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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent
’ ! l a c o L t a t s e B ‘The
Volume XXXVI, Number 49
JUNE
25TH AND
26TH Wednesday, June 23, 2021
www.bitterrootstar.com
Hamilton City Council rejects ‘Painting the Pavement’ by Nathan Boddy At their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 15th, the Hamilton City Council adopted a last minute policy to disallow any painting upon public pavement within the city rights-of-way. Included in the motion, set forth by Councilor Jenny West, was the obligation that the City would remove, at its own expense, any decorative paint currently upon city roads. The policy effectively shut the door on a weeksold proposal by area high school students, community businesses and volunteers, to paint a Pride-themed rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of 3rd and State, in downtown Hamilton. The new policy also means that the intersection of 4th and State, which was painted by Bike/Walk/ Bitterroot less than three weeks ago,
about painting public will be scrubbed of the sidewalks and crosswalks, decorative fish and with many of them water theme. directing their comments Prior to the Council at the Pride crosswalk adopting the prohibitive proposal. policy, they had Martin Lacey of Victor asked City staff to wanted the people in the assemble a ‘Paint the room to know that he is a Pavement’ policy, which Christian, and that he felt would have required a Pride crosswalk would applicants to undergo divide people. Having a series of procedural requirements in order confused West’s motion to decorate public for a new prohibitive rights-of-way. That policy, for a ‘tabling’ of the policy was on the issue, he also wanted the agenda for Tuesday’s City Council to know that meeting, but the new he and others would be prohibition on painting watching. Mae Foresta speaks to Hamilton City Council. Photo by Nathan Boddy. “This is just a small of public right-of-way remnant of what you’ll essentially nullified the Despite that nullification, however, see, if this matter continues further, ‘Paint the Pavement’ policy before it dozens of area citizens took to the could be considered by the Council. regarding pushing this issue of the microphone to state their opinions
Downtown business shows support for Pride Month by Nathan Boddy Chapter One Bookstore owners, Mara Luther and Marisa Neyenhuis, had been planning to do something in recognition and support of Pride month. However, it was the vociferous backlash to a proposal by area high schoolers and volunteers to paint a downtown crosswalk in pride colors, that made it clear for the co-owners just how they could do it. “We heard that (the students) were bumping up against a lot of hate from certain county residents,” says Luther. The Bookstore, located on the corner of 3rd and Main in downtown Hamilton, is a central feature of Hamilton’s business district and the co-owners quickly decided that, although they couldn’t grant the students permission to paint on public right-of-way, they did have something they could offer. “We don’t have a billboard,” says Neyenhuis, “but we do have a window!” The co-owners decided to reach out to the students to offer their Main Streetfacing window as a place to display the
homosexual agenda, and that’s the facts,” said Lacey. While the majority of public comment was in favor of the new, prohibitive policy on painting of rights-of-way, multiple individuals did speak in favor of both the previous draft policy and the possibility of a Pride crosswalk that could have resulted. Mae Foresta told the Council that she believes the prohibitive policy would be trying to “sweep this under the rug,” while Kathy Dexter of Hamilton insisted that the prohibitive policy was simply a way to deny that diversity exists within the community. “This is how change is made,” she said. Following more than an hour of public comment, during which outbursts and applause had to be gaveled down by Mayor Dominic See PAVEMENT, page 3
Goin’ fishin’!
‘Allyship’ flag of multiple colors. The offer was accepted, and six students from both Corvallis and Hamilton High Schools arrived to paint the glass in the multiple colors that, together, represent the greater LGBTQ+ community as well as minority populations. “It’s our job as members of the community to put ourselves out there,” says Luther, “and we’ve got a lot of positive response so far. People have been coming in to say thank you,” both for having spoken up as well as for making members of the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome. Marisa Neyenhuis adds that she feels it is an important thing to display, “especially on Main Street.” She adds that the meaning of the ‘inclusive’ pride flag may not be obvious to everyone, but that seeing it so prominently displayed may drive someone to search out its meaning for themselves. The Hamilton City Council voted, on Tuesday June 15th, to adopt a new policy which would prohibit any painting of public right-of-ways within the City of Hamilton, with the exception of traffic safety measures.
Stirling Moore, 6, of Georgia fishes for the first time. Photo by Helen Sabin.
Local business provides free fishing pond for kids by Helen Sabin
Chapter One Bookstore doesn’t have a billboard but it does have a window, so the owners decided to invite local students to paint the window with the rainbow colors that represent the greater LGBTQ+ community. Photo by Nathan Boddy.
For parents looking for a safe, healthy, fun, and free summertime activity for their younger children, try the free fishing opportunity at The Angler’s Lodge and Cabins, 815 US Hwy 93 South, Hamilton. The Angler’s Lodge and Cabins are located at the south end of Hamilton. Their driveway is right before that of Angler’s Roost. On Wednesdays, from 12 to 3 p.m., children ages 12 and under and their parents can come to the property, check in at the
office and then go with their parents to the north end of the Lodge’s private lake and do battle with the fish that are waiting for a juicy worm to be tossed their way. Parents must be in attendance at all times while the children are fishing and provide all necessary equipment for their children to have fun fishing such as rods, reels, and those squiggly worms. The Angler’s Lodge and Cabins provide the lake and natural setting to learn how much fun fishing can be. Fish that
SR. PRO RODEO JUNE 25 - 26 TH
See FISHING, page 2
TH
GATES OPEN 5 PM RODEO 7 PM DARBY