Bozeman Magazine June 2020 14.2

BOZEMAN MAGAZINE June 2020 - Volume 14.1

Inside This Issue:

Beartooth Highway Biology Murder Along The Yellowstone Trail Record Store Day - The Bad & Good News

ONLINE GREATER YELLOWSTONE EVENTS CALENDAR

photo: Lindsey Hove

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S VISUAL ARTS

R E C & H E A LT H

Cover Shot: - Lindsey Hove 10

Shroomin’ - P Hill 20

FOOD & DRINKS

Bridger Creek for Kids - J McAleer 22

Bridger Brewing - M Hudlow 12

A Biologist on the Beartooth - S Eversman 24

Food Scene 2020 Postponed - B Ripple 16

M O N TA N A M U S I C Record Store Day 2020 - M Goode 17 Jerry Joseph Beautiful Madness - P Felhan 18

HOROSCOPE Black Rose Spiritual Center - Dr Nikki 36

EVENT CALENDAR www.bozemanmagazine.com/events

18

Untethering For the Times - M Glenn 28 Top 10 Things for Bozeman Summer - K Springer 30

LIVING LOCAL Murder Along the Yellowstone Trail - K Hartman 34

24

Wrap Agency 36 How Accurate is the Zillow Estimate - T Ford 41 You Only Turn 90 Once - A Cass 42

42

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

5

6

June 2020

Sarah Cairoli - Copy Editor Local writer, tutor, and mother who has been enjoying all Bozeman has to offer for the past decade. Copy Editor for Bozeman Magazine.

Angie Ripple - Publisher Angie makes Bozeman Magazine happen all while wrangling her three children and adventuring with her husband and living the dream.

Brian Ripple - Publisher Brian enjoys taking his kids camping, and skiing. He is an artist, sound engineer and co-editor of this fabulous magazine you are reading.

Nikki Judge - Horoscope Nikki is a spiritual counselor and life coach who is happily serving those who have chosen a solo spiritual path.

Amanda Cass - Living Local A seasoned copywriter, brand strategist and hospitality/restaurant marketing expert. You can find her hitting the trails with her husband and dogs, or on her farm tending to her chickens.

Cammie Reid - Local Living Cammie Reid is a student, writer, and environmentalist at Montana State University. Hailing from the East Coast, she has written in publications in three different cities before arriving in Bozeman in 2017.

Kelly Hartman - History Kelly Hartman is the Curator at the Gallatin History Museum.

She is also a painter and printmaker inspired by the beauty of Montana.

Abby Hernandez - Local Living Abby grew up in Paradise Valley, but currently calls Bozeman home. You can follow the adventures of her and her family on Instagram @adventurepeaksupply

Tim Ford - Real Estate Tim Ford is a Broker / RealtorÂŽ with Bozeman Broker Real Estate in Bozeman Montana.

Eric Kofer - Music Former ASMSU concerts director.

Local music contributor and ChickenJam West Productions Owner. Eric spreads his love for music around the valley.

Kris Drummond - Local Living Kris Drummond is a writer, photographer, and traveler living in Bozeman and enjoying spring skiing in June.

Abby Bradford- Music The Marketing and Development Communications Manager for the Symphony, loves connecting people to purpose through the arts, outdoor adventure, and time shared together.

Missy Glenn - Music/Local Living Missy Glenn lives in Bozeman with her son DJ, two dogs, and her cat Ginger. She is a licensed Esthetician and Patient Care Specialist.

Maggie Rose Hudlow - Dining Maggie is a lover of mutts and open mics. She will exercise moderately, but only to consume food excessively.

Kate Springer - Local Living Kate spends almost every free moment enjoying Bozeman and Montana in some way; hiking and exploring the mountains, skiing, or kayaking the rivers.

Rachel Phillips - History Rachel Phillips is the Research Coordinator at the Gallatin History Museum in Bozeman.

Kevin Brustuen - Screen & Stage Kevin Brustuen lives in Bozeman and can be contacted at kbrustuen@hotmail.com. He is an avid theater-goer.

Shawn Vicklund - Local Living Shawn is a local entrepreneur and professional marketer who enjoys running, hiking and spending time with family.

Pat Hill - Music / Living Local Pat Hill is a freelance writer in Bozeman. Pat has been writing about the history and politics of the Treasure State for nearly three decades.

Chris Marie Forest - Local Living Chris Marie Forest is the greatgreat-granddaughter of William and Ellen Arnold. She was born and raised in Southern California, listening to bits and pieces of her Arnold family stories.

Mia Snyder - Local living Mia is a part-time intern and a full-time student at MSU. When she isn’t participating in Army ROTC program, she likes to drink coffee, play piano, and root for the Seahawks.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Photo: Lindsey Lava Hove Lake

INDEPENDENT & LOCAL PUBLISHER CASEN CREATIVE SALES MANAGER, CO-EDITOR ANGIE RIPPLE PRODUCTION MANAGER, CO-EDITOR BRIAN RIPPLE COVER ARTIST LINDSEY HOVE PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN RIPPLE, MAGGIE HUDLOW, BRIDGER BREWING, JARRED OLIVER, KATE SPRINGER, AMANDA CASS WHAT’S YOUR BEEF? KATE SPRINGER SEND TO: INFO@BOZEMANMAGAZINE.COM FOOD & DRINKS MAGGIE HUDLOW, BRIAN RIPPLE MONTANA MUSIC MIKE GOODE, PATRICE FELHAN SCREEN & STAGE INTERMISSION RECREATION & HEALTH PAT HILL, JON MCALEER, SHARON EVERSMAN, MISSY GLENN, KATE SPRINGER LIVING LOCAL TIM FORD, CAMMIE REID, KELLY HARTMAN, AMANDA CASS HOROSCOPE NIKKI JUDGE, BLACK ROSE SPIRITUAL CENTER EVENTS CALENDAR YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN EVENTS AT: WWW.BOZEMANMAGAZINE.COM THE BASICS Bozeman Magazine features a local artist on every cover and contributions from talented local writers each month. Every attempt has been made to provide our readers with accurate, dependable information about things which make the Bozeman area unique. Distributed to over 200 locations in the Gallatin Valley, and on MSU’s campus, well over 20,000 people enjoy Bozeman Magazine every month. We think you will too.

CONTRIBUTING Bozeman Magazine relies on the hard work of creative local people to keep our flow of information going. If you would like to become a contributor in writing, art, or photography please email us at info@bozemanmagazine.com to learn how. Every attempt is made to include accurate information, however, our writers and staff can NOT be held responsible for misprinted information.

ALL MATERIAL ©2020, CASEN CREATIVE LLC - Bozeman, MT FIRST COPY IS FREE, ADDITIONAL ARE COPIES $1.00 EACH All writing, photos, and artwork remains property of the author, photographer, or artist. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Bozeman Magazine staff or advertisers. Send feedback, comments, suggestions, questions to: info@bozemanmagazine.com CONTACT INFO WEB: bozemanmagazine.com EMAIL: info@bozemanmagazine.com OFFICE: 406-219-3455 • CELL: 406-579-5657 TO ADVERTISE OR FOR MORE INFORMATION contact: info@bozemanmagazine.com or 406 219-3455

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

7

W H A T ’ S YO U R B E E F ?

IS INSTAGRAM RUINING

MONTANA Kate Springer

I

n 2016, an article written by a Montana photographer accused Glacier National Park of “destroying itself from the inside” with an Instagram-driven marketing strategy. He criticized the park’s social media program for “encouraging misuses through its Instagram feed by sharing photographs of people doing things that are at least questionable, and in some cases outright against park policy.”

As a way to increase visitation, the park had zeroed in on Instagram, posting photos of stunning scenery and wildlife.

And it worked. The park’s first Instagram post was in January 2014. As its collection of photos and followers grew, so did its visitation numbers. Between 2015-2016, park visitation increased 25% compared to 1% growth the previous year. *visitation numbers via nps.gov The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

While that spike in visitation numbers cannot be entirely attributed to Instagram, the impact of this strategy was hard to ignore. The hashtag #glaciernps grew to have more than 100,000 photos of the stunning scenery that Glacier is known for.

But as more people were drawn to the park, many driven by the promise of the perfect photo, problems started to surface.

Instagram photos of tents pitched in areas where there is no camping allowed, models in their underwear at popular viewpoints or photos of people in restricted areas became common practice. While the photos were gathering thousands of likes on Instagram, you had to wonder, at what cost?

There is a similar issue happening in Yellowstone. As the 5th most visited national park in the nation, Yellowstone welcomes more than 4 million visitors each year. Illegal drone use is common in the park, as many try to get the perfect bird’seye view of Yellowstone’s geothermal hot springs. In 2014, a tourist from the Netherlands crashed his drone into the Grand Prismatic Spring, and drone photos posted on Instagram in 2018 had a New York photographer under investigation by Yellowstone officials. In 2016, a group of travelers known for documenting their adventures on social media were issued federal arrest warrants after they left the boardwalk to take photos around the delicate edges of the Grand Prismatic Spring, causing irreparable damage.

THE IMPACT OF LOCATION TAGGING It is a common practice among Instagrammers to tag the location of a photo.

But here in Montana, where we so fiercely protect our unspoiled wilderness, a seemingly harmless location tag can cause an unwanted ripple effect. Take one of our favorite local hikes for example. Just a few years ago, this hike was no more popular than any others in the area, maybe even less so. You were almost always rewarded with a quiet summit where you could enjoy the views in peace. But, the views from this hike have been discovered as the perfect

backdrop for an eye-catching ‘gram and now, you’ll often find groups of people at the top trying to get the perfect shot.

An argument in favor of this would say that this is a positive thing because people who would not otherwise get outdoors for a hike are now hitting the trail to “explore.” But is it really exploring when you know exactly what is waiting for you at the top? And since these people do not regularly get out to enjoy the wilderness, they are neither aware nor necessarily concerned with best practices in the backcountry. Like leave-no-trace, low-impact hiking and yielding to other trail users.

Call us old fashioned, but there is beauty in exploring with no guidance other than a map and a guidebook description rather than a location tag and the promise of an Instaworthy shot.

So, what can we do? The answer is not to stop Instagramming, but to consider your impact on the places you are Instagramming. Rather than tagging specific locations, consider tagging a general location.

Rather than visiting a place for it’s “Instagrammability” consider exploring just for the sake of getting off the beaten path.

Rather than being driven by the promise of the perfect photo, consider visiting less popular places to create your own experiences rather than mimicking the experiences of others. We are lucky to live in an incredibly beautiful place; let’s do what we can to protect it! f Kate works at Bozeman Real Estate Group, a locally owned real estate company in Bozeman that is passionate about the community we live in.

All generic disclaimers apply. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Bozeman Magazine staff or advertisers.

SUBMIT YOUR BEEF

at: www.bozemanmagazine.com/pages/contribute or to: info@bozemanmagazine.com

8

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

HOPE IS GREATER THAN CHANGE Angie Ripple

H

ave you seen the list on Facebook where you put down all the things you like that barely any one else likes or vice versa? As an example, friend C. dislikes the Harry Potter series, but feels like everyone else loves it. Well, I’m about to tell you a secret about me that I feel a little alone in, self-help books; I like self-help books and I read self-help books more than any other book (except biographies). Why the heck would I tell you that I like self-help books? Partly because every month when I sit down to write this little note from the editor, I rarely have any idea what I’m about to write, and a lot of the time I’m not that proud of it (self doubt). And, partly because there are some classic self-help to-do’s that might actually help you out during COVID-19 June 2020.

Perspective. Simply changing the way you look at a situation can bring an entirely new, and often more positive, perspective to a situation. In the current COVID-19 era, reminding yourself that the current state of affairs is temporary and that you are in control of your reactions may be helpful. Changing your perspective can be physical as well. Not having a great day? Take a walk and listen to the birds, or just put your feet in the grass on your next break.

Simple change of physical perspective can be a valuable mental health tool.

Change. Accepting change is not my strong suit, but I have been given the opportunity to accept change MANY times in my

life, and when I grab the bull by the horns and accept that the change will happen with or without my permission, I am more free to focus on what am in control of.

Hope. I am a naturally optimistic person, with a strong helping of realistic mixed in. Being hopeful helps me get through hard things and focus on the outcomes I want instead of what I don’t want. Spring in Montana is a very hopeful time for me; flowers mean hope to me, and with each new bloom I feel more hopeful about the future. By choosing an optimistic outlook, you will be empowered to expect good things coming your way.

These are just three quick paradigm shifting options in case you find yourself stuck in a mind set of self doubt or worry. I mean them to be a helpful reminder.

To all the businesses who have inserted an ad with us in this issue of Bozeman Magazine, a huge sincere thank you to you! As with the last recession, marketing budgets are often the first to get cut.

Many of our advertising partners are experiencing this currently and are making the hard decisions of what line item to cut. We are beyond thankful for those who have kept advertising with us and who have signed new advertising contracts with us. Please let these local businesses know that you appreciate them, and that you saw them in Bozeman Magazine! For as long as we are able, we will continue to tell the Bozeman story. Thank you for reading. a

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

9

VISUAL ART

COVER

SHOT

L

LINDSEY HOVE

indsey Hove was born in Billings, MT and moved to Bozeman in 2006 to attend Montana State University. Lindsey’s passion for photography started by taking photos at live music events and he recalls, “I’ve always been involved one way or another in Bozeman’s live music scene, much before I ever picked up a camera”. Lindsey has been published several times for his work covering music events for organizations such as Logjam Presents, ChickenJam West Productions, and even representing Bozeman Magazine on one occasion.

“Live music is a really important part of my life, and being able to take photos that let people relive

those moments after that show has ended has really been a privilege in my life”.

Lindsey also does freelance photography work in his free time and is a wedding photographer for hire in the summer. “I find myself doing a lot of landscape and long-exposure photography these days as well, my tastes come and go with the seasons. One night I’m inside a venue shooting a rock band, the next day I’m on my motorcycle headed towards the woods with my drone; which is funny because that’s actually the story behind the cover photo, it’s taken from 300ft above Hyalite Reservoir with my drone.” l

www.LindseyHovePhotography.com 10

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

11

FOOD & DRINKS

12

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Photo courtesy of Bridger Brewing

Pizza & Beer PERSEVERE Through Pandemic Maggie Hudlow

C

alling in a to-go order from Bridger Brewing was a strange experience.

Because typically, my move is to sit at the corner of the bar, drink three pints over a few hours with my nose buried in my laptop or book and then order some pizza to take home. And that is just the protocol for when I don’t catch lunch in time for a Jurassic slice and salad. It’s easily my favorite lunch around campus. What can I say, I’m a creature of habit. This time, when I called in a pie for pick-up and arrived with a bag full of growlers, standing where I normally sit, the peculiarity of our present situation hit me once again. A bar with no barstools is a strange sight indeed.

Bridger Brewing has been a place of comfort and creativity for me over the last two years of my undergrad. Walking from campus to my truck parked at the stadium, I would be lured in with the smell of fresh pizza and dreams of a cold pint. I could always find a bar stool to occupy for a few hours while I attempted some homework and got distracted with side conversations.

I prefer the buzz of happy people over the stagnant silence of the library. If there is one thing that COVID-19 has taken away from me, it’s the simple pleasure of sitting at a bar enjoying a drink by myself. Being at a table with five empty chairs feels quite a bit more isolated for some reason. But we adapt, and as I was sitting there, obviously unaccompanied, I realized that I have never actually sat anywhere other than the bar.

So, I admired the 3-tiled sunset image of the Bridger Range I had never noticed before, sipped a J.A.H. IPA and crushed a slice of cheese and house salad. Times may change, but pizza and beer stay the same.

Owner and general manager, David Breck was kind enough to take some time to talk with me and dish up some details about Bridger Brewing.

MH: How have you dealt with the Shelterin-place mandate?

DB: We pivoted to takeout pizza and growlers right from the get-go, and we are pretty fortunate having pizza as our food because it lends itself to travel well. Growlers take a while with inspection and sanitation; it’s about 3-4 minutes per growler so everyone just has to slow down and take a breath.

Even our staff, I’ve had to tell—don’t be in a hurry—our business is casual but professional and we are usually moving super-fast making sure people get what they need.

We’re still doing that, but we’re prioritizing safety and sanitation, which slows things down a bit. We appreciate all the patience.

People have been so supportive: buying gift cards, getting takeout, tipping generously, and it’s a story that I’ve heard from other restaurants as well. Obviously, we’re dealing with a crisis, but it’s also a time that has been bringing out the best in people and we have definitely been feeling that love.

MH: How was Bridger Brewing conceptualized?

DB: It went through a lot of phases. We looked at property downtown, places in Four Corners, really all over Bozeman. We thought about a small taproom, but it became apparent how important it would be to have a taproom that offered really good food as well as beer. There is such a creative outlet on the beer side of things, it made sense to explore the creative culinary side as well. We were really fortunate to get this property too; there is a fun, creative energy that comes with being next to the university.

MH: What makes Bridger Brewing unique in the Bozeman food scene?

DB: We make everything from scratch. Our dough is made by hand every day. Veggies are cut, the cheese is grated, and the Caesar is made with raw eggs and anchovies; everything happens in-house. We source all our

meat locally and have our own spice mixes in the back so we make all our own sausages and the bison pepperoni which is pressed and torn rather than being cookie-cutter rounds. All of the meats are placed on pies raw then bake to ensure extra meaty flavor.

And the crew in the back is super creative.

My partner, Jim, who runs the kitchen, gives them the authority to create specials and have a lot of input. It allows us to have a limited but focused and well-executed menu with changing daily specials.

MH: What do you want people to experience when they walk through your doors?

DB: Have fun and enjoy themselves! It’s their party: have some laughs, great food, and wonderful beers. It’s definitely a community gathering place. We have a lot of regulars, who all seem to know each other now, so there’s always great conversation at the bar and tables. I always see (well, not now of course) but people moving from the bar to tables to talk and moving back. It really is a communal atmosphere.

MH: What items do your regulars keep coming back for?

DB: Mad Mile Cream Ale and Antilogy Black IPA for beers. The Elote pizza with the elote cream sauce on top is very popular. Caesar and house salads. People love the house salad dressing; it’s actually Jim’s mom’s recipe.

MH: What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Bozeman community?

DB: As an engineering consultant before this, I didn’t feel like I really got to be part of the community professionally. That was a big driving force in opening a brewery: we could be a part of the community—supcontinued on next page

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

13

Photo: Maggie Hudlow

NEW EVENTS ADDED DAILY AT: www.bozemanmagazine.com

Bridger Brewing p. 12 porting it while it supports us. This is such a tight-knight community with a lot of great non-profits to back and local artists to feature. And especially in the summertime, we try to source as many ingredients as we can from local farms. These connections make business better for everyone and add to the strength of this community.

MH: Do you have anything upcoming that you want readers to know about?

1609 S 11TH AVE, BOZEMAN MT (406) 587-2124 bridgerbrewing.com

FOOD STYLE:

DB: Three Forks is the next phase, and we’re working towards it. We bought a piece of property, 248 acres, right at the corner of I-90 and 287. There will be a production brewery so we will can and package our product. There will be another pub with a nice big patio looking out at the Bridger

Pizza, Salad & Specials

DRINKS:

THREE FORKS LOCATION

Craft Beer, Root Beer, Ginger Beer

OPENING SPRING 2021

HOURS:

With seven years of business under our belts, we are excited to share with you that Bridger Brewing is growing. In the coming year, we will break ground on a second location in Three Forks. The new location will have a taproom and restaurant, as well as a production brewery where we will can our beer. Soon you’ll be able to throw one of our six-packs in your backpack and head out on the river or into the mountains.

11 am – 9 pm (Last beer at 8 pm)

PRICES: $-$$

VIBE:

Local & Lively

14

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Mountains and a live music venue. We are hoping for Spring 2021.

As far as current events, we’re holding off for a while. With COVID, we aren’t doing “Music and Muscles” which is very popular, but we’ll bring back the muscles and weekly specials as soon as we can. We haven’t decided on music yet; it doesn’t feel right to try and draw a crowd right now. We’re happy to have tables but we are definitely taking things slowly and keeping everything spread out. It’s mellow business for the time being.

MH: How do you feel about winning people’s choice best pizza for four years in a row?!

DB: We are really proud of that. Our staff works very hard; it truly is a labor of love.

So, it’s really nice to be appreciated. Thanks for showing us the love Bozeman!

MH: Since I’m now an MSU graduate, I won’t be tempted by the smells of Bridger Brewing every day. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be on my mind. Thank you, Bridger Brewing for being such a rock in the Gallatin Valley community and keeping me sane through college. I look forward to occupying a barstool for too long in the future.

Until then, cheers from afar!

Maggie is a lover of mutts and open mics. She will exercise moderately, but only to consume food excessively.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

15

FOOD & DRINKS

FOOD SCENE

2020 POSTPONED

R

estaurants are struggling, just like all of us.

Since the coronavirus hit Bozeman, Bozeman Magazine has been offering free help to local businesses and restaurants affected by the pandemic. Spreading the word about their new operating hours and information pertaining to the new normal. We created and often shared a take-out list for every restaurant that was open offering food in Belgrade and Bozeman.

In our ‘old normal’ we would have been preparing to publish the sixth annual Food Scene Dining Guide. Instead face with the ‘new normal’ we watch helplessly as several of our friends shut down their restaurants for good. At this point in time there is now way to publish a reataurant guide in print form. Instead we are pushing all locals and restaurants to utilize the Bozeman Food Finder located online at bozemanmagazine.com/ restaurants.

You can search our database by cities in the area, say you want to see where to eat out in Ennis or Livingston, just enter that city and search. Or on the other hand if you want to see all the places that serve mexican food in any town search for mexican in categories. Even better if you want mexican food in Livingston you can be precise and look that up too. As you can see, you can also add more options to your search like restaurants with a kids area, or restaurants with alcohol and gambling.

Oh, did I mention we have a similar list for bars and saloons in our area. Guess what, the area i mentioned is also pretty big. Extending from Whitehall to Big Timber to Island Park, ID. Please use it the Bozeman Food Finder often.

It actually makes deciding where to eat out a whole lot easier. If you own a restaurant or bar, please check your listing, and if you see changes that need to be made kindly let us know, and please if you can afford to invest in some advertising for your business with us.

The Food Finder is just one of several, great and useful resources you can find and use at: bozemanmagazine.com Go take a look and see what is new. For the past thirteen years we have been here to connect local businesses, promoters and organizations to the people in our community! Thanks for your continued support. f

16

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

M O N TA N A M U S I C

RECORD STORE DAY 2020

Good News and Bad News, but Mostly Good News Mike Bueno Goode

Y

ou all know how much we love Record Store Day, not the least because it allows us to see all of you at once, jammed into our store cheek to jowl like livestock on a factory farm! We love it because we love every diseased one of you germ-carriers.

Well, this year Record Store Day is going to look a little different, and its a matter of good news/bad news, where, luckily, its mostly good news.

The bad news is that the previously announced June postponement is now cancelled because, of course, the world continues to end in slow motion. The good news is that you can still purchase all of the Record Store Day exclusives that had been announced, you just have to wait for three DROP DATES (August 29, September 26 and October 24 of this year). All of the announced releases will be coming out on one of those days, so stay tuned for which releases come out when. In certain other cases, some previously RSD2020 exclusives are coming out on alternate release dates, which is good news for impatient music fans.

For instance, if you’re a big fan of Widespread Panic - and who isn’t? - then you have reason to rejoice. The box set vinyl release of their “Sunday Show - The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester NY 3/24/19” Vinyl 5LP Boxset, once slated to be a RSD-exclusive release, is OUT NOW and available for sale at Cactus Records. Consider that a small consolation for the end of the world.

CURRENT BEST SELLING ALBUMS Lucinda Williams – Good Souls Better Angels Widespread Panic – Sunday Capital Theater Pearl Jam – Gigaton Tame Impala – Slow Rush Fleetwood Mac – Rumours Sturgill Simpson – Metamoderrn Sounds in Country Music Khruangbin – Con Todo El Mundo Black Keys – Brothers Talking Heads – Remain in Light Ryan Bingham – Mescalito

One more RSD related piece of good news. If you love being one of the first 100 or so people to get one of the sweet RSD swag bags, you’ll still get your chance. The promotional kits will still be coming out on one or more of those Drop Days -- for instance, promotional material related to Brandi Carlile will be released on the same Drop Day that the RSD-exclusive Brandi Carlile release will come out. We’ll let you know as soon as we know more!

Finally, here’s a little bit more good news: Cactus Records is back to regular hours this week. That’s Thursday 10 AM - 7 PM, Friday 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM - 8 PM and Sunday 11 PM to 5 PM. We’re also trying to maintain as safe and responsible a shopping situation as we can, with free gloves, hand sanitizer and by adhering to social distancing. We do ask you to wear masks if you have them.

We’re delighted to be open and back in business, and to see all of you soon. But don’t forget, if you don’t want to come in, we respect that completely and are happy to offer curbside pick up, home delivery and reduced shipping rates. And again, don’t forget to check out our awesome online shop at https://shop.cactusrecords. net/ which allows you to shop our distributors entire existing and upcoming inventory from the comfort of your living room -- effectively making wherever you are at the moment your own personal Cactus Records. b www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

17

M O N TA N A M U S I C

BEAUTIFUL MADNESS Patrice Fehlan

J

TRACK

LISTING

1. Days of Heaven 2. Bone Towers 3. Full Body Echo 4. San Acacia 5. (I’m In Love With) Hyrum Black 6. Good 7. Sugar Smacks 8. Dead Confederate 9. Black Star Line 10. Eureka

erry Joseph announces the release of The Beautiful Madness, produced by Patterson Hood with Drive-by Truckers as his backing band, on August 21, 2020 on Cosmo Sex School/ Soundly Music in North America and Décor Records/El Cortez in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The album contains 10 tracks which explore the territory Joseph understands best, the darker side of the human condition, calling attention to the toll politics take on humanity, the under-explored dynamics in relationships, and the truths about ourselves we’d rather not see. These songs include some of his most masterful yet and are all written with his trademark intelligence and courage, delivered with his powerful, raw passion.

This collaboration between long-time friends Joseph and Hood was something they had both thought about for years, but hadn’t spoken about until a couple years ago when Joseph mentioned to Hood that he’d like to make an album with him. Hood recalls, “I thought he’d never ask.”

Hood had already given thought on how he’d approach the album, he explains, “My goal was simple. I considered Jerry one of the absolute best songwriters of our generation and wanted to make an album that, above all, backed up that argument. I wanted to capture the songs in their purest forms with only the embellishments that I thought would further that case. My rule of thumb was if it didn’t further the narrative it should be left off. Jerry, to his credit, signed on enthusiastically, even though it often pulled him far out of his comfort zones. He responded by bringing in some of the greatest songs he’d ever written and he threw himself into each and every performance.”

Joseph adds, “When I start writing a group of songs, I rarely have some driving vision as to where I’m going with them. I have always been in awe and more than a little jealous of artists that seem to get marching orders from other worlds.”

“From the moment Patterson and I began talking about making this record, I thought Patterson could read instructions from chemtrails or star dust. His commitment to the work and his drive and leadership to deliver how he heard the record in his head was unwavering. I’ve made a few records, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and not in an over techy studio freak way, but his search to

DAYS OF HEAVEN VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GbFS0apKPE&feature=youtu.be

18

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Jerry brought in some of the finest songs he’s ever composed over his various travels in places like Betty’s Bay in South Africa, his brother’s house in El Sauzal, Baja California Norte, a hacienda in Nicasio, Marin. a rental in Portland and a friend’s house in Emigration Canyon, Utah. He compiled me a demo with 25 songs to pick from, EVERY ONE A WINNER.

- Patterson Hood photo: Jason Thrasher

get the soul (and unnecessary excess) out of every note was a beautiful thing to behold. He pushed me into places I didn’t know existed, for me anyway, to an end that I think we are both very proud of.”

For this album, Hood wanted to focus on Jerry and his songs without normal band dynamics so he chose to work with his band, the Drive-by Truckers.

“I chose to work with my band since we have a long experience of working on side projects with a host of different performers (Bettye LaVette and Booker T. Jones included) and we tend to approach each of our respective projects with a ‘less is more’ approach that I thought would work especially well for this project. Even though Drive-By Truckers has always been known as a live Rock and Roll Band, we came of age amongst the session recording scene in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and we’ve always viewed doing these side projects as a way to live out that dream.”

The album was recorded at Matt Patton’s studio, Dial Back Sound, in Water Valley, Mississippi, with chief engineer, Bronson Tew. The band, christened The Stiff Boys by Joseph, was Brad Morgan on drums, Matt Patton on bass, Hood on guitar and Jay Gonzalez on piano, organ, Wurlitzer and synthesizer. Schaefer Llana sang harmonies and vocals. They recorded the album in six days.

Later Mike Cooley (bringing the full DBT to a couple of songs) added banjo and guitar and Jason Isbell played slide guitar on one track. Kyleen King (Brandi Carlisle, The Shins, Stephen Malkmus) played viola on several tracks and Little Sue Weaver added harmonies. Adam Lee mixed the whole thing at Halfling Studio in Portland Oregon.

The first single, “Days of Heaven,” was named after the Terrence Malick film. Hood describes, “Like the film, it’s filled with beautiful imagery that paints a picture while leaving itself wide open for your interpretation. It was the first song we tracked at the session and the last one we finished in mix-down. It sets a mood that opens up the horizon for what’s to come.”

Joseph’s writing process often starts with a list of titles, he borrows them from books, movies, road signs, wherever. With his list of titles, he headed to his brother’s house in El Sauzal, Mexico with the intention of writing songs for the album.

“I’ve written many songs there over thirty years, it sits on a steep bluff above an excellent surf break, to the south a mile or two

PHOTO: BENEHARO HDEZ; WIKIPEDIA

is the barrio de El Sauzal. For years there’s been a low intensity fire fight between the young newly rich meth and fentanyl manufacturers against the established older cartels and the government (same same) enforcers, trying to shut them down. It had been flaring up as I arrived and my brother was strongly concerned about how recently young gang members had been coming up the cliff and coming in through back doors, killing everyone and taking everything.”

“At his insistence, I kept the .45, action off, on the table with my iPad and note paper for the few days I was there to write, adding a weird vibe to the songs I was writing.”

“I had unintentionally started a thread of songs in South Africa a few months before that were dealing with marriage, mine or anyone’s, long-term relationship and the extreme high and lows and, more interestingly, the middle of marriages.”

“The first title on my list was ‘Days of Heaven,’ and as I often do to break into a batch of songs, I let myself play familiar chords (in this case, the trademark chord progression of the seminal BloodKin, one of the south’s finest bands) and babble and holler until I have something. This process for this song took 30 minutes, often these first fast songs are the best of the bunch. The words for these songs come faster than I can write and I miss a lot but it sets a good tone.”

“Months later, I got to Mississippi and Patterson Hood kept saying it needed a bridge, I told him to write it, and just as quickly, he came up with the whole cinematic prairie goodness that actually makes the song and lines that make me cry when I sing it. I think The Truckers and myself cut it in three takes.”

Hood concludes his beautiful missive of the liner notes in The Beautiful Madness, with, “Jerry, to me, is a cult figure who could, in some alternate reality, have easily been one of the biggest stars in the world. One of the greatest live performers I have ever seen and has long been one of my favorite songwriters.”

Jerry Joseph will be hosting Jerry Joseph’s Happy Book every Thursday at 9pm EDT/6pmPDT on all his social media channels, more info here. Live from his home or The Panther Studios in Portland, Joseph performs and tells the stories behind his catalog of over 300 songs with occasional guests. p Patrice Felhan is a friend of ours. September Gurl is a publicity and artist management company based in Brooklyn, New York.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

19

R E C R E AT I O N & H E A LT H

Shroomin’ Originally published June 2019

Pat Hill

S Morel Mushroom

Puffball Mushrooms

pringtime in Southwest Montana, especially the first few really warm days, gets me wanting to hunt down and consume wild mushrooms. A few of my favorites make their appearance this time of year.

Usually the first mushrooms I am able to forage for successfully in the spring are oyster mushrooms, or “stumpies,” as they are sometimes referred to. True to their nickname, the shelf-forming oyster mushrooms are found growing on the lower trunks of trees, such as pines and cottonwoods, in our area. I usually find them growing along the banks of a river like the Yellowstone. It’s best if you can find a shelf of oyster mushrooms before bugs take up residence in the gill area of the mushroom, though you can get rid of them easily enough if they haven’t moved in by the hundreds (and a little extra protein won’t hurt ya, either).

Within about a month of the oyster ‘shroom’s appearance, one of the jewels of the spring harvest start poking their wrinkly heads from the ground. Morel mushrooms, despite their strange almost brain-like look, are so highly sought-after that the competition to find them can be fierce.

Morels tend to proliferate in mountainous forest fire burn areas often within a season of such an event, and they can also be found along rivers and streams and on islands, often growing near old growths of cottonwood trees.

Puffball mushrooms are delicious as well, and grow just about everywhere in the Treasure State. The key to a delicious puffball mushroom is to harvest it when the inside is still white and firm, before it turns brittle and goes to dust inside (said brownish dust containing the mushroom’s spores). Edible puffball mushrooms have no stalks and grow close to the earth, and as such are easy to distinguish from their stalked relatives.

Boletes are another mushroom I like to eat, though I don’t find as many of them around Southwest Montana as those previously mentioned.

Boletes can get quite large, and are easy to identify because they do not have gills on the underside, but rather pores of a sort. As a result, the Bolete is a meaty mushroom. Do not eat a bolete that has bright red or yellow pores, and also, do not eat a bolete that turns blue where you pinch it (yes, do test). The biggest and most boletes I have found in this area have been nearer to the Continental Divide.

When harvesting wild mushrooms, try not to pull them entirely out of the ground or off the tree, but instead trim them close to the ground or off of the tree. Gently rolling on the puffball will loosen it from its environment. There are several ways to prepare mushrooms, of course, but my favorite is the tried-and-true saute method, using garlic and/or onions and butter. Happy Hunting and Bon Apetite.

WARNING: Only eat wild mushrooms if you are 100% sure they are not poisonous mushrooms! These descriptions are not a definitive guide to safe eating.

Pat Hill is a freelance writer in Bozeman. A native Montanan and former advisor to Montana State University’s Exponent newspaper, Pat has been writing about the history and politics of the Treasure State for nearly three decades. He also writes about the region’s burgeoning live music scene, hitting the festival trail in the summer, and seeking out hot springs for rest and relaxation the entire year.

Bolete Mushroom

20

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

21

R E C R E AT I O N & H E A LT H

Here for the Kids

Jon McAleer

W

ith Covid-19 shutting down a large part of the valley, and kids being stuck indoors for a couple months of needed social and school time, don’t you think that they are ready for some outdoor fun and exercise? Luckily our golf courses are open and practicing proper social distancing and etiquette.

Bridger Creek has a wide variety of golf camps for all ages and skill level. If you are looking for outdoor fun and education for your kids this summer you can find it at BCGC! To register go to bridgercreek.com or call the pro shop at 586-2333

PEE-WEES AGES 4-6

A series of 4 - 45 minute lessons to introduce the junior to the fun game of golf.

The young golfer will learn athletic skills, putting, chipping, bunker shots, full swing, etiquette and safety. The class size will have a 5:1 student instructor ratio.

drills, specialty shots, rules and tournament schedule. Camp includes 10 lesson, green fees, and golf shirt.

Junior Academy includes on-course playing opportunities 3 times on Tuesdays, June 25, July 23 and August 6 starting at 7pm.

JUNIOR ACADEMY PLUS FALL GRADES 8-12

This group must play tournament golf during the summer. In addition to the 10 weeks of junior academy series, the PLUS participants will play 6 rounds of 18 holes, have 2 private 30 minute lessons and will attend a tournament preparation meeting.

Spaces are limited. To register your kids go to bridgercreek.com or call Head Golf Professional, Jon McAleer at the pro shop at 586-2333. j

TURF MITES AGES 7-15

Camps are a total of 4 hours that introduce the junior to the basics of golf while having fun. The junior will learn athletic skills, putting, chipping, full swing, woods and playing!

JUNIOR ACADEMY AGES 6-17

Any junior golfer from age 6-17 that wants to improve this summer and have fun, this camp is for you. Every Tuesday or Wednesday evening for 10 weeks juniors will be coached on putting, chipping, bunkers, full swing, course management, practice

22

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

photo: Ken Thorsen

R E C R E AT I O N & H E A LT H

A BIOLOGIST ON THE

BEARTOOTH Sharon Eversman

Photo: Jarred Oliver

24

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

“At the top of the switchbacks the true alpine meadows appear, punctuated with little patches of wind-battered Engelmann spruce, whitebark pine and subalpine fir.� continued on next page www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

25

Beartooth Biologist p. 24

A

bout two hours east of Bozeman, you arrive at Red Lodge, Montana, and the beginning of the Beartooth Highway, which Charles Kuralt once called “America’s most beautiful highway.” The impetus for the road began in the early 1920s as automobiles became popular for touring Yellowstone Park. A Red Lodge physician began lobbying for a new approach to Yellowstone, and in 1925, the Black and White Trail Association received help from Montana Congressman Scott Leavitt. He was able to attach funding for a highway to a congressional bill called the Park Approach Act, which funded new improved routes to national parks. President Herbert Hoover signed the Leavitt Bill in 1931, and construction for the highway began. Four different companies completed construction and paving 1932-1936; CCC employees were used for special projects. The road was dedicated on June 14, 1936, and goes through spectacular mountain scenery carved by glaciers during the Ice Age and water chipping and eroding the rock into canyons.

T

he road goes over the Beartooth Plateau, part of a massive block of rock that was uplifted during the formation of the Rocky Mountains; it is adjacent the highest point in Montana, Granite Peak (12,799’) in the Beartooth Mountains. Streams have eroded the block into several separate plateaus – Beartooth, Line Creek, Frozeto-Death, Silver Run, and Hellroaring. Geologic forces building the Rockies formed mountains with peaks and valleys, and flat-topped plateaus – the plateaus are relatively rare. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is another familiar example of plateau topography with alpine meadows.

The road, Highway 212, follows Rock Creek south of Red Lodge (elevation about 5570’), and begins climbing a few miles out of town. As you climb, the west fork of Rock Creek becomes visible. It is a wide U-shaped valley, indicating that glaciers once oozed down from higher elevations, chipping away the sides of the valley as water froze and thawed. Where water cuts valleys, a more V-shaped valley is formed (like Hyalite or Gallatin Canyons). The sides of the switchbacks are somewhat stabilized by the vegetation that is growing – grasses, wildflowers, and subalpine fir with its sideways-grow-

26

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

ing lower branches. The rest stop toward the top of the switchbacks has a walkway, where you can walk out and see two other plateaus, Hellroaring and Silver Run, and the Wyoming Creek Canyon. The major tree here is whitebark pine; it frequently grows in clumps because the Clark’s nutcracker collects and caches the pine seeds for its winter food. When the bird forgets some of the seeds, little groups of the whitebark pine form.

At the top of the switchbacks (almost 10,000’), the true alpine meadows appear, punctuated with little patches of windbattered Engelmann spruce, whitebark pine and subalpine fir. These trees frequently have branches only on one side so are called “flag trees.” Wind-blown snow and dust scour off the buds from which branches grow, so the branches only grow on the lee side of the trees. A twisted growth form is called krummholz, a term meaning “crooked wood,” and is typical of timberline trees.

The wildflowers are most abundant during the last of July and first of August.

The plants in these meadows are about 50% the same as those in the Arctic tundra.

Wind keeps these plants short (dwarf plants) or mound-shaped (cushion plants). In moist places, dwarf willows and heath plants are present. The vivid yellow dwarf plant that is most obvious is Geum rossii, mountain avens, in the rose family. The most common cushion plants are alpine forget-me-not (blue flowers) and moss campion (pink flowers). These plants are woody at their bases, and much branched. Getting down on one’s hands and knees is the only way to really study them.

The glaciers formed round bowls with steep sides called cirques, as ice chipped away the rock. Frequently little lakes (tarns) form as ice and snow meltwater collects at the bottom of the cirques.

Gardner Lake and Twin Lakes, near the little ski area, are examples of these types of lakes. The bear’s tooth is visible off and on in many parts of the road; it was probably named by the local Native Americans, and is an example of a glacially cut matterhorn type of peak. It is part of the Beartooth Mountains.

The alpine meadows, mostly above timberline, are primarily in the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming, and are present from the top of the switchbacks to Beartooth Pass, the highest point on the road (10,947’). A stop here is a must. The wildflowers are there,

along with another semi-glacial feature, patterned ground, series of circular rock depositions. While the ground was still very wet after the glaciers melted, convection currents in the soil moved rock from the center of circles to the edges. The granite rock appears black because of lichen cover, indicating the rock is now stable and not moving. At the summit, a walk to the boulders on top may give a glimpse of one of the world’s cutest animals, the pika. This relative of rabbits does not hibernate, but lives all winter on the haystacks they build during the summer as they collect and build mounds of grass and flowers.

Other animals live on the plateau – grizzly bears, black bears, red fox, pocket gophers and shrews that live all winter underneath the snow, mountain sheep, many birds, fish planted by Wyoming Game and Fish in lakes– that you may see if you camp at one of the campgrounds.

The animals most likely to be seen along the road are marmots among rocks and mountain goats in the alpine meadows. The goats are not native, having been planted in the adjacent Absaroka Mountains in the 1940s-1950s. They like to roll in the meadows, destroying vegetation and making depressions that the wind increases in size. They are being closely monitored close to Yellowstone because they might pass on diseases to the native mountain sheep.

Descending from Beartooth Pass, pink snow (watermelon snow) is usually visible. The pink color comes from little algae (Chlamydo-

monas) that live in the snow; they have a red eyespot that absorbs the sun’s heat and gives the cells the red color. The algae swim upwards in melting snow, and at the top of the snow they frequently form the red resting spores that indicate melting snow in the summer. This is not something to taste.

The rest of this road is below timberline, with some flag trees among boulders and forest stands of whitebark pine, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and at lower elevations extensive stands of aspen. Island Lake is notable for its campground and lovely setting. Two buttes, Beartooth Butte by Beartooth Lake and Clay Butte with its fire lookout, are evidence that this area was once under water. These buttes are sedimentary rock, and Beartooth Butte has fish and plant fossils from the Paleocene (era before the dinosaurs).

Toward Cooke City, the road parallels Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone, a designated Wild and Scenic River. Its lovely canyon is only visible when you park the car and get out to an overlook. The Clark’s Fork Valley closer to Cooke City has dude ranches and a cabin where Ernest Hemingway once lived and wrote about living in the valley. Two prominent peaks are Pilot and Index, classic glacier-cut matterhorn peaks with a sharp ridge in between them. Hemingway wrote about climbing around on the jagged peaks while hunting mountain sheep.

The road re-enters Montana and the Custer-Gallatin National Forest near Cooke City. The campgrounds are in dense Engelmann spruce forests, some of which burned close to Cooke City in the 1988 Yellowstone fires. Silver Gate at the entrance of Yellowstone is the end of the “Beartooth Highway.” The influence of the glaciers from the Beartooth Plateau continues down the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone Park; the large granite boulders in the meadows were deposited there by the glaciers that flowed down the valley from the plateau during the Ice Age. b Sharon Eversman retired from the Ecology Department at MSU where she taught many different botany and biology courses for nearly 40 years. One of the courses was Alpine Ecology, which focused on the Beartooth Plateau, including a week end field trip. Her main research interest was lichens of the Bozeman and Yellowstone areas. Currently she is a docent at the Museum of the Rockies and a violinist with the Bozeman Symphony.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

27

R E C R E AT I O N & H E A LT H

UNTETHERING

FOR THE TIMES

HOW THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IN MONTANA IS MOVING FORWARD

Missy Glenn, photos: Bill McAlaine, Clive Holmes, courtesy of GROW Magazine

A

ccording to the most recent report available on the Montana Medical Marijuana Program’s website*, as of January 2020, there were 36,422 registered Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) patients in Montana, with 5,941 of those cardholders being in Gallatin County alone. Whether you partake in cannabis or not, chances are you have voted on the matter of medicalization, the addition of PTSD to the Qualifying Conditions List for the program, or know someone who uses CBD or medical cannabis to help ease pain, insomnia, an eating disorder, seizures, cancer, and many other issues and ailments within the mind and body.

The MMP was developed in 2004, and legislation ruling the program has gone

28

June 2020

through many changes, including raids in 2011 and legislation in 2015 that almost shut down the program completely. Montana has made headlines for its approach to medical cannabis since the inception of the program - “tethering” patients to one provider when they were granted a prescription had never been done before in any state, and the ups and downs of legislation had some of the nation’s biggest news outlets reporting about Montana’s backwards momentum in the program.Thankfully in 2016, voters showed up for the MMP and the program has finally been heading in the right direction - forward into a new decade that for cannabis in the U.S., economists predict to be a $24 billion dollar industry by 2025.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

There have been many changes to the MMP in the last year, after the signing of Senate Bill 265 on May 3, 2019. In October 2019, the implementation of a monthly limit of 5 ounces of THC products went into effect, in addition to the ability for patients to print and use a “Temporary Card” that grants access to medical cannabis the same day a patient uses their prescription to apply for their MMP card with the state. However the biggest, most awaited change to the program is being enacted June 2, 2020, when the MMP becomes “untethered” and patients are able to buy their medicine from any licensed dispensary in the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused changes in the MMP; not only did the program issue protocols and emergency procedures to providers for the safety of patients, but Governor Bullock also made it easier for patients (inherently a population more immunocompromised than most) to acquire their monthly limit in one visit to their dispensary in order to counter traveling up to 5 times a month to fill their prescriptions. He also suspended required physician visits for renewing cardholders, and enabled tele-medicine visits for new patients and curbside pickup of medicine all of which were previously prohibited.

Due to the pandemic, the cannabis industry as a whole was skeptical about the program’s ability to enact the changes required by SB265, no later than July 1, 2020. However, even with a minimal staff working under COVID restrictions, they surprised all of us with a letter issued on April 29, 2020, explaining that untethering would happen almost a whole month earlier than expected, on June 2, 2020. The letter goes on to explain some important information and reminders:

• Existing cards have provider info. printed on them and will continue to be honored after untethering takes effect. The MMP will not issue new cards without provider info. to existing registered cardholders until/unless they renew.

• Daily and monthly purchase limits are in effect. Registered cardholders may purchase any portion of their limit from multiple providers but may not exceed their daily or monthly purchase limits.

Before finishing a sale, providers will check remaining purchase limits to verify compliance. Monthly purchase limits are based on calendar months.

• Registered cardholders are required to have their registry identification card in their immediate possession at all times.

The registry identification card and a valid photo identification must be displayed upon demand of a law enforcement officer, justice of the peace, or city or municipal judge.

• Registered cardholders who grow their own marijuana are not eligible to purchase from the network of providers.

• At the time of writing this letter, the COVID-19 related State of Emergency is still in effect in Montana. On April 1, 2020, Governor Bullock issued a Directive implementing specific changes to the Medical Marijuana Act for the duration of the emergency. The MMP sent all registered cardholders and providers a letter outlining these temporary changes. If you did not receive this letter, please see the website for further details at www.dphhs.mt.gov/marijuana.

• Untethering allows registered cardholders greater access to their medicine during the State of Emergency by enhancing choice and flexibility in scheduling visits to purchase medicine.

practical safety measures including social distancing. Cardholders are encouraged to call ahead to providers and take advantage of curbside delivery or home delivery when possible.

Montana MMP patients have never had the freedom to choose their medical cannabis products from multiple dispensaries before. Some cardholders have also been restricted by the providers they signed up with by not being given their patientspecific MMP Complia** information to have the ability to change providers on their own accord. The general public also seems unsure about the rules governing dispensaries, some under the impression that you have to have a card before even entering one. This is false; non-cardholders can buy CBD and hemp products below .3% THC from dispensaries, which is actually recommended over buying these products from unreliable, untested sources (such as the gas station or online), or sources that don’t have cannabinoid-specific education and training. Before COVID, most dispensaries had tours and “free smells” for potential patients. Cardholders have always had options, but the option to change providers comes at a cost - $10 per provider switch.

Thanks to untethering, that won’t be an issue anymore.

As patients have never had options before, this may leave some wondering how to go about utilizing this new world of freedom of choice without getting overwhelmed.

If you are perfectly happy with your dispensary, that’s awesome.

They will probably be developing a system to reward current patients for returning to shop after untethering. However, you wouldn’t buy anything off of Amazon without looking at the quality

of a product, cost, reviews and comparisons, awards, customer service, and how quickly that product can get to you, so why should shopping for your medical cannabis be any different?

Since cannabis is medicine, quality is paramount and not all dispensaries are created equal. Every product batch is required to be tested, but results and quality still vary greatly. Variety and consistency go hand-inhand with quality - they are the trifecta of successful cannabis therapy and there are many ways to look for these features while choosing where to shop. Many dispensaries have utilized online menus since the onset of the COVID pandemic, use Instagram for photos of products, Facebook and Google reviews are helpful for reviews, and Montana has an organization that advocates for patients by hosting multiple events yearly that compare and test products and strains from participating dispensaries, the Montana State Provider’s Cup***. The winning dispensaries are then awarded based on different categories of quality of specific products, including THC percentage, CBD percentage, Terpene content, and People’s Choice (based on smell and appearance).

Patient recommendations and opinions on strains, products, and terpenes have all been an integral part of cannabis research and reviews in developing online resources such as Leafly.com or Weedmaps.com, which provide consumers with up-to-date, peer-reviewed informacontinued on p.45

• During this time, the MMP encourages all registered cardholders and providers to observe

Left: Blackberry Nightshade Medical Cannabis Right: Northern Lights Medical Cannabis

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

29

R E C R E AT I O N & H E A LT H

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN BOZEMAN THIS SUMMER? CHECK OUT THIS LOCAL’S GUIDE

10 OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN BOZEMAN Kate Springer

30

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

WATCHING THE SUNSET FROM THE M The College M trail is one of the most popular trails in Bozeman. Just a 10-minute drive from downtown, the M hike has two routes, both climbing 850 feet to the base of the M. The easy route wraps its way up the west side of the M for a mile and a half, the hard way climbs straight up the south face. Whichever way you choose, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a real Montana sunset, just be sure to bring a headlamp for the way down.

Click here for directions to the trailhead or click here for our 10 best places to watch the sunset in Bozeman.

FLOATING THE MADISON RIVER If you’re looking to sit back, relax and enjoy the Montana scenery, a float down the Madison River is just what you need. Load up your tubes, rafts and anything else that floats, and head to the lower section of the Madison River just west of Four Corners.

Depending on water levels, this float can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own, take a fun guided trip with Bozeman Kayak Company! Photo credit: www. bozemansunriserotary.org

DRINKING SOME BOZEMAN BEER

GOING TO PLAY AT HYALITE

You may have noticed that beer is a big thing here in Bozeman. With more than 8 breweries within a three-mile radius, there are plenty of choices when you’re ready to try some local brews. Enjoy amazing Bridger Mountain views from the patio at MAP Brewing, visit Bozeman’s original brewery, Bozeman Brewing, or go enjoy the free popcorn and games at Outlaw Brewing. Click here for our list of the 10 best breweries in Bozeman.

Known as “Bozeman’s backyard,” Hyalite is where we go to hike, boat, fish, and bike after a long day’s work. With waterfalls, lakes, trails, and backroads to explore, there are plenty of ways to play in Hyalite. Hit the trails, paddle the reservoir or just set your chair on the shoreline and take in the amazing views. The best part? The beautiful Hyalite Reservoir is just a 30-minute drive from Bozeman. Click here for directions. continued on next page

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

31

Locals Guide p.30

BIKING THE BANGTAILS

SEEING A SHOW AT THE ELLEN

A short 8-mile drive from Bozeman will take you to one of Bozeman’s best mountain biking trails, a 31-mile loop known as the Bangtail Divide trail. Known for its smooth single-track trails, the trail begins with some pretty tough switchbacks but eventually leads to a ridgeline with fantastic mountain views. If you feel up to it, go for the full loop! Or, if you’d like a shorter ride, you can begin at Stone Creek trailhead or Bracket Creek trailhead for a quick 2-hour out and back trip.

A landmark in downtown Bozeman, the Ellen Theatre has been entertaining Bozeman since 1919. While the exterior is one of the most recognizable buildings downtown, the interior is just incredible. After years of neglect, the Ellen Theatre’s elaborate crown moldings, ornate light fixtures, and gilded plaster carvings have been beautifully restored, bringing the theatre’s colorful past to life. You’ll find a variety of events at the Ellen with everything from concerts, live productions, movie screenings and dance performances. Check out its list of events here.

GOING TO A FARMERS’ MARKET Bozeman hosts some fantastic farmers’ markets where you can find everything from local produce to furniture made out of retired skis. The evening farmers’ market is Tuesday evenings at Lindley Park from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., June through September. The weekend farmers’ market is every Saturday from 9 a.m to noon, June 16th – September 8th at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds.

32

June 2020

RAFTING THE GALLATIN If you want to get your heart racing, a raft trip down the Gallatin River will do the trick. Depending on the time of year, this river can get wildly high, meaning you’re in for a ride! The Gallatin’s Mad Mile is a milelong stretch of rapids that whip around the infamous house rock, eventually running through the “boulder garden.” Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Gallatin Canyon, you’ll get your heart pumping too. Photo credit: www.montanawhitewater.com

www.bozemanmagazine.com

EXPLORING THE MAIN STREET TO THE MOUNTAINS TRAIL Thanks to the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, there is a trail system that winds through Bozeman beginning downtown and heading all the way to the foothills of the mountains. It winds past creeks, through parks, gardens, and neighborhoods and no matter where you start, it’s sure to be a beautiful walk. Click here for the trail map.

GOING CAMPING Nothing says summer in Montana quite like escaping to the mountains for some camping. We love watching the sky light up with stars while sitting around a campfire.

There are quite a few options for camping in and around Bozeman, but just keep in mind, spots fill up fast! Click here for our list of the 8 best campgrounds near Bozeman, Montana. k Kate works at Bozeman Real Estate Group, a locally owned real estate company in Bozeman that is passionate about the community we live in.

Photo: Ken Thorsen

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

33

LIVING LOCAL

MURDER

along the YELLOWSTONE TRAIL

THE EXECUTION OF

SETH DANNER 34

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Kelly Hartman Q. Now, if you will, continue and tell us in your own way, Mr. Smith, what events followed.

A. Well, then, the next morning we were supposed to meet there at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, but we were busy, and we met down there about—somewhere around one thirty. Mrs. Danner showed us where the bodies were. That was about quarter to two—1.45.

Q. Of what day?

A. The 18th day of June.

Q.. 1923?

A. 1923. So then I dug around—prodded around, and I stirred up a leg. Then I notified the Coroner.

T

he sky was cloudy, a slight wind giving the 60-degree weather a bit of a chill, especially where the road breaks out into the open fields of Montana, June of 1923. From Bozeman, it’s a 30-mile drive to Three Forks down a dirt road known as the famous “Yellowstone Trail,” with the small towns of Belgrade, Central Park and D along the way.

It’s about 1:30 in the afternoon when a police car pulls off the road halfway between Belgrade and Manhattan, just a few thousand feet from Central Park. Another car containing a man in uniform and a young woman is already parked there, having come from the opposite direction in Three Forks. In the full group are Three Forks Deputy Sheriff Elmore, Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Smith, Deputy Howell and a Mrs. Iva Danner. The latter leads the men from the road through thick tangled underbrush less than 90 feet. They pick their way past disturbed ground, where the ghosts of two tents remain in the odd way grass comes back through trampled earth. Iva stops and points to a waterlogged depression in the ground, telling the men to “dig there.” Equipped with a stick, Smith begins to prod the indicated earth beneath a few feet of water. It’s uncertain whether he is skeptical of the woman’s story or not, although Elmore was certainly moved enough to give him a call. Nothing had been found the two times Elmore had been out there, once just the night before when he had asked Smith to meet him there. Suddenly something comes to the surface, and there is no mistaking what it is: a human leg bone.

Smith feels more confident now of having brought Seth Danner, Iva’s husband, to the Gallatin County Jail the night before. Then it had been as a precaution; now it seems it was a necessity. Smith moves the group away from the depression, sending Deputy Max Howell to Bozeman with Iva, where an official statement will be taken in the presence of an attorney, and to notify the coroner in Bozeman. When Coroner E.W. Harland arrives, the digging is commenced revealing the bodies of two unknown people lying side by side in a shallow grave. As the bodies make their way to Bozeman, they pass a Deputy and Iva who are headed back to her home in Three Forks after taking an official statement. Iva, seeing the conveyance, faints.

In less than 24 hours, her story is front page of the Bozeman Avant Courier: Conscience-Stricken Wife Tells of Husband’s Brutal Murders. Quickly, the obscure Danners become household names, dominating the press for the next year. Her story would appear in its near entirety four times prior to the trial, while Seth’s would only appear in small fragments. The headlines read like a cross between a detective novel and a soap opera: Slew Married Pair with Camper’s Axe, Wife’s Accusation Accused Slayer Says He Loves Wife Who Told Danner Used Murder Axe as Household Tool Slayer’s Wife Tells Why She Revealed Crime Fear of Husband Not Conscience Led to Avowal Mrs. Danner is Stepdaughter Accused Slayer

Nowhere was the story told in full; nowhere was Seth given the benefit of the doubt. He was “guilty” with the very first headline.

The Danner’s led an itinerant lifestyle, working between the fields at threshing season and town in the off seasons, Seth usually as a mechanic. The Danner’s consisted of Seth, his wife (who was also his cousin and stepdaughter) Iva, Seth’s daughter from a previous marriage Florence, and the couple’s three children Marvin, Donald and Della. In the fall of 1920, the Danner’s set out with another couple, John and Florence Sprouse on a road trip to Montana.

Upon their arrival in October, the group found a camping spot to their liking near Central Park, about 20 miles from Bozeman. Here they stayed until mid-November, when the Danner’s pulled out of camp in separate cars and the Sprouses disappeared. From 1920 to 1923, Seth worked as a mechanic, and life was quiet until April 1923, when he was arrested for bootleg alcohol. Things became more serious when stolen goods were found at his home and his family was found in destitution. The latter saved him from 10 years in Deer Lodge, as Judge Law took pity on the man, allowing him off on probation so long as he got a job in Bozeman and provided for his family. Iva and the children remained in Three Forks. By June, Iva had worked up enough gumption to accuse her husband of having killed the Sprouses in the fall of 1920. When the bodies were discovered, the newspapers flocked to the story, making the Danners household names all across Montana.

First came the divorce trial, where Iva gained her independence from Seth and the children. In October, the murder trial began, culminating in four days of intrigue, harsh words and downright accusations. In the end, Seth would not be put on the stand. His story would only be told through a series of affidavits taken at the continued on next page

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

35

SUN SIGN HOROSCOPE JUNE 2020

T

he Wrap Agency is more than a vinyl and sign shop.

We’re a team of businessmen and women, graphic designers, printers, and expert installers - a complete creative agency at heart. Our team values quality jobs, high-quality products, outstanding customer service and strives for the best experience our clients can hope for. We love solving problems big or small to take our clients’ ideas and make them a reality.

We have the privilege of working on some really cool projects with incredible clients. Recently we’ve teamed up with the City of Bozeman, Downtown Bozeman, Prospera and many other local businesses in the Gallatin Valley to produce Business ReOpening Kits for the Bozeman area. We were able to create social distancing graphics businesses can use to help keep their customers, employees, and community safe and healthy. We’re proud to be a part of this project and any other project that allows us to help out, give back and connect with the community that allows us to thrive.

Our team is more than a smooth functioning business flow; we are a family. We work together as a whole - with ease, fun, care and understanding, which shines through in our customer experience.

We love all projects big and small, from captivating wall wraps and graphics, to vehicle decals, color changes, window frosting and so much more!

A fun and cultured, yet professional energy seeps from the team, into the walls and down every nook and cranny of our funky office as well as the work we create and complete. Our clients leave with a unique end product and experience that is unmatched in the Gallatin Valley, or dare we say, the vinyl industry. Our final products are achieved by using the highest quality design, print, vinyl, install materials and resources possible, but we would argue more importantly, it is through the highest quality team of individuals at The Wrap Agency.

We can’t wait to meet you and bring your project to life!

Aries: The obvious felling

Libra: Your sense of balance is

of the up and down of a roller coaster ride is going to continue.

This may make decision making more difficult, and your sense of balance may be difficult to maintain. Seeking balance will help to get you through your discomfort.

going to still be somewhat askew.

With a strong potential for an old love to return, it is up to you to lay the groundwork. Following your heart could lead to more frustrations if you do not look at it with complete honesty.

Taurus: The Lunar eclipse on

Scorpio: The Lunar Eclipse on

June 5 brings a resurgence of ways of thinking that no longer serve you; reflect and then let it go. You will have plenty of time for taking on challenges again soon. For now try to a break and revitalize lowered energy reserves.

June 5 will have you continuing to review what it is you truly need from others and what you need to demand from yourself. Take time to consider choices as the path ahead may not be as clear as you believe it to be.

Gemini: The first part of the

Sagittarius: Resist the urge

month brings a period of contentment even in the fray. Challenges await in the later part of the month that will test your reserves, so take the time to recharge your batteries early. Make sure to say “No” politely, but firmly!

to allow frustration to rob you of a much needed time period for making connections and creating contacts for future endeavors.

There will be plenty of time for the new project later this year.

Your energy is a magnet for happy.

Cancer: It may feel a little chilly

Capricorn: It could feel like

without your well-developed security blanket to protect you, but it does give you a chance to get things settled, finally. You have created a strong foundation so have faith in it; use it to buoy you and let go and celebrate.

you are losing control of some well-laid plans, and you would be right. Now is not the time to force for forward momentum.

Rather, your own perceptions are brought in to play to connect to your new reality.

Leo: With some old issues

Aquarius: Not everyone sees

resurfacing giving you a chance to finally put them properly to rest combines with the Lunar Eclipse for positive endings. The tide has turned and you are ready to shake out that glorious mane and let your inner lion roar.

your honest questions as what they really are. Try to ask them quietly and with a curious tone.

There are many who do not like seeing you as the successful rebel.

By being open to try to understand what it means to you.

Pisces: Getting yourself moving and doing the baseline groundwork last month is going to pay off now. There truly is a new you to present to the world. Taking a risk after the Lunar Eclipse on June 5 will give a big boost of romantic energy. Enjoy!

Virgo: Your sense of personal balance is restored and you realize some changes have to be made. From unhealthy relationships to deep-seated personal doubts, you have much to release to allow you to move forward.

Celebrate the happy you have found.

MURDER... p.34 Gallatin County Jail. While Iva’s story concluded with robbery as the motive, Seth’s pointed toward infidelity, jealousy and accidental death in self-defense. According to Iva, Seth had killed John while out trapping, then had returned home and killed Florence later that evening to keep her quiet over the disappearance of her husband. Seth had then robbed the couple of their money and belongings and sold their car. However, the Sprouses didn’t have much for money; in fact, they had owed Seth some money. In Seth’s version of events, Florence had found her husband John and Iva in the brush together and in a jealous rage, killed her husband the next day before going after Iva with a gun. Iva had struck Florence down with an axe in selfdefense. When just a few months after the trial Iva married “Jim the Baker,” a man who had spent considerable time at the Danner home, it seemed that Seth’s assertion of her infidelity rang true. In any case, Iva’s story was the one believed by the jury, and Seth was condemned to die by hanging for the murder of Florence Sprouse.

While the first execution date was averted due to an appeal, Seth found himself unable to escape the gallows in July of 1924, over a year since he had first been arrested for murder.

What may have passed through Seth’s head during that walk we will never know. Once, when talking to the guards, as he often did, Seth remarked that he wished they would “send him ‘over to the big house for life’ and then put him to work on the farm running one of the tractors at the prison, adding ‘I sure like to listen to the music of those tractors.’” Maybe he was thinking of his life, what it had amounted to, or maybe he was focused on a new home

where he could hear the hum of tractors. Maybe he believed what he had told the newspapers just days before, that there was nothing more to live for in this world, and that he was ready to move on.

The priests read a Latin ritual during which Seth had held a small Crucifix, which he kissed before returning it to Father Leitham. It is unclear if the noose had been already loosely placed about his neck or not at this point, but it seems it was in place when Sheriff Smith asked the man whom he called Dan, “have you got anything to say?” To which Seth had responded with his last words on Earth: I want to tell you people that I hold no malice against any man. I have made peace with my God and will go to Him knowing that I am fully prepared; and I would like to see each and every one of you people to follow my example. I have nothing more to say. Good bye, one and all.

The black hood was then adjusted, during which it was said that many of the spectators turned their heads away. According to the Courier: “After a moment of silence, the trap was sprung, and Danner had fallen more than six feet into eternity.”

Pick up a copy of “Murder Along the Yellowstone Trail: The Execution of Seth Danner” June 2020, published by The History Press.

The Gallatin History Museum will be hosting a book signing and presentation with author and curator Kelly Hartman, July 10th at the Museum, the old jail where Seth was held and executed nearly 100 years ago. h Kelly Hartman is the Curator at the Gallatin History Museum. She is also a painter and printmaker inspired by the beauty of Montana.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

37

LIVING LOCAL

BOZEMAN HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT GETS EARLIER START DATE AMID PANDEMIC

Cammie Reid

W

hile the city of Bozeman, like much of the country, has faced lockdown situations in light of the coronavirus, Bozeman High School has found a shimmer of hope in its construction schedule of all places; that is, construction was able to start in the building four weeks early. Principal Dan Mills calls it “the one silver lining in all of this.”

Construction was able to begin a full month early, with classes canceled at the high school due to the pandemic and summer camps relocated for the season ahead of time, as per facility-use agreements. This allowed the engineering firms, who were contracted by the school to complete the construction, to focus on parts of the project that will make the rest of construction

38

June 2020

go more smoothly. Construction is one of the few industries that has experienced very limited delays in light of the coronavirus pandemic, since there are fewer pedestrians occupying work spaces across the board.

“They get to start some of the pre-work for demolition,” explained Mills.

Schools in Bozeman have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 16th, almost three months ahead of the usual June end date for classes across the school district. The earlier start on renovations has meant that the construction companies involved have had extra time to get a head start on essential spaces, like offices, so the building can return to operations sooner than originally planned.The renovations had been slated to start on June 15th, but now they have been

www.bozemanmagazine.com

moved up to the second week of May. The work on Bozeman High School is expected to wrap up in the Fall of 2022 -- hopefully, well after the coronavirus pandemic is behind us. However, this extra time allowed by the earlier start of construction has benefits now, as the project managers have an excess of time to organize and prepare.

This construction project is happening on Bozeman High School’s main campus, located at the west end of Main Street, at the intersection with 11th Ave. It means that some classrooms will have to rearrange locations in order to accommodate construction, with most classes moving to the North Campus of the building, which will remain untouched throughout construction. “We’ll get everything we can done as quickly as possible,” said Mills, adding, “We never

intended to interrupt the school year.” The school will also, as a result of the project, get a new auditorium that has seats for 750 people, and a new Student Commons area for students to mingle during the day, as well as hold dances and community events.

A number of architecture, design, and engineering firms are working on this project. At the school, most of the coordination on the project is done by Facility Director Todd Swinehart and Deputy Superintendent of Operations Steve Johnson, in conjunction with principal Dan Mills. They communicate with the construction companies working on campus and keep things running smoothly inside the building. The project should not interfere with any athletic programs that hold practices at the school over the summer; those practices are currently scheduled to start in August, despite lingering concerns about the coronavirus in Montana. “Everything in future months is an item of interest,” said Mills.

The new project is intended to improve classroom designs in the South Campus, which underwent a $29 million renovation project in 2010, but as Mills says, “There are areas of this campus that still need to be renovated.” This new project expands upon the past renovations, creating new spaces for learning and innovating on the part of the Bozeman High School student body.

This project has been in the works since before Mills arrived at Bozeman High School last year, and to him, “The whole thing has been so exciting. It’s just been constant excitement.”

DAN MILLS Q&A: CR: Which company is responsible for the construction?

DM: Langlas & Associates is the main contractor for the entire project. That’s great news for Bozeman High, and we are fortunate to work with a company with such a strong reputation. Additionally, Cushing Terrell is playing an integral role in the architecture and design for the project.

CR: What day did it officially begin?

DM: The COVID school closure allowed Langlas to begin pre-demolition work earlier than expected. Our faculty was able to move items out of the affected wings in early May, and work began to prepare for demolition the week of May 18.

to ensure that our students’ educational experience is not adversely affected by the construction.

of the 2019-20 school year. Information about the budget can be found on the BSD website, and these decisions always involve the Board of Trustees and central office administration.

CR: Will there be issues with parking?

DM: Parking should not be affected by construction. Actually, with many students moving to Gallatin High to begin the 2020-21 school year, will have more student parking than ever. This will be a welcome relief for our students.

CR: Where does the funding for construction mostly come from?

CR: Where can we hear developing information on construction?

DM: In addition to staying tuned to local media for updates, there is always information available on the Bozeman School District website.

CR: Will it be noisy when school starts?

CR: What was the budget like for this project?

DM: We certainly anticipate some unavoidable construction noise, as this is such a large project. However, most of our classes will be held in areas of the building away from the main construction.

We will work with Langlas consistently

DM: The budget for a renovation project like this is large and has been in development and under review for multiple years. Additionally, this project was able to reduce its budget during the middle

DM: For more information on funding and budgets, I would defer to Deputy Superintendent of Operations Steve Johnson, who has extensive knowledge of the bond process that allowed the BHS renovation to become possible.

CR: Who picks the designs for new buildings?

DM: Cushing Terrell and Langlas work with our Facilities Director Todd Swinehart to develop design proposals for new buildings. These proposals are presented to our Board of Trustees.

CR: Is your office being rebuilt?

DM: My specific office on North Campus continued on next page

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

39

Bozeman High p.38 will remain untouched. There is a bit of renovation taking place in the offices adjacent to mine, where we are creating a larger conference room which will be more welcoming for our student and family meetings.

than one that is going the opposite direction. In my time in Bozeman, I have seen both enrollment increases and decreases.

Dealing with the student enrollment increases and building to accommodate them is way better than closing schools.

CR: What part of the construction are you the most excited for?

TS: It’s been an awesome adventure. Very rarely are you offered the challenge of seeing something like this go from concept to reality, all the while navigating the daily balance of educational requirements, community needs and requests, building codes, etc., with the overall responsibility of managing the budget. A lot of time and effort was involved prior to the first shovel ever being put in the ground, which has definitely paid off in the long run.

What’s something you’re really looking forward to about the new construction?

DM: I am very excited about every aspect of this project. It is a unique opportunity as a school administrator to be part of a renovation like this. I am excited for the aesthetics and functionalities that the renovated campus will provide for our students.

STEVE JOHNSON AND TODD SWINEHART Q&A: CR: How do you think that the Bozeman High School Community will benefit from this project?

SJ: As we were planning for the project, there was a lot of community discussion about the pros and cons of separating our very successful high school into two schools. One of the main benefits that was constantly mentioned was providing additional opportunities for students to participate. The schools will be about 1200 students each after the split, which is large enough to provide several diverse opportunities and small enough to provide more students opportunity to participate in activities and athletics.

The community of Bozeman stepped up in a big way to provide two great high schools, and we work everyday to make sure they are proud of what they have provided.

TS: Along the way, we have always held true to our ‘parity and equal’ guiding principle to make sure that both schools would deliver and provide the same opportunities to our students regardless of the location.

As we are wrapping up the Gallatin High Project, we are gearing up to start the Bozeman High renovation.

CR: What has your involvement in this project been like?

SJ: Fun and challenging. I have always said I would rather work in a community that has the challenges of keeping up with growth 40

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

SJ: Both Bozeman High School and Gallatin High School are going to be wonderful teaching and learning facilities, something that the community can take pride in for years to come.

TS: I am really looking forward to seeing students access and use all of the great learning spaces that we’ve been able to create with the new school. And in time, we will have been able to accomplish the same with the planned renovations to Bozeman High School, which are scheduled to get kicked-off soon.

This fall students from both Bozeman High School’s will have a lot of new halls to roam, and the labor of our community leaders in education will begin to be appreciated by incoming and returning learners. e Cammie Reid is a student, writer, and environmentalist at Montana State University. Hailing from the East Coast, she has written in publications in three different cities before arriving in Bozeman in 2017.

LIVING LOCAL

How Accurate is the Zillow Zestimate?

Tim Ford – Real Estate Broker

F

or the past few years, I’ve been analyzing the accuracy of the Zillow Zestimate in the Bozeman market. If you haven’t heard of Zillow, it’s one of the many websites that utilize an MLS feed with homes for sale. It also offers a “Zestimate,” which is its computerized model that generates a home value for individual homes.

The Zestimate has been known to cause issues in real estate transactions, both from buyers and sellers that take it as an absolute for the home’s value. For most major markets, Zillow states it is within 10% of the final sale price more than 95% of the time.

So how does the Zestimate fair locally here in Bozeman? To find out, I looked up the actual sold price of all homes sold in Bozeman city limits during the first 4 months of 2020 and compared each sale against the Zestimate for that particular home.

During these 4 months, January 1st through May 1st, 2020, 141 single family homes sold inside Bozeman city limits. Of those homes sold, Zillow either could not find the address or could not produce a Zestimate for 18 homes.

Including all of those remaining 123 sales, the Zestimate inaccuracy averaged 4.13%. The inaccuracy was better in the lower price ranges and further off in the higher price ranges. For homes under $500k, the Zestimate inaccuracy averaged 3.3%. For homes above $500k, it averaged 5.2% and for homes above $700k it averaged 6.7%.

In past years of comparing sales, the Zestimate was split more equally between being high versus low. However, this year, it was high most of the time. Of the 123

sales, 15 of the Zestimates were low, or under the actual sold price, and 108 were high. The most inaccurate sale was 58% off, and 13 sales were off by more than 10%. To compare it to that national average, it was within 10% of the sold price 89% percent of the time. Considering Bozeman’s median priced home is around $500k, that could produce a swing of $50,000 in either direction.

The data shows that while the Zestimate may be accurate some of the time, its inaccurate often enough. Buyers and sellers can use it as a starting point, but additional information is needed to really narrow down a value. According to Zillow, “It is not an appraisal and it should be used as a starting point. We encourage buyers, sellers and homeowners to supplement the Zestimate with other research such as visiting the home, getting a professional appraisal of the home, or requesting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.”

I have also included recent sales data for the first 4 months of 2020. In addition to the 247 homes sold during these 4 months, another 149 home sales are currently under contract or pending as of the date of writing.

The included data reflect sales of homes in the greater Bozeman area, including Four Corners, Gallatin Gateway, Bridger Canyon, and Bozeman city limits.

The data include home sales reported through the local Big Sky Country MLS and do not include private party sales, Condominiums, or Townhouses. t Tim Ford is a Realtor® with Bozeman Brokers Real Estate in Bozeman Montana. He can be contacted at 406-209-1214.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

41

LIVING LOCAL

YOU

N R U T Y L N O E C N O

42

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

A Different Kind of Birthday Amanda Cass

B

irthdays. Love them or hate them, or avoid them all together.

But they will keep coming as long as the Earth rotates the sun and our hearts keep beating.

Rod Roys has had 90 of them.

A Bozeman native and former Bozeman City firefighter, Roys is an avid sports fan. He was a star basketball player for the Bozeman High School Hawks, and continued to pursue his love of sports throughout his life in both golf and softball. A natural adventure-seeker, Roys would regularly go snowmobiling with a group of friends in the mountains surrounding Gallatin Valley. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Rod “Lightning” Roys (or, “Lightning Rod,” according to his grandson) raced stock cars for over 30 years at the old Gallatin Speedway on Jackrabbit Lane in Belgrade. And he excelled at it. It was not uncommon to see his name in print touting his latest victory. His family

said that it got to be “kind of a joke” because he won so many races and received a plethora of trophies, that he eventually started giving the trophies back to be recycled for a future winner, as his trophy case was already overflowing. While he no longer drives, Rod is still an ardent car enthusiast today.

Turning 90 is an incredible accomplishment and deserves the celebration of a [near] century. But things are a little different now.

When Covid-19 swept the globe and government regulations dictated our new daily life, a large party was no longer an option. Highgate Senior Living, where Rod currently lives, was closed to all visitors except for essential healthcare workers. Any in- person meetings were to be held outside and from a safe six-foot distance. Given the parameters, Rod’s family was feeling the challenge of still making his 90th birthday meaningful under the circumstances.

Refusing to let this milestone pass without proper pomp and circumstance, Highgate, together with his family and a collection of generous community partners, coordinated a surprise classic car parade for Rod. Three generations of his family and many of his resident friends gathered (physically-distanced) outside to see over 20 classic cars from the Bridger Mountain Ford Club lined up in the community parking lot and to wish Rod a happy birthday. Of course there were cupcakes, and

Rod donned a blue “birthday boy” ribbon pinned to his plaid. Out of his left breast pocket poked a white and gold party horn next to his glasses and a pen.

And was he ever surprised. “I was sitting in the living room and [Karrie] grabs me by the arm and said, ‘c’mon, Rod, you’re supposed to be outside,’ so I went out there with her and there they all were,” Roys remembered with a smile on his face. Aside from not being able to hug his loved ones, he says, “there was only one bad thing about it; I couldn’t get my own car in [the parade]. Those old timers are still running.” When asked how he can top this year’s birthday celebration, he replied, “It was really nice. Now I don’t know what I’m going to do next year.”

Daughter Deb Gertiser was thrilled with the turnout. “The biggest transition for Dad has been letting go of being able to drive; cruising Bozeman in his ‘65 Ford T-Bird was his favorite pastime. Dad drove in stock car races for many decades, along with spending the past 20 years finding and restoring various old vintage cars. As one guy said, he’s a ‘gear head’ turning 90!” She then added, “Highgate went above and beyond organizing the custom car show birthday celebration in honor of Dad’s 90th birthday.”

“It was great to see the community come together to celebrate a milestone birthday for our resident. Rod is part of our Highgate family and we are happy we could help facilitate a meaningful and memorable moment for him,” said Stephen Beaudoin, Executive Director of Highgate Bozeman.

Local car enthusiast and Bridger Mountain Ford Club member, Dennis Franks, pitched the idea to his fellow club members and many of them jumped at the chance to be a part of this unique celebration.

“The crew really had a great time seeing all those smiling faces,” said Franks. Cars, trucks, and even a vintage bus circled the parking lot passing Rod and his family twice before parking so spectators could get a closer look, and BMFC club members were happy to answer questions and talk shop with guests.

During the global health crisis, senior living communities were challenged with keeping residents engaged and connected in creative ways while keeping their sensitive populations safe. Many of the local senior living communities employed similar tactics to keep residents from feeling isolated. Video calls with loved ones, one-on-one visits with staff, hallway bingo and door-to- door happy hours were some of the most popular activities. Weather permitting – and we all know it can change on a dime here in Bozeman – outdoor concerts with physically-distanced seating took place, as well as Cinco de Mayo parties and daily outdoor exercise classes. “Window visits” also became prevalent during the restrictions, so family members could see their loved ones safely in person.

Life has changed as we know it. While no one is certain what the new future will look like long term, one thing we can be sure of is that birthdays will continue to be celebrated despite the challenges. We have been thrust into an era of creativity, to push ourselves to think outside the box and find new ways to show people we care. It may mean simplifying our lives, more active listening to others and a lot more patience, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. a Amanda Cass is a seasoned copywriter, brand strategist and hospitality/restaurant marketing expert. When she’s not writing or behind a computer, you can find her hitting the trails with her husband and dogs, or on her small farm tending to her chickens. www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

43

44

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

Doc Samson Medical Cannabis

Untethering p.28 tion on all things cannabis, including information on which dispensary to get specific products you are looking for. Using these tools to find where you want to make your next MMP purchase is very helpful, but also talking to your 4/20-friendly friends about their experiences with local dispensaries will point you in the right direction or steer you away from the wrong ones.

Customer service is of utmost importance, as dispensary workers are the liaison between the patient and the plant. Dispensary workers have specific knowledge about the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, terpenes, and the way they interact and work with your body. They should know the products in their shop backwards and forwards, especially in relation to recommendations for your greatest relief. Patience, kindness, making you feel welcome - anything you enjoy about a positive retail experience is everything you should get in your medical marijana dispensary experience. Convenience is also rolled into that - location, hours and days open, ways of contacting the shop, and accessibility to the products you know help

are all important things to consider.

Let’s be honest, in this economy, Cost is King.

Comparing prices is as secondnature to most of us as riding a bike, and patients will find that prices for medical marijuana products vary greatly across the state, even across the valley. This may leave you wondering if you have to sacrifice quality for affordability, and fortunately, that’s not the case in Montana. Patients will be surprised at what they can find if they look in the right places! Many dispensaries offer discounts, rewards systems, and have weekly deals to benefit patients, especially those on a budget. Don’t be afraid to call around and ask questions before venturing out to shop; you will find most providers are searchable on Google.

Most are still working under curbside-only protocols, which is something to be aware of if you’re looking to visit stores.

With 67 registered MMP Providers in Gallatin County, and 249 across Montana, there are ample choices this June for cardholders needing cannabis. Patients have always deserved to have choices when it came to where they bought their medicine, and the freedom to compare products from different places for their maximum health benefit. It took 16 years for the state to recognize this, and now that Montana has opened up this option, utilizing it for the success of patients is exciting and promising for the future of cannabis in Big Sky Country. g *https://dphhs.mt.gov/marijuana ** https://mt-public.mycomplia.com/#!/signin ***https://www.facebook.com/montanastateproviderscup/ Missy Glenn lives in Bozeman with her son DJ, two dogs, and her cat Ginger. She is a licensed Esthetician and Patient Care Specialist.

www.bozemanmagazine.com

June 2020

45

B.C. BULLETIN BOARD

46

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

48

June 2020

www.bozemanmagazine.com

All listings are subject to change. Check ahead for full details.