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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