Issuu

Sept. 3 - Sept. 16, 2026 Volume 17 // Issue 19

JEFF BOLTON NAMED NEW BSFD CHIEF RESIDENTS TAKE ON FUEL REDUCTION BIG SKY BIGGIE HOSTS OVER 600 BIKERS

DISCOVERY ACADEMY’S ACADEMY'S 12TH YEAR OBITUARY: ANDREA EASTMAN BIG SKY SHOOTOUT RETURNS

OPENING SHOT

September 3 - September 16, 2026 Volume 17 // Issue 19 Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL VP MEDIA Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

On the weekend of Aug. 22, volunteers in neon vests unearthed cans, bottles and other trash from the grasses next to U.S. Highway 191 and the Gallatin River. The Gallatin River Task Force hosted eight teams of volunteers for its eighth annual Gallatin River Cleanup. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAFF WRITER Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com LOCAL JOURNALIST Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD Fischer Genau | fischer@theoutlawpartners.com STAFF WRITER Carli Johnson | carli@theoutlawpartners.com EDITORIAL INTERN Annie O'Neill | annie@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Luke Breum | luke@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com

4 OBITUARY 4 5 LETTERS 6 BRIEFS 8 LOCAL 10 18 SPORTS 25 ENVIRONMENT 34 A&E 39 BUSINESS 13 40 HEALTH 43 FUN

OBITUARY: ANDREA EASTMAN Andrea Eastman, a Hollywood casting executive and Big Sky resident, died Aug. 26 at age 86. During the "New Hollywood" era of the 1970s, Eastman worked as a senior vice president at International Creative Management and helped cast films including "The Godfather" and "Love Story." In her later years in Big Sky, she established a sanctuary for rescued horses and dogs.

RESIDENTS TAKE ON FUEL REDUCTION The MeadowView neighborhood in Big Sky is one step closer to a fire resistant landscape after resident and HOA treasurer Dakota Nelson pushed for a three-acre fuel mitigation project. After collaborating with Fire Adapted Big Sky and the fire department, a crew of six cleared tree limbs, vegetation and smaller trees from the neighborhood’s hillside.

MARKETING MANAGER Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com CONTENT MARKETING DIRECTOR Taylor Owens | taylor.owens@theoutlawpartners.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com ACCOUNT COORDINATOR Ellie Boeschenstein | ellie@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS Bella Butler, Benjamin Alva Polley, Kaley Burns, Lori Harrison, Rachel Hergett, Brooks Nuanez, Colter Nuanez, Diana Setterberg, Greg Steinmetz, Dana Wikan

ON THE COVER: Danny Temme, Montana-based photographer and filmmaker captured photos of bikers before and after the 8th annual Big Sky Biggie. In this cover photo, Benjamin Hinkle of Bozeman cheers as he chaperones his 11-year-old daughter on the 15-mile course. This year, the Aug. 22 race hosted 616 riders on Big Sky trails for its variety of race distances. PHOTO BY DANNY TEMME

22 34

EDITORIAL POLICIES

SCAN FOR TOWN CRIER NEWSLETTER. DAILY NEWS, STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

JEFF BOLTON NAMED NEW BSFD CHIEF The Big Sky Fire Department announced on Aug. 27 that longtime firefighter Jeff Bolton will be the department’s new fire chief. The position continues Bolton’s previous work in the interim role, and he expressed excitement to officially be at the helm. “It’s an incredible honor,” Bolton told EBS. “I care very deeply about this organization, the people that work here, and the community here.” DISCOVERY ACADEMY’S 12TH YEAR Big Sky Discovery Academy’s students return to school on Tuesday, Sept. 8. This year, their student body will consist of kids aged two years old and up to the fifth grade, and Julie Edwards will serve as interim head of schools while Beth Marlington is on maternity leave. “I am 100% thrilled to be here,” Edwards told EBS.

BIG SKY BIGGIE HOSTS OVER 600 BIKERS At the start of the Big Sky Biggie on Aug. 22, Barbara Rowley held the starting gun high in the air, and fired a single shot. On their cue, hundreds of eager bikers took off from Big Sky Town Center on their 50-mile journey. The shot, and following race, was held this year in memory of Rowley’s late husband, and longtime Big Sky influential figure, Taylor Middleton. BIG SKY SHOOTOUT RETURNS The Big Sky Summer Shootout will return on Sept. 29 at The Waypoint in Big Sky. Celebrating the area’s culture and characters, the film fest shares local work from Big Sky’s year-round and seasonal residents. “The stories that are told are kind of unlike anywhere else,” Erik Morrison, Big Sky Shootout founder told EBS.

EDITORIAL POLICY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste.

Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.

EBS welcomes obituaries written by family members or from funeral homes. To place an obituary, please submit 500 words or less to media@theoutlawpartners.com.

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the September 17th issue: September 9th, 2026 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners. OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com ©2026 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

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Explore Big Sky

4 September 3 - September 16, 2026

OBITUARY

ANDREA EASTMAN JUNE 15TH, 1940 — AUG. 26, 2026 Andrea Eastman born June 15, 1940, passed away peacefully this week.

held pivotal roles in casting and developing some of the most culturally significant films ever produced:

Groundbreaking Hollywood trailblazer and fierce animal advocate Andrea Eastman, a visionary executive who reshaped the landscape of 1970s American cinema, shattered glass ceilings for women in entertainment, and dedicated her later life to the rescue of vulnerable animals, leaves behind an enduring legacy of systemic change and profound compassion. From her history-making tenure as a Hollywood "super-agent" and casting executive to her later decades as an elite equine protector in Montana, Eastman approached life with a rare mixture of unwavering grit, unmatched instinct and fierce devotion to the defenseless.

The Godfather (1972): Working alongside Fred Roos during the legendary, high-stakes "casting wars" for Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, Eastman was an instrumental voice in shaping the Corleone family. When Paramount executives fiercely resisted casting an unknown theater actor named Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Eastman fought alongside Coppola to secure him. She also navigated the turbulent, eleventh-hour negotiations that successfully secured James Caan for the explosive role of Sonny Corleone. Her critical contributions to this cinematic triumph are officially recognized and preserved in the archives of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

A Trailblazer for women in film Long before corporate initiatives or advocacy groups championed equity in the entertainment industry, Andrea Eastman was actively tearing down structural barriers. Entering Hollywood during an era when the upper echelons of studio power and talent representation were strictly an allmale domain, she commanded respect through her formidable intelligence, legendary negotiation skills, and undeniable eye for talent.

Love Story (1970): Eastman helmed the casting for the sweeping, record-breaking romantic drama starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal. Demonstrating her pioneering ability to discover raw potential, she cast a young, unknown Harvard graduate named Tommy Lee Jones, giving him his very first feature film debut.

As a Senior Vice President at International Creative Management and a prominent agent at Creative Management Associates and International Famous Agency, Eastman was one of the very first women to rise to the rank of Hollywood "superagent." Under the mentorship of Paramount’s legendary chief Charlie Bluhdorn, she refused to accept the limitations placed on women of her generation. Instead, she paved a definitive, executive-level path for future generations of women to lead major talent agencies and run studio departments, establishing herself as an irreplaceable pioneer in modern cinematic history. Shaping the masterpieces of American cinema Eastman's impeccable instincts permanently altered the course of film history. Operating at the epicenter of the "New Hollywood" movement, she

As a powerhouse agent and manager, Eastman curated and guided the careers of an elite roster of legendary talent, including Ali Macgraw, Sylvester Stallone, Billy Crystal, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Gere, Chevy Chase, Barbar Streisand, Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Boyle, Katherine Heigl, Kathleen Turner, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Reeve, Katie Couric, Tony Danza, Elle Macpherson, James Brolan, Wes Craven, Henry Winkler Marshall Brickman, Hart Bochner, Niels Mueller, Dyan Cannon, Jacklyn Smith, Brenda Bacall, Stockard Channing. Her larger-than-life presence and the legendary behind-the-scenes battles of her era were recently introduced to a new generation of viewers through her portrayal in the 2022 biographical miniseries The Offer. A new chapter: The equine crusade and animal advocacy In the later chapters of her life, Eastman chose to walk away from the glittering boardrooms of Beverly Hills, trading the flash of flashbulbs for the quiet majesty of Bozeman, Montana. Guided by a lifelong, deeply rooted devotion to animals, she established a sanctuary near Big Sky Resort dedicated entirely to rescuing, rehabilitating, and sheltering maltreated, abandoned and abused horses and dogs. Eastman quickly transformed her Hollywood media savvy into an effective weapon for animal welfare. Partnering alongside longtime friend and actor Robert Redford, she became an instrumental force in a historic grassroots campaign to pass California's Proposition 6. The landmark legislation successfully made California the first state in the nation to completely outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Furthermore, Eastman courageously spearheaded investigative efforts to expose and document the severe corporate mistreatment of pregnant mares within the pharmaceutical industry. Her deep bonds with her rescued animals and her profound impact as a fierce animal advocate were beautifully chronicled in Jill Rappaport’s acclaimed book, “People We Know, Horses They Love.”

Trooper and The Beverly Hills Hotel Even when facing severe medical adversity, Eastman’s life maintained its uniquely poetic, cinematic flair. Following a grueling open-heart surgery, she chose to undergo her long, precarious recovery in residence at the historic Beverly Hills Hotel. Her constant, vigilant companion throughout the healing process was her beloved Golden Retriever, Trooper. Trooper’s unwavering loyalty and therapeutic presence inspired Eastman to commission the heartwarming, beautifully illustrated children’s book, Trooper at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Centered on themes of resilience, friendship, and unconditional love, the publication received glowing praise and admiration from Eastman’s lifelong Hollywood inner circle and closest friends, including Sylvester Stallone, Cindy Crawford, Marshall Brickman, Marcy Warren, and Gabriel Byrne. An unforgettable legacy Andrea Eastman lived her life entirely on her own terms—defined by a fierce independence, an indomitable spirit, and an enduring commitment to defending the vulnerable, whether they were young actresses fighting for a fair wage or voiceless animals needing protection. She is fondly remembered by her loved ones, her former husband Paul N. Lazarus III, her stepson Robert Lazarus and his wife Annie, the generations of film executives who followed in her footsteps, and the countless Hollywood legends whose careers she masterfully launched. Her legacy endures on the silver screen, in the landscape of an industry she helped integrate, and across the quiet pastures of the Montana wilderness. Andrea leaves behind her many animals, clients, and friends whom she considered her family and loved with everything in her.

Explore Big Sky

5 September 3 - September 16, 2026

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LAND OF THE RISING BEAR Here in Big Sky we have our moments with bears. Just this year, officials police-taped the Uplands Trail after a sighting. A few years ago, a grizzly tragically mauled a biker near Fish Camp off Ousel Falls Road. But we’ve got it easy compared to Japan. Look at what’s happening there. Bears have been roaming supermarkets, shopping centers and wandering into hot spring resorts. All too often, they eat someone. Bear attacks aren’t new to Japan. In 1915, in the country’s deadliest attack, a 750-pound brown bear terrorized a small farming village for six days. It killed seven, including a pregnant woman. Hunters tracked down the killer and shot it dead. More recently, in 2016, a group of bears stalked a group of elderly bamboo pickers. Hunters again came to the rescue, but not before the animals killed and ate four of the seniors. In the last few years, there has been a spike in attacks. Blame climate change. Because of warmer temperatures, bears can’t find enough wild acorns and beechnuts to satisfy them. Driven by hunger, they have come into towns and ambushed the locals. There have been sightings within 25 miles of Tokyo. Last year, bears killed 13 in Japan compared to only three in the United States. There have been more deaths this year. In May, a 69-year-old woman went missing after hiking into the forest to forage. A search team later found her lifeless body near her car. Her face and head were gashed by what could only be a bear. Authorities organized a hunting patrol to find the beast but came up empty. The killer bear remains at large.

A lack of bear awareness is partly to blame for the deaths. We have signs on every trail saying things like “This is BEAR COUNTRY!” We tell people to carry bear spray, to be careful with their food and to calmly back away if they see a bear. Until recently, Japan did none of this. But a bigger factor is the bears themselves. Like in America, Japan has a brown bear and a black bear. The Japanese brown bear is found only on the northern island of Hokkaido. It is territorial and, like our grizzly, will fight if it feels challenged. The more prevalent black bears are the bigger problem. While our black bears are timid and run away when humans are around, their Japanese cousins are as mean as our grizzlies and are responsible for most of the casualties. Found only on the main island of Honshu, the bears will stand their ground and attack. The Japanese black bear is made of fiercer stuff than our black bears because they grew up in a tougher neighborhood. Millions of years ago in the Pleistocene era, American black bears shared their range with a fearsome predator, the sabertoothed tiger. Fortunately for the bears, the sabertoothed tiger couldn’t climb trees. Our black bears didn’t have to fight. They could save themselves by jumping up a maple or a spruce. They retained the flight instinct to the present day. The Japanese black bears, on the other hand, shared the forest with something akin to a Siberian tiger, the dreaded Amur tiger. The Amur tiger could climb. If a bear hoisted itself aloft, the Amur followed. That left Japanese black bears with no choice but to stand and fight.

To get the bear situation under control, alarmed officials have relaxed the rules about hunting in urban areas and are recruiting bear specialists to the forest service. In tourist spots, they have deployed drones that blast frightful barking sounds designed to scare off the bears. On the surveillance front, they have installed thermal cameras. Homeowners and farmers have put up electric fences. Seven-11 and Lawson’s, two of Japan’s ubiquitous convenience store chains, have switched from automatic to manual doors to keep bears from letting themselves in. Tour operators have armed visitors with bear spray. The military is also involved. It provides expertise, logistical support and money to cull the bear population. There are 50,000 black bears and 13,000 brown bears in Japan. The government aims to lop a few thousand out those numbers by 2030. Conservation groups are appalled. The argue that killing isn’t the solution. They advocate planting beech and oak trees deep in the mountains to restore habitats and lure bears away from populated areas. Better trash management, they say, would also help. Others argue that only identified killers be eliminated. Maybe Montana should send a few experts over to help. It might save some bears. Greg Steinmetz Big Sky, Montana

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Explore Big Sky

6 September 3 - September 16, 2026

BRIEFS

NEWS IN BRIEF

BOZEMAN POLICE MAKE ARREST AFTER EARLY MORNING CRASH, STABBING EBS STAFF Bozeman police arrested a man following a rollover crash and stabbing near Savannah Street and Davis Lane early Sunday morning. On Aug. 30 at approximately 2:08 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call reporting the crash and stabbing. According to a Bozeman Police Department press release, the driver fled the scene on foot after crashing and stabbed a bystander who attempted to detain him. The bystander sustained several stab wounds and was treated at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital. They are expected to survive. With help from the bystander and other witnesses, patrol officers obtained a suspect description and detectives searched the surrounding area but did not locate the suspect. Several hours later, an on-duty Bozeman police sergeant found him near North 19th Avenue and Baxter Lane. The suspect was taken into custody and faces charges of felony assault with a weapon, misdemeanor driving under the influence (second offense) and misdemeanor failure to give notice of an accident involving damage over $1,000. He appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court and is being held on $250,000 bond. “Thank you to the Gallatin County Sheriff ’s Office, Montana State University Police Department, Bozeman Fire Department and American Medical Response for their assistance during this investigation,” Bozeman Police Deputy Chief Joe Swanson said in the release. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Detective Kyle Hodges at 406-582-2243 or kyle.hodges@bozemanmt.gov.

ONE VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES 2026–27 NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS EBS STAFF One Valley Community Foundation has announced the return of its Nonprofit Cafe series for 2026–27, a free monthly workshop program for nonprofit staff, board members and volunteers across Gallatin County. The series begins Friday, Aug. 28, and runs through May 2027, sponsored by Yellowstone Club Community Foundation. Each 90-minute session covers a different topic in nonprofit management, including donor engagement, ethical storytelling, AI adoption, major gifts and program evaluation. The full schedule is available online. More nonprofits report relying on the series amid shrinking professional development budgets, stated an Aug. 25 press release from One Valley. According to One Valley’s most recent nonprofit needs survey, the share of respondents citing the foundation’s programming as a significant part of their professional development rose from 8% in 2025 to 36% in 2026, while those naming One Valley as an important resource for local nonprofits increased from 50% to 71%. Survey respondents attributed the shift in part to the loss of federal funding, which several said had led their organizations to scale back or pause training budgets. “Our nonprofit community is the backbone of Gallatin County, and investing in its strength is one of the most powerful things we can do for the region as a whole,” said Bridget Wilkinson, president and CEO of One Valley in the release.

TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD HIKER FOUND DEAD AFTER APPARENT FALL NEAR GRANITE PEAK EBS STAFF On Aug. 27, a 21-year-old Bozeman male was found dead near Granite Peak in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. On Aug. 24, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Stillwater County Sheriff ’s Dispatch received a report of an overdue hiker in the area of Granite Peak, explained an Aug. 27 news release from the Park County Sheriff ’s Office. Due to the proximity of the search being near three county lines, numerous agencies and resources responded. Crews searched for the 21-year-old Bozeman male since the report was taken and located him at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 27. According to an announcement by the Park County Sheriff ’s Office, he was deceased when he was located from an apparent fall. An autopsy will be performed and Park County will be conducting the coroner investigation. The following agencies were involved in the search: Stillwater County Sheriff ’s Office/Search and Rescue, Carbon County/Red Lodge Fire/Search and Rescue, Park County (Montana) Sheriff ’s Office/Search and Rescue, Gallatin County Sheriff ’s Office/Search and Rescue, Yellowstone County Sheriff ’s Office, Park County (Wyoming) Sheriff ’s Office/Search and Rescue, Big Horn County (Wyoming) Sheriff ’s Office/Search and Rescue, Montana Army National Guard, US Air Force, Central Copters (through Gallatin County). “Thank you to all of these agencies and responders for their assistance in the search,” Park County Sheriff Tad Dykstra stated in the release. “And a special thank you to Stillwater County Sheriff Kem and Chief Deputy Williams for their outstanding leadership.”

NOW HIRING Job Description: Transportation Director Big Sky Transportation District (BSTD) Position: Transportation Director Reports to: Board of Directors Salary Range: $100,000–$125,000, depending on experience Status: Full-time, exempt Position Summary The Transportation Director serves as Big Sky Transportation District's (BSTD) lead professional for transportation planning, infrastructure coordination, and inter-agency collaboration. This position addresses a critical gap in Big Sky's governance structure: as an unincorporated community, Big Sky lacks dedicated staff focused on roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, pathways, trails, active transportation infrastructure, and long-term transportation planning. The Transportation Director will fill that role, working across jurisdictions and agencies to advance transportation priorities for the Big Sky area. To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references to: Darren R Brugmann Executive Director Big Sky Transportation District dbrugmann@bigskytd.com and/or Mail: PO Box 161104 Big Sky, MT 59716 Also listed on: Skylinebus.com

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Explore Big Sky

8 September 3 - September 16, 2026

LOCAL

GREEN NO MORE: MARKLEY BRIDGE OPENS IN GALLATIN CANYON ‘WE’RE EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE,’ FOREST SERVICE SAYS ON BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS BY JEN CLANCEY Custer Gallatin National Forest announced that the new Markley Bridge, known as the “Green Bridge” to longtime Gallatin Canyon visitors, is now open. Its former nickname may not stick without its shade of green, but the CGNF shared that the improvements will benefit visitors. “We’re excited for the future of this area—safer access, improved trailhead infrastructure and a brand-new two-lane bridge designed to serve the community for decades to come,” CGNF stated in its Aug. 28 announcement. The Markley Bridge arches over the Gallatin River,

connecting U.S. Highway 191 to the Deer Creek trailhead. During the project, CGNF also improved the parking lot area and the portion of Deer Creek Trail to its intersection with Table Mountain Trail. The Great American Outdoors Act funded the bridge replacement with $2,473,136 over multiple years. Crews began the replacement on March 1 of this year, and noted that unfortunately, costs would impede the bridge from keeping its green color. Grant Morrison, CGNF civil engineer, stated in a March 12 release that the bridge would keep some of its original aesthetics. “Initial considerations for making the new bridge ‘green’ were explored, but the long-term

maintenance needs and associated costs were determined to be unsustainable,” Morrison said. Some utility work will continue in the following weeks, but the official announcement marks the next phase for a favorite area for visitors and locals alike. “A huge thank you to you partners at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Montana Department of Transportation for coordinating river and traffic management during construction, and to everyone who showed patience throughout closures,” the August release stated. Photos by Jen Clancey

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L O CA L

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BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT SELECTS JEFF BOLTON AS NEW FIRE CHIEF

Big Sky’s new Fire Chief Jeff Bolton (middle right) poses with other firefighters at a local competition in 2021. PHOTO BY BELLA BUTLER

BY FISCHER GENAU BIG SKY—On Aug. 27, the Big Sky Fire Department announced it had selected longtime Big Sky firefighter Jeff Bolton as its new fire chief. Bolton replaces Dustin Tetrault, who retired on June 4 after over a decade serving Big Sky and two years in that position. “It’s an incredible honor,” Bolton told EBS. “I care very deeply about this organization, the people that work here, and the community here. There's a lot of responsibility that comes with this position, and obviously the significant challenges that we have facing us right now, financially and operationally and organizationally. But I'm excited to work through all the challenges.” According to a BSFD press release, a national search was conducted for a new fire chief after Tetrault announced his retirement. However, the board did not find someone who they felt

“possessed the desired qualities for the position or for our community” in their search. Bolton had been serving as the interim fire chief since June 4, and the board said that he “demonstrated the qualities sought…for both our department and our community.” “We have great confidence that Chief Bolton will be an excellent leader and will serve the department and our community at the highest level,” the release stated. Originally from Hailey, Idaho, Bolton has worked for BSFD since 2017. Before that, he spent several years working for the Central Valley Fire District in Belgrade. He was promoted to division chief of operations in 2025, and he held that role until being appointed interim fire chief. Troubled times Bolton assumes the position during a difficult time for the fire department. In late 2025, BSFD

discovered a tax error made by Gallatin County that resulted in the overdraw of $8.3 million over four years in double-counted voter-approved mills. As a result, locals saw a cut of up to 50% in their fire department taxes, and BSFD immediately faced a $2.3 million budget shortfall year-overyear. In response, the fire department cut spending dramatically. They did everything from eliminating snow plowing and taking pay cuts to reducing the amount of paper they purchased. Bolton said one of his main priorities as fire chief is achieving financial stability for the BSFD. He said this is especially important as Big Sky’s demand for emergency services continues to grow. “We’ve got to make sure that our funding models support the level of service that our community expects of us,” Bolton said. Another challenge Bolton will face as fire chief is the operation of Station Three, the newly constructed fire station at the primary entrance to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. Before the tax error was discovered, BSFD planned to install four firefighters and firefighter paramedics there. Although the budget has since changed staffing abilities, Bolton said he is determined to staff the new station “as much as humanly possible.” With 10 years of experience with the Big Sky Fire Department under him as he steps into his new role as fire chief, Bolton said he’s excited to continue serving the community. “I learned a lot from Chief Tetrault,” Bolton said. “His big focus was being transparent, which I want to continue, and ultimately, remembering the reason why we’re here is to serve…We’re here because we care and we want to do the right thing for the community.” Bolton also emphasized the importance of everyone else working with him at the fire department.

The Big Sky Fire Department announced it had selected longtime Big Sky firefighter Jeff Bolton as its new fire chief. PHOTO COURTESY OF BSFD

“Somebody's got to be the fire chief, but ultimately, us as an organization is only as good as all the members here,” he said. “It takes a collective approach for us to get to where we need to be.”

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THURSDAYS BEFORE EVERY HOME GAME MSU Football’s festive pre-game show covering the upcoming game, other MSU sports, and more. Come watch live at the Rocking R Bar or live stream f rom home.

09.03

Cats vs. Butler Bulldogs (Sept. 5)

09.17

Cats vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (Sept. 19)

09.24

Cats vs. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Sept. 26)

10.22

Cats vs. Weber State Wildcats (Oct. 24)

10. 29

Cats vs. Cal Poly Mustangs (Oct. 31)

1 1 .1 9

Cats vs. Montana Grizzlies (Nov. 21) *MSU tailgate day-of in the parking lot

13 September 3 - September 16, 2026

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BIG SKY DISCOVERY ACADEMY OPENS DOORS FOR 12TH YEAR ‘ I AM 100% THRILLED TO BE HERE’: NEW INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOLS TO LEAD THE WAY BY JEN CLANCEY Autumn doesn’t officially start until Sept. 22, but pumpkin spice drinks are back, Target’s Halloween section is overflowing with ghouls and more importantly, the kids are going back to school. Julie Edwards doesn’t lament the end to summer days. As Big Sky Discovery Academy’s new interim head of the schools, early September is a return to a lively routine. “The building is so much of a better place when it’s filled with little footsteps and voices of joy and laughter and learning,” Edwards said. In the empty school building in Big Sky Town Center on Aug. 27, EBS met with Edwards and Beth Marlington, the head of school who will be out on maternity leave soon. They noted this school year comes with renewed focus on younger kids, ages two to fifth grade. Big Sky Discovery Academy teaches with a Montessori curriculum, which focuses on meeting students where they are in their learning, and emphasizes hands-on approaches and independence. All of the teachers are capable in Montessori instruction, Marlington noted, but two teachers will receive full training this year through the North American Montessori Center. Her goal is to have each staff member trained to continually improve and introduce new ideas about the education offered at the school. “It’s a very comprehensive curriculum that has the goal of really honoring the child’s development and helping them develop skills for confidence and independence,” Marlington said. She noted that students who don’t thrive in traditional classroom settings benefit from this style of learning. It’s a year of transition for the academy, which made the difficult decision to close its middle and high schools in March 2026 citing rising operational costs and declining enrollment. That change still weighs on Marlington, who has stayed in touch with families and offered support to students who transferred schools.

The Big Sky Discovery Academy sign in Big Sky Town Center. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY “It was hard for me personally, to send the middle schoolers and high schoolers off on their own … It was very emotional when we first broke the news, but I think at this point, the students are kind of finding their way, and the families know that we’re still here for them if they need anything,” Marlington said. She shifted to the school’s ability to expand functionally and logistically by focusing on the younger ages. “We can really think about what those younger kids need and how best to support them in their learning,” Marlington said. Edwards added that she’s heard from teachers that they can refine their skills in Montessori instruction to better serve students. The school continues its popular two-year-old program that started in the 2025-26 school year. Last year, 10 kids were enrolled in the two-year-old program and Big Sky Discovery Academy expects the same numbers, or more, this year. In total, 32 kids will start school at the academy on Sept. 8.

During the school year, all students receive a variation of winter sports education. Marlington explained that it’s beneficial for kids to feel more confident in winter sports. “[It’s] a great way to get our kids outside and enjoying the winter experience in a place where winter is a huge part of our lives,” Marlington said. Separately, a majority of students partake in a ski academy program, which starts in the elementary grades and combines classroom learning with ski training. Twice a week, ski academy students are transported to Big Sky Resort for on-the-hill training, and outside of winter, they train at Moving Mountains gym. “The students loved it,” Marlington said. “They were really excited about it.” Marlington was sure to emphasize her appreciation for support and donations from the community. “ We are always grateful for community support from our funders, including Resort Tax, from the community foundations, and we’re especially grateful for the support from Lone Mountain Land Company and Matt Kidd. Their contributions are helping to strengthen educational opportunities for local students and families, reinforcing the importance of investing in the long-term success of the Big Sky community,” she said. After Marlington returns from maternity leave, Edwards will serve as the head of advancement. Formerly the education director for the Arts Council of Big Sky, Edwards brings years of teaching, coordination and also experience leading Big Sky Discovery Academy’s summer camps to the role. Marlington noted it’s a way to sustainably lead the academy moving forward and become more involved in the community. Edwards agreed.

Teachers were finishing setting up classrooms the last week of August. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

“I am 100% thrilled to be here,” she said. “ I’m absolutely excited about the head of advancement role and getting Discovery out there into the community, and the community really getting to know Discovery as the true Montessori school that it is … and that we do look at [students] as individuals and serve them as individuals.”

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OR DEPICTED HEREIN. THIS MATERIAL SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL IN ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE PRIOR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED OR WHERE SUCH AN OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED, AND THIS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE AGENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. SPANISH PEAKS MOUNTAIN CLUB

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16 September 3 - September 16, 2026

Explore Big Sky

MEADOWVIEW COMPLETES THREE-ACRE FUEL MITIGATION PROJECT BY CARLI JOHNSON A three-acre fuel mitigation project in the MeadowView neighborhood was completed this summer, reducing vegetation and other wildfire fuels on the northern hillside of the neighborhood. The project was initiated by resident and HOA treasurer Dakota Nelson after he learned about Fire Adapted Big Sky, a community initiative focused on wildfire preparedness and mitigation. Nelson said training for neighborhood ambassadors helped demonstrate what communities could do to reduce wildfire risk. “Once I had those trainings, it truly inspired me to think, ‘What can I do? What can I bring back home?’” Nelson said. Nelson brought the idea to the Meadowview HOA and began working with Big Sky Fire Department personnel, including Division Chief of Wildland Fire Jon Trapp and fuels crew leader John Depew, to develop the project. The work was conducted on approximately three acres of common land on the uphill slope above the MeadowView neighborhood off of Little Coyote Road. According to Nelson, a crew of approximately six or seven people completed the work in about a week, beginning July 13. The crew limbed trees, removed smaller trees and vegetation, cleared corridors between groups

of trees and reduced accumulated ground fuels. Material that was not chipped was piled for planned burning in the spring. The MeadowView project was part of broader fuel mitigation work conducted in the Big Sky area, including Mountain Village and surrounding properties, as well as Beaver Creek and Jack Creek. The project’s intention is to reduce wildfire fuels while retaining the area’s forested character. Fire officials worked with the HOA to determine how the treatment could meet fuel mitigation requirements without removing all of the trees. “They’re not just going up there to rip out all the trees,” Nelson said. “They still want to maintain some beauty, and they still want the forest to be present.” Trapp said the work also provides benefits to the health of the forest. “Doing these treatments improves forest health, resiliency and diversity,” Trapp said. The hillside is part of land owned by Big Sky Community Housing Trust. Because MeadowView is a workforce housing development with deed restrictions, Nelson said protecting the surrounding property was viewed as a long-term investment in the neighborhood. “It’s not just meant for those of us that are here now,”

A fuels reduction project in MeadowView subdivision. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAKOTA NELSON Nelson said. “It’s for homeowners down the road.” Funding for the project came primarily through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Nelson estimated that the state funding covered approximately 75% of the project and Big Sky Community Housing Trust covered the remaining 25%. The project did not result in a direct cost to MeadowView homeowners. The completed treatment has left the hillside more open and accessible while maintaining its character as wildland space. Nelson said the primary purpose was wildfire mitigation rather than creating a new recreational area. Nelson hopes the MeadowView project can serve as an example for other Big Sky neighborhoods considering similar work.

Raise Your Raise Your Steins! Steins!

September 18 • 19 • 20 Bier •• Bra s Brats •• Music •• Games Bi Sky Big Town e er Center

Bigskyoktoberfest.com Bigskyoktoberfest.com

17 September 3 - September 16, 2026

L O CA L

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BIG SKY OKTOBERFEST 2026: SUPPORTING LOCAL YOUTH THROUGH COMMUNITY CELEBRATION BY DANA WIKAN EBS CONTRIBUTOR

As fall settles into Big Sky, Town Center Plaza prepares for a weekend that has become a local tradition. From Sept. 18-20, Big Sky Oktoberfest returns for its fourth year, bringing Bavarian culture to the mountains while raising funds to expand opportunities for local youth. What began as an idea between my husband, Larry Wikan, and I has grown into one of Big Sky’s most anticipated fall events. Today, Oktoberfest blends German tradition with Big Sky's community spirit while raising funds for Big Sky Youth Alliance and the youth sports and activity programs it supports. Every year, Oktoberfest showcases what makes Big Sky special. Neighbors gather, families celebrate and visitors experience the character of this mountain town. Beyond the music, food and festivities, the event helps create opportunities for young people to participate, compete and pursue their passions. “Oktoberfest has become a place where people can relax, laugh and enjoy the moment, and also know they’re contributing to something meaningful,” Larry said. “Every stein raised helps local kids pursue the activities they love.” Oktoberfest’s roots stretch back more than 200 years to Munich, where the first celebration honored harvest, culture and shared connection. When Larry and I launched Big Sky Oktoberfest in 2023, we sought to build on that tradition while creating something uniquely suited to a mountain town that believes in investing in its next generation. Strengthening youth programs in Big Sky Big Sky Youth Alliance was created around a simple belief: every child in our community should have the opportunity to participate in the sports, activities and experiences they love, regardless of financial circumstances. Oktoberfest serves as the primary fundraiser for Big Sky Youth Alliance and is the foundation of a longterm effort to expand access to youth activities and scholarships in Big Sky. Since its launch, the festival has increased its impact each year, contributing $10,000 in 2023, $17,800 in 2024, and $21,500 in

Big Sky Oktoberfest offers Oktoberfest activities all weekend long. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANA WIKAN 2025. These funds help remove financial barriers for families and ensure more local kids can participate in the activities that inspire them. In 2026, proceeds from Oktoberfest will directly support local youth athletes Reed Loomis, a biathlon athlete, and Sedona Kilgore, a rodeo athlete. Additional funding will benefit the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation and Big Sky Futbol Club and others as funding allows. While Oktoberfest remains our primary fundraiser today, the long-term goal is to build sustainable support for local youth so that cost is never a barrier to participation, growth or achievement. What’s new this year The 2026 event includes expanded Bier Garten offerings from Ayinger and Paulaner, updated family activities like chicken dance lessons and kids’ stein-holding contests, a dog costume contest plus our regular lineup of games, live football and adult stein-holding competitions. A full schedule and event details are available at bigskyoktoberfest.com. Community partners and sponsors Big Sky Oktoberfest is built by the community and sustained by it. Inaugural sponsors including Cornerstone Management Services, Big Sky Build, Big Sky Vacation Rentals, Big Sky Landscaping and Visit Big Sky helped bring the festival to life and have remained committed partners as it has grown. New sponsors including Big Sky Snowman, SAV and Big Sky Land Management continue to broaden the event's impact, helping support both the event and its mission.

Bavarian style bratwurst and pretzel at Big Sky Oktoberfest. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANA WIKAN

“Big Sky Oktoberfest is one of those events that brings out the best in our community,” said Andy Dreisbach, founder of Cornerstone Management Services. “People come together to have fun, support local organizations and invest in opportunities for local kids. We’ve been proud to be involved from the beginning and to see the impact grow year after year.”

Volunteers at the heart of the festival Behind the scenes, volunteers make Oktoberfest possible. “They’re the heartbeat of Oktoberfest,” Larry said. “From pouring beer to running games to welcoming families, volunteers make this event feel like Big Sky. We couldn’t do it without them.” Volunteers help create the welcoming, high-energy atmosphere that defines the weekend—laughing with guests during stein-holding contests, cooking Bavarian favorites, keeping mugs full and making the plaza feel warm and inviting. Many return each year, forming friendships behind the taps and food tables and creating memories every bit as meaningful as those made out in the plaza. Join the effort Sponsorships for 2026 are still open, with options designed for both emerging businesses and longtime community partners. Every sponsor helps expand the festival’s impact and directly supports youth sports and activities in Big Sky. Volunteers are always welcome. Come volunteer, have fun and help fuel the spirit of Big Sky. It’s one of the best ways to be part of Oktoberfest. Reach out to us at info@bigskyoktoberfest.com. A weekend with purpose Big Sky Oktoberfest is about more than steins, pretzels and music. It's a chance to come together, celebrate what makes this community special and invest in the kids who will shape Big Sky's future. Whether you're raising a stein, cheering during the stein-holding competition or watching your kids dance to Oktoberfest classics, you're helping create opportunities for local youth. Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and event details can be found online. Dana Wikan is the co-founder of Big Sky Oktoberfest.

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18 September 3 - September 16, 2026

SPORTS

BOBCATS SHARPLY FOCUSED IN FIRST GAME SINCE WINNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY COLTER NUANEZ SKYLINE SPORTS

The Bobcats spent the first few months of the off-season soaking up the celebration of Montana State’s first national championship in more than four decades. Then the Bobcats spent the spring and summer preaching a collective mentality that what’s won is now done. It’s easier said than done, though, to not let complacency creep in, to not rest on your laurels, to not believe your own hype. If Saturday night in St. George, Utah, is any indication, the top-ranked team in the FCS remains plenty hungry to make another run. Montana State looked sharp and focused, deep and dominant in the desert on Saturday night. MSU did whatever it wanted offensive as senior All-American quarterback Justin Lamson operated efficiently. The Bobcats played all 36 players that came on the trip for the unorthodox Week 0 Big Sky Conference opener against the overmatched Trailblazers of Utah Tech. Montana State had a variety of highlights on special teams too, as senior captain Taco Dowler set the Big Sky’s career record for punt return yards, Colter Petre blocked a punt and rising linebacker Xavier Ahrens scooped it on the way to an ST touchdown, too.

Taco Dowler at the 2025 national championship game. PHOTO BY BROOKS NUANEZ/SKYLINE SPORTS “Generally speaking, it was a clean effort so you walk out of it feeling good about the overall performance where we set the bar. We were in command,” he continued. “Our guys felt that but kept going after it.”

offensive line without Wehr along with Conner Moore, the No. 1 transfer portal prospect in college football who left Montana State to transfer to Michigan State just days after the national title game loss to NDSU?

The result of the comprehensive performance was the only blowout of the first week of 2026 as the Bobcats exploded to a 54-0 win, the 15th straight for the reigning FCS national champions.

Last season, Montana State sputtered to an 0-2 start to give the program a three-game losing streak for the first time in recent memory. MSU lost 35-32 to North Dakota State in the 2024 national title game, then had the unenviable task of opening 2025 at No. 6 Oregon (a 59-13 loss) and against FCS No. 3 South Dakota State (a 31-24 overtime loss at home) that put the Bobcats behind the eight-ball right out of the gates.

“For a first game, ultimately, the result is what we were after and I was really pleased with our effort, first and foremost,” Montana State head coach Brent Vigen said after moving to 62-10 leading the Bobcats. “You come down here and it’s hot and I thought our effort was great and I thought our guys went after it. We scored in all three phases. That punt block really broke it open.

The rough start did nothing to determine MSU. The Bobcats ripped off 14 straight wins, including a pair of iconic victories over archrival Montana in the span of 28 days. Those unforgettable triumphs somewhat overshadowed the final act of the 2025 season, that is until Montana State won 14 in a row to claim its first title since 1984 and the fourth in its decorated football history.

And on down the line. The Bobcats had to figure out a way to remake its offensive line just days before the season opener against Oregon when starting center Burke Mastel broke his hand. MSU had to figure out how to reshuffle its inside linebackers after Neil Daily got hurt in Eugene. But those two circumstances allowed for the emergence of offensive tackle Braden Zimmer and inside linebacker Cole Taylor, each who ended up as AllAmericans by the end of last season.

“Defensively, to keep them off the board, that’s always a great accomplishment especially when you consider we played everybody we brought [36 players] on the defensive side of the ball this evening,” Vigen said

“We talk about it all the time, respecting the opportunity to play,” Vigen said. “You only get so many chances to play this game and if you are not about it regardless of who you play, where you play, I don’t know what you are doing. We work alot. The days we work out are plentiful but the number of games we get to play are limited. So I think our guys, old to young, that message that we need to appreciate these opportunities and respect our opponents.”

Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson. PHOTO COURTESY OF SKYLINE SPORTS

That seems to be the Bobcat way these days. Under Vigen, basically every question mark— whether it’s a change in offensive or defensive coordinators or position coaches or the replacing of personnel—is acknowledged, addressed and taken care of in short order. Which is why Bobcat Nation is thinking big entering this week’s Gold Rush game against Butler. MSU is the consensus No. 1 team in the country. The resounding performance in St. George did nothing but affirm that notion. The emergence of budding stars like freshman wide receiver Carter Dahlke, a Bozeman native, or sophomore tight end Carter Curnow or sophomore defensive tackle Josiah Asuega or sophomore linebacker Xavier Ahrens helps Montana State continue to fortify its ranks.

Montana State reached new heights last season despite graduating one of the most decorated senior classes in school history coming out of the 2024 campaign. Off-season questions centered upon how MSU would replace Tommy Mellott, a folk hero of sorts after rising up to become a four-year starter who led MSU to two Big Sky titles and two national championship games.

Depth plus dominant performance plus lofty expectations are the early trademarks of this Montana State team, which is something Vigen wants to maintain.

Where would MSU turn without Marcus Wehr, the only two-time first-team All-American offensive lineman in the program’s history? Who would replace Brody Grebe, a three-time All-American defensive end who was the 2024 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year? How would MSU rebuild its

Colter Nuanez has covered the Big Sky Conference for 19 seasons and has directly covered Montana State since 2011. His work can be found at skylinesportsmt.com and he can be reached at Colter.Nuanez@gmail.com.

‘We were able to set the bar where we set it, and now, excited for that second opportunity to hopefully see us raise the bar,” Vigen said.

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TBD Cicely Drive Exclusive Lot in Moonlight Basin +/- 0.87 Acres | $3,950,000| MLS# 403165 Kevin Butler | 406-924-7050 | kevin.butler@evrealestate.com

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BIG SKY LISTINGS PRICE REDUCTION

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22 September 3 - September 16, 2026

SPORTS

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IN 8TH YEAR, BIG SKY BIGGIE SENDS OVER 600 TO THE TRAILS ‘AN EPIC FOR TAYLOR’ THEME CELEBRATES LIFE OF COMMUNITY ICON BY MIRA BRODY At the start of the Big Sky Biggie on Aug. 22, Barbara Rowley held the starting gun high in the air, and fired a single shot. On their cue, hundreds of eager bikers took off from Big Sky Town Center on their 50-mile journey. The shot, and following race, was held this year in memory of Rowley’s late husband, and longtime Big Sky influential figure, Taylor Middleton. Middleton loved everything outdoors Big Sky had to offer, including biking, and competed in the Biggie every single year, many times podiuming in his age category. Race Director and Founder Natalie Osborne recalled the event’s early days, when she was working hard to get landowner permission to piece together the course. After Middleton, president of Big Sky Resort at the time, gave her the green light, much of the community followed, making the Biggie, and its robust trail route, possible.

The Biggie 50-mile racers roll through Town Center during the neutral start, on their way out for an epic day on the trails. PHOTO BY DANNY TEMME

“He paved the way for us getting buy-in for this crazy idea for a bike ride,” Osborne said. “His support really helped with the momentum of getting other leaders to say, ‘yes,’ and support the event.” “The Biggie owes a lot to Taylor,” she added. Six-hundred and sixteen starters from 33 states raced the 50-, 30- and 15-mile courses, plus a kids' course. The event has grown each year, with its inaugural race hosting 209 riders and last year's event drawing 596 finishers. The course routes, Osborne said, are what makes the event stand out against other mountain bike races in the West. “I am really proud of our course,” Osborne said. “It’s very unique in a few ways.” She described its “wide footprint” of double track, single track, some pavement, flowing resort trails, and rugged forest service trails, providing a “true backcountry experience,” she said. First and Second Yellow Mules, or “The Mules,” is her personal favorite section. She also mentioned working with its various landowners, with special thanks to Lone Mountain Land Company, is what makes the uniqueness possible.

Barbara Rowley, wife of the late Taylor Middleton, had the honor of firing the Biggie’s ceremonial start gun as they kicked off An Epic for Taylor—this year’s Biggie tagline. PHOTO BY DANNY TEMME

Stella Hobbs, a professional cyclist from Whitefish, Montana and Life Time Grand Prix athlete, won the Biggie 50-Mile women’s overall title for the second year in a row. PHOTO BY DANNY TEMME

The Biggie is also passionate about its charitable causes. This year, the event donated $12,000 to the Big Sky Community Organization, $12,000 to the Big Sky Trail Dogs chapter of the Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association and $2,500 to Big Sky Search and Rescue. That contributes to a total of $145,000 raised and donated since the first event in 2018. Over the event’s eight years, Osborne said she is most proud of the diverse participants it attracts. From pro-athletes to hobbyists and youth cyclists—the National Interscholastic Cycling Association plans their race schedule around the Biggies each year—the Biggie feels welcome to all ages and abilities. “It doesn’t matter what your skill level is, it doesn’t matter how fit you are, but that you show up at the starting line,” Osborne said. “You’re going to have a challenging day, but you’re going to be supported, and at the end you cross the finish line with a tremendous amount of achievement.”

Matt Butterfield of Kalispell, Montana, leads a group of riders through the singletrack about midway through the 50-Mile course. PHOTO BY DANNY TEMME

Virginia City Arts Show September 18/19/20 WELCOMING GALA TWO DAY ART SHOW QUICK FINISH

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25 September 3 - September 16, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: COAL’S FALSE PROMISE OF ‘ENERGY DOMINANCE’ BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

Coal remains among the dirtiest, most destructive energy sources we have. Yet this news release from the Department of the Interior touts hundreds of billions of tons of coal under U.S. federal lands as if that’s a blessing, not a warning. Framing this as “energy dominance” ignores the mounting climate crisis, public health harms and economic realities of a world rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels. Start with the numbers. The release boasts of 356 billion short tons of coal resources on federal lands, and even more in places like Alaska, claiming this is enough to power the U.S. for 600 years at current consumption. On its face, that sounds reassuring. But it quietly assumes we should continue burning coal at today’s pace for centuries. That vision is flatly incompatible with any serious attempt to limit global warming and avoid the worst climate impacts already battering communities with extreme heat, fires, floods and storms that ravage the nation. Coal is the most carbon-intensive of the major fossil fuels. Per unit of electricity generated, it produces far more CO₂ than natural gas, and vastly more than renewables like wind and solar, which effectively emit nothing once installed. Locking in hundreds of years of coal combustion would lock in centuries of rising seas, destabilized weather patterns and growing climate chaos. That’s not a plan for prosperity; it’s a plan for permanent crisis. The news release dresses this up with rhetoric about “beautiful clean coal” and “energy security.” But there is nothing clean about the full life cycle of coal. Mining scars landscapes, contaminates waterways and endangers workers. Burning coal fills the air with fine particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and heavy metals. These pollutants contribute to heart disease, asthma, premature death and developmental problems in children. Communities downwind of coal plants have lived with this burden for decades. Calling this “energy security” also misreads where security truly comes from. Real energy security today means resilience, diversification and independence from volatile global fuel markets. Wind and solar power draw from free, domestic resources that never run out and never spike in price because of a distant conflict or OPEC decision. Energy efficiency reduces demand altogether. Investing public lands and public money into prolonging coal dependence crowds out the very investments that would make our system more resilient and more affordable in the long run. The release leans heavily on coal’s contribution to local economies, especially in states like Wyoming. That concern is real–but doubling down on coal is not an act of compassion for coal communities. It is a false promise. Global power markets are turning away from coal not because of ideology

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO but because cleaner alternatives are now cheaper in many cases. Utilities are accelerating coal plant retirements. Banks and insurers are tightening standards. Building policy around a fuel the market is already abandoning sets workers and regions up for a harder fall later. If we truly care about miners, their families and the towns built around this industry, the honest conversation is about transition, not entrenchment. That means using federal policy and federal lands to create new opportunities in clean energy, reclamation, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing—not pretending that a 600-year coal future still exists. The report’s call for more mapping to identify additional coal resources in understudied areas like Alaska also sends the wrong signal. At a time when science is screaming for rapid decarbonization, mobilizing geologic expertise to locate yet more coal reserves is like commissioning detailed blueprints for new cigarette factories in the middle of a lung cancer epidemic. It is the opposite of what

responsible stewardship of public lands and public health demands. We do not lack fuel. We lack political will to accelerate the transition away from fuels that are destabilizing our climate and harming our health. The real question before us is not how many centuries’ worth of coal we can dig up, but how quickly we can build an energy system that no longer relies on it. Public lands belong to all of us, and to future generations. Using them as a warehouse for a dying, dirty industry is shortsighted. Instead of celebrating vast coal deposits, federal leaders should be planning—urgently—for the day when we no longer burn coal at all. Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His words have been published in Rolling Stone, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Men’s Journal, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and WWF, among other notable outlets, and are available on his website.

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MONTANA STATE RESEARCHERS RECONSTRUCT ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE’S GEYSER BASINS BY DIANA SETTERBERG MSU NEWS SERVICE

A study led by a Montana State University research professor reveals how climate and hydrothermal activity have shaped the vegetation, wildfire and aquatic ecosystem history of the Yellowstone Plateau over the past 15,000 years. The results of the National Science Foundation-funded project were published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cathy Whitlock, MSU Regents Professor emerita of earth sciences in the College of Letters and Science and the first scientist to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences from a Montana university, has spent decades working in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Her interest in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basin was piqued in 2020 after she and co-author Chris Schiller took sediment cores from the bottom of one of the basin’s small lakes. They noticed that its contents differed from those in lakebeds in other parts of the park, suggesting that distinct geologic factors may have influenced the lake’s evolution. At about the same time, she read a paper speculating that a lack of water in the geyser system caused Old Faithful to stop erupting in the early 13th century for about 100 years. As founder and past director of MSU’s 22-yearold Paleoecology Laboratory, which studies how past ecosystems responded to changing climates, Whitlock said the opportunity to learn more about Yellowstone’s geyser basins was irresistible. but also required the expertise of many scientific disciplines. “I thought, ‘Well, there have been long, dry periods in Yellowstone in the past, some of them lasting for several centuries. I wonder if we could document how periods of sustained drought affected ancient geyser activity,’” she said. Collaborators on the project included MSU professor of earth sciences Dave McWethy, two MSU post-doctoral researchers, two MSU students, and scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon State University, Manchester University and Colorado State University. Throughout her career, Whitlock has reconstructed the histories of ecosystems from tiny clues deposited over time in the layers of lake sediments. By examining sediment cores, scientists can pinpoint the age of the layers through radiocarbon dating or from the buried evidence of known, natural events, such as past volcanic eruptions. Pollen assemblages tell scientists what type of vegetation was present at particular times. Layers with abundant charcoal identify past wildfire events. The concentration of arsenic and cesium and the composition of the diatoms in the sediments provide information on changes in hydrothermal activity, lake chemistry and water depth. In this study, the team collected core samples from small lakes of different ages in the Lower Geyser Basin, which is Yellowstone’s largest geyser system. The lakes are closed, meaning that they have no inflowing or outflowing streams. Whitlock said they likely developed in depressions left by hydrothermal explosions that occurred during wet climate periods. Two of the lakes, in fact, formed

Lower Geyser Basin is the largest thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. MSU researchers studied sediment cores from the small lakes in the foreground and middle ground to reconstruct the environmental history of this active hydrothermal landscape. PHOTO BY LORI HARRISON VIA MSU NEWS SERVICE shortly after the glaciers that once covered the region melted; removal of ice released overlying pressure that probably led to lake-forming, hydrothermal eruptions. Pollen records from the lakes indicate that after the ice receded, a grassy steppe ecosystem developed on the rhyolite volcanic soils. Steppe was replaced by a lodgepole pine forest that established between 12,800 and 11,000 years ago. Despite subsequent changes in climate, these pine forests have changed little in composition, leading the authors to suggest that lodgepole pine will continue to dominate the vegetation on the plateau even as the climate continues to warm in the future. “The persistence of lodgepole pine for thousands of years is explained by the infertile soils on the rhyolite volcanic plateau and lodgepole’s adaptation to fire. It’s been very hard for anything else to get established in that area given limited nutrients and well-drained substrates,” Whitlock said. “While the vegetation has been remarkably insensitive to past climate change, fire activity on the plateau has responded dramatically.” The team realized the importance of both geology and climate in explaining the environmental history of the geyser basin when the lake records were compared with high-resolution paleoclimate model results for Yellowstone. For example, the model showed that summers in the geyser basin were warmer and drier than today’s between 12,000 and 6,000 years ago, an observation that matched the charcoal evidence for more fires and the diatom records for lower lake levels then. Whitlock said reconstructing a long-term fire history is extraordinarily complex, and the project wouldn’t have been possible without the baseline

research her group conducted for 10 years after the Yellowstone fires of 1988. “As soon as the fires were over, we started studying charcoal deposition into lakes to determine how far charcoal particles traveled during a fire, how long they took to get buried in the mud, that kind of thing,” she said. “The charcoal analytical techniques we developed for Yellowstone are now used in fire history studies on every continent. We have a much better understanding of fire as a global phenomenon because of the work we did following the 1988 fires.” Sediments in the Lower Geyser Basin lakes reveal that Yellowstone’s hydrothermal systems were more active in the past during wet periods than dry ones, suggesting that future warming in Yellowstone may result in reduced hydrothermal activity, as well as increased wildfire incidence. Research geophysicist Michael Poland, scientistin-charge of the USGS Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, said such changes likely won’t be noticeable on the timescale of a human lifetime, though the study does point to interesting possibilities for near-term changes in the timing, force and frequency of geysers in Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas. “This study and ones like it help to give us a sense of what might be expected in the future for hydrothermal activity given current trends in climate,” he said. “That’s always been a key aspect of geology, and these sorts of studies show the past is the key to the present, which is then the key to the future. The more we understand past conditions and what drove them, the more we understand what’s likely to occur in the future.”

The Secret Season Belongs to Those Who Wander. Golden landscapes. Wild encounters. Cozy evenings. Autumn offers Yellowstone at its most intimate and inspiring with unforgettable wildlife, iconic geothermal wonders, and room to slow down and take it all in. It's a season made for discovery. Our Autumn and Winter Vacation Packages are thoughtfully designed to help you experience more of the park while enjoying the comfort of lodging just steps away from Yellowstone’s wonders. All of our packages take the guess work out of a Yellowstone getaway with lodging, meals, in-park transportation, and knowledgeable guides.

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31 September 3 - September 16, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

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THE WOLF AND ITS MANY ‘BIG, BAD’ MYTHS FILM INVESTIGATES THE WOLF’S REPUTATION GLOBALLY, EXPERT PANEL RECKONS WITH THE U.S. WEST’S WOLF ERADICATION BY JEN CLANCEY Like a shadow, the North American wolf ’s mythic reputation looms larger and darker than the actual being. How wolves have been perceived globally— and their impact on prosperous industries—has led to a wide eradication of the species over hundreds of years, a 2026 documentary film outlines. At the Ellen Theatre in Bozeman, a local premiere of “In the Company of Wolves: An American Journey” and a panel of experts explained what it means when wolves disappear and how perspectives are changing. ITCW is directed by Susan Kucera and narrated by Jeff Bridges. The film walks through the legacy of wolf myths, colonialism and the migration to the U.S. West in chapters, drawing input from experts in the field. In three words, Bridges summarizes the goals of settlers during that time, and themes that still exist today: “Civilize the wilderness,” Bridges' voice echoed throughout the sold out Ellen Theatre. After the film, panelists Betsy Gaines Quammen, David Quammen, Cristina Eisenberg, Matt Barnes and moderator Todd Wilkinson spoke about lessons from the film and their work in research, writing and conservation.

Barnes, a range-rider, conservationist and author noted that there needs to be compromise and support for ranchers alongside wolf recovery. “We need to figure out how to meet people halfway,” Barnes said. He later pondered what is owed to the future, and to people, a theme he pulled from the night’s opening remark by Katie Christenson, executive director of Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative. “The question is, how much does society owe to our ranching friends?” he posed, acknowledging the costs of the industry, and its meaningful contribution to food systems. A compromise will take some time and a mindset shift, he noted. “The biggest thing I would say … that we're still learning up here is this is not just about ecology,” Barnes said. “This is much more about culture, philosophy and competing perspectives on what the future of this landscape should be.” As a historian and writer, Betsy Gaines Quammen critiqued perceptions of wilderness. “One of the things that I've thought a lot about is this myth that this land is just for people, and we live in ecosystems,” Gaines Quammen said. This

The “In the Company of Wolves” panel from left to right: Todd Wilkinson, Matt Barnes, Cristina Eisenberg, David Quammen and Betsy Gaines Quammen. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY way of thinking contrasts Indigenous knowledge built from centuries of living with the land. “The pivot from that, is to recognize the way that Indigenous people did, that we are very much a part of the land—that we're not there to subdue it, we're there to live within it,” she said. Read more about the panel discussion in this story’s full online version at explorebigsky.com.

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34 September 3 - September 16, 2026

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BIG SKY SHOOTOUT SHOWCASES MOUNTAIN-TOWN SUMMER CULTURE “Every year, the types of stories that people are choosing to highlight and share just keep getting more diverse,” Morrison said. “It keeps capturing different aspects of our community and the different people and different scenes of it, which is everything I’ve ever hoped for, really, with this event.”

BY FISCHER GENAU BIG SKY—The Big Sky Summer Shootout, the annual exhibition featuring local films and photography, will return for its third year on Sept. 29 at The Waypoint in Big Sky. The festival celebrates Big Sky’s culture and character through short documentary and humorous films, and it serves as a unique gathering of the town’s yearround and seasonal residents.

Morrison launched the Big Sky Shootout 11 years ago to create an event celebrating Big Sky’s mountain culture. Shootout showings usually have a lively atmosphere, with people hooting and hollering during films when they or their friends appear onscreen.

“The stories that are told are kind of unlike anywhere else,” Erik Morrison, the founder of Big Sky Shootout, told EBS. “They're very specific to the community, so that is a really special thing.” This year’s lineup will screen twice, once at 6 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $26. But the festival begins well before the night of the premiere. On Monday, Aug. 31, The Waypoint hosted a Shootout Rerun Party featuring fan-favorite films and photographs from past festivals. Two weeks later, on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., Shootout Trivia Night at The Waypoint will test locals’ knowledge of past Shootout films, photos and personalities. This event is free and open to the public, and contestants will compete to win 2026 passes for Second Season, Morrison’s company, and a Shootout prize basket.

“Maybe they're in the film, maybe they're not, but there really is a sense of ownership,” Morrison said. At the main event on Sept. 29, festival attendees will get to vote on films for the Live People’s Choice Awards, and they can also participate in the Second Season pass raffle and win door prizes. An awards ceremony and after party will take place at 9:15 p.m., and the Shootout will give out over $3,000 in cash and prizes to festival winners. Attendees can also compete for the Best Dressed Award by donning an outfit and having their picture taken on the Shred Carpet.

A ski film screens at last year’s Big Sky Winter Shootout. PHOTO COURTESY ERIK MORRISON The Big Sky Shootout is accepting submissions for this year’s festival until midnight of Sept. 13. Entrants must have been filmed between May 1 and September 2026 of this year and have a close connection to the Big Sky community and mountain culture. Films can be up to five minutes long, and photographers can submit up to six images.

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35 September 3 - September 16, 2026

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A LA CARTE: BOBBY-BEATING BIBIMBAP BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

I spent a morning watching each of Bozeman chef Emma Woods’ three Food Network appearances this week. Woods, I learn from her various show introductions, was born in South Korea. She was adopted into a white family as a toddler and grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, attending Korean culture camp to connect with her ancestral roots. Now, she is chef and co-owner of Whistle Pig Korean at 25 N Willson Ave in Bozeman. Woods was the runner-up on an international version of “Guy’s Grocery Games” in 2018 (Season 18, Episode 18). She won an all-Korean version of “Chopped” in 2025. Season 63, Episode 10 featured mystery baskets filled with Korean ingredients, a judging panel of Korean chefs and four Korean contestants. Most recently, she (spoiler!) beat Chef Bobby Flay at his own game, a cooking show appropriately titled “Beat Bobby Flay.” “Each week, one great chef will try to take me down in my house,” Flay says in the show’s introductory segment. First, two chefs are tasked with creating a dish featuring an ingredient of Flay’s choice. They are judged by a pair of Flay’s friends who attempt to determine who has the right stuff to take on Flay. In Woods’ appearance, Season 44, Episode 10 of “Beat Bobby Flay,” Hoda Kotb of “Today Show” fame and Food Network personality Katie Lee Biegel determined Woods had what it takes to beat Flay. Her first round dish balanced flavors while showcasing the featured ingredient—cabbage—in multiple ways. Kotb and Biegel also noted Woods’ high kick entrance move was better than Flay’s attempt. Maybe they thought she already had a leg up on the competition. The show’s namesake then jumps into the fray, pitted against the advancing chef. This may be Flay’s house, but there is one large disadvantage: He must cook the challenger’s signature dish. For Woods, that is a Korean mixed rice bowl known as bibimbap with bulgogi—thinly sliced barbecued beef marinated in a sweet soy garlic mix. Why bibimbap? “I own a Korean restaurant and this is our main

dish that we serve,” Woods told Kotb and Biegel, who heckled Flay about being “terrified.” A separate judging panel later noted how the dish felt like a bibimbap they would expect in a Korean restaurant. They complimented Woods’ gochujang sauce, flavorful beef and crispy purple rice, but questioned if the plethora of vegetable “garnishes” made it hard to eat. “…going up against Bobby—and you know he goes all out—so I didn’t want to just kinda like halfass it,” Woods said with a giggle on an interview segment before the winner was announced. The idea of too many toppings seemed like a positive to me, perhaps spun into a slight negative to make for a more compelling narrative on the show. I needed to see for myself, so I took myself to dinner at Whistle Pig. Woods was the first to greet me, standing behind a counter laden with brown butter miso chocolate chip cookies that separates the entrance from the open kitchen. Waits are common at the popular downtown spot, but the food is worth it. In addition to bibimbap, Woods said the restaurant serves Korean family staples—things a mother or grandmother would make for their family. Some, like mandu (fried dumplings) and japchae (sweet potato noodles), she learned to make at culture camp. Other dishes were staples she ate while living in South Korea after college. At Whistle Pig, Woods uses local ingredients to highlight these classic Korean flavors and dishes, like in the lion’s mane mushroom scallion pancakes. This visit was all about the bibimbap, although I did order the banchan to go with it. Banchan are small Korean side dishes. They make any meal feel like a feast and create new flavor possibilities when pairing the often marinated or pickled ingredients with the bibimbap. Lots of options, lots of dare I say “garnishes” seems endemic to Asian cuisine. I keep picturing my Japanese grandma eating plain rice accompanied by a smorgasbord of vegetables, pickles and crunchy chewy things like dried fish. Ordering banchan with my bibimbap felt right, because I know no self-respecting Korean would eat a meal without the spicy garlicky smelly fermented goodness known as kimchi. I checked this information with Bozeman musician friend Angella Ahn, who I recalled having a separate fridge for kimchi to keep the smell from permeating anything else inside. ”Yes, I still have a kimchi fridge,” she told me. “I think most Koreans do.”

Whistle Pig’s bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT Woods' seasonal selection of banchan had regular and cucumber kimchi, soy-marinated garlic cloves and stir-fried dried anchovies with pine nuts. The latter were an unexpected star, though I may have felt slightly judged by the hundreds of tiny fish eyes that reflected light. Once I dove in, the fish were slightly sweet, crunchy and salty with an umami punch. Now to the bibimbap. I usually go to Whistle Pig specifically for this dish. I know how good Woods makes it, and somehow the dish looks even better coming out of that kitchen than it does on TV. No magic needed. For competition, Woods chose beef tenderloin to make sure that the meat would remain tender. In the restaurant, the bulgogi is made with a local wagyu chuck, with rich marbling adding extra flavor. Otherwise, it is pretty much how they make it at Whistle Pig. Woods’ purple rice mixes heartier, slightly chewier black rice with the expected white rice, and adds a third textural component to the rice that is crisped in a hot stone bowl. Also like the small screen version, the dish in front of me was topped with carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini and a fried egg, with a side of spicy red pepper gochujang sauce. I try the components separately, but I know the best way to eat bibimbap is to mix it all together. And then add bits of the banchan as more garnishes on top! Woods’ episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” was filmed around six months ago, so there has been a bit of a wait before she could announce her victory. She assured me that no additional Food Network competition appearances occurred in the meantime, but I doubt this will be that last. “I’d definitely be up for it,” Woods said, noting that she would especially love to test her skills in other types of cuisine, perhaps leaning into her background in French and new American cooking. “I like the challenge.”

Whistle Pig's Emma Woods recently competed on Food TV's "Beat Bobby Flay." PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.

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37 September 3 - September 16, 2026

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LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HOME OPENING GAMES FOR FOOTBALL, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL School is back in session, meaning the fall sports season is ramping up. Soccer’s home opening game is Friday, Sept. 4 is against Whitefish with the girls playing at 4 p.m. and the boys later at 6 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 8 girls volleyball opens its home season against Three Forks at 4 p.m. Then, on Sept. 18, Big Horn football plays against Ennis in its home opener under the lights at 7 p.m. To learn more about fall sports schedule check out LPHS Booster Club’s website, lphssports.org.

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39 September 3 - September 16, 2026

BUSINESS

Explore Big Sky

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: KEVIN BUTLER, MANAGING PARTNER AT YELLOWSTONE ATLAS CONTRACTING BY LESLIE KILGORE Kevin Butler grew up around the real estate and construction industries in South Florida. While studying business and horticulture in college, he started his first landscape company. He moved to Big Sky with his young family in 1999 and has worked in the local real estate and construction industries ever since. In 2022, he partnered with his son, Max, to launch Yellowstone Atlas Contracting, a company focused on landscape design, excavation, site services and snow removal. We spoke with Butler about the family business and what it takes to thrive in an ever-evolving community. This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity. Explore Big Sky: What initially brought you and your family to Big Sky? Kevin Butler: I first came here in the early ’90s to visit family and immediately fell in love with the culture and the mountains. EBS: When did you start your business, and what prompted you to do so? KB: I started Yellowstone Atlas Contracting in

2022 with my son, Max. I had been in real estate and construction for most of my working career. I started my first landscape company in South Florida in my early 20s and have been a real estate broker in Big Sky since 2001. My son had been working locally as a landscaper, so it seemed natural to take the opportunity to work together. EBS: Can you share a brief overview of some of the services you offer? KB: We began with landscape design and construction. Numerous requests prompted us to quickly diversify into excavation, site services and commercial and residential snow removal. Our favorite work involves solving difficult problems and helping clients bring ambitious ideas for land and outdoor spaces to life. EBS: Can you tell us about the team that makes your company successful? KB: We’re a small crew of multidisciplinary professionals with a wide range of skills and a perfectionist mindset. We’re always looking for new team members who share our passion. EBS: Do you see growth for your business in the future? KB: Yes. Big Sky is growing and developing quickly, and we provide services that are in demand Kevin Butler began in real estate and construction and started Yellowstone Atlas Contracting in 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN BUTLER and valuable to many people. We’re also set up to respond to new and changing opportunities and needs in the community. EBS: What is the best thing you’ve found about working with the Big Sky community? KB: The best thing is the community itself. I’ve watched Big Sky grow and mature since its adolescence. I’ve always appreciated the mountain culture and character of Big Sky, as well as the individuals drawn to this place. EBS: What is some of the best business advice you’ve ever received? KB: Don’t take no for an answer, at least the first time. Don’t be afraid to think bigger. And, The customer may not always be right, but they are always the customer.

The Yellowstone Atlas Contracting team, left to right: Hannah, Kevin, Max and Bella. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN BUTLER

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE

OUR COMMUNITY. OUR BUSINESS.

EBS: What’s your perfect Big Sky day in summer and winter? KB: In the summer, getting out early and making my way up one of our amazing local peaks for lunch with a view. In the winter, bluebird powder tram laps with family and friends, followed by local music and après. Always good times!

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Explore Big Sky

40 September 3 - September 16, 2026

HEALTH

DID IT MATTER?

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER SEPT. 11, THE GENERATION THAT ANSWERED IS STILL WAITING ON AN ANSWER BY BRIAN GILMAN, COLONEL EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Sponsored content On the morning of April 7, 2004, outside our combat operations center south of Fallujah, one of our platoon commanders handed his patrol overlay to me. Acetate and Sharpie. We talked about whether his platoon was ready. He said they were, in the flat Tennessee drawl he never lost. I approved the plan. I shook his hand. I told him good luck. That was the last time I saw Captain Brent Morel alive. Brent was twenty-seven. He was in Al Anbar because of a Tuesday morning in September of 2001. So was I. So were 2.77 million other Americans across 5.4 million deployments. Most of them raised their hands after they already knew what the job would cost. They went anyway. Every year on this date the country does the same things. Flags at half-staff. Bells. Never forget. Thank you for your service. Those words are not wrong. They are aimed at the wrong morning. For America, Sept. 11 is a morning. For those of us who fought the wars it started, it is twenty-five years. When Brent's platoon was ambushed, I went out with the quick reaction force. By the time we reached the site, the light was going long through the smoke off his platoon's vehicles. Mortars still fell in the next field. His Marines were on the objective, holding ground the enemy had held an hour before. Brent’s Marines finished the fight standing on the enemy's ground. That is the standard. I remember thinking they had met it. I did not know yet. Brent had been medevac’d with the critically wounded. It was not until we got back that the battalion executive officer told me he was gone. I put my

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARRIORS AND QUIET WATERS head in my hands. I said a prayer. Then I walked outside to be alone. I trained Brent in his qualification course. I recruited him into 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. I planned the operation he was killed on and put my name on it. Twenty-two years later, I can still tell you exactly what that mission was for. So could Brent. We were sent to take the fight to the enemy abroad so they could never do it here again. We did that. The grander aims belonged to other men. Democracy. A stable region. Four administrations owned those goals, two from each party, and none delivered. I accept that grade. It says nothing about what we did at our level. What I cannot square is that we quit. We stopped trying to win and walked away from everything we had already paid for in blood, time, and treasure. Iraq did not end. It thinned out. Afghanistan did not end either. It collapsed in eleven days while we watched it on our phones, and thirteen more Americans were killed at an airport gate covering the way out. The bill went to the people who carried the rifles. Twenty-five years on, the world is not safer. America does not feel more secure. And a country that was never more united than on Sept. 12, 2001 has never felt more divided than it does today. The question is not whether America remembers. America remembers. The harder one we ask in private. Did it matter?

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARRIORS AND QUIET WATERS

Brent answered the question with his life. The rest of us are still living inside it. The cost is still being paid, and not mostly by the people you would expect. An estimated 30,177 post-9/11 service members and veterans have died by suicide, against 7,057 killed in war operations. Here is what almost nobody says. In the VA study behind the “22 veteran suicides a day” figure, the average age of the veterans who died was 59. This wound takes decades to open. The Marines who were nineteen years old when they went into Fallujah are in their early forties now.

If that pattern holds, the worst of this is not behind us. It is in front of us. Our sacrifice mattered. Whether it goes on mattering was never Brent's to settle. He paid the last full measure, and gave us everything he had or would ever have. Making it matter falls to the living. To you, and to me, because I came home. These men and women do not want to just be remembered. They want to keep mattering, and to build futures as meaningful as their pasts. They already have what that takes. The discipline, the loyalty, the willingness to put the team ahead of themselves: our families, our communities, and our country need all of it right now. The federal government will not deliver it. In 2023, 61% of the veterans who died by suicide had not been seen by VA health care that year or the year before. The system never touched them. What reaches these men and women is community. Look at where this country actually puts its money. Americans gave $617 billion to charity last year. Education received $92 billion. Military and veterans causes have never cracked one percent of the total. In the most recent year measured, $3.7 billion. That is about $200 a year for every living veteran in America. We are not short on gratitude. We are short on follow-through. Keep your eyes on this after the flags come down. Find the people doing this work in your community and fund them like you mean it. Not a gesture and not charity. Make an investment in the most capable Americans this country has produced. Twenty-five years ago, they answered. Make it matter. Brian Gilman is a retired Marine colonel with four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and the CEO of Warriors & Quiet Waters, which walks alongside post9/11 combat Warriors in Montana. Captain Brent Morel was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on April 7, 2004. Learn more at wqwf.org.

41 September 3 - September 16, 2026

A&E

Explore Big Sky

HEALTH BUZZ: WHY ACUPUNCTURE CAN BE A POWERFUL PART OF YOUR CARE BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST

There is a certain kind of personality drawn to Big Sky. You hike when you’re tired. You ski when your legs are sore. You squeeze in a workout before work, spend the weekend outside and somehow convince yourself that you will rest next week. We love the mountains because they challenge us. But sometimes our bodies need something different. They need us to listen. Acupuncture is one of the ways we help patients slow down, reconnect with their bodies and look at health from a broader perspective. Rather than focusing only on where something hurts, acupuncture invites us to consider the bigger picture and the unique demands of our lives. Acupuncture isn’t just about pain When people think about acupuncture, they often picture needles being used to treat a sore back, stiff neck or sports injury. But it is only part of the story. Traditional Chinese medicine takes a whole-person approach to health. Instead of viewing the body as a collection of disconnected symptoms, it considers how different systems and patterns may influence one another. At Big Sky Natural Health, acupuncture treatments can incorporate traditional Chinese medicine

techniques such as moxibustion, cupping and gua sha, depending on the individual and their goals.

into care surrounding women’s health, stress, recovery or overall wellness.

That means your appointment isn’t simply about putting a needle where it hurts. It’s about asking: What is happening in the whole person?

Sometimes acupuncture is part of caring for an existing concern. Sometimes it’s part of recovery. And sometimes it is simply an intentional opportunity to check in with yourself.

What happens during an acupuncture visit? For many first-time patients, the biggest question is: What should I expect? An acupuncture appointment begins with conversation. Your practitioner wants to understand what brings you in, but also the context surrounding your visit. Depending on your concerns, that may include questions about sleep, stress, digestion, energy, menstrual health, physical activity, recovery and other aspects of your overall well-being. From there, very thin, sterile needles are placed at carefully selected acupuncture points. The needles are significantly finer than most people imagine. Many patients describe the treatment as calming, deeply relaxing or surprisingly comfortable.

If you’ve been pushing through discomfort, feeling depleted, struggling to recover, or simply sensing that something is off, you don’t necessarily need to push harder. You may benefit from looking at your health from a different perspective. That’s the invitation of acupuncture—ot a promise of a quick fix. But an opportunity to slow down, pay attention and work with a practitioner who sees you as a whole person. Ready to explore acupuncture in Big Sky? If you’ve never tried acupuncture before, we’re happy to answer your questions and help you understand whether it may be an appropriate addition to your wellness plan.

And for some people, the most valuable part of the appointment is simply having uninterrupted time to pause.

Your body works hard to carry you through this mountain life. Maybe it’s time to give it a little care in return.

Acupuncture as part of a bigger plan

Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.

One of the things we believe strongly at Big Sky Natural Health is that there isn’t one universal definition of wellness. Your health goals are yours. For one person, acupuncture may be part of managing pain. For another, it may be incorporated

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43 September 3 - September 16, 2026

Explore Big Sky

American Bison // Bison bison

DID YOU KNOW?

500 years ago, at least 30 million bison roamed the plains. That number is now less than 30,000. The depletion of free range bison has been attributed to: • Decades of over-exploitation • Decline in genetic diversity • Habitat loss • Human Interaction

Yellowstone National Park boasts the nation's largest free range buffalo herd, but only two others remain - the Henry’s Mountains and Book Cliffs herds, both in southern Utah.

Respect. Protect. Cherish. Paid for by the animals in your backyard.

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