Bitterroot Star - June 12, 2024

Farmers Market provides access to local agriculture

by Nathan Boddy

It’s been nine years since O’Hara Commons begin their Wednesday Farmers Market across the street from the Bitterroot Public Library, and from the looks of things on June 5th, the market was having no problem swinging back into action for the 2024 summer season with many of its ‘anchor’ vendors in place, such as Bee Happy Honey Farm, Ellen & Ian, Aspen Grove, House of Ferments, Odd Fellows Bakery, Blue Coyote Farm and Verdure Pastures.

According to Samantha O’Byrne, founder and Executive Director of O’Hara Commons, the open-air market, which runs from June until September each year, serves to augment the “year round local food market” that the O’Hara Commons offers to the public via an online portal. With that service, O’Hara Commons is able to offer the agricultural goods of approximately 65 different growers to the public throughout much of the year. The Wednesday Farmers Market allows some of those vendors to offer their products face to face with the public, a fact which O’Byrne says compliments the mission of O’Hara Commons.

“We are really focused on improving access to local food for all community members,” she said. That sentiment is listed as the first

event. This does not strike O’Byrne as duplicative, however, and she described the availability of two events as a positive for valley consumers.

According to O’Byrne, Laura Craig, who was instrumental in founding the Hamilton Farmers Market, actually approached O’Hara Commons after concluding that a mid-week option for sourcing locally produced goods was not only viable, but desirable by consumers.

“She helped us lift the market up off the ground at the beginning,” said O’Byrne.

And while the Wednesday market may now have expanded ever so slightly beyond just food, O’Byrne says that the people who tend to come to the mid-week market are very focused and taking advantage of the opportunity to fill their needs. This symbiotic relationship works for vendors as well, since it gives them an additional chance to sell.

element within the O’Hara Commons’ vision. Included also are aims to “strengthen our local food system and economy,” and “develop food-based partnerships and programs.” Proving that these visions are being pursued, O’Byrne also pointed out that most of the vendors involved in the market are food/ agricultural based.

But while food access is the primary goal of O’Hara Commons, this year will also include two rotating positions each week which will be filled by an artist and a local non-profit respectively. Those positions are provided to their occupants at no cost, and have already been spoken for for the duration of the season. Furthermore, the market will continue to host a musical guest each week, the cost of which will be borne by the market’s sponsorship program. These collective steps are those which O’Byrne says are ways to support local efforts and talents.

The Wednesday market at O’Hara Commons is not the only place for valley residents to access local food and goods, however, as the Saturday Hamilton Farmers Market takes place just two blocks from the O’Hara

“By June, our vendors are really in the thick of harvest,” she said, “so this is a great outlet for them.”

O’Hara Commons is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and provides a variety of programs centered on food availability. Their ‘year round’ farmers market is also able to accept payment in the form of SNAP dollars (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of the USDA) as well as senior coupons. Furthermore, O’Hara Commons maintains a partnership with CFAC (Community Food and Agricultural Coalition) which allows them to offer a matching program for buyers who use SNAP dollars to purchase local food. Under this program, O’Hara Commons is able to provide coupons for $30 worth of value on qualifying foods after a participant has purchased $30 worth. Organizations such as O’Hara Commons and CFAC represent actors in a wide ranging network of entities whose missions include things such as: preservation of agricultural landscapes, continued access to healthy food for consumers, and even shortening supply chains and dependency on distant sources for food. Locally grown food has the added benefit of helping dollars remain in the local economy.

O’Byrne would also like to remind

folks to be on the lookout on Wednesdays, July 10th and August 7th, when the Wednesday Farmers Market will expand beyond its normal parameters, closing the adjacent street to become a “Street Fair.” O’Byrne says that these larger events are done to acknowledge the community side of farmers markets, and on past dates have drawn between six and eight hundred visitors.

Apart from being a good way to

source food, the markets hosted by O’Hara Commons are very clearly a comfortable social outlet as well, as indicated by one visitor on Wednesday afternoon who passed by Samantha O’Byrne to thank her for “hosting the party.”

O’Byrne acknowledged the sentiment. “That is how we achieve our mission of increasing equitable access to local food year-round for all community members.”

Prioritize Your Health During Men’s

June is Men’s Health Month, a time to promote awareness of men’s health issues and encourage proactive well-being. For all the men in our lives, it’s crucial to take charge of your health, improve your quality of life, and reduce the risk of serious conditions like heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Take charge of your health today by scheduling regular check-ups and screenings right here in Hamilton.

Don’t wait, call Sapphire Community Health today at 432-943-2068 to schedule your annual wellness exam.

Discover more about local medical services, providers and healthcare resources at sapphirechc.org or call 406-541-0032.

Andrew and Anais, of Eternal Bloom, were happy to be at the Wednesday Farmers Market, saying the event is one of their favorites. Photo by Nathan Boddy.

MacKenzie Brosious (left), Director of Programs and Outreach and Samantha O’Byrne, co-founder and Executive Director of O’Hara Commons, enjoy the summer’s first Wednesday Farmers Market at 111 South 4th Street in Hamilton. Photo by Nathan Boddy.

Pedaling to End Poverty: a professor’s bike ride fundraiser

On Wednesday, June 12, Utah

State University Professor Mike Glauser will be biking along Hwy 93 from Lolo to Sula on a cross-country journey he hopes will be nothing short of the frst step towards ending world

poverty. Departing Florence, Oregon on June 3 and biking across the country following the TransAmerica Trail, Glauser will reach Yorktown, Virginia on July 20th. This cross-country journey, “Pedaling to End Poverty,” is an

efort towards ending world poverty. Accompanying Glauser will be 5 of his colleagues including a documentary flm crew. I wanted to let you know why this is all pretty big news!

Glauser is a man on a mission, bicycling coast-to-coast with stops at dozens of small towns and hamlets in between, a crusade that’s sure to draw attention all along his route, and one everyone can easily be a part of.

His message is simple yet profound: We have it in our grasp to dramatically improve the lives of poor people around the globe. Taking a grassroots approach, one small business at a time, with the model repeated thousands of times over. It’s the same philosophy guiding Professor Glauser’s ride across America. We truly are all in this together, one person reaching out to another.

It’s not a pipe dream. Not a fantasy sometime of in the future. As Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, Glauser’s students have now taught more than

10,000 people in Ghana, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Peru and more how to start and grow successful businesses, transforming their lives, the lives of their families, employees, and those in their communities.

The innovative and nationally acclaimed program is called SEED, for Small Enterprise Education and Development. Students from any university can apply for the one semester international program, learning invaluable experience in being an entrepreneur and teaching and mentoring others. For students who have done the program one of two things has happened. They either graduated and started their own businesses, or they were highly sought after by companies wanting employees with this kind of worldly experience.

But now the program has the means to expand, touching more people’s lives. Professor Glauser’s cross country ride is to spread the word and raise money for scholarships. 100% of all money raised goes to student scholarships and your audience can help support this if they feel so moved. Pledging as little as one cent per mile is a donation of $40 and will help students and budding entrepreneurs.

Along his journey, Professor Glauser is meeting up with alumni from the program, flming interviews on how their lives have been afected and the people they have touched.

Fort Owen State Park celebrates improvements

Fort Owen State Park, located in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. to celebrate a series of park additions and improvements that have taken place over the last four years.

The park’s transformation began in 2020 and includes a new public access parking lot, new interpretive exhibits and trail, and stabilization and preservation of one of Montana’s oldest standing buildings.

Many partners, volunteers and experts have dedicated hundreds of hours to complete the park improvements. The work was made possible by funding from the State Parks Foundation, Helmsley Family Trust and the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program.

The park, known for being the site of many frsts in Montana history, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1841, Catholic missionaries established St. Mary’s Mission, and in 1850, John Owen bought the mission and transformed it into Fort Owen, a trading post and agricultural center.

The event was free and open to the public and was a chance to see and celebrate the new additions to the park. Fort Owen State Park is surrounded by private property, so visitors should watch for signs marking the boundaries and only walk and drive on park property.

For more information on Fort Owen State Park, visit fwp.mt.gov/ stateparks/fort-owen or call (406) 273-4253.

Fort Owen State Park archway. Photo courtesy Montana FWP.

Trumpeter swans success at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

On June 6, 2024, six trumpeter swan cygnets and their parents were observed feeding on Otter Pond at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville after the young were hatched on Pond 10 a week earlier. Immediately after hatching, the adult pair marched the family north, across the levee and into Otter Pond. They have done similarly the past five years. The two adult swans have dutifully attended a nest built on a muskrat lodge on Pond 10 for well over a month.

This is the sixth year in a row that trumpeter swans have successfully nested on the Refuge and the fourth consecutive year in hatching six cygnets. Prior to 2019, trumpeters were not known to nest in the Bitterroot Valley. The nest has consistently been built on the largest and most remote of the 23 managed impoundments of the Refuge.

Visitors may have an opportunity to observe the trumpeter swan family by hiking to the end of the Kenai Nature Trail north of the Visitor Center and looking out from the observation

RAPTORS: birds of prey rescue presents at mansion

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peratures at their facility!”

Wild Skies Raptor Center has taken in many birds from the Daly Mansion property in the past. This made it the perfect location to speak about the birds they are trying to rescue, and to bring along several avian ambassadors. In the end, Raptor Day drew over 300 people. For Tanner, this is an important time to do this outreach because the spring and summer can often be popular seasons for raptors in need of rescue.

During the event, Tanner spoke on the process the birds go through, from rescue to release. She spoke about recovery, explaining that the birds will often need surgery. After that, birds will receive physical rehabilitation, attempting to get them back in shape for a return to the wild. Released birds are also given unique bands, allowing them to be tracked upon future recoveries. These bands have contact information for anyone who finds a bird, allowing them to report the raptor, helping researchers identify causes of death and even bird age. According to Tanner, this has allowed raptor researchers to learn that some eagles can live well over 30 years. Some of these birds cannot be released, and this will necessitate either rehoming or, in many cases, euthanization. This is especially true for owls and red tailed hawks, as these birds are common and hard to rehome into educational facilities. In the case of eagles, which are making a comeback, this can also now be difficult. For these federally protected birds, there are specific federal limitations that further challenge their release and rehoming. In cases where, for example, they are one-legged, they cannot be released and must be rehomed in an educational space, otherwise they will need to be euthanized.

Tanner has been rehabbing birds for 18 years, and started her own rescue, Wild Skies Raptor Center, in 2010. “I started off just trying to help out wildlife when I was younger,” said Tanner. She started off primarily in the rehabilitation side, with a veterinary technician degree. However, she eventually discovered the need for public education on the plights that raptors face. “It’s just something really important to try and save these birds,” she said, noting that the majority of these crises are “anthropomorphic.” Tanner believes she, and others, have a “moral obligation because these birds are getting injured due to human causes.”

The center’s education events, like this one, cover many of the challenges raptors face, making people aware of how their actions can indirectly affect

birds on the sides of roads, to lead poisoning from eating carcasses that have not been cleaned or discarded properly, raptors can have a difficult time.

Tanner also mentioned baling twine is a common threat, especially in rural areas. Raptors will often utilize twine, or fishing line, in the construction of nests. These will not deteriorate well over time, and can strangle or trap chicks, increasing their already high mortality rate. According to Tanner, in a recent study around 5% to 10% of osprey chicks in Montana were lost due to issues with baling twine.

Raptors that specifically hunt vermin face another danger. In many rural areas, rodenticides are used, and birds that consume these mice, rats and squirrels that have been poisoned can often be poisoned as well.

However, according to Tanner, not all injuries and health concerns that are human-related stem from accidents.

“Raptors get a hard rap,” according to Tanner, because they are predators. Because of this, many residents can often find their livestock threatened, especially chickens. Because of the feed given to these animals, often rodents are drawn in. This will also bring in hungry birds. Tanner said it is not uncommon to find birds that have been shot, including federally protected birds. In fact, the Bitterroot is a big offender in this department. According to Tanner, in the last 11 years they have received around 45 birds that have either died or become injured from being shot. Of that, 27 have come from the Bitterroot Valley.

Tanner said this can be devastating, as shooting one bird will in turn affect their entire family. Many of these raptors require two parents to hunt enough to feed their chicks.

Tanner said this can be a real shame, as raptors can be extremely beneficial to the environment, from vultures that take care of dead carcasses, to falcons, owls and eagles that will hunt various pests. These species are also considered “bio-indicators,” meaning that their healthy populations will often imply that the rest of the populations, down the food chain, may also be healthy.

Anyone who discovers an injured raptor is encouraged to call (406) 2103468. According to Tanner, the center is always on call. “We don’t take any days off,” she said, but they may not answer late at night. “We’re pretty good, especially during daylight hours,” about responding quickly, said Tanner. The center is also linked up with various other wildlife organizations, such as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Forest Service, various veterinary clinics and other rescues. These groups will

deck. Swan pair over Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, last year. Photo by John Dowd.

Brooke Tanner presenting last weekend with the help of a western screech owl. Photos courtesy Jim and Estelle Shuttleworth.

Montana Citizen Advisory Committee applicants

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking applicants to fill volunteer positions on the west-central Montana (FWP Region 2) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC).

The CAC is a general advisory committee that provides input and feedback to FWP on diverse issues—from wildlife and fisheries management, to access, state parks, outdoor recreation, and law enforcement. The committee is designed to have a membership that represents a variety of west-central Montana communities and natural resource interests.

To apply, download an application online at fwp.mt.gov, or contact FWP at 406-542-5500. Completed applications must be received by Friday, June 21, 2024. Applicants must live in FWP Region 2, which includes the counties of Deer Lodge, Ravalli, Granite, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and the southwestern

portion of Lewis and Clark. FWP welcomes applications from anyone with an interest in natural resource issues and outdoor recreation.

Each FWP region has a CAC. Find out more: fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission-councils-committees.

The function of the CAC is to:

• Provide a forum for ongoing, twoway communication

• Help FWP identify emerging issues

• Provide advice and perspective on resource and management topics

• Assist FWP with creating ideas on regional and statewide issues

The panel of volunteers typically meets four times per year in Missoula, and the next meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 7. Members serve two-year terms and can reapply when their terms expire. Meals and travel expenses are provided.

American Legion Ravalli Post 47 presents School Awards

Every year, the American Legion Ravalli Post 47 (Hamilton) honors high school students who exemplify good citizenship and commitment to excellence.

Post 47 is proud to announce our 2024 honorees: The Military Commitment Certificate of Commendation is awarded for their commitment to serving in the United States Armed Forces in the name of freedom and democracy and for courageously volunteering to protect our liberty and independence.

Hamilton High School: Andrew Purcell – U.S. Air Force Academy; Asher Frost – U.S. Air Force; Jasmin Cymbala – Carroll College ROTC; Samantha Geroy – Carroll College ROTC Darby High School: Gavin Polson

– U.S. Navy; Aava Nelson – U.S. Air Force

The Certificate of Distinguished Achievement is awarded in recognition as The American Legion School Award winner nominated by their teachers for demonstrating the highest qualities of Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service which are necessary for preservation and protection of the fundamental institutions of our government and the advancement of society.

Hamilton High School: Gwen Wolfe, Andrew Ricklefs

Hamilton Middle School: Kassidee McKern, Roland Bennett

Darby High School: Payton Ehmann, Abigail Converse Darby Middle School: Jackson Bennett, Ella Bush

Tuesday at Twelve series launched

The Jean Matthews Tuesday at Twelve series of free summer concerts commenced Tuesday, June 11, with a concert by The DoubleFront Five Dixieland Band on the lawn of the Ravalli County Museum. The weekly concerts will continue every Tuesday at noon through August 20.

The concert series was founded in 1990 by Jean Matthews, and is now in its 34th year. Matthews passed away in 2015, but the concert series remains as her legacy.

The music ran from noon until 1p.m., and attendees were encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blanket and a picnic lunch, and to dress for the weather. The museum will provide some shade structures, but attendees should plan to arrive early to take advantage of them. In the event of rain or unhealthy smoke levels, the concerts will move to the Community Room of Hamilton City Hall.

There are no food vendors at the concerts, but picnickers are encouraged to take advantage of the many Hamilton eateries offering grab ‘n go lunches.

The series is underwritten by local business sponsors and individuals. Numerous other businesses and individuals have contributed to keep the concerts free for the public.

As usual, this year’s performers include several acts new to the program and some returning favorites, all spanning a variety of musical genres. The concerts are appropriate for all ages.

June

June

June

July

July 9: James Lanman

July 16: The Flaming Suzettes

July 23: The Millionaires

July 30: Annemarie Barnes & Bruce Wareing Aug. 6: The Bitterroot Community Band Aug. 13: Good Old Fashioned Aug. 20: The Regal Quartet Concert information can be found on the series’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/tuesdayattwelve. For more information about the concert series, contact the producer at jmtuesdayat12@ gmail.com or 406-363-1279.

2024 Tuesday at 12 Performers

11: The DoubleFront Five Dixieland Band

18: Tom Catmull

25: The Gravy Ladles

2: The Big Sky Mudflaps

Decline to sign CI-128

Here are the facts you ARE NOT being told by the petition gatherers about what CI-128 would do to change Montana’s constitution:

Based on the facts you will read below, PLEASE DECLINE TO SIGN CI-128 - WE THE PEOPLE are so much better than this.

- Abortion is already legal, and fully taxpayer funded, in Montana up to 26 weeks for any reason (that’s 6 1/2 months). That’s more extreme than nearly every nation in the world, except North Korea and China.

- Montana already provides the right to an abortion to save the life of the mother. However, any good maternal/fetal specialist would tell you that they are treating both the mother and the childin-the-womb as they pursue all attempts to save both lives. It is actually quite rare to have to end the life of the child in the womb to save the life of the mother. There ARE other options. Modern medicine has come a long way!

- CI-128 would allow abortions to be performed on minors without parental notification or parental consent for any reason, again fully taxpayer funded, or by the parent’s insurance.

- Would allow abortions to be performed by non-doctors up to the moment of birth. NO guardrails at all for abortion, including partial birth abortion. How are those good healthcare standards for women?

- Dangerous chemical abortion pills would be made more readily available. The abortion industry would be put in charge of women’s healthcare. Including the dangerous dispensation of the harmful chemical abortion pills that a woman takes to end the life of the child in the womb, and then, induces labor to “expel” the body of her dead child, and the placenta, into the toilet, our waterways, and waste management systems. And put her at 25% greater risk of excessive bleeding and hemorrhaging. These pills are currently dispensed without a medical exam or gestational age check of the baby in the womb.

- Women would NOT receive full disclosure and informed consent of abortion’s risks, complications and causal links on their lifelong holistic health and wholeness. Women are told abortion is “safe.”

- Anyone, even a parent, husband, boyfriend, etc. could be arrested and charged with a felony for trying to sway a woman from making a harmful, uninformed abortion decision.

- Women would be limited in their ability to sue for damages against the abortion provider, when and if they find themselves being diagnosed with breast cancer in later years, infertility issues for various reasons, an increase in miscarriages and pre-term birth, and or mental health and/or suicidal issues. All known risks and causal links according to the worldwide scientific data.

- Pregnancy health centers that do not promote or refer for abortions, would be vulnerable to targeting by the abortion industry and government agencies.

- Bills to protect innocent human life in the womb would be struck down as “unconstitutional” - ie., eliminating safeguards for future generations. The obsessive world population control agenda would be unleashed in the state of Montana.

- Increase out-of-state “abortion minded” visitors, at taxpayer expense, to use Montana as their abortion destination.

- Increase sex trafficking exploitation - would make Montana a “safe-haven” for violent offenders and sex traffickers

who abuse women.

- Would allow Planned Parenthood to continue to hide cases of statutory rape. Keep in mind, they are trying to lower the age of consent to access more customers. If you don’t believe me, go find the CSE (Comprehensive Sex Education) curriculums in many schools around the country that push promiscuous sex curricula on children as young as kindergarten. Which was produced during Obama’s time in office, created mostly by Planned Parenthood board members at the time. Sexualizing young children is NEVER good policy.

Bottom line folks, THIS ballot initiative is far too extreme for Montana, and quite frankly anywhere.

The fact is “abortion/pregnancy termination,” whether legal or not, has always been with us, and sadly, always will be. People make choices that are not good for them and others every day of the week, 24/7.

However, standards of good, holistic, non-invasive and natural healthcare for women needs a lot of work.

Forcing all taxpayers to pay for abortion as a form of birth control isn’t good for ANYONE!

Changing a state constitution for these purposes is dark, barbaric, dangerous and devalues innocent voiceless human beings at all levels - the ripple effect is real.

Also, keep in mind, based on the “reproductive transgender rights” being pushed upon all taxpayers around the country, THAT WILL BE the next thing all Montanans will be forced to pay for.

The passage of CI-128 would REQUIRE YOU to open your checkbook, sign on the bottom signature line, and give the abortion industry, Planned Parenthood, the abortion on demand agenda a blank check and force you to fund anything and everything they come up with that even remotely has anything to do with women’s health and reproductive “rights.”

Mark my words.

I’m all for freedom, but again abortion should not be a form of birth control. Good policy is built on principles that are good, right and true. So, how about we promote, the BEST birth control is self control.

Let’s promote a world full of love, hope, grace and celebrating all human life, including the unborn little human beings needing to be protected, and by DECLINING TO SIGN CI-128 - the “Reproductive Rights” ballot initiative. There’s a WHOLE LOT they are NOT telling you to try to get you to sign this ballot initiative.

Deborah Tilden Stevensville

Injustice

This fake trial and Trump’s conviction is the final aftermath of nine years of the Democrats and the Democrat-controlled media and the deep state trying to stop Trump from taking away their power. They tried to impeach him twice. They engineered a takeover of the government by the Biden Cabal and have thrown indictments and election interference in his way to keep him from winning back the Presidency. They threw his supporters in jail. They ignore the Constitution. They are planning to come for us next – the lovers of this country and its Declaration of Independence and rights under the people’s Constitution.

The only way we as (still) free people can correct this injustice is to vote en masse for President Trump on Nov. 5, 2024. Vote out every Democrat in every state. They have all colluded with the Democrat elite in Washington. The

American people are coming to understand, black, brown, white and purple, that we are under the thumb of dictatorship and tyranny in Washington. It is the time of their downfall! Everybody must register and vote. A vote that is too big to rig!

Richard Parker Stevensville

Illegal immigration in Montana

We write to encourage a call to action. We must immediately address the illegal immigration happening in Montana. I, as well as many Montanans, have seen the numbers – fentanyl confiscation in Montana up by 20,000%, sex trafficking up by 116%, illegal immigration at our northern border up 597% with over 10,000 illegal immigrants crossing per month. These inexpiable numbers indicate two things: The failure of the Biden Administration to protect America from the influx of crime caused by the illegal immigration crisis on our border, and the need for the Montana State Legislature to act where the federal government fell short. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, was quoted by the American Press regarding securing his state’s borders as saying, “Every minute we wait means more fentanyl deaths, more strain on our first responders, and the looming possibility of street releases – something that no small community wants.” But what are we as Montanans doing with the information that has already been well circulated regarding our state? Are we still pretending what is happening at the southern border can’t affect a state as far away as Montana? Look at accounts like the Bozeman resident who was stabbed to death by an illegal immigrant or the apprehension of three illegal immigrants stalking Bozeman locals in a sex trafficking scheme. Denying the facts can only mean one is suffering from motivated skepticism or an ideological fallacy. This is not the case for Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who was also quoted saying, “Our border communities are not just political backdrops, not just places you go to point out problems. They’re places where real people live, where they’re trying to raise their families.”

This is why we are calling on you to urge your state legislators to vote for a special session where we can gather for a week and address these issues as many other states have already done. It is our job to protect the Montana population by halting those inexcusable statistics. It is likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will soon be asked to consider the constitutionality of Senate Bill 4 enacted by Texas, which is what our bill in the special session is based upon. It will be important that other states impacted by the Biden Administration’s unwillingness to enforce federal immigration laws have enacted their own laws to signal to the Court that we must have the ability to defend our interests if the Biden Administration will not. The impacts extend far beyond southern border states.

Reps. Bill Mercer HD 46, Brandon Ler HD 35, Sherry Essmann HD 52, Jodee Etchart HD 48, Mike Yakawich HD 51, Nelly Nicol HD 53, Larry Brewster HD 44, Greg Oblander HD 40, Sen. Kenneth Bogner SD 19

Unintended consequence

I wonder if Steve Hall has reflected upon the possibility that his rumor mongering, fact free assault on Senator Manzella may have actually created a significant sympathy vote for the Senator. I

am no fan of the Senator but Hall’s letter represents EVERYTHING that stinks so badly in our current political climate. Nobody should be the victim of such a brutal compilation of accusations with zero proof that the blathering was in any part factual.

I know Wayne Rusk well enough to be sure he did NOT have a hand in such malicious intent. And I doubt Senator Manzella would seek such unfair treatment no matter how many sympathy votes that painful letter may have garnered.

If we expect our politicians to behave better, we ourselves have a responsibility to set the model. Steve Hall’ s letter is a good reminder of why. Apart from his malicious intent, his letter was simply stupid.

That said, I ask Senator Manzella to own the unpleasant rhetoric that flows readily from her mouth; denigrating ANY who are not in lock step with her narrow views whether they be Democrats, Republicans, Christians of different churches (not to mention different religions) and certainly any of a different sexual persuasion. Nobody trying to get into your bedroom, Senator, so stay out of theirs. That’s a metaphor incidentally, for all the nastiness toward any who disagree with you.

John Grant Hamilton

Thank you

Thank you for your support in the election. You may have noticed throughout my campaign some issues that I raised have now come to the forefront and will be worked on in the next legislative session. I will be keeping a watchful eye on them and hopefully make a difference in some way that matters.

Brad Davis Victor

No to Trump

How can free thinking Republicans continue to support a twice convicted rapist (the judge in the case says that what the jury found Trump did was in fact rape, as commonly understood), a convicted felon, and a twice impeached president? In addition, he is an indicted conspirator to overthrow the government of the United States on January 6, 2021, and he is charged with stealing valuable secret documents, including nuclear secrets, from the White House when he left, without even attending, for the first time in our country’s history, the inauguration of his successor, Joe Biden!

This week, we celebrated D-Day in Europe, where so many American and Allied troops lost their lives in defense of freedom and democracy. President Ronald Reagan denounced isolationism and strongly supported the position of an integrated NATO.

Where have all the Reaganites gone?

I am not a Republican, but I strongly support Reagan’s position in our need to rally around our allies against threats from Russia or any other country interested in attacking countries that only want to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors.

Former President Trump rejects this position. Our European allies are very much afraid of what will happen to NATO if Trump is elected.

This is but one reason, among many, that we must reject former President Trump. You might not like President Biden or his policies, but his primary policy is to preserve democracy at home and abroad. I ask you not to vote for Mr. Trump!

Thomas Tunny Hamilton

A Course of Love study group

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

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.

Yoga for Veterans FREE to veterans, first responders, and their families! Tuesdays, 1-2pm at the American Legion Post 94 in Stevensville Register at: redwillowlearning.org OR call 406-530-7175. Come see us on 1st Friday in May ‘bout 1800 for more info! We’ll be in front of Active Care Wellness on Main in Stevensville.

MS Support Group

Bitterroot MS Support Group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month in the Gallery room at the Coffee Cup Cafe in Hamilton, 500 S 1st Street, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Have a slice of pie, dinner, or just come to chat with others about living with Multiple Sclerosis. This is a positive and uplifting group that holds open discussions, and the occasional guest speaker. Find more information at www.nationalmssociety.org or contact Jackie Peterson, (970)518-293, jackierpeterson@gmail. 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

Film Screening of Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration – Thur. June 13 at 6pm

Join us for the screening of Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration, a new 60-minute documentary film that explores the native seed supply chain in the western United States. Filmed over four seasons, this documentary explores the people working to scale up the supply of native seeds to meet the growing restoration demand, weaving together footage with seed collectors, farmers, researchers and

land managers across the western United States. We see the staggering scale of damage to vast landscapes, and we meet tenacious people who are finding creative, scrappy solutions to restore ecosystems one seed at a time.

Discussion will follow.

Summer Art for Kids Ages 5-10 –Mon. June 17 at 10:30am

Calling all crafty kids! Join in this artsy fun program. Lone Rock Kindergarten teacher Crystal Grant presents creative activities. Whether it is painting, drawing, making card, or mobiles, you’ll go home with a handmade treasure in this hand-on learning program. Today we will make a treasure bag and then we can hunt for prizes around the library!

Board Meeting – Wed. June 19 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.

Lone Rock Park Board

The Lone Rock Park Board will meet Wednesday, June 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the Three Mile Community Center, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Rd. Public welcome.

Bitterroot Public Library

Contact: Daniel Ray, Community Librarian at community@bitterrootpubliclibrary.org, Annika Riley, Youth Services Librarian at youthservices@ bitterrootpubliclibrary.org; Mark Wetherington, Library director at director@ bitterrootpubliclibrary.org

Wednesday, June 12:

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.

Bitterroot Brewery Tour, 2 to 3 p.m. Offsite at the brewery. Registration required. Take a private tour of the Bitterroot’s lovely Bitterroot Brewery. Bitterroot Brewery has been serving our community since 1998. Learn more about this local business, the different ingredients used in their beer production and how they make it!

Thursday, June 13:

Artful Thinking, 2 to 3 p.m., meeting room. Registration required. Join us to unlock your inner artist. Learn about artists, style, technique, and work with a wide variety of mediums! Ages 6+.

SPEAKERS: Psychological Thrillers and the Queen of Twists– An Author Talk with Freida McFadden, 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. Registration required. Get your popcorn and take a seat as we pick the brain of the queen of twists herself, Freida McFadden! McFadden will join us to chat about writing

psychological thrillers, her mega-bestselling hit The Housemaid series, in particular her forthcoming (June 11, 2024) third installment, The Housemaid Is Watching.

Friday, June 14:

Preschool Story time, 10:30 a.m., meeting room. Registration required. Join Kat for stories, activities and games. Ages 3 to 5.

One on One Tech Help, 10 a.m. to noon. Registration required. Meet with Community Librarian, Daniel Ray, one on one to discuss any tech issues you might be facing. Register in advance and briefly describe the issue you are facing so that staff have a chance to research and better help you.

spectrUM Summer of Science, 1 to 3 p.m., west lawn. Join us outside on the lawn for hands on scientific exploration and ignite passion for discovery through science. Open to all.

Adult Chess Club, 4:30 to 6 p.m. meeting room. Join us on the second and fourth Friday of each month to play over the board chess with other players. Players of all skills are welcome. This chess club is for adults only, though beginner adult players are welcome.

Saturday, June 15:

Change Your Food, Change the World: Introduction to Whole Foods Plant Based Lifestyle, 10 a.m. to noon. Meeting room. Registration required. Learn about the Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) lifestyle! Come away with your first steps in place: a Vegan Starter Kit, a Salad-in-a-Jar, recipes and meal ideas, a tasty snack, and Q&A with others living this lifestyle.

Make Your Own Garden Take Home Kit for Kits. First come, first served grab bag kit. Kit includes all materials and instructions to have fun at home.

Tuesday, June 18:

Coloring Club for Adults, meeting room, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Indulge your creative side and social network the old fashion way. Coloring pages and pens provided.

Backyard Birding for Kids, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., west lawn. Registration required. Join us for three hands-on discovery sessions as we explore bird habitat, investigate what birds eat and how to attract them, see how many birds we can identify, and more. See other programs 6/25 and 7/02.

Wednesday, June 19: Baby and Toddler Storytime, west lawn, 10:30 a.m. Registration required. Join Annika for a story, finger plays, rhymes and songs. Ages 0-2.

S.A.G.A. Summer Afternoon Group Activities, 3 to 5 p.m. Registration required. Limited to 16 participants. The S.A.G.A. continues! Join us for another summer of Summer Afternoon Group Activities (S.A.G.A.) and participate in a

wide array of activities, games, and projects! We’ll meet every week on the West Lawn. AGES 8 & UP

Baroque at the Bitterroot Public Library: Repast Ensemble, 6 to 7:30 p.m., west lawn (weather permitting.) Join us on the lawn for an evening of light summer music with “Bird Fancier’s Delight.” from New York based “Repast Ensemble” who will be playing their Baroque style classical music. Bring your own chairs or blankets. Library Board of Trustees Meeting, 4 p.m. Meeting room.

Bear safety training

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will host a bear safety training at FWP’s Missoula office (3201 Spurgin Road) on Tuesday, June 18th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The training offers a comprehensive overview of bear awareness and safety information, and participants will have the chance to practice using inert bear spray. FWP staff will be available to discuss bear safety practices, bear biology, and how to handle bear encounters.

Bears can be found throughout Montana. People venturing into the outdoors should be “bear aware” by following these precautionary steps:

• Carry bear spray close at hand and know how to use it.

• Travel in groups whenever possible.

• Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility is limited. This can be the key to avoiding encounters. Most bears will avoid humans when they know they are present.

• Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers.

• Watch for signs of bears such as scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses.

• Don’t approach a bear. For more information on bear safety, visit FWP’s page on bears in Montana at fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware. For more information on the training, contact the Missoula FWP office at 406-542-5518.

Bitterroot Baroque concert

Bitterroot Baroque will present a free concert, “Bird Fancier’s Delight,” on Wednesday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library, Hamilton. Baroque composers were just as inspired by birds as birders are today, listening to the songs of nightingales, cuckoos, ravens, swans, and chickens, incorporating them into their music. Inspired by a book of pieces for solo recorder titled

Bird Fancyer’s Delight which promises the listener that they will get to ‘hear these little animals warble out their Celestial Harmony.’ This program features works by Biber, Rameau, Handel, Walsh, and Couperin paired with poetry from the 17th and 18th centuries. Women Newcomers’ Club

Whether you are new to the Bitterroot Valley or a long-time resident, you are invited to the Bitterroot Women Newcomers’ Club which has interesting and fun members. The meeting will be June 13 starting at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 328 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton. After a short meeting, Rachel Ames, MPT, with Osteo-Strong, will speak on the science behind Osteo-Strong to improve your skeletal system. Come and join this great group of women!

Poets in the ‘Root

Poets in the ‘Root will be held Saturday, June 15th from 1 to 3 p.m. at O’Hara Commons, 111 S. 4th, Hamilton. The event is free and open to the public.

Nature in nearly all manifestations has inspired poets since there were poets! And at least since the Roman poet Horace wrote Ars Poetica or The Art of Poetry in 19 BC, literature, including poetry, has sought to both instruct and delight.

Poets in the ‘Root combines these two aims in an uncommon but simple way. One person reads a poem or part of a poem that uses an element of nature to convey its message. Then, the same or another person gives an explanation (5 minutes max) of some aspect of that nature element. The explanation focuses on nature interpretation, not literary interpretation. Listeners get a bit of poetry and a bit of natural history. Anyone can volunteer to read a poem and/or offer nature interpretation. Most will read poems by others, but if you’re a poet, we’d love to hear your own work. This is a fun way for Master Naturalists to earn credit towards certification.

There will be snacks, iced tea, and wine. Bring your own chair. Want to volunteer? Have questions? Contact Micki Long at mickilong@gmail.com

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

Sports

by Scott Sacry Sports Editor

Former Hamilton standout soars in Arizona

Former Hamilton standout Taylor Searle was the best pole vaulter in the state of Montana during his junior year in 2023. Last May, Searle cleared 15 feet to claim a second straight pole vault state title, having also won the state title in 2022.

Fast forward one year.

Searle and his family moved to Arizona, and Searle has the third highest

tana’s Zane Johnson took second at the 2024 Big Sky Conference outdoor championship with a vault of just over 17 feet.

Needless to say, Searle is flying through rare air.

Before moving to Arizona last summer, Searle spent his first three years of high school in Hamilton. Both Searle and his family felt it was important

a great experience. I jumped right into football and training for pole vault, so I was able to meet a lot of great people.”

Searle completed his senior year at the America Leadership Academy Queen Creek, which is in the Greater Phoenix area. Last fall, Searle excelled as a receiver on the ALA Queen Creek football team, much like he did in Hamilton where Searle was allstate in 2022.

vault for a high schooler in the United States. This spring, Searle cleared 17 feet 6 inches in a meet in Arizona. By comparison, the Montana high school state record for the pole vault is 16-4, and this spring, University of Mon-

to experience the atmosphere of a bigger high school, having experienced a smaller high school in Hamilton.

“It was definitely a different experience,” said Searle. “We had about 300 kids in each grade this year. I had

But Searle’s true love and passion is pole vault.

“I was able to schedule my classes for the first half of the day,” said Searle, “then I trained for pole vault for two hours, then I went to football practice. It was a grind for sure, but I loved it and you can see the results.”

Searle feels his improvement this year is due to a number of factors.

“For one thing, I grew two inches and got faster this year,” said Searle. “But the biggest thing was that I was able to practice a lot more. In Montana, I could only practice for a couple months. But by the state meet this year I had been practicing for 11 months.”

Another major factor was the level of this training and coaching. Of course, good pole vaulters need to be fast and strong, but beyond this, technique is crucial - this is where coaching and training come in.

When Searle got to Arizona he joined the American Pole Vault Academy, which is one of the best pole vault training groups in the country. It is run by Dean Starkey, who won the bronze medal at the 1997 World Championships.

“I had great coaching in Hamilton, but I was able to take it to the next level in Arizona with coach Starkey,” said Searle. “I learned so much and I was able to get a lot of reps in.”

This spring, Searle won the Arizona Division III State Championship in pole vault on May 4th. Then the following week, he took 2nd in the Open State Championship. Searle and his

competitor both cleared 17 feet, but Searle had more misses. “That was my only loss of the season,” said Searle, “but my competitor had a personal best, so I was happy for him.”

The following week Searle decided to compete in the Arizona Decathlon State Championship. There are 10 total events in the Decathlon.

“I had never done it before,” said Searle, “but I figured with my pole vault and my 100m time, I could get some points. I spent the week practicing for the other events, and was able to do pretty good.”

Searle won the Arizona Decathlon State Championship. This is impressive by itself, but even more so since his opponents specialized in the Decathlon, and many are headed to top colleges for the event. His point total of 6596 is the 7th highest high school score in the nation for the Decathlon.

One would think this success might stear Searle toward the decathlon, but Searle likes his current path.

“Pole vault has my heart,” said Searle. “But it was fun to do all the other events.”

Searle’s future is bright, and he has lofty aspirations and expectations for himself. He plans to attend Brigham Young University to compete in the pole vault, and, besides track, Searle plans to go to medical school and be a surgeon.

“Since I was young I wanted to go to BYU to play a sport,” said Searle, “and they have one of the best vaulting programs in the nation, so I was extremely grateful to get a scholarship.” But, before all of this, Searle will spend the next two years in Argentina on a mission for the Mormon Church. Searle is excited to fulfill his mission for his church and feels he can continue excelling at the vault when he gets back. He’s planned a training schedule for his mission and is confident he will keep improving his athleticism. Searle’s scholarship will be waiting for him at BYU when he returns.

“My goal when I get to BYU is to clear 18 feet my freshman year,” said Searle, “and then clear 19 feet my sophomore year, which should qualify me for the 2028 Olympics. I know it’s a lofty goal, but that’s my plan.” And based on Searle’s past accomplishments, I wouldn’t bet against him.

Valley coaches awarded ‘Coach of the Year’

Three Bitterroot Valley coaches were among the selections for the Montana Coaches Association (MCA) Spring 2024 “Coaches of the Year.”

The three coaches selected were Spencer Huls from Corvallis for Class A boys track and Class A girls track, John Hinsdale from Florence

for baseball, and Scott Marsh from Florence for Class B girls golf.

Spencer Huls is Corvallis’ longtime track and field head coach. Both the Corvallis boys and girls won the Class A state title in 2024, both teams also were state champions in 2023 and Huls was last year’s Coach

of the Year for Class A boys and girls track.

John Hinsdale is Florence’s head coach in baseball. Florence was the 2024 State Champion in baseball and this was Hinsdale’s first year as head coach. 2024 was the second year for high school baseball in Montana.

Scott Marsh is the Florence golf head coach and is Florence’s high school principal. The Florence girls took 2nd in Class B State Golf in 2024. All the coaches will be honored at the 2024 MCA Awards Ceremony on August 1 at CMR High in Great Falls.

Cole Reiner wins Yellowstone Darby Xtreme Bareback

The best bareback riders in the world descended on the Richard Cromwell Memorial Rodeo Grounds in Darby on June 1st & 2nd for the Yellowstone Darby XTREME Bareback competition.

Cole Reiner, a four-time National Finals Rodeo rider, scored 92 points on Night Crawler to win the event.

“Anytime you’re at 90 it’s a ride that you’ll remember,” said Reiner, a 25 year old from Buffalo, Wyoming, “But to go 92 in that arena where there have been some really huge scores and to be in there with the rest of them is something you’ll remember. And that’s my highest score so far.”

Night Crawler, a 12-yearold mare, is the reigning PRCA Bareback Riding Horse of the Year, and has traveled five times to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Night Crawler was the horse that Kaycee Field rode to victory in Darby last year.

“That horse is great but you have to do your job,

too,” Reiner said. “I was definitely a lot more calm during the short round than the first round. I was keeping everything calm, cool and together. I was a little less excited and a little more focused.”

Reiner won $12,011, took home the Capri Camper Trophy, the coveted YDXB gold buckle, a Barstow Pro Rodeo bareback rigging, and an American Hat.

“I love coming to Darby every year and that horse has been one I have dreamed of getting on for a long time,” said Reiner. “I got to get on her this year in San Antonio and you know to have that confidence to come back here is amazing. It feels amazing.”

The event was previously called the Darby Riggin’ Rally and is in its 5th year. The event was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and attracted the world’s best bareback riders. Paramount Network’s original series, “Yellowstone,” was the presenting sponsor and it was broadcast on the Cowboy Channel.

Former Hamilton standout Taylor Searle vaulted 17 feet 6 inches this year at the America Leadership Academy Queen Creek in Arizona. Searle’s vault was the third best high school mark in the United States for 2024. Photo courtesy of Taylor Searle.

Cole Reiner, a four-time National Finals Rodeo rider, scored 92 points on Night Crawler to win the Yellowstone Darby XTREME Bareback competition in Darby on June 1st & 2nd. Photo by Mary Peters.

LIONS: and their history in valley

Continued from page 1

“Where there’s a need, there’s a lion.” Dan Rothlisberger, president, said, “We listen to anyone who may be needing financial support, but we don’t want to just be another dollar. We want to make sure the money is put to good use. We want to support projects that will have a significant impact in our community. And we really like being in at the beginning of interesting, innovative projects.”

Historically there are many examples of how impactful their support has been. For example, they saved the Alta Ranger Station, located about 30 miles southwest of Darby. It is the oldest known U.S. Forest Service building in the nation. It had mistakenly been built on private land and in 1941 the Lions purchased the land and restored it to the Forest Service. Forest Archaeologist and Heritage Program Manager, Matthew Werle, was quoted saying, “They recognized the importance of having public land for the betterment of the American people.” Continuing that theme, Bitterrooters have enjoyed Blodgett Park for many years because the Lions Club purchased the land and donated it for recreational use.

There are many examples of how the area has benefitted from the Lions responding to local needs. For over 60 years, Hamilton Broncs fans watched games sitting on the 600 bleacher seats the Lions donated to Haynes Field, the old high school stadium. They also provided the pavilion at Legion Park that served the community for over 50 years. The contributions helped 4H make their auction event at the fair more efficient with new computers. The Lions contributed to the hospital expansion and have participated in providing diabetes awareness with Bitterroot Health.

Currently they foster the love of sport, teamwork and community for youth with their sponsorship of the Bitterroot Strikers Youth Soccer Program and contributed to the

Daly Elementary first-grade swim program. Their donation to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps deliver free books to all Ravalli County children from birth to five. The Lions are also a familiar sight at community events, from highway cleanups and taking photos with Santa at Murdoch’s to providing holiday music at local assisted living facilities. Those who visit Skalkaho Bend Park can relax on a bench they donated and maintain in memory of Wayne A. Hedman, a well-known and highly regarded community member, pharmacist, downtown business leader, friend of the forest and a friend to all.

The Hamilton Lions Club is a testament to how one group can make a difference in a community. Besides participating in relevant projects, there are many personal payoffs to becoming a member. Benefits of membership include the opportunity to meet new people, develop leadership skills through mentorship and being involved as a leader on the regional and national level. The Lions’ global outreach also provides work, study and leadership opportunities in other countries. Donations and volunteers for bingo at the fair and other projects are always welcome.

Each year the Hamilton Lions Club collects over 2,000 eyeglasses to be recycled. Anyone can drop off eyeglasses and hearing aids in Hamilton at TrailWest Bank, Opportunity Bank, First Security Bank, Big Sky Eye, Rocky Mountain Eye, Bitterroot Valley Optical, Bitterroot Drug, Hamilton Senior Center, Ravalli Fun Center and Daly Leach Chapel. Drop boxes are also at Valley Drug and Family Pharmacy in Stevensville and the library in Darby.

For more information and to become a member, interested parties should contact Dan Rothlisberger at (406) 363-3879. Everyone is always invited to attend their meetings the first and third Tuesdays of each month at BJ’s from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Concert Series

Friday, June 14th, at 6:00 PM

“The Western Front ” will kick off the series playing music influenced by a combination of Americana, Bluegrass, and Rock. The band consists of six members (five + engineer) based in Western Montana with players who have performed throughout the United States and on three continents.

June 21, at 7:00 pm

Paper Flowers” (Remembering Fleetwood Mac)

June 28, at 7:00 pm

The Police Academy” (The Police tribute)

July 5, at 7:00 pm

July 12, at 7:00 pm

Delbert E. Thompson

Delbert E. Thompson, retired Air Force veteran, loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away peacefully at home at the age of 92 on June 1, 2024.

“Del” was born on December 3, 1931, in Kellogg, Idaho, to Dee and Viola (Sherman) Thompson. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim and Floyd Thompson, and two sisters, Barbara Burley and Carol Vetch. Del dedicated his life to service, family, and community. A proud veteran of the Korean War, he served his country with distinction in the United States Air Force for 20 years.

Upon retiring from the Air Force, Del devoted himself to his family. He was the beloved husband of Gerda Thompson for 70 wonderful years. His passion

Elden C. Roberts

Oct 2, 1931-June 3, 2024

Elden C. Roberts, 92, passed away June 3, 2024, at home surrounded by family.

He was born in Enid Montana on October 2, 1931, to Kenneth E. Roberts and Julia H (Herbst) Roberts. The family moved to Illinois in 1934 and moved back to Montana in 1941. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley in 1947 and he helped with the family sawmill. In 1952 he joined the Navy and served in Korea.On August 31, 1956, he married Judy Mansfield in Missoula. After returning to the Bitterroot Valley, he started Roberts Logging. Through the years, he worked construction building roads and digging ponds and mechanic work. He built his shop and continued to provide services to the local farmers to work on various equipment. He retired in 2020.

Elden enjoyed watching youth sports and was involved with the Victor Booster Club for many years. He loved spending time with his family, in the woods and fishing.

Over the years, Elden and Judy had an open door policy and welcomed Debbie (Montgomery) Taylor, Jason Bahr and Jake Koskela into the family. You did not have to be blood to be family.

He is survived by his children, Denise (Tommy)

Mary ‘Arlene’ Kamura

Mary “Arlene” Kamura, passed away peacefully in her home from natural causes Thursday, April 18, 2024 with comforts of her family by her side.

Born August 18, 1937 in Missoula, MT to LeRoy and Mary Alice Gibson. Arlene was raised in the Bitterroot Valley with her four brothers. Her grade school began at Charlos Heights for two years until it was condemned, then transferred to Darby, MT where she went to grade school. During her freshman year her parents purchased a farm in Victor, MT where she graduated from Victor High in 1955.

After graduation, she moved to Missoula, MT and worked at Montgomery Ward for one year and Westmont Tractor. Through a cousin, Pat Kamera, she met her soulmate, Russell Kamura, and they were married August 12, 1957 in Reno, NV. They founded and operated Russ’s Body & Paint shop where Arlene helped out in the office. They had four children, Russ Jr., Rick, Laurie and Angie and Russ’ daughter, Rhonda. Together they loved to dance, travel and spend time with family at Flathead Lake.

While raising the family together, throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, Arlene was excited to start a new job working at the Betty J dress shop as a bookkeeper and sales clerk. Her bookkeeping passion led her to employment with Dr. Ed Buchanan Lab and clinic at Community Hospital, then to Norco Medical, Arrow Ambulance.

Juliette Ann Bouma

Juliette Ann (Baker) Bouma, 63, of Stevensville, MT passed away peacefully in her home on January 8th, 2024 after a valiant ten-month battle with Leukemia.

Juliette was born June 7th, 1960 to Charles (Chet) and Virginia (Ginny) Baker, in Dallas, TX. She and her siblings were some of the first to be homeschooled through high school in Texas. On October 28th, 1978, she was married to Louie Ralph Bouma and moved to Augusta, MT, where they raised and homeschooled ten beautiful children together.

Both on the farm in Augusta, and then in the Bitterroot Valley after moving in 2005, Juliette was a big part of her husband Louie’s Custom Ag farming business, and could often be found flagging equipment down the highway, bringing lunches to the men in the field, running the loader to feed cows, or nursing sick livestock back to health with her Homeopathic knowledge. She was incredibly hardworking and a loyal helpmate in keeping the farm running.

Juliette was a very creative soul, and talented in many forms of crafting. She was well known among

was automobiles and tractors and he operated an automobile repair shop at home in Victor for many years.

Del is survived by his wife, Gerda; his children, Karin Barntish, Peter Thompson, and Frank Thompson; and his grandchildren. He will also be fondly remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. His family finds comfort in knowing he is at peace and reunited with loved ones who passed before him.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 26, 2024 at the Victor Community Church, with a reception following. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www. whitesittfuneralhome.com.

Townsend, Priest River, Idaho; Shelley (John) Hoffman, Stevensville; Laurie (Ed) Wildey, Victor; Mark (Jenette) Roberts, Hamilton; Jim (Kim) Roberts, Auburn, Washington; Darrell Roberts, Lincoln City, Oregon; sister Sandy Goss, Greenwood, Texas. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren: several nieces and nephews and his best friend Leo.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judy and daughter Terri, his parents, brothers Kenny, Darold and Lyle Roberts; sisters Helen Lippencott, Shirley Roberts, Hazel Ponton and Betty Erickson.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Victor Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 243, Victor, MT 59875.

We would like to thank the Victor Fire Department for their years of support to our family and to Elden’s caregivers who he really enjoyed. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel. com.

After 31 great years, Russ passed away in 1988, leaving Arlene a widow at age 51. Arlene then retired in 1992, remained at her home and raised horses. Inspiration led her to work from home as an independent contractor for Mary Kay Cosmetics, Scentsy Candles, and most proudly a Creative Memories unit manager.

In 2002, Arlene became a “snowbird” and purchased her winter home in Arizona, also to be near her cousin Barbara Steadman. She had many wonderful memories there. Her life was full of activities, entertaining family and friends that came to visit, doing volunteer work and being involved in community events. In 2014, Arlene moved back to Montana to be near her family, making fun memories and living life until her passing.

Arlene is preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Mary Alice Gibson; loving husband, Russ Kamura; and brother, John Gibson, San Antonio, TX.

She is survived by her brothers: Chuck Gibson, Missoula, MT, Ben and Ken Gibson, Victor, MT; her sons: Russell Kamura Jr. and Rick Kamura (Kathy); daughters: Laurie Nefzger (Dennis) of Missoula; Angie Grimes (Kevin) of Hamilton, MT; stepdaughter, Rhonda Booth (Rick) also of Missoula; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Also, with respect to her Arizona companion and friend, Bob O’Harrow.

her family and friends for creating beautiful pieces of art; whether it be the clothes and home-goods she sewed, the flower arrangements she gave to friends or the church, or the many decorative statements she implemented in her family’s home renovations. She had an eye for color and design, both in home decor and fashion, and blessed many with her unique talents.

She is survived by her faithful husband of 45 years Louie Bouma, their ten children Heidi, Jon, Rachel, Grace, Laura, Katie, Joel, Jesse, Mikaela, and Jiles, twenty-one grandchildren, and her family in Texas, including father Chet Baker, siblings Chris Baker, Nancy Grimes, and Matt Baker. She is preceded in death by her mother Ginny Baker.

Her family is hosting a memorial service open for family and friends on August 10th, 2024 at 2:00pm, held at Zootown Church, 3623 Brooks St, Missoula, MT 59801.

If you would like to attend, please rsvp via email with name and headcount to julietteboumamemorial@gmail.com, as dinner will be provided and they will need an estimate for catering.

Kathleen ‘Kathy’ J. Petersen

Kathleen “Kathy” J. Petersen, 65, of Missoula passed away suddenly Friday, May 31, 2024 at Community Medical Center. She was born November 2, 1958 in Billings, MT to Thomas and Alice Brown. She was raised in Billings. Kathy graduated from Billings Central High School in 1977. After graduation the family moved to Stevensville, MT. In Stevensville Kathy met the love of her life, Bruce Petersen. They were married August 22, 1981. In 1985 they welcomed their daughter Lindsey into the world. Kathy was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She shared that love and compassion with the community as an EMT-first responder. Her passion was being able to help people in their time of need. More recently, she worked at St. Patrick Hospital outpatient rehab, continuing to show compassion to all who came in the building. Kathy retired in December of 2023.

Kathy’s greatest joys in her life were her two granddaughters. She loved to be there to support “her” girls in all their sports and passions in life. She was their #1 fan in all things.

Kathy was preceded in death by her mom, Alice Brown. She is survived by her husband of 40 plus years, Bruce Petersen; her daughter, Lindsey (Wade) Palmer; granddaughters, Mia and Cierra; her father, Thomas Brown; brothers and sisters, Tom (Cheryl) Brown, Don (Cathy) Brown; Cindy (Jim) Crews, Fred (Michelle) Brown, Cheri (Stan) Rogers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A vigil service will be held on Monday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stevensville. The funeral mass will be celebrated Tuesday, June 11 at 11:00 a.m. also at the church. A luncheon will follow the mass at the church’s family center. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to express a special thank you to all who assisted in our mother’s care. She was interred with her husband at Sunset Memorial Gardens in a private gathering.

A Celebration of life will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 7405 Mullan Rd., Missoula, MT on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Norma Jean Blair Gilmore

Dr. Norma Jean Blair Gilmore passed away on a stormy morning June 4, 2024, eleven weeks after her 100th birthday parties. She was born at home on a stormy night, March 16, 1924, in Mancelona, Michigan to Glen and Olive (Tinker) Blair. The doctor was just home from a call, he had wiped his team down and did not want to take them out in the storm again. He asked if the midwife was there. She was and she delivered the newborn.

Norma attended schools in Mancelona through the 10th grade. Her father was transferred to the USFS Regional Office in Albuquerque where she graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1943. She attended Scripps College for Women, Claremont, CA her freshman year (1943-44). She next attended two semesters at Arizona State Teachers College, Flagstaff, AZ. She returned home to Albuquerque and attended University of New Mexico until her father retired, and they moved back to Mancelona, MI. There Norma married Douglas Gilmore, Army Air Corps, Dec. 28, 1945.

She started her teaching career in a one room schoolhouse in Happy Jack, Arizona before she had even received her Bachelor’s degree. She remarked it took her 12 years, one husband, and four children to receive her B.S. degree from Arizona State College in Flagstaff AZ, 1956. Later, she received her M.A, and Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University, East Lansing, and an Ed.D. in Special Education and Administration from University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She also was a student in the first Craniosacral classes taught by Dr. John Upledger, Michigan State University, in 1979. From these classes she went on to do Craniosacral work for 35 years helping innumerable people.

Norma also enjoyed traveling the world including India, Greece, Egypt, Ecuador, Scotland and Europe. For four years, she and a friend enrolled for summer workshops at St. Andrews College, Scotland where she studied and putted on the Women’s Putting Green of The Old Golf Course. She was selected by

Marcus Publications as a Who’s Who in American Education, 1994-1995 and a Who’s Who in American Women in 1999-2000. Norma, Wife, Mother, Scout Leader, PTA, Church Elder, participated in Parent activities at the Institute of Logopedics, Wichita, KS, Teacher, K-4, Educational Consultant in Boulder, CO, Researcher for a project at Central Michigan University, Director of Special Education, for Mountain BOCS, Leadville, CO. and S. Platte Valley BOCES, Ft. Morgan, CO., Asst. Director of Special Education, Lansing Public Schools, MI, and College professor at Peru State College, NE and Western State College, Gunnison, CO. She was state president of the Colorado Council for Exceptional Children 1979-80. Norma retired eight times during which she was an Adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University and Central Michigan University, taking time to enjoy her cottage and grandchildren, but every so often returned to work.

She moved to Hamilton in 2003 to be close to family and the next year she supervised student teachers for the University of Montana. She, with former Supt. Orville Getz, developed the Visual-motor-CST program at Victor School, and worked with the volunteers on the program, as well as part-time at TLC Bodyworks in Hamilton. In 2010 she published a book entitled “Get Ready, Set, Go and Read.”

She is a member of DAR, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Chapter: Leona Chapter. 31 OES; PEO, Chapter AF, and the First Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder. She was a member of the International Platform Association founded by Josiah Holbrook and Daniel Webster which met annually in Washington D.C. where she gave a variety of speeches. She was the first woman hired by a BOCES in CO as a Director of Special Education in 1973, and the oldest BOCES Director of Special Education to retire at age 78 in 2001.

She is survived by her three sons: George, of Hamilton, Jim of Victor, Glenn (Sita) of Corvallis, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren who

Remembering Arden R. Cowan

Dec. 4, 1949 - May 12, 2024

Arden Ray Cowan was a warrior. He was born in DuBois, Pennsylvania on Dec. 4, 1949 to Elmer and Pauline Cowan. Elmer was a supervisor on many big bridge construction projects in Pennsylvania and other locations in the eastern U.S., requiring the family to move several times in his early youth. These moves and changes of schools exposed a young person afflicted with polio early in life – resulting in a handicapped left arm – vulnerable to the schoolyard bullies who thought they could exploit his vulnerabilities. These kids found out that bullying anyone within sight or sound of Arden was asking to be taught a lesson in manners.

Describing Arden as “gifted and talented” is an understatement at best. Attending Mars High School in south Butler County, Pennsylvania, Arden’s gifts, talents and skills permitted him school absences so he could work with experts who were documenting various natural history elements in western Pennsylvania and beyond. His father helped nurture Arden’s interest in the natural world and took him fishing, hunting and trapping in the region’s fields, forests and waterways.

Arden’s high school years were formative in many other ways. He really liked the fast motorcycles and hot cars of the 1960s. As a working-class kid on working-class wages, he could not afford even a used vehicle so he bought wrecked ones and, with one good arm, took them apart and put them back together in working order. He created beautiful sports cars. He later owned several fast street bikes of that era and kept us all amazed at how a person with just one good arm could operate a two-handed operational system balanced on two wheels. Every good-looking gal in local schools either did date or wanted to date this guy.

The Butler Hunting and Fishing Club sponsored Explorer Post 100, dedicated to fostering interest in conservation careers. This is how the group of young men known to each other as “the gang” forged the bonds of friendships through experiences in wildlife education and conservation that remained important and strong throughout their lifetimes.

Arden attended Butler Community College and worked as a welder on Pullman Company’s standard rail cars, then worked in a venture to develop new lightweight materials that would function in extreme high heat environments, such as blast furnaces, molten metals, ladles, pots, mold liners and other applications. Arden helped develop, market and install these new materials in various industrial applications all over the country.

Arden always knew what his close friends needed and would make it happen. When longtime friend Dave Erny was returning from his Army tour in Viet Nam, wounded and war weary, Arden decided to help restore Dave’s health and spirit by embarking on a 10,000-mile transcontinental trip on their new Honda motorcycles, traveling through Canada and around the United States. On that epic ride, he and Dave explored Montana and vowed to return.

After deciding college was not for him, Arden headed to Montana with Joyce Fehl, the gal he had just married, driving his new pickup truck with the airplane he had just bought, disassembled, and loaded onto a flatbed trailer he built from scratch. They settled in the Bitterroot Valley, near Darby, bought a house, and had two children, Lacy and Shawn. Arden and Joyce were later divorced.

Arden learned the electrician trade rapidly and in 1974 became the youngest licensed Master Electrician in the USA. This credential more than qualified him to teach vocational electrical skills to residential students at the Trapper Creek Job Corps, on the West Fork Bitterroot near Darby. After several years of teaching, he decided to move to Alaska with close friends from the gang from Post 100.

Following several years of searching for land together, in early 1977 Arden and friends bought adjoining acreage in the Swan Valley, near Buck Creek,

with the intent of living at least some part of their lives there.

Arden then went to work for Tanner Electric Co-op, based in Wasilla, Alaska. He supervised their crews on commercial bush jobs in places like the North Slope, Kodiak, and remote native villages, working on schools, medical facilities, other military and governmental projects, and similar projects. He did this well into the late 1980s.

Throughout all this time Arden used every opportunity to explore the wilds of Alaska and Montana. He lived for adventure, especially hunting trips to remote country to live in the high mountains with good friends, along with the grizzlies, goats, sheep, wolverines and other creatures of the wild.

With some of his earnings from Alaska, Arden bought acreage along the Bitterroot River near Bell Crossing, where he remodeled the old residence there and built two other homes on the large acreage. Kathy Cuchois, his wife, was hit by a falling tree in a tragic accident on the property. Her severe head injuries contributed to the end of that relationship and they were later divorced.

The Bitterroot River is arguably one of the most dangerous in Montana, with hazards such as strainers, log jams, undercut banks, dangerous undercurrents and icy cold water. These characteristics make rescues more dangerous and complicated than on most rivers in Montana, yet over the years Arden rescued several people. His rescue of a police officer led to the honor of being the only civilian to be inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. Arden was honored with the Governor’s Award for Heroism for another of his rescues.

Arden met Kathleen Mauer, a nurse practitioner, and they started their lives together up Bass Creek, near Stevensville, where Arden and Kathleen transformed her tiny cabin into a wonderful large home. Together, they enjoyed this quiet place near the sound of the creek, surrounded by an amazing forest and good neighbors. He was a positive influence on Kathleen’s children, Hannah Knick of Great Falls, MT and especially Lucas Mauer, who learned so very much from Arden.

While working in Alaska on Kodiak Island, Arden met Ken Paullin, who would share many hunting adventures with Arden. Later in life they explored the mountains and ecosystems of the desert southwest. Chris Hosic, another friend from the Bitterroot, shared many experiences with Arden and many adventures together on hunting trips all over western and southwestern Montana.

Arden enjoyed his time assisting Mike Stevenson with electrical installation with his various building projects in Missoula and elsewhere. The two enjoyed spending time together in many pursuits. In the Y2K winter of 1999-2000, Mike and Arden both spent time in the Great Bear Wilderness assisting Tom Parker on lynx research for the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Arden also guided big game hunters from 1980 to 2010 for Buck Creek Guide Service in the Swan Valley, and in the 1990s for East Fork Outfitters in the Bitterroot.

Ellen Wirth, of Lost Horse Creek area, was a very dear friend of 45 years duration. She will miss their many legal discussions. Arden studied law on his own and even wrote Supreme Court cases which an attorney would review with few changes and would then transcribe to their papers and submit to the Montana Supreme Court. “Arden”s Law” was the result of one of these Supreme Court cases.

Arden was well regarded by all who knew him in his hunting guide capacities. Guides and hunters alike admired his skills at navigating difficult terrain, his stamina, and exceptional tracking and hunting skills. As recently as Jan-Feb of 2023, Arden assisted Buck Creek Guide Service and a great crew of other lifelong trappers, woodsmen, hunting guides, survival and bushcraft experts to teach multi-day cold-weather survival skills and advanced bushcraft training

reside all over the world. She will be laid to rest in the family plot next to her daughter, Anne, in the Corvallis Cemetery.

As you can see Norma had a very full life. This is only a snippet of her accomplishments. She was always working to help others and to give children a chance to learn, read and succeed.

The family would like to thank Kathy Beaulac and Ruth Cook for their help and friendship with Norma, Bitterroot Health Hospice, and Robert and Vickie Moss who gave excellent care to her at their West Hills Assisted Living Center.

In lieu of gifts and flowers the family would suggest donating to a public education directed charity in her memory. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Corvallis Cemetery. Please have a story to share. Arrangements made by Daly-Leach Funeral Home in Hamilton.

exercises to a U.S. Army Special Forces unit in minus 30 temperatures in the Monture area of the Blackfoot Valley. He was very proud of his contribution to this endeavor.

Kern and Susan Mattei, neighbors at Bass Creek, were important friends in later life. Another of Arden’s circle of friends was the group of guys he had morning coffee with in Stevensville. He enjoyed their company and conversation greatly, and they proclaimed him to be “a person who could do anything, difficult as it might be,” and that Arden was among the last of the “old-time mountain men.”

At the time of his death, Arden had been working on two great projects in what were to be his twilight years. The first was his (unpublished) book. He thoroughly enjoyed calling all of his old buddies to get the facts straight from the stories he had regaled us with time and again throughout the years. The book was to be titled “We Damn Near Died,” coming in at enough words to publish six books instead – including some unfinished chapters that were just the name of a story. His other project was developing multiple Flathead Lake properties. He spent many a summer month up there running his heavy machinery, and boating on the lake when he had enough time to undertake the perpetual maintenance required to maintain an old boat.

Arden never wanted “new” over “old.”

Arden was taken from us too soon. Thank you, Arden, for being you, for being a great friend to so many of us, and being a big part of so many great adventures in life. We will miss you greatly.

Friends are invited to a celebration of life at Larry Creek Group Campground, Bass Creek Rd., Stevensville, MT on July 24, 2024, with some camping available there July 23-25. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

High Water Chronicles Vol. 4, 2024

Yes, it’s still runoff.

The rivers flirt with us, start to come down, the eager warriors get their boats out and give it a shot, then it rains as the days get longer, warmer, and the water comes up even higher. When the Bitterroot River near my home lulled a bit in late May, a friend worried that it was dropping early and had peaked. He had reason to worry about the season, long-term; it’ll take historically abundant summer rains to compensate for the past dry winter.

by Chuck Stranahan

The river is now peaking for-real since we talked. When I drove over the Woodside Bridge earlier today, the river was better than bank-full. It was flowing through the Woodside Bridge Fishing Access parking lot.

No steady, predictable runoff this year. You have to pick your spots. That means venturing to other waters if your home river, in my case the Bitterroot, is blown out.

Planning a trip is easy. To find out where to fish, check the on-line fishing reports or social media that can be updated daily from shops that fish all the area’s major rivers. Two good sources are Grizzly Hackle and Blackfoot Outfitters, both of Missoula. Social media makes the old-rime newspaper fishing report obsolete. Use it learn where the fishing’s good and where the hazards are.

The best fishing in the days after this column goes to press might be on Rock Creek. Check with Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile to find out.

The fishing, for those who know how, is good in spurts. Occasional dry fly action, on misplaced hatches of March Browns, or a few bluewinged olives might be out ahead of the salmonflies, but don’t depend on any of it. By the same token, don’t leave your pre-season dry fly box home.

Where a good fish might be taking a small dry fly in the narrow margins

of runoff water, flinging the comparative junkpile of a double nymph rig at him will frighten him half to death.

And after you’ve spooked the lie, knowing what you’ve done, you feel foolish. At least I do. I still betray my own axiom: It’s worth re-rigging to catch a fish. And who knows? You might discover that a localized hatch has started, and you could be in for a great day doing the opposite of what you anticipated.

As for what the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, or Clark Fork will do in the next few days, who knows? We could see another handful of marginally fishable days, or they could be blown out until... when?

When it’s been fishable lately, the

best activity has been on nymphs, including heavy #4 to #8 rubberlegs or something similar, trailed by a small food-form nymph or wet fly .

Best patterns for those small flies: Hare’s Ears, Bead-head Princes, Pheasant Tails, all in #12 or #14, plus smaller jigs and Perdigons. Nothing unusual.

Other flies that have been productive: Pink (or tan or deep red) San Juan Worms. Those worms have an edge if they’re beaded, especially if the bead is tungsten, and the worm will get down quicker.

I tie San Juan Worms on strong barbless hooks, using fluorescent thread and anodized tungsten beads. Minor improvements, minor tweaks on the standard San Juans.

But you know what? They tend to work better than the imports. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother. They’re more visible, with that fluoro thread and anodized bead, and they get down quicker - things that might improve

your catch rate in low visibility runoff water. Another option, one that many anglers ignore, thinking they have to know a special technique to fish them, is soft hackles.

My friend Ron Falk, the master fly tyer whose flies appear in the early books by angling patriarch Doug Swisher, put it best: “Is there a wrong way to fish a soft hackle? Just throw it in the water.”

A final note in planning a high-water trip: Think twice about floating. Err on the side of caution. The river may look smooth but swift where you plan to put in, leading to a deceptive sense of “I can handle that,” before a launch plummets you into a tangle of fallen trees and swift current in the unseen waters downstream. The risk can be deadly.

Better to walk the banks, pick your spots, and fish the edges. The risk isn’t part of the reward or part of the fun. It’s just risk.

Heaven gained a new angel when Faye McCrumb passed peacefully June 1st surrounded by her loving family.

Faye McCrumb, 73, led a very interesting and productive life. Her passing left many friends and family members with tears of sadness as they will miss her, though, it left many with tears of joy remembering all the “Faye stories” that seem to have followed her and been created in her wake as well.

She lived in Alaska for 30-plus years and after meeting and marrying the love of her life, Walter McCrumb, they retired and finally settled in Stevensville, Montana where they have lived a wonderfully peaceful life with amazing friends, neighbors and visiting family, always playing the card game 5 Crowns, “Jesus loves me this I know.”

She was born in Cairo Illinois, though her youth was spent in Memphis near Graceland, then on to Miami where she graduated high school in 1969 “Go Vikings!” and later met her first husband. After their second child was born in 1975, they moved to New Mexico. After her divorce in 1983, she and her two daughters drove to Alaska where she lived and worked as one of the top photographers under the business name Lasting Impressions Photography Studio (aka LIPS). She was even hired to photograph Loretta Lynn once when she came up to Alaska to

perform a concert.

She was the official photographer for the Miss Alaksa pageant as well as others, joining the winners in Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant for many years.

Faye even created a new branch of the Miss Alaksa pageant forming the “Gold Nuggets” a non-competitive inclusive program for young girls to learn poise, talent exploration, public speaking, and stage presence. The gold nuggets are still going even to this day.

She was also a talented seamstress, creating beautiful wears for many people including wedding dresses, prom gowns and an amazing wardrobe for herself.

After getting hit by a drunk driver, Faye worked with the Anchorage Police department to create a victim’s rights booklet that the officers still hand out to victims of various crimes. This book details the resources that are available along with phone numbers and other details. Faye was instrumental in ensuring that victims were taken care of.

In Stevensville she became well known for her embroidery and sewing talents. Faye won several blue ribbons at fairs and other contests. She sewed special wedding, confirmation, and prom dresses.

Faye will be missed greatly for her creative spirit, sense of humor, deep love for her family, and the last-

ing friendships she has made during her full life.

She is survived by her loving husband Walter McCrumb, her wonderful siblings and all the beautiful children she has had a part in raising, whether her own or those who came into her life with a need. She is preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Delores (nee Fischer) Brown.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

A celebration of life will be held at Florence-Carlton Community Church located at 20075 Old Highway 93 South on Saturday, June 15th at 1:00 pm

The service will be live streamed on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceCarltonCommunityChurch/

An additional service will be held in Anchorage Alaska, to be announced at a later date.

Faye C. McCrumb

We’ll see more salmonflies as the water comes down. Photo by Jan Stranahan

Two murals will be completed this July in Downtown Hamilton by artist Britt Flood, in coordination with several businesses and community groups. The main mural will be painted at Chapter One Book Store on Main Street and the second will be installed near the Bitterroot Water Partnership Office on 2nd Street. The Water Partnership mural will be installed as part of a twoday artist workshop on July 12 and 13 from 9am-1pm each day. Registration for the workshop is $75 though scholarships are available through application. Visit www.chapter1bookstore. com/muralworkshop or visit Chapter One in Hamilton to learn more about this opportunity and complete workshop registration.

During the two-day mural workshop attending artists will shadow a professional mural artist, Britt Flood, and learn the basics of completing a simple mural from start to finish. This is a hands-on mural workshop, where artists of all skill levels can learn about important steps in creating a mural-like wall preparation, scaling a design from the size of a piece of paper to the size of a wall, color blocking, and different mural painting techniques. This is meant to be fun, educational, creative learning opportunity for local artists and after the two workshop sessions, the group of artists will have completed a large exterior mural together! Brushes and paint will be provided.

Sale of artworks donated by muralist Britt Flood will go toward mural installations at Chapter One and the Bitterroot Water Partnership. These art pieces can be purchased at Chapter One Book Store. Flood is a professional muralist and painter from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her artwork is vibrant and colorful, meant to activate spaces with “visual poetry.” She has

a professional goal of installing public art in all 50 states and her murals in Hamilton will be her first in Montana.

This opportunity has been made possible by the Hamilton Downtown Association’s Façade Improvement Program and several community and business partners. This project is funded by the collaborative sponsorships of local businesses.

“Public art is such a vital part of a thriving downtown and we appreciate Chapter One and Bitterroot Water Partnership’s leadership in creating our first mural installations in collaboration with so many other downtown businesses. The Hamilton Downtown Foundation looks forward to working with building owners and businesses to assist with more public art projects through our Facade Improvement Grant Program (FIG),” says Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA) Director Robin Pruitt. Contributions to the FIG can be made through the Hamilton Downtown Foundation to further the work of HDA members to increase the vitality of downtown Hamilton.

Example of mural artwork by Britt Flood. Photo courtesy Alex Ocanas.

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

SELLING A CAMERA COLLECTION, also model ships and airplanes, 50% off all books, 3952 US Hwy 93 North, Stevi, in the Frontier Plaza.

HUSQVARNA ZE-

RO-TURN MOWER FOR SALE, RZ-5424 riding mower, 24 H.P Kawasaki, Very Good Condition, Well Maintained, New Belt, plugs, filters, and blades. Manuals and records, $1600 Cash. Call (406) 499-2842.

TRAEGER BARBECUE SMOKER, wood pellets, only used ONCE, advertised new for $1000, come see it, make an offer! Call (406) 777-9968 for more information.

SHIHTZU PUPPIES for sale. (406) 360-2581.

YARD SALE - 107 Erie Ave, Hamilton. June 14 & 15, 9 -3. Household items, toys, books, puzzles, tools, washer.

BEAUTIFUL PURE-

BRED IRISH WOLFHOUND PUPPIES. Nice colors, male aNd female 1800.00. exceed staNdard ready. Jim 406-936-9633

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SALE & MORE!

235 Valley View, Stevi 6/14 - 9 to 4, 6/15 - 9 to 3

Sale includes 80% quilters items & 20% treasures. 4 generations of new & vintage fabric stored in 100+ bins - color coordinated @ $4 a pound. Plus, 50+ kits, fun panels, themed material, patterns, quilting racks, quilts, &

table runners, quilting tools & 3 sewing machines - 2 antique treadles!! But wait, there is bedding, towels, kitchen items, tools, Christmas & more. This sale is much more than “The Material Girl” could ever dream of!! NO EARLIES, CASH

NEIGHBORHOOD

GARAGE SALE, June 14 and 15, from 8am to 3pm on Salmon Way, Corvallis.

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Legal Notices

Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC

PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840

Phone: (406) 363-9060

Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives

Thomas J. DeVine, Sr. and Beverly A. DeVine

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS EDWARD BAYLES, Deceased

Case No.: DP-41-2024-56

Dept. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned have been appointed Co-Personal Representatives of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Thomas J. DeVine, Sr. and Beverly A. DeVine, the Co-Personal Representatives, 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 22nd day of May 2024.

/s/ Thomas J. DeVine, Sr., Co-Personal Representative /s/ Beverly A. DeVine, Co-Personal Representative

BS 5-29, 6-5, 6-12-24. MNAXLP

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 Linda Lee

Johnston, Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST

JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: LAURA LEE

PHILLIPS, Deceased.

Dept. No.: 2

Cause No.: DP-24-54

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 LINDA LEE JOHNSTON, 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 21st day of May 2024. /s/ Linda Lee Johnston

Personal Representative Bjornson Jones Mungas, PLLC By: Craig Mungas

Attorneys for Linda Lee Johnston, Personal Representative BS 5-29, 6-5, 6-12-24. MNAXLP

LEGAL NOTICE The Ravalli County Road Department (ph.406-3632733), 244 Fairground Road, Hamilton, MT 59840 has applied for an amendment to an Opencut Permit with the State of Montana for the mining of sand and gravel. The site, referred to as Stevensville Airport/Hunter site, is located on 25.3 acres in S13, T9N, R20W and is generally located 2.9 miles Northeast of Stevensville. Access to the site will be from Hwy 203 and Stevensville Airport Rd. As proposed, the Road Department may remove up to 80,000 yards of sand and gravel before December 2044. The proposed site does not include any permanent facilities. More information about the proposed project can be found at http://deq.mt.gov/ mining/programs/opencut by searching Permit #1898 or by contacting the Ravalli County Road Dept. BS 6-5, 6-12-24.

MNAXLP

PUBLIC HEARING PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARING FOR RAVALLI COUNTY

The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on the Preliminary County Operating Budget beginning Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 9:00 AM in the Commissioners Conference Room located at 215 S. 4 th Street, Hamilton, MT. on the 3 rd Floor. The Commissioners have compiled the Preliminary Annual Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 and the budget is on file and open for inspection in the Ravalli County Commissioners Office located at 215 S. 4 th Street, Suite A, (3 rd floor), Hamilton, MT. Budgets can be taken out of order listed below, and may be continued into the next date and/or time session if necessary: Commissioners, Justice Court #1, Justice Court #2, General Fund Variable Costs, Treasurer, Forester, Clerk & Recorder/Records Preservation/County Supt of Schools, Finance, County Attorney, Office of Emergency Management, Public Health Nurse/PHEP/MCH/Immunization, Environmental Health, Information Technology, Human Resources, Safety Coordinator, Central Supply, Contributions to Communities, Facilities, Road, Bridge, Weed Control, Fair, Airport, Clerk of District

Court, Juvenile Detention, Comprehensive Insurance, Parks, Library, Cemetery, Planning, GIS, Mental Health, Valley Veterans, Economic Development, Extension, Public Safety, Jail Diversion, Animal Protection & Control, Records Retention, Old Courthouse Maintenance, Ravalli County Museum, and 911 County & Enhanced.

Any taxpayer or resident may appear at the hearing and be heard for or against any part of the proposed preliminary budget. The Final Budget will be approved and adopted by Resolution on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 1:30 PM. If you have any questions, please contact the Commissioner’s Office at 375-6500, email at commissioners@rc.mt. gov or at the above address. Chris Taggart Commissioners Administrative Assistant BS 6-5, 6-12-24.

MNAXLP

Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of James S. Gonzalez, James S. Gonzalez, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-24-157

Dept. NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE

This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from James S. Gonzalez to James Salvador Gonzalez.

The hearing will be on June 27, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.

DATED this 20th day of May, 2024.

/s/ Paige Trautwein

Clerk of District Court

By: Catherine Di Gleria

Deputy Clerk of Court

BS 6-5, 6-12, 6-19, 6-2624. MNAXLP

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF FRANCINE COLET BRIGGS, Deceased.

Probate No.: DP-2024-59

Dept. No.: 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that Donald Goldtrap has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the said 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 Donald Goldtrap, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South 2nd St., Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court.

Dated this 4th day of June, 2024.

/s/ Donald Goldtrap, Personal Representative c/o Montana Legacy Law, PLLC

/s/ Scott McLean, Esq. Montana Legacy Law, PLLC BS 6-12, 6-19, 6-26-24. MNAXLP

RAVALLI COUNTY ATTORNEY Bill Fulbright, County Attorney Ravalli County Courthouse 205 Bedford Street, Suite C Hamilton, MT 59840

E-mail: countyattorney@ rc.mt.gov

Phone: (406) 375-6750

Fax: (406) 375-6731

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF: Z.E.C., A YOUTH IN NEED OF CARE Cause No. DN-24-3

Dept. 2

SUMMONS / CITATION FOR PUBLICATION TO: VITAL JOSEPH CASTILLO YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an Amended Petition for Emergency Protective Services, Adjudication of Child as Youth in Need of Care, and Temporary Legal Custody (“the Petition”) regarding, Z.E.C., the child who is the subject of the above-captioned proceedings brought pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 3 of the Montana Code Annotated, has been filed in Cause No. DN-24-3 in Montana Twenty-First Judicial District Court, in Ravalli County by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division (CFS), located at 108 Pinkney St, Hamilton MT 59840.

The Petition requests that CFS be granted the following relief: Emergency Protective Services; Adjudication as a Youth in Need of Care; a Determination that Preservation / Reunification Efforts Need Not be Provided; Termination of Parental Rights; and Permanent Legal Custody. A copy of the Amended Petition is filed with the Clerk of District Court for Ravalli County, (406) 375-6710 and is hereby served upon you at this time.

The child who is the subject of the proceedings, Z.E.C., was born on September 6, 2017. The child’s mother is Shawna Renee Sorenson. The child’s father is Vital Joseph Castillo.

NOW, THEREFORE, YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED to appear at the hearing regarding the Petition that is set on the 11th day of July, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., at the Ravalli County Courthouse located at 205 Bedford St., Hamilton, Montana, then and there to show cause, if any you may have, why CFS should not be granted the relief requested in the Petition.

NOTICE: Your failure to

appear at the hearing will constitute a denial of interest in the child, which denial may result, without further notice of this proceeding or any subsequent proceeding, in judgment by default being entered for the relief requested in the Petition. You have the right to be represented by any attorney in these proceedings. If you are unable to afford an attorney, the Court will have an attorney appointed to represent you.

WITNESS the Clerk of Court and the seal of the Court affixed this 3rd day of June, 2024.

/s/ Paige Trautwein, Clerk of Court /s/ Barbara Beavers, Deputy Clerk BS 6-12, 6-19, 6-26-24. MNAXLP

RAVALLI COUNTY ATTORNEY Bill Fulbright, County Attorney Ravalli County Courthouse 205 Bedford Street, Suite C Hamilton, MT 59840 rcaoservice@rc.mt.gov Phone: (406) 375-6750 Ravalli County Public Administrator

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DANNY H. CARR, Deceased.

Probate No.: DP-24-58

Dept. No.: 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Donald Goldtrap has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the said 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 Ravalli County Public Administrator, 205 Bedford Street, Suite C, Hamilton, MT 59840, return receipt requested, or filed with the Clerk of the above Court. Dated this 3rd day of June, 2024. /s/ Bill Fulbright Ravalli County Attorney BS 6-12, 6-19, 6-26-24. MNAXLP

Naomi J. Cheeney CHEENEY LAW, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060 Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CHESTER L. ANGEL, Deceased.

Case No.: DP-41-2024-63 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Per-

sonal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Cherrie Louise Angel, the Personal 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 6 th day of June 2024. /s/ Cherrie Louise Angel, Personal Representative BS 6-12, 6-19, 6-26-24. MNAXLP

Naomi J. Cheeney CHEENEY LAW, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060 Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARVEL JEAN ANGEL, Deceased. Case No.: DP-41-2024-62 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 months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Cherrie Louise Angel, the Personal 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 6 th day of June 2024. /s/ Cherrie Louise Angel, Personal Representative BS 6-12, 6-19, 6-26-24. MNAXLP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Notice is hereby given to

DISTILLING: Chamber selects New Business of the Year

flavor throughout the process of distillation and aging.

From the flagship, they then began to produce other locally themed spirits, such as their Cutthroat Rum, which is actually not a rum, but what they call a ‘brum.” Instead of utilizing molasses and sugar cane as the primary sugar in fermentation, their spirit utilizes sugar beets and honey, hence the name, brum. Their rum alternative has similar qualities, yet tastes distinct from a rum. The flavor is warm, crisp, full of vanilla and according to them, makes for a great and unique Montana take on a mojito.

Their other spirits include a Lost Trail Rye Vodka, which is a “Polish” inspired flavorful take on the classic, as well as a Merchants American Dry Gin and a Timber Cruiser Rye Whiskey, among several others, including combinations of various spirits they produce.

Westslope Distillery takes pride in their spirits’ “versatility” in cocktails, or even on ice. In each purchase they include an informational card about the spirit, with recipes for the cocktails they create in-house on the back.

Will got his start distilling recently, learning through online forums and experimentation. He often is harsher on his cuts than many distillers, prioritizing quality over quantity. He sticks mainly with the “hearts,” which is one of several sections of separation known in the distilling world as “cuts.” This is where the distiller will separate out spirits as they come off the still during a run, allowing control of the flavor in the final product, as well as qualities. Often, the “heads,” or first cuts that come off the still, are

thrown out. This is to prevent toxic methanol because it evaporates first, at a lower temperature, during distillation. Earlier cuts will also retain some negative qualities, such as harshness.

According to Will, by sticking to the hearts, which are often the best cuts for flavor and ease of drinking, he can create a superior spirit both in taste and after-effects. “The end product is key,” said Will. By striking a good balance, some of their spirits, including their

flagship, have gotten awards in their perspective classes. Will also believes this is why they have gotten such a strong local fanbase. “It’s nice having a local dedicated following,” said Will. They also believe much of their success has come from their drive to include and participate with the community and other local businesses. According to Susan, when you team up with other groups, “you get to be creative and work off each other.”

For them, a big part of their love for the area is fishing, and they prominently feature fly fishing in much of their artwork and design around their business. In fact, fishing inspires a lot of the names of their products, and the business overall is named after the westslope cutthroat trout. Along with this love of the natural beauty and the outdoors, the distillery also wants to bring in other aspects of the area that they love.

Susan and Will want Westslope Distillery to be seen as a “community space,” where “everyone is welcome,” said Susan.

They also want to do what they

can for the area and “give back to the community.” Westslope Distillery works on collaborations with other businesses, like their honey spirit in partnership with Hidden Legend Winery. They also partner with local flower shops and organizations to do demonstrations and group activities at the distillery. They host history lectures on Montana and the surrounding areas, where they partner with local experts to meet and speak there at the duo’s distillery. “We are trying to bring the community together and be an asset,” said Susan. This is likely how they got involved with the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce, which awarded them New Business of the Year. Their location includes an in-house bar, where they mix various original cocktails utilizing their spirits. They also have an outside seating area for customers and groups to enjoy. A food truck, Roots and Bitters, serves customers every Friday.

Westslope Distillery is located at 172 S. 2nd in downtown Hamilton, and they can be contacted by calling (406) 375-5590.

Will and his mother, Susan, stand in the bar area of their distillery. Photo by John Dowd.

Copper logo of the distillery on their equipment. Photo by John Dowd.

Naturally 7 to perform at the Historic Daly Mansion

The historic grounds of the Daly Mansion in Hamilton, Montana, will come alive with the electrifying voices of Naturally 7 on Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m. This exceptional concert promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, set against the backdrop of one of Montana’s most beautiful and storied estates. Opening the show will be the talented Josh Farmer Band, setting the stage for an incredible night of entertainment.

Naturally 7 is renowned for their unique “vocal play” style, where they use their voices to mimic a full band to accompany their electrifying song vocals. This innovative group has captivated audiences around the world, seamlessly blending elements of gospel, R&B, pop, and jazz. Each

member brings their own vocal skill to the ensemble, creating a rich sound that transcends traditional a cappella music. Their dynamic performances and rich harmonies have earned them a global following, making them a must-see act.

“We are thrilled to bring Naturally 7 to the Daly Mansion,” said Executive Director of the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council, Larry McCloskey. “They are one of the most-requested groups for us to bring back for a return engagement since their sold-out show in 2023. Their great talent and unique style resonates with fans of all ages, and the historic ambiance of the Daly Mansion provides the perfect setting for our third annual summer concert.”

Opening the evening will be the

Josh Farmer Band. Farmer is a local musician known for his soulful voice and engaging stage presence. His band’s music, which blends elements of rock, blues, and folk, will provide the perfect prelude to Naturally 7’s performance.

The Daly Mansion, a centerpiece of Montana history and culture, offers a picturesque venue for this event. Nestled in the Bitterroot Valley, the mansion’s sprawling lawns and stunning architecture provide a unique outdoor concert experience. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to explore the historic grounds and enjoy the scenic beauty of the estate.

Tickets for the Naturally 7 concert are on sale now and can be purchased at www.bitterrootperformingarts.

org, or at the box office on Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 127 W Main St Suite 108, Hamilton. Ticket prices range from $35 to $100. Student discounts are available, and children 10 and under are free.

Gates will open at 6 p.m., and several food trucks as well as a beer garden will be available. Parking onsite is available but limited at the mansion, so concertgoers are encouraged to carpool.

Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of Naturally 7 and Josh Farmer in one of Montana’s most enchanting settings for a night of spectacular music and community spirit at the Daly Mansion on July 13th!

Volunteers show at Hamilton BMX track for improvements

by Nathan Boddy

Thirty or so individuals were already on site at the Hamilton BMX track south of the Red Sox ball field by 5:30 Monday, June 3rd, and more were on the way. They’d come out answering the call put forth by the City of Hamilton, the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists and Bike Walk Bitterroot for folks to lend a hand in giving the BMX track a facelift. Even though much of Monday afternoon was rainy, even heavy at times, the sun was shining while work was getting underway.

Todd Esser, a board member of the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, was on hand to explain the purpose of the work event. Esser appeared energetic despite his reduced sleep schedule on account of an 8-week-old infant at home, and set down his wheelbarrow to speak.

“We’re trying to generate some excitement from the community,” he said about the work being done around the track, explaining that the track has been there for years, but has somewhat fallen by the wayside. “We’re trying to modernize it, and bring it back to what it was 20 years ago. It really had a good beginning.”

The Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists (BBC) have tackled the work with Bike Walk Bitterroot and the City of Hamilton, each seeing the BMX track as a logical component of the goals that they all share. Esser explained that, for the BBC, the presence of a quality BMX track can mean that beginners get a chance to familiarize themselves with the excitement of biking in a location that is far easier to access than the many trails outside of town.

“It’s something in town where someone can learn bike skills,” he said, which has the benefit of bringing more folks into the biking community. More interest in biking, at least for BBC, could mean more opportunities for them to seek grants and Forest Service permission to expand riding trails throughout the valley.

BBC has had a proven success record in advocating for, and developing, mountain bike trails on publicly owned land in the Bitterroot. The area south of Lake Como, for example, supports a wonderful set of carefully crafted mountain bike trails that the group continues to maintain.

Bike Walk Bitterroot, the local branch of Bike Walk Montana, likewise encourages people to opt for two-wheel transit, but also engages within the urban area to assure that biking and walking are safe, convenient and accessible options for all folks within the community.

tively simple facelift of the BMX track which was taking place on Monday is a good first step, Esser said that the vision would be to ultimately seek grant money to add to and expand it. That expansion could potentially mean a gazebo, benches, and maintained landscaping and irrigation.

“That’s the pie-in-the-sky version,” he said.

As Esser went back to his work, even more people, kids and grown-ups alike, were arriving on the scene. He seemed pleased at the growth of the informal work event.

We couldn’t have asked for a better forecast, he said. “Wet dirt and sunshine!”

“They do a lot more in town,” said Esser about Bike Walk Bitterroot, but added that, “we want to have all bikers get involved. The more people are excited about it, the more things happen.”

Esser said that both the organizations ultimately share the same goal, and that those goals bridge nicely with the city’s efforts of connectivity for a variety of multi-modal transportation. And while the rela-

Todd Esser, left, of Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, slings some wet dirt at the BMX track south of Hamilton’s Red Sox Field at an informal work event on Monday, June 3rd. Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, together with Walk Bike Bitterroot and the City of Hamilton, planned the event to give the BMX track a much needed once-over in hopes of raising enthusiasm for biking. Photo by Nathan Boddy.