THURS, Oct. 3rd - Kendra Miller Presents
PESTICIDES: citizen-scientist continues crusade
Continued from page 1
agencies including Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and local government agencies including the Ravalli County Board of Health in 1997, asking that some testing be done. Biologists at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks were critical of Hoy’s fndings and denied that her concerns were valid. The county Board of Health also shrugged them of.
In response, Hoy formed a Ravalli County study group composed of veterinarians, wildlife biologists, medical doctors and concerned citizens. Their report, produced in April 2001, provided further evidence that there was an alarmingly high prevalence of reported birth defects on multiple vertebrate species in the valley. The study group asked that the county support a request to the EPA for testing of potential environmental causes for the malformations. This report also drew criticism and denials from FWP ofcials, and the Board of Health dismissed her concerns.
She tried again in 2006, and while one board member who was a biologist found her concerns worth looking into, the board as a whole dismissed them once again.
Undeterred, the study group continued its eforts and produced a study in 2011, entitled “Observations of Brachygnathia Superior in Wild Ruminants in Western Montana, USA,” that was published in the journal Wildlife Biology in Practice. In that study over
of glyphosates (a major ingredient in Roundup) and a published study indicating a high degree of correlation between increased herbicide and pesticide use and increases in various birth defects among humans, Hoy returned to the Board of Health and urged them to consider some actions.
She made six recommendations for action to the Board of Health:
1) Encourage the County Weed Board, local schools, and the Bitterroot National Forest to minimize use of herbicides and insecticides.
2) Try to learn which, if any, of the herbicides used on County roads are known or suspected to be endocrine disruptors.
3) Request that the Montana Dept. of Agriculture store pesticide-use records in a way that makes them available for epidemiological studies. [In light of proposed changes to Montana State law governing public health to include more ability to investigate environmental threats to public health, this might be a good time to request such changes.] (HB 92 in current MT legislature)
4) Public education about safe use and disposal of lawn and garden chemicals.
5) Encourage the EPA to complete the assay protocols for endocrine disruption in suspected and new chemicals.
6) Request that FWP do a credible study of Ravalli County White-Tailed Deer.
1000 white-tailed deer, and small samples of other hunter-killed grazing animals, including elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and two domestic species, calves and goats, were examined for facial bone and tooth malformations. This longterm study was done with no funding, as a public service. They attributed the widespread deformations to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment that are associated with fetal thyroid dysfunction that results in such deformations. The study concludes that underbite and the other serious symptoms of fetal hypothyroidism are likely a signifcant factor in the decline of wild ruminant populations in Montana and other western states.
Then in 2015, armed with emerging evidence of the harmful efects
7) Realize that endocrine disruptors are a national and international problem and that we probably aren’t able to do much about it.
The Board of Health did not take any action with regard to these recommendations.
Frustrated but unwilling to let the issue go, Hoy produced her own book published by Stoneydale Press in 2017 about the issue entitled “Changing Faces: The Consequences of Exposure to Gene and Thyroid Disrupting Toxins.” This book chronicles over 20 years of observations regarding the changes in the faces and the vital organs of vertebrate newborns now being observed throughout North America. Included is discussion of how people and other animals, plants, and the entire biodiversity of our
planet are being dangerously afected by a combination of factors, one being recent excessive use of specifc herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. What we can do to mitigate these devastating changes is addressed in the hope that positive action will be taken before it is too late. Her concerns about, and research into, the issue did not stop there, and at the age of 80, armed with the most recent information available, Hoy has taken what could be her last swipe at the issue.
Her latest article summarizes studies of elk populations in the region and reviews observations and reports, which emerged after 1994, of birth defects and declines in other ruminant populations in western states. It also discusses the specifc kinds of agrichemicals for which use increased dramatically in the region in the mid1990s. These pesticides are known to disrupt thyroid and other hormonal functions, metabolic functions, and biomineralization, all of which can be particularly harmful to developing fetuses. The article also examines the question of why the efects of new and much higher pesticide exposures, especially the serious external congenital malformations, have been so widely overlooked as possible contributors to documented declines of ruminants.
Readers may view the latest article in Chemosphere on Hoy’s website: www.judyhoy.com
Judy Hoy, retired wildlife rehabilitator and lifelong citizen scientist, in an earlier time, with a book she published titled “Amazing Wildlife.” Star fle photo.
This mule-deer fawn displays a severe underbite, crooked teeth, and incisors much wider than its underdeveloped dental pad. Photo courtesy of Judy Hoy.
Curb overdoses with vending machines?
by Mara Silvers Montana Free Press
Before she stopped using drugs for good, Cierra Coon estimates that she overdosed eight times in a span of two weeks in the fall of 2022. One of those times, the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone helped save her life.
She was riding in a car on the back roads of the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana when she lost consciousness. Someone in the car grabbed a small bottle of naloxone, sprayed it up her nose, and performed CPR until she came to. Coon said having quick access to the overdose reversal agent, also known by the brand name Narcan, was incredibly lucky.
“The times I wasn’t administered naloxone, it’s a miracle that I made it out,” Coon said. “People brought me back by shocking me with cold water and doing CPR. But that’s not a forsure ‘I’m going to bring you back to life,’” Coon said.
Nearly two years later, Coon is a recovery coach for a local program, Never Alone Recovery Support Services, and earning a degree as an addiction counselor from Salish Kootenai College. She keeps doses of naloxone in her car in case she needs to help other people.
But, she said, she worries about the drug’s lack of accessibility, particularly in rural areas like her own. The state and tribal health departments’ distribution pipeline has been inconsistent, and the $50 price tag for a two-dose package of naloxone at the nearest Walmart puts it out of reach for many people.
“How are we supposed to aford this drug that’s ultimately to save the lives of ourselves and those around us?” she said.
Montana health ofcials are considering a new strategy to make naloxone more accessible. Drawing on a pool of behavioral health funds set
aside by lawmakers in 2023, health ofcials within Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration have proposed installing two dozen naloxone and fentanyl testing strip vending machines around the state at behavioral health drop-in centers and service locations for homeless people.
The $400,000 plan to build, stock, and maintain 24 vending machines for a year has not yet been approved by the governor, a Republican running for a second term, who ultimately decides how the funds allocated to the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission are spent.
Details from the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services about where the machines would be located and how they would be operated remain scarce.
The opioid-related death rate has tripled in Montana in recent years, from 3.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2017 to 11.3 per 100,000 residents in 2023. The death rate is higher among Native Americans: Native people in Montana died of opioid overdoses at a rate of 33 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 — more than three times the rate for white people.
Naloxone has emerged as an important tool to combat opioid overdoses. When administered quickly, it attaches to receptors in the brain targeted by opioids, blocking the drugs’ efects.
Across the U.S., vending machines that distribute naloxone and other health supplies free of charge are becoming front-line features of the battle against opioid overdoses. Diferent versions of the model are being tried in at least 33 states.
In a 2023 report, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing described the use of vending machines to distribute naloxone and
other “harm reduction” supplies — frst-aid kits, pregnancy tests, sterile syringes, and more — as a public health tool that became more widespread during the social distancing era of the covid-19 pandemic. But the popularity of the model has continued to grow since, especially in places with hard-to-reach populations.
“They provide services to [people who use drugs] with far fewer barriers than fxed-site programs and even mobile outreach,” the report stated. Harm-reduction vending machines, it continued, “may also provide greater privacy and anonymity.”
The proposal from the state health department would be the frst instance in Montana of vending machines being funded directly by the state, as opposed to the few now funded through public grants or private philanthropy.
Jami Hansen, prevention bureau chief for the state health department’s Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division, spoke about the proposal during a May meeting of the state behavioral health commission. She framed vending machines as a targeted way to fll gaps in a sparsely populated state that doesn’t ofer consistent access to addiction treatment and naloxone.
“Having something available that they could utilize themselves would be very, very benefcial,” Hansen said.
Some local public
health groups in Montana — including those in Missoula, Helena, Kalispell, and Big Horn County — have already begun using vending machines to distribute free naloxone, drug testing strips, and other health supplies. In Helena, three machines purchased by Lewis and Clark County have been distributing free Narcan nasal spray and safe drug disposal pouches — used to dissolve prescription and recreational pills — for more than a year.
Kellie Goodwin McBride, director of the county’s criminal justice services department, said her team originally tried to embed the machines within local businesses — a downtown bar, a laundromat, and a convenience store — but repeatedly struck out. Sometimes, there wasn’t enough space for the machines. In other cases, McBride said, owners worried that a Narcan vending machine would convey that the business condoned or welcomed drug use.
Instead, the county installed vending machines in a nonproft drop-in center serving local homeless residents, the state district court building, and the Law and Justice Center downtown, which houses the municipal court and county sherif’s department. That machine, McBride said, gets the most use.
Unlike some other models, the Narcan vending machines in Helena don’t require user registration or codes to access the materials inside, making it impossible to track who is taking naloxone or if it is being used.
In Helena, three machines purchased by Lewis and Clark County have been distributing free Narcan nasal spray for more than a year. Photo by Mara Silvers, Montana Free Press.
HAMILTON: council hears about leaking pipes
summer, and its vibrant colors and compelling imagery will certainly carry warmth of summer into the cold months ahead.
Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf read aloud from a letter to the bookstore owners, thanking them for their “amazing gift of community art.” The letter continued to add that the mural, “adds meaning to our surroundings and is a confirmation of why we live here. You have made Hamilton more special.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, city resident Amy Monteith took to the podium to implore the council members to encourage city residents to proactively seek supplemental insurance for the water supply lines that service their homes. Monteith explained that her home, built in 1910, had begun to see increased domestic water usage creep up over the last two years, eventually more than tripling her regular water usage charge. Although Monteith says that no evidence of the ongoing leakage is evident at the surface of her property, the gauge has shown that her supply pipe is leaking at a rate of approximately 2 gallons per minute. The estimated cost for excavation and replacement of the leaking galvanized pipe will be approximately $10,000.
system is estimated to be as high as 40%. In the case of an older galvanized pipe like that which services Monteith’s home, the problem may not manifest with dramatic surface subsidence or even water in the home due to the fact that the pipe itself may have hundreds of pinhole leaks, meaning wasted water and high utility bills.
The City of Hamilton takes responsibility for public lines up to individual meters, but the service lines that run from the meter to the home are the responsibility of homeowners. Unfortunately, many old pipes exist within Hamilton, including both private and public lines, and total leakage from the
Monteith told the Bitterroot Star that she is looking for ways to offset what will be an obvious financial burden to make the repairs, but also wanted to save others the same fate. Monteith has been in contact with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is hopeful that a grant may be available to help offset some of the cost, but also pointed out a recent partnership between the City of Hamilton and Service Line Warranties of
America (SLWA) to provide supple -
mental insurance for service lines.
Monteith said that she wished she’d purchased a policy for herself.
“It just broke my heart that (the city) had just got this insurance,” she said, adding that she would love to see a public meeting arranged to educate residents as to their obligations for their own service lines and the options they have to insure them.
SLWA did send direct mailers to Hamilton residents, and the City provided information on utility bills on their Facebook site. In an August 9th posting, the city writes, “The City of Hamilton has partnered with Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) to educate residents about their service line responsibilities and offer protection to residents for the water and sewer service lines
that connect their homes to the utility systems. The coverage is voluntary and available at affordable monthly prices.”
Mayor Farrenkopf spent some time speaking with Monteith following the meeting, letter her know that he is aware of her situation, and that he and Public Works Director, Donny Ramer, are, “going to enter into a conversations about situations like yours and other people that have a similar situation and look and see if there is something the city can do.”
With pipes as old as many remaining beneath Hamilton, Farrenkopf pointed out that the situation like that of Monteith is, “not going to be an isolated case.”
For more information on Service Line Warranties of America, visit: slwofa.com.
This mural on the western exterior wall of Chapter One Book Store gained the store owners a beautifcation award from the Hamilton City Council. Photo by Nathan Boddy.
Housing afordability
Jon Tester and Monica Tranel tell you that they are going to “fx the housing crisis” and make housing more afordable. THIS IS A HUGE LIE.
The housing market is a free market, and they have no control over the price of housing. I read Tranel’s plan to fx it and like every other Democrat plan it is just a word salad of mumbo jumbo.
First of, assuming they were able to fx pricing on housing (which they can’t), there goes your equity in your home and if you bought in the last 4-5 years… oh, well, you take it in the shorts so someone else can buy a house.
We live in a free-market society and have been the envy of the world for over 200 years, yet these two economic neophytes are going to reinvent the wheel? You might as well have your electrician perform your open heart surgery.
I’m sympathetic to the price of housing, but government intervention is not the answer.
Unlike every Democrat, whose talking points include the phrase “root cause” which they never somehow get to the bottom of, I’ve got a very simple solution. THE BLOATED GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STOP WASTING MONEY!
Rampant government spending caused this infation (raising housing prices) and rise in the bond markets which directly infuenced mortgage rates.
Say you got a mortgage for $300,000 today at 6.47%, your payment (net of tax and insurance) would be $1,891. By contrast at this point, under Trump your mortgage rate would have been 2.86% so a payment on $300K would have been $648 less at $1,243! Even worse, for that payment of $1,891 under Biden, you could have borrowed $456,662 under Trump. More home for the same payment. So you could have gotten a $550,000 home under Trump for the same payment you can buy only a $360,000 home for under Biden.
Government intervention is NEVER the answer. This is what happens when you get lawyers who think they can run an economy vs a businessman. Bill Cavanaugh Corvallis No to Kamala
Men beating up women in Olympic boxing. Kamala Harris supports this, men in women’s sports. Male DNA against female DNA. Women’s sports is kaput. Biological men should never be in women’s sports. She and the Democrat Party advocate for transition surgery for children. Under Tim Walz, her vice president, fve botched abortions were born alive. The babies were allowed to die without care. Then Walz told abortionists they need not report such things. She is for killing babies at least to the moment of birth. This is C-128. Vote No!
The border was given to her care as Border Czar by Biden. She owns the border policy and the 18 million illegal aliens she allowed in the U.S. She has yet to visit the border. Kamala is a San Francisco liberal who allowed criminals not to be prosecuted for stealing less than $950 in loot. She also sponsored Proposition 57 in California to let criminals out early. She was the most liberal senator during
her time as Senator. She advocates for citizenship for all the aliens and full voting rights and full medical care and college and Social Security.
As Vice President, she was the deciding vote for the wild spending bills of Biden - the Infation Reduction Act. Ha! She owns every policy of the Biden-Harris Presidency. She is still Vice President! There would be no change with Kamala as President - only expanded communism. The world is under Satan’s lordship, but God can change history in a heartbeat!
She has no opinion on the Venezuela presidential vote. Maduro insisted he won by 9%. Proven count says he lost heavily. Maduro forced price controls. It caused breadlines and starvation when food businesses folded. She is for price controls.
Tim Walz abandoned his National Guard unit when they were assigned to fght in Iraq. He has claimed he fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has not even been in those countries. But, he has visited China many times. 30? He honeymooned in Tiananmen Square where 10,000 protestors were slaughtered. He loves China!
These two are confrmed Marxists! Vote Trump! America First!
Richard Parker Stevensville
Thanks to Search & Rescue
I want to publicly thank RCSAR for their voluntary service. In July, I was in the back country with a group. One of our group fell and received a head injury. Members of our group started carrying the injured member out around 9 p.m. RCSAR responded to our request for assistance and a team of seven hiked in to meet us. We met up about halfway to the trailhead sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. The team was well equipped to provide medical care and transport. They worked hard carrying a stretcher on a rough, narrow trail by the light of headlamps. The team worked well together and had a good sense of humor for the challenge. We made it to the trailhead around 2:15 a.m.
Those who serve with RCSAR are volunteers and don’t receive any fnancial beneft. Our group is thankful for them! These seven and others at the trailhead gave up a good night of sleep to help a stranger in need. Thank you! God protected and provided through the whole situation. The injured member’s vitals were stable the whole trip out of the woods, and tests at the hospital didn’t detect any brain injury. He recovered well from his injuries.
Andrew Luibrand Stevensville
For American greatness, defeat MAGA
The Trump-Harris debate is over. It reminded me of the Trump-Biden debate, specifcally, how it was clear that Biden would lose the upcoming election, thanks to his confused and stumbling performance. I had a similar response Tuesday night. Trump lost his re-election bid when he faced Kamala Harris, proving his unftness to lead our country.
But do not assume that my comments suggest that I dismiss the grievances, inattention, and mistrust that the rise of MAGA has shown the world. I accept them as valid and accurate. I think they result from decades of “policy” that have benefted
the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. For example, globalization has been a great boon to investors, big business, and the elite. Manufacturing moved to countries with low wages; communities lost businesses and people lost jobs. Towns collapsed. I mark the start of globalization with the Clinton administration and continued with every administration, Republican or Democrat, since. Not something for us to be proud of.
So, what now?
A national columnist recently wrote that Trump/MAGA needed a landslide defeat for a “new” conservative party to be built. MAGA successfully undermined the old GOP. What MAGA has not done is ofer any serious model regarding how we should run the country … concepts, policies and programs that could appeal to and beneft most of our voting population. Trump and his supporters remain stuck in victimhood, grievance and anger. It’s time to move on.
My recommendation comes from a Ryan Busse ad I saw: “Yes, it’s okay to vote Democratic this year.”
David Leslie Corvallis
You can always trust a communist
That’s a common quote from the days of the Cold War. You have every right to wonder if it is relevant today. Most of you will not realize that it was a maxim based on bitter experience with the old Soviet Union and its satellites. It meant that you could always count on a communist to lie, cheat, steal, even attack if they deemed something threatened their power or could increase their control. It’s such a simple truth that we often feel impolite when we act or speak of it (ah, good old political correctness). George Washington warned us of the likely lack of honesty when taking an oath if the person involved had no faith in God. We should remember that no communist believes in God. Therefore, whatever they think or say or do is always acceptable and right. Hence, they impose their beliefs upon everyone else.
We would be wise to remember this simple truth as the election proceeds. Their values will not change, but they will say whatever is necessary to get a vote. We have encountered this countless times over the past century but never seem to learn. Maybe I’m right when I suspect that we over-complicate every basic truth. Open your eyes and listen closely as we have ‘commies’ running for the White House!
I am an old man. I have lived nearly a century. A century that was the bloodiest in history. I have seen us make some version of the same mistakes again and again. Perhaps that’s the nature of man.
Ed Sperry, Col USAF (ret) Stevensville
The innate evil of abortion
What is Truth? Do you agree we should all strive for the truth? Absolute and objective truth is unchangeable. Relative truth is what man conceives to satisfy his desire to fabricate for the purpose of feeding his own twisted and immoral thought process.
Regarding the abortion issue, this process is exactly what the pro-choice argument is all about. Pro-choice advocates are not interested in absolute or objective truth. Theirs is a fabri-
cated lie that the philosophers of old would cringe to ever consider.
Hippocrates, the ancient philosopher and “Father of Medicine,” espoused the principle “to help or at least to do no harm.” “At the core of Hippocratic ethics is the human relationship between the physician and the patient, with an emphasis on the physician’s responsibility to assess potential harm in any attempt to heal.”
What human relationship is there between the abortionist and his patient? There is none. The abortion provider is only there to make money and the woman is only there to relieve herself of someone she perceives is a burden. Oh, how callous humanity has become! Abortion has become an industry. It is evil in essence. It reduces human nature to animal instincts.
The Hippocratic Oath is timeless. What was true in the past is still true today, but man has twisted the truth to satisfy his own evil intention, making evil good and good evil. Ethics in this day and age has evaporated. There are no rules today in our society, and Lady Justice is blind.
Biblical principles lay it out in plain English: The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5. This proves the truth that God knows us and has a plan for our lives even before we are born. As Christians we believe we are made in God’s image and likeness. Since this is true, God will not stand idly by and allow this to go on much longer. This murderous act will end.
Think about this for a minute: Abortion kills a baby and interrupts God’s plan for that child. Perhaps that child who was aborted had the potential of discovering a cure for cancer. Did you ever consider that? Based on this knowledge a woman should realize her baby is her legacy to the family and to the world.
Consider this: A baby is a living human being from the moment of conception and fertilization. Ask 95% of biologists who have attested to this fact. What is the human race doing? It is destroying the most precious gift that God has bestowed upon mankind, a beautiful child. This carnage must stop. It will end in God’s timing which is soon.
Several weeks ago Montana was invaded by pro-choice promoters from California and Delaware. Their nefarious intent was to trick people into signing their petition to ensure CI-128 is on the ballot this November. This ballot initiative if passed would allow abortions up to the moment of birth. Can you imagine the sufering that baby will endure? How do pro-choice advocates justify this? Has the heart of man become so hardened that he can excuse this barbarous evil?
These people fown in from other states not only lied about the true intention of the petition, they remain here in Montana going from door to door, trying to convince voters to vote for CI-128. Unfortunately, it is on the ballot in November.
Let it be known that Montana is being targeted by the Biden-Harris leftists in order to change Montana from a red state to a blue state. If this happens our culture is destroyed, and we and our children will become part of the “woke generation.” There is only one way to defeat this atrocity: Put on the armor of God, thrust your fst in the air, and fght, fght, fght.
Rachel Bartlett
Stevensville
Our Senate choice
How should a primary Senate candidate be qualifed for the Montana Republican Party’s primary selection process? Should a Montana Senate candidate be ordained by a former president from New York rather than a Montana slate including maybe Matt Rosendale?
Are Montana voters to accept Steve Daines’ and Trump’s choice as the Republican Senate candidate without reservation?
As Trump becomes more unhinged from reality and less likely to be elected, where does this leave Montana if we elect Trump’s untested, unknown and bought and paid for political minion?
Are Montana voters to accept a Senate candidate that can’t or won’t explain two bullets in his arm versus a National Park Service accident report?
Do Montana women want a Senator who favors stripping their rights to control their own bodies?
Does Tim Sheehy’s racist bigoted language toward Native Americans represent Montana values?
Does Tim Sheehy represent the newly introduced negative Montana values revolving around out of state money and infuence?
Whether a Montana native or a new resident, should Montana accept a nationally chosen candidate without Montana values or history to represent us in Washington?
trailers and pasture for livestock for my neighbors and trucks and trailers rumbled up and down the road evacuating animals. Within just a few hours my neighborhood was evacuated, and I spent that night and many others watching the fames dance wildly on the mountain from where I was safely camped.
Over the next 12 days of evacuation and active wildfre, I witnessed incredible teamwork, sacrifce, respect and caring between neighbors, community, County Sherif’s Departments, Red Cross volunteers, and the over 600 fre personnel: Fire protection teams, Rural Fire Departments, U.S.F.S., D.N.R.C., pilots, wildfre contractors and Incident Teams and Hot Shots from all over the country. The large fre camp at the end of my road was efcient, the mood respectful and focused as everyone worked together cooperatively on a complex operation with a common goal.
Now, three weeks later, we are fnally blessed with rain and our beautiful valley is no longer engulfed in thick smoke from this and many other fres burning in the area. Unhealthy air alerts have been lifted. Our homes, thankfully, are safe and I am so grateful to all those who worked so hard around the clock to protect them.
In a county of extreme divisiveness, like so much of our country, there was, for a brief moment, a spirit of unity and caring for one another. Everyone was supporting each other, respectful and grateful on both sides
pends - for ourselves, our children and grandchildren and their children. This should never be a partisan issue, for we all share the same home. But until a cultural shift happens, let’s put our diferences aside and unite in November and thereafter for this one worthy common goal and choose leaders who truly care about protecting our only home now and into the future. There’s fre on the mountain, folks, and the wind is picking up!
Marina Weatherly Stevensville
An idiotic roundabout
Let’s not be stupid. The thought of a roundabout on a highway with a 70 mph speed limit is NUTS. If you must spend $10 million on highway infrastructure in Ravalli County, and safety, how about rebuilding the bridge at Tucker Crossing?
Remember Tucker Crossing, the road to nowhere? The people trying to build a roundabout don’t remember that bridge.
You can still put in a stoplight at Bell Crossing AND at Tucker Crossing. That would give you two more stoplights to slow down the 93 corridor and give us back a crossing at Tucker Crossing.
With the growth in the valley, we sure could use another river crossing. It would take a lot of pressure of the Eastside Highway, Corvallis and Woodside Cut-ofs.
VA clinic here as well as medical residency programs extending care to rural hospitals. Anyone receiving Social Security, Medicare, VA benefts or who has a pre-existing condition has only one choice this election. Without Jon Tester, rural hospitals will not survive and costs for insurance will skyrocket-- if you can get it at all. I have seen frst hand what “privatization” means and it isn’t pretty. We need Jon Tester working for us—not another snake oil salesman. If you think hard work and integrity should be rewarded; and you need –or think you will ever need – healthcare, re-electing Jon Tester should be a privilege. We need someone who understands and will provide the safety net of health care we all need while making it accessible and afordable - not “business as usual.” Brenda DeGrazio Florence
More concerns about election
My concerns about the upcoming Presidential election have not decreased. Vice President Harris continues to “beat around the bush” and skip over any detailed description of her proposed policies to change the direction of the Biden term. So, this continues to beg the question, why would you vote for her when you don’t know what she plans on doing?
I am personally interested in how she would deal with the invasion taking place on our southern border. I again remind the reader that President Biden ofcially placed her in charge of the border and she did nothing. We now have over eleven million illegal aliens in our country with hundreds of thousands of “gottaways.” Just think of those numbers, roughly eleven times the population of Montana have invaded our country; AND, the fow of illegal drugs continues to kill thousands of our citizens every month. Finally, I want to point out, in my opinion, that it is not the Trump/Re
A Course of Love study group
Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Center for Spiritual Life, Hamilton Call: 406-381-6480
Florence American Legion
Florence American Legion Post
134 is having a free pancake breakfast on the frst Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Florence Rural Fire Hall.
Women Newcomers Club
Are you new to the Bitterroot Valley or a long time resident? You’re invited to join the Bitterroot Women Newcomers Club, a fun group of women. For the October meeting, they will be going to Open Ended Expression Arts at 201 Daly Avenue in Hamilton at 10 a.m.
Yoga for Veterans FREE to veterans, frst responders, and their families! Tuesdays, 1-2pm at the American Legion Post 94 in Stevensville Register at: redwillowlearning.org OR call 406-530-7175. Come see us on 1st Friday in May ‘bout 1800 for more info! We’ll be in front of Active Care Wellness on Main in Stevensville.
MS Support Group
Bitterroot MS Support Group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month in the Gallery room at the Cofee Cup Cafe in Hamilton, 500 S 1st Street, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Have a slice of pie, dinner, or just come to chat with others about living with Multiple Sclerosis. This is a positive and uplifting group that holds open discussions, and the occasional guest speaker. Find more information at www.nationalmssociety.org or contact Jackie Peterson, (970)518-293, jackierpeterson@gmail. com
Bitterroot Celtic Society
The Bitterroot Celtic Society meets every 3rd Thursday at 6 p.m. at BJ’s restaurant in Hamilton. The Bitterroot Celtic Society is a passionate group of volunteers, dedicated to keeping the Celtic culture, heritage, and history alive in the Bitterroot Valley. Their biggest event is the Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering, held every third weekend in August at the Historic Daly Mansion. They also host a Burns’ Night supper, St. Andrew’s, St. Patrick’s, and Tartan day events. The BCS is a non-proft organization. The public, new members,
and the curious are always welcome to attend. For any time changes or additional committee meeting info, follow their Facebook page for updates.
Hamilton school board
Governance Committee Meeting
Thursday – October 3, 2024
12:00 p.m. – District Ofce Conference Room
The Committee will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at: https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Regular Board Meeting
Tuesday – October 8, 2024
6:30 p.m. – District Ofce – Conference Room
The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will also be streaming the meeting on YouTube. You are encouraged to join the meeting at:https://www.youtube. com/@HSD3Boardmtg
Roundabout meeting
DATE CHANGE: September 30th at 3 pm, meeting with the Commissioners, at the Commissioners meeting room. Anyone is welcome to attend. 215 S. 4th St STE A, Hamilton.
Classroom Without Walls
The Hamilton CWW will be having a feld day at the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association property, at 1 Crystal lane, Stevensville, on Sept. 25. They will be doing the river ecology/ invertibrates. Contact Dave Ward (406) 241-3903.
Bitterroot Quilters’ Guild
The Bitterroot Quilters’ Guild will meet on Wednesday, September 25 at Daly Leach Community Room, 1010 W Main, Hamilton. Doors open at 6 p.m. for socializing and shopping; the meeting will come to order at 6:30. Members are encouraged to bring their entries/ribbon winners from the recent Ravalli County Fair for Show and Tell. Monthly Guild meetings also include a Fat Quarter Drawing, 50/50 Pot, and bargain sales at the Ugli Bin. Membership in the Guild is open to quilters from beginner through advanced. Annual dues are $20. To keep abreast of activities, please visit the Bitterroot Quilters Guild group on Facebook.
North Valley Library
Myth & Fairytales - Thurs. Sept 26 at 6pm
Learn about myths around the world, what sets them apart from other traditional tales, modern myths, and more.
Role-Playing Games for Teens –Tues. Oct 1 at 4pm
Enter the exciting world of RPGs! New campaigns are beginning now for ages 12-18.
Fiber Arts Club - Thurs. Oct 3 at 12pm
Do you enjoy knitting or crocheting, embroidery, hand sewing, or quilting? Bring your work-in-progress, problem piece, or brand-new pattern and enjoy the company of like-minded crafters during this informal Fiber Arts Club. All experience levels welcome. Club is held the frst Thursday of every month from 12-1:30pm in the Community Room.
Living With the Land featuring Louise Ogemahgeshig Fisher - Thurs. Oct 3 at 6pm
During this captivating presentation, Anishinaabe Indian Louise Ogemahgeshig Fisher will inspire you to think about “living with the land” in new ways. Covering medicinal plants and their uses, Indian history and ways of life, hunting, fshing, foods, clothing, gatherings, stars, storytelling, and more, Louise’s presentation is an exciting look into the past and inspiration for the present. Louise will share artifacts, sing an Indian song now and then, and having lived in the old ways, shares from experience and from the heart. This presentation is part of the Humanities Montana-Montana Conversations program and has been made possible by Humanities Montana.
Mature driver safety course
Bitterroot Health Daly Hospital, located at 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, is hosting an all new AARP Driver Safety Course on Friday, September 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This safe driving course is designed for drivers age 50 and over, all drivers are welcome. The program features new laws and up-dates specifc to Montana, Defensive Driving, Winter Driving, new Vehicle Technologies to name a few. Class size is limited; pre-registration is advised. There are no tests or written exams and Mon-
tana mandates insurance discounts for qualifed drivers. Certifcates are now good for three years! Class fee: $20.00, AARP members; $25.00, for non-members. For class sign up, call Hamilton Insurance at 406-363-6583. For further information, call Thom Ainsworth, Instructor, at 406-369-0149.
Bitterroot Valley Chorus
This will be the 52nd consecutive year of the Bitterroot Valley Chorus providing our traditional gift of a Christmas concert to the Bitterroot valley community. Monday night rehearsals begin Sept. 30 at 7:00 pm in the Hamilton High School choir room. The Bitterroot Youth Choir (which is part of the adult chorus) is open to area youth who like to sing in grades 4-8. Those rehearsals begin Thursday, Oct 3 at 3:45 pm, also in the Hamilton High school chorus room. Concert weekend is Dec. 14, 15 with Saturday night’s concert beginning at 7:30, Sunday concert at 2:00pm. If you have interest and some experience in choral singing, please consider joining the choir! Visit the choir website (www.bitterrootvalleychorus.org) to learn more about the group.
Ballot forum
A public forum on the Ballot Initiatives 126 and 127, “Open Primaries” and “Majority Wins” voting at the Hamilton City Hall, 2nd and Bedford on Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm. Sponsored by the Ravalli County Democratic Central Committee.
NV Library beneft book sale
The annual Big Book Sale to beneft the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville will be held the frst weekend of October in the library Community Room.
The sale will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. The best selection will be available on Oct. 4, and books will be priced accordingly. Prices will be lowered on Oct. 5, and a “bag sale” is planned for the last 90 minutes of the sale on Oct. 5, with a bag of books selling for $10.
Book donations will be accepted in the Community Room of the Library on Oct. 2-3, from 3 to 8 pm each day. Textbooks, magazines, and VHS tapes
will not be accepted.
The NVPL Foundation and Friends of the Library are presenting the sale. The library Community Room is located at 208 Main St., Stevensville. For more information, contact Carla at (406) 777-7318.
Salish
Dance & Drum Presentation
A Salish Drum and Dance Presentation will take place Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m. at Historic St. Mary’s Mission grounds, Stevensville. Visit www. saintmarysmission.org for more info.
Scarecrow Festival
Create a scarecrow and participate in this special event October 4-5 - viewing until Oct. 12. Stevensville Scarecrow Festival - Friday, 4pm - 9pm, Friday; Saturday 9am-9pm. Scarecrow display until October 12. Join in for music, food and fun. Visit www.StevensvilleScarecrowFestival.org
Poets in the ‘Root
Nature in nearly all manifestations has inspired poets since there were poets! And at least since the Roman poet Horace wrote Ars Poetica or the Art of Poetry in 19BC, literature, including poetry, sought to both instruct and delight. Poets in the ‘Root
by Scott Sacry Sports Editor
Stevi boys, Hamilton girls win in soccer matchup
On Thursday, September 19, the Hamilton boys and girls soccer teams hosted Stevensville. The boys played first and Stevensville won 6-1. Then in the girls game, Hamilton won 5-1.
In the boys game for Stevensville, Evan Montague had 3 goals and an assist, David Beames had 2 goals and 3 assists, Spencer Moore had a goal, and Anton Ptok and Umar Sodogar each had an assist.
Hamilton’s lone goal came from Zachary Olbricht.
In the girls game for Hamilton, Anna Lewis had 2 goals and an assist, Ellie Hughes and Greta Gantz each had goals, and Hannah Hughes had two assists.
Stevensville’s lone goal came from Addisen Nobi.
Stevensville hosted Frenchtown on Saturday and both teams won; the boys won 9-1, while the girls won 3-0. In the girls game, Paisley Yaskus had 2 goals, Millie Shepp had a goal and an assist, and
Madigan Hurlburt had an assist.
In the boys game, David Beames had 4 goals, Evan Montague had 2 goals and 3 assists, and Umar Sodagar, Sean Harriot and Hayden Warrington each had goals. Spencer Moore had two assists, and Mario Garcia and Anton Ptok each had an assist. The Stevensville boys sit atop the South conference standings as they are undefeated in conference play.
The Hamilton girls hosted Loyola on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and tied 2-2. For Hamilton, Ellie Hughes had a goal and an assist, and Anne Lewis had a goal. The Hamil
ton girls now lead the South conference with a 4-0-1 conference record.
The Corvallis soccer teams hosted Polson on Thursday. The boys were defeated 5-0, while the girls lost in a close game 2-1. Then on Saturday, the Corvallis girls hosted Loyola and lost 2-1. For Corvallis, Kate Allen scored the goal with an assist from Farah Wyche.
Bitterroot Valley Football Roundup
The Hamilton football team hosted Stevensville on Friday, September 20, and defeated the visiting ‘Jackets 43-0. The Broncs were up 15-0 after one quarter and 36-0 after halftime, then cruised in the second half to get their frst win of the season.
For Hamilton, Cooper Weston had 97 passing yards and threw 2 touchdowns, and Kaeden Gum also threw a
TD pass. Ayden Matten led in rushing with 66 yards and a TD, and Jackson Lubke caught 3 TD passes: one for 25 yards, one for 27 yards and one for 36 yards. Also for Hamilton, Jude Widmer returned a punt for 40 yards and Brayden Lanser had a 4-yard TD run.
Hamilton is now 1-3 on the season and has a bye next week, then they play Frenchtown on October 4th.
tember 20, they traveled to the heart of Montana’s Golden Triangle and defeated the Conrad Cowboys 41-7.
Stevensville had a hard time getting anything going against the hosting Broncs and fell to 0-4 on the season. They host Ronan (1-3) this Friday at 7 p.m.
Don’t look now but the 3x time defending state champion Florence Falcons have won three straight games after dropping their frst game of the season to Jeferson. On Friday, Sep-
Florence’s Mason Arlington threw 4 TD passes, two to Jake Schneiter and one each to Isaac Bates and Drew Wagner. Bridger Alexander added a 30-yard TD run and Ryan Winters had a 19-yard TD run. Florence outgained Conrad in total yards 372-160. Florence will host 0-4 Whitehall this Friday at 7 p.m.
Corvallis hosted Butte Central on Friday night and won 61-20. Corvallis’ Logan Avery led the way, rushing for 5 touchdowns with runs of 3 yards, 5 yards, 33 yards, 20 yards and 21 yards. As a team Corvallis rushed for 396 yards. Also for Corvallis, Solomon Morgan had a 75-yard TD run and Aydan Mayn had a 5-yard TD run and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Hunter Loesch.
Corvallis head coach Josh McCrossin said of the game, “After a tough
loss last week our players really responded with a great week of practice, and we’re excited to see our players continue improving as the season moves forward.” Corvallis hosts Libby (1-3) this Friday at 7 p.m.
The Victor Pirates got their frst win of the season on Saturday, Sept. 21. as they defeated visiting Charlo 2818. The Pirates face a tough task this week as they play undefeated and #4 ranked Valley Christian in Missoula on Friday night.
Darby hosted #4 Valley Christian on Friday, Sept. 21st in a battle of undefeated teams. After an eventful frst quarter, Darby trailed 15-22. But the second quarter proved to be the difference as Valley Christian outscored Darby 32-0 to lead 54-22 at halftime. The Tigers held frm in the second half but fell 68-20 and moved to 3-1 on the season. Darby has a bye this week, then plays St. Ignatius on Oct. 4th.
Hamilton Golf Invite
On Saturday, September 21, Hamilton hosted the Hamilton Invite at the Hamilton Golf Club. Individually for the girls, Hamilton’s Cameron Burnett took 2nd place with a 78. Rhain Hollingsworth took 10th, Corvallis’ Kirsten Race took 13th, Corvallis’ Gracee Storrud took 19th, and Hamilton’s Heather Beerman took 20th.
Individually for the boys, Corvallis’ Brady Powell shot a 1 under 71 to place 2nd. Hamilton’s Tyce
O’Connell shot an even par 72 to place 3rd. Corvallis’ Tag Jessop took 4th (74), Hamilton’s Josh Bender took 5th (75), Corvallis’ Tate Jessop took 6th (76), and Hamilton’s Hunter Harness took 10th (81). The Corvallis, Hamilton and Stevensville golf teams will be in Anaconda at Old Works on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27 for the Western Class A Golf Divisionals.
Girls from Hamilton and Stevensville soccer teams await an incoming corner kick. The Hamilton girls defeated Stevensville 5-1 on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Hamilton. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Stevensville’s Cole Fowler (#17) and Hamilton’s Marian Sasse (#6) chase after the ball. The Stevensville boys won 6-1 in Hamilton on Thursday, Sept 19. Photo by Scott Sacry.
Florence volleyball off to strong start
The Florence volleyball team made it to state last year and look poised to do the same this season. Coming into last Saturday’s contest against Eureka, the Lady Falcons have dominated their opponents. But so has Eureka, so something had to give. The two teams played in Eureka on Saturday, September 21, and Florence lost 2-3 in a grueling fve-set game (19-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-17, 19-17).
For Florence, Emory Ralston had 4 aces, 13 kills and 20 digs, Maggie Schneiter had 28 assists, and Ava Philbrick had 4 blocks.
Earlier in the week on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Florence girls hosted Loyola and won 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 26-24). For Florence, Elise Schneiter had 5 aces, Emory Ralston had 10 kills and 16 digs, Maggie Schneiter had 25 assists and Ella Goeltz had 14 digs.
Volleyball Scores
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Darby went to Arlee and defeated the Scarlets in a competitive four-set game (25-21, 26-24, 24-26, 25-16).
For Darby, Lilly Bennett had 3 aces and 6 kills, Hadley Heiland had 2 aces, 2 kills and 2 blocks, Sophia Hamblin had 5 aces, 4 kills and 15 assists, Reanna Golden had 3 kills, Georgia Fisher had 3 aces, 6 kills and 2 digs, and Natalie Anderson had 5 aces, 9 kills and 4 blocks.
Then on Saturday they traveled to Troy and won 3-2 (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 24-26, 1511).
The Hamilton volleyball team played a couple of tough games last week against Frenchtown and Dillon. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, they hosted Frenchtown and lost 2-3 (25-18, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 7-15). On Saturday they traveled to Dillon and lost 1-3 (22-25, 25-23, 15-25, 17-25).
Hamilton fag football headed to state
EXPANDED
COMMITTED TO BETTER FOREST MANAGEMENT
PRIORITIZING THE CONSERVATION OF OUR FORESTS
The Hamilton girls fag football team fnished 2nd at Divisionals in Hamilton on Saturday, September 21. In the fourteam Divisional tournament, Hamilton defeated Flathead 31-26 in the opening round. Then in the championship game Hamilton was defeated by defending state champ Glacier 19-6.
Hamilton’s head coach Mitchell Wassam was excited about his team’s performance in Divisionals, “We are really proud of all 19 girls on our fag football team,” said Wassam. “They have been putting in a lot of work for the last six weeks and it was exciting to see their time and eforts come to fruition on Saturday.”
The Hamilton girls play in the 2024 Girls Flag Football State Championship on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27 in Bozeman at the Bobcat Stadium. Hamilton plays Roundup in their opening game on Thursday at 5 p.m. There are 17 teams competing in the double elimination State Tournament.
The Hamilton girls fag football team took 2nd in divisionals in Hamilton on Saturday, Sept. 21. They will play at the state tournament at the Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman on Sept. 26 & 27.
Florence’s Maggie Schneiter setting the ball to Ava Pickering in Florence’s 3-0 victory over Loyola in Florence on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
Photo by Hamilton School District.
CARE: BELN to address ‘child care desert’
Continued from page
comes down to three parts, the business, the families and the child care sector. For businesses, the RCCA aims to support local businesses by providing their employees with priority access to participating child care facilities, improving employee retention and productivity. For families, they want to ofer peace of mind through
easier access to quality child care, helping working parents balance family and career. Finally, for the child care sector, the initiative will focus on stabilizing and supporting child care providers by ofering training, professional development and shared services, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for children in the community.
The RCCA initiative will partner with University of Montana’s Bitterroot College Workforce Development and Training to ofer internship opportunities for teens pursuing early childhood education degrees. The goal is for this partnership to help address Montana’s workforce shortage in the child care sector, ensuring long-term stability for providers and job opportunities for aspiring educators. This will help build a pipeline of qualifed early childhood educators by ofering academic credentials and training experience to student participants. It will also help them receive practical feld experience.
Businesses that participate will be allowed priority access to child care slots, allowing their employees peace of mind that their children will be cared for. Businesses will buy into memberships that will help fund the overall initiative. These can be purchased on behalf of their staf, or in support of the initiative for the community. Members can expect reasonable fees, as the initiative hopes to diversify funding sources to further the impact of the program. For example, currently the membership fee estimate for a business with one to fve employees would be $250 per year. For businesses with 41 to 50 employees, the fee could be $5,000 per year.
According to Fabra, several community businesses said they do not have employees with children, but see the importance this initiative would have for the community. This information comes from BELN’s partnership with the Bitterroot Chamber of
Commerce. Because of this, there may be an interest in businesses and organizations supporting such an initiative. There are opportunities for sponsorships for these entities as well.
In the end, BELN sees this initiative helping to stabilize the workforce, and support local families. By improving access to high-quality child care, RCCA also contributes to the well-being and development of the community’s youngest members, setting them up for future success.
All of this will have a direct impact on the local economy. According to Fabra, everything BELN tries to do is meant to aid families and children. Their initiative hopes to “advocate family forward practices,” as Fabra described.
RCCA is in its pilot year and aims to raise $70,000 to cover program costs, including provider shared services, staf salaries and outreach eforts. Though the initiative has funding from its partnership with BELN, community support and partnerships with local businesses are essential to ensuring the success of RCCA and its long-term sustainability. They estimate that they will need around 20 to 30 businesses to participate, depending on the size of those businesses, in order to make the program sustainable.
For more information on the Bitterroot Early Learning Network, or their Ravalli Child Care Advantage initiative, interested parties can visit the organization website, beln.org, or call (406) 363-1688.
Hoppers and Ants, and Mahogany Duns
This hasn’t been a banner year for fshing grasshopper patterns. When the hoppers were most abundant on hot August afternoons, we were locked out by hoot-owl regulations and couldn’t fsh. The Catch-22 worked well for the trout – and they needed a break.
Trout see grasshoppers all summer long. The chilly nights of autumn make the hoppers suddenly disappear, but the trout don’t know that.
So, I fsh hopper dries until the fsh quit hitting them.
One of my favorite rigs this time of year is to fsh a dry parachute hopper pattern above a big orange caddis nymph.
I was fshing near a cultivated feld where the trout had seen plenty of hoppers all summer long. There was an occasional drizzle on that chilly day when fshing a hopper seemed unlikely or outlandish. “There’s no hatch, and I want to fsh dry,” I mused, “So why not?” That stroke of whimsy turned into a banner day.
by Chuck Stranahan
Ed Schroeder designed my favorite hopper pattern. His system is deadly. He threads the tip of a fresh tapered leader through the eye of a parachute-style dry fy so the dry is free to slide up and down the leader.
He then attaches three to fve feet of tippet to the leader, same size as the leader or one size smaller, with a triple surgeon’s knot. He then ties a heavy nymph about the same size as the dry to the end of the tippet.
Air resistance forces the dry fy against the knot during casting. Once on the water, it can slowly creep up the leader as the nymph seeks its natural depth.
I’ve used Ed’s system for everything from hopper-dropper fshing to small parachute mayfies, like mahogany dun parachutes, and pheasant tail nymphs.
I can search the water with two fies, and adjust as conditions indicate. Random feeding might get similar results from both fies.
“But if you’re getting most of your hits on top,” Ed told me, “Get that nymph of of there, kick out your tippet to a decent length, and go to work.”
That’s what I did one afternoon on the East Fork.
Since then I’ve continued to fsh hoppers until well after they’ve disappeared. Fishing Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper, solo or with a nymph underneath, might well yield results later than you’d expect.
I knew better than to get on the stream without any fying ant patterns one day when my friend Jack Krimmer and I hit the upper Bitterroot and the
only action we saw was in a long foam patch that seemed to be percolating with rising trout.
We “made do” by chopping other fies down to size and catching a few fsh, but did better the following day when we were better prepared with fresh #14 fying black ant patterns.
The tipof for an ant phenomena are rises in the foam line of a pool where there is no hatch going on, and there are no mayfies in the air.
My favorite fying ant pattern is made from two Humpy-like bulbs of deer hair and a synthetic wing. It’s deadly. Over the years since I’ve shared this fy with quite a few anglers. It usually becomes a favorite of theirs. When tying your own, again –keep it simple and keep it sparse.
Mahogany duns hatch from mid-afternoon on. The best hatching action can occur later in the day, right at dusk, and is often ignored by foating anglers who don’t want to pull the boat out after dark.
These fies have a slender dark red-brown body and dark wings. I’ve played with several types of fy for the dry, and found that the slender body is key to the fy’s efectiveness.
This is one fy hatch where the hobbyist or custom fy tyer has an advantage. Most commercial fies are too fat. A #14 parachute, tied sparse, will work. So will a slender-bodied #14 Purple Haze. A quill-ribbed hairwing dun, based on Rene Harrop’s concept, is my favorite mahogany dry.
The deadliest fy I tie for this hatch, though, looks like a pheasant tail nymph with a slate-colored marabou wing.
Mahogany duns hatch underwater and literally fy to the surface. More and bigger fsh take the underwater form of these insects that you’d think.
This fy is fun to fsh. Toss it into a batch of freshly-hatched naturals, and fsh it on a slow draw-and- pause retrieve. You’ll know when you get hit.
The Colors of Cancer 5k is a community event to raise funds to provide Biterroot Valley residents with quality cancer treatments and services. Our goal is to raise $5,000 through the Colors of Cancer 5K Fun Run/Walk.
We will be starting at the Biterroot Health Eye Clinic on 10th Street, running through Hieronymus Park and ending back at the Eye Clinic.
Lace up your shoes and participate! $10 per adult and kids are FREE. Shirts available for purchase during registration for $15.
Can’t participate? Donate or Sponsor!
Rally your team! Form a team and participate together. To create a team, please contact Amanda Fugina at (406) 375-4764 or amandafugina@biterroothealth.org.
This Hairwing Dun is a slender-bodied favorite for the mahogany dun hatch. Photo by Chuck Stranahan.
OVER 200 MONTANA FARMERS AND RANCHERS ENDORSE JON TESTER
JON TESTER DELIVERS FOR MONTANA FARMERS:
Jon knows the challenges facing farmers and ranchers because he is one. Whether he’s taking on boneheaded rules coming out of Washington or blocking our foreign adversaries from buying up American farmland, Jon Tester is willing to take on anyone to defend Montana farmers and ranchers.
“I am supporting Senator Tester for reelection. While we never agree with anyone 100%, Senator Tester has always been 100% for Montana agriculture, whether it’s support for H-2A workers or water systems repair along the Montana Hi-Line with the St. Mary’s river project. As the only farmer in the United States Senate, he has my vote!”
— HANS MCPHERSON
a diversifed farmer from Stevensville, Montana and the former president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.
Yvonne F. Jackson
Jane D. Lodge Grass
Lemual S. Busby
Mickey S. Lodge Grass
Randy S. Lodge Grass
Shawn R. Garryowen
Clarena B. Hays
Curtis H. Harlem
Kyle K. Harlem
Libby K. Harlem
Patty Q. Harlem
Reuben K. Harlem
Carol N Bridger
Carol B. Red Lodge
“Jon has been a great advocate for American agriculture and our freedom to operate. He opposed regulations like mandatory EID tags and WOTUS, and he has been fghting Brazilian and Paraguayan beef and our foreign adversaries buying our land. He’s working to increase competition and transparency in our markets and reauthorize Country of Origin Labeling. And he has done all of this by working across the aisle with our Republicans.”
— LEO MCDONNELL
a rancher from Columbus running the Midland Bull Test and ranching primarily in Montana and North Dakota. He has also held leadership positions in several state and national cattle associations.
“Jon Tester’s done a good job supporting farmers and ranchers, and all Montanans. He’s one of the very few members of Congress who gets the issues facing us. He’s honest, and that’s why he has my vote.”
— AL BABEL Farmer, Corvallis
LIST OF OVER 200 FOUNDING MEMBERS
Heidi T. Cofee Creek
Hugo T. Cofee Creek
Judy T. Cofee Creek Roy Lewistown
Sean T. Cofee Creek
Stephanie S. Hilger
Teresa Y. Bufalo
Trudi P. Garneill
Alan S. Hilger
Cynthia S. Columbia Falls
Dan D. Bigfork
Gayle P. Bigfork
Cindy T. Stanford
Cindy P. Geyser
Claire M. Stanford
Connie M. Moccasin
Ethan Z. Stanford
Jess A. Stanford
Karen R. Stanford
Kelly K. Stanford
Kurt M. Stanford Mark M. Stanford
“Montana’s farmers grow the best products in the world and shouldn’t be penalized for following the rules,” said Tester.
Chris S. Bridger
Gary N. Bridger
Sharlene M. Red Lodge
Dave B. Great Falls
Don E. Great Falls
Kara B. Great Falls
Margaret B.
Matt R.
Rich L. Great Falls
Bob B. Big Sandy
Casey B. Fort Benton
Kelsey M. Fort Benton
Lon W. Geraldine
Martin M. Fort Benton
Mary Ellen V. Carter
HIS FIGHT AGAINST THE PURCHASE OF AMERICAN FARMLAND BY FOREIGN ENTITIES
Robin H. Big Sandy
Timothy P. Big Sandy
Victoria W. Geraldine
Vivian W. Loma
M. Stanford
R. Stanford Robert R. Stanford
Vicki
John D. Whitefsh
Lisa W. Kila
Oscar M. Kila
Gene C. Manhattan
Nate P.
Paul N. Gallatin Gateway
Sas W.
Alex G. Browning
Amy D. Heart Butte
Rock G. Browning
Beau M. Cut Bank
Diana B. Browning
Gary T. Browning
Jim R. Browning
Joel F. Babb
Latrice T. Browning
Mable R. Browning
Marla W. Cut Bank
Mike T. Browning
Mike D. Browning
Lise
I know how hard Montana farmers and ranchers work to grow the best food in the world. That’s why I’ll take on anyone who threatens our Montana way of life.
$28.00
FRESH EGGS from Howell’s Happy Hens are back! $4.00/doz. Pick up at Bitterroot Star ofce, 115 W. 3rd, Suite 108, Stevensville.
MULTI-FAMILY YARD
SALE. Everything must go, moving for medical reasons. Tools, horse equipment, furniture, tools and misc. items. 1699 Sleeping Child Road, Hamilton, MT.
8 am to 2 pm Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 & 27. Follow signs
ESTATE SALE - Like 9 Stores! Crazy Fun!
293 Willow Way, Stevi (Creekside)
9/26 - 9 to 4 (prices frm), 9/27 - 9 to 3, 9/28 - 9 to 2, 9/29 - 10 to 1 (½ price).
1 = Kitchen Store-sm. Appliances, 7 dishes sets including Pioneer Woman, pottery, etc. 2 = Craft Store- beading, quilting, leather, needle point, painting items, etc.
3 = Women’s ClothingS-M.
4 = Movie & Music store- over 400 DVD’s & CD’s.
5 = Art Gallery- lg. framed, beautiful prints & original art.
6 = Book Store.
7 = Furniture Storebookshelves, bed, dressers, TV, china cupboard
drop leaf table, decor, etc.
8 = Outdoor Store- riding lawn & push mowers, BBQ, picnic table, outdoor furniture, lawn care items, etc.
9 = Antique Store- collectibles abound. Plus an electric wheelchair & more! A few items are NFS, but there is an immense amount for sale! Plan on staying for hours! NO EARLIES, CASH
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BITTERROOT VALLEY EDUCATION COOPERATIVE is seeking substitute Para Educators for our Preschool located in Stevensville.
Bitterroot Woman’s Club donates to Darby Bread Box
by John Dowd
The Bitterroot Woman’s Club has been around since 1914, and has committed to supporting their local community. According to Carole Steigerwalt, club president, the group recently participated in a nationwide efort, and is proud of what it meant for their local eforts.
At their September meeting, the club tallied up the canned goods and monetary donations that club members had been collecting. The goal was to help fght food insecurity in the valley. Their eforts to collect these donations was part of a national efort, organized by clubs across America.
The Bitterroot Woman’s Club is a local chapter, associated with a national organization, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). This national organization calls for a “national day of service” among all associated groups. The date is ofcially set for September 28, however, organizations have been able to do their projects anytime within the month.
“The response was wonderful,” said Steigerwalt, excited at how well everyone did in such a short amount of time. In total, members collected over 130 pounds of food and over $300 in donations.
It was decided to give the donations to the food bank in Darby, The Darby Bread Box. There are three food banks in the valley, one in Hamilton, one in Stevensville and one in Darby. Though all of the food banks work to help those in need, there was particular interest in the Darby branch. The club felt their donations would have the best efect going to Darby. According to Steigerwalt, “the Darby one was really in need.” Steigerwalt, and others in the club, believe that branch does not see as many donations throughout the year. They do receive donations during Thanksgiving, and the Christmas holiday season, but are in need the rest of the year, when donations are not at the top of everybody’s mind.
The decision to donate to Darby was unanimous among all 30 members at that meeting, said Steigerwalt. Members took the goods to the Darby Bread Box Tuesday, September 17. Steigerwalt said the food bank was completely surprised and happy to
The Darby Bread Box plans to use the monetary donation for things like milk and other products which will go into their boxes, providing more balanced nutrition.
Steigerwalt wanted to thank chairpersons Cathy Barth and Linda Neizgodzki, who spearheaded this project.
Though members were excited about their impact with this project, the Bitterroot Woman’s Club does a lot more throughout the year for the community. They also help with Hamilton community meals and volunteer at Cornerstone Church, on Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton, the second Tuesday of each month. There, they cook meals and give them out to people in need. At the latest meal event, on September 10, they gave out 42 meals.
Members will also soon be doing their mini pumpkins again, which they do every October. During this event, members give out over 100 of these mini pumpkins as decorations to nursing homes all across the valley.
The group does a Valentine’s Day event, where they send valentines to various members of the community. Last year, they sent valentines to the staf of the hospital and its various satellite locations. Another year, they sent some to frst responders in the valley, including the Ravalli County Sherif’s Department, along with various police departments and fre stations. This year, they plan to send valentines to physical therapists, dentists and other care providers not often recognized.
For the Bitterroot Woman’s Club, this is a way for them to “show that we love you!” to people that are not always noticed for what they do for the community, said Steigerwalt. She has been in the valley for 20 years, and has
been with the woman’s club for over 10. “I really enjoy helping the people in the valley - we’re working to help our people,” said Steigerwalt. The organization president also wanted to recognize the other food banks in the valley. All of these food bank branches are in need all year, and food is not the only thing they col lect to give to those in need. Another big thing, according to Steigerwalt, is toilet paper. Fresh veggies are anoth er for this time of year, as gardens
are reaching the end of the growing year. With frost coming, Steigerwalt believes any surplus would be appreciated. Interested parties can give to Ha
Greg Overstreet, HD 88 wannabe representative, harbors a secret identity: Glen Tate. Anti -government activist, recent transplant from Washington state, prepper*, undercover extremist. Don’t believe it? Check his background for yourself: (Google Talking Lead podcast #434, April 9, 2022).
The question is, “What is he hiding?”
*Prepper: one who prepares for a societal and governmental collapse and often seeks to help accomplish that governmental failure.
Don’t settle for a deeply fawed candidate when you have a reliable alternative in HD 88, Evan Schroedel - no deception, no deceit.
A Montana native, family man, and military veteran. A retired railroad engineer, he is supported by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Western States Carpenters, Montana Public Employees Union, and Montana Planned Parenthood.
But most importantly, Evan will be a tireless advocate for the middle class; a tireless advocate for you.
Destruction from within?
Why would a self-avowed government opponent seek a government position?
Glen Tate/Greg Overstreet outlines his anti-government passion in a 10-volume fctional series titled 299 Days.
The following is a representation of his views directly from his work. 299 Days, Vol. 1, Pgs.176-177
“What kind of a****le takes pleasure in this? Him. That’s who. He couldn’t control the warm joyous feeling he was having that this beast of government was wounded.”
Pg. 226
“The (state) legislature was in session, which was never a good thing.”
Pgs. 229-230
“Grant was dealing head-on with the collapse of the United States. That didn’t scare him too much since he had prepared. He was calmly planning on it.”
Bitterroot Woman’s Club members Cathy Bath, at far left, and Linda Niezgodzki, ar far right, stand at either side of volunteers from the Darby Bread Box. The members handed off the donations last week.
Photo courtesy Carole Steigerwalt.
Legal Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Burnt Fork Water Commission will hold its fnal meeting of the 2024 irrigation season on October 1, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Jay Meyer’s shop (3651 Meyer Lane). Help fnding the meeting site will be available as you approach the address. If you have agenda items for the meeting, please call Jay Meyer at 406-2077808 before the meeting.
BS 9-11, 9-25-24.
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County
In the Matter of the Name Change of Ronda Kaye Blatter, Ronda Kaye Blatter, Petitioner. Cause No.: DV-24-338
Dept. s NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE
This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Ronda Kaye Blatter to Ronda Kaye Kulczyk.
The hearing will be on October 17, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 3rd day of September, 2024.
/s/ Paige Trautwein
Clerk of District Court
By: Catherine di Gleria
Deputy Clerk
BS 9-11, 9-18, 9-25, 10-2-24.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Darby Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 6:00 PM at the Darby Town Hall, 101 East Tanner Avenue, to receive comments both oral and written regarding a variance request for Lots A1 & A2 with accesses for both lots on Marge Meadow Lane in the Marge Meadow subdivision located at 308 West Missoula Avenue in Darby. For more information visit Darby Town Hall or call (406) 821-3753.
BS 9-18, 9-25-24.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Charlos Irrigation District will hold a general meeting on October 3 at 7 p.m. at the Charlos Heights Community Church. BS 9-18, 9-25-24.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
The following is the complete text of Constitutional Initiatives No. 126, No. 127, and No. 128, which will be submitted to the voters of the state of Montana at the November 5, 2024, General Election. The text is being published per the requirement of 13-27-311, Montana Code Annotated. THE COMPLETE TEXT OF CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. 126 (CI-126) BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Article IV of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended by adding a new section 9 that reads: Section 9. Top-four primary election for certain ofces. (1) As used in this section, the term “covered ofce” means the ofce of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States senator, and other ofces as provided by law.
The election for a covered ofce must consist of a primary election followed by a general election in which each of the four candidates for a covered ofce who receive the most votes in the primary election, and only those candidates, shall appear on the general election ballot.
In an election for a covered ofce, the following conditions apply:
All candidates, regardless of political party preference, afliation, nomination or lack of political party preference, afliation, or nomination shall appear on the same primary election ballot separated by ofce.
Qualifed electors, regardless of political party preference or afliation or a lack thereof, may participate
in the primary election for each covered ofce for which they are eligible to vote.
Each qualifed elector may vote for no more than one candidate for each ofce in the primary election.
If it cannot be determined which four candidates received the most votes in the primary election because two or more candidates are tied, the tie shall be broken as provided by law.
If four or fewer candidates for a covered ofce qualify for the primary election ballot, a primary election is not required and all candidates shall appear on the general election ballot.
A space for write-in candidates may appear on the primary election ballot as provided by law.
A candidate may not be required to obtain the endorsement or nomination of any political party or organization in order to qualify for the primary election ballot.
If the legislature requires candidates to obtain signatures to qualify for the primary election ballot, the number of signatures required may not exceed 5% of the total votes cast for the candidate elected for the same ofce in the last general election for that ofce.
A candidate may choose to have displayed next to the candidate’s name on the ballot the candidate’s preference for a political party or that the candidate prefers no political party. The format options must be as follows: “Party Preference _______________________” or “No Party Preference.”
The ballot may not indicate that a candidate has been endorsed by or nominated by any political party.
Each ballot must include a clear and conspicuous statement informing voters that a candidate’s indicated political party preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the political party or that the political party approves of or associates with the candidate.
This section may not be construed to amend, repeal, or modify Article VI, section 2 of the Montana constitution. This section does not apply to special elections for covered ofces.
NEW SECTION. Section
2. Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in efect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in efect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.
NEW SECTION. Section
3. Efective date. [This act] is efective January 1, 2025. NEW SECTION. Section 4. Applicability. [This act] applies to elections for covered ofces as defned in [section 1] held on or after January 1, 2025.
THE COMPLETE TEXT OF CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. 127 (CI-127) BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Article IV, section 5 of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read: Section 5. Result of elections. (1) As used in this section, the term “covered ofce” means the ofce of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States senator, and other ofces as provided by law.
(2) In all elections held by the people for an ofce other than a covered ofce, the person or persons receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.
(3) In all elections held by the people for a covered ofce, the person receiving a majority of votes as determined as provided by law shall be declared elected. If it cannot be determined which person received a majority of votes because two or more persons are tied, the elected person shall be determined as provided by law.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Severability. If part of [this
act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in efect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in efect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Efective date. [This act] is efective January 1, 2025.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Applicability. [This act] applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.
THE COMPLETE TEXT OF CONSTITUTIONAL INI-
TIATIVE NO. 128 (CI-128)
Article II of The Constitution of The State of Montana is amended by adding a new section 36 that reads:
Section 36. Right to make decisions about pregnancy.
There is a right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. This right shall not be denied or burdened unless justifed by a compelling government interest achieved by the least restrictive means.
The government may regulate the provision of abortion care after fetal viability provided that in no circumstance shall the government deny or burden access to an abortion that, in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional, is medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.
The government shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against a person based on the person’s actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy outcomes. The government shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against a person for aiding or assisting another person in exercising their right to make and carry out decisions about their pregnancy with their voluntary consent.
For the purposes of this section:
A government interest is “compelling” only if it clearly and convincingly addresses a medically acknowledged, bona fde health risk to a pregnant patient and does not infringe on the patient’s autonomous decision making.
“Fetal viability” means the point in pregnancy when, in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional and based on the particular facts of the case, there is a signifcant likelihood of the fetus’s sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.
BS 9-18, 9-25, 10-9, 10-25.
MNAXLP
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF FLOYD ERNEST WOOD, Deceased. Probate No.: DP-2024-96 Dept. No.: 1 NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Brenda Wood has been appointed Personal Representative of the abovenamed estate. All persons having claims against the said Decedent are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the frst publication of this notice or said claims will be forever barred.
Claims must either be mailed to Brenda Wood, the Personal Representative, return receipt requested, at c/o Montana Legacy Law, PLLC, 178 South 2nd St., Hamilton, MT 59840, or fled with the Clerk of the above Court.
BS 9-18, 9-25, 10-2-24.
MNAXLP
REQUEST FOR BIDS (RFB)
Ravalli County The Board of Ravalli County Commissioners are soliciting bids (RFB) for the following:
Replacement of Deteriorated landing and stairs at 205 Bedford Street, Hamilton, Montana GENERAL NOTES:
1. Contractor shall verify all dimensions and job site conditions before commenc-
ing work and shall report any discrepancies to the Engineer.
2. Use written dimensions. Do not use scaled dimensions. Where no dimension is provided, consult the Engineer for clarifcation before proceeding with the work.
3. The Contractor is responsible for implementing job site safety and construction procedures in accordance with national, state, and local safety requirements. The design, adequacy and safety of erection bracing, shoring, temporary supports, etcetera is the sole responsibility of the Contractor and has not been considered by the Engineer. The Contractor is responsible for the stability of the structure prior to the completion of all gravity and lateral framing.
4. The Contractor will pay the Engineer for time and expense required to review, design, and coordinate items that were constructed not in conformance with these Construction Documents.
5. The Contractor is responsible for locating and the protection of all existing utilities and adjacent structures throughout all phases of construction.
DESIGN CRITERIA:
1. CODE: International Building Code, 2021 Edition (IBC).
2. DESIGN LOADS: FLOOR LOADS: DEAD = SELF-WEIGHT LIVE (EXIT) = 100 PSF CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
1. Concrete properties shall be determined from designated Exposure Category F Class F3 as described in the latest edition of ACI 318, unless noted otherwise.
a. Minimum Compressive Strength: f’c = 4500 psi at 28 days, normal weight.
b. Maximum water/cement ratio limit (w/cm): 0.45
c. Air Content w/ 1 1/4” aggregate size = 6% +/1.5%
2. Maximum slump per Section 2.5.1 ACI 117: 3” +/1” for slabs and footings, 4” +/- 1” for walls, columns and beams.
3. Concrete shall be ready mixed in accordance w/ ASTM C94. Portland cement shall conform to ASTM C150, Type I or II. Normal weight aggregate shall conform to ASTM C33.
4. Curing compound shall conform to ASTM C309, Type 2, Class B.
5. All concrete shall have a minimum cementitious materials content of 470 pounds per cubic yard, unless noted otherwise. Minimum cementitious materials content for foors shall be 540 pounds per cubic yard, unless noted otherwise.
6. Calcium Chloride shall not be added to concrete.
7. Material, mixing, placement and workmanship shall be in accordance with the requirements of the latest edition of the “Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete” (ACI 318). Each proposed concrete mix shall include test data.
8. Concrete Placement: Cold weather is defned by ACI 306 as “The air temperature has fallen to, or is expected to fall below, 40°F”; when cold weather conditions exist, place concrete complying with ACI 306. Hot weather is defned by ACI 305 as “any combination 5 of high air temperature, low relative humidity, and wind velocity tending to impair the quality of fresh or hardened concrete or otherwise resulting in abnormal properties”; when hot weather conditions exist, place concrete complying with ACI 305.
9. Testing of composite samples of fresh concrete obtained according to ASTM C 172 shall be performed on at least one composite sample for each 100 cubic yard or fraction thereof of each concrete mixture placed each day. Cast and laboratory and/or feld cure at least two sets of two standard cylinder specimens for each composite sample according to ASTM C 31/C 31M. Test one set of two specimens at 7 days and one set of two specimens at 28 days according to ASTM C 39/C 39M. A compressive-strength
test shall be the average compressive strength from a set of two specimens obtained from same composite sample and tested at age indicated. Strength of each concrete mixture will be satisfactory if every average of any three consecutive compressive-strength tests equals or exceeds specifed compressive strength and no compressive-strength test value falls below specifed compressive strength by more than 500 psi.
10. All Detailing, Fabrication, and Erection of reinforcing shall conform to latest edition of ACI “Manual of Standard Practice for Detailing Reinforced Concrete Structures” (ACI 315) and the current “Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete” (ACI 318).
11. Reinforcing Steel:
ASTM A615 - Grade 40 for #3, Grade 60 for #4 and larger.
ASTM A706 – Where welding is required, at shear wall boundary elements (trim bars) and lateral frame elements ASTM A185 – Welded Wire Reinforcement
12. The following minimum concrete cover shall be provided for reinforcement per ACI 318. Concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth: 3” Concrete cast against forms and exposed to earth or weather: #6 through #18 bars: 2” #5 bar and smaller: 1-1/2” Concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground Slabs, walls, joists: 3/4” Beams, columns: 1-1/2”
13. Unless noted otherwise, lap splices in concrete shall be class “B” tension lap splices (2’-0” minimum) per the latest edition of ACI 318. Stagger alternate splices a minimum of one lap length. Lap welded wire fabric so that the overlap between outermost cross wires of each sheet is not less than the cross wire spacing plus 2 inches. All splice locations are subject to approval by Engineer and shall be made only where indicated on the drawings. Extend all horizontal reinforcing continuous around corners and intersections or provide bent corner bars to match and lap with horizontal bars at corners and intersections of footings and walls.
14. Provide bar supports and spacers to support all reinforcement in proper locations and wire adequately at intersections to hold bars frmly in position while concrete is placed. Bar supports and spacers which rest on or exposed surfaces shall be hot dipped galvanized or plastic coated.
15. Welding of reinforcement is not permitted unless specifcally noted or approved in writing by the Engineer.
An on-site project walk through can be scheduled with the Facilities Manager, Jesse Pittman, upon request via 406 375 6500. Bids must be received by the Ravalli County Clerk & Recorder, 215 S. 4th Street, Suite C, (Second foor) Hamilton, Montana 59840 no later than MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Please mark the outside sealed bid envelope “RFB for Courthouse steps and landing”.
Bids will then be opened and read aloud in the Ravalli County Commissioners Conference Room at 21 5 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana (Third Floor) on TUESDAY, October 01, 2024, at 11:00 AM.
Possible Bid Award will be made by the Commissioners in the Commissioners Meeting Conference Room at 21 5 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana (Third Floor) on THURSDAY, October 03, 2024 at 11:30 AM. PLEASE NOTE: A PERFORMANCE BOND OR A LETTER OF CREDIT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT Ravalli County reserves the right to accept or deny any, part, or all of the bids as submitted.
For a copy of the schematic plans, specifcations or bid process, contact Chris
Taggart at 406-375-6500 during regular business hours or email: ctaggart@rc.mt.gov. Chris Taggart Commissioners Administrative Assistant BS 9-18, 9-25-24. MNAXLP
Montana 21st Judicial District Court, Ravalli County In the Matter of the Name Change of Kellie Kay Jones, Kellie Kay Korman, Petitioner Cause No.: DV-41-20240000282-NC Dept. 2 Judge Lint NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a name change from Kellie Kay Jones to Kellie Kay Korman. The hearing will be on October 24, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be at the courthouse in Ravalli County.
DATED this 19th day of September, 2024. /s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court By: Barbara Beavers Deputy Clerk of Court BS 9-25, 10-2, 10-9, 10-16-24. MNAXLP
RAVALLI COUNTY ATTORNEY Bill Fulbright, County Attorney Ravalli County Courthouse 205 Bedford Street, Suite C Hamilton, MT 59840 E-mail: countyattorney@ rc.mt.gov Phone: (406) 375-6750 Fax: (406) 375-6731
MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF: D.E.M.P., A YOUTH IN NEED OF CARE. Cause No. DN 24-8 Dept. 2 AMENDED SUMMONS/ CITATION FOR PUBLICATION TO: Juwayne Pinckney YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an Petition for Emergency Protective Services and Temporary Investigative Authority (“the Petition”) regarding, D.E.M.P, the child who is the subject of the above-captioned proceedings brought pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 3 of the Montana Code Annotated, has been fled in Cause No. DN-248 in Montana Twenty-First Judicial District Court, in Ravalli County by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division (CFS), located at 108 Pinkney St, Hamilton, MT 59840. The Petition requests that CFS be granted the following relief: Emergency Protective Services; Adjudication as a Youth in Need of Care; A Determination that Preservation / Reunifcation Eforts Need Not Be Provided; Termination of Parental Rights; and Permanent Legal Custody. A copy of the Petition is fled with the Clerk of District Court for Ravalli County, (406) 375-6710 and is hereby served upon you at this time. The child who is the subject of the proceedings, D.E.M.P, was born on January 25, 2010. The child’s mother is Janay Nelson. The child’s father is Juwayne Pinckney.
NOW, THEREFORE, YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED to appear at the hearing regarding the Petition that is set on the 26th day of September, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., at the Ravalli County Courthouse located at 205 Bedford St., Hamilton, Montana, then and there to show cause, if any you may have, why CFS should not be granted the relief requested in the Petition.
NOTICE: Your failure to appear at the hearing will constitute a denial of interest in the child, which denial may result, without further notice of this proceeding or any subsequent proceeding, in judgment by default being entered for the relief requested in the Petition. You have the right to be represented by an attorney in these proceedings. If you are unable to aford an attorney, the Court will have an attorney appointed to represent
Ave., Ste. 102 Missoula, MT 59804 (406) 541-3333
joe@jonesmtlaw.com
Attorneys for Plaintifs MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RAVALLI COUNTY MELISSA N. DUNLAP, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE STATE OF TED DUNLAP, Plaintif,
v. MARILYN L. JACKSON
(a/k/a Marylin L. Dunlap) and her heirs and devisees, FRED DUNLAP and his heirs and devisees, ELITA
MERCER DUNLAP and her heirs and devisees, SUSAN C. DUNLAP; and all other persons, unknown, claiming or who might claim any right, title, estate, or interest in or lien or encumbrance upon the real property described in the complaint adverse to plaintif’s ownership or any cloud upon plaintif’s title, whether the claim or possible claim is present or contingent, Defendants, Defendants. Hon. Jennifer B. Lint Cause No. DV-41-2024324 SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION THE STATE OF MONTANA TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS, GREETINGS:
You are hereby SUMMONED to answer the Complaint to Quiet Title in this Action which is fled with the above-named Court, a copy of which is served upon you, and to fle your written answer with the Court and serve a copy thereof upon Plaintif’s attorney within
twenty-one (21) days after service of this SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION, or such other period as may be specifed by law, exclusive of the day of service. Your failure to appear or answer will result in judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. A fling fee must accompany the answer.
This action is brought to quiet title to land in Ravalli County, Montana, and described as follows: Tract 1 of Amended Plat No. 735802, being a portion of Lots 3 and 4, Block 7, Lake Como Orchards No. 3, Ravalli County, Montana, according to the recorded plat thereof.
DATED this 19th day of September, 2024. /s/ Paige Trautwein Clerk of District Court By: Michelle Goldman, Deputy Clerk BS 9-25, 10-2, 10-9-24. MNAXLP
NOTICE OF CLOSE OF REGULAR VOTER REGISTRATION AND OPTION FOR LATE REGISTRATION
Notice is hereby given that regular* voter registration for the Federal General Election to be held on November 5, 2024, will close at 5:00 PM on October 7, 2024.
*NOTE: If you miss this regular registration deadline, you may still register for the election by showing up at the Ravalli County Election Office up to and including on Election Day. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the Ravalli County Election Office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot.
All active and inactive electors of the County of Ravalli are entitled to vote at said election. Inactive electors may reactivate by appearing at the polling place in order to vote, by requesting an absentee ballot in any election, or by notifying the County Election Administrator in writing of the elector’s current address in the county.
Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by mail or by appearing at the Ravalli County Election Office, 215 South 4th Street, Suite C, Hamilton, Montana. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration form and submitting it to the
County Elections Office.
If
or
a patient is easy, with little to no wait for scheduling a new patient appointment. Call Sapphire Community Health today at 406-541-0032. Medicaid, Medicare, most commercial insurances--and NO insurance accepted.
Continued from page 1
tall and will be placed on cement bases about 20 feet apart, is $60,000. Many businesses and individuals have contributed and those giving $2500 or more will be recognized with a plaque on each light.
Right now, Edwards said those sponsors include: First Security Bank, M & M Auto, Farmers State Bank, Katie Ward Real Estate, Eastside Ace Hardware, Jef’s Towing, Chateau Montelena Winery, Brown Trout Lives Matter, Burnt Fork Market and some individual donors. There are still some lighting sponsorships available. For more information, contact Edwards at 406-360-3474.
Edwards is also getting help with the installation from Justin Swartz Construction and TJ Fite. Swartz’s grandmother, the late Billie Swartz, was a
longtime member of the Stevensville Civic Club and was instrumental in getting the pathway to the river built. Edwards expects to have the frst 16 lights installed by the end of next month. The Montana Department of Transportation has already given approval. However, Edwards said he is still waiting for the Forest Service to get back to him, although they initially said they were interested in participating.
This year’s Scarecrow Brewfest will be the last big push to raise the fnal funding needed to get this project done. The “Light Up Stevensville” Brewfest will be held Saturday, October 5 from 3:30 to 9 p.m. in the First Security Bank parking lot just of 3rd & Main. Cost is still $30, which includes a commemorative glass and numerous local craft beers as well
as Freakshow wines. Local musician Shane Clouse will be providing the music and there will be a taco truck. Brewfest tickets available at Burnt Fork Market or at the event.
Edwards also said that even when the lighting project is completed, he wants to make sure the Scarecrow Brewfest continues. It’s a great fundraiser and a good way to promote Stevensville. He’s talking with the Stevensville Civic Club and others to see if something can be worked out to make that happen.
“I’ve always loved the Scarecrow Festival,” said Edwards, “and I love this town. I’ve made it a point to be part of it, and to do something nice for my hometown.”
NARCAN: state considers vending machines
Continued from page 4
McBride and her team acknowledge there is no consistent way to know how many opioid-related deaths the vending machines have helped prevent.
Jessica Johnson is the health education supervisor at the Southern Nevada Health District, which helped create the frst vending machine collaborative in the contiguous U.S. Johnson said the project was designed to distribute naloxone and sterile syringes to reduce the spread of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs. A 2022 study found 41 fewer overdose deaths than expected were recorded in Clark County, where the machines were located, during the frst year of distribution.
Johnson said one of her takeaways from the program is the importance of listening to the community’s most at-risk people. The resulting harm-reduction kiosks or vending machines can look as diverse as the places they’re
Public health workers across the nation have added toothbrushes, tobacco-use cessation kits, and other supplies to their vending machines based on feedback from the populations they serve, Johnson said.
While organizational hosts have not yet been chosen, Montana health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt
said the agency’s recommendation to place machines at drop-in centers and sites serving homeless people is based on a desire to reach people with serious mental illnesses and others who are already seeking services at those locations.
Ebelt confrmed the department did not reference opioid overdose data or demographic information about people who most often overdose in Montana when deciding where to place the machines. Rather, he said, the decision was “based on community-based programming and existing contracts with low barrier service sites.” Under the proposal, Ebelt said, community hosts of the vending machines will be able to select many types of additional harm-reduction supplies to distribute, “as each community has different needs,” but sterile syringes will not be among the products available in Montana’s machines. The state plans to pay for one year of supplies, after which it may use federal grants to stock the machines, and federal funds may not be used to purchase syringes for illegal drug use. Ebelt did not respond to additional inquiries about that decision or whether sites would be able to add syringes and other materials supplied through independent funding.
Bird Squawk
Common Grackle a great bird or a nuisance?
Looking out the window I see at least eight Common Grackles on the lawn. That is interesting as I remember when I had never observed one in Western Montana. The frst one I saw did see was a dead one. A person called and said there was a strange looking dead bird in her yard. I couldn’t believe it when I got to her house, it was a Common Grackle. I had seen them before, but never locally. Two years later I saw my frst live Common Grackle locally, in 2004. Today, I observe many in my yard every day during summer months. I wonder, are keeping other species out of my yard, with their large size and aggressive behavior? Fortunately, I use hopper feeders with a screen around the feeding holes as they would certainly keep smaller birds from using the feeders. That forces the grackles to feed on the ground rather than emptying the feeders quickly. It gives small species such as chickadees and fnches access
gain of proper habitat and abiotic factors such as weather, climate/temperature change, point source pollution, such as a river, or a non-point
to seeds without competition from the larger rather “piggish” grackles. What brings birds to a new area, or on an earlier date than ever seen before? Or keeps species longer than ever recorded or disappearing from an area all together? There are two main contributing factors, loss or
sources such as air pollutants. Which of these was the contributing factor for the Common Grackle appearing in the Upper Clark Fork Valley? I have lived in the Upper Clark Fork Valley for nearly 80 years and have the advantage of seeing a few changes in bird species and pop -
ulations over time. These include the Turkey Vulture, which was rare 20 years ago, and is now common, even to the point of roosting in town. Another is the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Yellow-heads came into the valley in the early 80’s and are so common now that they are often displacing Red-winged Blackbirds in marshes. American White Pelican found their way here in the last 20 years. The frst ones I saw locally were in 2011. There are species that are showing up earlier and leaving later due to global warming. The problem with this is birds can arrive in the spring before there is an abundant insect population to feed on, causing stress and mortalities. This year fall migrant shorebirds, and waterfowl are in the valley at least two weeks earlier due to dry conditions in the Arctic breeding grounds not conducive to spring nesting. Is a dry Arctic breeding grounds a one-year phenomena, or a sign of things to come? How do we know these things? We keep good survey records. GoBirdMontana, a company I co-own with my grandson, has records going back to 1999 at the Warm Springs WMA. Two other local factors may be the 1000-year food of 1908 which
by Gary Swant
deposited riparian food water laden with heavy metals from the Butte mines and the closing of the Anaconda Smelter in 1981 which contributed arsenic and other air borne particulates. Both issues are being addressed today with the Clark Fork River Remedial Cleanup from Warm Springs to Deer Lodge and eventually on to Missoula. The other factor is yard soil replacement projects in Anaconda and soil improvement projects between Anaconda and Deer Lodge. There is a saying in environmental circle that goes like this, “build good habitat and the birds will come”.
Back to the Common Grackle. It looks superfcially like a Brewer’s blackbird only much larger. Common Grackles weigh 4 ounces compared to 2.2 ounces for Brewer’s Blackbirds. The bill is thick, and long compared to Brewer’s Blackbirds. The tail is long, and “keel” shaped at the end, square in the Brewer’s. The eye is pale yellow, in contrast to the bright yellow eye of the Brewer’s. Coloration of the body in the grackle is a combination of iridescent blues, with the head darker than the body. Females are somewhat smaller and drab brown to gray.
Posting Date September 23, 2024
In the fall as migrants gather into focks you often see Common Grackles and Brewer’s Blackbirds in mixed focks and the diferences become obvious. So, look for these two species this fall in your travels and see if you can separate them, it’s fairly easy. You can see the diferences in my two photos.
Brewer’s blackbird. Photo by Gary Swant.
Common Grackle. Photo by Gary Swant.
