Bitterroot Star - July 19, 2023

Can a single book change belief in what is possible?

Local author, Becky Lovejoy, is launching her fourth novel at a book signing at Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton, Saturday, August 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Here, There Be Dragons!” follows three women taking a chance on their passions for painting wall murals, doing origami, and sculpting faces in concrete, in this artistic romp and romance. Do they dare leave their jobs, fnd true love in unexpected places, and embrace the dragon that stands for change and rebirth? Add a talking parrot fnding her own freedom outside a cage, and a precocious 6-year old teaching life lessons to grownups, and

things get moving fast. Life can change in an instant, and dragons are there to guide the way.

Becky writes motivational books that engage the reader and has them “level up” their life to new heights. As an educator, athlete, artist, and writer, she turns her own life struggles and questions into novels that you won’t want to put down. Whether it’s art, athletics, or coming to a crossroads in life where your old identity needs to be replaced by something new, her books are feel-good page-turners.

“Be Epic or Go Home: A Triathlon Journey!” showcases fve people who have six

months to train for a sprint triathlon, and win the $25K prize money that will change their lives forever. From autism to Alzheimer’s, diabetes to CrossFit, this motivational novel explores the physical and psychological challenges of triathlon training and is chock full of training tips and recipes. But what happens when the coach falls in love with one of the athletes?

“Sno’ Joke: A Running Journey!” Two personal trainers recruit a team to attempt a half marathon in winter in Seeley Lake, Montana, in a story guaranteed to motivate you to run! One trainer is a puppy-raiser of a therapy dog for a PTSD victim, and

the other is an aging Spartan racer who fnds love in an unexpected way. Through workouts and races, and all of life’s ups and downs, the team accepts the challenges of running 13.1 miles in the snow. Who will fnish the race, and is fnishing all that matters?

In “The Miracle of Small Things” a professional triathlete goes into Witness Protection after reporting illegal drug use. With help from a wise old Navajo woman, a non-nonsense therapist, a scrufy and aloof dog, two precocious rats, three retired hens, and a socially-minded chef she’s falling in love with, the triathlete reinvents herself in ways she never could

have imagined. Is the courage she developed in her racing career enough to escape the bad guys, and then have her take the leap into a brandnew life?

Book signings for Becky’s newest release, “Here, There Be Dragons!” are scheduled for Saturday, August 12th at Chapter One Bookstore, 252 W. Main Street in Hamilton, and Saturday, September 9th, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Montana Bliss Artworks, 101 S. 7th at the corner of Main Street in Hamilton. Book content can be previewed on Amazon. com, and discounted bulk orders for all titles are available for non-profts to use for fundraising.

Stream fows drop, Painted Rocks

Stakeholders discuss fow plan

by Larry A. Schock DNRC MRO WRD Civil Engineering Specialist

The stream fows continue to drop statewide, and the frst release of contract water will be made from Painted Rocks reservoir on Wednesday July 19th. The frst release will be Fisheries water. The FWP has requested a release of approximately 50 cfs.

The current outfows are roughly equal to the infows and the outfows are at 188 cfs as of this morning. The adjustment on Wednesday will be based upon the infows that day plus the 50 cfs requested.

The Painted Rocks stakeholders met this past Friday morning to discuss the upcoming season releases and to establish a realistic range of fows that we could maintain at Bell Crossing this year. Area stream fows are 30-50% of the normal range and with the predicted hot dry weather the conditions will only worsen. This year promises to be dryer than last year. Therefore, we set our fow rate goal for Bell Crossing at the 150 – 200 cfs range. As of this morning Bell Crossing was at 407 cfs, last year at this time we were at 1400 cfs, and the historical median fow is 781 cfs.

USGS gage information can be seen at this page: https://waterdata.usgs. gov/mt/nwis/rt This page shows a picture of the state with colored dots that represent gage sites. I like this page because we can see how our area compares to the rest of the state (Blue is great, Green is good, and Red is bad). You can hover over the dot and get an instant reading of the fows at that gage, or you can click on the dot and it will take you to the gage site.

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SWANS: Local wildlife refuge has national roots

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One such program still around, but waning, is the youth federal duck stamp art competition, which Reed is the state organizer of.

Those retired programs flled the education and interpretation spaces, but now, according to Reed, most of the use the place sees is observation and photography, with hunting in the fall.

“Birdwatching is huge at the refuge,” said Reed. That makes sense, due to the nearly 270 verifed species of birds that call the refuge home, and with over 105 of those documented to be nesting in the space. Most recently, the refuge has been the proud host of a family of trumpeter swans that have been nesting there for the last fve years. This is the frst time and place the species has been recorded nesting in the valley. They are extremely picky birds, being large, white and easy to target by predators. According to Reed, the birds will choose an area of certain criteria including remoteness, availability of food sources, brood cover and more. Reed recommends checking out the Kenai Observation Deck, which can be reached on a trail that leads away from the visitor center to the north. It overlooks several of the wetland impoundments, which are reser-

voirs that can be controlled by refuge staf throughout the year. These aid in creating prime habitat for local and migratory species. One such species, that can possibly be viewed from the observation deck, is the swan family, which have found their home in a far back reservoir. Reed also recommends bringing insect repellant to that area, and all over the refuge.

There are no fees to enter and use Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, and the refuge is open to the public. However, there are restricted areas. This is especially true during hunting and fshing, where certain areas are protected. The refuge is open from dawn until dusk.

The refuge also has a visitor’s center with numerous sources of information, including pamphlets and books, along with souvenirs and many taxidermied animals known to inhabit the refuge.

Reed explained that he loves the refuge because, “I enjoy everything about wildlife and seeing people get excited and enjoying wildlife.” He wishes the refuge would get more attention for the great work they are doing, as well as more visitation to spread the love and interest of wildlife conservation and enjoyment.

COLLEGE: Community college regroups, and enacts plan

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community.”

Early feedback received last year from the Ravalli County community was clear – asking for fnancial support without a concrete start-up plan was highly unpopular. To address this concern, the Trustees participated in many strategic planning sessions throughout the year to defne both the vision and mission of Bitterroot Valley Community College. These meetings resulted in the BVCC Business Plan, publicly released on the college website in January 2023 (bvcommunitycollege.org). The Business Plan provides detailed information about programming, including job training and general education courses transferable to a 4-year university and a variety of community education and enrichment options for all.

Bitterroot Valley Community College has been serving as host institution for the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program in Hamilton this past year, ofering classes for local veterans with the intent to continue and expand programming as needed. The feasibility of ofering not only VUB but also other courses and programs in Stevensville and other towns in the community college district is also being discussed.

The unspoken question on many minds is, “Are we ultimately choosing, then, between UM Bitterroot (formerly Bitterroot College UM) and Bitterroot Valley Community College?” As Jean Butler, Trustee and Chair of the Strategic Planning Special Committee, explains, “This is not a competition. Bitterroot Valley Community College’s plan would take what UMB has begun and build upon it, making a local college that is permanent, sustainable, and responsive to our community’s needs. We would welcome collaboration with the University of Montana, creating a strong partnership that will greatly expand the

educational opportunities available in our valley.”

When asked to describe what BVCC hopes to achieve, Butler replied, “Bitterroot Valley Community College will provide education locally for people who work, and for people who want to work.”

For more information on the BVCC Business Plan and the minutes of all BVCC Trustee meetings, visit the college website at bvcommunitycollege.org.

At top right, Tom Reed stands by his truck, on patrol around the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, near Stevensville. Behind him are the Bitterroot Mountains. Incoming! At bottom left, swan parrents land to check on their ofspring.

Photos by John Dowd.

CHIEF: Town of Stevensville to hire a new police chief?

Guard.

The first to start was Vercruyssen, who brought up that, prior to Sosa, there was a great disconnect between the community and the department. He also mentioned the lengths that Sosa took to remedy that. He explained that the community now expects the same openness and that the new chief work as hard to become part of the community. “That is extremely important for a small town,” said Vercruyssen.

The next to speak was Nagendran, who added to what was said before, explaining, “I hope you carry on what he (Sosa) has done and also bring your own self into it.” That concern was echoed by Shourd. However, “Kids are the most important to me,” explained the principal. She continued, saying that she hopes her concerns and reports, among those of other citizens, are taken

seriously and acted upon to the department’s best abilities. She noted that things have been that way since Sosa took office, and since Schafer had been SRO. She added that since Schafer has been there, many youth have felt they can go up to him and talk. She hopes this continues with the new SRO.

When all was said, Schafer was allowed to speak to the concerns.

Moving from a large department, Schafer explained his connection to the area, and his time serving with Sosa. His kids go to school in Stevensville and his wife is now a teacher there. Schafer explained that he came on with the Stevensville department because his mindset on policing lined up well with Sosa’s.

“It is important to be one with the community, and not just police it,” said Schafer.

Schafer became an officer be -

cause of his relationship with his SRO as a youth. He expanded on that, explaining that, “Kids don’t have a voice in the legal system, so I try to give them one.”

Schafer plans on utilizing funds from future police events for the community, like the National Night Out and the Chili Cook-off, to put security cameras and other measures into the Lewis and Clark Park. He explained that it is a popular community and family site that also sees crime. He has had several adults and youth mention to him the area’s importance, “including young kids and even skateboarders,” he noted.

This message resonated with Shourd, who then explained the importance of reaching parents, especially to help protect kids from “stuff affecting parents and the way they parent,” referring to drugs and alcohol. Schafer’s answer to this was that

the biggest key to doing anything about anything is information. The more the officers know, the more they can do something about it. To him, the key to achieving this goes back to the “relationship between the police and the community.”

Schafer ended, requesting, “If you have an issue, come let us know. Especially if it is an officer.” He emphasized that if the issue was originating from an officer, “If we can’t police ourselves, how can we police the community?”

With preliminary interviews completed, the application will be sent to the State Police Commission and then it will come back to the Town Council for the final decision. If this is completed soon, as the department is hoping, Schafer will be put into a training position under Sosa, until the current chief’s departure at the end of August.

Fire in the Root Council and MAPS Media Institute partner on wildfre safety PSAs

Ravalli County-based nonproft organizations, Fire in the Root Council (FITRC) and MAPS Media Institute (MAPS), recently partnered to create six radio PSAs that shine a light on wildfre safety and preparedness.

“The Fire in the Root Council promotes and facilitates the long-term reduction of risk from wildfre and adaptation to wildfre by communities and residents throughout Ravalli County,” said Rick Donovan, Ph.D., and FITRC member. “Through these PSAs, recorded by talented MAPS students, we hope to help Ravalli County residents know where to fnd wildfre risk information, in-

crease their awareness about unwanted human-caused wildfres, learn about the Ravalli County Community Wildfre Protection Plan update process, and better understand the need for and options to create fre-adapted communities.”

When approached to collaborate on this project, MAPS students were excited to start scripting, develop their fre-safety characters, and get into the recording studio to put their media arts skills to work.

Laurel D., a Ravalli County freshman, said, “While the PSAs were super fun to record, we also learned that fre safety isn’t just important for adults.

It’s important for youth to know this information since we all need to work together to keep the Bitterroot Valley wildfre safe”.

Clare Ann Harf, MAPS Executive Director, adds, “These radio PSAs are an inspiring example of MAPS students putting their media arts and communication skills to great use. Combining talent, technical savvy, and a creative approach, we hope their voices will motivate everyone in our community to do their parts on an issue that afects us all.”

The six radio spots cover essential topics, including how to safely burn debris, determine your home’s wildfre risk, and learn about active

fres before adventuring outdoors. The PSAs also share important information about containing a campfre and freworks safety (just in time for this year’s celebrations!).

The radio spots will air on KLYQ and run throughout the summer. The Fire in the Root Council is composed of representatives from local fre protection agencies, state and local government, concerned residents, realtors, builders, insurance agents, homeowner associations, local businesses, and more, all working together to create innovative, cross-boundary solutions to reduce wildfre risk throughout the county.

MAPS Media Institute, which started in the Bitterroot Valley in 2004, has expanded as a statewide nonproft that provides free professional media arts instruction to youth in 8th through 12th grades. MAPS mission is to empower, inspire, and prepare Montana’s future generations for success through their professional media arts instruction, engaging community service, and compassionate mentoring.

For more information about the Fire in the Root Council, visit: freintheroot. org For more information about MAPS Media Institute, visit: mapsmediainstitute.com

A parent’s trade-of

It seems like a cruel trade-of, parenting. They raise their kids in the prime of their own lives, just to see their kids reach their primes, while the parents enter their twilight years. It can be frustrating to see parents, who once were extremely active, now unable to enjoy their favorite things while their kids are fnally old enough, have enough independence, money and time to do those things with them.

by John Dowd

My dad has been visiting from out of town and has been running around with me while I work. He used to be an avid sportsman, surfer and was in incredible shape. Now, pushing through his 70s, still comparably in good shape, he can’t enjoy the things he once loved to do. When I was a kid, and when he still had the ability to enjoy the things he loved, we could not do those things together. At least, we could not do them on equal footing. Now that I am a man, and have hobbies of my own, I fnd myself unable to share those things with my father.

I know that this is the trade-of. As a parent, one gets to see the younger stages of their kid’s lives. A parent gets to see their child’s frst steps, frst words, frst loves and frst failures. A parent has the blessing of being there to watch their children grow into adults, and watch the culmination of their eforts fower. However, these young beings they raised and love so much will never know their parents as friends and equals. This is because, with one on a rising arch of life, the other sails in the opposite trajectory, arching downward. Parents never get to share their loves and aspirations until after the fact. There is only so much time to teach and

show that parents must fnd themselves overwhelmed with what can be done in such a relatively short time. On top of that, much of what little that can be taught in those early years is taken up by what needs to be taught for the child to become successful, moral and good. It seems a race, for parents, the hurry to show all these things that take precedence, and to try to ft in passions along the way. Then, at the end of it all, not to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Like watering a tree for your ancestors to enjoy. It can be a cruel thing for both parent and child. Part of the trade-of is that once the child grows, and is supported in their time of need, they are there to watch their parents decay and to support them in a newfound stage of need.

I often think of deer. A deer, and most ungulates, has a very short lifespan, and grows up very fast. It is not uncommon for a single deer to parent numerous generations before passing away. I am often curious what a similar time scale in humans would inevitably mean. What if we all lived much longer lives, or a child could grow to be an adult in a much shorter span of time? What then would that mean for our relationships? Would we be given more time to know our kids or our parents? Would parents be aforded more space in the climax of those arching lives to spend doing things with their children as equals instead of teachers? What would that teach people about their children, and possibly, about themselves?

But maybe, such a circumstance would take away something about the feeting of life. Maybe, like a watered down cocktail, life would lose its potency. Those special moments might cease to be so special, and like the deer, we might move away from personal connections with our kids, and prioritize the latest generation. I sometimes envy the deer’s short life, in that way. Maybe that is why a deer lives such a feeting life, because if it had more time, maybe it would take more time to raise its fawns. Maybe in the end, the trade-of is really that we have parents with the gift of time, though it seems short, to show us the way, while the deer have little to teach and less time to do so.

A mother whitetail deer walks through fowers with her fawns. Photo by John Dowd.

Dedication Ceremony for the ‘Never Forget Garden’

On Armed Forces Day, May 20th, Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf joined the American Legion Ravalli Post 47 at Hieronymus Park for a dedication ceremony for the “Never Forget Garden” commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Post Commander Deborah Strickland opened the ceremony, stating “I dedicate this memorial to the memory of those who fell in the service of our country. I dedicate it in the name of those who ofered their lives so justice, freedom & democracy might survive to be the victorious ideals of the peoples of the world…I dedicate this monument to them, and with it I dedicate this Post to the faithful service of our country and to preservation of the memory of those who died that liberty might live.”

Mayor Dominic was key to granting approval for the monument location and read his Mayoral Proclamation inviting all citizens to spend time at this garden in silence and respect to remember why millions of Americans have fought and died for our freedom. Several of the 28 participants placed white roses on the monument representing the diferent military services, the Coast Guard, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

The inspiration for the “Never Forget Garden” and monument came from past Post Commander Paul Rosenberg. He read a Fleet Reserve Magazine article about the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington in 2022. The Society of the Honor Guard for the Tomb issued a nation-wide invitation to all Americans to plant gardens to pay tribute as a visual way to represent America’s unwavering commitment to our sacred duty to recognize and remember our veterans and their families, past and future. Paul explained that a “Never Forget Garden” can provide an elegant expression of what resides deeply in the heart of our fellow Americans and proposed that Post 47 create a memorial garden to be a place of perpetual remembrance for our Bitterroot community and a renewal of our commitment to “never forget”.

Commander Deb Strickland (a member of the Society for the Tomb of the Unknown) bought and donated the monument marker, Post 47 membership approved funding for the project, and the City of Hamilton approved a location at the entrance to

the popular Hieronymus Park near the Veteran’s Memorial. Many people assisted in the construction of the monument and gardens over the past year and it seemed ftting to dedicate the memorial on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20th.

The American Legion Ravalli Post 47 extends profound appreciation to Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf, the City of Hamilton and its Parks Department, and the following incredible supporters: Alpine Granite for their artistry, skill and donation of the granite; Donaldson’s for the base material,

cement and chimney block; Evans Ace Hardware for the garden soil; Carl Lebrith for setting the chimney block base; talented graphic artist Shawn Brauch who designed the monument display sign; and to our honorary Post member David Osborn from Seward American Legion Post 5 who assisted every step of the way while visiting his family in Hamilton. Special thanks also to Deb Strickland, Wes Maydole, Doug Simmons and Renee Whitaker. Post 47 is proud to leave this beautiful monument as a legacy of remembrance to all who serve.

Photo by Linsey Strickland.

Lone Rock

Farmers Market

Every Saturday - June 3rd through Sept 28th, 4 to 7 p.m., Ambrose Creek Community Park, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Rd., Stevensville.

A special and unique market providing fresh, local produce, a variety of handmade goods, delicious food, baked goods, artisan products, new items regularly, park recreation, and scheduled family events nearly every week. Come check it out!

RCEDA

The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 19 beginning at 3 p.m. in the RCEDA Conference Room. There will be no meeting in August.

NV Library activi-

ties

Library Board Meeting –Wednesday, July 19 at 3pm

Library Board of Trustees Meetings are open to the public. Agendas and Zoom links to attend virtually are available at https://www. northvalleylibrary.org/ board-information.

Science Squad for Ages 8-12 – Wednesday, July 19 at 4pm

Explore the universe, both micro and macro, and learn the science mysteries behind the natural world. Expect fun activities with Legos®, paper planes, food, and more. Children will soon be formulating their own hypotheses, experiments, and documentation in order to participate in a gradefree science fair at the end of the summer. Registration required. This program is for ages 8-12.

Bug Out Bag Basics

featuring Bug Out Montana –Thursday, July 27 at 6pm

In a disaster situation, what would you take with you? Where would you go if you were forced to leave your home? What items would benefcial to have ready and waiting... JUST in case it was time to leave with only a few moments notice? All these questions are covered and more in Bug Out Bag Basics featuring Bug Out Montana. They’ve used the gear and spent the money and time testing it out so you won’t have to. This program is an eye-opener and could save you money by learning what works and what doesn’t. They will also explain the top 10 mistakes people make while building a bug out bag. Registration required.

North Valley Pachyderm Club

The Bitterroot North Valley Pachyderm Club will meet Friday, July 21 at 12 noon at The Frontier Cafe, Hwy 93 in Stevensville. Guest speaker will be State Representative David Bedey. The North Valley Pachyderm Club is an educational arm of the Republican Party. All are welcome.

Rotary Club

On Monday, July 24,

Rotary welcomes Larry Mylnechuk, Pres of Sons of American Revolution. Rotary is an international service organization of over one million members that focuses its service and fnancial support on public health. Rotary meets Mondays at 12 noon at BJ’s restaurant at 900 N. 1st in Hamilton. Guests and prospective members are welcome.

Call to Worship

Call To Worship in Caras

Park, Saturday, July 29th, 11 am to 8 pm. A day of worship to the most High God with multiple bands. A day of testimony with multiple personal testimonies interwoven throughout the day. Local non-proft recovery groups available with information.

A full day of fun and food with food/dessert trucks available. Come one, come all. See you there!

Music at the Mission

Historic St. Mary’s

Mission presents: Music at the Mission with Lisa Weber: “Music from the Heart.” Join us Sunday, July 30 at 7 p.m. in the Historic Chapel at 315 Charlos Street, Stevensville. Pie and ice cream will be served after the performance. Donations will help raise funds to rebuild the blacksmith shop.

ProLife Bitterroot

Monthly meeting, Tuesday, August 1st, at Kodiak Jax. 514 Main Street, Stevensville, at 6 p.m. For more information, call (406) 407-1254.

Emergency Preparedness Classes

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting free monthly Emergency Preparedness classes. They are held at 7 p.m. at the Church building located in Hamilton at 401 N. 8th Street. Upcoming topics of discussion include: August 10: “Water Bath Canning & Pressure Canning”; September 14: “Basic First Aid & Kits: What to Have and How To Use Them”. You can attend any or all classes.

Classes typically run 60-90 minutes. For the “Alternative Cooking Methods” classes, class size is too large to complete assembly in class, so sign ups will be made

during class for items to be made/completed at a later date. Call 513-312-5494 with questions.

Medicare 101 workshop

A Medicare 101 Education Workshop will be held at Marcus Daly Hospital - Ravalli Conference Room. There are 2 sessions: Sept. 14th and Nov. 28th, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. There is no charge to attend. This is for anyone seeking knowledge about how Medicare works. Ideally, if you are turning 65, new to Medicare, getting ready to retire or already on Medicare but don’t really understand it - you should be there! Bring a friend!

Overview: Come to a Medicare workshop to talk about Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. What they cover and don’t cover. When you can enroll. How eligibility works. RSVP: if you can to 406-852-4988 or charlene@ medicareadvocates.com.

Historic St. Mary’s Mission is now open for tours. Take a full guided tour of the Historic Chapel, Chief Victor’s Cabin and Fr. Ravalli’s fully furnished cabin. Tours ofered from 11:00am2:00pm. Gift Shop, Museum and Gallery is open from 11:00am-3:00pm - Tue-Sat. 315 Charlos St. Stevensville, (406)777.5734.

Health and wellness classes

A free Health & Wellness Series with Dr. Cage is held on the 1st Thursday each month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, 274 Old Corvallis

Hi-tech Stevensville factory doubles down on automation

by Eric Dietrich Deputy Editor / Reporter Montana Free Press

Tucked of U.S. Highway 93 in the Bitterroot Valley, in a nondescript building with mountains rising behind it, is a 21st-century boutique factory.

The lobby of the second-generation family business, Glacier Tool, was flled with friendly dogs on a weekday morning in June. Behind it, on the brightly lit production foor, workers wearing safety glasses huddled around car-sized machines, intent on clipboards and measuring instruments. The room was flled with the whirr of highspeed metal cutting bits and the hiss of pneumatic air.

Part of what keeps the business growing in this stretch of rural Montana, blessed with scenery but missing many of the advantages that would come with operating near a big-city manufacturing hub? Robotics.

Glacier Tool, owner Cody Dolce said, specializes in small, precisely machined metal components, producing them hundreds or thousands at a time. Most of its business is frearms parts — fring pins, scope supports and other intricate pieces that will eventually be assembled elsewhere into rifes and grenade launchers, supplying both the U.S. military and civilian frearm companies. At times, Dolce said, the shop has also produced mining equipment and medical device components.

In contrast to places like the industrialized Midwest, the Bitterroot Valley doesn’t have a large labor pool of skilled machinists for manufacturing companies to draw on, nor the workforce necessary to staf the labor-intensive production lines of Amer-

ica’s big industrial centers. And those workforce challenges constrained the company, Dolce said, even before the COVID-19 pandemic put the screws to Montana’s labor market, pushing unemployment to historic lows and turning recruiting into a top-of-mind worry for businesses across the state.

Back the 1980s, when Dolce’s parents, Gary and Peggy, started the business out of their garage in Lolo, the company was hi-tech for its time, forging into the then-fedgling world of using computers instead of machinists’ hands to guide the cutters that shape metal into useful components. As he’s taken over the business, Dolce has doubled down on investing in automation, using robotics and computer-controlled production machines to keep growing without adding more workers.

The key moment, he said, came back in 2012 when Glacier Tool won a U.S. Department of Defense contract to produce trigger hammers for M16 rifes. The initial order was for 65,000 parts, but it came with the potential to expand the contract to as many as 480,000 — well beyond what Glacier could produce without scaling up its operation.

“It was at that point we realized we had to do something a little diferent,” Dolce said.

The company responded by moving to a bigger building and investing in a fully automated production “cell,” a computer-controlled milling machine equipped with a robotic arm that can swap rough-cast metal parts on and of the fxture that holds them in place while they’re trimmed to their fnal dimensions.

Once the setup is dialed in for a specifc part, the cell can single-mindedly churn through a production run unattended, pulling from unmachined castings arrayed on a small conveyor belt.

Dolce said the company’s human staf commonly tees up that and other automated production cells during the workday, leaving them to run overnight. That lets Glacier maximize its production without employees working long hours.

When the company frst installed the machine, Dolce said, one of his employees asked if their job was going to be automated out of existence.

Dolce said he doesn’t see it like that — instead, automation shifts workers away from rote tasks like loading and

unloading machines, freeing them for more sophisticated work like quality control checks and troubleshooting.

“It empowers people not to just be an operator,” Dolce said.

Automation, he said, also helps him pay his employees better so their careers remain viable despite Montana’s rising cost of living. The company’s headcount has stayed fairly constant at about 15 workers since it started pushing into automation, he said. While he used to be able to pay experienced workers about $25 an hour, he’s now able to pay into the “mid30s.”

“We’re essentially gaining a second and even a third shift,” Dolce said, “so we’re able to pay more for a guy who’s working on a single shift.”

Montana business leaders and lawmakers have in recent years increasingly touted automation as a key strategy for Montana’s manufacturing sector, particularly as businesses try to adjust to the realities of the state’s postCOVID workforce.

Last year, the administration of Gov. Greg Gianforte put $6 million of the state’s COVID stimulus dollars toward a loan program intended to help manufacturing businesses invest in automation, redirecting dollars that had previously been earmarked for a workforce-training grant program that was drawing little interest. While labor unions objected to the shift, administration ofcials argued the money would help employers retire back-breaking manual labor jobs that are increasingly hard to fll.

Gianforte spokesperson Kaitlin Price said that as of late June the administration was still working to fnal-

ize the automation loans. She noted the program has involved coordinating with both recipient businesses and third-party lenders.

Glacier Tool still has a few comparatively old-school machines on its premises — some kept mostly to make spare parts for maintenance jobs — but it’s been investing in more automated production in recent years.

Dolce said that even though automated milling machines come with six-fgure price tags, they’re able to generate enough revenue to recoup their purchase price with six or seven months of work.

Glacier Tool had considered participating in the state loan program as it prepared to purchase its latest automation cell, Dolce said, but eventually decided to pull the trigger without that assistance. He now expects the business to ship between 15,000 and 20,000 parts a month this year.

None of the company’s suppliers or customers are located inside Montana, Dolce said, but the Bitterroot is where he was as born and raised — and he doesn’t see any good reason to relocate someplace else.

“With FedEx and UPS, geographically we can be anywhere,” he said.

Editor’s note: This story was produced through MTFP’s summer reporting residency program, which is temporarily placing our stafers in small newsrooms across the state to help us better understand the ins and outs of diferent corners of Montana. Deputy Editor Eric Dietrich reported this article while spending a week in June 2023 based out of the Bitterroot Star newsroom in Stevensville.

An automated production cell in Glacier Tool’s Stevensville machine shop, confgured to mass-machine fring hammers for M16 and M4 rifes with minimal handson work from operators. The company has invested heavily in automation over the last decade. Photo byEric Dietrich / MTFP.

Glacier Tool owner Cody Dolce stands in front of an automated production cell confgured to machine fring hammers for AR 15 style rifes. The Stevensville-based manufacturing business has invested heavily in automation over the last decade. Photo by Eric Dietrich / MTFP.

A call I didn’t want to receive

“I’m on the river – can you tell me if Victor is to the left or the right?”

Hmm… the guy is probably at Victor Crossing, new to the area (he didn’t sound like a Montanan) and a little turned around after a morning of fshing.

It happens. People who are used to navigating by freeway signs, traffc lights, and tall buildings can fnd themselves disoriented in an environment marked by mountains, rivers, tall trees and unmarked two-lane roads.

“Head for the mountains,” I told him. “You’ll get to Victor in about a mile.”

“Yes, but do I go left or right?”

“We’re foating, from Tucker to Bell Crossing.” He answered. “And I need to know, to get to Victor, do I go left or right?”

by Chuck Stranahan

“There are two groups of mountains,” I told him. “The mountains you want to head toward are the bigger mountains, the ones with jagged peaks. They’re to the west, closer to you.”

“Yeah, but do I go left or right?” he asked.

“Well, that depends. If you’re facing upstream, the big mountains will be on your right. If you’re facing downstream, the big mountains will be on your left.”

“I understand that - but to get to Victor do I go left or right?” he asked again.

I was beginning to feel as if I was in a remake of the old Abbot and Costello Who’s on First dialogue. (If you’re not familiar with it, Google it.)

I stifed a laugh but I had to make better sense of this exchange if I was to help the guy. Maybe, I thought, he isn’t at Victor Crossing.

“Where - exactly - are you?” I asked.

All of a sudden this dialogue got real serious. It occurred a couple of weeks ago when the water was still high and running fast. He was on a stretch of river that splits and braids in several places. At low water, the main channel is easy to identify.

At high water, where the river splits at the head of an island and both channels are full, the main channel can be difcult for a frst-timer to recognize. Take the wrong one, and the strong current can sweep a boat, especially one piloted by an inexperienced oarsman, into a fatal tangle of branches under a fallen tree.

My heart quickened. He could be in more trouble than he realized. I couldn’t tell exactly where he was because even he didn’t know. I felt compelled to help him but didn’t want him to panic and make his situation worse.

“I don’t know exactly where you are,” I told him, “But if you can pull out, take your fy rod for a walk down-

stream for maybe a quarter mile or so. Fish a little on the way. If it looks impassable – if you see a lot of woody snags in the river that you can’t get around, go the other way.’

“When you get back in your boat, don’t foat further than you can safely see. If you need to pull over and get out again, take your fy rod for another walk. Don’t go around a bend that you haven’t scouted on foot and looked at beforehand. Keep doing that wherever you’re not sure what lies downstream. I’d like to tell you more specifcally, but I’d have to be right there in the boat with you to do that.”

‘That helps – thank you,” he said.

“The time to get that kind information is before you go out,” I continued. “Next time, check with at least one fy shop, maybe two, who are on the river regularly. Ask them to

be specifc about what’s out there, and don’t foat until you’re real sure that you’re well informed.”

I told him what to look for at the Bell Crossing takeout and while he seemed somewhat relieved when we hung up, I was still a little uneasy. I hoped he’d make it.

As I write this I’m grieved by the recent report of a lovely young woman from Colorado, out for an adventurous day on the river in a kayak, who tragically didn’t make it.

As I’ve written many times before and I’ll repeat again and again: Don’t underestimate the dangers and don’t overestimate your own ability.

Check with greater Missoula-Bitterroot area fy shops before you go out.

Rivers are wild places; they can be fun or dangerous. Plan accordingly.

on the river. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.

Continuing grizzly bear genetic sampling

As part of ongoing eforts to monitor grizzly bears in the lower-48 states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several partners will continue genetic sampling eforts during the summer of 2023 to document grizzly bears in southwest Montana. This multi-year project collects data to assist biologists in understanding more about the grizzly bears that have been dispersing throughout southwest Montana over the past decade.

The Service thanks the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MTFWP), and Defenders of Wildlife for their continuing partnerships from prior years. Gratitude is also extended to new partners for 2023, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MTDNRC).

“This project continues to be a valuable efort towards a better understanding of grizzly bear presence in the upper Big Hole Valley and surrounding mountain ranges,” said Vanna Boccadori, the MTFWP Butte Area Wildlife Biologist. “This data allows partners to engage in science-based conversations about managing expanding grizzly bear populations on a working landscape. This project is part of a proactive approach to minimize potential conficts and allow safe passage of grizzlies throughout southwest Montana to the beneft of both bears and people.”

Additional appreciation is shared for nonproft partners that have donated resources towards the use of cameras for this project, including the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Vital Ground Foundation, and the National Parks Conservation Association.

The 2021 survey revealed important information about the presence of two grizzly bears in their historic range near the headwaters of the east fork of the Bitterroot River in southwest Montana. Both bears were determined to be unrelated adult males from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Potential grizzly bear hair samples collected during the 2022 feld season were submitted for DNA analysis and results are expected later in 2023. This non-invasive genetic sampling survey uses temporary barbed-wire corrals and remote cameras with a scent

lure to attract bears to the sites. As bears climb over or under the barbed wire to investigate the scent, their hair collects on the barbs without causing injury to the bear. The hair samples are then used for genetic analysis.

The 2023 project sites include USFS, BLM, MTFWP, and MTDNRC lands in southwest Montana, between the Bitterroot recovery zone and the estimated current distribution of populations in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone Eco-

systems. The primary 2023 study areas include the north Sapphire Mountains, Beaverhead Mountains, Pioneer Mountains, and Anaconda Range. Sampling sites are located away from roads, campgrounds, trails, and other areas with high human use. The scent lure provides no food reward, ensuring no motivation for bears to linger at the sites. All sampling sites are signed to notify anyone in the site’s immediate vicinity and include contact information

for the Grizzly Bear Recovery Program; the public is asked to avoid the area if they come across a site.

More information about grizzly bear conservation and biology can be found from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

Residents and visitors to grizzly bear country are encouraged to remain bear aware, know how to use and carry bear spray, and to never feed or approach wildlife. Learn more about bear safety.

Montana Range Days Hall of Fame award recipient for 2023

Walter Lujan from Stevensville, Montana was the recipient of the Montana Range Days Hall of Fame Award during the banquet on Tuesday night, June 20th in Shelby, Montana. Walter had been a range conservationist for the BLM and the NRCS for over 40 years. He had worked in Montana as the Missoula Area Rangeland Management Specialist from 2005 to 2017 before his retirement.

Walter was actively involved with the Montana Youth Range Camp for several years and was an instructor at Montana Range Days for many years helping with the soils and ecological site station. He also taught a higher-level rangeland management course at the University of Montana for 9 consecutive years before and after his retirement.

Walter also was involved in intensively managing cattle on his own acreage just outside of Stevens-

ville for many years.

Walter is a humble, hard-working person with a great sense of humor who brings a positive attitude to his everyday activities. He is experienced and knowledgable about all aspects of range management and the range resource. Walter communicates well with landowners and managers and he has been a valued mentor and friend to young and old alike and especially enjoys working with younger people. Walter is well respected by his peers in the range profession.

The Montana Range Days Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding contribution, dedication and support for the Montana Range Days educational program promoting the range resource. The frst recipient of this award was in 1984 and an award has been given each year since that time.

The Bitterroot Star Weather Summary Bitterroot Seven Day Forecast

Detailed Local Forecast

Today we will see sunny skies, high temperature of 89°, humidity of 23%. East northeast wind 1 to 10 mph. The record high temperature for today is 105° set in 1960. Expect clear skies tonight, overnight low of 54°. Northeast wind 1 to 10 mph. The record low for tonight is 35° set in 1962. Thursday, skies will be mostly sunny, high temperature of 92°, humidity of 29%. Southeast wind 1 to 11 mph. Thursday night, skies will be clear, overnight low of 57°. Southwest wind 3 to 11 mph.

Constitution essay awards

by Dennis Lenahan

What is the lowest barometer reading ever measured? ?

Answer: It was 25.63 inches, in the middle of a Typhoon named Tip.

Weather History

July 19, 1974 - A severe thunderstorm with winds to 80 mph and up to two inches of rain washed out four to five foot deep sections of roadway in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Three people in a car died as they were carried 3,000 feet down a wash by a 10-foot wall of water.

July 20, 1988 - The temperature at Redding, Calif. soared to an all-time record high of 118 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms produced much needed rains from New England to southern Texas. Salem, Ind. was deluged with 7.2 inches of rain, resulting in flash flooding.

American Legion Post 94, Stevensville, participated in the Stevensville School awards ceremony by presenting three awards to Middle School students for well-written essays. The American Legion sponsors an Americanism and Constitution Essay competition each year, and Post 94 facilitates it locally.

Jackson Schmidt was the frst place winner. He was awarded a certifcate, a gold medal, a family invitation to Post 94’s Veterans Day dinner, and a check for $350.

Everet Lehnen walked away with the second place certifcate, silver medal, a dinner invitation, and a check for $300.

And Zane Svaren took third place, and received a certifcate, a bronze medal, a dinner invitation, and a check for $250.

While these were the top three, American Legion Post 94 commends all the students who entered on their thoughtful and well-written essays. This excellence refects well on all their teachers, but especially Derek Buerkle and Harry Miller, who encouraged their students to enter this year’s competition.

Presenting the awards were Post 94 Scholarship Chair Dennis Lenahan, Past-Commander Chuck Burgmeier, Honor Guard Lead er Roy Miller, and Kay Gibbons.

Walter LuJan holding a plaque with his name now listed among other recipients. Photo Courtesy Walter Lujan.

Booked for the season Book Review

“Flags on the Bayou” by James Lee Burke

c.2023, Atlantic Monthly

Press $28.00 288 pages

There’s right. And there’s wrong. You know the diference, even if you can’t or don’t want to know. One is more exciting, fun, more proftable, and easier to do. The other is hard, and can leave you holding an empty bag but a fuller heart. So which do you choose? Or, as in the new novel, “Flags on the Bayou” by James Lee Burke, do you wait and see what happens?

The box was made of dark wood, slightly bulkier than the fintlocks inside it. Pierre Cauchon, oversight constable for a large area of Louisiana, didn’t want to fght Wade Lufkin that day in 1863, but though the woman activist from Massachusetts tried to stop them and Lufkin give Cauchon a small chance to resist, Lufkin also seemed determined to have this duel.

He would live to regret it, but barely.

Once, Lufkin was a little bit in love with Hannah Laveau, a former slave on his uncle’s estate but she merely tolerated his ofers of friendship. He wanted to know her better but Hannah only wanted to fnd her small son, who accidentally toddled of and went missing in the heat of battle some time before.

She knew Samuel was alive. Somehow, he told her so.

But Hannah herself wasn’t safe. Cauchon was looking for her; word was that she was stirring up trouble on other plantations. Word was that she’d mutilated and murdered Minos Suarez after he tried to bed her. Cauchon felt certain that Lufkin’s uncle had some hand in the murder, too.

But the more he investigated, the more he believed that Hannah wasn’t the killer he was looking for. His own intuition, and the duelgone-wrong, altered Cauchon’s

by Terry Schlichenmeyer

The Bookworm Sez, LLC

outlook on a lot of things. So did the presence of a syphilitic, perhaps insane, outlaw tasked with guarding the Lufkin plantation...

Aha, you think. A nice new Dave Robicheaux book for the summer, right?

Not by a long shot. “Flags on the Bayou” couldn’t possibly get any further from that series or any other thriller by author James Lee Burke.

There’s a lot of chaos and a lot to keep track of inside this book, and much of it isn’t pleasant to read. You may, in fact, spend a lot of time wincing at the vice and violence in the story, at the realistic but cringe-worthy language, and the cruelty that’s authentic here but still hard to take. These things can make the story feel stained and grimy, like you’d pick it up with two fngers so you don’t soil your hands. Other times, it feels like any other thriller, exciting but somehow safe before Burke sneaks in a chuckle, incongruous and welcomed. Is this a good book? Yes, but don’t be surprised if you stare into space for a few minutes after you’ve shut the back cover. You won’t shake this novel of easily, and if that’s the kind of book you love, with “Flags on the Bayou,” you can’t go wrong.

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Legal Notices

Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County

In the Matter of the

Name Change of Amy Lynn Elliott, Amy Lynn Elliott, Petitioner.

Cause No.: DV-41-20230000214-NC

Dept. 2

NOTICE OF HEARING

ON NAME CHANGE

This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Amy Lynn Elliott, to Amy Lynn Kuebler. The hearing will be on August 3, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.

DATED this 22nd day of June, 2023.

/s/ Paige Trautwein

Clerk of District Court

By: Kimberly Provence Deputy Clerk of Court BS 6-28, 7-5, 7-12, 7-1923.

Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County

In the Matter of the Name Change of Patricia Dee Cloud, Patricia Dee Cloud, Petitioner.

Cause No.: DV-23-45

Dept. 2

ORDER RESETTING

HEARING ON NAME

CHANGE

This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Patricia Dee Cloud to Ava Patricia Cloud. IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED that the hearing on the Petition for Name Change currently scheduled for Thursday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m. is VACATED and RESET for Thursday, September 7 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.

DATED this 15th of February, 2023.

Electronically signed by

Hon. Judge Jennifer B. Lint BS 7-19, 7-26, 8-2, 8-9-23.

John D. Greef

Attorney at Law

302 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270 (406) 360-8117

Attorney for Personal Representative

MONTANA TWENTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Gregory Alan Yockey Deceased. Cause No. DP-23-77 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 frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to John D. Greef, attorney for the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, 302 W. Main Street, Sidney, MT 59270, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 5th day of July, 2023.

/s/ John D. Greef, attorney for Personal Representative BS 7-19, 7-26, 8-2-23.

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 MARGARET E. GREEN, Deceased. Case No. DP-23-85 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 frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Lisa Dow, the Personal Representative, return

receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 13th day of July 2023.

/s/ Lisa Dow, Personal Representative BS 7-19, 7-26, 8-2-23.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BitterRoot Bus and MR TMA of Missoula will be having a TAC Meeting on February 25, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 310 Old Corvallis Rd. Hamilton MT. The agenda will be discussing the FY24 5311 Operating/ Capital Grant regarding new vehicles, advancing services to Stevensville and Florence as well as hiring new drivers. All citizens are welcome to attend for review and comment.

Any questions, please contact:

LaNette Moore BitterRoot Bus Transportation Coordinator 406.363.7484 lmoore@ravalliccoa.org or Lyn Hellegaard 406.327.8707 mrtma2@montana.com BS 7-19-23.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR STREET REPAIRS, TOWN OF STEVENSVILLE

The Town of Stevensville is requesting bids for resurfacing and subgrade repair, on a design build basis, for streets located in the town limits of the Town of Stevensville. #1. SPRING STREET FROM EAST 2ND STREET TO PARK AVENUE. #2. RAILROAD AVENUE FROM EAST 2ND STREET TO EAST 3RD STREET (this street has heavy trafc and oversize vehicles). #3. WEST 2ND STREET FROM BUCK STREET TO THE ENTRANCE OF LEWIS & CLARK PARK For further information about these projects visit the townofstevensville.com. Bids are due in person at Town Hall, 206 Buck Street, Stevensville, MT 59870 by 5:00 pm on Friday August 4, 2023.

Attest: Jenelle Berthoud, Town Clerk BS 7-19, 7-26-23.

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 ANNA RUTH PARKS, Deceased. Case No.: DP-23-82 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 Danny J. Parks, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 7th day of July 2023.

/s/ Danny J. Parks, Personal Representative BS 7-12, 7-19, 7-26-23.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Southwest Land Ofce Hamilton Unit is in the preliminary process of developing a vegetation treatment southeast of Sula in the Sula State Forest. The proposed project would harvest up to 5 -6 million board feet on approximately 3,600 acres. 3,500 acres of non-commercial thinning would also occur, along with noxious weed management, and tree planting. This land is School Trust Land, and the harvest would provide revenue to the Common

School Trust, Capital Buildings Trust, and Montana Tech Trust.

The department is seeking comments from interested parties. Comments are due August 3, 2023. Please direct comments to: Thayer Jacques DNRC Hamilton Unit P.O. Box 713 Hamilton, MT 59840

Or: tjacques@mt.gov BS 6-28-23 thru 7-26-23.

MEETING NOTICE Canyon Creek Irrigation District is holding a sharehold-

Crossword Puzzle

Posting