten, Mrs. Koerner (teacher), Florence-Carlton Elementary, Florence

Honorable Mention – Oakley Timblin, 3rd Grade, Mrs. Wilson (teacher), Woodman School, Lolo

Intermediate Division, 4th-6th grades:

(teacher), Florence-Carlton Elementary, Florence

Junior Division, 7th-9th grades:

1st – Liam Wheeler, 9th Grade, Jeff Schultz (teacher), Superior High School, Superior

2nd – Avery Rajzler, 9th Grade, Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

3rd – Veronika Hulling, 9th Grade, Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

Honorable Mention –Ethan Ross, 9th Grade, Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

Senior Division, 10th-12th grades:

1st – Cody Bradford, 11th Grade,

Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

2nd – Selwyn Hackett, 12th Grade, Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

3rd – Sophia Hutchison, 10th Grade, Lori Lewis (teacher), Stevensville High School, Stevensville

Honorable Mention – Tyler Brett, 12th Grade, Lee McBride (teacher), Florence-Carlton High School, Florence

For more information on Keep Montana Green and the annual art contest, please visit https://www.keepmontanagreen.com/

1st – Amira Khayar, 6th Grade, Anika Melzer-Roush (teacher), Hellgate Elementary, Missoula

2nd – Melanie Collie, 6th Grade, Anika Melzer-Roush (teacher), Hellgate Elementary, Missoula

3rd – Asher Knight, 6th Grade, Angela Schowengerdt (teacher), Washington Middle School, Missoula

Honorable Mention – Mila Chinikaylo, 6th Grade, Mrs. Brett

money for art supplies.

According to Hafer, this gives the schools funding to allow students a chance to try different mediums, some of these possibly including expensive materials such as for sculpting.

There are several categories for participants to win in, and for each one, the first place winners will receive $500, second place winners will receive $300, third place winners will receive $150 and fourth place winners will receive $100. These categories include drawing, painting and sculpture.

There is also an opportunity to win best of show, earning $150, and the President’s Award for $200, where Lander and his wife, owners of the company, pick their favorite overall. The schools of winners will receive $500 for first place, $350 for second place, $250 for third place and $100 for fourth place.

When speaking about the award money, Hafer said that it is by design. According to Hafer, “It makes them feel that their art has worth.”

Participants are also required to write an artist’s statement, and

Hafer says there is a high level of expectation. The participants “need to be able to verbally articulate what their art is,” said Hafer.

At the award ceremony, to be held on April 11, top participants may be asked to speak about their work.

The contest has also teamed up with Explore the Arts, In Hamilton, and Culture Crawl. According to Hafer, Barbara Liss, with Explore the Arts, has helped the contest throughout the years in a big way. Sticking with those high expectations, Liss gathers judges from around the county, all of whom are artists with a great depth of art experience. This is essential, as the spirit of the contest is not only to get young people to pursue art, but to do so in a professional way while showing youth what it takes and that it is still within their reach. The judging can take a long time, stated Hafer, and the process can be very thorough. The winning pieces

will be displayed at Explore the Arts during the Culture Crawl event.

ATR will have an open house to show off and even possibly sell some of the other pieces that do not quite make first place. Participating youth can choose what price to sell the pieces at, sometimes giving outrageous figures for fun. Every year, ATR keeps and displays all the first place winners.

For Lander, the event has always been close to his heart, and he loves seeing the impressive things participants can come up with. “It’s exciting to see the creativity of the kids,” said Lander. The contest came from the ashes of 9/11. According to Lander, they decided they wanted to do something to recognize the sacrifices of the first responders that were there, at ground zero. The contest was called “Hope and Heroes” and drew youth participants from all over Texas to create art honoring the heroes of that catastrophic day for the nation. The contest was held within a year of the 9/11 event, and even took the winners to visit New York City, where it happened.

Since the company is a software designer that specializes in smart digital procedures systems, ATR donated software to the New York Fire Department. The software was then utilized in training responders. ATR works with companies all around the world, mostly oil, power and chemical companies. Their software is designed to work on a large scale, with lots of variables.

According to Lander, after Sept. 11, they saw the need in the fire department, and offered their services. Post-9/11, the fire department needed to update their training procedures, and was even on a hiring hold. The software allowed the department to become more efficient and to keep track of their over 25,000 responders throughout over 300 stations. According to Hafer, after 9/11 the departments had a “new awareness of the safety of those on the ground.”

For Hafer, who was once involved with the Ravalli County Museum, the art contest in the Bitterroot is “motivation to young people to get out of their comfort zones.” According to ATR’s executive assistant, Sue Jevning, “These young people have great talent and we can’t wait to showcase them.”

So far, the program has donated over $26,000 to young artists in the valley. For young people interested in participating, the entry deadline is March 29, and no late entries will be accepted. For more information, and a copy of the entry form, interested parties are encouraged to contact Hafer at tamar@tazenda.net. These forms can be mailed or hand delivered to ATR Inc., 248 W. Main Street, Hamilton MT 59840.

Following a slow start to winter, recent precipitation has been welcomed across Montana. “February kicked off with a region wide winter storm that brought one to two inches of precipitation to the region, and while there were a couple periods of warm and sunny weather, precipitation was relatively consistent last month,” said Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist. Precipitation totals for the month of February were as high as 150-200% of normal at various SNOTEL sites in Montana. Overall, basin wide precipitation ranged from about 110% of normal in Bitterroot and Lower Clark Fork to 170% in the Upper Missouri. The northern Bighorn Mountains were the exception, receiving slightly below normal precipitation last month.

“The good news is widespread precipitation brought an increase in snowpack percentages in all of Montana’s river basins from last month,” said Larson. The largest increase occurred in the Upper Clark Fork and Upper Missouri River basins which improved from about 40% to 70% of normal snowpack conditions. As

of March 1, snowpack percentages are about 65-75% of normal across the state. The Rocky Mountain Front snowpack has improved, but overall is the lowest percentage at about 50% of normal. The Bighorn River basin wide snowpack is about 90% of normal which is higher than the rest of the region because of the snowpack in the southern Absaroka and Wind River Range.

Other good news is that the first week of March has brought additional precipitation to the region. Several inches of snow water equivalent have accumulated at upper mountain elevations since March 1. “Monthly snowpack percentages are derived from a combination of data from automated SNOTEL sites and manually measured snow courses, and don’t reflect the most recent storm,” said Larson. The snowpack has continued to improve during the first days of March, but widespread snowpack deficits still exist. High elevation SNOTEL sites across Montana were still 10-12 inches of snow water equivalent behind normal on March 1. Recent precipitation has only begun to make a dent in the upper elevation snowpack deficit, but

lower mountain elevation conditions are starting to look better.

With one to two months remaining in the normal snowpack accumulation season, more snow is needed. The snowpack at most SNOTEL sites is only about 50-60% of normal peak seasonal levels, which ideally occur mid-April to mid-May. “March, April, and May can be a very active time of the year for winter weather in Montana, which is good because winter weather needs to continue for a couple more months,” said Larson. In 2014, 2017, and 2018, March and April brought more than normal snow accumulation. In 2015, 2020, and 2021, March and April brought less than normal snow accumulation. A normal amount of precipitation over the next couple months would be helpful, but above normal precipitation would be better. A return of the warm and sunny weather experienced earlier this winter would result in a well below normal snowpack when it matters most. Hopefully, the recent snowy weather is a sign of what is ahead.

Water supply forecasts are published in the March 1 Water Supply Outlook Report and provide an initial

outlook of what spring and summer snowmelt might entail this year. “The recently published forecasts trend with water year precipitation and the ensuing snowpack. Given both are currently below normal in most locations, so are most forecasts,” said Larson. April-July streamflows are forecasted to be about 60-80% of normal in Montana. However, forecasts are near to above normal in a couple pockets of the Pend Oreille, Kootenai, and Bighorn River basins where water year precipitation has been closer to normal. Forecasts published on April 1 and May 1 generally provide a better indication of what the upcoming season will bring. While a full recovery to 100% of normal snowpack would be welcomed, below normal snowpack conditions on May 1 could be supplemented by above normal spring and summer precipitation if snow deficits aren’t too large this spring.

A full report of conditions on March 1 can be found in the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report available on the Montana Snow Survey website. In addition, real-time snow survey data can be found at nrcs.usda. gov/montana/snow-survey.

Stevensville High School Mock Trial Team going to Helena

Stevensville High School is sending its first mock trial team to the state competition in Helena on March 15 -16th. Mock trial allows students to put on a full simulated legal trial. The competition is organized by the Montana State Bar Association. Eight teams from across the state will be competing, including Florence-Carlton High School.

The students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses. They give opening arguments, perform direct examination of witnesses and cross-examination, and give closing arguments.

“It’s a very real simulation of a trial,” said Greg Overstreet, one of the attorney coaches helping Stevensville High School civics teacher Wes Wells.

The students participating are: Gage Cook, Quinn Rahl, Malia Gunterman, Kam Jones, Sidney McCasland, Ignacio Gomez, Isaac Alford, Bryan

Strozyk, Dawsyn Brewer, Holly St. Germain, Nya Seibert. The timekeeper is Makenna Monroe and the courtroom artist is Brooklyn Moore. “These kids are fantastic,” said Will Ferguson, the other attorney coach. “They will be my competition in a few years.”

Mock trial allows students with different aptitudes and interests to compete in a school activity.

“Some of them want to be attorneys while others who are more interested in theater participate as witnesses. We even have a courtroom artist,” said Wells.

“I’m a huge proponent of traditional high school sports,” said Overstreet, who is the Stevensville High School football announcer. “But it’s great to see kids with different talents and interests competing in something other than sports.” Overstreet got the Stevensville mock trial team started.

At top, participating students from left to right; Sidney McCasland, Nya Seibert, Brooklyn Moore, Quinn Rahl, Malia Gunterman, Gage Cook, Kamryn Jones, Makenna Monroe. Greg Overstreet-Attorney Coach (back row, left) Wes Wells-Teacher Coach (Back row, right). From left to right: Nya Seibert, attorney for the plaintiff. delivers the opening argument for the plaintiff. Brooklyn Moore, courtroom artist, practicing courtroom artist sketches. Makenna Monroe, the timekeeper, keeps time for both plaintiff and defense teams as part of the scoring process. Photos courtesy Greg Overstreet.

Cheers to more good, local beers Soil health is critical

Montana beer is a unique industry. Local breweries are dedicated customers of Montana farmers, buying locally grown raw agricultural ingredients. They brew those ingredients into a wide array of delicious, value-added, made-in-Montana products that routinely win national awards.

Breweries have become community hubs for activities like live music and philanthropy. Many are now centerpieces of rural towns. A great example is Libby, where Cabinet Mountain Brewing is known as “Libby’s living room.” Some dedicate their entire brand and atmosphere to notable Montana history, such as Missoula’s Great Burn Brewing paying homage to the devastating fire of 1910 and wildland firefighters, or Sheriff Henry Plummer’s Outlaw Brew-

ing in Bozeman harkening back to the vigilante days. How many other industries can lay claim to be being homegrown, merging agriculture, manufacturing, art, and history, while also being some of the most well recognized local community gathering places, all at the same time?

by Jason Ellsworth

Add to that the fact that local breweries make flat out good beer and it’s no wonder that they produce 50 million pints a year, bring $500 million into Montana’s economy annually, and make us the third largest craft brewing market per capita in the nation. It’s great to see such a special and beloved industry celebrating after successes in the 2023 legislative session.

Republican Senator Terry Vermeire of Anaconda passed

the bipartisan Senate Bill 312 that makes it easier for different breweries to make and sell collaborative brews.

Republican Representative Ross Fitzgerald of Power passed House Bill 31, a bipartisan piece of legislation that created academic brewers licenses. Montana State University recently shared how they’re using their new academic license: it “allows researchers in MSU’s Barley, Malt and Brewing Quality Lab to brew small amounts of beer as part of their research, identifying beneficial traits in new barley lines and evaluating how different varieties perform at each stage of the pipeline from field to brewery.”

Preservation of Our Harvest Heritage

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“The

is a

shall forever be

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state and does not create a right to trespass on private property or dimunition of other private rights.” It received overwhelming and bipartisan support in both the legislature and on the ballot. As you can see, our harvest heritage is already constitutionally forever preserved. The referendum Mr. Davis references (HB372) which I and others opposed on constitutional grounds, would not have—and could not have—improved those rights.

But the biggest cause for celebration at breweries has been House Bill 305, passed by Republican Representative Ed Buttrey of Great Falls. It allows breweries to obtain more types of alcohol licenses, expanding their hours of operation. Matt Leow, the executive director of the Montana Brewers Association, called it a “huge leap forward” and the Ronan Cooperative Brewery went as far as throwing an official “New License Party” on March 1st.

Instead, they would have collided with property rights and the ability of FWP to effectively regulate hunting and fishing activity. Consequently, this proposed amendment has met with defeat three times in as many sessions, precisely because those rights are as airtight as a constitution can make them without diminishing the other rights it must protect. Nothing—absolutely nothing— was lost, or for that matter could have been gained in regard to these privileges.

As a lifelong sportsman and now a legislator, I keep a constant vigil over our rich sporting heritage and have passed it on to my children. These priceless pastimes could not be in better hands, and I will always be found fighting to protect them.

Rep. Wayne Rusk HD-88 Candidate for SD-44 1-406-370-8486

Paid for by Rusk for Legislature, PO. Box 531 Corvallis, Mt. 59828

We are members of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, an organization formed by a broad coalition of health professionals, working together to address climate change as a public health issue, due to the threats the climate crisis poses to the health and future of our communities.

As we move into spring and summer, maybe you’ll find yourself responsibly enjoying a Teddy Roosevelt American Badass IPA from Meadowlark Brewing in Sidney, a Swing Yer Tail Pale Ale from 2 Bassett Brewery in White Sulphur Springs, or a White Noise American Wheat from Überbrew in Billings. As you do, raise a pint in cheers to local agriculture, small businesses, Montana pride, and yes, even your local politicians serving in Helena, all of who have worked together to make Montana one of the best craft beer states in the nation.

Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, is the President of the Montana Senate

The food we eat is a significant contributor to chronic medical conditions, and even death in the US. Despite providing bountiful food, industrial agriculture also yields many products used for highly processed foods which are associated with increased risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and up to one third of all cancers. Our current food system contributes 33% of greenhouse gases, and causes air, water and soil degradation. Current policies and incentives make it difficult for our ranchers and farmers who want to use more sustainable methods. We are advocating for a transition to healthier agricultural methods and production of more wholesome foods.

Healthcare professionals are increasingly concerned about their patients’ mental health. Up to 85% of children are worried or very worried about climate change. For people in the agricultural sector, whether it’s concerns about the increasingly erratic weather, higher production costs, access to adequate water, or policies that favor big business rather than family farms and sustainable agriculture, healthcare professionals are recognizing worsening mental health among their patients working in agriculture and ranching.

Montana can be a leader in regenerative agriculture and ranching practices. Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined. With support and financial incentives for better agricultural practices, Montana soils can rebuild. By reducing herbicide and pesticide use, decreasing tillage and promoting crop diversity, regenerative farming methods can rebuild soil organic matter, and sequester carbon. Finally, regenerative practices result in more nutrient-dense foods that have higher levels of micronutrients beneficial for our

health. Regenerative ranching, with livestock grazing on living plants on sustainably managed pastures, also benefits the planet and our health. When animals are pastured, rather than being fed in feedlots, nutrients and microbes are returned to soils, sequestering carbon and improving soil health. Meat and dairy products from 100% grass-fed cattle are much higher in many nutrients including beneficial omega-3 fats.

Montana recently passed a resolution designating the first week of April as Montana Soil Health Week. This will raise awareness about how healthy soils can increase crop yields, strengthen food security, create greater climate resiliency, help restore the carbon debt, and improve nutrition. Let’s thank our organic and regenerative farmers and ranchers, and support them by buying their produce and helping where we can. Discuss and speak out for laws and policies that help farmers and ranchers transition to more restorative practices. Encourage our elected officials to learn about and make changes that improve human and environmental health.

Regardless of whether your concerns focus around your own or your family’s health, better incentives for sustainable agricultural practices, or climate change itself, we urge citizens to educate themselves and talk with friends, family and elected officials as we address these important issues together. Montana Soil Health Week indicates the growing awareness and positive change occurring in Montana.

As a society we are becoming more aware of the significance of clean air and water, rich soils, healthy foods, and the connection to human and planetary health. Dietary and agricultural transition along with human health and planetary health improvements can be accomplished in Montana if we work together.

Colette Kirchhoff, MD, FAAFP, Bozeman Robert Byron, M.D., Red Lodge Hillery Daily, ND, LAc, Hamilton

Calendar continued

Montanans for Life

Montanans for Life will hold their monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month at 6PM at More to Come Fellowship, 330 3rd Ave., Victor. For more information call (406) 407-1254.

A Course of Love study group

Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Center for Spiritual Life, Hamilton Call: 406-381-6480

Stevi Tax-Aide

AARP Tax-Aide will be offering free tax preparation services for low to moderate income taxpayers of all ages. Tax preparation is held at the Stevensville Senior Center on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The Senior Center WILL NOT schedule those appointments. Call 406-201-5734, leave your name and phone number, and a volunteer will call back to schedule your appointment.

Florence American Legion

Florence American Legion Post 134 is having a free pancake breakfast on the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Florence Rural Fire Hall.

North Valley Dems

Join the North Valley Democrats for “Politics and Pals” on Thursdays from 5 to about 7 p.m. at Fireside Pizza, 3885 North U.S. 93. This is due west of the Stevensville Super 1, on the southbound side of the highway. Meeting room is in the back of the restaurant. Check RavDems.com or find them on Facebook for info and or changes. The newsletter is at RavDems.com/newsletter.

Bitterroot Celtic Society

The Bitterroot Celtic Society meets every 3rd Thursday at 6 p.m. at BJ’s restaurant in Hamilton. The Bitterroot Celtic Society is a passionate group of volunteers, dedicated to keeping the Celtic culture, heritage, and history alive in the Bitterroot Valley. Their biggest event is the Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering, held every third weekend in August at the Historic Daly Mansion. They also host a Burns’ Night supper, St. Andrew’s, St. Patrick’s, and Tartan day events. The BCS is a non-profit organization. The public, new members, and the curious are always welcome to attend. For any time changes or additional committee meeting info, follow their Facebook page for updates.

NV Library events

Library Board Special Meeting –

Wednesday, Mar 13 at 3pm

Meetings are open to the public. Agendas are posted at northvalleylibrary.org/board-information before the event.

The Gothic Genre – Thursday, Mar 14 at 6pm

Explore the winding passages, castle towers, and trapdoors of the literary Gothic genre. Emerging in cultures around the world and morphing throughout its long history, the Gothic is like a many-armed creature from the deep, sprouting subgenres such as horror and offshoots like vampire tales. In this program, we’ll trace the history of literary Gothic, learn to spot its identifying characteristics, and develop a deeper appreciation for this fascinating and nuanced genre. The gothic genre has profoundly influenced the novel as we know it today and learning the language of the gothic helps deepen one’s understanding of other genres, from the detective tale to science fiction, to horror, and even romance.

Science Squad for Ages 8-12 –Wednesday, Mar 20 at 2:30pm

Explore the universe, both micro and macro, and learn the science mysteries behind the natural world. Expect fun activities with Legos®, paper planes, experiments, and more. Registration required.

Library Board Meeting – Wednesday, Mar 20 at 3pm

Meetings are open to the public. Agendas are posted on the Library’s website before the event. If you are a member of the public and are unable to attend the Board meetings, the Board would still like to hear from you. Please email the Director at denisea@ northvalleylibrary.org or you can email board members directly.

Emotional Literacy for Parents Webinar – Thursday, Mar 21 at 6pm

Discover the role of emotional intelligence and why it is crucial for children to learn early on in life. Gain insights into the purpose of emotions and learn how to decode emotional messages in both yourself and your child. During this workshop for parents of children of all ages, you will learn how to: Navigate challenging situations

using emotions as a guide, become an emotional coach for your child, practice cooperative parenting, and more.

Square dance lessons

Solo Starts winter square dancing lessons and dances will be held at the Lolo Community Center starting in January. Lessons are from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.; dances 7:45 to 9 p.m. on select Fridays. For cost, dates and information, contact Butch Suttey, 208-5030551 or Tim Casey, 406-218-8677.

Accordion Club

The Accordion Club will hold music jams at the Missoula Senior Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on the following dates:

February 11th and 25th

March 10th and 24th

April 14th

April 28th, Annual Meeting, 12-4

p.m. May 12th, Mother’s Day

Everyone is welcome. $6 fee at the door. Polka, swing, waltz and 2-step dances. Good dance music and fun for all. For more info, contact Helen Steele, 406-369-1839.

Selway-Pintler Wilderness

Back Country Horsemen

Do you love the rugged beauty of our Montana wilderness? Does preserving our wilderness trails and making new riding friends sound like fun? Or, would you like to learn how to pack? If so, you’re invited to attend the Thursday, March 14th SPWBCH general meeting at 6:00 pm; meeting will be held at the Bitterroot National Forest building located at 1801 N 1st St in Hamilton. Entry is in the rear of the building. There will be the usual “trail talk” and discussions on summer projects. Guests are always welcome. For additional information, contact Kathy Hundley at 406-363-8230. Visit our website at bchmt.org/spwbch or follow on Facebook.

Pachyderm Club

The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, March 15 at 12 noon at The Frontier Cafe, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be State Representative Michele Binkley, HD85. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.

Our Savior Lutheran events

Our Savior Lutheran Church and Preschool invite friends and neighbors to Lenten services to prepare for Good Friday and the joys of Easter through scripture readings, meditation, prayer and song.

Lenten services start on Thursday, February 15th. Lenten Matins services will meet every Thursday at 9 am. Lenten evening services at 7 pm, preceded by Soup and Whatever Suppers at 6:15. Join us, with or without food to share, to make church fellowship less complicated after work.

The Holy Week service schedule follows. Please note, no suppers are shared during this period. On both Good Friday and on Easter, each service is different.

Palm Sunday service —March 24 at 9 am.

Holy Wednesday—27th at 7 pm.

Maundy Thursday—28th at 7:30 pm. Good Friday—29th at 3 and 7:30 pm. Easter Vigil — Saturday the 30th at 7:30 pm.

Easter day services—7 am and 10 am, with breakfast in between services. Our Savior, affiliated with the Lutheran Church––Missouri Synod, is located at 184 Pine Hollow Road, south of Stevensville off the Eastside Highway. Call 406-777-5625 Monday through Thursday mornings for more information..

Wednesday, Mar. 13:

Baby and Toddler Storytime, meeting room, 10:30 a.m. Registration required. Join Annika for a story, finger plays, rhymes and songs. Ages 0-2.

The Tale Tellers, 3:30 to 5 p.m., meeting room. Registration required. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. Learn the art of crafting captivating narratives and expressing themselves with confidence. Ages 8+.

Trivia Night at Westslope Distillery, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Distillery in Hamilton.

Join the Bitterroot Public Library at Westslope Distillery for trivia night. Bring a team or drop in on your own. Participants compete by answering a challenging range of questions about most anything. Teams are limited to six participants each or receive a penalty per extra player.

Women Newcomers’

Club

Are you new to the Bitterroot Valley? Maybe you have been living in the valley for quite some time, but would like to meet new and interesting women. If so, the Bitterroot Women Newcomers’ Club is for you! You are welcome to attend the next meeting, March 14th, starting at 10 a.m., at the First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton. After a short meeting there will be a visit to Mountain View Meadow Dairy goats, 976 Cherry Orchard Loop in Hamilton, to bottle feed the new kids and take a tour of the facilities. Come and join this great group of women!

Bitterroot Audubon

Bitterroot Audubo’s March program will feature a presentation on the History of the Bitterroot Salish and the Ram’s Head Medicine Tree by Dean Sonneah Nicolai. Mr. Nicolai is currently department chair for the Tribal Historic Preservation Program in the Native American Studies Department at Salish Kootenai College. His research has focused on relation to indigenous research methodologies in cultural resource management and archaeology. Current collaborative projects include archaeological field research in Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and at Missouri Headwaters State Park. This presentation is scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m. on the Zoom platform. To attend you must register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/tZYlcuiopzwoHtKwJyrSledXA-B_eDePvTCi

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

RML Community Liaison

Group

The Rocky Mountain Laboratories Community Liaison Group (RML CLG) is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 18. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Golden Agers Club, 727 S. 5th St. in Hamilton. The public is invited to attend and participate in the meeting. There is no online option for attending.

The tentative agenda is:

• Recent developments in Q fever research, Dr. Carrie Long

• All Hazards Emergency Planning and Response, Roger Laferriere, RML Emergency Planner, and Erik Hoover, Ravalli County Office of Emergency Management

• RML project updates

• RML Master Plan

• RML Environmental Stewardship Committee

• RML happenings, Marshall Bloom

• Open for Q&A

The RML CLG includes representatives from local government, education, business, medical and emergency services, and community and civic groups. The RML CLG represents a long-term commitment to structured interactions with the community. The group began meeting in 2002.

RML is a component of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), based in Bethesda, MD. NIAID conducts and supports research-at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide-to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov

Easter egg sale

Don’t feel like helping the Easter Bunny this year? Victor FFA is here to help! Simply place your order by March 22nd and say goodbye to the stress of stuffing eggs! Cost is 30 eggs - $25; 50 eggs - $45; 70

eggs - $65; 100 eggs - $90. Easter gift baskets are $15. Easter eggs are a mix of chocolate, gummy and hard candy. Baskets are loaded with a chocolate bunny, Easter-themed stuffed animal, playdough, bubbles, coloring books, stampers and a pair of squishy toys. Pick up baskets at Victor School on Friday, March 29th between 5 and 7 p.m. Contact a Victor FFA member or call 406-531-2560 to place your order.

Driver safety course

Bitterroot Health Located at 1200

Westwood Drive, Hamilton, will host an ALL NEW AARP Driver Safety Program on Friday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 1

p.m. This new safe driving course is designed for drivers age 50 and over; all drivers are welcome. The new program features laws specific to Montana, Defensive Driving, Winter Driving and new Vehicle Technologies. There are no driving tests or written exams and, Montana mandates insurance discounts for qualified drivers. Issued Certificates are good for 3 years! Class fees are $20.00 for AARP members; $25.00, for non-members. Class size is limited; pre- registration is advised. For class sign up call Jones Korman Insurance at 406-363-6583. For further information call Thom Ainsworth, Instructor, at 369-0149.

Montana Junior Duck Stamp 2024 Student Artists, Art Educators, Mentors: The 2024 Montana Junior Duck Stamp Contest is receiving entries now up until March 22, 2024. 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 first 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.

Women Only Defensive Handguns class

For Women Only Introduction to Defensive Handguns class will be held March 23 and April 13 at the Whittecar Rifle Range on Blodgett View Road. This 2-day course is for women with little or no experience with handguns, who may be frightened of handguns or who are considering acquiring a handgun. The first day course is designed to assist you in choosing the right handgun – for you. It will also introduce you to the facilities of the Whittecar Range. There will be discussions on handgun safety, basic operation of revolvers, semi-automatic handguns, and the cartridges used in each type of handgun. The legal aspects of the use of force will be presented and discussed. Handguns will be provided so that you may handle the different types and models.

Ammunition will also be provided for a live fire session on the range.

A self defense book, specifically for women, will also be provided.

The second day course will teach basic defensive shooting using the students’ own equipment. Safe gun handling will be taught and stressed. Various types of ammunition and the performance of each type.

The class is limited to 10 participants. For an application or further information call Lee at 642-3590 or Jim at 360-8392.

Successful completion of this two day course meets the education requirements for application to the state for a concealed carry permit.

Trekker Kids programs

Travelers’ Rest State Park near Lolo began its annual Trekker Kids program series Saturday, March 9. The free, interactive programs are geared towards kids ages 4-10 and their families. The one-hour programs run every other Saturday through May 18 beginning at 11 a.m.: March 23: All about owls/dissect owl pellets

April 6: Fire in the pines/discover more about wildfire

April 20: Native games

May 4: Gift of the Bitterroot/flower art and Indigenous culture

May 18: Raptors of the Rockies/ meet real raptors

For more information, contact Travelers’ Rest State Park (6717 Hwy 12, Lolo) at 406-273–4253 or visit travelersrest.org under the events page.

Bitterroot Good Sam Club

The Bitterroot Good Sam Club was established in 1976 and club members continue to camp in Montana in Forest Service or private campgrounds during May through September months and enjoy potluck dinners at a local church during winter months. While camping in some of Montana’s beautiful campgrounds, the club enjoys hiking, fishing, playing golf, sightseeing, visiting local museums, delicious breakfasts and dinners in camp, games and interesting conversations around the campfire. The club is currently open to new members. If you would like more information about the club or to make a reservation to attend the March 26th potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m. at 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton, call Tony Rizzo at 406396-2755.

Corvallis Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The Corvallis Community Church will be holding their annual easter egg hunt Sat. March 30 at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the Corvallis Community Events Center, and participants are asked to meet in the football grandstands. For children 2-10 years old. Fore more infor, contact the church at (406) 961-3443.

Stevi police chief

‘meet and greet’

A get-together to welcome Chief John Boe, Stevensville’s new police chief, will be held Friday, April 5th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Stevensville Senior Center, 100 Mission Street. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Wally Smith, 702203-0859.

Calendar postings are free to non-profit groups. Submit by emailing to: editor@bitterrootstar. com

Sports

by Scott Sacry Sports Editor

Bitterroot Valley 20-point Club

The Bitterroot Valley always has an abundance of high level basketball players, and this year was no exception. The following is a list, compiled by the Bitterroot Star, highlighting performances by Bitterroot Valley athletes who scored 20 or more points in a game this season (apologies to any players who were missed).

Boys

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 31 points, Dec 8th, Ronan

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 31 points, Jan 27th, Butte Central

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 28 points, Jan 19th, Frenchtown

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 27 points, Jan 5th, Corvallis

Tyler Abbott, Florence, 26 points,

Dec 9th, Stillwater Christian

Ryan Hutchison, Corvallis, 25 points, Dec 8th, Browning

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 25 points, Feb 23, Columbia Falls (Divisionals)

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 25 points, Dec 5th, Columbia Falls

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 25 points, Jan 2nd, Polson

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 24 points, Dec 21st, Libby

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 22 points, Feb 24th, Butte Central (Divisionals)

Tyler Abbott, Florence, 22 points, Jan 2nd, Stevensville

Derrick Criddle, Corvallis, 22 points, Dec 9th, Polson

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 22

points, Feb 6th, Stevensville

Ryan Hutchison, Corvallis, 21 points, Dec 15th, East Helena

Tyler Jette, Hamilton, 21 points, Jan 2nd, Polson

Tyler Jette, Hamilton, 21 points, Feb 6th, Stevensville

Jordan Browning, Darby 21 points, Jan 20th, Florence

Leif Nelson, Darby, 21 points, Jan 25th, Victor

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 21 points, Feb 9th, Frenchtown

Tristan Koerner, Hamilton, 21 points, Mar 8th, Dillon (State)

Canaan Magness, Hamilton, 21 points, Mar 7th, Havre (State)

Tyler Abbott, Florence, 20 points, Dec 2nd, Thompson Falls

Cole Dickemore, Hamilton, 20

points, Dec 16th, East Helena

Girls

Maggie Schneiter, Florence, 26 points, Dec 9th, Stillwater Christian

Kenzy Pickering, Florence, 24 points, Feb 1st, Deer Lodge

Ashlynn McKern, Hamilton, 22 points, Dec 8th, Ronan

Ashlynn McKern, Hamilton, 21 points, Jan 2nd, Polson

Lavana Wetzel, Hamilton, 21 points, Jan 27th, Butte Central

Taylor McCarthy, Hamilton, 20 points, Feb 6th, Stevensville

Maggie Schneiter, Florence, 20 points, Feb 24th, St. Ignatius (Divisionals)

Ashlynn McKern, Hamilton, 20 points, Feb 23rd, Ronan (Divisionals)

Hamilton boys end season at State

The Hamilton boys season ended at the Class A State tournament in Butte on March 7-9. The Broncs started on a high note by beating Havre 60-55 in their opening round game. This sent them to the semifinal game on Friday where they were defeated 51-59 by eventual State Champion Dillon. This loss sent them to the loser-out bracket on Saturday morning where they were defeated by Columbia Falls 48-71.

Things just didn’t go Hamilton’s way at State: the ball bounced this way instead of that way, good shots didn’t fall, and their opponents seemingly got all the breaks. This is the frustrating beauty of sports, as anything can happen. The season didn’t end how the Broncs wanted, but, as a whole, it was an impressive season. They went 20-4, won their conference regular season title, and were the Western A Divisional champions.

Hamilton 60, Havre 55

In a contest of thoroughbreds, the Hamilton Broncs defeated the Havre Blue Ponies 60-55 in the first round of the Class A State tournament in Butte on Thursday. It was a roller coaster of a game. After an even start, Hamilton ended the 1st quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 17-9 first quarter lead, thanks in

part to solid inside play by Hamilton’s Tristan Koerner.

Hamilton extended their lead in the 2nd quarter, and after a Canaan Magness breakaway dunk, Hamilton led by 21 points, 32-13. Havre rallied late in the 2nd quarter, but Hamilton still led 34-24 at halftime, and they seemed to have the game under control.

But the game’s momentum changed after halftime and Havre scratched their way back into the game. Hamilton was outscored 13-20 in the third quarter and held a slim 47-44 point lead going into the final frame.

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Blue Ponies closed the gap, and with under three minutes to play in the game, Hamilton fell behind 54-55.

But as they have done all year, the Broncs responded and controlled the game down the stretch. Their defense had three straight steals and Magness, Koerner, and Jackson Jessop went a combined 6 of 6 from the free throw line to preserve the hard fought victory.

A key to Hamilton’s victory was rebounding. They out-rebounded Havre 35-21, limiting Havre’s second chances and creating their own.

For Hamilton, Canaan Magness led the way with 21 points and 5 rebounds, and went 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Tristan Koerner had one of his best games of the year with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 steals. Tyler Jette had 7 points and played solid defense. Jackson Jessop had 6 points and 7 rebounds, Francesco Baruffini had 5 points, and Cole Dickemore had 3 points and 2 steals.

Hamilton 51, Dillon 59

In the state semifinal game, Hamilton met conference rival Dillon. The teams split their regular season contests, but in this game, Hamilton was defeated by Dillon 51-59. The Broncs started slow, and fell behind 5-12 after one quarter and 1728 at halftime. Hamilton rebounded in the second half to narrow the gap, but could never get a run together to push them over the edge.

The Broncs had a hard time hitting their three pointers. In Hamilton’s Jan. 11th victory over Dillon, the Broncs were on fire from beyond the 3-point line, but in this game they only shot 3 of 15 from behind the arc.

Individually for Hamilton, Tristan Koerner had another strong game with 21 points (on 9 of 12 shooting) and 14

rebounds. Tyler Jette had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, Canaan Magness (who was mirrored by Beaver defenders all night) had 11 points. Cole Dickemore and Francesco Baruffini each added 3 points.

Hamilton 48, Columbia Falls 71

The Dillon loss sent them to a loser-out game on Saturday morning where they were defeated 48-71 by Columbia Falls, who would eventually finish 3rd at state. Hamilton narrowly defeated Columbia Falls in their previous two matchups by three total points, but this game would prove different.

The game can be summed up in shooting percentage. Columbia Falls was on fire and Hamilton shots were in and out. Columbia Falls shot an eye-popping 65% from the field (8 for 12 from the 3-point line) for the game and Hamilton shot 32% for the game. Hamilton fell behind 9-20 after the first quarter and was never able to get back into the game. They would make a run, but Columbia Falls would have the answer. For Hamilton, Canaan Magness and Tristan Koerner each had 13 points, Jackson Jessop had 11, Tyler Jette had 8, Francesco Baruffini had 2, and Cole Dickemore added 1.

Florence girls end season at State

The Florence girls ended their season at the Class B State tournament in Billings on March 7-9. In their opening round game the Lady Falcons lost to Malta 43-48 in a tough battle. Then Florence ran up against powerhouse and eventual 3rd place team Huntley Project on Friday and lost 25-72.

This was not the ending Florence was hoping for, but it was a great season nonetheless. This young group defied expectations by making it to State by finishing third in districts and divisions. The future looks bright for

Florence basketball.

Florence 43, Malta 48

The Lady Falcons played the North’s top seed Malta in the opening round on Thursday. In the first quarter Florence had some nervous moments and trailed 6-11. But they quickly settled down and made a game of it, trailing 18-19 at halftime. The girls fought hard in the second half, but were never able to get over the top and lost in a close game 43-48.

Emory Ralston had a great game

with 9 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals. Maggie Schneiter had 9 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Kenzy Pickering had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Taylor Pyette had 5 points and 4 steals. Kendyl Meinhold had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Olivia Coulter had 5 points, and Jaden Fisher had 4 points.

Florence 25, Huntley Project 71

Florence then played Huntley Project in a loser-out game on Friday and lost 25-71. The Lady Falcons had a

tough time sticking with the high powered Red Devils, as they fell behind early and couldn’t mount a comeback. Huntley was ranked near the top of Class B all year and ended up taking third at state.

For Florence, Emory Ralston had 7 points and 12 rebounds, Maggie Schneiter had 5 points, Kendyl Meinhol had 3 points, Olivia Coulter, Jaden Fisher, Heidi Lambson and Taylor Pyette each had 2 points, and Kenzy Pickering and Madigan Hurlburt each added 1 point.

From left to right: Hamilton’s Canaan Magness (#14) had multiple games over 20 points this season. He scored 31 points twice, once against Butte Central and once against Ronan. Photo by Scott Sacry. Florence’s Maggie Schneiter (#22) scored 26 points on Dec. 9th against Stillwater Christian. Photo by Scott Sacry. Corvallis’ Ryan Hutchison (#12) scored 25 points on Dec. 8th against Browning. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography. Florence’s Tyler Abbott (#1) scored 26 points on Dec 9th against Stillwater Christian. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography. Hamilton’s Ashlynn McKern (#12) scored 22 points on Dec. 8th against Ronan. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Booked for the season

“Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes”

by Jennifer L. Taitz, PsyD, ABPP c.2024, Workman Publishing $19.99 240 pages

You know what happens next week?

Of course you do. Just thinking about it now makes your palms sweat and your blood pressure soar. And then you get mad at yourself for feeling that way and you’re guilty for being angry and there you go. Next week has already moved into your home, so read “Stress Resets” by Jennifer L. Taitz, PsyD, ABPP, and eject that unwanted roommate.

Dread. That’s really the only word you know to describe that thing in your life that makes your brain go haywire. It starts there, with dread, and expands to obsession and worse. You hate that you do this and hating just makes things worse.

So what if you could stop?

Taitz says that we use “countless ways [to] undermine our ability to live better when we face stress.” Chewing your fingernails, overspending, yeah, we see you. It’s all part of a cycle that we can’t often escape but here, you’ll learn some “favorite skills” to help you cope when stress comes at you from all sides.

First of all, know that “stress is different from anxiety.” The former is what you feel when your emotional sense of balance is off; the latter is more long-term and “can also be a response to stress.”

Next, learn that stress is not your enemy, in fact, you can “make it work for you...”

Learn “distress tolerance” and find out how to “regulate your emotions” by understanding what’s at the core of your feelings. Learn to spot the “ARC” of your emotions to reframe your feelings as you go. Tame overthinking with a few easy steps.

When things get especially “intense,” says Taitz, plant your feet and be aware of what you’re thinking and feeling.

Make up a song about it, and do a few short exercises, or dance. Examine your

by Terry Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez, LLC

assumptions. Hold all calls but be willing to accept help.

Practice coping by giving yourself a set time and permission to worry and stress. Laugh, make your bed, notice good things, and find joy.

Does it seem like every single day of this modern world holds twice as many stressors as the day before? Yep, you’re not alone in that, but “Stress Resets” shows that there are many ways to endure and even thrive in such turmoil without the use of “substances.”

You’ll also be happy that author Jennifer L. Taitz doesn’t let you descend into any sort of pity-party. Her advice is sympathetic, yes, but it’s also no-nonsense, with no high-brow psycho-lingo. The steps inside this book are easy to understand, they’re not scary, and some of them are so simple that you can do them in less than three minutes. But don’t think this is all pop-science-culture stuff: readers wanting a little more depth will find that here, too.

This is the kind of book you’ll want to keep handy when everything starts to feel like it’s piling on too fast. Flip around, pick what works for you inside “Stress Resets,” try something else, and have a better week.

Obituaries

Mikel Doyle-Cummings

Mikel Doyle-Cummings, was welcomed home by her heavenly father, February 27th, 2024. She passed away in her home in Stevensville, MT with her loving husband Ray. Mikel was born on November 14th, 1950 in Saskatchewan, Canada to Patrick and Ethel Doyle. She was raised in Turner, Montana where she attended the local school and played sports and was a cheerleader. After high school, Mikel attended MSU and for three years she traveled in protest of the Vietnam War. Mikel moved to Seattle where she raised her three daughters. For 23 years Mikel worked for the VA Hospital. In 1994 she met her current husband Ray Cummings and were together for 27 years. Coffee and Pie led to their 20 years of marriage. Her passions included gardening, crocheting, knitting, puzzles and being active. Those

that knew and loved her would say that she was kind, loyal, sassy, loved by everyone, hard working, funny, caring, witty, and a fighter…but best of all she was our Mom. She is proceeded in death by her Mother and Father (Ethel and Patrick Doyle), Brother (Pat Doyle). And survived in death by her husband Ray Cummings; daughters Shay Masias, Nicky Razwick, and Richelle Kennedy; grand children, Hayley Camp, Jackson Razwick, Brandon Camp, Kole Razwick, and Bella Kennedy; sisters, Carol Malloy and Sandy Thompson; and extended family and friends. Celebration of Life in Seattle on Sunday the 28th. Location TBD and live feed will be available. The family suggests memorials go to: https://www.brothersmortuary.com/obituary/mikel-doyle-cummings

Sharon Ann Blue

Sharon Ann Blue, age 51, passed away peacefully in Conner, MT on March 6, 2024. After a courageous fight with Multiple System Atrophy, a rare form of Parkinson’s.

She was born March 22, 1972 in Dekalb, IL to Monarae and Myron Hetland. She had four siblings: Carolyn Carlson, Denise Johnson, Jim Hetland and Duane Whipple Jr.

She leaves three children, Shawnda Blue, Jordyn Avery and Decker Blue, their father Jimmie Blue and her four grandchildren, Kelsey Johnson, Grayson, Savannah and Rorie Avery. She also leaves her life partner and best friend, Jay Probst, of Corvallis MT.

She moved to Corvallis with her mother, Monarae, and step-father, Duane

Death Notices

Olan ‘Ray’ Reese

Whipple, as a young girl and received her education there, making life-long friends. While married to Jimmie Blue, their young family moved to the Lemhi Valley. Following their divorce, she continued to live on the Salmon River, working as a farm hand, store clerk and at the Credit Union in Salmon. She and Jimmie remained dear friends. She loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and floating rivers. She had a special love for donkeys and her yellow lab, Bill, followed by Gus. Those who know Sharon know her smile and infectious laugh and always wondered what the next shenanigans would be. If she called you a friend you were family. We shall miss her till we meet again.

A Celebration of life will follow later this summer on the Salmon River that she loved so much. Once you drink the water, it flows through your heart naturally. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

Darby - Olan “Ray” Reese, 79, of Darby passed away Thursday, March 7, 2024 at his home of natural causes. No formal services will be held.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.

It might as well be spring – almost

Remember that old Rodgers and Hammerstein tune? It Might As Well Be Spring, from the musical Oklahoma?

It feels like spring should be here but hasn’t arrived yet. It might as well be, and should be, but isn’t yet spring.

I remember Februarys in years past when Jan and I would take long walks on the banks of the river. Winter eased up to the point where it felt good to get out. Taking a fly rod on those walks would come next.

thermometer and use it. The mayfly hatches will start to come off in earnest at about fifty degrees. Until then there will be some stoneflies that make it out of the water at about 45 to 48 degrees, and wait until the sun-warmed rocks where they’re hiding reach the point where they decide to crawl out of their shucks and hatch.

by Chuck Stranahan

The past few days have been sunny enough. But instead of rising trout, there is snowmelt and a river full of chilly water. For this angler, spring will be a little late this year. Hmm… another song title; the rich and sultry voice of Sarah Vaughn caressing the lyrics of a ‘40’s musical number that became a jazz ballad and torch song.

That’s a good song to stay indoors with – and I’m doing a lot of that these days, waiting for the days to warm up just a bit more, coax me out of my comfortable rut and back outdoors.

Until then there’s plenty to do that will scratch the itch… sorta.

The low level snow comes and goes and the creeks drain some of the melt toward the rivers. For now all of our rivers are chilly. Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Rock Creek, Bitterroot, you name it – they’re getting close to being genuinely fishable for all but the diehards but still telling us, not yet.

Bugs don’t hatch in these conditions. The skwala stonefly nymphs that stage just below the waterline will be looking at a longer trudge to reach shore as the rivers play their Catch-22 game of rising and getting chillier as the warming days bring inevitable snowmelt to chill the water.

Here’s a hint: Buy a stream

The midges and tiny black stoneflies are already out. Finding them is an iffy proposition; you gear up for them, you might need them when least expected.

When things have leveled off for a couple of days, fishing a skwala nymph as part of a double nymph rig could be productive.

You can fish a skwala nymph in combination with a small foodform nymph. Rig up and fish slowly, cautiously, carefully. The trout won’t move very far to take food with abandon until the water warms up.

What if you’re waiting indoors for those inviting warmer days to arrive?

For me, it’s time for the annual spring tackle ritual.

A quick look through my vest a couple of weeks ago was nearly embarrassing. The pockets are loaded with junk I picked up at streamside, other people’s snack wrappers and cigarette butts, remnants of my own petrified trail mix, stale peanuts, and leader snippets. Time to throw out, clean up, and restock.

I’ll check the tippet spools first and make notes as to which leaders and fresh spools of tippet I need.

Next, I check the levels of my floatant bottles – I don’t want to start the season by getting caught short.

Fly boxes get checked for contents – for me, that chore turns into a pleasant afternoon. The flies trigger remembrances that cause me to linger and daydream.

When I snap back to reality, I

fsbmsla.com

Growing up among cattle and cotton, Chad’s

make note of what I’m missing, and make a vow to get busy behind the vise.

Reels get cleaned and lubed, fly lines get pulled off the reels into a plastic bucket, and then rewound on the reels through a cloth drenched in 303 – the same stuff guides use on their rafts and RVer’s use on their tires and awnings.

Rods get taken out of their cases,

joined, and waved around – with each one it’s a little like shaking hands with an old friend.

New sunglasses are on the list. New hat, maybe.

When the river’s in better shape, I’ll be ready. Until then, there’s the fly tying bench to share in the company of new and old friends. Not a bad way to spend a fisherman’s spring. (Isn’t that a book title?)

Most days are still chilly, but soon the river will beckon. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.

Governor visits veteran-owned Victor business

Last week Governor Greg Gianforte visited Double J Fencing, a veteran-owned business in Victor, to celebrate Invest in Veterans Week.

“Our state gets stronger every time a veteran moves or comes home to Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Our veterans know how to complete a mission, they know how to work as a team, and they’re ready to get to work. Veterans help drive our economy forward.”

Owned by U.S. Army veteran Jim Vargovich, Double

J Fencing is a fully-licensed, bonded, and insured fencing, iron work, and design company servicing the entire state of Montana.

Originally from Idaho, Vargovich was medically discharged from the Army and later attended Idaho State University where he received an associate degree in Diesel Mechanics and Power Generation before moving to Montana to pursue the fencing business full-time.

Touring the business, the governor heard more from Vargovich on his priorities to

support his fellow veterans through employment.

“We want to hire as many veterans as we can,” Vargovich said. “It’s important for veterans to come together and have that feeling of commonality when working together and getting back in their own communities again.”

Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita in the country and the governor says he is committed to tearing down barriers for veterans as they transition to civilian life.

After serving our country in uniform, many Montana veterans operate small businesses, farms, and ranches across the state, creating good-paying jobs, strengthening our economy, and expanding opportunities for Montanans.

Since taking ofce, the governor has taken several actions to support small business owners and veterans, including increasing the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $1 million, eliminating more than 5,000 businesses from

the business equipment tax rolls. The business equipment tax imposes a costly compliance burden, with businesses required to inventory and report their equipment to the state each year. Reducing the burden of the business equipment tax on Montanans encourages business investment and promotes job creation. Additionally, working alongside legislators, the governor also signed a bill this past session that exempts up to 50 percent of military retirement pay from state income tax.

Cassens Fine Art Presents “In Living Color”

Cassens Fine Art is thrilled to present “In Living Color,” an exhibition showcasing a new dimension in realist painter Bailey Burton’s art. Adding color into the backdrop of every stunning portrait of wildlife in this series for the frst time, Burton brings the likeness of animals big and small alive with every stroke of oil paint on the canvas.

“With this particular body of work, I decided to step out of my comfort zone a bit. Until now, I’ve been known for using black backgrounds with the main subject being the wildlife animal in my paintings. This is the frst time I’ve injected more color into my work, exploring diferent backgrounds,” says Burton.

Burton’s always been an artist. Growing up, she was always drawing and experimenting with paint as her most beloved hobby. But her career in art began to take of when she participated in her frst art show in August of 2021. Burton captivates viewers of her art with an

unmatched precision, dialing the detail down to every last hair and feather. First a fsheries and wildlife major, Burton sees her art as a platform to give back and contribute to a larger purpose. Her goal is to leave a lasting legacy that transcends traditional aesthetics, promoting a meaningful impact on the world of art and conservation.

“I’m really excited about sharing this collection because I’ve never been this passionate or more immersed in a body of work before,” shares Burton. “My main focus is on the conservation side. I aim to contribute as much as I can, giving my art a purpose beyond just a painting. If I can give back to wildlife and continue the full circle from my initial aspirations [as someone who holds a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife], that would be incredible. I want to seize any opportunity to contribute in that way.”

Read more in this exclusive conversation between Burton and Cassens Fine Art

SAPPHIRE:

Continued from page 1

that information,” wrote McMahon.

With respect to the notion that there is no signifcant impact from exempt wells, McMahon states, “Implicit in this conclusion is the assumption that it is impossible for a compliant exempt well to impact water availability. Despite no analysis of what dozens of more wells would do to the aquifer, Confederate Gulch, or Canyon Ferry, the report nevertheless makes the superfcial conclusion that exempt wells, as long as they are individually below the gallons per minute and acre feet limits, cannot impact on area water resources.”

McMahon found that the environmental assessment was defcient in numerous ways, particularly the repeated failure to assess impacts to nearby landowners and water. The barest minimum of information is disclosed about nearby surface waters and basically nothing is disclosed about the aquifer which would supply the project. No mention is made of the health of these waters, despite them being ofcially classifed by the

here. The public is invited to view this collection April 5th, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cassens Fine Art, located at 215 West Main St. Hamilton, Montana 59840. This is a unique opportunity to meet Burton, view her exceptional works, and discover a newfound appreciation for wildlife and the individuality of each and every animal.

For more information about the exhibition, please visit

https://cassensfneart.com/, or contact the gallery at 406363-4112.

Cassens Fine Art is a distinguished art gallery and prominent player in the regional art scene, situated in the scenic Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana. The gallery attracts both local and distant admirers of contemporary and Western fne art. Cassens Fine Art’s commitment to showcasing a diverse range of artistic styles and media has contributed to its reputation for curating thought-provoking exhibitions.

Subdivision conditionally approved

State as impaired under the federal Clean Water Act. The interaction of these waters is ignored entirely, as is the impact of either new wells or sanitary and storm wastewater, which is pawned of on the Department of Environmental Quality’s future determination. The environmental assessment is abjectly defcient, stated McMahon.

McMahon also noted that eight years ago, there were an estimated 113,000 exempt appropriations, with up to 78,000 more by 2020. Doing the math, he said, the exemptions could lead to billions of gallons of water being used with no permit required.

At the March 4th meeting, Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott said, “This decision throws a whole new level in the middle of a process. It puts the developers in a tough spot and the landowners in a new position. That’s where we are really struggling here. How do we change gears midstream on a court decision 160 miles away from us which may or may not impact us or may or may not be up-

held by our court and the way we do business. Heretofore, DEQ was the reviewing agency with the expertise and knowledge and had the base studies to review consistently and without being arbitrary or capricious across the state. Now all of a sudden some judge in Broadwater County decides to turn and throw local government under the bus and require local government to do the analysis without fnding a lot of local governments don’t have the capacity or staf to do that analysis. That puts us in a position where…”

It’s at this point, 27 minutes into a fve-and-a-half-hour discussion, the county video record on its web site goes silent. Although the commissioners were made aware of the audio failure on their Granicus account during the meeting, they continued the meeting for another fve hours. Afterwards the planning staf told the Bitterroot Star that they were aware of the problem when it happened and were working to see if the audio could be recovered. Commissioner Jef Burrows stated later that the meeting

was available to the public on Zoom but that the Zoom meeting was not recorded. He didn’t know why. He said that the minutes taken by the County Administrator would probably only contain the motions made and actions taken, leaving it unclear as to whether the county had any record of any public comments preceding the decision.

Asked at the meeting if the potential impacts of the proposed wells on Eight Mile Creek had been analyzed, PCI Consulting Engineer Andy Medford said, “No.” Pressed by Commissioner Burrows to answer the same question once again, Medford said that based on his 35 years of experience he “felt like” there would be no signifcant impact on the creek. He said that DEQ had found the wells to be exempt from permitting because the amount of water they used was “miniscule.”

The Commissioners adopted his remarks as a “fnding of fact” and proceeded to determine that there would be no signifcant impact.

Local Montana Artist, Bailey Burton and some of her artwork. Photos courtesy Cassens.

Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics

Event organizers pull out all the stops for 2024, trying to grow again

by John Dowd

For 41 years, the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics have been bringing sporting opportunities to Montanans with special needs from all across the state, and even beyond. In fact, this very event, held in Ravalli County every year, was the first of its kind in the state. It has since inspired similar events across the Northwest.

According to Randy Hodgson, a founding member of the Bitterroot winter games and steering committee, the event this year is helping them build steam again, post-pandemic. Hodgson and his team have been working diligently to return awareness, and it seems this year that has started paying off. Last week’s competition drew teams from all across the Northwest. Teams hailed from Darby, Stevensville, Missoula, Corvallis, Charlo and Ronan. They also included the teams Scribner, Bitterroot Stars and a team from as far as Salmon, Idaho.

Before COVID-19, the games were at their height, drawing over 200 athletes. However, this year they are only up to 50. He attributes this to not only the pandemic, but the fact that they had to shut down the games for two years. “We kinda gotta get that wheel rolling again,” said Hodgson.

Hodgson has been involved since the beginning, and said the first year saw only 17 athletes. That number grew over the years to reach those impressive athlete numbers and now, they have a dozen volunteers in the

committee and start planning as early as September. They eventually organize everything from donations, to signups, catering and much more, which Hodgson says can be a monumental task. Along with that, they communicate with the state organization, as they are an officially recognized event, and they need to stay in contact with all the schools and organizations that bring the athletes. According to Hodgson, “Whether there are two athletes or 200, we still go through the same gamut.”

The Winter Special Olympic

games draw significant community involvement and interest, and the organizers hope to grow the event back to where it once was. According to Hodgson, this year was a good step in that direction, but there is still more to do. “There’s just lots of community involvement, I can’t stress that enough. We just need more athletes,” said Hodgson. He explained that a lot of this comes down to many organizations falling out of the habit over the shut-down years. These schools and groups historically brought many athletes, but interest and event prepared-

ness has dwindled.

Every year, the games take over the Lost Trail Ski Area, on the Montana/ Idaho border, for the two days. The organizers purposely hold the event on the days mid-week, when the area is not open to regular visitors. This allows the event to stay out of the way of the regular ski area proceedings and gives the winter olympics an all-access pass to the open areas.

Though, as Hodgson stated, the event is a lot of fun for everyone involved, many athletes take the games seriously. A couple of the schools will

Keeyon Burgess and Nathan Stoker jockey for first place during the Snowshoe Races. Photo by John Dowd.

GAMES: Annual event draws athletes from all over northwest

Continued from page 16

even practice at Lost Trail during the off season. According to Hodgson, some of the athletes will qualify and go on to State and National Special Olympics. There are similar competitions held all over the area, all of which started after the success of the one in the ‘Root. Regional events are now held in Whitefish, Great Falls, Bozeman and several other places across the state.

When asked why these games are so important, Hodgson said it comes down to the event being something that has become such a part of the valley. “It’d be hard not to keep supporting them and their families,” said Hodgson about the athletes that come every year. For these athletes, the games are a mainstay, and something to look forward to. “They really enjoy the competition,” and, “it’s the social aspect as well.” Hodgson highlighted that, for some of the athletes, this may be the one time of year “they get to see friends from a year ago.” For Hodgson, the most important thing, and the reason he has done it for so long, comes down to “seeing the growth and seeing how happy they are.”

The event also draws well over 200 volunteers over the two days. According to one volunteer, Kayla Stephens, who has participated the last two years, “It’s super rewarding

just to see all the athletes do what they love.” Stephens is from Corvallis and attending school in Missoula for Physical Therapy. She described the event as “refreshing,” citing how, “everybody cheers for everybody!” For her, “that ties in with what we do with PT. I think a lot of people focus on the disability, but really, we focus on the ability and this is a great showing of that.”

Another volunteer at the games, also in the Physical Therapy program with Stephens, was Brett Freitag. This was Freitag’s second year as well, and he loves volunteering with the Special Olympics. For him, it has been a great opportunity to volunteer and help in an area that he is passionate about. “I love athletics and sports, and I think everybody should have access to it,” said Freitag.

“Everybody is super welcoming,” said Stephens. “It’s easy to be involved in a really meaningful way.” Most of what these two,

they do this “for these kids, and for the smiles,” as said by Westfall. According to Buckallew, Westfall was so involved that this year the whole team nominated her for the Spark Award. “They have been the core for the event. She’s our go-to person,” said Buckallew.

Giving out some of the awards,

else can represent the atmosphere of the games like the opening last Tuesday afternoon. At the beginning of the 2024 Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics, a member from the Salmon, Idaho team was called up to lead all the participants in reciting the Special Olympics oath, that reads as follows, “Let me win, but if I cannot

and many others, did throughout the two days was help move athletes around the event, to places they needed to be, including from the finish line to the award circle.

Another volunteer who has been with the event a long time was Robert Myers, owner of A Sound Solution. He volunteers his sound set up for announcements and DJs the event. In his off time he does sound work for gatherings and events around the valley, as well as for several local bands. For him, it is just a natural part of being in a community.

For the participants, the event is a long awaited gathering. One group that has been coming for over 18 years is the Darby Outlaws, formally known as the Darby Tigers. According to group leaders Sharon Westfall and Carolyn Buckallew,

the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office sends representatives every year. One of these officers, Reserve Deputy John Wuerth, said, “It’s a contagious atmosphere.” He hopes to come out to help again, a feeling that seemed to be echoed by everyone involved.

However, little

win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The main fundraiser for the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics is the Hackers Golf Tournament. There are also numerous ways to get involved and to volunteer. For more information about the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics, visit the event Facebook page, visit the website, bitterroottwinterspecialolympics.org, or call (406) 360-1584. To learn more about the Montana Special Olympics across the state, visit the official site, somt.org.

At top right, Ravalli County Sheriff’s Deputy McFarland, Victoria Stuart, Tyler Westfall, Tabatha Townsend, Alexis Bibby and Deputy Colgan pose for photos after placing in the Beginners Alpine Event. At left, Townsend and Sequoia Fitzpatrick light the torch kicking off the games. At bottom right, Derik Eldridge careens past the finish line for the Alpine Ski competition. Photos by John Dowd.

FRESH EGGS from Howell’s Happy Hens are back! $4.00/doz. Pick up at Bitterroot Star office, 115 W. 3rd, Suite 108, Stevensville.

2021 YAMAHA SIDE

BY SIDE Wolverine

RMAX4 XTR, slightly used, one owner, mechanically sound, garaged, LOTS of accessories, $30,000. 16-foot trailer, side by side package, Torsion Axle, 1200 miles, $7000, can be sold separately, call 406777-3022 for more info.

NOTICES

ALASKA, EUROPE, HAWAII plus dozens of other popular trips! Starting at $1649 per person (double occupancy req’d.)

YMT Vacations plans everything, leaving you to relax and enjoy. Call 1-833658-1230 for more details. Use promo code YMT2024 for $250 off. Limited time only.

FREE GARDENING COURSE WITH CLIFF

TREXLER – This course involves a forgotten factor hardly any gardener thinks about. Development of an “old time” method that is interesting, successful, and fun. Basic: 4 hours – four 1 hr. classes. Could be 5 weeks easily. Whatever fits your schedule. A blackboard would be useful

but not essential as I will have “visual aids.” Former high school science teacher, long-time rancher (30 years) and gardener (70 years) in Bitterroot, always experimenting and improving methods. This course will be beneficial for starting plants and greenhouses. And it will be fun! (Starting Friday evenings 3-22-2024, 6:30, Hamilton library meeting room. to register call or text Cliff at (406) 369-2509.

Connect to the best wireless home internet with EarthLink. Enjoy speeds from 5Gand 4G LTE networks, no contracts, easy installation, and data plans up to 300 GB. Call 855-419-7978.

SWITCH AND SAVE up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer - get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-877-324-0193.

SWITCH TO DISH and get up to a $300 gift card! Plus get the Multisport pack included for a limited time! Hurry, call for details: 1-855-995-3572

ence required. Call Victoria for details, 406-207-8793 or send resume to victoria@mullennewspapers. com.

PLANER SETUP

PERSON. Seeking a fully qualified planer setup person. Min. two years experience operating, setting up and performing maintenance on planer machine required. This is an industrial environment. Must be safety minded, self motivated with good attendance. Wage D.O.E. Benefits. Medical. Dental FSA, 401k, Paid Holidays and PTO. See complete job description and application here: https://thompsonriverlumber.bamboohr. com/careers/49 or call 406-827-4311 #224

WANTED TO BUY: Old Car, Truck, Motorcycle,

also old signs and license plates, gas station items or dealership items. Call 406270-8630 any time.

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST — WESTERN

MONTANA FOOT AND ANKLE

Our Hamilton office is looking for someone to join our team full-time.

Pay: $16-$20/hr DOE Please email resume and 2 references to westernmontanafootandankle@ gmail.com

JOB OPENING IN BOULDER, Montana: City Administrator Position. Details at www.cityofbouldermt.com. Salary between $65,000 and $83,000 annually including benefits. Call with questions: Rose Perna at (406) 225-3381.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER - part-time, newspaper-specific work. Experi-

Attest: Jenelle S. Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 2-28, 3-13-24.

Sharon E. Thompson PO Box 1255 Trout Creek, MT 59874 (406) 360-1628 havesmontana@gmail.com

Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF: DOLORES F. BROWN, Decedent.

Cause No.: DP-2024-16

Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Sharon E. Thompson, P.O. Box 1255, Trout Creek, MT, 59874, return receipt requested, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 21st day of February, 2024. /s/ Sharon E. Thompson, Personal Representative BS 2-28, 3-6, 3-13-24.

Public Hearing-Ravalli County ESTABLISHMENT OF PACE PROGRAM

The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Center at 215 S.4th Street, Third Floor Commissioners Conference Room, Hamilton, MT. The purpose for this public hearing is to take public comment and make a decision by Resolution to Establish the Ravalli County Pace Program.

If you would like more information contact the Commissioners’ Office at 375-6500. If you are unable to attend and would like to make comment you can do so by contacting the Commissioners at the above phone number or by email at commissioners@ rc.mt.gov

Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 3-6, 3-13-24.

Public Hearing-Ravalli County Fee Increase FOR: RAVALLI COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE DE-

The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Center at 215 S.4th Street, Third Floor Commissioners Conference Room, Hamilton, MT. The purpose for this public hearing is to take public comment and make a decision by Resolution to amend the Ravalli County Access Encroachment Rules and associated fees.

If you would like more information contact the Commissioners’ Office at 375-6500. If you are unable to attend and would like to make comment you can do so by contacting the Commissioners at the above phone number or by email at commissioners@ rc.mt.gov

Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 3-6, 3-13-24.

Public Hearing-Ravalli

County Fee Increase FOR: RAVALLI COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT

The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Center at 215 S.4th Street, Third Floor Commissioners Conference Room, Hamilton, MT. The purpose for this public hearing is to take public comment and make a decision by Resolution to amend the Ravalli County Excavation Rules and associated fees.

If you would like more information contact the Commissioners’ Office at 375-6500. If you are unable to attend and would like to make comment you can do so by contacting the Commissioners at the above phone number or by email at commissioners@ rc.mt.gov

Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 3-6, 3-13-24.

David T. Markette MARKETTE & CHOUINARD, P.C. 601 S. First Street P.O. Box 515 Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-1110

DavidM@mcpcattorneys. com

Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of SELMA DURBIN, Deceased

Probate No. DP-41-2023000140

Dept No. 1

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said

to

Cabral, the

Representative, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 26 th day of February 2024.

/s/ Cathy Cabral, Personal Representative BS 3-6, 3-13, 3-20-24.

MONTANA 21ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN RE THE ESTATE OF JANE LOUISE COOKSON, Deceased.

PROBATE NO. DP-24-18

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ROBERT K. JEFFREY has been appointed Personal Representative 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 first publication of this notice or the claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to ROBERT K. JEFFREY, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at 2111 9th Ave., Helena, MT 59601, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. DATED this 1st day of March, 2024.

/s/ ROBERT K. JEFFREY 2111 9th Ave. Helena, MT 59601

Personal Representative

BS 3-6, 3-13, 3-20-24.

Elizabeth M. Long 304 Harbison Drive Hamilton

4-3-24.

NOTICE OF FILING FOR

Forms can be found on the school website.

BS 2-14, 3-13-24.

Craig Mungas State Bar No. 6746

Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC 2809 Great Northern Loop, Ste 100 Missoula, Montana 59808

Telephone: 406-721-8896

Telefax: 406-541-8037

Email: craig@bjornsonlaw. com Attorneys for Patrick J. Dennis, Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: JAMES R.

DENNIS, Deceased.

Dept. No.: 2 Cause No.: DP-24-26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to PATRICK J. DENNIS, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC, 2809 Great Northern Loop, Suite 100, Missoula, MT 59808, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.

DATED this 11th day of March 2024.

/s/ Patrick J. Dennis

Personal Representative

Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC

By: Craig Mungas

Attorneys for Patrick J. Dennis, Personal Representative BS 3-13, 3-20, 3-27-24.

VICTOR WATER & SEWER DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PRE-SELEC-

Bitterroot Health scholarship available

The Bitterroot Health Medical Staff Scholarship is a one-time scholarship in the amount of $4,000 for Ravalli County high school graduates pursuing studies in the medical field.

In the past this scholarship has gone to John Edwards, Stevensville High School graduate and current UM Skaggs School of Pharmacy student.

“For me, getting the Bitterroot Health Med Staff scholarship meant that I could worry a little less about my loans and focus more on learning everything I can to become a great pharmacist,” Edwards said.

In 2021, for the first time in its ten-year history, the scholarship award was given to two nursing students: Alivia Drake and Katie Banister. Alivia Drake, Hamilton High School graduate, obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) license and began working at the Living Centre in Stevensville while still attending high school. Katie Banister graduated from Florence Carlton High School and is attending the MSU College of Nursing on the Missoula Campus.

Bitterroot Health medical staff encourage students in the Valley who are studying all modalities in the health care field to apply.

“We recognize that building a healthier community is more than just healthcare” said Dr. Weinberger, Chief Medical Officer, at Bitterroot Health. “It’s about finding multiple

ways to keep our community healthy and thriving. Medical studies take a lot of time, dedication, financial commitment, and we’re honored to be able to support medical students from the Bitterroot Valley with our scholarship.”

Requirements for submission:

Due Friday, May 31, 2024 to: Bitterroot Health Medical Staff Office, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840

Must be a graduate of a Ravalli County high school and completed at least one year of specialized health or medical field schooling.

Name & contact information.

High School name & graduation date

Higher education transcript copy

Community involvement, volunteer activities

Financial needs and resources available to you for education expenses

One academic recommendation

For questions about the application process, please contact Lisa Heppner with questions: lisaheppner@bitterroothealth.org or (406) 375-4547.

FFA: Stevi dominates contests ahead of State FFA Convention

Continued from page 1

Farm and Agribusiness Management 2nd place team led by Sidney McCasland, 1st place (tied) individual with team members Selwyn Hackett, Colton Harris, and Quinn Rahl.

Livestock Evaluation 3rd place team led by Adelaide Meyer 6th place individual with team members Kealie Hixon, Harley Gilleard, and Michelle Wandler.

Meats Evaluation and Technology 3rd place team led by Savannah Kostecki 8th place individual with

team members Colton Harris, Haylee Summers, and Noah Tan.

Floriculture 4th place team led by Haylee Summers 21st place individual with team members Charlie Leonard, Michelle Wandler, and Lillian Bedsaul.

Veterinary Science 4th place team led by Savannah Kostecki 13th place individual with team members Leann Wandler, Colton Harris, and Kealie Hixson.

Stevensville hosted the final

district events of the year on March 9 including agronomy, ag mechanics, and ag sales. Over 50 ag producers, business owners, supporters, parents, and Stevensville Schools staff volunteered their time to judge, score, and coordinate the daylong event. Sincere thanks to all who helped and made the day a success for FFA members from across western Montana.

The Stevensville FFA Chapter was chartered in 1930 and is the oldest

chapter in the Bitterroot Valley. The Stevensville FFA is the second largest FFA chapter in the state of Montana, behind Kalispell, with 260 members and students enrolled in agriculture education courses in grades 7-12.

Posting Date March 11, 2024

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 945,000 student members as part of 9,163 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

COUNCIL: Hamilton City bids farewell to Rose Allen

Continued from page 1

and an improved maintenance space in which to work.

The council had previously put the project out for bids, with the lowest they received coming from Summit Roofing for $55,100. The Summit Roofing bid was approved unanimously.

The council also approved an updated deputy clerk job description. This was meant mainly to clarify details on the city’s new initiative to improve outreach to the community, including activity on social media.

The highlight of the night’s meeting was the celebration of the

retirement of Town Clerk Rose Allen.

According to Mayor Farrenkopf, Allen was with the city from 2002 to 2024. Within that time, she admitted to having worked with four different mayors and at least 26 different council members. She is proud to be ending her time with the city on a high note. “It’s nice when you have a council and a mayor that can work together,” said Allen.

To send her off, the mayor told the story of how he first met Allen. He was signing to be mayor and asked her which color pen he should use, black or blue. She told him he could

use whatever color he wanted. Since then, he found that he preferred to sign official documents in blue. However, that day he chose to sign his name in black, “and now I regret it,” said Farrenkopf. After a laugh, he told Allen, “Every time I sign my name with a blue pen, I will remember you.”

Allen’s place is being taken over by Rosie Ramer, the former utility billing clerk. The council joked that it will be fortunate they do not need to learn a new name for the same position. Rosie Ramer has been with the city since January of last year and has

recently been training to take over Allen’s position. However, according to the mayor, this will now leave the billing clerk position open. He encourages applicants to apply.

At the end of the meeting, the council members in attendance all voiced their goodbyes to Allen. “Rose, thank you for all you’ve done,” said West. Darwin Ernst echoed those words, saying, “I thank you for all you’ve done and I hope you have a really fun retirement.” Allen commented last, saying, “I Just want to say thank you to everyone for all the support you have given me.”

List of healthcare certification - if applicable Essay including summary of yourself, your goals and how they apply to patient care.

Katie-Banister a right, Dr. Weinberger at left. Photo Courtesy Bitteroot Health.