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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent
‘The
’ ! l a c o L Best at
JUNE
25TH AND
26TH
Volume XXXVI, Number 46
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
www.bitterrootstar.com
Riggin’ Rally!
‘Pride’ colors proposed for Hamilton crosswalk by Nathan Boddy
PIctured at last year’s Riggin’ Rally is Wyatt Bloom on “MLW’s Irish Eyes” of Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics. Photo by Roseanna Sales. Riggin’ Rally story on page 3.
Pro-diversity group forms following Florence school board meeting by Victoria Howell Brittany McLaughlin, parent of a seventh grader at Florence-Carlton Middle School, recently organized a social media group called the Bitterroot Alliance for Diversity and Equality. The group was originally called Bitterroot Alliance Against Hate, but McLaughlin said she didn’t want to include the word “hate” in the group’s name. It’s a Facebook group working to find ways for all people to come together safely. She said she’s hoping to provide a safe, supportive space for LGBTQ+ in the
valley. According to McLaughlin, this is in response to what happened at the May school board meeting in Florence when a group showed up to protest the Gay-Straight Alliance group that was organized in the middle school. “My daughter and a friend started it to find a safe space for these students,” said McLaughlin. She said her daughter had heard about clubs like this and wanted to start one. She started it at the beginning of the school year. They followed the rules about forming a club and followed the proper steps. The
club started to pick up steam and got a new advisor. However, the advisor came across a school policy that was worrisome to her about whether or not this was a formal or informal group, and whether or not parental permission was required. This was brought before the board in April. “When this all came about, I decided to sit in on this board meeting,” said McLaughlin. “They talked about the policy, but the board tabled it because they felt like they needed more information.” See DIVERSITY, page 12
A packed room awaited the Hamilton City Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW) on Tuesday evening, May 25. Only three items were on the agenda for discussion, but it was the item presented by high school students, Frances Carrasco and Inga Watt, which dominated discussion for the evening. The proposal, as submitted to the council, is entitled ‘Allyship Pride Crosswalk Project.’ Their proposal seeks to gain permission from the Hamilton City Council for participating students from Hamilton H.S. SPURS, Corvallis, and area volunteers, to paint four crosswalks at the intersection
of 3rd and State, with Pride flag colors; the rainbow colors long associated with Gay Pride. To that palate the group has also added five more colors. As explained by Carrasco, “The pink, light blue and white is used to represent the trans flag, and the black and brown represent people of color. We thought it was necessary to include all these colors in a project that is all about inclusion.” The groups seeking permission indicated on their proposal that, “We want to make a physical representation of our purpose in preparation for Pride Month in June.” Some confusion arose from the mention of Gay Pride See PRIDE, page 12
A depiction of the plan for a ‘Pride’ crosswalk in Hamilton. The group proposes to add light blue, pink, white, black and brown to represent even more diversity.
Habitat for Humanity needs land for more homes by Victoria Howell
0% interest loans. The people must stay in the home for 10 years. This is for people who for Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit one reason or another would have a hard time housing organization working in local getting financing. They must also contribute communities across all 50 states in the U.S. sweat equity, with a down payment of 500 and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s hours of work for a couple and 250 hours for a vision is of a world where everyone has a decent single person.” place to live. To make that happen, Habitat for All the houses are built to code, in 2-, 3- or Humanity volunteers build homes that working 4-bedroom models, depending on the size of people can purchase through 0% interest loans the family. Six different designs are available and using their own labor as part of the down to meet varying lot shapes. All the materials are new. Labor is all-volunteer, and is donated payment. by many of the skilled people in the valley Here in the Bitterroot Valley, Habitat for – plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. “It’s Humanity has built 15 homes since 2005, in Corvallis, Darby, Hamilton, Stevensville and community involvement,” said Fifield. Victor. Right now, one is being finished in A good portion of the cost of materials is Darby, and another is being started. raised through sales at the ReSale Store on Old Corvallis Road in Hamilton. They take in good, “The homes are not a gift,” stresses Bob used materials, including building materials, Fifield, who has been president of the Bitterroot furniture and home décor, and resell them to group’s board of directors for the last five-andthe public. a-half years. “The people have to buy them, “This helps the store, the community and and they will have a mortgage based on a the home buyers,” says Bill Bean, Executive professional appraisal.” Director of Ravalli County Habitat for “Our main mission is to build homes,” said Ravalli County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Bill Bean and Board President Bob Fifield at the ReSale Humanity. Fifield. “We work with our local Montana See HABITAT, page 7 Store on Old Corvallis Road in Hamilton. Photo by Victoria Howell. banks and the Board of Housing to provide
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