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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent

Find the latest updates and information on the COVID-19 pandemic at www.bitterrootstar.com Volume XXXVI, Number 2

Show will go on!

‘The www.bitterrootstar.com

Charges against Stevi council president in the works, council member Holcomb retains seat

By Michael Howell

Market animals like these hogs and some breeding project animals will be shown at the Freedom Show on August 29 and 30.

Freedom Show to replace 4H/FFA livestock show

By Jean Schurman

The cancellation of the Ravalli County Fair and Rockin’ RC Rodeo has had a ripple effect across the county. One of the most impacted groups has been the 4H program, although some plans are in place for non-livestock 4H members to complete their projects by going through the interview process.

At that time, the 4H member will be judged on their projects and a ribbon given. These projects include cooking, sewing, woodworking, leathercraft, photography, rocketry, and many other projects.

But what about those members who began their project last fall when they purchased steers for the market beef project? Or sat up nights with their ewes in the sheep breeding project, waiting for them to lamb? They were halfway through their project and had already spent hundreds of dollars on feed, not to mention the cost of the animal, when COVID-19 hit. These 4Hers continued on with their projects not expecting the pandemic to persist into the summer. Members who

were enrolled in market swine, sheep, or goat also continued with their projects, purchasing pigs, lambs or kid goats, also with the goal of showing their projects at the county fair.

But on July 13, those dreams hit a brick wall when the Public Health director shut down the fair due to COVID-19 concerns. Shelley Brown, along with Dave and Jessica Kostecki, brought together a group of people interested in helping these young people realize their goal of showing their animals.

Because of mandates from Montana State Extension at Montana State University in Bozeman, the 4H label cannot be used for this new show and so the group came up with the name Freedom Show.

“Who doesn’t want to celebrate our flag and our nation,” said Brown.

Then, they had to come up with a venue. The CDC had come out with guidelines for stock shows earlier this summer. Some of the guidelines include having a separate entrance and exit to the ring. The number of animals and exhibitors inside the ring must

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

be such that social distancing will be able to be done. It is also recommended that no animals be housed overnight, they just come in and show and then go.

Finding a place that had enough pens to hold a large amount of animals, each one in its own pen, was problematic but Triple D Cattle Feedlot and Sale facility, located up the Burnt Fork, east of Stevensville, came forward and offered their facility.

The site of the former Mytty ranch, this facility has enough pens for individual animals as well as larger pens for showing.

“Thank you, Drew Lewis, Kaci Lewis, Beadle Family! And the whole Triple D Crew! This will be an amazing venue for our show,” said Brown.

The Freedom Show will be August 29th and 30th. It is open to young people from Ravalli and Missoula County only. Market hogs will take to the ring at 8 a.m. on August 29, followed by swine showmanship. Once the pigs are out of the ring and on their way home, the market goats will come center See SHOW, page 13

At a special meeting on Wednesday, July 22, the Stevensville Town Council approved the controversial agreement between the Town and First Call Computer Services for IT services. The nonbinding agreement for $78,000 stretching over three years was signed last year by Mayor Brandon Dewey and is the subject of a recall petition against the Mayor for signing a contract without council approval. Dewey claims in a lawsuit filed to stop the recall vote that the council approved the agreement when it included the expenditures in the budget, and he did not need to get any further approval from the council.

The issue was placed before the council under unfinished business. Dewey reminded the council members that the work is considered critical for conducting town business and keeping the town’s data secure. He said when the job was originally advertised only a single response was received. When it came back to council it was again published in three newspapers for two weeks and again only one response was

received from the same company.

Two other inquiries concerning details of the town’s needs were received but no proposals were submitted from any other company. He asked the council to approve the contract.

Council President Bob Michalson and council member Robin Holcomb voted against the motion and council members Jaime Devlin and Dempsey Vick voted aye. Mayor Dewey broke the tie in favor of signing the contract. (For details about the trial over the recall vote see accompanying story).

Another hot button item under old business was the discussion of allegations of code of conduct violations by council president Bob Michalson. Council member Jaime Devlin has presented charges against Michalson alleging violations of the town’s Code of Conduct, oath of office violations and improper influence.

Dewey told the council that the agenda item was an update on the situation involving Michalson’s behavior due to charges being filed

by Devlin.

On June 20, council member Vick wrote to Devlin and Hol-

comb: “I am reaching out to you to request help in an issue that I have been having with Councilmember Michaelson since his return to the council in January. Since his return, he has made attempts to sway my vote in council matters while stating “I don’t tell you guys how to vote” and has followed that up with rude and uncalled for text messages in an attempt to bully and shame me because of how I voted. I have received numerous messages from him that could be construed as harassment or bullying.

“I have made several attempts to show Mr. Michaelson respect, but he does not show the same back to me. When I disagree with him on an agenda item or if I challenge his ideas, he becomes irate and is typically inconsolable.

“Again, I am reaching out in an attempt for all of us to find a way to come to a resolution so that we can all work together as one governing body.”

Vick highlighted certain sections of the town’s code of conduct. One states simply, “Do not disrupt Town staff from See COUNCIL, page 2

Recall lawsuit fully briefed

By Michael Howell

The lawsuit filed by Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey aiming to stop the recall vote against him has been fully briefed in Ravalli County District Court.

The lawsuit was filed by Dewey against the petition sponsor Leanna Rodabaugh and Election Administrator Regina Plettenberg and challenges the validity of the recall election. He claims that Rodabaugh’s petition is invalid because it is based on lies and misinformation and should not have been approved for circulation in the first place.

Rodabaugh’s petition claims that Dewey approved a $78,000 contract with an IT company without council approval. Dewey argues that the information presented in the petition is mislead-

ing. He claims the expenditures were approved in the budget and that the three-year non-binding agreement he signed was approved when the budget was passed and that town policy does not require council approval for the mayor to contract out the work. He claims that Rodabaugh knew all this when she filed the petition and thus swore a false oath about its truth. Dewey is represented by Missoula attorney Natasha Prinzing Jones of Boone Karlberg PC. At the hearing, Judge Howard Recht asked the parties to provide additional briefing on a few issues facing the court. He asked how the court should deal with the possibility that it was a political issue that should be resolved in some other fashion.

He also wanted to hear what legal standard the court would apply

to determine whether it should invalidate a petition approved by an election administrator. Thirdly, he asked for briefing on whether supplementary information provided as part of the recall petition should have been more widely disseminated to the people who signed.

Dewey actually responded to the Judge’s questions in a motion for summary judgment in which he asked the judge to find the petition invalid because it was based on false and misleading information. He argues that the sworn statement supporting the recall petition asserts two false allegations as grounds for Plaintiff’s violation of oath of office: Plaintiff’s execution of the contract with FCCS was in violation of Mont.

See LAWSUIT, page 3

Connect 93 – a vision for improving the ‘heart’ of Hamilton

By Michael Howell

The Hamilton City Planning Department has been working on a plan to improve the area around the city’s central intersection at Main Street/Marcus and Highway 93 since last fall. It is a collaborative project involving the Hamilton Downtown Association and Community Builders, a non-profit that provides communities with tools, information and support to create more livable places.

They work with communities to establish training and assistance programs to help craft practical solutions that fit their particular circumstances and opportunities.

According to City Planner Matthew Rohrbach, the city recently completed a survey seeking citizen input on the project and is now looking for last minute input from the public while Rohrbach reviews the survey results.

In addition to the survey, the city held a series of public meetings starting last November and conducted interviews with major

stakeholders in the area including Montana Department of Transportation, Rail Link and other property owners.

“We asked them what their issues are with the intersection, what would they like to see changed,” said Rohrbach. He said the aim was to come up with a set of projects that would improve the safety, efficiency and aesthetic values in the area that are realistic and doable rather than pie in the sky ideas.

A series of design workshops was held in February to come up with a more coherent draft of design ideas and alternatives.

Rohrbach said the driving issue in the process was to increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles in the area.

In the process, he said, “we are looking for opportunities to make it more visually appealing and attractive.”

“We want this major interSee CONNECT 93, page 5

Some of the suggested design strategies for the the area of Main and Hwy 93, like those shown here, can be found on the website www.connect93hamilton.

Page 2 -- Bitterroot Star

Council continued

performing their jobs.” The two most recent town clerks to resign mentioned disruptive behavior by Michalson and friends as one of the reasons. Vick also highlighted the section that states council members have the same rights to information as the general public, “However, limitations to staff resources must be considered… requests that require substantial staff time must be approved by the Mayor.”

Also highlighted were the sections stating that council members shall not make any derogatory personal comments about other members and a section stressing that council behavior serves as a model for the community.

“Honesty and respect for the dignity of everyone should be reflected in every word and action taken by a Member, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a serious and continuous responsibility.”

Vick also alleges violations of state law concerning threats and improper influence. Such a violation is committed when a person, “privately addresses to any public servant who has or will have official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding any representation, entreaty or argument, or other communication designed to influence the outcome on the basis of considerations other than those authorized by law.”

A memo from Mayor Dewey was included saying that “generic requests for information are beginning to hinder our already overwhelmed workflows.” He states directly to Michalson in the memo: “This is my final request that you send all requests for information and materials to me rather than interacting directly with staff.” He asks Michalson to be sure that he has exhausted all online resources before submitting a request and states that future requests that are not addressed directly to him will not be accepted or fulfilled.

An example was included of Michalson asking for the percentage of each employee’s wages that is coming out of each department and noting that he is still waiting on the last two years’ revenues

out of Public Safety. Many other emails and social media posts were included in the complaint against Michalson as examples of code violations. In one social media post, Michalson tells a member of the public, “This is a culture that has been here long before I came aboard. Move to town and change it. Instead of standing on the sidelines like a little child that you are.

And put the bottle down you look stupid on your posts.”

Dewey told the council that it was his hope that they could hold a conversation about the allegations and arrive at a solution that would not be a trial. He said his office was not equipped to handle such a process and with a baby on the way he was not ambitious to take on such a project. He said if the council was set on having a trial it might not be arranged until sometime in August.

“I am hoping for a conversation about middle ground or some other avenue of disciplinary action aside from a trial,” he said.

Council member Devlin, who submitted the charges, said, “I am actually not willing to budge. I would like to go to trial.” She said another email was sent that day by Michalson that was in violation of the code of conduct.

“So this behavior continues,” she said. “I think it is only fair to move forward with a trial.”

Michalson said that the council needed to follow council rules and that this item should not have come forward under old business because a motion to discipline Michalson was defeated in a tie vote at the last meeting and only the prevailing side can bring it back up for reconsideration, he said.

“Our attorney has already told us that we can bring it up for trial,” said Devlin.

Mayor Dewey stated that there was no motion for reconsideration before the council and no vote to discipline Michalson was on the agenda. He said charges were made by a council member and no council vote was necessary according to the rules, so they were moving forward with scheduling a trial.

Council member Robin Holcomb said that she didn’t find Michalson’s emails to be rude. She said he was just asking for infor-

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

mation and in the past all council members were allowed to ask for information.

Devlin said that the stream of requests has been affecting the staff and that they don’t have time to deal with it and it hasn’t stopped.

Mayor Dewey said that his office would begin an investigation of the charges and that Michalson would be provided the results and be given an opportunity to prepare a defense and a trial will be scheduled.

In a separate action, both council members Devlin and Vick sponsored an item seeking to declare Robin Holcomb’s seat as council member for Ward 1 to be vacant. Councilor Devlin pointed out that Holcomb had missed the last two council meetings. She said that the first time Holcomb gave no reason for her absence and a motion to compel attendance was conveyed by Police Chief James Marble, but was not heeded. But the second time, according to Devlin, Holcomb did respond to the motion to compel, stating that she was refusing to attend. Devlin said this is in violation of the law which states that an office is determined to be vacant for several reasons, one of which is “by open neglect or refusal to discharge duties.”

Devlin said that Holcomb’s refusal to attend the meeting was a clear violation and quotes Holcomb’s email to the mayor stating, “I have thought long and hard about this and if Michalson can’t be there to defend himself then I will not be there tonight. I will not be a part of a witch hunt and not have the person there to defend himself. This would not be right for anyone.” Devlin said that the previous vote on sanctioning was Michalson was not considered under code of conduct violations and that discussion of allegations of violations of the code of conduct “does not appear to be the same issue.” She noted that Holcomb had been sent an email from the town’s attorney telling her that he “would not advise intentional absence from a town council meeting.”

Devlin said that Holcomb’s refusal to attend a meeting because she disagreed with an agenda item was a clear violation of the law.

“We don’t have the choice

to choose what we are going to deal with or not,” said Devlin. She called Holcomb’s choice “very neglectful.”

“It is our duty to be at town council meetings. There was a motion to compel. She didn’t answer the door, or the phone and did not come to the meeting,” said Devlin. Devlin, who also holds a seat in Ward 1, said that she was hearing from constituents that Holcomb was not responding to their emails.

Holcomb said that she was in bed with a headache the first meeting but that the second time she didn’t attend because she “didn’t think it was right.” She said the mayor knew that Michalson wasn’t going to be unable to attend with the issue of his behavior matter on the agenda that night.

“When we have a council meeting where we bash another council member I don’t think I needed to be there, and I didn’t feel like walking in there because of all the hate going on in this town right now,” said Holcomb. “I just felt that once he (Mayor Dewey) knew Michalson wasn’t going to be there, why not delay a day or two.”

She said she did not check her email and did not see the attorney’s advice about attending the meeting.

Devlin said that all the council members receive criticism or hate mail. “It’s a part of the job,” she said. She said that Holcomb’s refusal to attend the meeting for the reasons stated was being neglectful and not doing your duty.

Michalson said to Mayor Dewey, “Since January you have been on a witch hunt against me and Holcomb. But it is difficult to remove someone from office, to go and attack a council member.

“You have some valid points but to try and remove someone from office sets a bad precedent.

“We could do it to you,” he said to council members Vick and Devlin. “I feel like you and Vick are hell bent on removing me and Holcomb from office.”

Vick said that this wasn’t an act of censure by the council, it was charges of violation of state law. He said courts have already determined that to determine an office has been vacated is not a disciplinary measure like censure.

He said he has had times where people wanted to drag him out in the parking lot and pull his toenails off. “But I show up,” he said.

Devlin said, “No part of me wants to be part of a witch hunt.

It’s about accountability. She said people need to be held accountable but that it hadn’t been happening at the council for a long time.

“I am very much about right and wrong and that won’t change.

But a witch hunt? No, these are facts.” She said if something like this happened in a business the person would lose their job.

Michalson said, “I don’t believe you can remove a council member like that. It won’t pan out with an attorney.”

Mayor Dewey stated that town attorney Scott Owens consulted other attorneys and the Local Government Center in Bozeman as well as case law on the issue and that Holcomb was not being removed from office by the council. He said the council was simply determining that a vacancy does indeed exist according to the law.

“If the allegations are true, then Holcomb has removed herself from office by her own actions,” he said.

Michalson asked if the mayor had that opinion in writing. He said something of this magnitude should get a written opinion.

Counselor Vick said that he had a legal opinion from Missoula city attorney Nugent that a council member can be found to have vacated their office if they neglect or refuse to carry out their duties and that a tie vote on the decision could be broken by the Mayor.

Michalson said he would like to have a written opinion about that, too.

Before the vote Dewey gave Holcomb the opportunity to resign.

Holcomb refused saying, “No, because I don’t believe I did anything wrong.” She said she did email the first time and was in bed with a headache and the second time, “I apologize. I was not there.

I just felt that with Michalson not being there to defend himself that it was wrong.”

The vote to declare Holcomb’s seat vacant failed on a two to two tie vote split down the usual lines.

Mayor Dewey declined to break the tie, saying, “Ms. Holcomb you have put me in a very awkward position, frankly… For the past two and half years you and Michalson have done everything in your power to remove me from office – and now I’m in a very awkward position because of your actions. So, I can vote and remove you from office.

“But then on the other hand, if I vote no, are we going to deal with another two years of this?

When does this end?

“You say we need to come together and removing someone from office is a very difficult thing.

But they were elected to office.

If the citizens have trouble with someone in office a recall is not the way to do it. Political stunts are not the way. You show up at the polls.

I feel like I’m in an impossible position. I am going to upset half the council tonight no matter what I do. You say you want to come together, then I see two council member’s signatures on a petition to get my head. Our citizens do deserve better.

“I’m not going to break the tie tonight. This isn’t where we should be in this community.

We can generate excuses all day long but I’ve had enough of the obstruction by two members of city council. It needs to stop. Enough is enough.

“Robin, I’m not going to break this tie tonight. I want you to have the opportunity to recognize how close you came to losing the very precious gift that this community gave to you, that is representing them. Do not screw that up because I guarantee that if we get back into this position again I am not going to rehash the last 10 minutes of stuff that I just pronounced. The decision will be clear and I believe that it will be clear at the polls going forward. In the interest of not dividing the community any further and allowing you to retain your dignity and perhaps prove yourself to this community, I will abstain from breaking a tie…

At the very least Ms. Holcomb, you owe the community a written apology and public one and you owe the rest of us the same.”

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Lawsuit continued

Code Ann. § 7-3-203(7); and Plaintiff denied citizens of Stevensville the Right to Participate, in accordance with Mont. Const. Art. II, §8, and Right to Know, Mont. Const.

Art. II, §9.

“Because Plaintiff’s actions were authorized by Montana law and the Stevensville Purchasing Policy, and because the FCCS contract amount was within the budget approved by the Town Council at a public meeting, summary judgment to permanently enjoin the Recall is proper,” Dewey argued.

In that submission, attorney for Dewey, Natasha Prinzing Jones, answered the judge’s questions, arguing that the issue involved in the case is “not one of political stature, but rather one of legal authority” quoting from case law (Foster v. Kovich), “the legal sufficiency of allegations in a recall petition is a judicial as opposed to a political question and is to be decided by the trial court in a proceeding for declaratory and injunctive relief against the recall.”

She states that the Montana Recall Act requires that the charges of violation of oath of office–when used for recall–be based on the “truth of purported facts contained in the statement” sworn to under oath by the petitioner.

Jones points out that no charges of official misconduct have been filed against Dewey and argues that none of the recall allegations meet the criminal definition of official misconduct.

As to whether reviewing the supplemental information attached to the recall was part of the legal duties and authority of the Election Administrator, Jones stated that the review of the legal sufficiency of the petition was not in the purview of the election administrator who only reviews it for form. But it is within the province of the Court to make such a determination.

In his brief, attorney for Rodabaugh, Charles Carpenter, argues simply that it is the mayor who is mis-stating the facts. He claims that the undisputed evidence presented

at the hearing supports the claims made by Rodabaugh and that the mayor is mistaking a legal issue for a fact when he claims that he had authority to sign the contract.

“The underlying facts here are not disputed. That Stevensville has a binding legal structure for town procurement is undisputed, even if the Mayor thinks his authority is greater than that actually granted, which is clearly a legal question. What the Mayor did with respect to the FCCS contract is also not in dispute - he claims that the Town Council ratified his actions -which is, again a legal question - and does not dispute that once the Council was fully aware of the FCCS contract, the Council rejected that contract. The evidence adduced at the hearing shows that the Mayor did not comply with the provisions of the procurement policy, as they had been applied in the past,” states the brief.

Carpenter claims that the town’s Procurement Policy “provides, repeatedly and in no uncertain terms, that ‘[a]ll contracts for services must be approved by the Town Council’.” He argues, although the policy may allow an exception for Department Heads to contract for services, it does not allow the Mayor.

The essential point of the recall petition, argues Carpenter, is that the Mayor exceeded his authority in executing the FCCS contract. He claims it is undisputed that the FCCS bid was not opened in the presence of the Town Council during an official meeting, and that at the time the bid was received from FCCS, there was no budget approval for this expenditure.

He also claims it is undisputed that the Town Council did not approve the FCCS contract prior to execution. It is undisputed that the Town Council had not even seen, much less approved, the FCCS contract when it approved the budget, late on the night of December 12, 2019.

“The Mayor argues that none of this matters because notwithstanding the provisions of the municipal code, and the repeated requirement in paragraph 7 of the Procurement Policy that all

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 contracts require Town Council approval, he may use the limited authority granted to Department heads in subparts of that section to approve this substantial contract, because the Council approved a line item in the budget,” wrote Carpenter. “Rodabaugh does not agree that the Procurement Policy is ambiguous, but even if it was, there is no way it can be stretched to accommodate the interpretation offered by the Mayor.”

Carpenter agrees that the issues in question about the validity of the petition are to be decided by a court. But, “the Court is permitted to examine the statements in the petition for factual accuracy. It is not the Court’s role to determine whether or not the Mayor should be recalled for his conduct.”

On the other hand, he claims, the Mayor is, of course, free to argue in the election campaign that he did in fact act in fidelity to his oath, that he thought he had the authority to conceal a significant contract from the Council and the public, and that even if he did not, the contract has been terminated, and so recall is not warranted.

But, “These are all questions for the voters, not the Court,” wrote Carpenter.

As to the question about the signature gathering process itself, Carpenter wrote, “Rodabaugh is not aware of any failure on her part, or on the part of any of the other signature gatherers, to comply with all mandates of the recall statute. The requirements in those statutes are already quite onerous, and the imposition of additional requirements, without evidence of malfeasance on the part of petition gatherers, is not warranted.”

Carpenter asks the judge to deny the motion for an injunction and dissolve the restraining order entered on June 30.

In the county’s response brief on behalf of Election Administrator Regina Plettenberg, it was claimed that “Here, the District Court likewise must decide whether the allegations stated in the petition by Rodabaugh fall within the meaning of ‘violation of oath of office.’ Like Foster, the Court should examine whether the allegations are conclusory or indefinite. Because the

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Foster court came to its decision by looking at the petition language for the specificity of the allegations, Foster implies that this Court could do the same and focus on (and make its decision based solely upon) the petition language.”

“In summary, while there is no precedent establishing a defined standard under which the District Court should review the allegations, Foster and Sheehy demonstrate that the District Court should use all of the evidence before it to determine the patent truth or falsity of the allegations set forth in the recall petition.”

The county suggests that the Court could determine whether, under the Town’s Purchasing Policy, entering into a contract for services (and thus creating obligations that the town must follow, such as the penalty provisions discussed at the hearing) falls under the same process as a one-time purchase of services.

“In other words, does the Town Council adopting a budget authorize the Mayor to then enter into a contract, with its attendant terms and conditions, without further public or council review?” they ask.

They claim the Court could further examine the Town of Stevensville Purchasing Policy.

The Town Purchasing Policy states that the Department Supervisors are able to purchase services with the Mayor’s approval. The Court could consider whether this language means that the Mayor has the authority to consolidate all of the Department Supervisors’ Information Technology budgets in order for the Mayor to enter into a contract for services.

The county also said the Court could examine whether Dewey’s conduct in signing the Information Technology contract precluded the public the “Right of Participation” in violation of Article II, Part II, Section 8 of the Constitution of the State of Montana, which could be determined to be a violation of the oath of office.

“Specifically, the Court would need to determine whether the public had a right to have input on the contract and its specific terms, or the public’s right was lim-

ited to participation in the budget itself, and whether Dewey violated his oath of office by not permitting such participation,” they argued.

The county also agreed that the legal sufficiency of allegations is a judicial question, not a political question, and is to be decided by the trial court in a proceeding for declaratory and injunctive relief against the recall.

“Thus, regardless of potential political issues, the District Court must first look at the facts and the sufficiency of the allegations alleged in the petition. At issue is whether the supplementary information provided as part of the recall petition should have been more widely disseminated to people who signed the petition.

Foster, Sheehy, and Steadman imply that an insufficient petition cannot be made sufficient by additional, supplementary materials…

Any added materials are not relevant because a petition must stand or fall on its own. Id. Here, because the petition must be sufficient on its own, the Court could determine that while supplementary materials might assist the electorate, it is not necessary that the material be reviewed,” wrote the county.

Dewey did submit a last minute “update” to the court on July 24th. It was an affidavit to the court in which he pointed out that the Town Council approved the contract with First Call Computer Solutions at its July 22 meeting saying the proposed and approved contract contains identical terms to the contract that was executed last December. He said the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget was also approved in the Town Council meeting on July 22, 2020, and there was no council discussion with regards to the IT service line items, or the budget

allotted thereto, prior to the Town Council’s vote of approval.

In conclusion, he states that after the FCCS contract was approved by the Town Council, Defendant Leanna Rodabaugh commented on the Facebook live broadcast of the Town Council Zoom meeting, stating: “slit your throat mayor. Bye bye. Recall.”

In his brief supporting Rodabaugh’s petition, Carpenter spoke to the issue of the contract signing being remedied, stating, “That the misconduct has been remedied in part is not relevant to the truth of the assertion: a shoplifter cannot say he did not steal an item from a convenience store if, having been caught, he returns the item to the store owner. Nor would it change the accuracy of a description of the shoplifter’s conduct if he returned to the store the following day, but this time paid for the items. For this reason, the Town Council’s approval of the FCCS Contract at a hastily called July 22, 2020 special meeting, even if valid, has no impact on the Court’s review of the Recall petition.

“Obviously, subsequent events have an impact on whether further punishment is warranted: here, it is for the voters to decide whether the Mayor’s breach of faith - even if cured after he was caught - justifies his removal. The Court though is only judging the truth of the statement about the Mayor’s course of action before he was caught. The statement in the recall petition is true.”

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PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE 406

Wash Hands Use Hand Sanitizer

Bitterroot Star -- Page 3

Wear a Mask

But . . .

A New Proposed Subdivision will Alarm You!

Here’s the Scoop

- Imagine as many as 250 families living in multi-family homes and new homes at the corner of Logan Lane and Middle Burnt Fork Road, on Stevi’s east side.

- Logan Lane and Middle Burnt Fork Road traffic will increase by as much as 2,146 more cars/trucks per day.

The only access to the HIGH DENSITY development will be onto Logan Lane. This from the California developer’s subdivision application.

Montanans get it, and we’ve got this.

We’re Concerned. You Should be Also.

Watch this space for more info weekly. dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/covid

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Page 4 -- Bitterroot Star

Obituaries Ivan Lee Roy Jr.

Stevensville - Ivan Lee Roy Jr. of Stevensville passed away Thursday evening, July 16, 2020 at the Community Medical Center with his wife, Marlene at his side.

Ivan was born August 27, 1953 in Hamilton to Ivan Lee Roy Sr. and Ethel Louise Roy. Ivan was the second oldest of six children. Growing up in Victor at the family farm, he attended Victor schools and helped his parents with their dairy farm.

During his junior and senior years, he spent a lot of his time at one of his good friends home, Kenny Sampson. There are many stories to be told by family, friends and even a sheriff or two of his years growing up in Victor, and much to the delight of his family, he was successful in graduating in 1972. After graduation, he got a job working with his father at the Intermountain Sawmill in Missoula. One of his favorite memories of working with his Dad at the mill was of one morning when they were running late and Ivan told his Dad, “no problem, we’ll just take my Chevelle, it’ll get us there in time.” Of course, back in those days, there wasn’t any speed limit on Hwy 93 and Ivan’s Chevelle was pretty fast. Ivan Sr. just slid down low in his seat and tried to sleep so that he didn’t have to watch the fence posts flashing by as they speeded into town. From that day on, he never let Ivan drive him to work, at least not in that Chevelle. Many of Ivan’s friends recall the entertainment he provided in the small town of Victor many evenings at Martin’s Inn, just ask any of them.

He joined the Volunteer Fire Department in Victor and worked alongside his brother, Danny and several longtime friends. He really enjoyed helping the community, however after a few years the time needed to be a volunteer just interfered too much with his first priority, his cattle and the time needed to farm to feed them so he left the Fire Department and concentrated on growing his herd.

Ivan enjoyed riding horses

in the back country and for a while worked for Spence and Kay Trogdon of Lazy T4 Outfitters, setting up camp and taking hunters into many areas of the Bitterroot National Forest, including the Selway, Lolo Creek, Gird Creek and even through the Stock Farm into the Sapphire Mountain range.

He enjoyed helping hunters find their trophy elk to take home.

He shared many stories of these adventures, which were always filled with laughter and good times. He was a favorite guide among most hunters he came into contact with because of his “Old West Cowboy” attitude.

He went to work for Clark Brothers Construction, sawing logs throughout western Montana making Forest Service roadways.

Clark Brothers also worked highway construction, and Ivan got to work on the I-90 project from Bozeman Pass to Livingston, MT. It was on this job that he met his first wife, Judy Juhnke. Judy later joined Ivan in the Bitterroot. They married, settled in Woodside and had two girls, Sonya Marie and Sunny Louise.

In 1980, Ivan and Judy divorced, and Ivan left the Bitterroot and went to work in the oil fields in Plentywood, MT. He worked there until he was injured in an oil-well fire where he sustained severe burns to his back and arms. Ivan remained in Plentywood for a time and worked for a rancher who raised cattle and harvested grain. During this time, he met and married Sharon who had three daughters. It was well known that Ivan enjoyed drinking which often led to fighting, and at some point, one of the judges that knew him quite well strongly suggested that he seek treatment before his habit caused someone serious injuries. So, in 1988, he drove himself to a treatment facility and got himself clean. And from that day on, he never drank again.

In 1989, he and Sharon returned to Victor and leased a portion of his father’s ranch to set

up their mobile home. He went to work with Eldon Roberts in the woods cutting timber and still helped his father with his farm and had a few cattle of his own. He also continued to do some custom building on the side. One of the projects that he was most proud of was the construction of the Bear Creek Lodge in 1991, located at the edge of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness outside Victor. After he and Sharon divorced he continued ranching on Meridian and putting up hay. He and his friends, Scott and Zane, would work their regular jobs during the day and hay at night, helping each other with their fields.

In 1998, Ivan moved his cattle operation to Indian Prairie between Victor and Stevensville.

He had grown his herd of cattle into a sizable operation and was enjoying life and working hard.

It was during this time that Ivan invited a couple of younger brothers, Abe and Jason, whom Ivan knew were having a hard time, to come stay at his place to help them get on their feet. Abe had a small infant daughter that Ivan,

a man who loved children, took a special shine to, and from that day forward Ivan was Grandpa to Mykayla. He’d take her to check and feed cows, she’d ride the tractor with him usually sleeping in her car seat and as she grew a little older loved to feed the chickens and collect eggs. It seemed no matter who the child was, they always loved Ivan, he just had a soft spot in his heart for any child.

In 2001, Ivan met his true soul mate, Marlene Bolin. Ivan wasn’t looking for anyone, and neither was Marlene, but once they met it just seemed like they were meant to be. They enjoyed so many similar interests, horseback riding, farming, raising cattle, it was just natural. They eventually built a home on the Bolin Ranch east of Stevensville and have lived there since, raising their cattle and farming. In 2002, they enjoyed an Alaskan Cruise with family and even got to go horseback riding in Alaska. Ivan was smiles ear to ear.

In 2013, Ivan was diagnosed with cancer and chose to be treated at the Cancer Treatment Centers of

America (CTCA) in Arizona. He loved the doctors and treatment he received there and always referred to it as his “resort,” traveling there several times a year for treatments or follow up visits. In 2016, Ivan had a half of beef shipped down for a special event, “Ivan’s Barbecue.” The cancer center was abuzz and they received it with joyous anticipation of the celebration.

Everyone knew about that cowboy from Montana and looked forward to our visits. He just had a way, even when he was quite sick he could make everyone else smile.

In 2017, Ivan and Marlene decided to get married and chose to be wed at CTCA, as they were family now and the feeling was reciprocated.

As of February 2020, thanks to the care of CTCA, Ivan remained cancer free, which we were all very thankful for.

Ivan was preceded in death by his father, Ivan Lee Roy, Sr.; and his mother, Ethel Louise Gregory.

He is survived by his wife Marlene Kay Bolin of Stevensville and her son Jason and his family of Arizona; his daughters, Sonya Marie Schwartzer (Britton) and granddaughter Isabella and Sunny Louise Roy both of Livingston.

He is also survived by his siblings, Linda Roy and her son Matthew Mulkey of Missoula, Susan Roy (Les) of Victor and her children Ryan Schumann of Seattle and Dusty Lee (Cole) and children Dawson, Jorden and Ophelia of Minnesota; Lilly Brown (Terry) and her children Danielle Nicole and Mark all of Arlington, Texas; Danny of Victor and Lorri (Ethan Zimmerman) of Hamilton and granddaughter Makayla Pfieffer of Hamilton.

A Celebration of Life service and reception will be held on Friday, July 31 at 4 p.m. at the Ambrose Creek Community Park east of Stevensville. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be designated to a local cancer fund through The Foundation For Community Health, 2831 Fort Missoula Rd Suite 103, Missoula MT 59804. It is our desire that the funds be used to assist cancer patients and caregivers through education, support and to empower patients during their cancer journey. We would also like to thank all the doctors, nurses and entire staff in the ICU at the Community Medical Center for their care and devotion to Ivan during this traumatic time in our lives.

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Albert James ‘Jim’ Anson

Hamilton - Albert James (Jim) Anson passed away on July 12, 2020 from complications due to advanced Parkinson’s. He was born in Orchard NE to Irene R. (Leist) Anson and Albert J. Anson on June 27, 1951. Jim graduated from Ewing High School in Ewing NE in 1969. He was married to Constance J. (Turay) Anson in 1973 to present and to this union were born three children: Joshua Kane Anson, Lucas James Anson and Ashley Brooke Anson.

After high school Jim owned and operated a custom haying business in Ewing, NE. Later moving to Bismarck ND with his family, he began selling cars. He had a true passion for cars and loved meeting new people which made him a trustworthy and successful salesman. Jim excelled in sales and was awarded Chevrolet’s salesman of the year in his region for multiple years. His love of the outdoors and the mountains pulled him to Montana after an initial hunting trip here in 1972. In 1993, Jim finally moved his family to Hamilton and began selling cars in the Bitterroot valley until his retirement in 2014.

Jim enjoyed all the Bitter-

root had to offer; snowmobiling, jeeping, fishing, hunting and spending time outdoors with his

family. He was known for his easygoing and fun attitude and his silly yet insightful sayings such

section to be a place of welcome for visitors and a place of beauty for local residents as well,” said Rohrbach. He said this could also lead to economic benefits in the area as well. He called it a three-prong approach focusing on safety, aesthetics, and economic development opportunities.

“We put out some design ideas and proposals and asked the stakeholders if it was possible. We just want to make sure as a city that whatever plan we adopt that we can move forward and implement it. We don’t want to spend a lot of time developing ideas that are not going to fly and have to go back to the drawing board,” said Rohrbach.

Once they get consensus from the public and the key stakeholders they can begin the slow process of implementation. He hopes to bring it to the city council for adoption in August. It will go through Committee of the Whole for discussion.

More information can be found and input may be given on the project on the web site www.connect93hamilton. Click on learn more about strategies and you’ll see a series of posters or click on the pdf version and you will see various plans for improving highway 93 and plans for Marcus Street. There is a bird’s eye view of

the area.

Rohrbach said that it was a huge project and would certainly not get done all at once but would be phased in as portions became affordable. Some things will happen sooner and some things will take a while.

Some of the work on the highway medians, for instance, may take a long time to get done, while other things like the improvements planned for facilities on Marcus street might happen quickly. Funding availability will also be a factor. Some funding is available through the state because these are both state roadways, he said.

“This project will not be funded totally from the general fund,” he said.

“We are looking for all kinds of grant opportunities.” He said they were currently putting together an action plan that breaks things down into smaller projects that can get individual funding from other entities.

“I don’t want to generate any false expectations,” said Rohrbach.

“This is a huge project and it is going to take a long time, several years, to get some of these things done, but you’ve got to have vision to start with and that’s what we are forming. You need this kind of a vision before you can start digging in and working out any kind of details.”

Rohrbach said anyone with an interest or questions may call him at 363-3317 or email him at mrohrbach@cityofhamilton.net.

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as “Happy thoughts make happy things happen.” You knew he liked you if he gave you a nickname that usually seemed to make no sense, but often stuck. He was the ultimate survivor, he battled heart disease, cancer and Parkinson’s but never complained and fought until his last breaths.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his grandson, Samuel Johny Anson. Jim is survived by his wife, Constance; siblings, Linda Brion, Jane Sojka, Steve Anson, Gary Anson, and Bob Anson; his children, Joshua (Mimi), Lucas (Nicole) and Ashley (Scott Koerner); his grandchildren, Paiyton, Sarah, Simah, Sawyer, Silas, Samarah, Sieglinde, Cole, Jesse and Alexis; and greatgrandchild Calvin.

The family held a small gathering in memory of Jim on July 19th at the home of Kenny and Linda Brion and after spent the afternoon fishing up Skalkaho at Jim’s favorite fishing hole.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the family are accepted by Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel. com.

continued

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Page 6 -- Bitterroot Star

Bitterroot Star Editorial Board Michael Howell Victoria Howell

Opinion

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Guest Comment

Me versus we

By Margaret Gorski, Stevensville

Last Saturday I attended the Stevensville Farmer’s Market where delightful crafts and vegetables are sold every week in the summer. I was pleasantly surprised by how many people were wearing masks, but many were not. It’s clear the reason why we should wear a mask is not universally accepted and wearing one or not has become a matter of principle with the stated reasons varying widely from person to person. Just like the “Don’t Tread on Me” snake, the issue has turned into a cause for some and in my mind, a misplaced act of defiance for others.

I had a conversation with one very passionate woman who wanted to discuss her conviction that by not wearing a mask she was exercising her 14th Amendment right. According to her, Constitutional amendments have priorities and the 14th Amendment supersedes the 10th Amendment. (Interestingly, the 10th Amendment is in the Bill of Rights while the 14th came later.)

This person, who identified herself as one of the organizers of the “Stand up for Freedom” gatherings, was using the Constitution to justify why she had an individual right to ignore the Governor’s mask mandate.

I have taken classes in American History and Civics and probably know as much or more about our nation’s history than the average citizen, but I had to reach into the recesses of my learning to make sense of that argument. I am not a Constitutional scholar, but I doubt neither she nor her fellow “Stand Up for Freedom Patriots” are Constitutional experts either. What I understand is the fact that the Declaration of Independence and

the Constitution were written as the vision and bylaws of “we the people,” working together, to create a new form of government in a new nation. It wasn’t about exercising one’s individual right at the expense of the rights of everyone else.

This attitude that an individual’s rights reign supreme over our collective well-being makes we wonder where Ravalli County and our nation are headed? Are we so polarized that we must rely on using such a simple task as wearing a mask to make a point even though that point has significant potential adverse consequences to our fellow citizens? Should this be the issue that breaks us a community or nation? When Patrick Henry, one of our founding fathers, said in 1775, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” he was referring to his personal preference to be free over being enslaved by British rule. He wasn’t making a choice between his individual liberty and the potential death of his neighbor.

Our Founding Fathers worked hard to understand human nature and create a form of government that protects our individual liberties while uniting the states so we can work together for the benefit of everyone’s prosperity. If we think our liberties are being threatened by a mask mandate and want to break our government instead of working together to fix it, I doubt we would be able to create a more perfect union than the one we have now.

We owe it to future generations to stop fighting and figure out how to exercise our individual rights while also protecting our collective well-being before it’s too late.

40 acres and a mule

know.

I read a quote from Jeff Burrows suggesting county employees need to use common sense when working together. Think about this, where does COVID common sense come from? The last pandemic was 100 years ago.

It doesn’t exist in the public or employees’ experience. In its place we have an information age. No leadership, no wisdom and instant information access presented in a way that reinforces what you already believe, regardless of how unfounded in present reality those beliefs may be.

As an example, when handling a gun you treat it like it is loaded. This is common sense.

You would not point and pull the trigger. There is no law mandating you treat a gun this way. You enter a store or greet a family member with a hug and a hand shake with no mask and everybody is comfortable. You just experienced COVID Russian roulette and everybody was comfortable with their common sense.

As public figures the commissioner’s office must supply COVID common sense to the public. COVID common sense is the knowledge the public and the commission does not know that you don’t know. COVID common sense is uncommon and it starts with you educating yourself first.

The commission needs to get publicly behind the health department in a big way.

Chris Hoffman called this support as explaining state law, asking hard questions and having differences of opinions. This is how you set and implement policy, not how you get positive results

Letters

The Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, and General Sherman asked a representative group of freed men about reparations for their slavery. They responded that with 40 acres per family, they could support themselves and gradually save up enough to pay for the land. That wish was to be granted, and mules made available by the army, but then President Lincoln was assassinated in mid-April 1865, and Vice President Andrew Johnson, who succeeded him, withdrew from the agreement at the behest of southern landowners.

Ever since then, Black people in this country have had difficulty accruing the kind of property -- be it land or simply a sense of belonging -- that comes naturally to most White folks, usually from family, and Black people have been seen as a threat to property and therefore to life.

None of the efforts by the federal government to help bridge this gap in wealth -- the New Deal, the GI Bill, Affirmative Action, the War on Poverty, etc. -- have succeeded, because we White folks have required compromise in the form of quotas, housing restrictions, work requirements, etc., and you can’t “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” if you have neither bootstraps nor even boots, nor perhaps even hands or arms.

That is why it’s time we figured out how to share. Ibram Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” believes that racism is based not on hate, but on selfinterest -- we Whites are afraid the

Blacks want to take what we have.

In fact, what they want is equality, not revenge (see Kimberly Jones).

Let’s be glad of that and figure out how we can do this, how we can make this country what a lot of White people have long thought it already is.

Mary Fahnestock-Thomas Hamilton

Good luck with that

Almost 150,000 dead Americans. Drink bleach. Don’t plan to handle virus, just buy Goya beans. $500,000 bounty on American soldiers, no reaction from White House. Vote for Trump; you’ll get more of the same. Good luck with that.

Linda Schmitt Corvallis

To Ravalli County Commissioners You have been dealt an impossible hand. The reality is we have failed COVID national leadership. Through its directives, pandemic responsibilities without adequate support have been pushed down to the state and by extension to the county level. We are six months into present pandemic with no defined end point.

COVID does not give a damn if you are a Trumpublican, Republican, Democrat, independent, business owner, wage worker, retired or unemployed or employed. Solutions start with the commission realigning its focus.

We all need to acknowledge that we do not know what we don’t

Bitterroot Star

Office: 115 W. 3rd Street, #108 • Stevensville Mailing: P.O. Box 8 • Stevensville MT 59870 Phone: (406) 777-3928 • Fax: (406) 777-4265 Website: www.bitterrootstar.com E-mail: editor@bitterrootstar.com

from policy. What I am asking for is bold redirected COVID leadership. Normal county business will not get done or be put on the back burner. Get over it, that is the world in which we are all living.

1. Acknowledge upfront to the public and businesses that business can’t get back to normal without specific COVID procedures in place. Everyone is responsible for their enforcement.

2. Be honest with yourself and the public, county power and resources are limited as are the specific sacrifices required of the public. You will need the public’s help.

3. Listen to your professional health advisors.

4. Fund a COVID county wide coordinator with a public health background.

5. Spend money on professional marketing, media and signage to promote uniform COVID procedures to the public.

6. Focus on all travel in and out of the county, primarily two airports and highway 93.

7. Focus on ongoing county wide COVID testing until a vaccine is developed. At the present, this is not possible but make the public aware of the need.

8. You don’t have the money for any of this but you don’t have a choice. You have to find it anyway you can, through reserves, state and/or federal programs, public outreach etc. Ravalli county’s economic and physical health depends on your bold leadership from the bottom up as it is not coming from the top nor will it be.

Archie L. Thomas Corvallis

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Ravalli County health official resigns

Dr. Calderwood has resigned as head health official of Ravalli County, because of the commissioners of Ravalli County’s decision to disobey Governor Bullock’s directives.

Bullock has carefully reopened Montana in the hopes that he can keep the numbers of covid cases down in Montana.

Ravalli County is seeing cases rise and now with the muffling of our health department, we will not know when and if we are safe.

Ravalli County is a RED county and is following the lead of the head of our country. Do we want to be where Florida, Arizona, and Texas are now? That is what will happen here because of the ignorance of our commissioners.

Time to vote them out of their jobs and make our county safe again.

Kate Gervais Corvallis

Tragic loss

Regarding the loss of Public Health Officer Dr. Carol Calderwood: What a tragic and unnecessary loss for Ravalli County, due to the short-sighted leadership of the County Commissioners and Sheriff.

Their disrespect for public health professionals during a global pandemic, and their poor choices, put all of our communities and citizens at risk. If they want to stop the spread of Covid-19, keep our local businesses open, and have schools be able to open for the well-being of students, families, teachers and support staff, they would follow Governor Steve Bullock’s mandate to “Mask Up Montana.”

The Commissioners and Sheriff must answer to the community and right their wrongs immediately. Just when we were feeling a little more comfortable going into and supporting our local businesses because people would be wearing masks, it is distressing to learn the mandate won’t be enforced consistently.

Do the commissioners WANT the virus spread to be reduced? Do the commissioners WANT our local businesses to be able to stay open and have local citizens patronize these businesses? Do the commissioners WANT schools to be able to open safely for students, families, teachers and support staff?

Thank you to Dr. Carol Calderwood, Public Health Nurse Karyn Johnston, former PHN LuAnn Burgmuller and all the Public Health staff for their dedicated service, commitment and leadership during such challenging times. Those who have resigned will be sorely missed, and difficult to replace.

Mask Up Montana! Keep your distance, wash your hands, and get our kids back to schools that are safe due to the actions of responsible citizens taking effective measures now.

Amy Monteith Hamilton

Mask up, Montana!

After devoting 37+ years of my life to the health care of others and being a cancer survivor, I totally respect the rights of people not to wear a face mask if they are not afraid of becoming infected with the virus themselves, especially knowing there was conflicting information given by “experts” (CDC, WHO) early on. But now, recent studies from the front lines of the COVID pandemic strongly support wearing a face mask to protect our friends, neighbors, and our vulnerable community members, because people are spreading COVID-19 without knowing it.

I wear a mask in public because I want to protect others in case I have it. It is a simple thing to do and I would feel horrible if I passed COVID onto someone else and they (or a loved one) became critically ill or died.

Our Montana community is experiencing an alarming rate of COVID infections in all age groups. Other countries, 20+ states and now Montana have made it mandatory to wear face masks in public places. Several states are closing businesses again due to

the escalating spread of the virus.

Medical people wear face masks, whether they want to or not, to protect both their patients and themselves. It is a simple way to help protect our community, keep businesses open, and not overwhelm our healthcare systems.

I liken wearing of face masks to vaccines required for school children, seatbelt requirements, or smoking banned in public places to protect the health of our community. Many of us may not like these safety measures either but comply to help protect the most vulnerable in our community. Wearing face masks is not meant to be a divisive “political thing”...it is about doing the right thing to help save lives. If we all do the right thing, it doesn’t have to remain mandatory or push leaders to have to shutter our businesses again.

We got this Montana!

Together we can beat this and make a positive difference!

Nancy Dezell, RN, MSN United States Air Force, Ret Hamilton

Dear Mr. Trump

A friend of mine named Albert, a gifted oral surgeon, died yesterday in San Diego of COVID-19. You are as responsible for his death as if you had shot him with a gun. You should be in jail.

David Leslie Corvallis

Thank you to Dr. Calderwood

We want to thank Dr. Calderwood for her dedicated work towards protecting the health of our community. With her resignation we have lost a valuable and dedicated professional, committed to keeping everyone - especially the most vulnerable - healthy and safe. Thank you Dr. Calderwood for your service to the Ravalli County community.

Paul and Dulcie Belanger Hamilton

Open letter to Ravalli County Board of Health Your Letter

We are the Ravalli County Democratic Central Committee.

There have only been a very few times in the last 3 years that we have agreed with President Trump.

When he announced during his Covid 19 pandemic briefing on this Tuesday that, “We are asking everybody that when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask,” Trump said. “Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact. They will have an effect and we need everything we can get”,https://amp.dw.com/en/ trump-urges-americans-to-wearmasks-says-outbreak-will-getworse/a-54259734 we applauded him.

With that statement, he aligned himself with trusted medical professionals, locally and nationally, who have been advising Americans to follow this advice.

It’s time for Ravalli County to do the same.

Corrine Gantt Chair Nancy Neal Treasurer Linda Weber Secretary Rich Morrisey Bridget Doland Linda Schmitt Mary Blankenbaker

Really quite simple

The economy, no matter how robust, cannot and will not control the coronavirus. However, until the coronavirus is controlled and contained, the economy cannot and will not flourish. It’s a simple equation and our president has had it backwards since day one.

The coronavirus took off worldwide sometime in March.

Shortly thereafter, most countries went into some sort of quarantine lock down. The idea was to stop the spread and buy some time to put in place measures to treat the ill and control the spread. Most

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 countries followed the advice of OUR health professionals and did just that. Our president continued to downplay the seriousness of the coronavirus and took no actions to control or stop the spread.

Now, just a few months later, most countries are reopening with little lasting harm to their economies. The US is now in the worst shape of any developed country - coronavirus spreading rapidly, the economy tanking.

Republicans are fond of saying “government is the problem.”

Clearly not, but incompetent leadership is. Maybe it’s time to start electing leaders who understand the problems and know how to use government to solve them.

Mark Van Loon Hamilton MT

Be kind to customer service workers

I have never been afraid of Covid-19. I am now scared of people.

Customer Service workers have been through the ringer since March. We have been yelled at for shortages. We have been yelled at because of our online shopping.

We have been yelled at for pricing.

We have been yelled at because other people were not social distancing. We have done everything including putting up plexi-glass to hiring teams of cleaners and extra online shoppers, all in an effort to help the community stay healthy.

We have kept our smiles through all of this.

And now the mask mandate.

Yes, the governor of Montana called for a mask up. And now the emotional abuse of customer service workers has intensified. The last two weeks I have cried more at work then any other time. We are being emotionally abused by both sides. Wearing masks gets us screamed at by those that believe we should take them off and exercise our rights. Not wearing the masks has gotten us screamed at by those that believe we are being selfish if we do not wear them. We can’t win.

YOU are making me dread going to work. I am a naturally happy person, now consumed by fear. My thoughts leading to work are, how many calls will I get screaming at me. How many people will confront me because I am medically exempt from the mask. How many will call me names. How many times will I have to intervene when someone yells at a visibly scared child or older adult for not complying with the beliefs of the individual in front of them.

Please stop your harassment and take it to the government agencies in charge of this.

Desirae Coty Stevensville

Opening up, realistically

Opening up the valley’s activities involves a much more thoughtful approach than simply “If you want to buy your sandpaper and pantyhose without a mask, we won’t stop you.” It involves educating the public as to the importance of following guidelines FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. Imagine if we had a forest fire where no one helped their neighbors.

Remember the brouhaha that preceded Y2K? Was Y2K uneventful because we were prepared, or because nothing would have happened anyway? I hope that in a year, we look back on this summer, and say, “We might have done more than necessary, but at least we did enough.”

I am not a constitutional lawyer, but I trust the ones who say that the Governor’s mask mandate is legal and would likely be

upheld in court, as it has in other states.

I am not a virologist, or a public health specialist, but I trust the ones who say that the world (including the United States) should take COVID19 seriously.

I am not doctor, but I trust the ones who say that recovery from COVID19 does not end when a person is released from the hospital. Many people have lost muscle mass, appetite, energy.

This virus is debilitating. Even the “recovered” cases have longtime effects.

I am not a minister, but I trust the ones who tell me that trust in God does not mean I shouldn’t lock my doors.

I am not a historian, but I remember when people refused to buy anything that had a UPC code on it. I remember when people would not wear their seatbelts, or when they had militant “smokeins” at the only smoke-free restaurant in town. I remember professors who said they would resign if they weren’t allowed to smoke their pipe in class.

I AM a retired disability advocate and I know that there is a huge amount of misinformation surrounding ADA and HIPAA as it relates to COVID19. I look to your leadership to actively educate the public on this topic. Perhaps you could have the County Attorney issue an opinion on whether it is legal for businesses to post this sort of signage.

I AM a free-lance musician who begs to get back to business as usual. My last paying gig was just after Valentine’s Day. I usually play at senior homes, special education classrooms, and (my favorite) parties for 90 year olds!

I usually play for church choirs, school music festivals, and even the (now postponed) Bitterroot Valley Chorus. I have played for the Hamilton Players and any number of other community projects. Those large musical events are simply not happening this year.

We need to work together to bring them back, safely.

I AM a sidelined Special Olympics coach who is wondering when it will be possible to have an event or practice, again.

I AM a mini-philanthropist.

Donating over the Internet is okay and it gets the job done, but the fundraising parties are conspicuously missing from my calendar.

I AM disappointed at the lack of civility which permeates our valley under the guise of “rights.” I am not advocating for a mass crackdown or ticketing of people who don’t wear masks. I respectfully request that our elected and appointed leaders err on the side of common sense and decency. Take the governor’s focus on education to heart: Ask elected officials to set a good example in both actions and civility.

I see signs like “Per RSCO, masks are discretionary,” or that incorrectly reference HIPAA and ADA. Could our business associations police themselves? You are spreading incorrect information!

Businesses who do not wish to enforce the mandate, to ensure that they make accommodations for people who cannot enter their business because of the risk. I’m not talking about retail as much as the service industry or veterinary clinics.

For crying out loud, stop saying “If wearing a mask makes you feel safe, go ahead and wear one.” Replace it with, “Wearing a mask keeps your friends, neighbors, fellow churchgoers, and customers safe. It works best if we all do it.”

Jane Shigley Hamilton

Lessons learned

I will come out of all this lockdown realizing there are two economies in the country, i.e.

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those companies that make up the Fortune 500 and small businesses with less than 100 employees of which the former is still doing well but the latter is not. There are many weepers, criers, and bawlers in this country about everything who have no appreciation for how fortunate they are. How childish, selfish, and immature many people are. That other people are good, empathetic and will sacrifice themselves for others. That people are gullible and will believe anything. That money really buys privilege. That real freedom requires discipline. And finally, there are people I would never want to live next to and others I would. That is what I will come out of this lockdown with. The real reality of America that is not lily white but a little tarnished.

Joseph G. Gallagher Jr. Stevensville

Montana’s small businesses and employees deserve better

As a small business owner and someone who signs the front of paychecks, I understand what it’s like to stay awake at night with a pit in your stomach worrying if you are able to keep your employees on payroll during tight times.

For the past three months, Montana’s workers and job creators have understandably experienced this economic anxiety and worry. But instead of being nimble and forward thinking in addressing these challenges, Governor Bullock has imposed more worry and uncertainty onto employees and employers in the private sector and exacerbated the situation.

Without consulting cities, counties or those on the ground, Governor Bullock issued a topdown, one-size-fits-all statewide economic shutdown in March, ultimately forcing many small businesses to close permanently.

There are still 11 counties in Montana without a single positive COVID-19 case, and another 14 counties that have had five or fewer cases since March. A small business in one of these rural counties without a positive case was treated the same way as a business in an urban area where there was spread.

Small mom and pop brick and mortar stores simply couldn’t weather the economic costs associated with a government-forced closure, especially while competing with online megaretailers and big box stores that were allowed to continue operating during Bullock’s shutdown.

We continue to read in our local papers the names of popular restaurants and retailers that are announcing permanent closures.

The University of Montana’s latest Bureau of Business and Economic Research report projected a loss of 75,000 jobs and a shortfall in state personal income of $6.4 billion, or 11.7 percent, in 2020.

But it didn’t have to be this way.

After his economic shutdown, Governor Bullock was given every opportunity to help these small businesses through billions in federal aid, yet he has failed to effectively and efficiently deliver this targeted relief to businesses most in need. It has been over three months since President Trump signed the COVID19 recovery act, yet Governor Bullock has released less than 10 percent of Montana’s $1.25 billion share.

The Governor sitting on $1.25 billion in stimulus dollars while individuals, families, businesses, and localities across the state suffer is unacceptable.

The COVID-19 recovery act included money to be set aside for localities, yet some counties have written the Governor with requests for needed aid and have yet to receive a response.

Leaders bring people together, but all Governor Bullock has done is assemble a group largely comprised of his major political donors to advise him.

Instead of seeking input from and listening to local and county officials, and state lawmakers, the Governor repeatedly declared “state of emergency” measures, allowing him to unilaterally make

all decisions. He has met with Legislative leadership once in the past 120 days and he has never consulted with the Appropriations and Finance Committees on how to direct the $1.25 billion relief.

As the head of the state, Governor Bullock has an obligation to take care of the state’s fiscal health. Yet despite the Legislative Fiscal Division projecting double-digit shortfalls in the state’s revenue for 2021, the Governor has proclaimed that all is well and no action is needed.

This is eerily reminiscent of his approach in 2016. This “kick the can down the road” approach will force the next governor, Democrat or Republican, to make the difficult spending reductions Bullock chose to ignore. Montana small businesses and families have had to tighten their belts during COVID-19, and the government should be no different.

Governor Bullock should also be working with the Legislature to provide protections for small businesses, schools, universities, nonprofits, and localities from overreaching and frivolous lawsuits as they work to safely serve our communities. According to a June Montana Chamber of Commerce survey, 92 percent of respondents agree this protection is necessary.

While many of these institutions have received federal loans and grants, they still face the threat of economic penalties via state taxation on this aid. Higher taxes are the last thing small business owners need while trying to weather the storm.

Over the past three months, Governor Bullock has demonstrated that he is either incapable or unwilling to offer the needed aid our small businesses, workers, and communities need in this exceedingly difficult time.

If Governor Bullock won’t step up to address these jobs and economic failures, the Montana Legislature should look at returning to a virtual special session.

The small businesses that have hung on during this storm cannot wait any longer.

Scott Mendenhall, President Montana Business Leadership Council

Bitterroot Star -- Page 7 With Fauci’s credibility and evidence mounting worldwide that masks are effective at mitigating the spread of the deadly virus that has already claimed over 125,000 American lives and decimated small businesses and social life, you might think that wearing one is a “no brainer.”

But Trump’s strongest supporters seem to interpret his indifference as opposition to wearing masks. The Prankster-in-Chief can be counted on to show up in his MAGA hat, but almost never shows leadership by wearing a mask. His vehement fans now see wearing one as a gesture of disloyalty to Trump, or as caving to the whims of the “experts” or “elites,” and the President encourages this unreasonable and imprudent behavior.

What about Senator Daines and Representative Gianforte?

Will they remain seemingly unpersuaded by Dr. Fauci’s expert concerns for human lives at risk?

Will they continue to look the other way as Americans careen around the country mask-less risking public safety much like Rudy Stanko with his foot on the accelerator? With an eye on their election prospects instead of COVID-19 data, only if they get the go-ahead from the President will they do anything but his disastrous bidding.

Montana survived drivers with Rudy Stanko’s recklessness, but the country may not survive Trump’s. For over 70 years, I’ve considered myself a Republican.

But after watching Trump’s consistently ignorant and irresponsible leadership, I’ve concluded that in good conscience, I can’t remain a member of the party he has taken over. I won’t vote for him, nor will I vote for his puppets, Gianforte and Daines, who know up-close and personal what a scoundrel he is and should certainly show the courage to stand up to him.

They never have. I am declaring my independence from them and their Republican party. And I’ll be wearing a mask, not blinders.

Bob Brown Whitefish Bob Brown is a former Republican MT Secretary of State and MT State Senate President

My Declaration of Socialism, anyone?

Independence Honest men do not get Ever hear of Rudy Stanko, well-known in Montana twentyplus years ago? Rudy “Stinko” you say? Well, maybe. Here’s the story. Rudy liked to speed, and it was easy for him to do so because from 1955-1974 and again from 1995-1999, the speed limit in our state was “reasonable and prudent” in the opinion of the arresting officer. This worked well enough when the spirit of the law was respected, but then along came Rudy. In one three-month period, he was clocked exceeding 100 mph three times. Our law enforcement and judicial systems had enough, so the Montana Legislature took up the issue.

By imposing a specific numerical speed limit, any driver could be ticketed for exceeding it.

And we no longer had to tolerate drivers like Stanko deliberately endangering public safety, tying up the court docket, and wasting police officers’ time.

The strict limits bill passed in Montana, but not without spirited debate. Wyoming had recently changed its undefined speed limit (like Montana’s) to specific speeds, and our feedback was that they liked it. When the 70 mph limit came up in the Montana Senate, the wisecrack was made that the only time Sen. Allen Kolstad drove that slowly was when he was backing out of the garage.

When the bill passed, Stanko was credited as the man responsible, though many prominent legislators had long been advocates for it. It took what amounted to a dangerous prankster to get it done.

It seems we have another deadly prankster in 2020, but his name is Donald Trump. This time, the “prankster’s” issue is the wearing of face masks.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is an ardent advocate for wearing face masks.

“rich” by working hard. Wealth is gained by inheritance, tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, just plain fraud, lawsuits, murder, theft of land, slavery or win the lottery. Military and all things military. Wall Street is greed on steroids. Foreign investors, people that couldn’t care less about US in USA, bridges to nowhere, highways no one uses, buildings no one can live in. Men that never had enough. Pedophiles, sex trade, drug dealing, you name it. This is the base of Capitalism. And more, not mentioned here!

Verifiable facts: Tax cuts – tsunami up, trickle down with Herbert Hoover. Capitalism to the Great Depression, Socialism got us out. Banks and corporations were regulated, we got quite a few years of peace, tsunami up, trickle down tax cuts (Reagan administrations).

1999 a Republican held Congress under Clinton, banks and corporations, all regulations removed. What price freedom?

In less than 10 years banks and corporate America brought the world to its knees. Many lost their homes. Two wars to fight, capitalism in, socialism out, again!

Trump gave us tsunami up, trickle down tax cuts. Who will pay the bills? Not the rich. Who will benefit from war? Not the warriors. Two wars not paid for, balloon up the military budget.

National debt increases by trillions – Socialism will bail us out again. Pay attention, the rich hide their money in off shore accounts (IMHO) that should be treason. If you use what the country has to offer, you can damn well pay your taxes. Rich men are still trying to deregulate, not because they need more, it’s because they just can’t get enough.

The hourly wage earner pays the most in taxes. Taken out of our paychecks, we really don’t have a choice. Realtors have really sweet deals, and a lot of opportunity to cheat. Ask Trump. Look around

you. Mansions Montanans can’t afford to live in. Will $15.00 per hour get you into one?

Don’t like Socialism – be careful what you ask for, you might get it. Maybe get Bill Clinton back to get the debt paid off and money in the bank.

J. Ward Lolo

SOS should reimburse Ravalli Co. Election Office

Montana spent taxpayer’s dollars on a primary election for the Green Party. But, SOS Stapleton did not require the impersonators of the Montana Green Party to file a current set of bylaws, as required by 13-38-104 MCA. Even last week, the state elections office still didn’t have a copy of the bylaws that the Green Party adopted in 2018.

I think SOS Stapleton should reimburse all county election offices for ballot prep and handling of the Green Party Primary. What do you think?

Carole Mackin Helena

MT citizens blessed with public lands

A recent survey by the University of Montana revealed information about how Montanans feel about our public lands and how we use them. The phone survey of 500 registered voters was done by Republican Lori Weigel, a Republican pollster with New Bridge Strategy and Dave Metz, a Democratic pollster with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates.

The survey’s findings indicate that more than three-quarters of Montanans visited public lands 10 or more times in the past year, and roughly two-thirds regularly camp, hike or run on trails according to Freelance Writer Alex Sakariassen.

Among numerous other findings, the survey also revealed the following: • 89% of Montana voters have visited state-run public lands, and 88% have visited federal public lands, in the last year.

• 79% of Montana voters consider themselves conservationists.

• 81% of respondents favored continuing to treat the state’s Wilderness Study Areas as they are now.

It is incredible that the U of M survey revealed 89% of Montana voters visited state or federal lands last year, some 20 times or more. It logically follows that voters who utilize public lands so often will vote for legislators and politicians who respect their wishes and protect their public lands. Sadly, it isn’t necessarily so. An internet search will reveal numerous articles discussing why voters vote for politicians who have not, and will not ever represent their interests, regardless of the political party. In the case of Montana’s public lands, it is easy to determine which politicians will protect your public lands and which politicians will not protect them.

The Montana Republican Party Platform states that they want to privatize our public lands.

Page 13 “We support the granting of federally managed public lands to the state….”

Montana Democratic Party Platform Page 8 “Oppose: Any net loss of publicly owned lands, including any proposal to sell off federal public lands or transfer authority of federal public lands to local or state governments.”

Public lands in Montana belong to everyone. Everybody knows Montana cannot afford to manage our public lands and would have to sell them. Thus, privatization, which is an effort by the wealthy to take public lands away from Montanans.

Will 89% of Montanans who use public lands at no cost, go to the polls? And will they vote to preserve our public lands legacy and preserve that legacy for future generations, or will they vote to give them away?

Harold Johns Butte

Calendar

Page 8 -- Bitterroot Star

Hamilton Senior Center meals

Hamilton Senior Center is preparing meals for take out on the following schedule: Monday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. call in to order meals for the week.

Thursday, pick up between 12 noon and 1 p.m.

For orders and info: 3635181.

AA meetings

Check for local meetings by calling the hotline 1-888-607-2000 or by visiting www.aa-montana. org.

Al-Anon

Stevensville Al-Anon Family Group meets each Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in or near the picnic shelter north of the parking lot at Lewis and Clark Park.

Anyone who is affected by the compulsive drinking of a relative or friend is invited. For more information call 239-0878.

Narcotics Anon

Narcotics Anonymous meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Parish Center, 411 S. 5th, Hamilton (north entrance).

Free Indeed

Free Indeed is a faith-based addiction support group. Contact Donald Layman at 203-8579 or Pastor Jim Landis at 642-9849.

Gamblers Anon

Gamblers Anonymous meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, 411 S. 5th Street in Hamilton.

WIC clinics

Ravalli County WIC is a nutrition education program that serves pregnant, post-partum, and breastfeeding women, children from birth to age 5 and women whose pregnancies have ended early. WIC also welcomes dads, grandparents, and foster families. The WIC program is offered In Hamilton Monday through Thursday 8:30-4:30 at 205 Bedford Street, Suite P, District Courthouse Building in Hamilton.

The Stevensville clinic is open on Wednesdays at the United Methodist Church, 216 College Street in Stevensville. The Victor Clinic is the second Tuesday of the month at the Victor Nazarene Church. The Darby clinic is open every month on the third Monday of the month at the Darby Library.

Income guidelines are 1-$23,107; 2- $31,284; 3-$39,461; 4-$47,638; 5-$55,815. For each additional family member add $8,177. Call 406-802-7180 for more information or see on Facebook; www. facebook.com/Ravalli-CountyWIC.

Family Shelter

The Family Shelter of the Bitterroot is dedicated to helping homeless and needy families in the Bitterroot Valley. If you are interested in helping or need help, call Gary Locke for more information, 239-8833.

Senior shuttle

The BitterRoot Bus will be running a 6:30 a.m. Shuttle for Seniors and people with compromised immune systems on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice. This bus will be for seniors to get to Albertsons for 7 to 9 a.m. senior shopping. Call the BitterRoot Bus at 363-7484 to schedule your ride. You must call in advance!

Wednesday Farmers Market

A farmers market is held every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. starting June 3rd at 111 s. 4th Street in Hamilton.

Three Mile bingo

Bingo is held every first and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Three Mile Community/Senior Center, 1064 Three Mile Creek Road. Proceeds go to build a new center. For information call 7773710.

Three Mile Coffee Club Three Mile Coffee Club meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at 1064 Three Mile Creek Road.

Everyone is welcome. Good coffee, conversation and get to know your neighbors. All ages welcome. For information call Colleen at 777-3710.

Story Time

Are you desperately missing your Library Story Times? Fret no more- you can join Annika from North Valley Public Library for Story Time Live Online! on Wednesdays in June at 10:3010:45 a.m. for this North Valley Public Library online program.

Come enjoy fun stories, a quick early literacy activity, and a creative craft idea. Visit the website to register for this event. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information visit northvalleylibrary.org.

Rubber Duck Reading Club and Book Bingo for Kids & Teens Spend the summer reading and win fabulous prizes from June 8-August 10! Register for Rubber Duck Reading Club and Book Bingo on the Library’s website or call the Library. Rubber Duck Reading Club and Book Bingo materials will be available for curbside pickup starting on Monday, June 1, just call! Or you can print materials on the Library’s website. The Rubber Duck Reading Club is suitable for ages 0-4 and Book Bingo is suitable for ages 5-18. North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street Stevensville. For more information visit northvalleylibrary.org.

WiFi hotspots at library

Do you need internet at your

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Call 777-5734 for information.

Free summer meal program

ST. STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 203 Stevensville •• 777-0028 360-2661 203Main MainSt.• Stevensville

Worship at 12:0011p.m.

Sunday Worship AM In this Church there shall be no outcasts.

In this Church there shall be no outcasts. house to look for a job, apply for unemployment or a fishing license, fill out the 2020 Census? North Valley Library now has internet hotspots to check out.

A hotspot is a small box that brings a WiFi signal into your home so you can use the internet.

Hotspots can be checked out for seven days only. The overdue charge for each day is $1.00.

There must be a cell tower within range. Your computer, tablet, or smart phone must be WiFi compatible. Hotspots are filtered for content. Please conserve data usage for the next patron. Director Denise Ard says, “Hotspots are easy to use and we have included simple instructions to help you get connected. We are happy to be able to offer hotspots to our patrons that do not have internet at home.”

NVPL can only check out hotspots to its card holders but other libraries will have hotspots as well, thanks to the Montana State Library.

North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For a list of current library services check the website at northvalleylibrary.org.

Model railroad display cancelled

The Bitterroot Valley Model Railroad Club (BVMRR) will not be running trains on First Fridays until further notice because of current COVID-19 health concerns. It is too difficult to properly monitor visitor spacing in the layout site and have younger visitors not handle areas around the trains. The club hopes to start up again after Labor Day if the situation permits.

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Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Museum is open for the 2020 season. COVID-19 health guidelines for the safety of the staff and the public are in place.

You’re invited to visit the Mission for a guided tour of the historic buildings. The museum and art gallery in the Visitor Center are free for you to browse. A featured exhibit is an antique toy display.

The gift shop has many new Made in Montana gift items. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 to 3 with the last tour at 2 p.m.

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Are you earning less right now due to reduced work hours?

If you were previously over income, you may now qualify for child care assistance through the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship. We encourage you to call us today to find out if you are eligible! Eligibility is for 12 months, so if you qualify now, you will be eligible for the whole year, even if your hours increase again.

Contact Child Care Resources today to see if you qualify at 406728-6446 or go to childcareresources.org.Saturday, August 1

During select Saturdays in July and August, State Parks staff will be at Fort Owen State Park from approximately 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to give visitors tours of the Fort and to show and discuss artifacts from the Fort. Dates and artifact themes are as follows: Aug 1: construction/building Aug 8: foodways Aug 15: personal Aug 22: leisure & travel Aug 29: tools and prehis-

Monday, August 3 Theater camps

The Missoula Children’s Theatre camps in August at Flathead and Seeley Lakes were cancelled due to COVID-19. This decision was extremely difficult, but that cancellation freed up time, staff resources and space for a new and exciting option for school-age children---Bonus Camps at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts in Missoula! These innovative Monday-Friday camps will take place Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14. Space is limited to 20 participants per camp, and registration is open at www.MCTinc. org! All current safety protocols of social distancing, wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and sanitizing of the facility are in place, for the safety of the day camp participants.

Drama Quest (entering grades 1-3), 9 am. to 12 noon.

Students will fire up their imaginations to transform a written story into a lively play by engaging their focus, voices, and physical expression to creatively develop big, bold characters and staging.

Drama Quest will culminate in an informal performance that will be recorded by MCT and made available to families the week following the camp via a private YouTube link. Registration fee is $125 and includes an MCT neck/ face buff.

MCT Explorers and Inventors (entering grades 4-8), 1-5 p.m.

Using ensemble acting activities, students will activate their creativity and expression to stretch and improve their own theatre and improvisational skills, while playing starring roles in developing MCT’s next generation of theatre outreach. MCT Explorers and Inventors will culminate in an informal performance that will be recorded by MCT and made available to families the week following the camp via a private YouTube link. Registration is $150 and includes an MCT T-shirt.

Musical Theatre Express (entering grades 9-12) 1PM-5PM Musical Theatre Express is a focused, inspiring environment for motivated high school students serious about developing and refining their acting, singing, and dancing skills. Infused with information about what actually happens behind the scenes, Musical Theatre Express will provide aspiring triple threats with daily skills classes, as well as master classes taught by some of Broadway’s brightest stars. This camp will culminate in an informal presentation of the students’ work. They will have the option to record the material on their own devices to share with friends and family. Registration includes an MCT neck/face buff.

All three camps will take place Monday-Friday, August 3-7 and August 10-14. Visit www.

MCTinc.org and click on Bonus Camps for more information.

MCT is located at 200 North Adams St. Missoula, MT 59802 | 406-728-7529 | mct@MCTinc.org

Archaeological presentation

“Carl Davis - Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana” will be presented on Monday, August 3 at 6 p.m. via Zoom and in the North Valley Public Library’s community room. “Six Hundred Generations” is a stunning look at the archaeological evidence of Montana’s long Indigenous human history. Focusing on 12 unique archaeological sites, the book takes readers on an extraordinary journey through time, technologies, and cultures. Beginning with the First Americans who followed mammoths into this landscape, peer-awarded Montana archaeologist Carl Davis describes how Native Americans lived, evolved and flourished here for thousands of years. The engaging writing is accompanied by a rich array of photographs of archaeological sites, artifacts, and rock art, along with conceptual illustrations of Montana’s Indigenous peoples by noted artist-archaeologist Eric Carlson.

Must registration on the libraries calendar at www.northvalleylibrary.org. You will receive the Zoom link. If you come in person you must wear a mask.

North Valley Public Library is located at 208 Main Street, Stevensville. For more information about current offerings and events at the library check our website at northvalleylibrary.org.

Wed, August 5 Stevensville Garden Club

The Stevensville Garden Club will meet Wednesday, August 5 at 1 p.m. at the Community Baptist Church, 409 Buck Street.

Informational talks about the Ravalli County Floral-Horticulture Department by Superintendent Heidi Tosini and the Agricultural Department by Superintendent Pat Miller are tentatively planned as well as upcoming program planning and garden tours photos. Call Colleen at 273-3973 for more info.

Sat, August 29 Introduction to Handguns class for women

Introduction to Defensive Handguns for Women Only will be held August 29 & September 12. This 2-day course is for women with little or no experience with handguns, who may be frightened of handguns or who are considering acquiring a handgun.

The first day course is designed to assist you in choosing the right handgun for you. It will also introduce you to the facilities of the Whittecar Range. There will be discussions on handgun safety, basic operation of revolvers, semi-automatic handguns, and the cartridges used in each type of handgun.

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Child care help available

St. Mary’s Mission, Fort Owen State Museum open Park programs

HOT SUMMER DEALS SOLD!

St. Mary’s Mission Parish announces the sponsorship of the Simplified Summer Food Program for children. Meals will be made available at no charge to attending children 18 years of age and younger who have enrolled in the programs. Children who are members of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance units, or households receiving Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits at eligible program sites (enrolled summer programs or residential summer camps). Other children from families whose income is at or below the levels in the following table are also eligible for free meal benefits if enrolled in the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) program at Stevensville and Victor schools through the Summer Food Service Program.

Meals will be distributed at the following location: • St. Mary’s Mission Parish Family Center • June 8 through August 14 • Meals can be picked up between 10:00 and 11:00 am at the side entrance of the Family Center.

Contact St. Mary’s Parish Office for more information at: (406) 777-5257.

St. Mary’s Mission Parish also supports the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs in Stevensville and Victor by providing sack lunches to the enrolled children while they are in session.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2020

use of force will be presented and discussed.

Handguns will be provided so that you may handle the different types and models. Ammunition will also be provided for a live fire session on the range. A self defense book, specifically for women, will also be provided.

The second day course will teach basic defensive shooting using the students own equipment.

Safe gun handling will be taught and stressed. Various types of ammunition and the performance of each type will be discussed.

The class will be held at the Whittecar Range on Blodgett View Road.

The class is limited to 10 participants. For an application or further information call Lee at 642-3590 or Jim at 360-8392.

Successful completion of this two-day course meets the education requirements for application to the state for a concealed carry permit.

Call for nominations

Bitterroot Star -- Page 9

Local fishing guides support clean water

In June, the Bitter Root Water Forum hosted “Cash for Cutthroats”, a day for local guides to donate their tip to support a healthy fishery in the Bitterroot watershed.

Fly Fishing is a part of the culture in the Bitterroot. More than that, it is a contributing factor for the economy. Revenue generated from guiding on the Bitterroot River has been steadily increasing, more than doubling from $3,316,000 in 2013 to $6,840,000 in 2018.

“Guiding in this valley is only possible due to the vibrance of the Bitterroot river, ” said Alex Hibala, local guide and Water Forum Board member. “We wanted to offer a way for guides, who benefit from that resource, to give back to a local organization that protects and restores it.”

The Bitter Root Water Forum is a non-profit organization focused exclusively in and for the Bitterroot Watershed. Through on the

ground restoration work the Water Forum focuses on improving water quality and wildlife habitat.

The majority of this work is done in the tributaries to the Bitterroot River, where native trout species spawn and thrive.

“The Water Forum works to protect, enhance, and restore waters in the Bitterroot,” said the Forum’s Executive Director, Heather Barber. “Many local guides recognize that protecting habitat and improving water quality supports a healthy fishery.

‘Cash for Cutthroats’ gave them a way to be part of the ongoing enhancement of local streams.”

The event encouraged guides to donate their tip for the day to supporting future restoration projects that the Water Forum has planned for 2020 and 2021.

“Guides got to talk to their clients about the work we’re doing in the Bitterroot, and we can use funds to further enhance the fishery that attracts so many people. It’s a win-

Guide Jenny West (right) of Go West Outfitters is pictured here with local angler Peg Miskin. Go West Outfitters was the top contributor. Photo courtesy of Jenny West. win,” said Barber.

Local guides from Bitterroot River Guides, Go West Outfitters, Fishs Eddy O Outfitters, and Total Outfitters contributed for the event.

“We’re grateful to everyone who participated this year,” said Barber. “We’re looking forward to building on this first year so we can continue increasing our conservation impact in the Bitterroot

watershed” Learn more about the Bitter Root Water Forum by visiting their website www.brwaterforum. org or following them on Face-

The Florence Civic Club is inviting nominations for its Community Service Award for 2020.

The award honors a local person for outstanding contribution of service to the Florence community. Such service may be through involvement in community, church, nonprofit organization, the schools, or, particularly in this challenging year, helping the Florence community in coping with the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Please send your nomination with a description of the nominee’s activities to: Florence Civic Club Attention Community Service Award P.O. Box 544 Florence, MT 59833 The deadline for receipt of nominations is Monday, August 31st.

Get ready for summer!

BUrnt Fork Vet Summer Updates DR. MAGDI NIEDERMEYER Dr. Magdi has joined us full-time as a large animal practioner! We will be expanding our large animal services and will be offering afterhours call.

DR. MEG PUCHLERZ Dr. Meg will be working with us part time through the summer!

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OPEN NORMAL HOURS We ask that you wear a mask to enter the building and are still offering curbside service to those who cannot or wish to not wear a mask.

CALL FOR PRESCRIPTIONS Please call 406-777-3844 for prescription and food refills, we will bring all product out to you!

3682 Eastside Hwy, Stevensville 406-777-3844 www.burntforkvet.com

Don’t put off your healthcare!

We are open for appointments.

Telehealth appointments available.Visit with your provider from the comfort of your home.

We are practicing social distancing and limiting the number of patients in the waiting area.

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We are sanitizing our office every 30 minutes.

We provide hand sanitizer and a mask to all patients at their appointment.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Page 10 -- Bitterroot Star

MDMH is providing 2020 sports physicals, just differently

Social distancing will be one of the cornerstones of protocols that high schools will have to practice in order for the fall sports seasons to commence. Football will have social distancing on the sidelines but not on the field. File photo.

MHSA sets fall sports guidelines

By Jean Schurman

On Monday, July 27, 2020, the Montana High School Association set out the guidelines for the 2020 Fall Activities for Montana schools. This was done by the MHSA Executive Board and lists different tiers depending upon the COVID-19 situation. According to the letter put out by the organization, the MHSA Executive Board, along with the National Federation of High School Associations “believes the resumption of sports another activities is crucial to the growth, development, and mental and emotional wellness of our Montana youth.”

The recommendations came from a wide variety of organizations and government entities including the CDC, National Federation of High School Sports, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, the Governor’s directives,

state and local health departments.

In order to return to fall activities, the schools will follow these MHSA requirements along with the Governor’s directives and directives from their local health department.

If the state is in Tier 1, practice for fall activities will begin on August 14. The games will be played as scheduled although no multi team events except for cross country and golf will be held.

There may be some changes to post season play.

Tier 2 could see the delay of the start of the season or an interruption of play. Non conference games would be cancelled. Tier 3 could see a longer interruption or delayed start for the practices. The conference season for both Tier 3 and Tier 4 could be shortened as well as the format the post season playoffs and tournaments. For all phases, the schools, teams, and

spectators must follow the Governor’s phase directives including the mask requirement. Attendance will be determined by local health department requirements which may vary from county to county.

In football, shaking hands after the games, coin tosses, and other traditions will probably go by the wayside this fall. Social distancing, cleaning the ball as well as hand washing stations and individual water bottles will be the norm on the sidelines. The sidelines team boxes will be extended on both sidelines in football, and on the one sideline of the soccer field. Volleyball teams will not switch benches between sets.

Cross country participants may have a staggered start and no more than 25 participants may be on the starting line at one time.

The entire guidelines from MHSA are on our website, www. bitterrootstar.com .

Call for your free estimate To l l F re e : 1-855-MQS Barn

(677-2276)

Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital has been informed that the sports season is going to open; therefore we are going to provide sports physicals to middle and high school students in Ravalli County, just a little differently.

As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that our programs follow CDC guidelines and processes in place that keep our staff and patients safe.

LOCATION: Bitterroot Physicians Clinic, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton. Enter Clinic off of 10th Street; follow signs to the Emergency Department. Clinic is on the south side of the building.

DETAILS: • Sports Physical is by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance.

• Appointments are approximately 15 minutes. Appointments are available between 8 am to 5 pm on the following days: Friday, July 31st, Monday, August 10th, Thursday, August 13th, Friday, August 14th • Student must be accompa-

nied by one parent and or guardian, both must be wearing masks.

• Student’s sports physical must be filled out and signed by the parent prior to appointment.

• Sports Physical forms are available at medical clinics or through your coach; or online at www.mdmh.org/events.

• Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your appointment.

• Payment must be in cash, check, credit or debt, no form of insurance accepted.

Sports physicals are $25 and the fee will be donated back to the student’s athletic department. Over the past 12 years, MDMH and its medical staff have donated time, resources and over $100K to the valley’s athletic programs.

Act now, appointments are limited. Call 406-363-1100 or visit MDMH.org/events to schedule a sports physical appointment.

There are currently 125 appointments available.

The sports physical includes height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and vision, evaluations for posture, joints, strength, flexibility, heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose,

and throat. If your child has a medical condition, please contact a primary care provider and schedule a well-child visit. For more information call 363-2211 or visit www.mdmh.org/events.

Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital is committed to excellence in providing quality, accessible, personalized healthcare.

County COVID-19 update

As of 2 p.m. Monday, July 27th, , Ravalli County Public Health has received no new cases of COVID-19. Ravalli County currently has 14 active cases of COVID-19.

Two of these active cases remain hospitalized.

Contact tracing has been done on all cases by Public Health nurses.

All active cases are in isolation and their contacts are being quarantined.

• Public Health nurses continue to release active cases from isolation as they recover from symptoms.

• Direct contacts are released from quarantine as they complete their 14-day period without symptoms.

Keep yourself safe. Keep your family safe. Guard the most vulnerable citizens in our community.

• Keep your social circle as small as possible • Wear a mask when in public or interacting with people • Maintain a minimum distance of six feet from other people • Wash your hands often and thoroughly If you have any questions regarding COVID-19, call: (406) 375-6672.

Serving Select Regions of: Montana, Idaho and Washington [For detailed service areas, please visit our website]

w w w. m q s b a r n . c o m

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Comfort and safety on the river Over the past few days I’ve fielded more than the usual number of inquiries about floating conditions on the river. I’m glad people keep asking, and I don’t mind their requests at all.

I encourage it, thank them for asking, and ask them to report what they’ve seen.

Two things in play here: One, if you’re out there, keep the reports coming in. They’re the

Flyfishing with Chuck Stranahan basis for the information I share.

The other, ask before you go out.

I have a tendency to be over-conservative when answering questions about where to float. At one point last week I encouraged a floater who said he is new to the river to take what I knew to be a safe, obstacle-free float instead of the one he was planning. That’s before I learned that he was an experienced rower and had been asked to guide for a shop on the Big Hole and had rowed most of the rivers in that area.

Oh. Still, in retrospect, I think maybe I did him a favor. I’d rather err on the side of caution.

Get familiar with the currents, the flows, the moods, and the sneaky-devious ways that obstacles can be treacherous in this river – then go for more as experience dictates.

Float safe – have fun The first rule for safe floating is the one I alluded to above: ask first.

I remember the time I was at a launch and watched two families get ready for a float down the river. At first it looked like a fun outing, but the other guides and I had reservations as we watched things unfold.

It became clear that the leaders of this group thought they knew more than they did. When two youngsters, about eight and nine, prepared for their first-time float in cheap inflatable kayaks I spoke up.

They were headed down a stretch that started with a swift curving riffle that dropped about eight feet in fifty yards. The kids were expected to shoot that rapids solo. They most likely wouldn’t have made it – and capsized with a kayak trapping

their legs and holding them under, might well have drowned.

I tried to be as diplomatic as possible. One of the moms got defensive – what, in her mind, could go wrong?

Eventually another guide chipped in, and between us we managed to encourage them to regroup, make sure than an adult was in each watercraft with a kid, and to shoot that first rapid with adults only in the kayaks and the kids in the rafts.

We watched, they shoved off, and we waited, ready to get downriver and assist if need be.

They made it – with the moms in the kayaks obviously having an unforeseen adventure as they experienced the relentless power of swift-moving water, and the dads at the oars of the rafts, trying to paddle their way through a potentially dangerous rapid. We had told them to line up river right to avoid the rock wall on the left that they nearly got swept into.

They obviously didn’t know how to row.

When it was all over and they were safely on their way down the benign remainder of their float, were glad we spoke up.

I don’t like to think about what could have happened if we hadn’t.

Be sure of your equipment Second rule: Be sure of your equipment and its suitability for what you have planned. I spoke to one party recently that did follow rule #1, they checked in and asked.

The gentlemen said he was an experienced floater – had done it lots of times, but was new to this river. He had looked at a map and figured the distance involved, and was continuing with his homework.

In short, he was doing everything right. When I asked what he was floating in, I anticipated he would tell me whether he was in a drift boat or a raft.

When he told me that his family would be floating in innertubes and the stretch he was considering had two diversion dams on it, I redirected him.

I’m glad he called.

The floater’s checklist Hard boat or raft suitable for the river and everything in good condition? Good.

Here’s what you’ll want aboard: Life jacket that fits (especially important for children) for every person aboard. Kids under 12 must wear one at all times on the water. Properly approached they’ll think of it as part of the adventure.

First Aid Kit in a waterproof container. Know how to use it, and pack the extras you’ll need. Somebody aboard should be up on first aid and boating safety. If it’s your boat, that’s you – even though

Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

DOWN

1. South of the border crazy 5. Pear type 9. Neuron end 10. Transparent gem 11. Salamander 12. Water retention 13. Symbol 15. Neither’s partner 16. Snake haired women 18. Ruler 21. Downwind 22. Brand of pain reliever 26. Fracas 28. Zip 29. Eyed 30. Consumer 31. Compass point 32. Remain

1. Dirt road 2. Wagon pullers 3. Mooing animals 4. Timely (2 wds.)

5. Physique 6. Starts 7. Island nation 8. Russian rulers 10. Fibrous tissue 14. President Ford 17. Planet 18. Jostle 19. Unify 20. Rings, like bells 23. Hurl 24. Notion 25. Not any 27. Soaked © Feature Exchange

there is no official requirement that watercraft owners carry first aid cards.

Patch kit, also in a waterproof container. I like to augment mine with a roll of duct tape (river guide and handyman’s secret weapon,) and a good allpurpose multi-tool such as the large Leatherman.

Spare oar, attached to the raft frame or carried inside the

boat where the oarsman can get at it in a hurry.

Dry bag (or several) that carry a light one-size-fits-all raingear for each person, a change of XXL sweats for somebody who takes a dunking, the kits mentioned above. I used to carry a red dry bag dedicated to safety and emergency gear, and each passenger had a color-coded personal dry bag for extra clothing and personal items, camera, and the like.

If you carry a cell phone (and who doesn’t, these days) pack it in a specially made waterproof cell phone container. A Ziplock baggie doesn’t work.

The comfort and safety checklist In my introductory flyfishing classes for Bitterroot Community College, I start with two checklists. Maybe the students expect to hear first what sort of fishing gear to buy, but that comes second. The first checklist is for comfort and safety.

It consists of Polarized sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat; sunscreen and repellant; a real knife (best emergency tool ever;) personal First Aid Kit (can be packed in a pill bottle;) purpose-built wading boots, or for lighter use, water sandals; chest-high waders and wading belt for spring and summer use (optional in summer;) plenty of water to drink and high energy snacks; light raingear and extra layers of clothing.

Safety and comfort come first. If we’re not safe and comfy, we’re not having fun.

Author and flytyer Chuck Stranahan can be reached at chuck@chuck-stranahan.com or visit his fly shop at 109 E. Main in Hamilton.

Looking for the Bitterroot Star?

It’s FREE on more than 100 newsstands from Lolo to Conner.

Or call us at 777-3928 and we’ll let you know where the closest stand is.

Bitterroot Star -- Page 11

COVID-Safe Practices Certification Program available for Stevi businesses

Certification program will help Stevensville businesses operate safely and responsibly as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Ravalli County.

In response to the Reopening the Big Sky Plan and the recent mask directive released by Governor Steve Bullock on July 15th, the Town of Stevensville has developed a program to reinforce best-practices and help businesses operate in a COVID-19 world.

The initiative, tabbed the Stevi Safe Certified Program, offers an array of COVID-Safe Practices to help businesses create a safe and responsible environment for employees and customers. The Stevi Safe Certified Program will officially go live later this week and will be available to all businesses within the greater Stevensville area.

Upon demonstrating compliance with the requirements contained in the Altogether Stevensville Plan, businesses will be awarded special recognition. Businesses can then display the “Stevi Safe Certified” badge on their

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It’s FREE on more than 100 newsstands from Lolo to Conner.

Or call us at 777-3928 and we’ll let you know where the closest stand is.

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• Inclusion in the Stevi Safe Certified business directory • Participation in the peer learning community to share best practices, troubleshoot common challenges, and access additional resources • Access to the Stevi Safe Certified resource toolkit More information on the benefits of becoming Stevi Safe Certified Program are listed on www.stevisafecertified.org.

Business owners and managers interested in becoming Stevi Safe Certified can get started at www. stevisafecertified.org.

website or storefront to show visitors and residents it is equipped to offer safe and responsible service in a COVID-positive world.

“This program is an opportunity for the Stevensville business community to position Stevensville as a leader for COVID-safe practices as businesses navigate a new way of doing business,” Mayor Brandon Dewey said. “The Town of Stevensville is committed to supporting programs and initiatives that help businesses create safe and responsible environments for everyone.”

According to the Town administration, in order for the local economy to prosper in spite of the impacts felt by the pandemic, adherence to COVIDSafe best practices is critical in avoiding the re-implementation of restrictions similar to those observed earlier in the year.

Some additional benefits for businesses that become Stevi Safe Certified: • Recognition as a Stevi Safe Certified business • Usage of the Stevi Safe Certified seal to promote business

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Page 12 -- Bitterroot Star

Call

777-3928 Deadline Monday

12 noon for Wednesday

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Wednesday, July 29, 2020

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July 30-Aug 1 • Hamilton at the Fairgrounds Aug 13-15 • Wisdom Historic Big Hole Ranch!

Day 2 & 3 start times 10am-2pm Aug 20-22 • Belgrade 89 Pheasant Lane Aug 27-29 • Missoula 4535 Rio Vista ALL SALES START Day One 5pm-8pm Numbers to keep place in line given at 2pm for Day One sale.

Following Days 9-12

FARM & GARDEN MILL CRICK FARM STAND - 153 Dutch Hill Rd Hamilton 59840. Seasonal Certified Organic Produce. Always Open, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Mixed Greens, Kale, Chard, Broccoli and more WE HAVE DOZENS OF FRESH FARM EGGS from pastured hens, delivered daily to the Bitterroot Star, $4/doz. FRESH BATCH of Severson’s natural grass fed ground beef (1-lb packages, $5/lb). Call 777-3928 for availability or just stop by Bitterroot Star at 115 W. 3rd (blue door).

BUILDINGS AUTHENTIC TIMBER FRAMED BARNS. Residential and Commercial Timber Packages. Full Service Design - Build Since 1990, (406) 581 3014 brett@bitterrootgroup.com, www.bitterroottimberframes.com

RENTALS MATURE RETIREE gardener/landscaper seeks home to rent in the Bitterroot. Handywoman and long time valley resident. Will consider long term lease. Good references. Call me to discuss possibilities. 406-8803649.

QUIET, HEALTH CONSCIOUS CHRISTIAN MAN, 40’s, seeks place to park fifth wheel, or else rent affordable existing fifth wheel or mini house, in quiet setting in bitterroot. Good references.

Writer and musician. 406-2407014.

123 S. 5TH Corner of 5th & State in Hamilton

HELP WANTED

STORE MANAGER @ Country Store - Farm, Pet & Home.

The Country Store is looking for a Store Manager in Stevensville, MT. Full-Time, Salaried Position, with Benefits. Apply at https://www. countrystore.net/ If you have any questions, please email georgea@ countrystore.net COME JOIN OUR TEAM! We are seeking several housekeeper positions at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital. If you are looking for a great place to work, we may have the position for you!

POSITIONS HIGHLIGHTS: • Employee-centric: Familyoriented facility with small-town compassion; comparable wages and benefit package • Market Leadership: Continued growth to provide services to the Bitterroot Valley What will you do: • Provide housekeeping services to Marcus Daly facilities to ensure clean, comfortable patient care • Be a crucial part of the team providing the best care to our neighbors and friends What you will need: • Candidates must have High School education or equivalent • A team player attitude, a passion for small town living, a love of the great outdoors, and the drive to be a part of something extraordinary!

To apply, go to www.mdmh. org and complete an online application, or send your resume to humanresources@mdmh.org. For more information, give us a call at 406-375-4407. Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOME CARE SERVICES is hiring caregivers and CNAs. Flexible schedule, competitive pay. Apply at 925 N. First Street in Hamilton. Call 375-8637.

SERVICES HANDYMAN SERVICES. 30+ years experience. 406-830-4446.

FIELD MOWING & MORE. Other tractor services available, please see www.rockin-g-tractorservice.com. Call with questions, Steve Grant 406-363-8885.

NOTICES

LOST - Yellow kayaking dry bag at Lake Como. Please call 406-381-7909. If you called before, try again!

LEGAL NOTICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - General Contractor/Construction Manager -Ekalaka Elementary District #15 & Carter County High School-PO Box458-Ekalaka, MT 59324. Your company is invited to submit a Proposal for General contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM) for the construction of a connecting corridor joining Ekalaka Elementary to Carter County High School in Ekalaka, MT. The request for proposal is part of a competitive selection process to engage a GM/ CM firm to provide services for the construction of this connecting corridor.

Design/Construction Phase services will be at-risk via a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). Owner is budgeting $905,000.00. It is the Owner’s expectation that the GC/CM will be able to deliver services, information and benchmarking costs which will allow the Owner to make timely and informed decisions in a compressed schedule. Jackson Contracting Group has assisted to date on the budgeting for this project. This will be an open-book, transparent process. The successful GC/CM will have the ability to self-perform work, but only through a competitive bid process for the work.

Any bidding event that includes a bid from the GC/CM for work they will self-perform will require that sealed bids be received at the same time by the Owner from all bidding contractors. Interested parties can contact the Architect to receive a complete Request for Proposal packet. HGFAArchitects, PLLC. 222 North 32nd Street Suite 800. Billings, MT 59101 .Phone: 406-248-7811 .Email: hgfa@ hgfa.net Contact: Michael J Burke, AIA .Proposals will be due by 4:00 p.m.

August 21, 2020.

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS E. EVANS, Deceased.

Probate No.: DP-20-66 Department No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named estate. All persons having claims against the decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Kathryn M. Urquhart, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, ℅ Royce McCarty, Jr., P.O. Box 210, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 25th day of June, 2020. /s/ Kathryn M. Urquhart ADVERTISING BS 7-15, 7-22, 7-29-20.

MNAXLP

P.C.

601 S. First Street P.O. Box 515 Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-1110 DavidM@mcpcattomeys,com Attorneys for Personal Representative MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of BARBARA MARIE FEDYNA a/k/a BARBARA NELSON a/k/a BARBARA FEDYNA a/k/a BARBARA FEDYNA NELSON, Deceased.

Probate No. DP-20-47/6 Dept. 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to EDWARD J. SIMOLA, the Personal Representative, in care of MARKETTE & CHOUINARD, P.C:, 601 S. First Street, P.O. Box 515, Hamilton, Montana 59840, or filed 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. /s/ Edward J. Simola MARKETTE & CHOUINARD, P.C.

By David T. Market Attorney for Personal Representative BS 7-15, 7-22, 7-29-20.

MNAXLP

tative

Naomi J. Cheeney CHEENEY LAW, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060 Attorney for Personal Represen-

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF STEVEN JOHN BACHMAN, Deceased.

Case No.: DP-20-72 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Catherine E. Bachman, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 15th day of July 2020. /s/ Catherine E. Bachman, Personal Representative BS 7-22, 7-29, 8-5-20. MNAXLP Michael O’Brien St. Peter Law Offices, P.C. 2620 Radio Way P.O. Box 17255 Missoula, MT 59808 Telephone: (406) 728-8282 Facsimile: (406) 728-8141 Attorney for Personal Represen-

MONTANA TWENTY‑FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI

COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RICHARD B. KRASOVICH, Deceased.

Cause No.: DP-20-62 Department 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 said estate are required to present their claim within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Timothy Krasovich, return receipt requested, at St. Peter Law Offices, P.C., 2620 Radio Way, P.O. Box 17255, Missoula, MT 59808, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true, accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DATED this 23rd day of June, 2020. /s/ Timothy Krasovich Personal Representative DATED this 25th day of June, 2020.

ST. PETER LAW OFFICES, P.C. /s/ Michael O’Brien BS 7-22, 7-29, 8-5-20. MNAXLP Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060 Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID SHANE KEEGAN, Deceased.

Case No.: DP-20-70 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

ADVERTISING Claims must either be mailed to Kevin Keegan and Emily Keegan, the Co-Personal Representatives, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 13th day of July 2020. /s/ Kevin Keegan, Co-Personal Representative /s/ Emily Keegan, Co-Personal Representative BS 7-22, 7-29, 8-5-20. MNAXLP LEGAL NOTICE The Ravalli County Board of Health (BOH) will conduct a Public Meeting to receive citizen comment on a variance requested by David Remmen on behalf of Donald A. Stevenson, owner of the Property known as NHN Simpson Lane, Florence, MT 59833, Parcel # 1448700, Lot 33 of Florentine Acres. The variance request is to allow year-round camping on said parcel in a travel trailer. A variance requested from Ravalli County Subsurface Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Regulations.

Information describing the variance request is available for inspection on August 5, 2020, at the Ravalli County Environmental Health Department, in the Administrative Center, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite D, Hamilton, MT

59840. The public meeting will be held Wednesday, August 12, at 1 p.m., in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room at the Administrative Center. The public may comment verbally, or in writing, at the meeting. Comments and information submitted at the public meeting will be considered in the decision on said variance request.

BS 7-29, 8-5-20. MNAXLP Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC PO Box 212 Hamilton, MT 59840 Phone: (406) 363-9060 Attorney for Personal Represen-

tative

MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERT JAMES ANSON, Also known as JIM ANSON, Deceased.

Case No.: DP-20-75 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 first publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.

Claims must either be mailed to Constance Anson, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at Cheeney Law PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court.

DATED this 21st day of July 2020. /s/ Constance Anson, Personal RepresentativE BS 7-29, 8-5-20. MNAXLP LEGAL NOTICE Ben Cox, Kamron Beehler, Terry Hollingsworth, Kendra Tacker, Notice is now given that pursuant to the provisions of MC 70-6-601, et. seq. and the contract you signed, the contents of your storage units are now subject to an Operators Lien. Unless the accruing balance is paid in full, before 12 noon, August 7, 2020, the contents of the storage units will be removed and sold at Xtra Space RV & Mini Storage, 350 Old Corvallis Road,Hamilton MT 59840 at 1 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

BS 7-29, 8-5-2020. MNAXLP NOTICE OF FINAL BUDGET MEETING At the final budget meeting to be held on or before August 20, 2020, the Stevensville School District Board of Trustees will be meeting on August 11, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Stevensville Music Center Choir Room for the purpose of considering and adopting the final budget of the District for fiscal year 2020-2021.

The meeting of the individual District Trustees may be continued from day to day until the final adoption of the District’s budget. Any taxpayer in the District may appear at the meeting and be heard for or against any part of the budget.

For further information please contact: Bill Schiele, Business Manager, 300 Park Street, Stevensville, MT 59870 or call 777-5481 ext 139.

Sincerely, William F. Schiele Business Manager/ Clerk BS 7-29-20. MNAXLP NOTICE OF NON DISCRIMINA-

TION

The Stevensville School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs, activities

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and employment practices. Career and technical education opportunities will be offered without regard to participants’ gender, color, race, national origin, disability or age.

Title IX Coordinators: Bob Moore – Stevensville School District, 777-5481, 300 Park Street, Stevensville, MT 59870 Section 504 Coordinators: Nate Fry – Stevensville School District, 777-5533, 300 Park Street, Stevensville, MT 59870.

BS 7-29-20. MNAXLP

Show

continued

For information on publishing Legal Notices, call Victoria at 777-3928

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

stage with market goat, wether/ dam class, and goat showmanship.

On Sunday, August 30, the sheep take over with market lamb at 8 a.m. followed by wether/dam and sheep showmanship. Beef will

finish out the show on Sunday with market steers, bred heifers and beef showmanship. There may be a few breaks in between classes as it’s the same judge for all classes. Also, Brown said that any announcements made the day of the show would supersede the schedule.

There will be four divisions of showmanship: senior, intermediate, junior, and peewee. These are based on 4H age guidelines.

Bitterroot Star -- Page 13

Entry forms will be available this week. A link to the Google form can be found on the Freedom Livestock Show Facebook page. If an exhibitor needs a paper entry form, they will need to contact Brown at 406-240-4879.

There is no entry fee for the show. There will be many great prizes as many sponsors have stepped up and generously given to the show for costs of the show and awards. They are also hold-

ing a raffle for a half a butchered pig, including bacon and ham.

The value of the pig is $275 and the cost of the processing is about $50. Tickets are available around the valley or by contacting Leah Grant on Facebook or call/text 406-403-1207 or Crystal Grant on fb or 406-241-8134.

“We just want the kids to be able to show! This is a way to take liability and all off county 4H and the Fairgrounds,” said Brown.

“There is no political agenda, and none will be attached to our show!”

The Ravalli County 4H program is currently working on plans for an online livestock sale, so that these kids will have a way to sell their animals. Details on that next week.

Martin Kukich, Broker Mt/lD

GRI, ABR, CNHS, PSA, SFR

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le Feather Ra

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HAMILTON•STEVENSVILLE•DARBY•LOLO•LAUREL•POLSON•MISSOULA•WEST MISSOULA•HELENA•GREAT FALLS

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Page 14--Bitterroot Star

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