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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

‘The

Volume XXXVI, Number 4

www.bitterrootstar.com

Good Neighbors

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Two valley school districts opt for no mask requirements By Michael Howell

Mike Prescott, recently presented the Florence Rural Fire District a $500 donation through the State Farm “Good Neighbor Community Fund.” The matching fund was started in response to relief efforts for COVID-19. Although the company had separate relief efforts for policy holders and customers, this fund was set up specifically for local agents to contribute to worthy groups and causes affected by Covid-19. Prescott lives in the Florence community and said he “appreciates the great job these 35 volunteers and the fire district do in protecting our homes and families. Some of those volunteers were pictured in a group photo along with other (NFPA) National Fire Protection Association banner and materials we were able to donate for use in our schools.” Prescott said State Farm agents in Montana have been able to donate $34,000 to date to local police and fire departments, medical teams and children’s shelters, to name a few. Pictured, l to r, back row: Cale Fisher, Heather Swain, Gordon McCullough, Rachel Lockwood, Leah Rediske, Gina Gollihugh, Elliot Vickery, Phil Fitch, William Boswell, Dylan Lambson; front row: Fire Chief Charlie Lambson and agent Mike Prescott. Colleen Prescott photo.

Neighbors react to Stevensville subdivision proposal By Michael Howell

Residents of the Creekside Meadows subdivision in Stevensville are disturbed by the proposal being put forth to build a 137-lot subdivision called Burnt Fork Estates adjacent to and connected to theirs. According to Jim Kalkofen, president of the Creekside Meadows Homeowners Association, although they did have some discussions with the developers about the proposal,

they feel that their concerns have not been addressed. Their major concerns, he said, had to do with impacts on the town’s water and wastewater systems, increased traffic, no clear assessment of the maximum future number of families that could move in, an unacceptable request for a change in zoning to accommodate undefined commercial developments, a conflict in terms of covenants between the two subdivisions even though they propose connecting

and combining them, and high groundwater in the area. “We are not opposed to development,” said Kalkofen, “We are opposed to unreasonable and incompatible development.” Creekside Meadows has 57 single family homes. The subdivision, as originally proposed, included five phases, but only two were completed. The last three phases of the subdivision were See SUBDIVISION, page 5

Saturday Aug 15

Gates open at 5:00 Barrel racing at 6:30 Queen coronation 6:45 Broncs 7:00

See SCHOOLS, page 2

Stevi mayor, superintendent at odds over school mask decision By Michael Howell

Last week, Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey issued a letter to Stevensville School District Superintendent Dr. Bob Moore and school board trustees concerning the recent decision to recommend but not require masks at the school. “Your recent decision to not require masks as school returns to session this fall is a troubling one, though,” he

wrote. “As officials across the state and locally reinforce the use of face coverings, you have taken a stance that does not speak to unity but rather undermines the many efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. “The Town of Stevensville has been actively implementing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Stevensville. Those programs include the sanitation of parks and public facilities and the recent launch of ‘Stevi Safe Certi-

fied’ which certifies businesses for implementing COVID-Safe best practices, including the requirement of face coverings. “The close of the school year looked vastly different than many expected as students missed out on many experiences. The students, staff, and their parents demonstrated great adaptability in great stride and made their community proud. It is

Pantry Partners, was on hand to accept the donation. She thanked Harrison for his thoughtfulness and generosity and said the donation was much appreciated and that it would help the Pantry immensely in delivering its services. The non-profit food bank has been serving north valley residents since 1989. It provides a monthly food box to those in need. The box is meant to assist clients for a three- to five-day period. In addition, clients can visit the “Porch” to obtain donated items, including fresh produce, bakery goods, milk and eggs. Clients can visit the Porch once a week. It is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1 until 2:30 p.m. Usually there is a variety of breads

and fresh produce, as well as milk and other food items donated by local grocers and community gardeners. This area is known as the Pantry Porch because the first Pantry Partner building had a large porch where these items were displayed. The name was continued in the newer building now located at 3614 ALC Way, off of Middle Burnt Fork Road. Information is also available at the Pantry to further assist clients with such assistance programs as SNAP, WIC and LIEAP. The goal is to ensure that no members of the community go to bed hungry. Donations like Harrison’s are critical to providing these vital services. Pantry Partners also wel-

See MASKS, page 3

Stevi resident ‘gives back’ to Pantry Partners food bank By Michael Howell

Rick Harrison of Stevensville hands a $5,000 check over to Pantry Partners volunteer and former board president Kathy Belke as a personal donation to the food bank last week. “I just wanted to do the right thing,” said Harrison, who told the Bitterroot Star that he was once in a bad situation and he was helped out. “Now I just want to give something back,” he said. Harrison, who serves as chaplain of American Legion Fore Owen Post 94, also recently donated $10,000 to the Stevensville Police Department for more equipment. Michael Howell photo.

Although all the superintendents from every school district in the county have been meeting weekly to discuss plans for reopening in the fall in an effort to try and stay on the same page, two school districts have distinguished themselves recently over the “hotbutton” issue of masking. Hamilton, Corvallis, and Florence have all decided to require masks to some degree in their re-opening plans. But at a meeting last week, the Darby School District board of trustees decided unanimously to “recommend wearing masks but not require them.” This decision was based on the recommendation of School District Superintendent Chris Toynbee who based his recommendation primarily on the advice of the local county health department. Toynbee told the board that based on legal advice and CDC recommendations he was proposing to close the school campus. He said it would mean that people dropping their children off at school will not be able to accom-

pany them inside. He said that he was told by the County Health Department that any exposure lasting more than 15 minutes “and masks do not do much good anyway.” He said every bus ride in the district was probably longer than 15 minutes, especially up the East and West Forks. He said that when the kids get to their Home Room they will have air filters and sanitization procedures in play. He noted that some schools were requiring masks and others not. He also noted that the current head of the County Health Department was the latest following two resignations. Toynbee said that he believed based on the CDC information that blocking out an 8-foot space around the teacher’s desk would be protection enough without masks. Toynbee went on to say that “at some point we will have to face a situation when someone comes in with Covid. We need to be ready with a plan on how to

Pantry Partners, the community food bank located in Stevensville, recently received a $5,000 donation from Stevensville resident Rick Harrison. Harrison serves as Chaplain for the American Legion Post 94 in Stevensville, but he was making a personal donation to the Pantry Partners that day. “I just want to do the right thing,” he said. He said it was hard times and he could see that a lot of young parents were struggling. Harrison said that he had faced some hard times in the past and been helped out and now that he had the means, he wanted to give back. Volunteer Kathy Belke, former president of the Board of

Darby Wild West Rodeo Broncs - Bulls - Barrels

- NRA Sanctioned Broncs & Bulls - Breakaway Roping American Qualifier -

See PANTRY, page 13

Admission

$15/person $10 Seniors 10 & Under FREE

Page 2 -- Bitterroot Star

Schools continued

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

deal with it.” He said it could lead to a quarantine of students and staff that could make it hard to keep the school open.

recommend going to ‘distance learning’. I’m not sure what good masks are going to do for us; at some point we will have to go to distance learning, that’s where we are headed.” The Board voted unanimously to adopt the plan for opening as presented to operate full days, from 8:30 to 3:30, five days a week with masks “strongly” recommended but not required. Visiting adults will be required to mask, however. In Stevensville School District, the School Nurse Connie Johnson and Superintendent Dr. Bob Moore both recommended requiring masks for most students and staff, but the board voted to not require masks. According to Moore, the district sent out surveys to all parents and 387 were returned showing that 20% of the respondents indicated they would prefer distance learning while 70% said they would like the kids to return to school. He said the rest (10%)

“Parents are going to need to have the choice of ‘distance learning’,” he said. Registration is scheduled to start on August 18. Toynbee suggested that the opening day of school be pushed to August 26th instead of the 23rd. He said teachers will have a day for preparation and three days to work on their course plans before starting on the 26th. Toynbee said that he leaned towards allowing a child to wear a mask if they wanted to. If you have a teacher with a particular vulnerability they could wear one if they choose, he said. “The County Health Department says that a face shield doesn’t do much for you,” said Toynbee. “One certain thing,” he said, “is that we will get an incident and could lead to having to drop face to face and end up having go to online teaching completely again.” “If you are really concerned about Covid,” he said, “I would

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would prefer to homeschool or some other option. The district is offering students the option of distance learning for students from the 5th grade and up, but they are asking the parents to commit to a 9-month program. He said the district was looking at using the Google classroom platform. As for the wearing of masks, Moore said that if you look at the scientific journals that are out there, “you would get a recommendation to wear masks pretty quick,” he said. On the other hand, there are professionals and parents who will tell you that it is problematic when you consider things like teaching and learning pronunciation and enunciation with a mask on. “Nobody has the right answer. Nobody has a single answer,” said Moore. “What I ask is that it just be a non-political decision done for the children in the community.” One big change in the plans

is that it calls for no homework to be assigned in grades 6 to 12. With longer school days, he said, any ‘homework’ should be done in class. This will give some relief to parents who work.” The re-opening plan also calls for smaller class sizes and block schedules with students working in cohorts to further reduce the chances of transmission. School Nurse Connie Johnson advocated strongly for the use of masks. She also said that, contrary to the misinformation circulating, masks are safe to wear with some exceptions for some kids and a few situations. She said it was the right thing for kids in 5th grade and up. She said that masking was feasible and could even be incorporated into the dress code. Although Board Chairman Greg Trangmoe said that he was personally in favor of wearing masks, in the big picture he didn’t want to take the choice away from the kids themselves. He voted against masking in the end as did all the other board members except Ben Meyer. Meyer said that he was going to vote in favor of masking based on the recommendation of the school nurse who has the knowledge and experience to make the best assessment. He said he was “going to listen to the people who we trust with our kids every day.” On Monday, Stevensville School Board Chairman Greg Trangmoe said that there will be additional consideration of this issue before school starts. “Like everyone else we’re figuring this out as we go along.” Stevensville Schools will host school registration for all grades August 25-27th from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in each school front office. The school day hours were lengthened to meet the required aggregate hours needed to meet state funding requirements. The Victor School Board was to meet Monday night to consider their reopening plans (too late to be included in this story). Paid for by : Penney and Jimmy Canton, PO Box 838, Stevensvillel, MT 59870

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Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Wild West Weekend in Darby By Jean Schurman

The Darby Rodeo Arena is the place to be this week. A concert starts off the week’s activities which is followed by roping, bucking broncs, barrels, and bulls on Saturday. According to Cal Ruark, Darby Rodeo Association president, there will be something for everyone. There’s even a royalty pageant with queens, princesses and everything! On Thursday, Dave Stamey will have a concert under the big tent at the rodeo grounds. Stamey is a working cowboy, wrangler, and mule packer who has played his way into being one of the premier western balladeers performing today and has been inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame. “This is the third or fourth time we’ve had him perform for us,” said Ruark. “It’s almost sold out again.” He went on to say that proceeds from the concert and fund raiser are put back into the arena. Last year the money went to fund new lights. “The wiring is in, we’re just waiting for the actual lights, they are on backorder.” This year, proceeds will go

There will be plenty of action like this during the Darby Rodeo Association’s Wild West Rodeo on Saturday. File photo. towards the purchase of a new tractor. For the past four years, Ford New Holland has donated the use of one of their tractors. Ruark said with the number of events going on in the arena each summer, the tractor is used almost every day. “It’s time to work on buying it, they’ve been good to us

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to let us use it,” said Ruark. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres of prime rib and shrimp and other food done by the Big Cat Cafe. The 406 Saloon will have the bar there. Cost for the evening is $60 per person or, if you don’t wish to eat, $30 for the concert alone. Ruark said by having the event in the large Logger Days tent, people will be able to social distance. There will also be hand washing stations and masks available for those who want them. Saturday morning, the arena will be filled with breakaway ropers competing for a chance to advance to the next rung of the climb to the American. The American is held in Dallas at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The top 10 ropers and riders are invited to compete. In addition there are qualifying events held around the West where the top contestants advance to the next level. A cowboy or cowgirl who is not in the top 10 of the PRCA or the WPRCA can win up to $1 million if they win their event at Dallas. The event in Darby is sure to bring several top ropers in for the

competition. The barrel racing on Saturday will have the top 20 racers from a qualifying event on Wednesday night. The prize money for the barrel race on Saturday is $1,000. The marquee events of the night are the bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. These are NRA sanctioned and will feature the top riders in the state. Currently, J2 Bridges is leading the bareback riding by more than $1,500. Tanner Hollenback,of Dillon, and Caleb Meeks of Geraldine are in a close race for the title in the saddle bronc riding. A little more than $150 separate the two. In the bull riding, Riley Berg of Lewisville, and Payton Fitzpatrick of Polson are only separated by $25. Red Eye Rodeo of Deer Lodge will be producing the rodeo. The gates open at 5 p.m. with barrel racing at 6:30. That will be followed by the coronation of the 2020 Darby Royalty. The bucking events begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $15 per person. Seniors are $10 and 10 and under are free.

Masks continued

unfair that they be put in a position that may lead us to another school and/or community closure that could be prevented,” the Mayor outlined in his letter. “With the willingness to set an example and adapt for the safety of their loved ones and community demonstrated by your student body and their support systems, I have no doubt they will respond favorably to a face covering requirement adopted by your administration and the school board. A requirement is different than a recommendation and sets an important expectation from the onset. “You are aware of the Governor’s directive stating that ‘Except as provided..., all businesses, government offices, or other persons responsible for indoor spaces open to the public shall require and take reasonable measures to ensure that all employees, contractors, volunteers, customers, or other members of the public wear a face covering that covers their mouth and nose at all times...’ In his directive, Governor Bullock goes on to state that ‘All officers and agencies of the state are directed to assist in the administration and enforcement of this Directive, consistent with § 10-3-305(2), MCA.’ These statements alone obligate you to follow the lead that the State of Montana, Ravalli County Public Health, and the Town of Stevensville have set in the interest of the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community. “I implore you to immediately reconsider your direction on this matter. Not doing so shows little willingness of the school community to collaborate, communicate, and integrate with the community that surrounds it and its leadership who continue to make informed decisions. As an expression of good-faith and support, the Town of Stevensville is here as your partner to help however possible including the commitment of 5,000 masks from our resources.” Mayor Dewey stated that

Bitterroot Star -- Page 3

he and Town Council members had heard feedback and concern from citizens regarding the school board’s decision. The Town Council will be discussing and considering the use of face coverings throughout the community at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 13th. The Mayor says that the school’s reopening measures may be part of that conversation. Superintendent Moore responded in a press release: “The Governor specifically excluded schools from his mask directive during his press conference (July 29, 2020) as confirmed by the Montana School Boards Association. This information was not represented in the letter from Brandon Dewey. The Stevensville School District will respond as necessary should this become a school mandate. “The District will continue to move forward with our re-entry plan that allows students to continue their education both on and off site. We will continue to highly recommend the use of face masks for the school community as stated in the re-entry plan adopted by the Board of Trustees. The District will educate students on proper hygiene, execute cleaning plans, plan for social distancing as space allows and actively revise our plans as conditions change. The single point made by the mayor does not encapsulate the full breadth of the re-entry plan. “The Stevensville School Board adopted this plan as a matter of local control and will continue to review the ever changing rules, policies, and mandates as they apply to school governance during this unprecedented time.” Mayor Dewey has since submitted a letter on this topic addressed to the community which is published in full on page 6.

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Somebody Asked . . . Are You Opposed to Progress?

BE MONTANA AWARE. We love our home and want to help keep it healthy. If you’re planning to explore Montana, follow these safety measures and do your part to be Montana Aware.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 1

2

3

KNOW LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES BEFORE ARRIVING AT YOUR DESTINATION

UNDERSTAND SOME SERVICES & DESTINATIONS MAY BE LIMITED

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK

PROTECT OUR HEALTH

MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE (AT LEAST 6 FT. APART)

WEAR A MASK

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE

WASH YOUR HANDS & USE HAND SANITIZER

COVER COUGHS & SNEEZES

They were referring to a High-Density subdivision proposed for Stevi’s east side - corner of Logan Lane and Middle Burnt Fork Road - by a California developer.

Every Stevensville resident and those living nearby would also be opposed to the proposed subdivision if they knew what was planned.

Some “progress” like this proposed subdivision is NOT a good fit for Stevensville. • It is HIGH-DENSITY. • The number of multi-family units is ASTONISHING for such a small piece of land. • With 121 lots including 43 multi-family lots (duplexes to four-plexes), Logan Lane WILL be one of the busiest roads in the area. • Every school bus, ambulance, fire truck, car, truck, motorcycle, UPS van, FedEx truck, the Culligan man, landscapers and lawn services, construction workers, guests, contractors, friends, etc., MUST enter the proposed residential area via Logan Lane. • Traffic WILL jump dramatically. • Town water resources WILL be severely taxed. Maybe even at or exceeding capacity. • Similar problems WILL be felt at the wastewater treatment facilities.

If the proposed subdivision would be as originally intended when Creekside Meadows subdivision was created, a new subdivision might complement what already exists nearby. In its present form, it does not even come close.

Watch this space for more info weekly. Paid for by Jim Kalkofen and Valley Neighbors, Stevensville

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Page 4 -- Bitterroot Star

Obituary Larry J. Bushman Stevensville – Larry J. Bushman, 85, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather passed away in peace at home Sunday, August 2, 2020. Larry was born June 30, 1935, in Ogden, Utah to Isabelle Simpson Doyle and Archie Levon Bushman. He was the youngest of four brothers, who have since passed on: Marvin Daniel, Archie (“Bud”) Doyle, and John (“Jack”) Theodore. Larry graduated from Ogden High School and attended Weber State College, where he met the love of his life—Rena Lei Nani Caine. The couple were married for eternity on August 14, 1959 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They raised their family of two sons (Brad J. & Bart Caine) and one daughter (Brooke Ann Flynn) in northern Utah, spending 22 years in Pleasant View, Utah, before retiring in Montana in 1993. Nani passed away on Friday, July 7, 2000 from a long illness. Larry loved his family and did all he could to serve and help them in any possible way. They were always in his thoughts and prayers, and benefited from his selfless actions. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ

Death Notices Wanda ‘Louise’ Bergman

Hamilton - Wanda L. “Louise” Bergman, 93, passed away in the morning, Thursday, August 06, 2020, at her home. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary.com.

Doris L. Burns

Hamilton - Doris L. Burns, 96, passed away in the morning, Thursday, August 06, 2020, at her home. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.

of Latter-day Saints. As a young man, he served as a full-time missionary in the Central States Mission, and spent a good portion of his mission serving people of Tribal Nations in that area. He served in many callings in the Church. His favorite calling was serving in the primary with Nani. His greatest joys included sharing his testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthening youth as a Scout Master. Larry helped many boys throughout his community achieve their goals of becoming Eagle Scouts. He also fulfilled a Temple mission with Nani in Saint George, Utah. Larry enjoyed a successful

Valerie Virginia Grace

Stevensville - Valerie Virginia Goddard Grace, 61, of Stevensville passed away Saturday, August 8, 2020 at her home. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel.

David R. Milner

Hamilton - David R. Milner, 83, passed away in the afternoon, Monday, August 10, 2020, at the Aaron Care Home in Corvallis. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www. brothersmortuary.com.

career as a firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Ogden City Fire Department, and retired as a lifetime member of the Utah State Firefighters Association. Larry was well known for his great talents as a craftsman and builder. He designed and built his family home in Pleasant View, Utah and a second home in Stevensville, Montana for Nani and him. Larry and Nani found great joy in creating personal birthday and holiday gifts for family and friends, which will be passed down to loved ones for generations. They combined their respective talents. Larry did woodwork and Nani did amazing tole-painting. Both Larry and Nani were deeply loved by many. Services for Larry J. Bushman were held graveside on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Sunnyside Cemetery on 3-Mile Road in Stevensville. Interment followed as this great man was laid to rest next to his beloved wife and sweetheart, Lei Nani. The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www. whitesittfuneralhome.com.

Gerald L. Dierking

Florence - Gerald L. Dierking, 90, while at his home in Florence, MT went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 2nd, 2020. He was born December 17, 1929, in Elgin, Illinois, the son of the late Harold and Hazel Dierking. Gerald “Jerry” was raised in Illinois. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1948. After high school, Gerald attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He had a beautiful singing voice and often led the singing and sang solos and duets with his sister Marjorie at Elgin Bible Church. He traveled with the gospel team at Moody Bible Institute as song leader and soloist. He married Constance B. Colcord in August of 1950. They were high school sweethearts and were married for nearly 70 years. In 1950, he joined the Air Force and was a staff sergeant stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas, as an aircraft instruments instructor. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and moved back to Elgin. After his time in the service, he joined the Elgin Police Department as a patrolman. Later he transferred to Kane County Sheriff’s Department as an investigator. He then was appointed as Chief of Police in South Elgin, IL, and remained in that position until the family’s move to Northern Wisconsin in 1967.

In Wisconsin, he owned and operated the Conover Standard gas station. He then sold the gas station and decided to go into business for himself, opening the Phelps Small Engine Shop next to his home. He spent many years fixing lawnmowers and boat engines for the local folks as well as the many vacationers. He also had a bait shop and plowed snow during the winter as well as doing security checks for many vacation homes surrounding Phelps. When Jerry and Connie retired they enjoyed many trips to Montana in their travel trailer. In 1999, they moved to Florence, MT to be near their three children and their families. Jerry was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to hunt and fish with his family and friends.

He was a horseman and horse trainer for over 46 years. He was also a great cook and an enthusiastic gardener. He had a passion for trying to grow the perfect apple tree. Jerry is survived by his wife Connie of Florence; two sons, Douglas and wife Doreen of Great Falls, and Brian and wife Lynn of Florence; one daughter, Janice and husband Rory of Missoula; eight grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his two sisters, Marjorie Carlson of Belvidere, IL and Barbara Schut of Canadian Lakes, MI and his sister-in-law Beatrice Dierking of Eagle River, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy Hess and his brother Robert Dierking. A graveside service with military honors was held on Monday, August 10, 2020 at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. The family would like to thank Dr. Jenny Murney and Dr. Sarah Scott for their many years of dedicated medical care of Gerald. The family suggests that memorials be made to Valley Christian School, 2526 Sunset Dr., Missoula MT 59804. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

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The Montana Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor & Industry are encouraging Montanans to apply now for temporary, part-time jobs with the U.S. Census Bureau to help Montana get an accurate count in the 2020 Census. The U.S. Census Bureau has indicated it is still seeking to hire hundreds of workers in Montana by the end of August. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, workers began knocking on doors in Montana on August 8 to help households respond to the 2020 Census before September 30. Temporary Census jobs offer flexible hours, paid training, weekly paychecks and mileage reimbursement for personal vehicles. Wages start at $15.00 an hour and job seekers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to complete the Census hiring process in time. Specific areas of job needs in Montana include Ravalli County. Montanans interested in applying may also do so online at 2020CENSUS.GOV/ JOBS or through the MONTANAWORKS.GOV website, or may text “montanajobs” to 313131.

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Subdivision continued

never completed, however. They would have added an additional 149 lots on the property now being proposed for new development as Burnt Fork Estates. Kalkofen said their concerns about the impacts on the town’s drinking water and wastewater systems stems from an analysis of information contained in the Town’s Growth Policy. He notes that if phase two of the already approved nearby Twin Creeks subdivision were platted, that would add an additional 45 lots. He said altogether, with full subdivision approval and build out, there is potential for an additional 255 wastewater connections on lands currently within the Stevensville town limits, which exceeds the current capacity of the town’s wastewater treatment facilities. He quotes the Growth Policy again, stating that “the Creekside Meadows and Twin Creeks subdivisions have the potential to add an additional 255 water connections on lands currently within the town limits. This many new connections would bring Stevensville’s water system to capacity, requiring expansion in order to accommodate future connections.” “This development will certainly require expanded and tax-payer funded water and wastewater facilities,” said Kalkofen. Marilyn Wolff, vice-president of the Creekside HOA, said that traffic impacts have not been adequately assessed. She said that the traffic reports used in the plan contain no data for Logan Lane, a 22- to 24-foot wide roadway with no shoulders. She said the most recent data for the road from a county study in 2006 showed 1243 vehicles per day on the road. The developer’s report states that when fully built out, Burnt Fork Estates would generate an additional 2146 daily trips. According to Wolff, “the report states that there will be an estimated increase of 500 vehicles per day, but this stretches logic to the limit based on the data provided. They use the figure of 121 residential lots, not taking into account that 43 of those lots are destined to

become multi-family lots.” She said that another problem is that a portion of the new traffic will be funneled through Creekside Meadows via Creekside Drive. She claims that this will significantly alter the quality of life in the neighborhood. She said for this to move forward there should be plans for adding shoulders and turn lanes to Logan Lane road. “We’ve got property rights too,” said Kalkofen. He said the proposed application uses big print when talking about 127 lots. “The small print tells the story,” he said. “The application never really mentions the real number of families that could potentially move in.” He calculates that with 43 of those 121 lots being multifamily, the true number of families depends on the size of the multifamily developments. If they are duplexes, he said, the total number of families comes to 164. If they are triplexes the total would grow to 207 and if four-plex units were built out, the total number of families would come to 250. Add an additional 16 commercial lots using an unknown amount of water and it becomes very concerning, he said. “Until all the facts are on the table, this application should go nowhere,” said Kalkofen. “All planning and zoning board members, Town Council members and resident taxpayers should be alarmed,” he said. “If such a project would be approved, the very real possibility is that huge sums of taxpayer dollars would be needed to create new Town water wells and add capacity to the water system.” Kalkofen said that the proposed 17-lot commercial district on 26 acres is not slated to be connected to the subdivision at all and will have its own entrance and exit on Middle Burnt Fork Road. He noted a proposal to create a commercial development on 26 acres across the road was denied in June of 2020. “The goal should be to fill the downtown with any projected businesses,” said Kalkofen, “not set them up far away from the traditional Stevensville business district.”

Bitterroot Star -- Page 5

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Another major concern the homeowners in Creekside Meadows have, according to Kalkofen, has to do with the proposed covenants for Burnt Fork Estates. “The developers have stated publicly that their covenants were modeled after and similar to the Creekside Meadows HOA adjacent and north to their property,” said Kalkofen. “That is not exactly accurate.” He said the Burnt Fork Estates covenants allow for twostory homes, which creates the option of building four-plexes on the multi-family lots.” He said other differences include the lack of any roof-line limit, or anything about storing tractors, wagons, wheelbarrows, snowblowers, mowers, and garden equipment, etc. inside. He said there were no restrictions for activities that would be an annoyance, nuisance, noxious, or illegal. “The vague wording about unsightly conditions does not address unkempt lot conditions,” he said. He said the covenants do not address how many family units may live inside a single residence. He said there are no restrictions against open fires, woodburning fireplaces, or wood

burning furnaces, all of which are banned in Creekside Meadows. He said lack of any parking restrictions was a concern. Their last major concern with the proposal, said Kalkofen, was the groundwater situation. The application states that the groundwater table in the area is between 12 inches and 39 inches and extensive mitigation efforts are planned. “But will it work?” asked Kalkofen. After outlining all the proposed mitigation actions, Kalkofen said, “If so much planning and effort has gone into trying to resolve the massive groundwater and runoff issues, are there any guarantees? Should a second engineering opinion be considered? Does it make sense to build on such wet land?” Kalkofen said that the Creekside Meadows Homeowners would like to see all these issues addressed before the subdivision proposal moves forward. He said the Creekside homeowners were ready and willing to work out a more reasonable plan that would be complementary to the existing neighborhood rather than the unwelcome intrusion that is being proposed.

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Page 6 -- Bitterroot Star

Bitterroot Star Editorial Board Michael Howell Victoria Howell

Opinion

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Guest Comment

Let’s take a breath, together By Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey

Our community is going through a lot right now. As we combat the spread of COVID-19 in Ravalli County, we are faced with a lineup of challenges. While there is little we can do about some of those challenges with some variables outside of our control, we should pause to sharpen our focus and be as successful as we can in addressing the challenges of this situation where together we do have some influence. We are engaged in heated debates with our neighbors about the best response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. We find ourselves questioning the legitimacy of the disease, and who we should trust when authorities speak to how it is treated and mitigated. It has become clear that in our community one of the most heated debates is that of mask wearing. It may not come as a surprise that my recent letter to officials at Stevensville Schools seeking the reconsideration of a mask requirement for students returning to school this fall caught the attention of many. Perhaps more so than the board’s decision itself. Since that decision and my letter, I have overwhelmingly heard from many in our community. I can tell you that the input provided has been either strongly in favor of masks where social distancing cannot be implemented, or strongly opposed to masks altogether. Both sides of the issue are also equally represented in their feedback to me. Both sides are, for the most part, equally justified in their arguments too. My letter was not intended as a personal attack on the volunteer citizens who serve on the school board. They, like the rest of us in elected positions, are sometimes faced with impossible decisions. Their decision to not require masks in school caused a surge of reaction in our community amongst a group of parents, students, teachers, and citizens that felt little recourse but to reach out to other local representation. The board, and the community, deserved to know the position I took on the issue. I felt that the school’s decision, no matter how educated or wellintended it may have been, did little to reinforce the measures that other officials with the State and locally were implementing to protect the community from further spread of COVID-19. Today, that issue is still a charged discussion amongst us. This dialogue, albeit oftentimes unpleasant, has led me to the conclusion that we all need to take a few steps back and breathe. The last thing our community needs is the leadership amongst various authorities being divided on issues that should instead unite us. You have my apology if anyone

felt that division was the intent of my letter to school officials. So, how does the community address its differences going forward? We find ourselves at a dynamic crossroads where there are many issues that have the potential to break us down and divide us. Does a divided community speak to the character and heritage of Stevensville? As we partner with other stakeholders to handle the pandemic in the face of the fear and uncertainty we are experiencing, we should keep these questions at the front of our minds in these important discussions. Know that my approach to the issues discussed will be more thorough and deliberate going forward. You deserve that from your elected leadership. We should not be hastily implementing plans based on politized information or because the louder crowd said so, but instead be carefully taking time to consider evidence and strategies. You will see this demonstrated in future meetings of the Town Council, as we discuss how the Town of Stevensville, with its partners, moves forward through this. On Thursday night, you will not see a knee-jerk mandate from the Town Council requiring that masks be worn throughout the community. Instead, I hope for a meaningful dialogue that considers the health of the overall community first, rather than putting any personal beliefs or agendas into play. We are tasked as decision makers to provide outcomes that yield the best results for the most people. Please be patient with us, and with each other. I embolden everyone to be thoughtful as you interact with others in our community. Be kind to one another and considerate of different viewpoints. Many of us may feel passionate one way or another on an array of issues today, but we should do our best in simply explaining our position when given the opportunity, rather than proclaiming why others should believe the same theories that we do. It is okay to have differences, but it is not okay to shame or bring hate into what is already an emotional time for many. We should not resort to judging others based on what may be trivial decisions or an abundance of caution right now. Build each other up, show grace, and reinforce what makes this community the place we all chose to be. Take a deep breath, with or without a mask, and we will get through this together as one Stevensville. “Be devoted to one another in love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” --Romans 12:10

Letters

Outrageous disregard

The Stevensville school district has decided to leave the decision to each individual child of whether or not to wear a face covering in school when returning to school. This is an outrageous disregard for the health and safety of all our children as well as teachers and staff and the families to whom they will return each day. It is a lie that children are “immune” from this potentially deadly virus. Children can be infected, with or without symptoms. Children can spread this virus to others. Sone otherwise healthy children around the country have even died from this virus. The Stevensville school district is defying the Governor’s mandate on face covering in public as well as all national medical authorities on mitigation and control of spread. Claire L. Kelly Stevensville

What a mess in Stevensville!

I second a recent guest post in the Bitterroot Star by Mr. Ed White of Hamilton, though “entertainment” is not how I would characterize the on-going

conflict in Stevensville. To me it echoes the mess we have at the federal level…a chief executive elected to “clean up the swamp” and our own local Pelosi-posse doing whatever they can to throw a wrench in mix. Now, Mayor Dewey has indeed stretched the bounds at several points and caution is advised on how he proceeds. However, instead of reading evil intent in that, I chalk it up to a young man, growing with experience, but trying to serve the community of Stevensville the best he knows how. Michalson, Crews, Holcomb, and the rest of their cadre need to grow up. Instead of providing level-headed senior leadership, they look more like a gang of junior high school hoodlums stirring up trouble. I would much rather see their many years of experience focused on constructive support of the mayor, other council members, and (most importantly!) the community’s needs. Enough of the pettiness! Cass Kalinski Stevensville

COVID-19 is serious; so is voting COVID-19 is serious, but it’s not even close to the leading cause of death in America.

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

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The Bitterroot Star is published weekly at 115 W. 3rd, Suite 108, The Bitterroot Star is published weekly at 115 W. 3rd Street, Suite 108, Stevensville, Montana. Subscriptions are $50 per year in Ravalli Stevensville, Montana. Subscriptions are $40 per year in Ravalli County, County, $60 per out of and county, per year out of state. $50 per year out year of county, $60and out$70 of state. The Postal Service will no longer forward the Bitterroot Star. Address changes to our mailing list are made once a month and can be made by contacting the Star office at 777-3928.

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As of today, the exaggerated number of US COVID-19 deaths is 161,729; a mere 31% of deaths caused by abortion — 518,270 abortions so far this year, as of this morning (1). Where are the draconian government overreach and business-crippling controls over this greater epidemic? The COVID “pandemic” is a medical issue (really, its a political issue) and abortion is a moral issue. Both Pro-abortion and Antiabortion activists refer to abortion as a “choice.” Abortion data show they both are right: The reasons given for almost all American abortions are a selfish choice: “I’m done having children” (19%). “Can’t afford a baby” (23%). “Not ready for a child” (25%) (2). The legal and moral arguments for abortion rest on whether an unborn baby is a person. Perhaps we could stack up the “expert” opinions on both sides of that argument to make our case (committing the logical fallacy of Argumentum Ad Populum); but there is a more definitive answer: “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb ... Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there

was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16). And add to that, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:5). The formation of a baby in its mother’s womb is an act of God. His/her days are determined by God, unless a choice is made by another to cut off those days before they begin. It has to be obvious to all, that if left undisturbed, nearly every unborn baby will become a living person with all the legal and moral rights attributed to every person. It must be equally obvious to all, that to poison or dismember an unborn baby in its mother’s womb is morally wrong. America will never restore her greatness until America restores her goodness. Vote carefully and wisely in November. One might argue that they do not believe in God or the Bible. To him I say with great certainty, at the moment of your death you will believe in God and the Bible — but too late. (1) USAbortionClock.org (2) U.S. Abortion Statistics, Abort73.com Dennis Hicks Hamilton

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Thanks to medical association

Thanks to Marc Mentel, president of the MT medical Association, for your great article, ‘Shut up, cowboy up, mask up.’ In a time when we are lacking honest information from the federal government about how to keep ourselves safe during Covid-19, we need real medical professionals to tell us what we should be doing right and what works. Recently the head of the health department in Ravalli County stepped down because the county commissioners refused to follow the governor’s mask mandate...three Republican commissioners and the sheriff, refused to follow the guidelines, which leaves the public confused as to what is the right thing to do...WEAR a mask, WASH your hands, WATCH your distance, is so much easier then ending up trying to get into a hospital or doctor, all of which are understaffed and swamped. Our economy will never be able to open up safely as long as people are disregarding the medical experts. People will keep getting sick and dying, and the economy will go in the dumpster. COWBOY UP, QUIT BEING DUMB. Kate Gervais Corvallis

Troubling experience

I will be 78 years old in a couple of months and am in good health. The other day I took a friend for lunch in a local Stevensville eating place. We both wore masks, because the very last thing that I want to be responsible for is giving anyone the COVID-19 virus. Our lovely, smiling waitress came to our table to take our order. First, she told me that my mask was un-necessary at this restaurant. I guess I looked surprised, because she followed up this statement with, “Oh, are you a Democrat?” I answered, “Yes, I am.” Then she leaned over the table in my direction and started screaming that the virus had been started by Democrats, that it was all a hoax and that it was no different than the flu. If her intention was to frighten me by her behavior, she did an excellent job. I asked her where she obtained her information and she said that she didn’t watch any news. I said nothing more. I had gone out to lunch, and I ended up fearful for my physical safety. It was a foreign feeling for me, as this was the first time that I had personally experienced such vitriol. I love Stevensville. I also care for the people who live and work here! Nothing will change this. Please remember that how you speak to others will affect their lives. And remember that there is room for all of our different opinions, if only we could use good manners and respect for our neighbors. “Life is short and there is too little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So be swift to love, make haste to be kind and may the blessings of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now and always.” Taken from the words of the poet Henri-Frederic Amiel. Jean K. Warner Stevensville

Action and Reaction: The Consequences to Come, Part 2

On May 26, 2020, I posted a Letter to the Editor in the Bitterroot Star (https://bitterrootstar. com/2020/05/action-and-reactionthe-consequences-to-come/ ), in which I asked some questions about what was going to happen as a result of the reaction, both official and unofficial, to the corona virus pandemic. We are beginning to find out and it’s not looking good. When 2Q numbers came out recently, we learned that the American economy had contracted 32.9% annualized from the same

period in 2019. This was the largest and steepest drop in history, far eclipsing even the worst of the Great Depression of the 1930’s. This came on the heels of the 1Q GDP contraction of 6.9% from the 1Q 2019. What is interesting is that the economy in early March was still registering a slight amount of growth, but essentially collapsed in the last half of the month, coinciding neatly with the extreme lockdown of the country. Wile E. Coyote, anyone? Projections and predictions are that the 3Q GDP figures will show up to a 15% increase over 2Q, but this is still a precipitous drop from 2019. Of course, it should be noted that projections and predictions are just that— guesses and estimates at best. It is entirely possible, perhaps even likely, that the economic losses will accelerate in the 3Q, due in large part to the zealousness of “officials” to destroy the economy based on what appears in hindsight to be nothing more serious than a “bad flu season.” In the meantime, we fight with each other over bits of cloth covering our faces. Let me put it in plain English so that everyone can understand it. It is the destruction of the economy and the accompanying societal breakdowns which are the existential threats to our way of life. Compared to what is coming, Covid-19 is a sideshow. Where we go from here is not certain, but my guess (projection, prediction) is that it is going to be a rough, wild ride. Roger Mitchell Stevensville

Who REALLY supports veterans

We all have an important decision to make this fall on who will represent us in the U.S. Senate, so it’s helpful that Senator Steve Daines showed us last year where his priorities really lie. When the time came to vote for the Southwest Montana Veterans Home that Butte veterans fought for years to fund, Daines failed to do right by veterans and voted no. Even worse, he shamelessly showed up to the photo op in Butte celebrating the funding for the home that Senator Tester secured -- the very funding that Daines voted against. In the meantime, Governor Steve Bullock was working to expand economic, health, and educational opportunities for returning veterans, and was taking steps to honor their service. The nearly 100,000 veterans that call Montana home deserve a real champion in the Senate, not someone only worried about getting credit for work he didn’t do. This November, vote for the one candidate with a proven record of delivering for those of us who served our country -- Governor Steve Bullock. Anthony van Marle Vietnam-era Veteran, 101st Airborne Victor

Appreciation for town employees

I am a long-time Stevensville resident, currently living in the Twin Creeks Subdivision. I had a concern with the water supply to the park area next to my property. I called City Hall and Nancy answered all my questions fully and very graciously. She referred me to Public Works and gave me George’s contact number. In a very short time, he and another gentleman from his department came to the area in question, assessed the situation, answered all my questions and resolved the issue promptly. Both men were courteous, kind and helpful. They also really knew what they were doing! Thank you to some really good people working for our Township! Ann Marie Carbin Stevensville

Planned headaches coming to Stevensville

California developers aided by planners with PCI Inc have submitted a new subdivision application for Burnt Fork Estates (BFE) to the town of Stevensville and intend to build a high density, even bigger community next to two existing subdivisions on the east side of town. There will be 78 single family lots, plus an unknown number of multifamily units on 43 lots, and a request to rezone an additional 16 lots for commercial use. There are already half-empty strip malls in the Bitterroot Valley. All this on 57 acres by the corner of Logan and Middle Burnt Fork Rd (MBFR). Is this grandiose proposition a fit for a small historical town of 2,025 residents by the 2018 census? A town that already has huge water issues with leaking underground water mains, limited water permits, water use limitations city-wide, high monthly water and sewer rates. How can Stevensville support this kind of reckless buildup? The answer is we can’t support it, especially at taxpayer expense for more wells. It’s a model for quick profit and shows little understanding of Montana community values. The BFE application is like Swiss cheese, misleading information and avoids fully addressing real deficiencies like the water issues, accurate traffic study, impact of traffic overload and safety issues for the area, high groundwater and soil that lacks ability to absorb snowmelt and heavy rain. BFE will be an ant hill of construction activity and tremendous traffic congestion for ten years of buildout. BFE is applying for approaches on Logan and MBFR. BFE wants the MBFR approach for their commercial owners and users. Creekside Meadows (CM) subdivision presently has one approach on Logan Lane. BFE wants their residents to use not only a new Logan approach but have access through two CM stub streets (Syringa and Aspen Trail) disrupting a pleasant community that has no relationship to BFE. The third CM stub street extension (Clover Ln) looks like an upside down horseshoe of six BFE lots requiring entry and exit through Creekside Meadows with no connectivity to the rightful subdivision. At a 12-16-2019 private meeting Creekside Meadows representatives met with the developers and John Kellogg and his engineer who works for PCI Inc. The meeting was recorded and transcribed. Reviewing the discussions, Creekside reps repeatedly said no access through CM. Ralph Hooley, one of the developers said, “Do you want cul-de-sacs on our side?” The CM response was “Yes”. Logic says to access BFE streets, not CM. A fourth grader could draw a better plan that makes sense. Creekside Meadows has been an independent community for 16 years of single family homes, with a HOA, strong covenants and bylaws. Simply put, Creekside Meadows residents want NO ACCESS through their quiet community. Even Hamilton does not require city streets be connected between adjacent subdivisions. All traffic along Logan with BFE included could easily reach 3,000 daily trips which will create delays with high accident potential. That number doesn’t even reflect all the construction vehicles over ten years. This will cause endless headaches beyond the completion of the subdivision for present commuters, and valley neighbors who will have little other options to quickly travel to their destinations. If you live on the eastside benches and other areas, and frequently use East Side Highway, Logan Lane and MBFR, Pine Hollow, etc. you may even end up going to Bell Crossing to 93 or go back to Main Street in Stevi. I suspect the Stevi four way stop sign intersection and the one with the Eastside Highway and Main will both need street lights. All because of a high density, poorly planned new subdivision. As a resident of Creekside Meadows, I’d like to say our community is the canary in the

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 mineshaft. The public can play an important role in speaking out at required hearings before the Stevi Planning and Zoning Board first and if BFE is approved with or without changes, then the Town Council makes the final decision. Implore your Board Members, Town Council and the Mayor to carefully study the application. If you are a county resident, contact Greg Chilcott (Ravalli County Commissioner) and Vice Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board who will conduct the Planning and Zoning Board hearing as John Kellogg, the Chair, must recuse himself since he is an owner/planner with PCI Inc. and represents the developers. Other Planning and Zoning Board members are Dan Ritter, Meghan Hanson, and Bob Michalson. We don’t need a subdivision that changes everyone’s lives like this one will. Watch for the hearing notices in the legal section of the Bitterroot Star. By law a 15 day notice in the newspaper must be given prior to the hearing date and neighbors within 500 feet from the proposed subdivision receive written notice. See you at the hearings. Marilynn Wolff Creekside Meadows Stevenville

Another levy, tax increase?

Does this seem like a similar letter you read last week? That is because it was intended that way. I feel it is imperative that every person in the Stevensville and outlying areas have an opportunity to read exactly what the new Proposed Burnt Fork Estates subdivision consists of. The proposal is to build 78 single family homes, 43 multi-family units and have 16 commercial lots all on a 57.68 parcel of land. This new proposed subdivision, though it abuts Creekside Meadows subdivision, has nothing to do with it. When the Ellisons developed Creekside Meadows, they planned for a final phase on the same parcel of land. I am unsure why the Ellisons did not follow through on their final phase; possibly high-water table, etc. However, those plans were not developed, and all permits were void. This new developer started over and submitted new plans which do not have the same covenants as Creekside Meadows. Creekside’s covenants have a limit on the height of your roof, so it does not destroy the view of the mountains for others. Burnt Fork Estates does not have that kind of requirement. They want to tie into streets coming into Creekside Drive and going out onto Logan Lane, instead of having their own access. They are applying for a second approach onto Logan Lane. Can you imagine the amount of traffic this would create? As far as the 16 commercial lots, what is wrong with supporting our local shops that are already on Main street? We are blessed to live in historic Stevensville and are proud of its heritage; we do not want to see it become a second Missoula. If this development goes through we can all expect our taxes to go up, schools impacted and possibly another school levy. This is not a small potatoes subdivision. Please go to the town website and review the 122-page application submitted for Burnt Fork Estates. We are not in California. John Kellogg, who works for PCI and represents the developer and submitted the application to the Town, also wears a second hat. He is the Chair of the Stevensville Planning and Zoning Board. John needs to recuse himself from this vote. I trust our Mayor and Town Council members will listen carefully to their constituents. Patty Johnson Stevensville

Bad public lands policy

Thank you, Senator Tester, for addressing bad public lands policy. Montanans depend on our public lands to be managed for multiple use for our quality of life. When outdated policies threaten that multiple use, something needs to be done. Senator Tester recently introduced legislation that would

end a 100-year old practice called non-competitive oil and gas leasing. Under this wasteful practice, companies can lease tens of thousands of acres of public lands for $1.50 an acre regardless of if they plan to develop the land. The administering of these leases has put a major strain on agency resources and also comes with opportunity loss when the agency no longer manages those lands for other uses like improving wildlife habitat or recreation. Overall, 64% of public lands that have been leased in Montana have never been developed and sit idle. These leases have come at a huge cost to taxpayers. Thank you, Senator Tester, for introducing such common sense legislation that will save taxpayers money and increase transparency. I hope that Senator Steve Daines will also support this fiscally smart legislation that will promote good governance. Bill Geer Lolo

It’s all about trust

Donald J Trump has betrayed our trust in myriad ways since we elected him. He lies constantly; everything with him is self-dealing. He sabotaged our reputation in the world, weakening our security. His incompetence is visible through his need to execute policy via Executive Orders and having to rely on “acting” senior staff because he can’t find competent help to work for him. As Commander-In-Chief, he is responsible for our safety and security. Guess what: we’ve been invaded, by the coronavirus. Coward that he is, he ran away and told the states to handle it. From my days as an Army officer, I understood that I was responsible for all my unit did or failed to do, a leadership principle completely unappreciated by this president. Additionally, all elected Republicans, top to bottom, from Senator to County Commissioner, who have supported Trump, have equally betrayed our trust. They support shameful policies. They cower in fear; they deny, deflect and pursue power over stewardship at every opportunity. They have shown themselves to be small, petty, unprincipled and completely undeserving of elected positions. So what, you ask. How does this matter? The way I think about it is this: “trust” is often defined as placing something you care about under the control of another where the benefit to you is less significant than the possible negative outcome. If there is no risk involved, there is no trust necessary. A reasonable example is when a mother and father want a night out, and they leave the children in the care of a babysitter. Small benefit, yes; adverse outcomes possible, e.g. something bad happens to a child; Risk involved, yes. Is trust at play? Absolutely. As a country, we elected Donald Trump for the benefits he said he’d bring. But we realize that we care about our societal norms, values and customs, our relationships across the world and our national character, I feel betrayed on all fronts, but you can decide for yourself how well you think he has honored our trust. So where does that leave us? When you look at our situation today, struggling with COVID, facing a precarious economy, experiencing unprecedented social unrest and humiliated internationally, are you willing to take that risk again? In my humble opinion, that’s where all non-Trumpers are with regard to Donald Trump himself… and by extension, all elected Republicans. In November, vote for anybody but a Republican. David Leslie Corvallis

Response to ‘Me vs We’ and ‘40 acres and a mule’ To Me vs We: Just because you claim you have taken a few courses in history and civics does not make you an expert in those

fields nor can you claim you know more than most people. I also happen to know for a fact that many of the people who attend the “Stand up for Freedom Patriots” have taken a course in Constitutional studies given by a local person, which is an ongoing study. You said you don’t understand the attitude that individual rights reign supreme over our collective well-being. Let me explain. The Constitution protects individual rights, democracy can rule over the majority and socialism is all must do for the good of all aka no rights. We are a republic which means we have individual rights and not the socialist idea that we all must do for the good of all. If you are wearing a mask then you should not be threatened by those who don’t. Besides we were told Covid dies at 80 degrees. Oh FYI, “We the People” in the Preamble was stating who was writing the Constitution and yes, the Constitution is about individual rights. Mary, it sounds like you did not grow up where there were many black people, I did. They went to the same schools I did, had the same opportunities, lived in nice homes, many nicer than mine. Yes, some do live in poverty but so do many whites. Many blacks are very well educated today and have attended college. There are black lawyers, doctors, and many are CEO positions. What about all your black sports figures, singers, movie stars, TV actors, they live in huge mansions. So, don’t talk about under privileged, they have had many a boot strap (as you like to put it) to pull themselves up with in society. In fact, what you have been writing is insulting and racist toward them. Also speak for yourself, I am not afraid of blacks, nor do I know of any whites who are, like you claim. I have had many for friends over my lifetime. Most whites look at them like anyone else, they are people just like me. So, if you are afraid, you have the problem, not others. There was no racism that I could see until the Democrats started promoting it and stirring up the pot of more racism. Blacks are not under privileged, they have the same opportunities we all do, in fact in many cases more opportunities. So, stop spreading your lies about how under privileged they are and how terrible you think whites are towards them. People like you are the problem in America! Dee Gibney Hamilton

Bitterroot Star -- Page 7

Sports Talk I am at a loss and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is. The year of COVID-19 has taken a toll on everyone in some manner. I’m not talking about the worry of contacting the virus, that’s a given. What I’m talking about is the loss of sports! Now you all know how I love sports and competition in general. When this hit in the spring, we all thought that perhaps by the beginning of summer, it would be under control and life would return to normal. But it didn’t. Springtime is always Little League Baseball time. From late March until maybe the second week of May, parents, grandparents, and yes, even players, stand or sit at the baseball field with as many layers of clothing as they can get on. We sit and cheer on our little players as we freeze and complain. There was none of that this year. The same was true of track and tennis. There was nothing. On to summer. If it weren’t for a little Legion baseball, and some barrel racing and rodeo events, I would have gone stir crazy. There’s weren’t even many sports on television, at least not the common ones like basketball or baseball. I found myself watching more and more cooking shows like Chopped, or Spring Baking Challenge, anything with competition. But, even though it was, and is, competition, it just doesn’t quite cut it. Early this summer I found horse racing on a couple of channels. I was in heaven! Saturday afternoons I could be found sitting in front of the TV cheering on the ponies. I admit it was a bit strange with no crowd in

Sound like what the Democrats want you to believe? It sure does not to me. I trust Steve Daines to continue to work hard for the betterment of all Americans and he has my vote. If you doubt what I am saying, you can check for yourself at daines. senate.gov. All I am asking is that you find facts as you decide who to vote for. Pat Earnest Hamilton

Support for It’s all in the Star Bullock

You read the Star, you look forward to seeing it come out. It is informative, you get upcoming events, anniversary, town events and problems! The two town council members need to resign. Holcomb, she has no backbone, she has been a follower, she likes being involved, but no leadership, it is time for her to step aside. Michalson has been nothing but (a butt), a headache for the whole town, step down, put someone in that will work for the town! You see Recall the Mayor on business property! Freedom sign! As a business person, we have a right to think and express. I cannot lean to one side or the other, that is personal. Russ Hanni Stevensville

Support for Daines

I build relationships with people to learn to trust them. I have done this with Senator Steve Daines for the past four years. Steve Daines is working to hold China accountable for their role in covering up the COVID-19 outbreak. He is fighting for legislation to end our country’s reliance on Chinese manufactured medical equipment and drugs. He wants to see those jobs brought back to the United States. Daines has continued to condemn the Chinese government for restricting the human right of religious freedom. Daines spent 28 years in the private sector building companies and creating jobs – he helped create over 500 Montana jobs (RightNow Technologies). He is continuing to fight our reliance on China with a Made in America plan and is fighting to bring our jobs home and put American workers first.

Bullock works to expand access to health care, Daines doesn’t. I want to commend Governor Bullock for doing what many rural state governors were unable or unwilling to do -- work with both parties to expand access to health care and boost our economy through Medicaid expansion. By bringing Republicans and Democrats together, Governor Bullock made health care more affordable for nearly 1 in 10 Montanans. Medicaid expansion has been integral in saving our rural hospitals, which are the economic backbone of so many frontier communities. It also sustains thousands of jobs across Montana and brings millions into our state’s economy. To say it has given a return on investment is a huge understatement. Steve Daines, on the other hand, has voted multiple times against affordable health care coverage for pre-existing conditions and measures to lower prescription drug prices. Not surprising as he is heavily invested in health care funds. Over 40% of people, both Democrat and Republican, have pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies could charge exorbitant rates to cover diagnoses such as high blood pressure, COPD, or arthritis, making premiums out of reach for innumerable Montanans. Governor Bullock is the leader we need to bring people together and move this state forward. He has my vote for the U.S. Senate. Andrea Tobin Hamilton

Another thought

If it’s not okay for me to steal, loot or vandalize; it’s not

By Jean Schurman

It looks like football will be held this fall and that makes this reporter happy. File photo. the stands and only a few people on the rail, but still, it was horse racing! Now, as some of the sports are coming back on television, I am watching more. But, I admit that I’m looking at the cutout characters who make up the non existent fans to see who is being immortalized. Last week, Kansas City had stars from the movie “Weekend at Bernie’s” while another had a few pets situated throughout the ‘crowd’. I admit, however, that in the back of my head has been the thought, ‘it will be okay come fall’. Now, reality is rearing its ugly head (along with COVID). Any fall sport that happens is going to have a different look. Social distancing will be a must for fans and players alike. Masks will be the norm, except on the playing fields, and the aroma of hand sanitizer will battle with sweat and muscle relaxers. But hopefully, at this point anyway, the student athletes will have their fall season and high school sports will go on. There may not be as many games but at least there will be games. The parents will be happy, the athletes happy, and me, I’ll be over the moon. Crossing my fingers for a good fall sports season. I’ll even take the wind and the rain.

okay for a group of people to steal, loot or vandalize. If it’s not okay for me to murder, then it’s not okay for a group of people to murder. If it’s not okay that you force me to do what you like, then it’s certainly not okay for a group of others (elected or otherwise) to force me to do what you like. Just because we have a system that steals, murders, and forces compliance at your bidding (if you vote, participate, and/ or play that game) does not make it right or beneficial for all of humanity. It’s time to build a new system that allows all of humanity to thrive! I challenge you to get to work on that! Wherever your talents lie, whatever makes you sparkle, now is the time to build... before the structures completely fall. The one rule in this infinite game is to figure out how humanity (all of us!) can continue playing the game. Kris Bayer Hamilton

Even I was not aware

In his March 21, 1861, Cornerstone Speech, Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens said: “The [original US] constitution … rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. This was an error…. Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.” This is what the Confederate flag stands for, and common humanity, not to mention science and history, show that it is a false belief. Yes, of course all lives matter. THIS is why it is so important to iterate that Black Lives Matter. Mary Fahnestock-Thomas Hamilton

Calendar

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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 eligibility guidelines: 1 $23,606; 2 - $31,894; 3 - $40,182; 4 - $48,470; 5 - $56,758. For each additional family member, add $8,288. Call 406-802-7180 for more information or see on Facebook; www.facebook.com/ Ravalli-County-WIC.

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 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.

BitterRodders Car Club

BitterRodders Car Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at BJ’s Restaurant, 900 N. 1st in Hamilton. Everyone welcome. For more information call 961-3136.

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 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

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

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

St. Mary’s Mission, Museum open 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. Call 777-5734 for information.

Free summer meal program

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.

Child care help available

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.

Three Mile Picnic cancelled

Three Mile Community Picnic is cancelled the year due to construction. They are hoping to have some type of event when the building is finished. The park has but up a pavilion for the park use. Everyone should drive by the park and check it out.

Wed, August 12 Bitterroot College Advisory Council

The Advisory Council for Bitterroot College University of Montana will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 12 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held remotely using the video conferencing application Zoom. Individuals will need to Register and then download and launch the FREE Zoom app to watch/participate in the meeting. Note: a Zoom account/subscription is NOT needed for watching/participating. The BC Advisory Council is a public board and welcomes members of the public to observe and participate at its meetings. The meeting agenda and supplemental meeting materials are available: • on the BC website at Advisory Council Meetings • by calling the BC Business Office at (406) 375-0100 • by emailing victoria. clark@umontana.edu

Hamilton parent/ player meeting

Hamilton High School is moving the Fall Parent/Player meeting to Wednesday, August 12th. The meeting will be at the stadium and the schedule will be: Football and Golf – 5 p.m. Cross Country and Volleyball – 6 p.m. Soccer and Cheer – 7 p.m.

BRHA board meeting

The Bitter Root Humane Association will hold its regular monthly Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, August 12 at 5 p.m. in the HRC Building meeting room at 316 N. Third Street (corner of Pine and North 3rd Street - east alley entrance), Hamilton. The public is welcome to attend, but seating is limited and all entering must wear masks and practice social distancing due to the recent increase in COVID19 cases in our community.

‘Lawyers in Libraries’

Via Zoom and in the Library’s community room. Ever want to just talk to a Lawyer…free? On Wednesday, August 12 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room and via Zoom, Ed Higgins will discuss the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the Rule of Law. Attorney Ed Higgins practices with the Montana Legal Services Associa-

tion in Missoula. MLSA staff attorney Ed Higgins received the George L. Bousliman Professionalism Award from the Montana State Bar. The Bousliman Award recognizes lawyers who have established a reputation for professionalism and have demonstrated extraordinary service by contributing time and resources to public service, public education, charitable or pro bono activities, and encouraging respect for the law and our legal system by making the legal system more accessible and responsive. Higgins was nominated for his help setting up a structured pro bono program for the Northwest Montana Bar Association and for his work on the Access to Justice Commission in creating easy-touse forms for self-represented litigants. This is a Zoom event with the library. Register online at www.northvalleylibrary.org and click on the calendar. Find the event, sign up and you will receive a Zoom link via your email address. If you attend 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.

‘Celebrate Democracy’ event

The Ravalli County Democratic Central Committee is sponsoring “Celebrate Democracy” with local Democratic candidates Margaret Gorski and Laura Merrill on Thursday, August 13 at 6 p.m. at Lewis & Clark Park in Stevensville. In the immortal words of Molly Ivins, “So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth.” Enjoy music from local folk artist Bill LaCroix at 7 p.m. Bill will bring his banjo and guitar and treat you to some timely, as well as old time, pickin’ and singin.’ Bring your own picnic supper or order out from a local Stevi eatery and enjoy an evening of community, music, and fun. Bring all your friends! Social distancing and masks, of course. For more details, call (406) 546-4074.

Sat, August 15 Fort Owen State Park programs

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 15: personal Aug 22: leisure & travel Aug 29: tools and prehistoric/indigenous The park is accessed off the Stevensville Cut-off Road.

Monday, August 17 Montana Conversation

The North Valley Public Library hosts the Montana Conversation “Finding Montana” with Ednor Therriault on Monday, August 17 at 6 p.m. The program is via Zoom and in person at the Community Center at the library, 208 Main Street, Stevensville. It’s been said that Montana could be sliced up into at least half a dozen states. The diversity of cultures, economies, topography, history, and a hundred other factors tends to dictate what kind of Montanan you are, depending on where you live. Due to the vast distances between population centers in Big Sky Country, important events from one region can go completely unheard of in another. Ednor Therriault shines a spotlight into interesting but not widely known subjects in every corner of the state, bringing stories from one region to the people of another. Through stories, images and even original songs, he fosters discussion about the differences we celebrate, but also the things we might be surprised to learn we have in common. Therriault’s first book, “Montana Curiosities”, covered roadside attractions, unique events, and a couple hundred weird people, places and things across the state. Ten years and five books later, he continues to explore the state and bring home interesting stories. Seven Montanas, which was published in October, 2019 by TwoDot, drills down into each of the six regions of Montana to use a mix of journalism, essay and personal commentary to profile the area and the people who live there. The library reminds everyone to practice social distancing, wash your hands and masks are required in the library. For more information about current offerings and events at the library check our website at northvalleylibrary.org.

Sat, August 22 Fort Owen work day & meeting

Friends of Fort Owen will hold the annual meeting and work day on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Fort Owen State Park, Stevensville. Come celebrate unique history at Fort Owen State Park. Join the Friends of Fort Owen and Montana State Parks for: • A talk about preservation techniques for historic structures • Current events at Fort Owen State Park, and current happenings with the Friends of Fort Owen non-profit park partner. • Take part in helping preserve the park structures with a workday activity! Please bring your own work gloves and cloth face mask. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. Snacks and drinks will be provided!

If your financial advisor or accountant has come up with a smart plan that fits your needs, make that plan a reality with custom drafted legal documents such as trusts and wills.

JOHN MASAR Attorney 406-625-2682 115 W 3rd Street Suite 103 Stevensville jmasar@lionwoodlaw.com www.lionwoodlaw.com Ready to help.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Call Kaitlyn Davis at 2734253 or email kait1yn.davis@ mt.gov to reserve a space and to coordinate parking. RSVP by Friday, August 21 at 4 p.m.

‘Pints for Pets’ benefit

If you haven’t been to Fin’s Tap House in Corvallis, then this should be your reason... a wonderful summer Saturday night of brews, delicious food, music and fun all for the great cause of supporting the Bitter Root Humane Association. The night of fun is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. and will include plenty of games of chance, raffle baskets, great food and brew choices along with music on the outdoor patio as the sun goes down! Bring family and friends and show your support for the critters at the Bitter Root Humane Association with a portion of the night’s proceeds being donated

to the cause! Fin’s Tap House is located at 352 Woodside Cutoff Road.

Bitterroot Star -- Page 9

Sat, August 29

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. Introduction to Defensive Handguns for Women Only will be Safe gun handling will be taught and stressed. Various types of held August 29 & September 12. ammunition and the performance This 2-day course is for women of each type will be discussed. with little or no experience with The class will be held at the handguns, who may be frightened of handguns or who are considering Whittecar Range on Blodgett View Road. acquiring a handgun. The class is limited to 10 The first day course is participants. For an application designed to assist you in choosing or further information call Lee at the right handgun for you. It will 642-3590 or Jim at 360-8392. also introduce you to the faciliSuccessful completion of ties of the Whittecar Range. There this two-day course meets the eduwill be discussions on handgun cation requirements for application safety, basic operation of revolvers, semi-automatic handguns, and to the state for a concealed carry permit. the cartridges used in each type of handgun. The legal aspects of the use of force will be presented and discussed. Handguns will be provided so that you may handle the different types and models. Ammunition will

Tuesday, August 25 Handgun class for women Stevi School registration The Stevensville School registration will be August 25, 26 and 27 from 8:30-3:30 each day. No appointment is necessary. If you have a student entering grades K-3, go to the K-3 (C) building. If you have a student entering grades 4-8, go to the 4-8 (B) building, and grades 9-12 will register in the high school building (E). Proof of immunizations and a birth certificate must be brought to registration. If registering a high school student, a transcript will also be needed.

Support local!

DID YOU KNOW THAT STEVENSVILLE IS THE OLDEST PIONEER SETTLEMENT IN MONTANA? WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR TOWN? THEN JOIN US!

Stevensville History Walk SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH 10AM-2PM Start: Fort Owen State Park 10am End: Historic St. Mary's Mission 2pm

RSVP Required by Wednesday August 25th to Kaitlyn at Kaitlyn.Davis@mt.gov or 406-273-4253 No cost! You are welcome to walk the route with us, or drive and meet us at the different stops. Full itinerary available upon RSVP.

Call for nominations 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.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Black Lives Matter meets Yellowstone Page 10 -- Bitterroot Star

By Johnathan Hettinger Montana Free Press

Richard Franklin put his family vacation on hold for a few hours on a recent Saturday morning. Franklin, a Black man traveling with his family from Atlanta to Yellowstone National Park for the first time, parked near the visitor center in Mammoth Hot Springs and walked with one of his daughters toward a group of 20 or so Black Lives Matter protesters. “Mind if we join you?” Franklin asked. The all-white group of protesters quickly agreed that Franklin’s family was more than welcome. “Do you have a mask you can put on?” asked Maddy Jackson, the protest’s organizer. “Sure,” Franklin said. He pulled a purple bandana out of his shorts pocket and wrapped it around his face. Jackson gave him a name tag, and he picked up a sign and stood chatting with Jackson, maintaining social distance. Community members of Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner organized the protest, joining millions of people across the United States who have participated in Black Lives Matter protests and rallies in response to

the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people in recent months. Masks, name tags and social distancing were requirements for protesters in Yellowstone’s so-called free speech zone, just outside the Horace Albright Visitor Center at park headquarters. The protest was limited to 30 people, and protesters were not allowed to raise their voices or mount signs on wooden sticks, per National Park Service regulations. The conversation among protesters mainly consisted of friends catching up on their lives during the pandemic. Reaction from the steady stream of cars that drove by during the four-hour event was overwhelmingly supportive. Many people honked their support, and quite a few stopped to take pictures. A few jeered, “get a job,” or “all lives matter.” A pickup drove by flying a “Blue Lives Matter” flag. Another flew a “Black Lives Matter” flag. Mary Beth Reagan, who lives in Mammoth and attended the protest, said the gathering was unique in that it both recognized the local community and reached well beyond it, to visitors from across the United States. “Maybe it’ll start a conversation,” Reagan said. Reagan, a mother of two

A photo believed to be from 1926 provided by Yellowstone National Park historian Leslie Quinn shows the Livingston Ku Klux Klan gathered in their robes in front of the Roosevelt Arch on an outing to Yellowstone. Credit: Photo provided courtesy of Leslie Quinn

who took her young sons to the protest, said it meant a lot to see a demonstration where members of a majority-white community came together in support of Black lives. Throughout the event, several people of color, including Franklin and his family, temporarily joined in, and Reagan said she was glad her sons could partake of an experience that’s unusual in the daily life of Mammoth. “That’s why I brought my kids. We don’t get to experience a lot of diversity here,” she said. Franklin, too, said he was glad to see so many white people supporting the movement. “God is shining on us today,” he said. Saturday’s protest took place as conservationists nationwide are reckoning with the environmental movement’s own history of racism. Last week, the Sierra Club announced it is reexamining the history of John Muir, who helped start the organization and played an instrumental role in the conservation movement in the U.S. Muir also perpetuated white supremacy, according to the Sierra Club, and made discriminatory comments about Black and Native people. The Roosevelt Arch near Gardiner, whose cornerstone was laid in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, proclaims that Yellowstone is “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Carrie Holder, who has lived in Mammoth Hot Springs for 32 years, made a sign emphasizing that Yellowstone should be for “all the people.” Holder said that means everyone: people who live in Gardiner and Mammoth, the millions of people who visit the park each year, and people who don’t visit the park, but support the existence of a place where grizzly bears, bison and wolves can roam free. The arch hasn’t always symbolized that inclusiveness. A picture from 1926 provided to Montana Free Press by park historian Leslie Quinn shows the Livingston Ku Klux Klan gathered in their robes in front of the arch on

Celebrating 5 Years!

A Black Lives Matter protester holds a sign advocating inclusiveness during a rally at Mammoth Hot Springs on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Credit: Johnathan Hettinger / MTFP an outing to Yellowstone. Wallace Stegner called national parks America’s “best idea,” describing them as “Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” But that hasn’t always been true in Yellowstone. Ashea Mills, a park guide who lives in Gardiner and joined the protest, said Yellowstone’s history has been whitewashed. Throughout the park’s history, the idea that Native people didn’t really use the Yellowstone area has been promoted, despite a long history of Native people living there. “Our interpretation of Yellowstone is sorely misguided,” Mills said. The park, like every other park in the National Park system, is on land that was once occupied by Native Americans. There is evidence of Native people in Yellowstone going back 11,000 years, and a number of tribes lived in the region at least seasonally into the 19th century. The Sheepeater people lived in Yellowstone until it was established as the world’s first national park in 1872. Some Sheepeater descendents still live on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. When the Nez Perce people sought refuge in Yellowstone in 1877, they were chased out by the U.S. Army. Yellowstone was the last refuge for wild bison, which were driven nearly to extinction by a military campaign to control Native Americans. In 1902, the last 23 wild bison were located in Pelican Valley, one of the park’s most remote areas. The species was later recovered in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. Today, about 4,000 bison live in Yellowstone. Yellowstone still promotes the memory of racist American namesakes, despite pleas from

Native Americans to change place names including Hayden Valley, named after Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden, who advocated the extermination of Native peoples, and Mount Doane, named for Lieutenant Gustavus Cheyney Doane, who oversaw the Marias Massacre that killed 173 Blackfeet people in 1870. The idea of national parks and wilderness today is largely conceptualized around the absence of people, but people live in and around Yellowstone, Holder noted. The town of Mammoth, in Wyoming, is five miles south of Gardiner, in Montana. While Mammoth residents have to drive to Cody to renew their driver’s licenses or get new license plates, the community is more closely affiliated with Gardiner, the only park entrance that is open yearround. Children in Mammoth attend school in Gardiner, and the two towns share one community Facebook group. Gardiner had 875 people in the 2010 census. Mammoth had 263. As of the 2010 census, Gardiner is 97.3% white. Nearly everyone who lives in Mammoth works for or has a household member who works for the National Park or one of its concessionaires. Many of Saturday’s protesters declined to say where they work, saying that doing so could suggest a violation of the Hatch Act, a law designed to prevent federal government employees from using their positions to influence political activity. As it has in many rural communities, the protest planning generated significant pushback on Facebook, Jackson said. Some comments about the protest encouraged grizzly bears to eat protesters. A local outfitter posted that he’d heard the protesters were “terrorists” who planned to paint the Roo-

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Black Lives Matter protesters gather at Mammoth Hot Springs on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Credit: Johnathan Hettinger / MTFP

sevelt Arch black, and said he and other locals would guard and protect local businesses. Park County Sheriff Brad Bichler replied to the outfitters status with the comment, “Thank you my friend for always speaking your mind and the truth.” As a result of the online backlash, and after a recent fire in Gardiner that burned three prominent local businesses, Jackson said she didn’t want to create any additional consternation in the community, and so decided to move the protest from its initial location at the Roosevelt arch to Mammoth. More than one Black Lives Matter protest attendee said the presence of park law enforcement at the new location made them feel safer. Holder said it was the first civil rights protest in the community she can remember. Jackson said that while the populations of Mammoth and Gardiner aren’t especially diverse, she wants to create space for people who might want to move there. In recent years, housing prices in Gardiner have skyrocketed. As a result, many community members have been priced out of the home-buying market, and school enrollment has declined. Jackson said she thought it was important to demonstrate that there are open-minded people in Gardiner and Mammoth. The community brings in workers each year from across the country and around the world. At the local grocery store, each clerk features their home state or country on their name tag. “I don’t live in Bozeman. I don’t live in Livingston. I live here,” Jackson said. “If we want more diverse people, we need to show them they’re welcome.” “Like everywhere in the country,” Jackson acknowledged, Yellowstone has a racist history. Visitors to the national parks are overwhelmingly white, according to ABC News. Non-white people make up 42% percent of the national population, but just 23% of park visitors. Park employees are also overwhelmingly white. More than 83% of National Park Service employees across the agency’s more than 400 properties are white — about 20% higher than the rest of the federal government, according to E&E News. Jackson said she recognizes the challenges posed by having a majority-white staff welcoming people of color to the park. Franklin, the Black man visiting from Atlanta, didn’t stick around for the full protest. A little while into the demonstration, his wife and other daughter joined, and just before he and his family left, he asked the other protesters to gather around. He explained that he felt heartened to see so many white people supporting the cause, especially in a rural place. He asked the protesters to stick with it. He said it meant a lot to him, and to other people of color who drove by, honking their support. And then he apologized to the group for having to leave. “Sorry I’ve got to go,” Franklin said. “I mean, I am on vacation.”

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It’s Dry-and-Dropper Time This year we’re looking at sparse hatches of aquatic insects. Dry fly fishing can be pretty good on the days when we see more bugs, and simply OK on others. For one thing, high and prolonged runoff changed things a bit. The river got remodeled, you might say. Rocks tumbled along the bottom until entire runs were dispersed, and as that hap-

Flyfishing with Chuck Stranahan pened, aquatic insects got moved around, tumbled, eaten by greedy trout, and squished. We’re not looking at the same hatch profile we might see in a year with less turbulent runoff. The hatches are holding up best in the middle river. I’ll get into the reasons for that in a future column. For now, it’s a gainsay on most days that there aren’t the number of bugs on top required to bring big fish steadily to the surface. When the hatch is sparse, a dry-dropper rig can be the answer. A common tactic with local anglers is to fish a Fat Freddy or Chernobyl Ant on top, and dangle a Pat’s Rubberlegs (that’s the original name for a fly that has several local variations) a couple of feet underneath it, tied off the bend of the dry fly hook. The reason it’s so popular is because it works. The best dry-dropper rig Ed Schroeder showed me a better way to fish dry-dropper rigs when I fished with him on his native Kings River below Yosemite National Park in California. Ed threads a fresh tapered leader with a parachute dry, then ties a piece of tippet about three to five feet long below the dry with a triple surgeon’s knot. The dry fly moves freely along the leader and is stopped by the knot. Air resistance in casting keeps the fly positioned at the knot, where it stays for most of its drift. He then ties a heavy nymph, about the same size as the dry, to the tippet. The bottom fly can follow the roll and drift of the current,

while the top fly faces upstream, as do most naturals on the water, as it creeps up the leader. We’re approaching the time when our big fall drake, or hecuba, will be on the water. That’s the ideal time for dry-dropper fishing. The hecuba nymphs start to move early. As they increase, the hatch gradually comes on. I usually start fishing the nymph when days begin to cool a bit, well before the hecuba hatch gains much notice. Good combinations for this rig during the hecuba hatch include a dry #8 Parachute Hopper on top, with a #8 Pat’s Rubberlegs or #10 Drake Drifter below. As the day progresses switch to a #10 Brindle ‘Chute on top, with a #10 Drake Drifter below. When you start to get ore hits on top than underneath, regardless what fly combination you are using, get the nymph off and tip out your leader for dry fly fishing and get to work. The Latin designation for our big fall drake has been shortened to hecuba by local anglers. Some even call it the Brindle ‘Chute hatch. They used to call it the hex hatch. They’d fish it with a parachute Adams or green drake with frustrating results. I wasn’t content to leave it there.

The birth of the Brindle ‘Chute I am afflicted with a restless mind that questions, with relentless curiosity, the confines of the accepted, conventional, and readymade. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on what day it is and what I’m up to. It seems to work well enough for designing trout flies, but has no doubt kept me from more gainful, worthwhile pursuits. But that’s a discussion for another day. We’re talking trout flies here. I wasn’t willing to accept what I’d heard about this hex hatch and the futility of trying to catch big trout that rose to them in midcurrent, midday. I started by catching a few of these hexes. I took a good look at them from all angles, particularly from underneath, as a trout would see them, in the bright sunlight of midday. They didn’t look at all like a parachute Adams or a green drake. They radiated a batch of colors, from the yellow-green of the abdominal gills to the orangishbrownish tints of their sides and legs. “Right size, wrong color will get you there part of the time,” I mused. The hexes had the unusual behavior of drifting along on the surface for quite a while before taking off. They were easy pickings for trout that just rose up

deliberately, even lazily, and ate them. That could work out well once the right fly is there, I thought. I got home to the vise and started to experiment. The right dubbing blend was soon concocted, a few flies were tied, and the rest is well-enough known: the Brindle ‘Chute works. It catches fish. It ended the frustration of the “hex” hatch and

turned it around. The Drake Drifter, or hecuba nymph I had no idea what the nymphs looked like but wanted to learn more – so a few years later I started turning over rocks. The mature flies emerged in the middle of medium-fast runs. They apparently had to drift into the runs where they hatched from the shallows above. I started my search there. I found some strangelooking nymphs among the rocks in the slower moving marginal water. They were greener than the hecuba dries. They had covered themselves with bits of stream bottom debris held by the filia on their backsides. They were well-camouflaged, and almost looked dirty. Judging by where I found them, and where they emerged below, they had to hatch by drifting a long way in the current. Hmmm… come up with the right nymph, dead-drift it under a hopper or a Brindle ‘Chute… Once again it was back to the vise to concoct a dubbing blend that mimic the multicolored bug-and-debris costume of the natural, and see what happens. What happened is a fly that works nearly as well as its surface counterpart – and out-fishes it when dry fly action is scarce. I call it the Drake Drifter. The only problem with this fly is that there is never enough time to tie them. This year, I’ll try to keep a few in the bins. Author and flytyer Chuck Stranahan can be reached at chuck@chuck-stranahan.com or visit his fly shop at 109 E. Main in Hamilton.

Bitterroot Star -- Page 11

The 2019-2020 Rockin’ RC rodeo court: Little Miss Miranda Bischoff, Queen Johnali Johns, and Princess Addison Jessop. File photo.

Rockin’ RC Rodeo Queen Pageant

The Rockin’ RC Rodeo Queen Pageant will be held on September 4 at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Even though the Ravalli County Fair has been cancelled, certain parts of the event will go on and the pageant is one that will happen. Contestants will vie for queen, princess, or Little Miss. The competition will be made up of a fashion show, prepared speeches, impromptu questions, and horsemanship. Queens are 16 to 22 years of age. Princesses are 10 to 15, and Little Misses are 6-9 years of age. Each of these categories are tailored for the specific age so a young lady competing for Little Miss would not run the same horsemanship pattern as one competing for the queen’s crown. The winner of the queen contest will win a Double H Custom Hat, a handmade pair of chaps and a $250 scholarship. Entry forms are available at the fairgrounds. Deadline for entry has been extended until the 21st of August.

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STEVENSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SEEKS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, 20 hrs/wk to start at $12/hr. Taskoriented, organized, with “can-do”

123 S. 5TH Corner of 5th & State in Hamilton attitude. Proficient in MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel & Publisher, as well as Quickbooks. Skills in Facebook, Mailchimp & YouTube. Ability to keep private information confidential. Flexibility a must. Excellent communication skills, including interpersonal. Send resume & cover letter to steviumc@gmail. com or call with questions: 406363-8065. WEB PRESS OPERATOR The Miles City Star is seeking an experienced Web press operator to run a 5-unit Goss Community Press. Miles City is located in Southeastern Montana, an authentic western town with tons of outdoor recreational opportunities. This is for a day-time press shift, Monday through Friday. Weekends free and no nights. Please contact publisher Andrew Prutsok at andy. prutsok@gmail.com, with resume, references and salary requirements. EOE GROW YOUR CAREER while living the good life in Montana. The Great Falls Clinic, a progressive, physician-led healthcare organization, is seeking experienced Utilization Review, Critical Care, PACU, Cath Lab & OR Circulating Registered Nurses for our growing service lines. Competitive salary & benefits, 12-hour shifts, call rotation, retention & moving bonus. Visit www.gfclinic.com. Contact Joey Richman at (406) 454-7325 or joey.richman@gfclinic.com 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.

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publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Helen L. Gurtner, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, to Cheeney Law, PLLC, PO Box 212, Hamilton, MT 59840, or filed with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 30th day of July 2020. /s/ Helen L. Gurtner, Personal Representative BS 8-5, 8-12, 8-19-20. MNAXLP

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Naomi J. Cheeney Cheeney Law, PLLC P.O. 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 JOHN R. GURTNER, Deceased. Case No.: DP-20-57 Dept. No. 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the Decedent are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first

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 ROBERT W. TREZONA, Deceased. Case No.: DP-20-80 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 Sean G. Jones, 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 4th day of August 2020. /s/ Sean G. Jones, Personal Representative BS 8-12, 8-19, 9-2-20. MNAXLP

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Clerk of the above-entitled Court. DATED this 21st day of July 2020. /s/ Constance Anson, Personal RepresentativE BS 7-29, 8-5, 8-12-20. MNAXLP PUBLIC HEARING RAVALLI COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2021 FINAL BUDGET The BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at 10:30 AM in the Ravalli County Administrative Building, 215 S. 4th Street (3rd floor - Commissioner’s Conference Room), Hamilton, Montana, for the purpose of taking public comment and reviewing the Final Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. The public hearing is anticipated to run until 4:00 PM and continue to Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 10:00 AM. If necessary, it will continue to Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 10:30 AM. The proposed final annual operating budget for FY 2021 is on file and open for inspection at the Ravalli County Commissioners’ Office located at 215 S. 4th Street, Suite A (3rd floor), Hamilton, Montana. The final FY 2021 budget will be approved and adopted by Resolution on Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 2:30 PM. If you have any questions, please contact the Commissioners’ Office at 375-6500, e-mail at commissioners@rc.mt.gov or at the above address. Chris Taggart Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant BS 8-5, 8-12-20. MNAXLP

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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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - STEVENSVILLE RURAL FIRE DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Stevensville Rural Fire District (S.R.F.D.) Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing August 19th, 2020, at 7:0 0 p.m. at 156 Kinsman Dr., Stevensville Montana, to allow public comment and review of the revised S.R.F.D. 2020 proposed amendment to the Budget. This public hearing will also allow public comment and review of the S.R.F.D. proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. Proposed fiscal year 2021 budget and Proposed 2020 budget amendment are posted outside the rural fire administration office for inspection in the Stevensville Rural Fire District Office located at 156 Kinsman Dr., Stevensville, MT. 59870. Any taxpayer or resident may appear at the hearing and be heard for or against any part of the proposed 2020 budget amendment or preliminary FY 2021 budget. The budget and 2020 budget amendment will be on the agenda to be discussed and adopted on August 19th, 2020 following the public hearing. If you have any questions, please contact the Stevensville Rural Fire District at (406) 777-7033 please leave a message if no answer, or email admin@stevensvilleruralfire. com or at P.O. Box 667, Stevensville, MT 59870. Please make all communications attention : “District Budget/Budget Amendment” BS 8-5, 8-12-20. MNAXLP

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Call for appointment: 363-6684 The Frame Shop Inspired and precise custom picture framing since 1995.

BITTERROOT STAR

BUSINESS DIRECTORY COUNSELING Positive Goal Directed Cognitive Behavioral Counseling

Hank Winters, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Counselor Serving the Bitterroot since 1980 Most insurance plans accepted

363-3882 • 217 N. 3rd, Hamilton

Professional OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE RCEDA Business Center Hamilton 406.375-9416 www.rceda.org

20-Word Personal $8.50 20-Word Commercial $10.50 Each Add’l Word - 20¢ Includes Posting to Web Page

TILE & STONE WORK

JOE’S TILE

& STONE LLC.

& Handyman Services Walk-in Showers, Floors Anything Tile or Stone

777-4207 • 241-4368

FINANCIAL

PERSONNEL

Looking for WORK?

MARTIAL ARTS

APPLY TODAY WORK TOMORROW Full Time—Part Time

Starting at $9/hr

Post Office Box 402 - Stevensville MT

406.531.5005 • 406.531.9556 www.fosterandfosterfs.com Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser

WINDOWCOVERINGS COVERINGS WINDOW

Windows Right to Your Door!

Verticals • Wood Blinds • Miniblinds Shades • Pleated • Cellular • Duette® We Beat Ads Claiming 50%-60%-70% off! FREE Measuring, Estimates FREE Measuring, Estimates & Installation & Installation Save An Extra $20 on your purchase of $200 or more! 549-2882 • Toll Free 1-888-549-2882

SEE US TODAY!

A2Z

842 S. 1St St., Hamilton - 363-0723 115 W. 3rd, Ste. 106, Stevensville - 777-1662

BANKING

Located at the Canyons Athletic Club

360-5420

FUNERAL HOME

Whitesitt Funeral Home 314 Church

Stevensville

777-5711

Bill & Helen Kropp Serving the Bitterroot Since 1902

Wednesday, August 12,, 2020

Pantry

JOHNSON APPLIANCE SERVICE

continued

comes donations of food and personal items from the community. Guidelines for acceptable donations include: • Fresh eggs from home and commercial operations • Fresh produce from home gardens and commercial farms • Commercially canned goods (undented, no more than 2 years past the expiration date) • Commercially packed meats, including game • Unopened commercially packaged foods, including juices and baby food • Unopened box and bag goods, like cereals, hamburger helper, beans, rice and sugar (Bulk items are welcomed, but the food division into individual packages must be done at the Pantry to obey food safety regulations.) • Unopened spices and herbs, flavoring packets • Unopened personal items, like shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, feminine hygiene products and diapers • Unopened first aid items, like band-aids, ointments, gauze, etc. • All paper goods, including toilet paper, kleenex, paper towels, tape • All cleaning supplies, like detergent and dishwashing soap. The following items are unacceptable due to food safety guidelines: • No home canned goods (including preserves, jellies, etc.) • No home prepared meat or game • No opened food items • Commercially packed goods that are more than 2 years past the expiration date. Pantry Partners can be reached at (406) 777-0351. It can also be found on internet at pantrypartnersfoodbank.org or on social media at: https://www. facebook.com/PantryPartnersFoodBank

Bitterroot Star -- Page 13

Get local!

IN HOME SERVICE SPECIALISTS

For information about advertising in your local paper, call the Bitterroot Star at 777-3928!

Now Providing You with Quality Speed Queen Laundry Products 363-3592

POLE BUILDING SPECIALIST

We’re really the BEST!

• snow removal • bobcat work • small concrete work • fencing • garages • garage doors • carports • decks

Call Jim • 406-381-7337 • Hamilton email: werstwconstruction@yahoo.com

Come Taste the ! r e m m u S f o Flavors

Family Owned & Operated Saving you money since 1972

SERVICING ALL YOUR KITCHEN & LAUNDRY APPLIANCE NEEDS FROM LOLO TO DARBY No Matter Where You Bought Them!

Switch to DISH Better

Faster

TV

Internet

from

4799

$

/mo.

irnoff New Sm

from

4999

$

s Infusion

/mo.

Offer ends 1/13/21. Wi-Fi included. Restrictions apply. Internet not provided by DISH.

Eagle Satellite

Call us today! 800-386-7222

Backpack -C

anned Win e

s!

Crossword Solution

301 Main Street Stevensville 777-5591 © Feature Exchange

Looking for a new member of the family? Call 363-5311 or visit our website at bitterroothumane.org

Martin Kukich, Broker Mt/lD GRI, ABR, CNHS, PSA, SFR

406-241-9982

P.O. Box 475 Victor, MT 59875

ther Ranch

Eagle Fea Welcome to

Come see all the wonderful animals waiting for someone special like you! Bitter Root Humane Association would like to thank:

320 4th Ave PO Box 333 Victor, MT 59875

Hannah Whitney

(406) 642-6800

331 Eagle Feather Lane . Victor, MT 59875 Traditional Log Cabin on 9.98 acres, fenced, upper & lower level hay fields, good water/irrigation. Spring fed pond. 3 bed/3 bath, detached 3-Car garage/ shop w/ mechanics pit. Barn & 3-sided loafing shed. AWESOME VIEWS of mountains. Rare property on the westside. Private, close to Victor, with outdoor recreational activities available right out your door. Elk & other game pass thru. Bring your horses and ride on in. YEEHAW!!!

MLS# 22010536 $499,900

Price Drop!

Outstanding in his field Merle Unruh

Call today

Talk to Merle for all your Real Estate Needs! Hamilton 363-4700

Now $399,000

Insulated barn includes office,4 stalls w/floor drains & padded, wash bay, vet area with stocks, etc., all with hot water floor heat. 48’x 72’ attached indoor arena w/ half walls. Also shed for machinery/hay storage or more stalls All on 21 acres, warm water stream in all pastures and small pond. Lovely 3 br home, hot water floor heat, propane fireplace, well designed kitchen, heated garage, and mountain view from all rooms.

Beautiful house on the east side of the Bitterroot Valley. Rare find barely lived in home built in 2004. 3BR, 2 Ba. This 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch style house is a sleeper.

Call Mark Haldorson! 381-4112 Mark Haldorson

Customer satisfaction Rating: 5.00 / 5

$889,500

CLIFF TREXLER REALTY 369-2509

Independently validated by Quality Service Certification, Inc.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Page 14--Bitterroot Star

Serving Select Regions of: Montana, Idaho and Washington

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

[For detailed service areas, please visit our website]

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

(677-2276)

* DEALER PARTICIPATION REQUIRED

There’s No Time For Downtime

BIG SK

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Call Brian for all your Kubota parts needs Call Dave for all your Kubota service needs

SEE JOHN OR BEN ABOUT CASH DISCOUNTS & GREAT FINANCE OPTIONS FOR YOUR

Let John or Richard put you in the BIG ORANGE KUBOTA!

BIG ORANGE K BIG SKY KUBOTA LLC

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2020. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months or customer instant rebates of $500 are available on purchases of select new Kubota Z700 Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory. Promotional rate available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. $500 rebate is not available with 0% A.P.R. or other promotional financing. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 10/31/20. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For more information, see Dealer or go to KubotaUSA.com.

7550 Thornton Drive, Missoula, MT 59808 • 542-2200

BIG SKY KUBOTA