Lolo Pass Visitor Center getting batty on full moon
When the full moon rises, the bats of Lolo Pass come out to play! In tribute to these fying mammals, the Lolo Pass Visitor Center is excited to announce the debut of Bat Night! Every month, beginning on July 19 th and ending September 13th, the Visitor Center will host bat talks and tours while our winged friends are out and about.
Following a 30-minute presentation, participants will use a bat detector to listen for and identify native bat species. Programming is free to attend. Lolo Pass is at 5,000 feet in elevation and it gets cold at night, even in summer, so it’s recommend to bring a warm jacket or sweater, hiking shoes, bug spray and a fashlight.
“Bats are an integral part of our forest ecosystems and this program gives the public a chance to learn more about our
native bats and why they are so important,” said Sacha Wells, interpretive ranger and bat enthusiast at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
Dates and times for Bat Night at Lolo Pass (subject to cancellation):
July 19: Talk begins 8:30 p.m., tour begins 9:00 p.m. (Pacifc Time Zone)
Aug 16: Talk begins 8:00 p.m., tour begins 8:30 p.m. (Pacifc Time Zone)
Sept 13: Talk begins 7:30 p.m., tour begins 8:00 p.m. (Pacifc Time Zone)
For up-to-date event information, check the Facebook page at Lolo Pass Visitor Center – Discover Your Northwest, or you can call the visitor center at 208-942-3113. The Lolo Pass Visitor Center is located on Hwy 12 at the border of Idaho and Montana at milepost 174. Its normal operating hours are Thursday-Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST.
UM gets grant to fund research on bats
by Emily Senkosky
UM News Service
Since 2006, a fast-moving disease known as white-nose syndrome has killed an estimated 6.7 million bats, wiping out entire colonies and decimating creatures that provide an integral means of pest control.
In response, a frst-of-its-kind study by the University of Montana recently was funded by the National Science Foundation to provide critical insights on three North American bat species that are adapting to the dual threats of this disease and climate change.
Awarded nearly $3 million dollars, the project will ofcially start Sept. 1, but groundwork already is well underway this summer.
Although infectious diseases occur naturally in wildlife populations, globalization and rapid environmental shifts are worsening the impact of wildlife diseases and increasing the likelihood of spillover to humans. The UM research will explore this phenomenon and is led by Erin Landguth, a public health sciences associate professor and ecological modeling researcher. She will be joined by Julie Weckworth, a UM research scientist in wildlife disease genetics, and Casey Day, a UM research scientist in computational landscape and behavior ecology.
The NSF-funded work will focus on three North American bat species signifcantly impacted by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations across the continent.
WNS is a disease that was born in Eurasia but is signifcantly impacting bats in North America, infecting 12 types of bats and killing millions. UM researchers are collaborating with United Kingdom scientists, including Dr. Orly Razgour, a molecular ecol-
ogist and conservation biologist who specializes in bats, and experts in bioinformatics (Dr. Rhys Farrer) and fungal pathogens (Dr. Duncan Wilson).
Collectively, the scientists will explore how certain bats have genetic traits that enable them to survive WNS and adapt to changing environmental conditions. With this data, the collaborators plan to build a sophisticated computer model that forecasts bat movement across landscapes and investigate the genetic factors that contribute to population resilience.
Using a computational model Landguth created, the research will build upon previous work by layering in climate change variables, species biological patterns and disease factors. The main objective is to more accurately understand the diferent aspects of tracking wildlife disease across large landscapes. The team will collaborate with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which already has a WNS response team, and other species-specifc agencies.
“Modeling disease, genetics and population movement is complex from every angle,” Landguth said. “By integrating genetic and disease processes with ecological and biological data, we can generate more accurate forecasts that can be vital for wildlife conservation and public health planning.”
The project boasts researchers with a wide range of expertise, including wildlife biology, disease ecology,
microbiology, bioinformatics, computational ecology and conservation biology. Beyond scientifc advancements, the project will ofer practical benefts such as developing wildlife health planning maps and public education on the nuances of disease transmission in wildlife. By identifying critical bat populations capable of resisting and tolerating disease while coping with climate shifts, this research also will aid conservation eforts. This comes at a time when the Endangered Species Act already has listed several bats species
because of WNS, with other species being considered for enlistment.
“For someone who is interested in wildlife conservation, this is a disease that is super concerning,” Weckworth said. “This NSF grant will be a springboard to build more research that can help us apply tools to explicitly understand disease modeling.”
She said the study represents a signifcant step forward in understanding and mitigating the impacts of disease and climate change on wildlife populations, with far-reaching implications for conservation and public health.
WATER: Ravalli County settles on monitoring solution
Continued from page 1
and as far as I can tell, I don’t see anything untoward in actions of the Board of Health,” said Bedey. “I’m not addressing the outcome of the decision, but that they can make a decision. I think they can.”
Commissioner Greg Chilcott suggested that the issue of who the “reviewing authority” is under the law and the intention of HB121 could be put aside if the County Commissioners and members of the Board of Health, who were all present, could come
up with a consensus on how to deal with the groundwater results this year.
Commissioner Jef Burrows presented an option that was tweaked through discussion and they were able to arrive at a full consensus. The motion, adopted by the County Commissioners and agreed to by all members of the Board of Health, was to add 6 inches to the groundwater level results obtained this year and use those numbers to determine
which results could be accepted or not. This decision was based on some initial results presented by the Environmental Health Department indicating that groundwater levels this year in pipes that were checked last year were showing peaks about four inches lower than in the preceding years. The decision to add 6 inches instead of just four to this year’s results was made “out of an abundance of caution” to protect the aquifer.
$25 Flat-fee (Cash, Check,
bring
sapphirechc.org or call 406-541-0032.
Brown bat in fight. Photo courtesy National Forest Service.
This North American bat shows the classic symptom of white-nose syndrome – white tufts of fungal growth on its muzzle. Photo by Steve Taylor
UM Library makes historic aerial photos available
UM News Service
Some of the state’s earliest known aerial photography now is available online courtesy of the University of Montana Mansfeld Library.
The images are part of an extensive collection of aerial photography taken by the U.S. Forest Service and held in the library’s Archives and Special Collections department.
“The Forest Service collection we received has tens of thousands of aerial images dating from the 1930s to the 1970s,” said Professor Donna McCrea, the head of archives. “We are focusing on the imagery from the 1930s. So far we’ve created an online index map that indicates the latitude and longitude of about 35,000 images, and we’ve made about 3,500 images available online.”
Information about the collection, with links to the index map and scanned images, is online at umt.edu/ library/asc/aerial/.
McCrea said the photographs are of land in the U.S. Forest Service
Northern Region, which includes a signifcant amount of western Montana and northern Idaho. While the Forest Service originally used the photographs to assist with creating maps and conducting timber surveys, today they are used for a variety of purposes, including environmental studies, land-use planning and historic preservation.
She said the format of the images – 9-by-9-inch negatives on reels of flm that contain 200 to 600 images each – has made providing access to them challenging. The library had to custom build a platform to safely hold the flm reels as the images were being scanned.
“Initially, we didn’t receive any sort of index or inventory to the images, so we really didn’t know what we had” McCrea said. “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to John Pierce, who volunteered his time over several years to identify the locations of the images. This project would not be possible without him.”
She said the project received a signifcant boost in 2022 with a $10,000 grant from the Foundation for Montana History, which funded a part-time project manager with Geographic Information System experience.
ect manager, Elizabeth Singh-Search, fnalized our workfows and streamlined the online project map. I’m really pleased with the outcome and I can’t wait to see how these images get used now that they are more discoverable.”
UM geography graduate student Carver Butterfeld recently used a selection of the Missoula-area photographs for his master’s thesis project focusing on the impact of urbanization on Pattee Creek.
“We’ve been able to hire some really terrifc UM students with GIS training in the past who helped us set up this project,” McCrea said. “The grant-funded proj-
“These high-resolution images ofered a vital baseline for what the creek looked like before urbanization,” Butterfeld said. “This insight was foundational to my assessment of urbanization’s impact on the creek. Looking back at history through aerial imagery not only enriches our understanding of the past, but it also guides us towards a more informed and sustainable future.”
The original images were sent from the Region 1 headquarters in Missoula to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., in the 1980s. UM Archives and Special Collections holds
duplicate images that were gifted to the library in the 1990s. McCrea said the Forest Service does not have plans to digitize the originals, so the library took on the project.
“This new online collection of aerial photography adds to our many rich multidisciplinary library resources, with cultural and historical signifcance for western Montana as a place,” said UM Dean of Libraries Barry Brown. “It underscores the Mansfeld Library’s mission to provide our campus and community members opportunities to understand the past, analyze the present and prepare for the future.”
McCrea said the Forest Service also took aerial photographs of the region in the 1920s, but the original nitrate flm disintegrated before it could be sent to the National Archives for duplication. So the existing collection starts in the ’30s.
“Because prints were often made from the original negatives, I hope I’ll someday get a call from someone who has those Montana aerial images from the 1920s,” she said.
This 1937 image of Missoula shows an island in the Clark Fork River that today is Caras Park. Photo courtesy UM News Service.
Volunteer John Pierce compares original images to Google Earth using a light table to identify the coordinates for the centerpoint of each historical image. Photo courtesy UM News Service.
Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, 2024
by John Dowd
For 15 years Mike and Tari Conroy have been putting on the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, which this year will take place July 26-28. The weekend event has drawn thousands of people over the years. According to Conroy, they are especially excited to have the same location again this year because of the predicted extreme heat.
The festival will take place at the Heiland family ranch, 10 miles south of Hamilton, right around the 37 mile marker, at 424 Forest Hill Road. Conroy wanted to express a huge thanks to Janice Heiland and her family for allowing the space to be used over the weekend for the festival. The Heilands are the owners and ranch managers of the space. Conroy expressed thanks in particular to Ted Heiland, who does a lot to keep the area looking good for the event.
Some of Ted’s work includes maintaining the eight-inch-deep wading ditch that runs right in front of the stage. Many kids and dogs have enjoyed playing in it through the years during the festivals, and this year the water will be invaluable. The space is also extremely shaded, which will hopefully help further protect festival goers from the heat.
“It’s going to be a bountiful shady spot, down there,” said Conroy, “a perfect location.”
Ted will also be playing to kick of the show on Friday, at 5:45 p.m. He will be playing with his sister Ramona Potter and her daughter, Rachel Potter. According to Conroy, when speaking of the Heilands, “They’ve been so involved with putting this event on.” He wanted to thank Steve Heiland, the owner of the ranch, as well.
The event takes a lot of help, calling on 20 or 30 volunteers each year. In fact, Conroy cited his many friends as the reason the event can even be put on. “We have so many friends in the bluegrass family,” said Conroy. Conroy is president of the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association, but the event is not associated with that organization. This event is its own thing, and they encourage everyone who loves bluegrass to attend.
He and his wife Tari started doing the Hardtimes Festival in 2009. He explained that they work hard for six months to organize the festival. “Every year it seems to have grown bigger and bigger!” said Conroy. When asked why they do it, Conroy said, “just because of our friends and the music.” He also expressed that after all the years, the festival has become “the way we’ve always dreamed.”
This year there will be 13 bands playing, a dozen of which have played the venue before, with one newcomer. The Jolley family, comprised of Ryan and Amanda Jolley and their fve kids, is set to start of the show at noon on Saturday. According to Controy, the entire family, including the kids rang-
ing between the ages of seven and 16, is extremely talented. Throughout the event, there will be a new band every 30 minutes.
“We don’t really highlight bands, they are all good bands,” said Conroy. “Our whole deal is to make it family-oriented.” There will also be bluegrass gospel on Sunday morning.
There will be fve food vendors this year, including Country Kitchen, Bitterroot Snowballs, Sweet Links, Blazing Guns Pizza and Paradise Perk Express.
Admission for the weekend is available at the gate. For an adult it is $40, and $20 for children. A day pass for an adult for Friday/Saturday is $25 and $12 for kids. Sunday admission is $15 per adult and $7 for kids. Children 6 and under have free admission.
Camping is available, beginning Thursday, July 25 at 8 a.m., and frst come, frst served. Dry camping is $15 a night. According to Conroy, there are usually 150 campers. He also recommends people bring their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets. There is no alcohol sold at the event.
More information can be found at hardtimesbluegrass.com, or by calling Conroy at (406) 8213777.
Editor’s Note: A story on the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival also appears in the “Discover the Bitterroot” publication which hits the stands this week. The festival dates in that story are incorrect. The Star apologizes for the error.
Ventenata workshop scheduled
The NRCS Hamilton Field Ofce has teamed with the Ravalli County Weed District in an effort to increase public awareness of an extremely invasive annual grass, Ventenata, that has been observed to be spreading throughout the county. The NRCS has a special fund pool set aside to assist landowners in identifying and treating this invasive grass. The two agencies are hosting a public workshop that will assist attendees in general plant identifcation as well as identifcation of Ventenata. The workshop will be held Wednesday, July 24th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Calf Creek Wildlife Management Area (located at the end of Hamilton Heights Road, east of Hamilton).
Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) is a non-native winter annual grass that has become very invasive in many parts of the West and is increasing its expansion and abundance in western Montana. This annual grass can be difcult to identify as it looks like other common invasive grasses such as cheatgrass and Japanese brome. Although Ventenata looks like these other grasses, it can be signifcantly more invasive and is not palatable by livestock or wildlife. Ventenata has the potential to degrade plant communities and reduce suitable habitat for livestock and wildlife. Early detection and prevention are the key to controlling the spread of Ventenata in Ravalli County. Currently there appear to be relatively small infestation areas throughout the valley, so the goal is to promote identifcation and treatment of these areas before the expansion becomes too large to feasibly control.
The public is encouraged to attend the workshop or contact the NCRS feld ofce at 406-3616191 for more information on how to control this weed while it is still possible.
Is your group raising funds?
Wildfre Smoke Relief Program 2024
In response to the increasing health hazard from wildfire smoke in the Bitterroot Valley, Bitterroot Climate Action Group (BCAG) announces the availability of 45 Winix c545 HEPA portable room air filtration units for distribution at no charge to the elderly, young mothers and individuals with respiratory
health conditions. The units were purchased with funds from private donations to BCAG and a grant from the Rapp Family Foundation.
Recipients must be residents of Ravalli County and complete an application. To apply for a unit by phone, contact our volunteer program coordinator Sarah (406)
381-6226) or apply online at https:// bitterrootcag.org/hepa2024/ Units will be delivered to applicants as required, and a pickup day will be arranged for those with transportation.
Bitterroot Climate Action Group is a local nonprofit organization working to find non-partisan ap -
proaches to prepare for a changing climate and build a more sustainable community. To learn more about BCAG’s programs and activities visit https://bitterrootcag.org.
BCAG extends sincere thanks to the Rapp Family Foundation for their generous support of this program..
FIRE: Forest Service gives safety tips for recreators
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unattended campfres have been discovered by forest personnel, especially around Lake Como Recreation Area and Lost Horse.
“Just because there are no fames, doesn’t mean the campfre is out,” said Russell Buzzell, Fire Prevention Ofcer. Buzzell reminds people to drown a fre with water, stir it, and then touch the area to make sure it’s cool to the touch. “If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave,” he said.
This year, frefghters on the Bitterroot National Forest have responded to seven fres, four human-caused and three lightning-caused.
Follow these fre safety tips: Keep campfres small and completely extinguish them before leaving camp. The best method is to douse the fre with water, stir the ashes and douse again, making sure that all ashes are cold to the touch. It is illegal to have unattended campfres.
· Smokers should light up only in areas cleared of all fammable debris. Cigarette butts should never be thrown from vehicle windows.
· Those exploring the forest and
backcountry in vehicles must stay on established roads and trails and avoid driving over dry grass and brush that could be ignited by hot exhaust systems.
· Firewood cutters should operate chainsaws equipped with spark arresters in the cool morning hours and keep a shovel and fre extinguisher nearby.
· Fireworks are illegal on public lands: every forest, every campsite, every day. Never light freworks in the woods.
· Recreational shooting? Take precautions! Never shoot into dry vegetation and always make sure you’re shooting in a safe location, away from
roads, trails, campsites, and occupied areas. Be aware that shooting exploding targets is prohibited on National Forest System lands. For more information visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/ visit/know-before-you-go/shooting.
· Know before you go. Always check with your local Ranger Station prior to your trip to get the most up-to-date information on fre danger and fre restrictions for the area.
Reminder: outdoor burning closed in Ravalli County on July 13.
For the latest on fre restrictions and local fre information across the state visit www.mtfreinfo.org.
Unmanned aircraft systems (drones) should never be fown near or around wildfres. To learn more about Forest Service policy regarding unmanned aircraft systems visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/ managing-land/fre/aviation/ uas/responsible-use.
For more information about fres in Montana and other fres across the country, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DiscoverBitterrootNF for local fre information.
OWL: restrictions active to help fsh populations
Continued from page 1
FWP’s drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees
or more can be lethal to trout. These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions like this exist. One short-term strategy to address heat-induced stress in Montana’s wild trout is to reduce
catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning.
Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water and reviving them prior to releas
ing them back into the river. If high temperatures and extremely low flows persist, anglers may want to consider fishing areas with less stressful temperatures and conditions, such as larger lakes or reservoirs, or higher elevation waterbodies.
Our
communities’ special needs
We are parents to a delightful 28-year-old daughter with a TBI/Cerebral Palsy.
Most people can’t appreciate that being a special needs parent is a challenging 24-hour job. Our daughter, who is our world, can’t be left on her own. We rarely have any personal time, date nights, vacations, and are in a pattern of constant worry and appointments. We are making sure our child has quality of life, independence, good health, faces challenges, feels valued, has social interactions, and continues learning.
Our daughter’s visit to her dentist revealed that two cavities needed flling. It is imperative that they are flled ASAP due to issues of bacteria and a repaired birth defect. Her dentist refused to do it as it requires sedation, even though he does it in his ofce. I believe that her Medicaid waiver didn’t pay enough in his opinion.
I called almost every dentist from Hamilton to Missoula trying to fnd a dentist to perform the procedure. Unfortunately, the closest ofce is two hours away in Ronan. The local dentists wouldn’t take her Medicaid or wouldn’t see new patients. I understand that they can only take so many Medicaid patients or are unwilling to do so. I also understand that at the end of the day it’s a business.
Things need to change. Medicaid should pay more to dentists, and dentists should reevaluate business practices.
My daughter isn’t the only special needs adult needing these services in our community.
Who is going to step up to help them?
Sheila Schiwal Stevensville
The famous debate and Project 2025
First, the debate: No, I didn’t watch it. Why would I spend my evening watching a convicted felon and showman in any sort of public meeting with an experienced statesman with a cold? If enough people in this country actually vote for a smirking, fast-talking liar rather than a considered, knowledgeable, well-meaning negotiator respected by the world at large … Well, we deserve what happens next.
Second: Project 2025, which is what MAGA Republicans apparently believe is what should happen next. If you’re not aware of and pretty well acquainted with this “Presidential Transition Project,” you should be, no matter your party (https:// www.project2025.org/). From their “Playbook”: “The time is short, and conservatives need a plan. The project will create a playbook of actions to be taken in the frst 180 days of the new Administration to bring quick relief to Americans sufering from the Left’s devastating policies.”
Rather than quoting from the document, since you can look it all up yourself, I will list some of “the Left’s devastating policies”:
As of the end of June, the Biden Administration has created 15.7 million jobs and unemployment continues at historic lows. That 15.7 includes 6.2 million jobs that are defnitely not just “bounceback” from the Covid pandemic.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “The Dow is up 45% since Biden defeated Trump in 2020. At the equivalent point in Trump’s term, it was up 34%.”
Although all Republicans in the Senate and the House – including Montana’s
Opinion
own Daines and Zinke – voted against Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure act, Montana is expected to receive about $23 million over 5 years. Our newspapers regularly report another $5 million here and $5 million there, and the people who voted against the bill are trying to take credit for it.
”A study published… in the pediatrics journal of the American Medical Association … shows that the idea of returning women to roles as wives and mothers by banning abortion has, in Texas, driven infant death rates 12.9% higher.” (Heather Cox Richardson, 25 June 2024).
The Senate spent months hammering out a bipartisan immigration bill, but MAGA Republicans in the House, at Trump’s behest and led by Speaker Mike Johnson, refused even to let it come to a vote.
That’s just a start, and if you can’t see beyond the price of gas and the cost of groceries, which are dependent not on the President, but on the greedy corporations backing Project 2025 … well, we as a country deserve what happens next.
Mary Fahnestock-Thomas Hamilton
Court of the Orange King
At the end of June, I crossed into Canada to spend time with friends. As I crossed the border, I left behind a democracy on life support. Democracies demand an engaged citizenry, willing to debate ideas and policies without resorting to demonizing those with whom you disagree. In the US, this trait is in short supply.
A substantial percentage of the population is committed to supporting a convicted felon; a person whom a civil court awarded millions of dollars in damages to a woman who had accused him of raping her; and as an outgoing, defeated president, sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to the winner of the 2020 election. Many of his supporters advocate violence to attain their power grab, screeching that they are taking the country back. From whom? Fellow citizens of the same country who happen to have a diferent vision of a just, equitable society. One not based on greed, misogyny, whiteness, and violence. In the face of these diferences, a hate-fuelled red mist prevails in place of dialogue. Not the foundation of a healthy democracy.
Authoritarian and neo fascist currents are sweeping the globe. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of history has seen this political swing before, in countless variations. The common denominator, however, is death. Pick a dictator of the past: Franco; Pol Pot; Videla; Milošević; or current ones: Modi; Sisi; Lukašenko. They are propped up on a mountain of skulls, but for now lack the capability to wreak havoc on the world. Now, look at those dictators who control weapons of mass annihilation: Putin; Xi Jinping. The number of dead could rise to many millions. Back to Canada. I crossed back into the US on July 4th. The irony was impossible to ignore. On that day of declaring independence from King George III in 1776–although it must be pointed out that this idea of independence would not be extended to women, slaves, or indigenous people–which we celebrate annually, I entered into a new political reality. Just days previously, ruling on presidential immunity, six ideologues on the nation’s highest court redefned the United States as a kingdom. As Justice Sotomayor wrote in a scathing dissent, the President is now a king above the law.
Did we just add the US to that list of dictatorships above? Six conservatives in black robes staged a bloodless coup, and put a pillow over the face of our failing democracy. RIP.
Shawn Wathen Hamilton
Father of lies
Donald Trump denies calling veterans “suckers” and “losers” but General John Kelly quoted him, saying he is: “A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for all Gold Star families” – on TV during the 2016 campaign -- “and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.”
Who do you believe? An esteemed general or a convicted felon? If he was a character in the Bible, he’d be named “Father of Lies.” Make that a Bible lesson to teach in public schools.
His persistent repetition of The Big Lie, claiming that he didn’t lose in 2020, viciously sparked a violent attack on our nation’s capital and continues to provoke violence.
The Biggest Loser is the Father of Lies, but the Biggest Suckers are those who believe in him.
Wanda LaCroix Missoula
Tester ads are insulting
Tester needs to stop political ads attacking Tim Sheehy’s character. My grandfather fought in WWI. My father fought in WWII. My son-in-law was in Iraq. I am a ffth generation Californian who relocated here 13 years ago. That does not make me less of a Montanan than Tester. His ads are insulting. His family migrated here too at some point. He needs to stick to the issues.
Tim Sheehy started an aerial frefghting company that employs lots of Montanans. He pays taxes! He bought a big ranch because he is a self made millionaire. Tester is a career politician and he too is a millionaire.
Terrie Wilfong Stevensville
Liar
Jon Tester voted twice for the Biden border bill that allowed 5,000 illegal aliens in each day. He has outside money from George Soros to make up believable lies about Sheehy and super lies about his own beliefs, very lovely lies. Remember that Democrats accuse their opponents of bad things they are already doing.
Illegal aliens are killing our innocent citizens, they are taking our tax money to support them on welfare, they are being housed in school buildings,in hotels, they are using health care for free, they are using our Social Security.
Jon Tester votes with Biden 95% of the time. We must vote for President
Trump and Sheehy and against Jon Tester. Voting for Tester is voting for Biden and his corruption. Sheehy will be an excellent support for Making America Great Again. I am one of most veterans who stand for Trump, not for Tester.
Richard Parker Stevensville
Illegal immigration in Montana
For years we have watched news reports of the porous southern border facilitating the illegal infux of 10 million migrants under the Biden presidency (thehill.com, Jan.2024). To be clear, we support immigration - legal immigration. Knock and come through our country’s front door the right way. If you are here to chase the dream and embrace the love of our country and values, we welcome you. It is the illegal part with which we have trouble. Illegal migration has brought drugs, human trafcking, mules, cartels, terrorists on watch lists, and much more negative fallout.
For years, this has been ‘behind the curtain’ of the public in Montana. Just ask our Attorney General Austin Knudsen. He continually and relentlessly has warned us of the surge in fentanyl smuggling, a staggering 20,000% increase in confscations since 2019; and sex trafcking, cases escalating over 116% since 2021 (dojmt.gov March 2024). These crises have become pervasive in Montana due to the current Federal administration’s border policy. We have confrmed illegals fown to Kalispell from New York. When hypocritical sanctuary cities realize Montana won’t send them back, where do you think they will keep sending them? Every town in Montana is at risk if we do not act.
We are tired of excuses like ‘We just need to elect a new president’ or ‘Let’s just wait for the next legislative session.’ Yes, we need a federal government that will enforce legal immigration. Yes, we need courts that uphold the law. However, we are the Montana legislative branch responsible for making the law. The time to act is now. The Montana Constitution gives us the task of not only a regular session, but also sessions during the interim as determined by a written request of the members. Montana law enforcement and local leaders tell us they are missing state authority to act. Well, let’s give it to them. Call, email, or text your legislator and ask them to join the call for a session to implement authority at the state level to protect our state. This is crucial for the safety and security of all Montanans. Rep. Matt Regier, Speaker Rep. Sue Vinton, Majority Leader Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, Speaker Pro Tem
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 frst Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Florence Rural Fire Hall.
Yoga for Veterans
FREE to veterans, frst 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 Cofee 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-proft 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.
Hamilton school board
Governance Committee Meeting
Thursday – August 8, 2024
12:00 p.m. – District Ofce Conference Room
The Committee will be conducting this meeting with live participation. Regular Board Meeting/Final Budget Hearing
Tuesday – August 13, 2024
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District
will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Regular Board Meeting
Wednesday – July 24, 2024
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Special Board Meeting
Wednesday – July 31, 2024
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube.
Agenda
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment
4. Discussion and Consideration of Prioritizing District Needs and the Tuition Fund Levy Amount for Fiscal Year 2025 (Information/Action)
5. Closing You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Governance Committee Meeting
Thursday – August 8, 2024
12:00 p.m. – District Ofce Conference Room
The Committee will be conducting this meeting with live participation.
Regular Board Meeting/Final
Budget Hearing
Tuesday – August 13, 2024
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
NV Library events Summer Art for Kids ages 5-10Mon. July 15 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. Registration required. Board Meeting - Wed. July 17 at 3pm Meetings are open to the public. Agendas and the Public Participation are posted on the Library’s 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.
SpectrUM Summer of ScienceTues. July 23 at 1:30pm
Join spectrUM for hands-on science fun! Content suitable for ages 6-12 but all ages welcome. Today we will have fun with bouncy rockets and paper airplanes.
Indian Epic Literature - Thur. July 25 at 6:30pm
Explore the incredible worlds of India’s greatest epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa. Revered in Hinduism, these Sanskrit texts of ancient India are full of wisdom, thrilling adventures, and depicts situations that are remarkably relevant today, thousands of years later. Zoom option available.
Pachyderm Club
The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, July 19 at 12 noon at the Frontier Cafe, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be Representative Wayne Rusk. The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.
Bitterroot Quilters Guild
Bitterroot Quilters Guild will meet on Wednesday, July 24 at Daly Leach Community Room, 1010 W Main, Hamilton. For the frst time the Guild will meet during the months of July and August, and schedule a break in January and February 2025. Doors open at 6 pm for socializing and shopping; the meeting will come to order at 6:30. There will be a Fat Quarter Drawing, 50/50 Pot, bargain sales at the Ugli Bin as well as member show and tell. Newly elected President Alissa Dedmon and Treasurer Martha Shrock will be introduced.
Bitterroot Quilters Guild is a non-proft organization, and contributes hundreds of quilts annually to organizations in the Bitterroot Valley like Ravalli County First Responders, SAFE, Headstart, Hospice and more. The group also funds an annual scholarship to high school seniors, as well as annual grants to deserving organizations. To fund these activities, the Guild sponsors a Boutique at the Ravalli County Fair, selling items created by the members. Membership in the Guild is open to quilters from beginner through advanced; any interested individuals are encouraged to attend. To keep abreast of activities, visit the Bitterroot Quilters Guild on Facebook.
BRHA ‘2nd Time Around’
Jewelry Sale Back by popular demand! The Bitter Root Humane Association thought last year was the end of its very popular jewelry sale but the people have spoken! Generous donations, positive word of mouth and a great cool, calm and central location during Bitterroot Days are all the reasons that BRHA is doing this sale one more time. Whether you’re looking for a classic vintage look or new glam designs, the Bitter Root Humane Association’s “2nd Time Around Jewelry Sale” has what you’re looking for and more! BRHA invites you to attend on Saturday, July 27th at the Hamilton City Hall-Bedford Building, 223 S. 2nd Street, Hamilton, 10am to 2pm for this fantastic, much awaited sale. Donations from generous supporters include all forms of jewelry including vintage delights, precious gems, beautiful costume bling along with other jewelry related items, jewelry boxes, clocks and accessories. If you’re looking for wearable baubles, beautiful gifts or items to repurpose, this event is for you with treasures for everyone.
Did you know that the Bitter Root Humane Association has been serving our community for 50 years? All proceeds from the sale will go towards helping BRHA continue to care for all the homeless pets that come through its doors. Come see one of the reasons why the BRHA won “Bitterroot’s Best” non-proft for 2024!
NV Library Brews for Books
Upcoming summer Brews for Books pint night fundraisers will beneft the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville. The frst event is planned for July 12, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Tin Can Bar & Draft Room, 207 Main St. Another event is set for Aug. 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m., at Wildwood Brewery, 4018 U.S. Hwy. 93 North. Both locations are in Stevensville and also serve food. These events are presented by Friends of the Library and the NVPL Foundation. For more information, contact Susan Slemp with Friends of the Library at skslemp@gmail.com.
Driver safety class
Bitterroot Health (formerly Marcus Daly Hospital), located at 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, is hosting an ALL NEW AARP Driver Safety Course
on Friday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This new safe driving course is designed for drivers age 50 and over; all drivers are welcome. The new program features updates of laws specifc to Montana, defensive driving, winter driving, and new vehicle technologies, to name a few. Class size is limited; pre-registration is advised. There are no tests or written exams and Montana mandates insurance discounts for qualifed drivers. Certifcates are good for three years. Class fee: $20.00 for AARP members; $25.00 for non-members. For class sign up, call Jones Korman Insurance at: 406-363-6583. For further information, call Thom Ainsworth, Instructor, at 406-369-0149.
Lutheran VBS
Children ages 4 (fully potty-trained, please) through 12 are invited to Vacation Bible School at Our Savior Lutheran Church and Preschool in Stevensville July 29-August 2, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. (Please
Sports
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Bucs and Red Sox in the home stretch
The Bitterroot Bucs and the Bitterroot Red Sox are nearing the end of the 2024 American Legion baseball season. Both teams are in the West A Conference of the Montana and Alberta’s Class A American Legion Baseball league, and Sunday, July 21st, is the last day for conference play.
In the West A standings, the Bitterroot Red Sox are in 2nd place (as of July 14th) with a 12-6 conference record and a 24-8 overall record. The Bitterroot Bucs are in 3rd place with an 11-7 conference record and a 22-11 overall record.
The Class A West District Tournament will be hosted by the Bucs on Thursday, July 25th - Sunday, July 28th. The Class A State tournament will be in Polson from Wednesday, July 31st - Sunday, August 4th.
The Red Sox played in the Missoula Maverick Invitational last week and won the tournament in dramatic fashion. In the championship game on July 14th, they trailed Calgary 3-5 in the bottom of the 7th when Hunt -
er Harrness hit a 3-run double to give the Red Sox a 6-5 victory. The Red Sox went 6-0 in the tournament. The Bucs went 0-2 last week.
Last week’s results as below:
Red Sox 11, Northern Lakes 7
On Thursday, July 11th, the Red Sox defeated Northern Lakes 11-7.
For the Red Sox, Conner Ekin and Hunter Harrness each had a triple and 2 RBIs, and Toby Demoss went 2 for 2 with an RBI.
Red Sox 11, Expos-Norden 16U
8 On Thursday, July 11th, the Red Sox defeated Expos-Norden 11-8.
For the Red Sox, Jackson Lubke went 2 for 4, hit a home run and drove in 4 RBIs, Reese Earp went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Owen Marston went 2 for 4 and scored 3 runs.
Red Sox 7, Missoula Mavericks A 2
On Friday, July 12th, the Red Sox defeated the Mavericks A team
7-2. Jackson Lubke went 3 for 4 and scored a run and Jude Widmer went 1 for 3, scored a run and had an RBI. Red Sox pitcher Brandon Brenneman struck out 5 batters and got the win.
Red Sox 3, Calgary Premier Blues 2
On Saturday, July 13th, the Red Sox defeated Calgary Premier Blues 3-2. Atticus Southwell went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Jackson Lubke went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Lubke also got the win as the pitcher, striking out 11 batters in 7 innings.
Red Sox 13, Kalispell Sluggers 16U 5
The Red Sox defeated the Kalispell Sluggers 13-5 on Sunday, July 14th. For the Red Sox, Jude Widmer went 2 for 3 with 5 RBIs, and Atticus Southwell went 3 for 4, scored 2 runs and had an RBI.
Red Sox 6 Calgary Premier Blues 5
On Sunday, July 14th, the Red Sox defeated Calgary 6-5 in the championship game of the Missoula Maverick Invitational. The Red Sox trailed 3-5 in the bottom of the 7th inning when Hunter Harrness hit a 3-run double to give the Red Sox the win. Reese Earp and Atticus Southwell also had RBIs in the game. .
Bucs 3, Glacier Twins A 5; Bucs 3, Glacier Twins A 4
The Bucs played a double header on Tuesday, July 9th against Glacier and lost both games. Glacier is in first place in the West A District.
In the first game they lost 3-5. For the Bucs, Jake Roth hit a triple and scored a run, Mason Arlington had an RBI double, and Trapper Oster went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
The Bucs lost 3-4 in the second game. For the Bucs, Drew Wagner went 2 for 4, Isaiah Testerman went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Chase Wagner went 1 for 2 and scored 2 runs. Pitcher Mason Arlington struck out 8 on the mound.
Through the community’s support, Hamilton Insurance has ofcially awarded a $10,000 donation to Play Like Robert Foundation, a nonproft organization whose purpose is to provide philanthropic support for special projects and programs that encourage educational and recreational activities in the name of Robert Anthony Leonardi, thanks to the Liberty Mutual® and Safeco Insurance® 2024 Make More Happen™ Awards program.
The Play Like Robert Foundation was created in the memory of Robert Anthony Leonardi who tragically lost his life at the age of 9 in 2019 after being struck by a negligent and impaired driver. The organization’s programming strives to provide opportunities for the community to both learn and play in a safe manner that eases the fear of trying something new. The $10,000 donation will support a current campaign focused on the construction of a pedestrian and commuter path providing connectivity for neighborhoods with Daly Elementary School which is home to approximately 540 students and staf. The $1.7 million project, in partnership with local governmental entities, will result in a two-mile trail system providing for safety of travel and physical exercise for the entire community.
The Play Like Robert Foundation has committed over $50,000 for the preliminary engineering and design for this current phase and is in the initial stages of design for future expansion
of the trail system.
Hamilton Insurance originally received a $5,000 donation for Play Like Robert Foundation thanks to a submission process with Liberty Mutual® and Safeco Insurance® through their 2024 Make More Happen™ Awards. A story of their local partnership was featured on the ofcial Make More Happen microsite, https://www.agentgiving.com/Hamilton-Insurance-2024, where Hamilton Insurance had the opportunity to raise $5,000 by conducting a local awareness campaign for the nonproft. Together with the community, the goal was met increasing the total donation to $10,000 for Play Like Robert Foundation.
“Recognizing independent agents’ dedication to their communities and nonproft partners is what the Make More Happen Awards is all about,” said Andy Thorpe, Safeco Insurance Northwest Region Senior Territory Manager. “Hamilton Insurance is a shining example of the amazing work independent agents do in Montana and we hope sharing inspiring stories motivates others to do the same.” Throughout 2024, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance will select up to 37 independent agents nationwide for a Make More Happen Award donating up to $370,000 to the nonprofts
The Bitterroot Red Sox won the Missoula Maverick Invitational on July 14. The Red Sox went 6-0 in the tournament. Photo by Bitterroot Red Sox.
Why wait until hoot-owl?
Last week, water temps in the upper Bitterroot crept into the low and mid-60’s and the East Fork and West Fork held in that range. Insect hatches are abundant at those temperatures, trout of all species feed actively, the angler can have a great day, and all can appear to be well.
But that was last week. This week and for the foreseeable future, day temps in the 90’s will push water temperatures skyward by midday. As I write, hoot-owl restrictions, no fshing from 2PM until 10PM, have been announced for several western Montana rivers.
want to repeat.
I’ve written much in the past about catch and release methods. The phrase should be: catch, revive, and release – emphasis on the word revive.
by Chuck Stranahan
Just as heavy exercise on a warm day can produce heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death in a human being, exhaustive stress from hooking, playing, landing, and improper release of a trout when water temperatures are near its stress threshold can kill it.
That’s why hoot-owl regulations are now in force on some rivers with more to come. Please check before you go out, or better yet, don’t wait for hoot-owl.
“A lot of the guides on the Blackfoot have started doing hoot-owl on their own,” Travis Thurmond of Blackfoot Anglers in Ovando tells me.
The best fshing may start at dawn. The nymphs that make a mayfy hatch later will be coming of the bottom and fsh will be feeding on them. Start then, and you should have several nice fsh to the net before there’s much dry fy activity. Fish until the hatch trails of, maybe 11AM or so.
Don’t wait for hoot-owl to kick in before you quit. Catching lethargic fsh really isn’t that much fun – and not something to feel terrifcally proud of. Ever watched a released trout die after you caught it? I have. It’s a sickening feeling that I don’t
For those who missed it, here’s the recap: Fish barbless hooks or pinch the barb down before fshing. Play fsh promptly. Unhook quickly. If the fsh is small, you can scoot ‘em in quickly and get ‘em of just as quick. For the trout large enough to put up any kind of a fght, keep ‘em wet; if you want a photo, forego the “hero shot” with your trout held out toward the camera - opt for the more dramatic underwater shot, and revive the fsh fully before release.
To revive a trout, face the fsh upstream in gentle current, cradle
it in one hand behind the pectoral fns, and grasp the narrow area above the tail frmly with the other. Let the fsh swim of when the dorsal fn has regained its turgor. That may take just seconds or several minutes. Do what it takes.
Bait-and-release fshing – even where regulations permit it - doesn’t work too well. Fish tend to swallow bait, either that or the barbed hooks commonly used for bait fshing tend to defy quick unhooking. The resultant time-out-of-water and mishandling kills fsh.
What to do in the afternoon? Fish where the water is cooler and where the fsh aren’t being pestered to death (literally) by the crowds. Excessive angling pressure takes a long-term toll on fshery resources. I’d rather fsh somewhere else, someplace where I can still feel a sense of that wild solitude that frst drew me to trout fshing with a fy. I don’t get that sense, that wild feeling, where there’s an overload of trafc that I sense, deep-down, isn’t
good for the resource. I’d rather fsh a cool, small mountain stream.
“It’s just as well that the whole Blackfoot is on hoot-owl,” Travis tells me. “The gauging station thermometer downstream at Bonner shows warmer than what we see upstream around Ovando.”
Travis’ reasoning is that the upper Blackfoot would be overrun by trafc pushed up from the hoot-owl stretch downstream if the whole river were not on hoot-owl.
In that case the hoot-owl regulation would have the opposite of its intended efect: preserving the resource. Trout in the already heavily-fshed upper reaches would be subject to undue fshing pressure and its efects – including higher trout mortality.
What to do if you visit the Blackfoot? Fish in the morning, and for the afternoon Travis suggests, “Hit some small streams - fsh where the other guy ain’t!” To dial it in tighter, check with Travis or Kathy at their Blackfoot Angler shop in Ovando.
Fully revived cutthroat takes of after release. Photo by Mary Cline.
Obituaries
LaDeanne Amy Beller
LaDeanne Amy Beller, age 55, passed away in her Stevensville home on July 1, 2024, after a relentless battle with cancer.
Amy was born the youngest of ten on July 22, 1968, in Choteau, MT to Don and LaDeanne Allen. She was raised in Fairfeld, MT, where she was active in sports, music and school plays. She graduated as valedictorian from Fairfeld High School.
Amy attended Brigham Young University in Utah for a year before deciding business classes and Japanese were not her favorite, then took a gap year in California where she met and married her sweetheart, Kevin Beller. Amy went back to school at Santa Rosa Junior College, studying Early Childhood Education while working at a preschool. She later opened up an in-home daycare once Kevin and Amy’s young family started.
Amy was heavily involved with the community. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she held a variety of church callings. She participated in local sports
leagues as an adult. She was an active parent in her children’s schools, where she was a member of the Parent Teacher Association, substitute teacher, volunteer and president of the booster club. She also found the time to support and cheer on her six children in year round sports.
Amy’s dream had always been to be a mother, and she felt that dream come true with the birth of each of her children: Brianna, Sionelle, Kadin, Cambrea, Jamyn and Kellan. She was, in her words, “living her dream and the luckiest momma in the whole wide world.” She was Mamy to three beautiful grandsons—Kylo, Killian, and Kalvin.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ethan, and a baby sister. She was survived by siblings Wain (Becky), Russ (Wendy) Lyle (Jan), Susan (Steve), Lynn (Linda), Sharyl, Cody (JT); sister-in-law Jill; husband Kevin; children Brianna (Niels), Sionelle (Thomas), Kadin (Hillary), Cambrea, Jamyn, Kellan; grandchildren Kylo, Killian, and Kalvin.
Shirley L. Barron
Corvallis - Shirley L. Barron, 79, passed away in the morning, Friday, July 12, 2024, at her home with her husband of 48 years, Dean, by her side. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family. at www.brothersmortuary.com.
a.m.9:24
a.m.9:22 p.m.9:37
Ag Research Center to host fall Field Day
The MSU-Western Agricultural Research Center’s (WARC) faculty and staf are dedicated to supporting fruit and vegetable growers across Montana. Each year WARC opens its gates to the public to show of the diverse projects and crops on the farm in Corvallis. This year, the open house/feld day will be on Thursday, September 12th from 4:30-8:30pm. This date later than usual to allow more focus on later season crops like apples, grapes, tomatoes, and peppers.
“The WARC Field Day is a great opportunity to learn what impacts current feld-based research is having on supporting farms. I hope it will not just inform me of what is happening now, but also spark ideas from me and my farm crew about what research questions we need answered next,” said Ellie Costello, WARC Advisory Committee member and owner of Trust Land Farm in Missoula.
learn about the research projects, answer questions and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, communities, and partners across the state. “Our research centers provide the foundation upon
MSU-WARC is one of seven ag. research farms across the state. Each of the MSU Agricultural Research Centers host a Field Day every summer to invite the public to the farm to
which the research and teaching missions of the university stay relevant to needs of agriculture in the state. Each center addresses the diverse climatological, ecological and environmental challenges faced by agricultural communities around the state. Much of the work done at the centers collaborates with scientists on the MSU-Bozeman campus, nationwide experts, the USDA and private industry,” according to the MSU College of Ag Department of Research Centers webpage. The event at WARC includes
a dinner followed by a tour of the farm led by the researchers and collaborators. This year, WARC is partnering with Trapper Creek Job Corp to provide salads made with local ingredients. Big Dipper makes a special ice cream using fruit raised on the farm, honeyberries, black currants or sour cherries and local wine and hard cider tasting are also included in the activities. In 2023, over 300 people attended the WARC Field Day and this year they anticipate a similar turnout. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP by emailing Kierstin Schmitt at Kierstin.schmitt@ montana.edu.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) produces more than 40 percent (Greens Creek), Idaho (Lucky Friday), and Quebec, Canada (Casa and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) produces more than 40 percent of all silver in the United States with operating mines in Alaska (Greens Creek), Idaho (Lucky Friday), and Quebec, Canada (Casa Berardi) development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts
Established in 1891, Hecla is headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and has a sister ofce in Vancouver, B.C. The Company’s common stock has been traded on the New York Stock Exchange for over
Established in 1891, Hecla is headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and has a sister offce in Vancouver, B.C. The Company’s common stock has been traded on the New York Stock Exchange for over 50
located in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. The mine began operating in 1942 and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2022. Lucky Friday is located one mile east of Mullan, Idaho, and is
located in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. The mine began operating in 1942 and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2022. Lucky Friday is located one mile east of Mullan, Idaho, and is
compensation commensurate with education and experience, and a
compensation commensurate with education and experience, and a Interested candidates must possess or be able to obtain authorization Visit www.hecla.com to apply and for
Interested candidates must possess or be able to obtain authorization to work in the United States. Visit our website at www.hecla.com to apply or for more information about Hecla and the Lucky Friday Mine. Hecla Limited, Lucky Friday Mine is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Merle Unruh
Book Review
Booked for the season
“Adventures in Volcanoland: What Volcanoes Tell Us about the World and Ourselves” by Tamsin Mather
c.2024, Hanover Square Press
$32.99 383 pages
You couldn’t touch the foor. Everywhere you put your foot down, there was lava. It would burn you up! It was total danger! Everybody knew it, which is why you climbed from sofa to chair to cushion in an efort to not touch the foor. Mom was never totally happy when you pretended that lava flled the living room but she deep-down understood, as in “Adventures in Volcanoland” by Tamsin Mather, that molten rock is nothing to trife with.
Indeed, the frst time Tamsin Mather “stood up close to a lava fow... I felt the heat get too much...” That heat, she hints, is more than you’d probably expect, even if you brazenly think you’re prepared.
Think: standing amid fames. Think: hotter than this summer’s been.
To understand how volcanoes are created, you’d need to travel many kilometers beneath Earth’s surface, past several levels of atmospheric pressure and extreme (“thousands of degrees”) heat that only gets hotter the lower you go. On second thought, don’t go because, at some level, you may fnd that the planet’s inner layers have cracked or shifted (because Earth is solid-not-solid), causing large chambers of melted rock in the form of roiling, boiling magma to escape, ready to bubble up through a crater in the ground.
No, seriously, it wouldn’t be a fun trip. Read that again: underground heat melts rock.
Throughout history, in fact, volcanoes have killed a lot of people. In 1902 alone, for instance, volcano blasts, rock, and lava killed at least 32,000 people in three diferent places in South America and the West Indies, in the space of a few months. Furthermore, “The landscape was transformed,” says Mather.
later,
by Terry Schlichenmeyer
help predict “future behavior of volcanoes...” But can a few old lava felds ofer enough info to head of mass destruction?
Yes, says Mather.
“To reconstruct... past cataclysms, we must read the rocks left behind.... It’s all there, written in the landscape, once you know how to decipher it.”
So you’re having a hot, hot summer. Record-breaking temps, humidity you can almost cut. And it could be hotter, as you’ll read in “Adventures in Volcanoland.”
Settle down in the air conditioning, as author Tamsin Mathers takes you on a deep and rather technical look at geology, oceanography, and volcanology, in a way that almost – almost – requires a PhD. This book is, in other words, not a breezy beachread; instead, it’s interesting in a diferent direction, asking you to go underground, travel the world, and peer over the edge of a volcano’s crater. In that, Mather’s enthusiasm for her subject is infectious, and it may spur you to fnd a way to see volcanoes for yourself.
A super-savvy young (13-to-17-year-old) volcano lover may enjoy this book, but it’s really meant for adults who want a diferent kind of scientifc adventure. If that’s you and you want to catch fre for this fascinating subject, “Adventures in Volcanoland” may absolutely foor you. Posting Date July 1, 2024
The Bookworm Sez, LLC
Even now, more than a century
studying that which ejected
from those volcanoes gives volcanologists “important clues” that might
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Legal Notices
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Truly Marie Williams, Jessie Parker, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-24-237
Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Truly Marie Williams to Truly Marie Parker.
The hearing will be on July 25, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 18th day of June, 2024.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine Di Gleria
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 6-26, 7-3, 7-10, 7-1724.
MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Lane Russel Williams, Jessie Parker, Petitioner.
Cause No.: DV-24-238
Dept. 2
NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE OF MINOR CHILD
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court to change a child’s name from Lane Russel Williams to Lane Russel Parker.
The hearing will be on July 25, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 18th day of June, 2024.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine Di Gleria
Deputy Clerk of Court
BS 6-26, 7-3, 7-10, 7-1724.
MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PENDING ATTACHMENT OF A TAX LIEN
(MCA 15-17-122)
On Thursday, August 1, 2024, by 5:00 pm, the Ravalli County Treasurer will attach a property tax lien to property on which the 2023 taxes are delinquent. The delinquent taxes, including penalties, interest and costs are a lien upon the property and that unless delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs are paid prior to August 1, 2024 a tax lien will be attached and may be assigned to a third party.
A complete list of all property on which taxes are delinquent is on fle in the ofce of the Ravalli County Treasurer and is open to public inspection and examination on Monday thru Friday from 8:15 am to 5 pm.
For further information, please contact the Ravalli
County Treasurer at 215 S. 4th St., Suite H, Hamilton MT 59840 or at 406-375-6580. BS 6-26, 7-3, 7-10, 7-1724.
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David T. Markette
MARKETTE LAW OFFICE
601 S. First Street P.O. Box 515 Hamilton MT 59840 (406) 363-1110 DavidM@markettelaw.com
Attorney for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF NENA D. KNIGHT, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-41-20240000047-FI
Dept. No. NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Jade E. Collins, the Personal Representative, in care of MARKETTE LAW OFFICE, 601 S. First Street, P.O. Box 515, Hamilton, Montana 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct.
DATED this 25th day of June, 2024. /s/ Jade E. Collins, Personal Representative MARKETTE LAW OFFICE By: David T. Markette
Attorney for Personal Representative BS 7-3, 7-10, 7-17-24. MNAXLP
Megan S. Winderl CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. 99 Marcus Street, 3rd Floor Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 218-4888 MeganW@cwlawmt.com Pleadings@cwlawmt.com
Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERTA JEAN JENSEN, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-41-202473 Dept. No. 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the
above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Darren Scot Frodsham, the Personal Representative, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct.
DATED this 28th day of June, 2024.
/s/ Darren Scot Frodsham, Personal Representative CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C.
Attorney for Personal Representative By: Dustin M. Chouinard for Megan S. Winderl BS 7-3, 7-10, 7-17-24. MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: DAVID EARL MOREAU, Deceased. Probate No. DP-2024-64 Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that Schurie Harrison has been appointed as the Co-Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Schurie Harrison, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in care of Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South Second Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or fled with the Clerk of the above court. BS 7-3, 7-10, 7-17-24.
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Megan S. Winderl CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. 99 Marcus Street, 3rd Floor Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 218-4888 MeganW@cwlawmt.com
Pleadings@cwlawmt.com
Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWEN-
TY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROGER WILLIAMS a/k/a WILLIAM ROGER WILLIAMS, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-41-24-66 Dept. No. 2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-
EN that the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Ravalli County Council on Aging, by Cathy Orr, Executive Director, the Personal Representative, in care of CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. or fled with the Clerk of the above Court. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Montana that the foregoing is true and correct. DATED this 19th day of June, 2024. /s/ Cathy Orr, Executive Director Ravalli County Council on Aging CHOUINARD & WINDERL, P.C. Attorney for Personal Representative By: Megan S. Winderl
BS 7-10, 7-17, 7-24-24.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MILL CREEK IRRIGATION DISTRICT MEETING
An annual meeting of the Mill Creek Irrigation District will be held at the Corvallis Grange Hall on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 4:00 pm. The Grange is located at 130 Dutch Hill Road. The status of Mill Lake Dam 5-year inspection, setting the annual share amount, annual fnancial report, update of the Emergency Action Plan and other relevant business will be discussed.
For more information, please contact Board Members Tim Abney (406-3813198), Matt Bischof (406880-2364), or Geof Mahar (406-360-6496).
BS 7-10, 7-17-24..
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Daniel Browder, Esq. BROWDER LAW, PLLC 217 N. 3rd St., Ste. J Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: 406-361-3677
Fax: 406-361-2999
browderlawmont@gmail. com Attorney for Mark Porter MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CAROL ANN PORTER, Deceased. Cause No. DP-2024-76 Dept. No. 2 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 frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to the Personal Representative, Mark Porter, return receipt requested, ℅: Browder Law PLLC, 217 North Third Street, Suite J, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
DATED this 11th day of June, 2024.
BROWDER LAW, PLLC /s/ Daniel Browder, Attorney for Mark Porter, Personal Representative BS 7-17, 7-24, 7-31-24.
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MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: NICHOLAS CARL DEYOUNG, Deceased.
Probate No. DP-2024-67
Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that Nicholas DeYoung has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Nicholas DeYoung, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, in care of Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South Second Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or fled with the Clerk of the above court.
BS 7-17, 7-24, 7-31-24.
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MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: JIMMIE EUGENE TROWBRIDGE, Deceased.
Probate No. DP-2024-71
Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that Mark Trowbridge, Amy Lucie and Kathrynn Pratt, have been appointed as the co-Personal Representatives of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Mark Trowbridge, Amy Lucie and Kathrynn Pratt, the co-Personal Representatives, return receipt requested, in care of Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South Second
Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or fled with the Clerk of the above court. BS 7-17, 7-24, 7-31-24. MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Stevensville Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, 6:00 p.m. at a Special Town Council meeting held at Town Hall, 206 Buck Street, Stevensville, MT 59870 for the purpose of water and sewer rate changes and the discontinuation of the utility bill assistance program. Comments to be considered may be given orally at the hearing, submitted in writing via email to townclerk@townofstevensville.com or US mail to Town Clerk, PO Box 30, Stevensville, MT 59870 before 5:00 p.m. on August 6th , 2024. Questions, comments or more information may be obtained by contacting the Town Clerk at 406-7775271 ext. 102. Attest: Jenelle Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 7-17, 7-24, 7-31-24. MNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is Hereby Given that the Town Council of the Town of Stevensville will hold a Public Hearing to establish Ordinance No. 171, an Ordinance amending town code section 14-35 and repealing
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FENCE: Father Ravalli Park may see improvement
Continued from page 1
was brought up. The park board wants to keep the fence as chain-link, although other fence styles and even decorative boulders have been suggested that may be better alternatives. The park board decided to ask Stevensville Public Works Director, Stephen Lassiter, to look into what it would take to replace or improve the fence.
According to Lassiter, the main issue is that, due to time and frost heave, the posts that support the fence have decayed to the point that the fence is leaning various ways. It has become an eyesore and a safety hazard for park users.
Lassiter said the fence has been pushed aside for a long time due to funding constraints on the town. However, the park board believes it has been long enough and that something should be done, especially because it currently negatively afects the aesthetic look of the area.
The warped fence was also addressed during the last Stevensville Town Council meeting, on July 11, where the concerns noted by the park board were brought to
the council’s attention. Lassiter has been asked to have estimates by the next town council meeting.
The plan, if voted on and approved, will be added to the next 2024-2025 fscal town budget, and will hopefully be tackled within the next six months. Lassiter believes the project will be minimal, as much of the existing chain-link is in good shape. He hopes it will just be a small efort of replacing the support posts
“There is no need to replace the whole thing,” said Lassiter. “A lot of it can be fxed as is. I’m confdent we can use every bit of that fence.”
He would also like to add a gate or two for pedestrians to enter the park without having to walk to either end of the several-hundred-yard fence. Another idea brought up would suggest moving the fence into the park a few feet while they are working on it.
Lassiter likes this idea, explaining that it would not only allow them more space to mow and maintain the area on the road side of the fence, but it would also allow
more and safer parking for user vehicles. This would both save a lot of money and time for public works and would allow users better access to the park. As Lassiter looked into the project, he found that moving the fence in would not interfere with any irrigation lines, as was previously suspected. He discovered that the line actually runs about eight feet of the fence’s current path, parallel and on the inside of the park. This should give them plenty of room.
Lassiter added that the fence has been a real concern, not only in appearance, but in safety. He is glad to see it fnally being addressed.
“This isn’t a huge expenditure, but it’s important,” said Lassiter.
Looking down the
fence at the folded over portion. Photo by John Dowd.
