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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” – Established 1985 – Locally Owned & Independent
’ ! l a c o L t a t s e B e h ‘T 37 Volume XXXVIII, XXXVII, Number 30 Volume XXXVII, Number 28 Volume Number 39 29 XXXVII, Number
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Wednesday, February 2022 Wednesday, January Wednesday, April26, 12, 2023 Wednesday, February 2,9,2022
www.bitterrootstar.com
Eagles in winterHumane Groundbreaking held Association for medical Bitter Root Three Mile Community Centercenter open
Lone Rock Park gets new playground celebrates new shelter, 50th anniversary speech, occupa-
by Victoria by Victoria Howell Howell
shelter. $140,000. a levy, so this won’t any tional andhave physical According The park additional impact on people’s therapy services – It’s been a long time to Colleen board made property by Sean Malcom has taxes. raised $10,000 including a loan, therapy coming, but the new Three Schmiedeke, the decision In through addition to the Bitterroot Health the help of the Mile Community Center is up who serves on to take out a project was paid for by pool – plus imaging hasHowell been brolocalat donations asthe well held a groundbreakbyGround Michael and cut the ribbon last week’s andfor running. Located at 4433 both the park loan to finish Three Mile Community Senior ken a new playground as grants from the Rapp and lab services. ceremony, said concerning the ing last Wednesday Sunnyside Cemetery Road, board and the the project. CenterFamily (the official name) at Lone Rock Park.celebration The Foundation. Bishop said organization’s 50 years of service, “It An open house was for new is medical theits center on will the east side community She said they whichThe raised over $80,000 new jungle gym funds raised so far they hope to have held last week at the Bitter Root was started by a bunch of little old complex that beThe build- center board, of located Lone Rock Park. worked with through community picnics, be on will the east have allowed them to ladies in rummage 1972 and the it’s still runopen by a Humane Association’s (BRHA) new facility ing contains a large meeting they started Farmers State sales, bingo nights built just north of side of the Three Mile put a down a payment animal shelter located on Fairgrounds bunch of little old ladies.” room, a warming working on Bank to keep and donations fromaof commuspring 2023, Community Center and a and by schedule delivStevensville at the kitchen, Butts, President of the Road inaHamilton. The event served state-of-the-art audio visual this ain 2012 their loan Kathienity members. Other major and that they plan provide much needed ery. While the weather corner ofand Kootenai double It included Board, said, “This organization has system, gorgeous view a ribbon and incorpopayments contributors were the Three play areapurpose. for athe children has prevented delivery, on continuing to Creek Road and Mountains of the Lone Bitterroot totherated reasonable. Mile Fire District, the Lone cutting ceremony in honor of new in 2014. come such a long since it was of the Rock/Three the way hope is to have the expand services. Hwy 93. including tours of the whole the west. She said the Those payRock 50 Park andago. theusable Rapp started about years I feel by aFamfacility, Mile community. playground “We’re bringing the The building isarray now home total cost is ments come ily of Foundation. John Bishop, building, and anBitfood and huge sense responsibility to honor Board members of of May. $6,500 still needs care to the patients, to the senior center and the approximateout of park Schmiedeke said there Lone ParkCEO, and be raised. terroot those who havetocome before us and ” drinkRock inHealth honor of the organization’s Weekend Backpack Program ly $500,000. taxes that are were many volunteers who he said. the Three Mile Comis vimake it as good as“Fundraising it can be as we set 50th birthday. said that Marcus that serves Lone Rock School. When already being helpedtal,” on Audiss theLois project, and munity/Senior Center said, “to the HedgeThe privatehad non-profit organization the course for the next 50 years.” Daly Hospital The surrounding park conSchmiedeke assessed, TMCSC receivedsuccess reducedof (TMCSC) conducted continued chair McCormack saidpeth, that the of the was fisoccer rst organized in 1972. In 1984, tains and baseball “got really Schmiedeke prices from contractors. The the ground-breaking the community center.” Three Mile Community Senior Center board members, l to r, Colorganization conducted a successful Countess Margarite Bessenyey, the hospital board, fields, tennis and volleyball involved,” the is proud that general contractor donated laceremony duringoftheir She wants to ensure leen Schmiedeke, Joyce Pando and Wendy Audiss in front of the fundraising campaign fund the new granddaughter Marcus Daly, gave saidto this project courts, a anniversary walking path, a playgroup had they didn’t one-year the public knows the See the CENTER, 3 new community center at Lone Rock Park. Photo by V. Howell. construction but then Covid-19 the BRHA on Fairgrounds Road ground andland a covered picnic raised Bitterroot about has been four page years open house on Saturday, community center rents Chamber of Commerce Director Al Mitchell holds the group spell-boundhave as Bit-to run with a pandemic hit and costs April 8.99-year lease. Six years later, out construction its facilities for in the works, but ter Root Humane Association Board Member Sue McCormack prepares to cut the ribbon skyrocketed. As a result, the group in 1990, the Bessenyey estate deeded According to Wendy functions, receptions there were some John Bishop, pictured from left, leads a gathering people involved in the celebrating the opening of the new animalfifth shelter in Hamilton. Photo by Michaelof Howell. had to take outand a mortgage to finish the landwho to the organization where Audiss, serves on partiesdue throughout delays to the Bitterroot project in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The facilitythe year. on the property that hadHealth housedbuilding the Sue McCormack, who serves on thecommunity current shelter is located. The the center Fees collected See SHELTER, page 2 She theat organization’s of directors will be built on land located the corner ofboard Kootenai Creek Road and Hwy 93frompandemic. new building replaces board, they have been an old building shelter since 1984. renting out thesaid their vision that raising funds for the past community center help just north of the Stevensville Junction. by Nathan Boddy cumstances, having She adds thatisthe the Stevensville year to build a larger pay for projects like encountered people most important playground. The current Lone Rock new as Christine a driving falling “quality, victim to mail toplayground combat facility will besuch more Darby, andGary Corvallis, well asSchmiedeke, Jim theway beenCommunity/Senior providing ParkStaub, and Three Mile Center board Victor members Leese,as Colleen playground at Lone Rock well as maintaining the force at the Boxxe Shoppe at fraud in the past. abuse is for people of a Rock “medical center” rather than just a Hamilton. Oberhofer, Kenn Hoekstra, Joyce Pando, and Wendy Audiss break ground for a new playground at Lone accessible, personalized Park consists of a single 901 S. 1st Street, was recently As a certified shipto ask clinic. She alsofacility. said thatquestions Marcus Daly Park in Stevensville. Photo by Sean Malcom. The new 12-acre campus will health fordepot 90 years. swing set and the board For start information presented with a Certificate of care” ping for FedEx, and conMurphy. Shethe led the on Hospital, which is a critical access provide primary, care, urgent care and In recent years, they believes the addition of renting the communiAppreciation by Mayor Domithe Boxxe Shoppe versation with those commissioners through TMCSC has long had an provides weekend meals for center. hospital,tywas recently rated #4byinvisit the the jungle gym will help draw center, or to donate, specialty services. Two physicians have nic Farrenkopf and Hamilton is legally justified to you know and love. have been taking steps to a lengthy fund fund impact on children in the Lone Rock School families, by Victoria Howell me like a ton of Audiss said the total cost more community members Police www.3milecc.org, or call 406Chief Stephen Snavely. open acommupackage which doesn’t nation for quality by Staub the national rataccounting that, to sum already been hired, with a nurse invest in all the community. The Weekend is funded through grants for along the new jungle gym will bricks.” and their children to the park. 360-3385. In his presentation to the City bears its shipping know the details it up, shows the county, ing agency, out of 351 similar facilities. practitioner, and two more doctors Backpack Program, which facilitated by the community be $16,500 and that TMCSC Numerous Bald Eagles have been congregating in the Burnt area lately to feed onOverstreet carcasses. was Photos nities of Fork the Bitterroot, When it comes Council on March 15th, Chief label. After following of what potential overall, doing very well by Michael Victoria Howell are being recruited. There willby also be he said, with clinics in to Covid, Greg Howell. sent home from Snavely said that he wants the protocol, and doing victims are told, but on its tax collections and The Bitterroot Overstreet has a NaHamilton Police Department so in the presence of the hospital with she knows that over they showing revenues tional Forest (BNF) will The Cowboy Ball at the 50% Ravalli Countycoached message for you: to “become more vocal about a witness, Staub was an oxygen tank. are, “often of projections in host a public meeting Fairgrounds will be held February is don’t fool around! the good things that happen able to uncover the He was home for to departments say12th. they This are shipmost while thisOverstreet, Wednesday, March the tenth annual event and the way it’s shaping within the community.” Sharunfortunate contents two or three days. ping legal by Michael Howell expenses havepapers only or 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. ing his department’s experiof the package: nearlyDuring that time, paperwork.” Other up, it’s going to be an event worthy oftoa23% jubilee an attorney in amounted of to share information ence with Ms. Staub was one $16,000 in cash, common tactics for and former council member, the public at the next meeting Halfway through celebration. projections due in large private practice in his oxygen level by Victoria Howell talks about his grandmother By John Dowd regarding the developsuch opportunity. which the customer scammers include the budget year, the part to job vacancies Rod Freeman is the chair of this year’s appears to to and be continuing when the council considers Stevensville, was went down to 51, moving homesteading ment of a draft forest In early March, a customwas unwittingly send-from a normal of claiming county’s performance have yetto torepbe filled. event. Freeman is also thethat chair of the Rodeo diagnosed with his efforts to teach the new the appointment of two addiin and around the Stevensville With his health failing Climbing Management At the second regular er came to the Boxxe Shoppe ing to a scammer in resent the IRS or in is looking pretty good, One big savings was Committee, and the vice chair of the Fair Board, colon cancer 99. “I jokingly say area. Hisand second book him, lifelong Plan John (CMP). The virtual council mayor howwas local Chicago, tional council meeting ofStroud, thein two-member intending to send a package Illinois.members. Social Security according to Ravalli the budgeted funds which he’s been onby forNa12 years. A real estate for “For the Loverun. of the Bitterroot Valley resident February of 2021. that 51 is brain Staub of the Boxxe Shoppe. Photo meeting will be held on and via called government should He “We’ll do our job, ” Christine said FedEx. County CFO Klarryse the Administration. county’s share Stevensville Town Council, on Bitterroot,” which is partly champion ofbelow the bitterroot agent for 18 years here in the Bitterroot, andin also He wentSee through damage material.” Zoom. for than Boddy. Thewas customer Sometimes they a frequent commenter Gibson January 27, town clerk Jenelle an auto-biography and partly flower, is reaching in the Army for 21 years, his organizational and instructions and a out linkto the seemed chemotherapy and But COVID-19 Seewill COUNTY, con- meetings during tell theirpage 10 at council Joan Mell, an attorney with the profile of the Berthoud the council andfused about his three loves: the Bitcommunity to give one of his to late join August thetold meeting. Five fundraising skills, and discipline, haveone been put to in he was wasthe no joke.familiar “It and unOver victims that a loved has the last Valley, administration. In from Hamilton, wasgot recpotential victims, butuse wishes famous thehaving name- familiar terroot the bitterroot similar public meetings audience thatabout she was good as chair of the Cowboy Ball committee. told thattalks the cancer so bad I felt with course of her landed in jail, or that a prize that others withinFreeman the commusake of the area. Feeling he the flower and the people of told the public comment, Crews ognized for stepping in (virtual) were held in meetsaid the committee trouble streaming the process, decade with has been won,hopes but a to feeraise needs had been eradicated. like I couldn’t nity would help her look out has only two years left at best,andarea. “They that are the kindest 2021. the council those makto handle the the prosecution this year, to forbethe expansion of the rodeo Staub Boxxe paid for release of the Overstreet had She said breathe, likefor I their safety.$50,000 ings on the internet. At least one Stroud will be holding sweetest people in the world,” caseload of Town In addition to the a talk became susShoppe, Staub funds. The scammers will ing public comment should Attorney bucking chutes. “They’re just getting old,” he said. surgery on October was being water the of the potential victims she at 2 former p.m. onYouTube Saturday, May 6. picious said when Stroud about the latter opportunity to learn chanhaswhile now commonly use a getting legitimate “They need to be replaced. They’re banged address the mayor, not the Greg Overstreet he was 23, 2021 for ostomy boarded, or what aided was a resident at a local nel they had was no Stevenslonger It will be held at the of the trio. For Stroud, his life about and participate in recovered address, buton will be ready to up.facility Bucking stock can be hard metal.” removal, the fidevelopnalhad set up considering I imagine audience.have He also said, “This hospitalized, and then recov- water extended nursing and ville Public Library. wouldn’t been complete the process of working but they the customapproximately grab the package fromactually a porch The 10th annual cowboy ball – which the boarding to had be to be provided with a ride isage notand a question and answer” ering, from Covid-19. ing a climbing plan, Born at in Providence St. the kindness of his atreatment new Facebook page.this Hower’swithout $60,000Mell in or front door when it arrives. started 11the years ago but couldn’t be held last year to the bank as well as to colon journey. like,” recalls week’scancer meeting Patrick Hospital in Missoula Bitterrooters. session. “It’s public comment.” did the work at no charge particular cash, all of to “They always direct the ever, members ofwill thecovpublic the fellow Boxxe Shoppe. due to the pandemic – has been upgraded this The day after 4, that Overstreet. “This er the following agenda on December 1944, Stroud details The second of his loves of the which was victim to send it, ‘no signature The mayor had said previousthe town. “I just wanted to who had tried to access the “It’s common sense to me,” year. topics: grew up in the Bitterroot is the flower for which the surgery, he was isfrauduwhen I realized transaction. being required,’” she adds. ly that he would be answering publicly thank Joan for helpThesays, Town of Stevensville recognized attorney Joan aMell, she pointing out that red Facebook said it was not Unfortunate• Review overall Valley. Hepage has authored two valley is named. Stroud can “This is the first year we’ve ever done diagnosed with that I was not lently deThe Bank Secrecy Actfully questions from the public. ing me and helping the town, ” flags abound when seniors are center, for filling in while town attorney Greg Overstreet objectives and desired books, though he has dyslexia, talk for hours about this accessible. catered dinner,” said Freeman. Thebanks University COVID-19.Berthoud asked ly, it was not taking Covid manded from of 1970 requires to being scammed. “If a person Crews also According said that they said Overstreet. outcomes ofas the public and built house with his Staub’s humble to ofPictured Montana Catering Service provide theof had Covid-19. with Mell are, l towill Overstreet, for patience she worked “I was his obviously firstplant. seniorseriously citizen enough. keep track ofr, withdrawals is 80 years old, and all of a conversations own two hands. The Stroud, nearly all offor thesome tribes should be prepared Desserts are provided 4Hin members. having members of $10,000 or by more order very weakened,” saidhouse time through the issues. Mayorthey’re Steve dinner. Gibson, council coming into the members Cindy Brown and The Boxxe Shoppe’s new location • Provide an update looks over the home of thetalks West considered this encountered See page 2 sudden “interesting comments” from Greg Overstreet about his recent brush with death dueSTEVI, tothe commuOverstreet. “Itvalley, hit ismayor Jim Crews, former bank to5withdraw $15,000, it Stacie Barker. by Victoria 901 S. 1stthe Street in Hamilton. nity.See See COWBOY BALL page 4 SURVIVING, page to numerous of his precious plant sacred,at especially by Photo Michael Howell Howell. such cirStaub is Covid. Photo by Victoria Howell. See SCAMMERS, page 2 makes my ‘spidy’ sense tingle.” See PLAN, page 2 bitterroot flowers. local tribes ofPhoto the Bitterroot by Nathan Boddy. Filled with stories of the Valley. Stroud explained that Last week the Ravalli County Commissioners appast, attendees of his talk the plant had numerous uses proved adoption of a memorandum of understandcan look forward to a wealth including a spice, a soup ing with the Ravalli County DUI Task Force and of knowledge on the area’s thickening agent, a vegetable, letter the commissioners statedInstituteProtection National Forest 1987 Forest aspen and whitebark pine; MAPS Media to produceAgency. a video The designed by Michael Howell history and the flower. His aPlan. medicinal herb and much to help parents keep tabs on their children’s behavthat “Ravalli County objects contains recommendations manage timber to provide books reflect that knowledge. more. Lewis and Clark’s ior. impacts to concerning the Draft SEIS for forest products and jobs; and to unmitigated A new record of decision The deadline closed on if it would Victoria Howell be possibleeven tried The first one isHowell called “Twice great expedition The DUI Force approved ofby year, facility tookButterfly. inthe justcreation under bybyVictoria John Stroud looks over some of hiscounty favoriteowned/maintained photographs of Task histhe beloved plants. Photo thebitterroot Gold Concernwas issued on December 17, retain old growth status in all on 18, for filing which objec- to put envelopes by Victoria Howell his property which would in effect with the highway, which is aastate addressed when the private land was aJanuary Mail Order Bride,” Mischief Room last May and commissioners $240,000 and spent every penny. Dowd.units. According to See BITTERROOT, 3 John roads heavy theowner scopeand ofthe the analysis treatment 2021 accompanied by apage Draft all the doors and Dominic Farrenshutthen off access to Stevensville River highway, because nowfrom you’re goingequipment to on it. sold toproject aing new Fish, Wildlife signed off creation tions to theShinn, Draft SupplemenJasmin founder and There The are no paid involved employees; it’s an all-of kopf, activities director put valentine cards in The Stevensville Town Coun- SEIS thatPark, a 20-acre park on the east bank have release two accesses forlogging trucksatrucks, pulling and Parks got involved. once-pritheitems letter quotes the Bittera Forest Service press and mostly, provides a site-speset of easily accessible that hadThe secret hiding tal Environmental Statement volunteer organization. ButtoShinn said executive director of 1 Horse atwas Sapphire them. Farrenkopf cil split onLutheran whether to accept just toreally the north of the private piece ofthe boats, and you’vebut just come out to, of the vate piece now belongs thesome state compartments where someone could stash root Forest Plan’s Forest-wide not limited the impacts cific forest plan amendment about 90% of proposed (Draft SEIS) for the Gold A Time Horse it costs about $200 perfishing month toaim feed Homes inDraft Hamilton, isRescue liked the idea.property. He askedCrews contacted the county aAtsmall piece of park land near the Stevi Wyean at 45 miles per hour - there developed access drugs or hide aand small of whiskey. The was to Willow Creek Road. Due tois aflask Management Wildlife Re-site. treatment areas are within defining old-growth stanButterfly Project, a Bitterroot these “gentle giants.” Then there are facility in Corvallis, got a nice asking the bridge, community students Stevensville an item that was at schools and negotiated the donation of the are going to be accidents there.” I think opportunity it’s [the piecetoon to provide parents“But a learning seethe the source Objective “Maintain area designated for insect and financial limitadards. Some objections to securing the boost lastForest week when she was veterinary bills, therapy, training, and to send his athat and daycares to make National project considered atresidents the March 24th council land on the west, potential Mayorand Steve resource Gibson said he didn’t west] still a viable oftoland for the various ways in which any youngpiece person can hide Last year lopes. the disease sufficient habitat tions, Ravalli County would decision were received because of the little love this special envelopes presented with aValencheck for $7500 associated costsold-growth to rehabilitate meeting. The land ownership willnew now river and access pending outcometreatment of see what use theenveland is to the town. “Iother city tofrom have, whether or not you put their substance use casual inspections. includes nearly 13,000 acres lopes were so full they The project is now As we enter spring and the typiitation this water year like the rest of pack gains occurred in southwest and these wide snowpack percentage is currenttine’s Day. decorate them for each revert to the county. The 1.52-acre the access dispute. only see a liability,” said Gibson. money into developing it,” said Motnot be able to accommodate on suitable timberland to by the January 18 deadline dense pockets of dead and dyhorses. When they’re fi nally ready from representatives of JCCS, an Glenda Wiles, Director of the DUI Task Force, of commercial and season, non-comhad to be emptied which more built on an really popular, and cal snowpack peak the water northwest “Montana was central Montana, ly elevated by the deep snowpack in About years resident. people piece, whichfour located tomostly the Then Council member Wolff Michaelson he looked upwhat the for ley. “There are so many cars out said sheadoption, tells parents is, “If you don’t look, accounting fiis rm with aadjacent branch most can be driven or there, support viable populations ing trees. They claim the area said the necessary maintenance having to doMontana. with the Marilyn mercial vegetative treatment than once. growing every year. supply outlook is currently good on the northern tier of the storms that already exceptional snowpack,” said the southern Flathead region,” said ago, a resident came could drop off valenBitterroot River on the northwest side said she had a real problem with old minutes and found that the land I think it can be used for parking. But then younor don’t see.and If you don’t then you don’t ridden, some justsee, become “pasture located in Hamilton. Part of the logging of old growth, potenof old-growth dependent during the project, the isNevada, impacted by mountain pine 1 snowpack within a 55,000 acre area That ofto the across most ofwas Montana. can be fill the tracked across California, and Larson. April percentages Larson. The Upper Clark Fork River to Farrenkopf to see tines to enveof the bridge, offered Town this piece of land. “It’s where two was donated on the condition that looking long term, if you have propSee VALENTINES, page 10 selection for awarding that gift tial impacts to wildlife and to pets.” See DUI, pageeast 10 rehabilitation of the road afteron species. ”isside The letter notes beetle, Douglas-fir bark beetle, attributed to consistent and Utah month the andbank provided record east of the range from about basin snowpack more similar forest inby the Sapphire Mounin 2017 Ravalli County formostly use as a roadslast converge, is incrediit would bedivide maintained and utilized erty the west ofestablished the river,tothat then was online voting and according 1 Horse At A Time was above normal precipitation precipitation to those states. Those 115% in the Bighorn River within basin to of thehave divide conditions at about 115% the Draft limits the scope dwarf mistletoe and the project is complete. Ravalli Willow Creek Road.I think potential river access site. this water bly steep… there are liability for western recreational purposes five you access toSEIS potentially consoltains east of Corvallis. by Shinn in 2018. She’s originally from to JCCS branch manager, Andrea year. “March precipitation continuedBitterroot storms benefitted southwest Montana about 135% in central Montana. The of normal. of its environmental consespruce budworm damage. County objects to shifting National Forest During the tenure of former issues… It is the fastest part of the years. idate highway property into the Town The original proposal was Simmerman, 1 Horse A Time Germany where sheI grew around the trend ofCrews, exceptional moisture remore than northwest Montana,” said in general Rocky Mountain Front is the “While overall thereup isto more snow mayor Jim the At owner of land channel and thethe deepest partAlthough of the Vickie Motley, park snowpack board memof Stevensville. think It’s something financial burden of project quences analysis vegetation, officials have stated that withdrawn in August of 2020 horses. She’s always been a horse fan, was one of the top four vote ceived this year on the east side of the Larson. That has mainly been the case currently about 90-95% of normal, east of the divide compared to the at the river on the northeast side project had channel. If you were to develop thatwith the ber,proposed said that nothing had County been done RDO Equipment Co. theyears, pileated woodpecker and isall designed improve agreement to Ravalli and believe after Friends of theoff Bitterroot getters. she couple is especially passionate about Continental said Larson, andto thesee western Bitand the snowpack the Bears Paw several recent years attempted toDivide,” shut riverEric access on foryear fishing, Icurrently would also a problem because the accessinproblem had been but last See STEVI, page 16 8571 Running W. Road pine marten. project, the Ravalli County it is contrary to current law forest resilience to natural checkfor followed inConservathe wake horses. and her husband, a USDA Natural Resources terroot, Lower Clark Fork, Kootenai, Mountains is about 250% of normal. draft had more She region-wide snow. LookandThat Alliance the Wild and existing percentagreements. ”ing atretiree, “We realize these old growth like fire, insectsand Rocky Commissioners expressed Missoula, MT 59808 tion Waterthe Supplydisturbances northern Flathead, MounWest of the divide snowpack the lastand 15 years that includes military their two children of a Service $25,000 gift claiming in November Rockies filed(NRCS) suit Specialist. East of the divide, March tain Front have had below normal ages are about 80-90% in the north2018, 2014, 2011,” said Larson. species are listed in and disease; reduce sediconcern over impacts to Forest officials also received from Tractor Supply. relocated toindicator Montana and bought aWith 20406-549-4171 agency failed to use the best precipitation ranged from about 100% precipitation since October 1. ern Kootenai and northern Flathead that said, SNOTEL stations in the acre farm which Shinn said can support That sounds like a lot of the Forest Plan, but it is not county owned and maintained comments from Philip Strobel ment sources in the Willow available science in managing Presenting a check percentages for $7500 from JCCS to JasminRiver Shinnbasins. (secondSnowpack from left) of 1 Horse At of normal inaccording the Bighorn Snowpack decreased conditions southern Jefferson, Madison, GallaRDOequipment.com money but, to Mountains Shinn, Creek watershed; 20 horses. She currently roads, Willow Creek DirectorJCCS of the NEPAabout Branch clear whether there are other improve A Time Draft Horse Rescue were, l toand r: especially Levi Clark, are CPA, Andrea Simmerman, Branch elknearly habitat170% and of didn’t com-in the Jefto normal from March 1 in the Flathead more favorable further south on tin, Smith-Judith-Musselshell, and taking care of draft horses is Office of the Regional Adminbull trout habitat; restore Road. Will Ramsey, CPA. Also the non-profi t’s mascot the ply with the definition old ferson River basin. Theofexception is Manager, Saint and Mary River basins and allpictured other is Tiny, the west side of the divide and at about Tongue River basins are currently an expensiveYproposition. Last habitat See RESCUE, page 65 GOLD, page •FREEbyESTIMATES INTime. THE BITTERROOT VALLEY• OURH OME IMPROVEMENT CO.COM istrator the Environmental In a At letter to the Forest meadows, firstincluding horse that wasremained rescued 1 Horse Photo by Victoria Howell. the northern Front, major basins the same orA 90-105% of normal. “TheofFlathead reporting snowSee water equivalent growth foundRocky in theMountain Bitterroot which has had below normal precipsaw an increase. “The largest snowRiver basin is very large, and the basin See SNOW, page 3
Public Scammers thwarted, vigilance recognized County budget meeting on track on BNF Cowboy Ball Halfway Climbing through fiscal scheduled year, county Plan
Surviving COVID
budget looking good
Hearts full ofrevisit love Stevi to refinancing bonds Valley namesake under threat?
DUI Task Force, MAPS to partner on special video
Gold Butterfly project draws some objections
Spreading love horse Local draft rescue Stevi to return park land thriving to county
Spring has arrived, snowpack largely above normal Contact us for all your equipment needs. VISIT OUR SHOWROOM IN THE
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