Bitterroot Star - April 10, 2024

Wednesday April 17th 5:30 P.M. Hamilton (New) Fire Hall 247 Foxfield Street

This meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on the City of Hamilton’s infrastructure planning efforts in the North Hamilton area. This effort is intended to ensure sufficient infrastructure capacity, address impacts to public infrastructure, and provide an increased level of predictability with respect to how North Hamilton develops.

Questions?

Contact Hamilton Public Works Dept. 406-363-6717

Native UM student works to create missing persons database

by Mark Roth UM News Service

Haley Omeasoo was already studying forensic science at the University of Montana when she saw the poster that redefined her life.

The 2017 poster announced that her former high school classmate, Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, had gone missing on the Blackfeet Reservation in northern Montana. Just 20 at the time, HeavyRunner has never been found in the seven years since.

HeavyRunner’s plight, and the cases of other missing and murdered indigenous persons (MMIP), gave Omeasoo a new mission: to use her skills to help families searching for lost loved ones, and use DNA analysis to return the remains of Native Americans to their families and tribal groups.

Omeasoo, a registered member of the Hopi Nation, is also a Blackfeet descendant who grew up on the Blackfeet reservation. She is now a Ph.D. student in forensic and molecular anthropology at UM, working to create the first DNA database of Blackfeet Nation members. She also hopes that one day, she can set up a forensic science lab on the reservation – the first of its kind in Montana.

If unidentifiable remains were found, DNA in the database could determine whether the person had been a member of the tribe and could be used to link the remains to family members with similar DNA markers.

To work toward that goal, Omeasoo and her husband, Blackfeet tribal member Vince Omeasoo, set up a company known as Ohkomi Forensics, based on the Blackfeet word for “to use one’s voice.”

“We stand as unwavering advocates for those who have gone missing or have been tragically taken from their families,” the company’s website says. “We work tirelessly to raise awareness, demand justice and support affected communities in their journey towards healing.”

The aching search for answers by families of missing relatives resonates strongly with Omeasoo, 27, who is the mother of two children, Sage, 8, and Soren, 2.

But she also sees the tragedy in broader terms.

“As Indigenous people, we are all impacted by this issue in one way or another,” Omeasoo said. “Because this issue doesn’t get as much media attention as it should, and our people do not have the resources and support to combat this issue, it’s time we started to find ways to provide those resources to our home communities.”

Missing Persons in Montana

Montana is at the center of a grim trend. According to the Montana governor’s office, Native people make up about 7% of the state’s population but account for a quarter of missing persons cases.

“It’s not a new issue,” Omeasoo said. “It’s been going on for a long time – too long – and I think the media is just now kind of catching wind of it.”

Omeasoo’s mentor, UM Associate Professor of Anthropology Meradeth Snow, finds inspiration in Omeasoo’s dedication and hard work.

“I have such high hopes for Haley,” said Snow, who co-chairs UM’s anthropology department. “I know she is going to be a mouthpiece for communities that need and deserve that, and I hope her work not only will bring more attention to this epidemic, but that she is able to build a bridge between the forensic world and the tribes.”

There are many factors that feed into the high rate of MMIP in Montana and elsewhere in the nation.

Poverty, domestic abuse and other social problems are prevalent on many reservations. Sarah Deer, a University of Kansas researcher, said Native women also are more likely to be trafficked in the sex industry.

There also is a lack of law enforcement resources on many reservations.

The Blackfeet reservation has a tribal police force of about 18 officers to cover a territory larger than the state of Delaware, according to the Missoulian. Depending on vacations and other scheduling factors, there can sometimes be just two officers to cover the entire 1.5-million-acre reservation.

Tribal police also lack full investigative powers in the most serious missing persons cases.

Only federal author-

ities can investigate and prosecute major felonies on most Native American reservations, including murder and manslaughter. In addition, tribal police only have a limited ability to investigate non-Natives for certain crimes, and on some reservations, non-Natives now outnumber Natives.

Ivan MacDonald, a documentary filmmaker and member of the Blackfeet Tribe, said both the tribal police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which handles initial federal investigations on missing persons cases, are understaffed. In some instances, he said, by the time federal investigators get involved, the trail has gone cold and evidence is scant or missing.

Native American spiritual views

Using DNA analysis on Native American remains faces special challenges.

Many tribes oppose DNA analysis because traditional forensic techniques require taking bone samples that are then destroyed in the analysis. Even if the sample is small, many tribal groups consider that a desecration of the remains.

Dan Lewerenz, an assistant law professor at the University of North Dakota and a member of the Iowa Nation, said Natives are not anti-science, but they do have a different understanding of human remains than many non-Natives. In Native religious traditions, even natural phenomena like rivers and mountains may have a spirit.

“For many Indigenous people, the dead are not dead,” Lewerenz said. “They are still with us in spirit in a way that is much more tangible than Western understandings.”

For that reason, Omeasoo is using a new technique that can extract DNA from remains without damaging them. Snow said the method was developed by German scientist Elena Essel. It immerses the bones in a type of food preservative and then heats the solution. The DNA then is retrieved from the solution without damaging the bones.

The first samples Omeasoo will apply the technique to probably won’t be missing persons cases, but some of the human remains that are stored at UM, which still need to be returned to their tribal groups under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a 1990 federal law.

Universities across the nation have collections of Native remains and artifacts that have come from archaeological digs, or people finding remains while plowing or excavating, or even from people whose families had them sitting in their attics or basements.

Many of the human remains at UM may belong to the nearby Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Omeasoo said, but the lineage of other remains still need to be identified, and she will examine those thought to belong to the Blackfeet Nation.

Specialized DNA kit

To process her DNA samples, Omeasoo uses a special kit from Qiagen, a European genetic science company. The Verogen ForenSeq Kintelligence Kit is designed to look for DNA markers that show how closely people are related to one another.

The kit also avoids using any DNA markers linked to health status, such as genes for breast cancer or hereditary diseases.

That’s important, Omeasoo said, because of the distrust many Native

American tribes have toward the misuse of DNA. In the 1990s, scientists collected blood samples from the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona for a study on Type 2 diabetes. Tribal members later discovered the samples had been used for research on schizophrenia and other subjects the tribe had not consented to, and they sued the University of Arizona, which eventually led to a return of all blood samples to the tribe.

The suspicion that Native Americans have about DNA was apparent when Omeasoo began asking tribes to let her collect DNA samples for her original plan, which was to create DNA databases for each tribe in Montana. The Blackfeet so far are the only tribe that has agreed to a DNA database.

The Qiagen kit, which looks for 10,230 familial DNA markers, “makes sense for [tribal identifications] because it removes the kinds of risks that have been seen in the past,” said Kameran Wong, Qiagen’s senior manager of marketing communications.

The Qiagen kit employs the same approach that criminal investigators have used to identify killers by linking their DNA to those of relatives, such

as in the Golden State Killer case in California.

Omeasoo wouldn’t use the technique to find criminal suspects, but to find relatives of a victim whose unidentified remains have been discovered.

She also has developed other skills that could help in MMIP cases. For her master’s thesis, Omeasoo examined CT scans of facial injuries to people who had been assaulted or killed. In particular, she looked for fractures on the left side of the face, because most assailants are right-handed.

It’s a signature injury that occurs in intimate partner violence and shows up more frequently in women, Omeasoo said. Her work could help investigators determine if intimate partner violence had occurred.

The next steps

Omeasoo plans to earn her Ph.D. in forensic and molecular anthropology next year. In the meantime, she is waiting for the Blackfeet tribe’s Institutional Review Board to sign off on her DNA database project so she can begin collecting cheek swabs from

Haley Omeasoo, a Ph.D. student in forensic and molecular anthropology at UM, works to create the first DNA database of Blackfeet Nation members. Photo by Ryan Brennecke.

Last Thursday, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke joined Ravalli County Commissioners and local stakeholders for a ceremonial check presentation to celebrate the awarding of a one-million-dollar grant to fund repairs to Ricketts Road in Hamilton. This project will make improvements to 2.55 miles of Ricketts Road which has not been resurfaced in 25 years. Repairs and improvements will address significant roadway decay and install

drainage and irrigation culverts under the road to prevent further damage and flooding. Ricketts Road provides one of the few critical alternative travel routes from US Highway 93 for local residents, commerce, and emergency services. Residents in the community and local businesses have expressed their concerns regarding increases in traffic and safety.

“Infrastructure is not merely an expense, it’s an investment and the way the Bitterroot Valley is growing

in population and commerce, we need to be making more of those investments like in Ricketts Road,” said Rep. Zinke. “The Bitterroot is growing at one of the fastest paces in all of Montana and the stress on the infrastructure is obvious. What was once a sleepy county road is now a major thoroughfare carrying literal tons of goods and hundreds of cars a day – all on nearly 30-year-old pavement. I appreciate County Commissioners Chilcott and Huls for bringing this

project to my attention and working with my team to secure the necessary funding.”

Greg Chilcott, Ravalli County Commissioner, said, “Many thanks to Congressman Zinke for bringing these requests full circle. Our county is a great place to live, and we appreciate Congressman Zinke for helping us keep it that way.”

Ravalli County made the request to Zinke’s office through the U.S. House of Representatives Community Project Funding policy

which allows members of the House to propose up to 15 local projects to receive funding from eligible grant programs. All projects must meet the published grant requirements and pass a series of legislative hurdles. Every project was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, of which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President.

BLUEGRASS: organizers excited for another festival

See BLUEGRASS, page 4

Conroy said, “There’s just something about that old-time mountain music that’s pretty cool.”

Conroy explained that every year the festival draws over 400 people. As for the atmosphere, the festival is a family event, and alcohol-free. According to Conroy, the festival is very relaxed and beloved every year. Unlike the bigger bluegrass event to come later in the summer, this festival is all indoors. This means that participants will not need to bring any chairs. Food will be available, and Conroy wanted to thank Susan McCauley who will be running the kitchen. She is also a member of the MRBA. Food options will include bluegrass staples such as chili, hot dogs, cornbread and more. The venue was built, and the use provided, by the Church of the Nazarene. The Neely Center is located at 150 South A Street, in Victor. The festival starts at 11 a.m. and will run until 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for non-members, $3 for members, and all children under 12 can attend free. Visitors do not need to purchase tickets ahead of time, and can just show up at the door and purchase them. For more information on the event, contact Conroy at (406) 821-3777, or visit mtbluegrass.com. The festival schedule will run as follows: 11:00-11:25 93 North, 11:30-11:55

The Jolley Family, 12:00-12:25 Darby Sireens, 12:30-12:55 Matt Jolly & Mark Vosburgh, 1:00 -1:25 Patty & Anne/ Star Chilson, 1:30-1:55 Elk Ridge, 2:00-2:25 Old Freight Road, 2:30-2:55 Creekside Serenade, 3:00-3:25 Mountain Strings, 3:303:55 Mike & Tari Conroy, 4:00-4:25 Pinegrass, 4:30-4:55 Foggy Mtn Girls, 5:00-5:25 Greg Boyd Band, 5:30-5:55 Release the Squirrels, 6:00-6:25 A well Beaten Path, 6:30-6:55 Johnny Campbell Band, 7:00-7:25 Lochwood, and between 7:30-8:00 Bluegrass Hollers.

The Johnny Campbell Band from Nashville at last year’s Festival. Photo courtesy Mike Conroy.

CHAMBER: group pursues tourism for business in Bitterroot

Continued from page 1

jump so far, earning 58 new members. 2024 has already brought in another 16 members. As of the date of the annual meeting, the Chamber had 477 members. With all these new members, the Chamber is working to start holding some morning meetings for those who are unable to make mid-day meetings.

Jodi then spoke on the progress the Chamber made over the last year. One of the highlights of 2023 included their continued work on the Tourism and Relocation Guide. The guide was a way for the Chamber to “brand our visitor center and to be a tour guide for visitors,” said Jodi. The guide, which anyone can pick up at the visitor center, is published every year. That visitor center has been the home and base of operations for the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce for years, and according to Jodi, it is so much more than a visitor center. It is also a place visitors can plan trips in and out of the valley, and a source for lots of information, both on the history and the current state of the valley. “It’s kind of hard to organize because we have so much information,” said Jodi.

She also spoke on the great success of their updated Bitterroot Valley Gift Card Program, which now includes numerous businesses across the valley, and can be used in any one of them. The program used to be a certificate that purchasers had to use all in one place. However, now it works like a pre-loaded credit card that can be used to any amount up to and below the full load limit at any location that accepts it. “It’s for the people that don’t know what to get somebody, but want the dollars to stay local,” said Jodi. Businesses that accept the cards include establishments of all kinds, including tire shops, restaurants and much more.

The gift card program was updated in July of 2023. According to Jodi, in all of 2022, the cards put about $40,000

back into the community. Just between July and December of 2023 the cards did that amount again after the update. In all of 2023, they did about $75,000. Jodi also spoke on what the Chamber has planned for the upcoming year of 2024. One area they will give special attention will be tourism. Part of this stems from recently taking over the visitbitterrootvalley.com website, which was created by the Tourism Business Improvement District, an organization that dissolved over the last year. That organization’s goal was to focus on tourism in the valley, specifically in ways that would help businesses of the area. “This website is amazing and we didn’t want it to go away,” said Jodi. The Chamber wants to use the site and the continued printing of the now annual Tourism and Relocation Guide in conjunction to drive tourism. They hope to do so specifically to create more visitation during the shoulder seasons and in winter. Jodi hopes this will help businesses during those times, includ-

ing hotels and the lodging industry, which Jodi explained, would benefit the most from this.

According to Jodi, this is because lodging businesses are having trouble opening in the Bitterroot because of the steep rise and fall of use. She explained that when a company looks at the area, it is hard to justify putting in a facility when they see such a drop in use during an extended portion of the year. “People don’t want to build a hotel if they can’t ensure they can fill it,” said Jodi. This trickles into another issue, where limited lodging affects the caliber of events the area can host. One example of this, brought up by Al, is the difficulty getting bids for school sports tournaments. It is hard to be awarded these bids without places for out-of-town visitors to stay. Jodi mentioned a lack of event centers for conferences and conventions. The only one is at the Bitterroot River Inn and the fairgrounds, and currently there are no out of season big events held during winter months.

Another way to help with the goal of increasing tourism will be the re-introduction of the Chamber Tourism Committee. Jodi described this as a diverse group of people from the area, including business owners, construction workers, farmers and ranchers, and all kinds of people. This group would help tackle problems and come up with proposed solutions geared towards increasing tourism in a positive way for the valley, without forgetting Montana roots, as Jodi said.

Jodi was also excited to speak on the “state of the valley address,” planned for the coming year. According to her, this is intended to “bridge the gaps in the valley,” connecting communities. The chamber hopes to get people from across the valley into the same room, including businesses and local government. She described it as a “panel of community leaders with a moderator.” The goal would be to have participants speak on what each community has going on to inform other communities in the valley and to get everyone on the same page regarding efforts and networking. They hope this will lead to greater support for projects. With six different communities in the valley, and with each one “doing their own thing,” Jodi believes it may be beneficial to help cultivate some valley unity, inspiring collaboration.

This “state of the valley address” will take place in the fall. “We think it’s a really good opportunity to do it, and we feel like it’s a piece we need,” said Jodi. “There’s a lot of people doing really great work in the Bitterroot Valley.” Jodi hopes this will all lead to a stronger support system for each organization and business to accomplish their goals.

For more information about the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce and how to get involved, interested parties can visit their website at bitterrootchamber.com.

NATIVE: DNA database could help missing persons

Continued from page 3

tribal members.

She hopes to get at least 100 samples, which would not only identify markers for family members who are related to each other, but more broadly, could identify markers that are unique to the Blackfeet Nation.

Eventually, she would like to establish a forensic sciences lab on the Blackfeet reservation. The lab would not only do the work of identifying remains, but could help police investigate ongoing missing persons cases.

Ohkomi Forensics already received some startup funds from outside organizations and community donors to purchase field equipment and excavating tools for forensic searches on the Black-

feet reservation.

Ivan MacDonald, who works with his sister Ivy to complete a documentary on missing and murdered Blackfeet women, including Ashley HeavyRunner, said Omeasoo’s work could be vital for such families.

MacDonald said missing or adulterated forensic samples are a major reason why federal authorities often don’t pursue missing persons cases on the reservation, so “if we had an opportunity for someone on our reservation to help with

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that gap and work within that scientific framework, it would be a really amazing opportunity.”

Brad Hall, president of Blackfeet Community College, also supports Omeasoo’s efforts to get tribal approval for her DNA database.

“When a Native student like Haley goes into academia, they have to understand our ways of knowing and then learn the academic ways of knowing,”

Hall said. “She’s going about it in the way that every researcher should take note of.”

For Omeasoo herself, her work is all about making connections. She wants to connect tribal groups to the remains of their ancestors, and she wants to connect families of missing relatives to the people they are searching for so desperately.

“Where I’m from,” she said, “we’re all related somehow.”

Al and Jodi Mitchell in the visitor center. Photo by John Dowd.

Bridge replacement on North Fork Rye Creek Road

Work began this week on a bridge replacement project on the Bitterroot National Forest. The project was scheduled to begin on Monday, April 1st on the Darby-Sula Ranger District’s North Fork Rye Creek Road. The replacement is scheduled to take approximately three weeks and the road will be closed in the immediate construction area.

The bridge is located on North Fork Rye Creek Road #321, approximately 0.6 miles from where it intersects with Rye Creek Road #75.

Signs will be posted alerting drivers to the project. Residents in the area will be able to access through the site for the duration of the construction with coordination from the contractor. Currently, most areas above the bridge site are not accessible by standard passenger vehicles due to snow and ice still covering the road.

ATVs/UTVs or other over-snow capable vehicles that would otherwise be able to access the current conditions above this location are asked to take an alternate route during construction.

The new bridge will replace an existing bridge that has been identified as deficient and needs to be upgraded. The new structure will be able to pass flood waters as well as allow passage of aquatic organisms. For more information, contact the Darby-Sula Ranger District at (406) 821-3913.

Stevi Airport Foundation to award $10,000 aviation scholarship

The Stevensville Airport Foundation (SAF) is an all volunteer group of aviation enthusiasts, pilots and hangar owners that was formed to support the Airport Board and the Town Council, concerning items of importance to the Stevensville Airport. It is a 501c3 tax deductible Foundation. It is not a membership organization; anyone with an interest in aviation is a welcome volunteer.

This year the Foundation will present a $10,000 aviation scholarship to a graduate of the Stevensville High School Class of 2024. The scholarship funds can be used for training/educational purposes in pursuit of a career as a pilot, aircraft mechanic, aeronautical engineer, air traffic controller or a related aviation field. The SAF has been working closely with high school staff to

identify and select potential candidates. Funds will not go directly to the individual winning student, but to their selected school for furthering their studies.

The scholarship is known as the “SAF/Paul O’Bagy Memorial Scholarship,” to commemorate the life of Paul O’Bagy who recently lost his long battle with cancer. Paul was a lifelong Montana aviator, well known throughout the Montana flying community for his love and support of everything aviation and his joy of flying in the backcountry. Paul totally enjoyed being able to introduce others to the wonders of flying in remote areas of Montana and Idaho.

The total value of the award will be $10,000. The SAF hopes to be able to award this scholarship for years to come, so all donations are welcome

and will only be used for the scholarship fund. If you would like to know more, or are interested in furthering aviation interest in young people with

a tax deductible donation, contact the SAF at: SAF, PO Box 82, Stevensville MT 59870, or email michael. schwartz2023@outlook.com

Exposing noncitizen votes the truth about HB 402

Americans across the political spectrum are becoming increasingly concerned about the flood of noncitizens spilling across our southern border. This crisis threatens national security and is putting a strain on social services, public schools, and law enforcement across the nation. It also poses a threat to our electoral process because a quirk in federal law prevents local election officials from requiring proof of citizenship when a person registers to vote. Consequently, some unknown number of noncitizens currently vote in our elections.

So it is infuriating to hear politicians like Theresa Manzella and her loyal followers— Kathy Love and Kim Dailey—celebrating the defeat of HB 402, a bill introduced last legislative session that would have permitted Montana to lead the nation when it comes to responsibly and effectively verifying voter citizenship. But they go further by distorting the truth in order to launch dishonest political attacks on Republican legislators who supported the bill.

Second, efforts by other states to require proof of citizenship have been struck down by federal court as unconstitutional violations of the Supremacy Clause (Article VI) and the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Third, HB 402 was specifically written to withstand court challenge and thus succeed where other states had failed. It placed the burden for verifying citizenship on the state— not the individual—and required that a person whose citizenship status has not yet been confirmed nonetheless be allowed to vote while verification is pending. The need for this provision was regrettable. But without it, the bill would have been ruled unconstitutional.

It’s time to set the record straight. Here are the facts:

First, under present federal law all a person need do to “prove” U.S. citizenship when registering to vote is check a box on a form and then sign it. Thereafter for the purpose of voting, the person is to be treated as a citizen whose constitutional right to vote must not be infringed.

HB 402 was neither intended nor designed to let noncitizens vote. This is already happening. The only question is to what extent. So we are back to where we started. Some unknown number of noncitizens vote in Montana, and we have no reliable way to catch them and to thus deter this illegal activity. The responsibility for this failure rests squarely on Theresa Manzella and her network of John Birch Society collaborators, who put sound bites and vulgar political gain ahead of doing the hard work necessary to understand the issues and address the challenges facing Montanans. We can do better than Manzella, Love, and Dailey.

-- TonyHudson, Stevensville

Plane taxis at the Stevensville Airport Photo courtesy bitterrootaviation.com.

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.

Call for nominations

The Florence Civic Club is accepting nominations until April 30th for its Community Service Award for 2024. This award honors a local person for outstanding contribution of service to the Florence community. Their service may be through involvement in their community, church, nonprofit organization, the schools, or simply individually. Past winners have been active in securing grants for trails, developing a local homework help program, fund raising for local scholarships, and other community enhancement activities. Send your nomination with an account of the nominee’s activities to: Florence Civic Club Attention Community Service Award P.O. Box 544 Florence, MT 59833

A Course of Love study group

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

Volunteer at St. Mary’s Mission

Share your talents! If you enjoy history, like to meet people, and be involved in your community, there’s a place for you! No matter your background or level of experience, there’s a role for you to play. Whether you can spare a few hours a week or a month, our schedule is flexible. Join in making a difference and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Visit the website: saintmarysmission.org or call (406) 777-5734.

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 County Democrats

The North County Democrats will not be meeting on Thursday evenings again until fall. Feel free to stop by their booth on Saturdays beginning May 4th in Hamilton at the Farmers Market (in American Legion Park), 2nd

and Bedford Street. Check out website and newsletter at RavDems.com

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

Board Meeting – Wed. April 10 at 3pm Meetings are open to the public.

Agendas and the Public Participation are posted on the website. 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. A link to Trustee contact information can be found at Montana.Gov. Rockhounding with Neil Maier (Watch Party) – Wed. April 10 at 6:30pm

Get ready to rock with Neil Maier, president of the Hellgate Mineral Society, as he joins us to dish out the dirt on rockhounding in Montana. From seasoned mineral masters to new rockhounding recruits, Neil will fascinate you with his adventures, complete with pictures of his abundance of finds. He will also discuss the best tools, safety tips and rockhounding hotspots. Whether you are a die-hard gem seeker or casual rock enthusiast, this presentation will leave you prepared to embark on your own rockhounding adventures this summer.

PowerPoint for Beginners – Thur.

April 11 at 6pm

Slideshow Suffering is real. Symptoms experienced by presenters include uncertainty about how to use PowerPoint, feeling daunted by the task of creating a slideshow, and a general lack of confidence in their slide-making skills, while common symptoms for audience members are wandering attention and chronic doodling. If you’re at risk of giving a presentation, protect yourself and your audience by learning the basics of PowerPoint and tips to create an effective slideshow.

Science Squad for Ages 8-12 –Wed. April 17 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. This program is for ages 8-12.

Accordion Club

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

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.

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.:

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.

Lone Rock Park Board

The Lone Rock Park Board will meet Wednesday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. at the Three Mile Community Center, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Road. Public welcome.

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 meeting, April 11th, starting at 10 a.m., at First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton. After a short meeting, K&S Nursery will be presenting tricks and tips for getting our gardens ready for the planting seasons. Come and join this great group of women!

Bluegrass festival

18 bands perform at the Neely Center, in Victor on Saturday, April 13th, for the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association’s Spring Bluegrass Festival and Fund-raiser. Bands start at 11 am and play continuously until 8 pm. Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members. Under 12 is free. As in the past, dessert donations are appreciated. Bring your friends and join in the fun.

3 Mile Irrigation Subdistrict

3 Mile Irrigation Subdistrict meeting will be held Monday, April 15th at 7 pm at the Three Mile Community Center, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Road.

Parkinson’s Disease benefit

The annual Parkinson’s Disease fundraiser will be held Tuesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th Street, Hamilton. There will be an Ice Cream Social and Presentation. Ice cream sundaes will be available for $5.00. Additional donations will be accepted. Call Ginny Wiggins for more information at 406544-9186.

College info session

An informational meeting on Bitterroot College - UM and

The Bitterroot River Protection Association has been monitoring the water quality in the Bitterroot River Watershed annually since 2017. The river and its tributaries are the life blood of the Bitterroot Valley. If you want to help keep a finger on the pulse :

VOLUNTEER NOW!

A volunteer training session has been scheduled for Thursday April 18, 2024 at Bell Crossing at 11:30 am lasting a couple of hours. Officials from the Flathead Lake Biological Laboratory and Montana Department of Environmental Quality will instruct new volunteers in nutrient collection protocols. It also serves as a great refresher course for experienced volunteers. Another session will be held at a nearby stream with refreshments served 2:00 pm to get a lesson on taking stream flow measurements. Anybody is welcome to attend and it does not entail any commitment to the sampling program.

If, after your introductory lessons, you are interested in sampling at any site(s) located at six bridges over the Bitterroot River or any of the sites located on Rye Creek, North Rye Creek, Skalkaho Creek, Willow Creek, North Burnt Fork Creek or Three Mile Creek you can sign up for the season or any portion of the season starting in early May/June and lasting through late October. The river is sampled twice monthly the streams are sampled once a month. It takes about one hour at each site. Stream monitors usually do two sites on a single stream in one day taking three and a half to four hours.

refresher

If you want to help keep a finger on the pulse : VOLUNTEER NOW!

for experienced volunteers. Another session will be held at a nearby stream with refreshments served at 2:00 pm to get a lesson on taking stream flow measurements. Anybody is welcome to attend and it does not entail any commitment to the sampling program.

If you have any questions or just want more details you can email bitterrootriverprotection@gmail.com or call or text Michael at (406) 239-4838 Donations

A volunteer training session has been scheduled for Thursday April 18, 2024 at Bell Crossing at 11:30 am lasting a couple of hours. Officials from the Flathead Lake Biological Laboratory and Montana Department of Environmental Quality will instruct new volunteers in nutrient collection protocols. It also serves as a great refresher course for experienced volunteers. Another session will be held at a nearby stream with refreshments served 2:00 pm to get a lesson on taking stream flow measurements. Anybody is welcome to attend and it does not entail any commitment to the sampling program.

If, after your introductory lessons, you are interested in sampling at any site(s) located at six bridges over the Bitterroot River or any of the sites located on Rye Creek, North Rye Creek, Skalkaho Creek, Willow Creek, North Burnt Fork Creek or Three Mile Creek, you can sign up for the season or any portion of the season starting in early May/June and lasting through late October. The river is sampled twice monthly the streams are sampled once a month. It takes about one hour at each site. Stream monitors usually do two sites on a single stream in one day, taking three and a half to four hours.

If, after your introductory lessons, you are interested in sampling at any site(s) located at six bridges over the Bitterroot River or any of the sites located on Rye Creek, North Rye Creek, Skalkaho Creek, Willow Creek, North Burnt Fork Creek or Three Mile Creek you can sign up for the season or any portion of the season starting in early May/June and lasting through late October. The river is sampled twice monthly the streams are sampled once a month. It takes about one hour at each site. Stream monitors usually do two sites on a single stream in one day taking three and a half to four hours.

To sign up or for more information, email bitterrootriverprotection@gmail.com or call or text Michael at (406) 239-4838.

Donations to BRPA’s Bitterroot River Health Check Program are greatly appreciated. To donate go to www.bitterrootriver.org, click on Bitterroot River Health Check and click the Donation Button. Be sure to add in the note option under the amount: “Health Check Program”

If you have any questions or just want more details you can email bitterrootriverprotection@gmail.com or call or text Michael at (406) 239-4838 Donations to BRPA’s Bitterroot River Health Check Program are spent only on equipment, supplies, laboratory/data analysis and professional services when required. To donate go to www.bitterrootriver.org, click on Bitterroot River Health Check and click the Donation Button. Be sure to add in the note option under the amount: “Health Check program” OR make your check out to: BRPA- Health Check and mail it to: BRPA- Health Check, P. O. Box 8 Stevensville, MT. 59870.

OR make your check out to: BRPA- Health Check and mail it to: BRPA- Health Check, P. O. Box 8, Stevensville MT 59870.

Sports

by Scott Sacry Sports Editor

Hamilton softball off to hot start

The Hamilton girls softball team is off to a strong start this season. Last week they won games against Stevensville and Corvallis and are now 5-0 on the season.

Hamilton 16, Stevensville 7

The softball teams of Hamilton and Stevensville clashed in Stevensville on Tuesday, April 2nd in the season opener for the Lady ‘Jackets. Stevensville jumped out to an early lead and led 5-2 going into the 5th inning, then Hamilton’s hitters got hot. With the bases loaded Hamilton’s Cierra Cole hit a home run to clear the bases and give Hamilton a 6-5 lead.

Hamilton controlled the game from that point on, scoring a total of 13 runs in the last three innings to win 16-7.

Hamilton pitcher Mariah Johnson came in relief to get the win, while Stevensville’s Maddix Yeager took the loss.

Hamilton’s Cierra Cole went 3 for 5 with a grand slam and 5 RBIs, Addison Flynn went 2 for 4, Haylee Beall went 1 for 2, had 2 RBIs, and scored 4 runs, Dawsyn Ekin went 2 of 3, Ken-

nedi Cooper went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, and Thea Jackson had 3 RBIs.

For Stevensville, Molly Davids went 3 for 4, Layla Brushia went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Kacey Springer had 2 RBIs, and Emilee Ross went 2 for 4.

Hamilton 17, Corvallis 0

Hamilton hosted Corvallis on Thursday, April 4th and the Lady Broncs won 17-0 in three innings.

Hamilton pitcher Mariah Johnson got the win - she gave up 2 hits and struck out 6 batters. At the plate for Hamilton, Haylee Beall went 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs, Addison Flynn went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, Cierra Cole went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Dawsyn Ekin went 1 of 2 with an RBI.

For Corvallis, Jadyn Greenwood and Lacey Jessop both had hits.

Softball Roundup

Stevensville

6, Dillon 16

The Lady ‘Jackets traveled to Dillon on Friday, April 5th and lost 6-16 to the Beavers. Stevensville trailed 1-12 after three innings, then scored 5 runs in the 4th to narrow the gap, but they weren’t able to make it all the way back.

At the plate for Stevensville, Jaidan Oyler went 3 for 4, Morgan Yeager went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Kenzi Frost went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Serenity Scott went 2 for 3 and scored a run.

Corvallis 0, Dillon 12

The Corvallis Lady Blue Devils opened their softball season in Dillon on Tuesday, April 2nd and lost 0-12 as they struggled to generate offense.

Corvallis pitcher Caitlin Nelson took the loss. Jadyn Greenwood, Ava Loran, and Sophie Cooper each had hits for Corvallis.

Corvallis 7, Frenchtown 18

On Saturday, April 6th, Corvallis hosted Frenchtown and lost 7-18. Corvallis pitcher Caitlin Nelson took the loss. At the plate for Corvallis, Jadyn Greenwood went 1 for 4 and scored 2 runs and Emma Cashell went 1 for 3 and scored a run.

Hamilton and Corvallis tennis

The tennis teams from Hamilton and Corvallis played in Hamilton on Thursday, April 4th. It was a cold and rainy day so the games were shortened, starting at 2-2 for the sake of time.

In the boys matches, Hamilton defeated Corvallis 7-0. In the girls matches, Hamilton defeated Corvallis 4-3.

The Boys Singles Results:

1 (H) Andy Purcell def. (C) Tucker Freeman 6-2, 6-2

2 (H) Carden Nelson def. (C) Atticus Chavez 6-3, 6-3

3 (H) Francesco Baruffini def. (C) Pierce Yaskus 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

4 (H) Cash Hawkes def. (C) Bradley Powell 6-3,

Hamilton Invitational

Hamilton hosted 23 area high schools track teams in the Hamilton Invitational on Saturday, April 6th on a chilly spring day. Both the Hamilton boys and girls dominated, with both teams taking first place in the team standing.

The Hamilton girls took first with 137.5 points, Corvallis took 3rd with 68 points, Florence took 7th, and Darby took 11th.

The Hamilton boys took first place with 121.5 points, Corvallis took 2nd with 83 points, Florence took 9th, Victor 13th, Stevensville 15th, and Darby 17th.

Once again, there were some impressive individual results from Bitterroot Valley athletes. The following athletes won their events.

For the Hamilton boys, Taylor Doleac won the 1600m (4:33.29) and the 3200m (10:00.47). Andrew

Burrows won the shot put (56-11) and the discus with a massive throw of 175-02, which is the furthest throw in the state this year. Tyson Bauder won the javelin with a throw of 191-06; this is also the furthest throw in the state this year. Bauder also took 2nd in the 200m and 3rd in the 100m.

For the Hamilton girls, Annalise Lewis won the 400m (1:01.30) and the 800m (2:24.58). Mya Winkler won the discus (123-02) and took 2nd in the javelin and shot put. Aubrey Korst won the pole vault (1100).

For Corvallis, Olivia Lewis won the 100m hurdles (15.44) and the 200m (26.59). Derek Criddle won the 400m (50.65) and the high jump (5-10). Stuart Brennan won the 110m hurdles (15.74).

For Florence, Madigan Hurlbert won the girls 300m hurdles (51.82)

Darby/Florence golf invite

The golf teams for Darby and Florence hosted the Florence Darby Invitational at the Hamilton Golf Club on Thursday, April 4th. There were 11 teams competing with over 100 total golfers.

In the girls team standings, the Florence team of Alexa McLean, Kipley Solari, Lacie Ketelhut, and Jordan Kidd took 1st place.

In the boys team standings, Florence took 4th (Brody Duchien, Ethan Alexander, Rollie Fisher, and Ian McLean), and Darby took 11th (Austin

Ward, Gus Harrell, Jordan Browning, and Emerson Atkins).

The following Florence girls finished in the top 20 for the individual results:

Alexa McLean took 5th, Kipley Solari took 6th, Lacie Ketelhut took 10th, and Jordan Kidd took 16th.

The following Florence boys finished in the top 20 for the individual results:

Brody Duchien took 9th, Ethan Alexander took 13th, and Rollie Fisher and Ian McLean tied for 16th.

Watt def. (H) Sam Geroy 6-4, 6-3

4 (C) Sophie Jessop def. (H) Lily Monaco 6-3, 6-3

The Girls Doubles Results: 1 (C) Jayde Venema/Brecklyn Jessop def. (H) Emma Hollingsworth/ Gwen Wolfe 6-4, 6-2

2 (H) Charlie Holmes/Codie

Clarke def. (C) Brooke Child/Anika Allred 3-6, 7-5 (10-5) 3 (H) Anna Twardoski/Alexis

Kaul (C) Addy Williams/Olivia Lawson 2-6, 6-4 (11-9)

Baseball Roundup

Corvallis 7, Butte High 6

With the score tied in the 9th inning, Corvallis’ Owen Marston took a walk with the bases loaded to give the Blue Devils the 7-6 victory over Butte High in Corvallis on Tuesday, April 2nd. For Corvallis, Brandon Brenneman went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Reese Earp went 2 for 5 with an RBI, and Justis Brickley went 1 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Corvallis pitcher Branden Wiren got the win.

Florence 14, Dillon 3 Florence traveled to Dillon on Friday, April 5th and battered the Beavers 14-3 to improve to 5-1 on the season. Florence pitcher Trapper Oster, a Dickinson State commit for baseball, got the win. Oster allowed only 1 hit and struck out 7 over 4 innings.

At the plate for Florence, Drew Wagner went 3 for 3, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBIs, Jake Roth went 2 for 4 and had 3 RBIs, and Isaiah Testerman went 1 for 3 and scored 2 runs.

Hamilton pitcher Mariah Johnson got the win against both Stevensville and Corvallis last week. The Lady Broncs are now 5-0 on the season. Photo by Scott Sacry.

Stevensville’s Maddix Yeager pitching against Hamilton on Tuesday, April 2nd. Hamilton defeated Stevensville 16-7 in Stevensville’s home opener. Photo by Scott Sacry.

PETS: Humane Shelter slumber ‘pawty’ huge success

Continued from page 1

a pie eating contest, twister, popcorn and movies, a tie dye shirt event and much more.

Prior to the event, Charlotte Webb, volunteer coordinator at the shelter, said, “It’s going to be hectic, but it’s going to be fun!” Webb has been with the shelter since February, and was born and raised in the valley. She spoke on how she grew up participating with the shelter. For her, it’s “cool to be able to work here and give back!” She explained that the event is meant to socialize the animals with people, and give them the attention many of them desperately need. Participants and shelter workers also hope the event grows awareness of what they do.

According to Gina Knepp, a board member and the one who brought the idea to the Bitterroot shelter, “I want the people of the Bitterroot to look at this as their shelter.”

When speaking about the crazy games and fun during the slumber party, she said, “It’s just shenanigans!” But, said Knepp, these types of events are more than having fun

according to Knepp, where else would those animals go?

and raising money. They’re important because, as Knepp likes to say, “There are two ends of the leash.”

She has been with the shelter for over a year. According to Knepp, the Bitter Root Humane Shelter is the only shelter in the valley, and they take pets of all kinds, and for all kinds of reasons. These can include deaths, arrests, standard pet drop offs and more. That first group of reasons stems from the shelter’s work with the county, which Knepp said makes them no money.

In fact, Knepp said they receive no tax money from the state or the county at all. They are entirely funded by grants, monetary gifts and fundraising events, like the slumber party. This can be a huge struggle as she also explained that it costs them nearly $1,900 to operate per day, and the shelter is open seven days a week all year.

Even with this limited funding, they are the ones that receive pets from the county and municipalities following legal possession of animals. The shelter is hoping to work out some form of compensation for the work they do for the local government, which significantly adds to their cost of operation. However,

The shelter has around 120 animals on the property at any one time. These include mostly dogs and cats, but can occasionally include farm animals and smaller pets. They employ 13 people, and partner with several vets in the valley for volunteer services. They also work with other breed-specific rescues to transfer animals where they are most likely to get adopted.

Some of their pets have gone as far as Chicago, New York and Seattle. The shelter works to advertise their pets as far as they can to increase the chances of them finding worthwhile homes.

This pet “shell game,” as Knepp described, is meant to further lower the need in the country for euthanization. Pets are moved all over the country through a network of shelters. According to Knepp, who has a strong foundation in this type of work, the United States is only 400,000 animals short of being considered a “no-kill nation.” Knepp works with Michelson Philanthropies, and specializes in educating shelters on “increasing last pet reunification.” Knepp got her start with an animal rescue in California, and now she travels all over teaching at animal welfare conferences.

According to Knepp, 30% of lost pets never find their way home, even though a large percentage of pets that end up in a shelter are just lost.

The shelter has been in the valley since 1972, and has entirely operated on fundraising and donations.

It truly is a “labor of love,” said Knepp. “You never catch up and you’re never done,” she added.

As for Tucker Chase, the shelter Director for the last two years, he hopes the event will bring more people out to visit and see what all they do. He used to work as an animal control officer, but switched over to the shelter side of the equation when he joined the Bitter Root Humane Association. “I really enjoy what I do,” said Chase. For him, it makes it all worth

it finding animals homes, especially when some of those animals have been with the shelter for a long time. “Cool stories like that really make a difference,” said Chase.

The shelter’s goal was to raise $20,000 by noon on Sunday, and by noon Saturday they already had $12,000 raised. “The generosity has just been overwhelming,” said Knepp. If they reached that goal, it would be the biggest fundraiser the shelter has ever participated in. This may still be the case, as by Sunday evening, they had raised nearly $17,000.

For Bitterrooters interested in participating with the shelter, helping out or adopting, the shelter recommends coming in to visit them. They are located at 262 Fairgrounds Road, in Hamilton. Interested parties can also visit the shelter website at bitterroothumane.org.

Duke the dog looks through his kennel bars. He is looking for a home, and has been for a long time. Duke is great with people, but does not like other dogs. Photo by John Dowd.

Tucker Chase, the shelter director, grills food for visitors and participants. Photo by John Dowd.

Obituaries

Sharon ‘Sherry’ Lee

Sharon “Sherry” Lee, 77, of Hamilton, passed away March 30, 2024 at Continental Care Center in Butte, Montana.

Sherry was born June 11, 1946 in Hayward, California to James E. and Hazel D. Rose Lee. She graduated from Hamilton High School in 1964. Following high school she managed the Park Café in Missoula. She also started beauty school classes during this time, transferring to Mr. Ray’s Beauty School to earn her diploma. She worked at Mr. Ray’s for several years after graduation. During this time she participated in a beautician competition, and finished in one of the two top places in the state of Montana.

Sherry married Jerry Ingersoll in March 1966. They adopted three children, Chris, Chad and Angie. After Jerry graduated from college, they moved to Hanna, WY, where she worked in a beauty shop.

Hanna had a theatrical school and Sherry did the hair for several of the actors and actresses. The couple divorced in 1980.

She was preceded in death by her father James E. Lee and a brother-in-law Butch Loftsgaarden.

Sherry is survived by her mother Hazel Salyer of Hamilton; son Chris Ingersoll of Gillette, WY, son Chad Ingersoll of Allen, AZ; daughter Angela McKenney of Gillette, WY; siblings Jim (Geil) Lee of Hamilton, Teresa Loftsgaarden of Missoula, Linda (Jim) Kaze of Missoula, Robert (Denise) Lee of Sequim, WA, Joe Menager of Great Falls, and Mark Menager of Victor; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in early June at the Daly-Leach Chapel. Urn placement will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

Sherry continued her beautician work until the last couple years of her life. She enjoyed playing pinochle at the Senior Center and Golden Age Club.

The family suggests memorials to the Hamilton Senior Center.

Freda Jo Brawley, 91 of Hamilton passed away peacefully Saturday March 23, 2024 with her family present.

Freda was born in Enid, Oklahoma to Fred and Buelah Carter and was the youngest of 8 children. She graduated from Golfry Oklahoma. She married Glyn Brawley on June 3rd 1950. She worked in the medical field until her retirement.

Freda enjoyed all sports. She was an active part of Glyn’s playing and coaching career. She was a huge

fan of her children and grandchildren’s sporting activities. She loved gardening, camping and reading. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Glyn), son (Steve), 1 granddaughter and 1 great granddaughter and 1 great grandson.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Anita and Nancy; 9 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and very special Nancy II.

A private graveside service will be held Monday, April 1, 2024 at Corvallis Cemetery.

Freda Brawley

Taking care of the trout – preserving our fisheries

It’s ultimately up to us to us to take care of our fisheries.

Montana’s Fish Wildlife and Parks has a complex job to do, but when it comes to taking care of western Montana’s fishery resources, the most critical jobs are in our hands – literally.

I’m talking about how we handle trout. Last week I promised I’d write more about the best ways to do that.

Catch and release fishing is an effective management tool for preserving and conserving wild trout fisheries.

For some, it borders on a religious experience. Regardless of who does it or why, catchand-release has to be done right to be effective.

by Chuck Stranahan

It begins with the hook.

A common complaint against catchand-release is that too many fish are lost when fishing with barbless hooks.

When I first started fishing barbless, because it was required where I was fishing, I missed a few fish and cursed the regulation that I thought was responsible. I was frustrated. This time, I thought, the regulations had gone too far.

The fact that I was required to flatten my barbs made me acutely aware of every miss, every momentary hookup that quickly got off. When I got together with other anglers to bellyache and complain about it, they were having about the same amount of success that I was. I was hooking and landing trout that rose gingerly to my small dry flies that evening about once for every four takes. And I had to work for every take, every missed opportunity. I was frustrated, annoyed.

Then one of the old vets spoke up. “How many misses did you used to get for every hookup, Chuck?” he asked. I

thought back: I’d come up, no hookup, and make another back-cast. The misses were part of the game. I didn’t notice them so much.

“About the same, I guess, “ I answered. That’s when I began to learn. Shortly after, a guy I fished with regularly discovered the magic of the hook hone. He carried a small Diamond Deb nail file and used it regularly to sharpen his hooks. I started doing the same, and noticed that my hookup ratio all-of-a-sudden seemed to double.

I still missed a few fish when the trout were delicately sipping little mayflies on the water, but hooked more than I had before. Bigger bugs and robust rises spelled almost a “can’t miss” situation when fishing sharp, barbless hooks. I was convinced.

I began sharpening every fly I as I tied it on, and re-sharpening after every fish caught, every stray cast that

snagged a willow or drug over a rock, and after every couple of misses.

Sometimes even a sharp hook doesn’t stick where it’s going to hold. But if I get a solid hookup, the reason I’m most likely to lose a fish is operator error – not the hook.

Think it through: The swept area of the barb is greater than the skinnier wire of a de-barbed hook. That skinny wire barbless hook will penetrate clear to the bend with less hook-set from the caster than will a barbed hook with greater area. The barbed hook, not well set in a big trout’s bony jaw, is more likely to produce an on-and-off couple of head-shakes than a barbless hook that penetrates clear to the bend.

Fact: I hook, play, and land a greater percentage of trout fishing sharp, barbless hooks than I ever did fishing with barbs.

And the best part about fishing barbless is that once in the net, with-

out the tension of the current to hold the hook in place, the barbless hook sometimes comes loose on its own. If not, just a little bit of extra effort with a flat-jawed hemostat (or forceps, sold in most fly shops) will quickly remove the hook.

Quick hook removal is quite often essential for trout survival. Here we’re not dealing with the damage or mortality of barbed hooks per se, but the domino effects of using them. It takes longer, regardless who does it, beginner or experienced angler, to remove a barbed hook. Time out of water and the struggle with a squirming fish to hold it still enough to remove a barbed hook can eventually kill it.

And that totally files in the face why we fish catch-and-release. We fish catch-and-release to preserve fishery resources.

That’s the biggest reason to fish sharp and barbless.

Matt Stranahan changes flies on the Madison. Check knot, sharpen hook, pinch barb. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.

Stevensville library a valuable community resource

by Carla Sanders for the NVPL Foundation

Did you know that libraries are good for you? According to recent information from the National Institutes of Health, public libraries enhance children’s reading skills, social skills, and literacy development, all of which can have a lifelong impact on health. In addition, libraries provide reading groups, story time hours, crafts, and other experiences to help parents and caregivers play with, read to, and bond with young children.

For teens and adults, libraries foster social and community engagement, offering programs—most free of charge—that can promote social interaction, discussion, and provide opportunities for continued communication. A Pew Research survey reported that almost two-thirds of adult Americans state that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community.

All point to the continued relevance of libraries in today’s rapidly evolving world. The 2024 National Library Week is April 7-13 with the theme “Ready, Set, Library!” It’s the perfect time to spotlight the work of North Valley Public Library (NVPL) in Stevensville.

The library district boundaries cover the Stevensville and Lone Rock School districts. During the 2023 calendar year, more than 3,700 patrons held cards with NVPL, and people walked through the library doors

35,287 times. A total of 73,844 items were checked out, including 11,891 electronic materials. The computers were used 5,734 times, with 896 WiFi sessions. A total of 224 programs were offered, attended by 3,343 people. These numbers don’t tell

the whole story of the library’s relevance, but NVPL’s patrons do. The library collects comments from those who use its services, and these illustrate how vital NVPL is to the local community.

“One of the many highlights of Stevensville is our little public library,” wrote one. “Not only are the staff incredibly knowledgeable, but they show a willingness to go above and beyond in many instances in assisting their patrons on a regular basis. Whether it be inquiring about a special book request

or assisting patrons with operating their computers, North Valley Public Library is a wonderful place to visit. … However, my favorite part is the huge selection of movies they have to offer! There are so many different genres to choose from, which makes it great for all age groups with varying interests. I highly recommend this little gem of a library to anyone looking to spend quality time with their family.”

Added another patron, “You guys are awesome. I was traveling recently and was so excited to go to the libraries in Pittsburgh and Denver, but I was so disappointed! They were nothing compared to

here. We are so spoiled, especially with the kids’ programs and everything.”

One more benefit: An estimated 90% of public libraries provide services for job seekers, making them a crucial labor market access point. One national survey found that 92% of libraries nationwide—including NVPL—help people access online job databases and resources, 78% help them create resumes, and 76% assist with online job applications. For more information about North Valley Public Library and its programs, go to northvalleylibrary.org or stop in at 208 Main St., Stevensville.

Above, Dianne Snedigar, chair of the North Valley Public Library board of trustees, stands next to a

and

DeMoss. Photo by Victoria Howell.

North Valley Public Library, on Stevensville’s Main Street. Photo courtesy Carla Sanders.

Water quality monitoring program gets Rapp grant

The Bitterroot River Protection Association (BRPA) was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Rapp Family Foundation to purchase additional water quality monitoring and stream flow measuring equipment.

“This couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Executive Director Michael Howell. He said the organization’s monitoring program, the Bitterroot River Health Check program, has been collecting nutrient data annually at six sites along the Mainstem of the Bitterroot River and at 11 sites on six tributaries along the Sapphire Front (the east side of the valley) for the last six years.

“So far we have been able to do it by juggling the same monitoring equipment between the volunteer team working on the river and the volunteer teams working on the streams, but it has made scheduling the whole thing very difficult and even conflicting at times,” said Howell. “Not only that, but we are currently working with the Bitterroot National Forest on a joint Sampling and Analysis Plan that would extend our monitoring

program across the Bitterroot Front [the west side of the valley]. For that to go forward more equipment will be absolutely essential.”

“We realized in the very beginning that our dream of a systematic long term water quality monitoring program across the Bitterroot River watershed was not something we could do on our own,” said Howell. “It may have been our vision and our adopted mission, but it has taken the whole community to make it a reality.”

The “citizen science” based program is headquartered at the Bitterroot College and depends heavily on individual volunteers and partnering organizations such as Bitterroot Trout Unlimited, Bitterrooters for Planning, and Friends of the Bitterroot and on donations from individual community members and local businesses and grants.

Howell said the program works closely with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Flathead Lake Biological Laboratory to assure a high level of performance in the field and good quality data in

the end.

“Besides our own projects, we participate in government agency sponsored water monitoring projects, in training and educational programs at the Bitterroot College and in university related research projects, as well as other independent water quality monitoring projects in the Bitterroot River watershed,” said Howell. “We owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people, businesses and government agencies for our success to date,” he said. “But right now we owe a special thanks to the Rapp Family Foundation. We benefited significantly from a Rapp Family Foundation grant when we initially set out to get this community based watershed monitoring program started. We are very appre-

ciative that they have stepped up once again to help us obtain the equipment necessary not only to continue our ongoing efforts, but also in dealing with the increased needs as we expand our operations into the Bitterroot Front.”

Donations to the Bitterroot River Health Check Program are spent only on equipment, supplies, laboratory/ data analysis and professional services when required. To donate go to www.bitterrootriver.org, click on Bitterroot River Health Check and click the Donation Button. Be sure to add in the note option under the amount: “Health Check program” OR make your check out to: BRPA- Health Check and mail it to: BRPA- Health Check, P. O. Box 8, Stevensville MT 59870.

300 Park Street (behind K-3 building), Stevensville, from 7 AM to 8 PM.

All electors, as defined in Title 13, who reside in the District, are eligible to vote in the elections.

*All electors, as defined in Title 7-33-2106(4), who hold title to lands within a Rural Fire District are eligible to vote in a fire district election.

**All electors, as defined in Title 85-7-1710, who hold title to irrigable lands within an Irrigation District are eligible to vote in an irrigation district election.

Early preparation and reconciliation of mail

Bitterroot River Health Check volunteers monitor water quality in a local tributary of the Bitterroot River. Photo Courtesy BRPA.

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

SPANGOLD RETRIEVERS. Deliberately bred to hunt and/or work. Both parents AKC & proven hunters. $800.00, $250 deposit. Ready May 9th. Call or Text 701-330-5466Trapper.peak.kennels@gmail. com

ONGOING MOVING, GARAGE, YARD SALEthru end of April - Quality Furniture, Antiques, KitchenWare, Books, Turntable (like new), with old albums, mostly country, some others. Lots of STUFF! 2005

Dodge Ram Pickup. Will consider offers, times vary. Call (406) 381-1818 or by chance at 1100 Fletcher LN, Stevensville (Lone Rock Area).

HAY FOR SALE, Small Square Bales, $200 per ton, Call or Text (406) 2144416.

ONGOING MOVING, GARAGE, YARD SALEthru end of April - Quality Furniture, Antiques, KitchenWare, Books, Turntable (like new), with old albums, mostly country, some others. Lots of STUFF! 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup. Will consider offers, times vary. Call (406) 381-1818 or by chance at 1100 Fletcher LN, Stevensville (Lone Rock Area).

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the letter is intended as a protest; (4) a description of the grounds for protesting; and (5) the protestor’s signature. A letter with multiple signatures will be considered one protest letter. What are valid protest grounds? The protest may be based on the applicant’s qualifications listed in 16-4401, MCA, or the grounds for denial of an application in 16-4-405, MCA. Examples of valid protest grounds include:

(1) the applicant is unlikely to operate the establishment in compliance with the law; (2) the proposed location cannot be properly policed by local authorities; and (3) the welfare of the people in the vicinity of the proposed location will be adversely and seriously affected.

on or before April 20, 2024.

What happens if the transfer is protested?

Depending on the number of protests and the protest grounds, a public hearing will be held in Helena or Victor. All valid protestors will be notified of the hearing’s time, date and location. Hearings typically are scheduled within 90 days. A protester’s hearing testimony is limited to the grounds in the protester’s letter. Following the hearing, the Department of Revenue will notify the public whether the license transfer is approved or denied.

How can additional information be obtained? The cited MCA statutes are online at leg.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/. Questions may be directed to Breanna Gill, Compliance Specialist for the Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, at 444-0710 or Breanna.Gill@mt.gov. BS 4-3, 4-10-24.

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

Attorney for Personal Representative

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: SANDRA L. HOLLAND, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-24-35 Dept. No.: 2 JENNIFER B.

How are protests submitted? Protests must be postmarked to the Department of Revenue, Office of Dispute Resolution, P.O. Box 5805, Helena, Montana 59604-5805